It's nearly summer vacation, and God forbid your little tyke's brains be left to rot for an entire summer. They need stimulation! They need knowledge! They need life experiences! And you need a break, for at least a couple of days out of the week. Here are the places around Shanghai doing summer camps.

Skill-Focused Camps

Oogie Art is a global art school with campuses in New York, Boston, Seoul, Busan, and Shanghai. For their 2019 summer programs, they're offering five options, mostly for 9-12 graders thinking about college credits and applications: Summer Portfolio Intensive, (76,800rmb for the full 120 classes); Art Portfolio Classes (61,200rmb for the full 80 classes); Junior Art, for 5-8 graders looking to learn art fundamentals (44,600rmb for the full 70 classes); AP Studio Art, which earns college credits (1,200rmb per class); and Art Leadership Program, for 9-12 graders who want to learn how to create and teach their own curriculum to orphans in Ho Chi Minh City. Register on their website.

iStage Academy is offering a series of one-week Musical Theatre camps that involve singing, dancing and acting. The week will be rounded off by a performance. Applicants aged 5-8 are welcome between June 17-23 for a chance to perform in productions such as Annie, Wizard of Oz, Peter Pan, Treasure Island, and Matilda, costing 4,980rmb per session. Ages 9-16 can take part in the Wizard of OZ from June 24-28, then Matilda between August 19-23 also costing 4,980rmb per session. Those aged 9-16 may also take part in a 2-week course, with the final production being Hercules and costing 9,880rmb per session. To register, click here and write "iStage Musical Summer Camp" in the Course Applied For box, or add their WeChat, ISA_2016, for enquiries. You can also email them at info@istageacademy.com.

Based at the West Bund indoor skatepark, Iconx are hosting several three-day summer camps teaching kids aged 6-15 years old to learn how to skate like a pro, with a side of character development, health and nutrition. A three-day course costs 1,980rmb, with discounts for members, members' friends, twins and early birds (if you enroll before May 31). More info if you scan the QR code on their flyer. They've also got spring skateboarding classes.

From June to August, Shanghai City Ballet are offering weeklong ballet, jazz and hip-hop dance camps with a performance at the end. A week of half-days costs 1,800rmb, full days is 3,600rmb. Children aged 3-12 can take part. They are also hosting 45-minute classes for 144rmb each, and 60-minute ones for 180rmb. Discounts available when buying in bulk. Add their WeChat SCB-admin for more info.

Throughout July and August, Codeacademy123 will be hosting several 5-day camps with different themes, like coding for kids using Python in a Minecraft environment (1,150rmb for five hours), the science behind gaming (2,300rmb for five two-hour sessions), a 10-hour introduction to AI (2,300rmb), and machine learning for kids (2,500rmb for five two-hour sessions). The courses are designed to train young whippersnappers in computational thinking through animations and games that allow them to exercise creativity and logical thinking. Scan the QR for more info.

Inspire! Summer Camp by LearningLeaders has four courses through July and August designed to help young people improve skills they will need in their professional life such as debating, public speaking, writing and programing. They'll learn to improve their critical thinking through analyzing information and working as a team, emulating a working environment. The standard price for one course is 10,800rmb, but cheaper prices are available for early birds and sibling discounts. To register for Learning Leaders' Inspire! Summer Camp, call 8027 0883, or click on this link which will take you to their online registration.

Music Lab are offering weekly music courses with a 50-minute lesson each week, giving 1.5-6 year olds the opportunity to discover dancing, singing and rhymes. It costs 1,540rmb for the full 7-week course. They are also offering two musical summer camps, the first of which is a Music Introduction camp for 4-6 year olds, teaching singing, dancing and playing musical games, while 6-7 year olds can experiment with various instruments and explore the world of music a little further. A week of 5.5 hours a day costs 2,800rmb. The second is a Kids Band Program that involves 6-14 year olds writing songs and lyrics, then performing them. It's 2,800rmb for two lessons per day for five days. Scan the QR code on the flyer for more info.

ColorJam will have their Mini Museum art summer camp from July 22 to August 23. Kids will study a world-famous museum every week, exploring its history, culture, architecture, paintings and sculptures. In order, it's the Louvre, Galleria Degli Uffizi, the British Museum, the Rijksmuseum and the Metropolitan Museum of Art. For kids aged 4+. 2800rmb/week for non-members and 2500rmb/week for members. Dial 5465 1838 or email colorjam@qq.com to enroll.

Mixed Sports Camps

Sportsworld will be running camps for kids 4-6 and 7-10 who want a variety of sports and activities, including karate, tennis, swimming, basketball, LEGO (wait that's a sport?) and more. There will be week-long sessions in full-day (9am-3pm) and "long" day (9am-5pm) increments, from June 24 to July 26. Prices range depending on the venue, 3,080rmb-3,580rmb. There's an early bird special running until May 9. Registration through their WeChat, sportsworldofficial.

Multisport is hosting a camp at The British International School Puxi, with activities like swimming, gymnastics, soccer, trampoline, tumble track, dance, dodge ball, basketball, fitness ABC, obstacle course, athletics, team and tag games for kids aged 4-12 (split into 3 groups: 4-6, 7-8 and 9-12). Runs from 9.15am-3pm from July 1 to August 9 and costs 4,000rmb per week; early bird discounts until May 31. Add their WeChat (MultisportShanghai) for more information, visit their website or email (admin@multisport.com.cn) for registration.

Sport For Life will have a camp this summer for kids ages 4-12, with tennis, basketball, squash, dance, and more. There's a half-day option (9am-12pm) available or full-day (9am-3pm). The program is in weekly sessions from June 24 to August 23 and costs 1,600rmb (half day) or 2,700rmb (full day). To register, email info@sportforlife.com.cn or call 6282 1762.

Sports camps by Active Kidz Shanghai, running 5-day sessions from June 17 to July 26, from 9am-4pm, for kids ages 6-15, there's soccer, baseball, trampoline and basketball. Full day camp (9am-4pm) is 2,500rmb per week, half-day (9am-12pm/1pm-4pm) is 1,800rmb. Early bird discount before May 31.

Little Kickers offers specially designed football classes for children aged 4-7 years old, combining games, creative classes and sports activities. Taking place on the Shanghai Hongqiao International School campus, the four week program starts with football foundations, then moves to solo play, tiki taka, and finally "total football." The one-week fee is 3,998rmb, or 7,500rmb for two weeks. Scan the QR code on the flyer to enroll, or call Coach Alvin at 131 6272 1856.

Royal Dutch Riding Summer Camp is organizing 11 four/five day summer camps, dedicated to equestrianism. They do two M&RB riding courses and a lecture on riding safety and the basic concepts of equestrianism per day, and a final exhibition and riding show once per week. This year, they have a Dutch instructor. Prices start at 10,000rmb per person for the four-day camp. The five-day camps have Basic and Advanced schedules depending on the riding level of the children. You can register by calling 6209 5877 or emailing service@greenvalleyhorse.com.

WISS is doing two camps this summer. Stoke City FC Academy is providing premier football training to students in Shanghai. The program's for 5-16 years old, with games and a structured competition. It's 500rmb/day or 2,250rmb for the full program (July 1-5), from 9am-1pm. Register for that by contacting scfc@wiss.cn. They're also doing a swim camp from July 1-6, with daily hour and a half sessions split between beginner, intermediate and advanced levels. It's 1,200rmb for the whole program, you can register by emailing mholmstrom@wiss.cn.

School Summer Programs:

Montessori School of Shanghai has four summer camp programs for kids aged 2/3-6 years old, running from early to mid July. Each program pairs a particular subject with a Chinese Elementary School Bridging Course (EC): Aikido (9,000rmb) at the Jiading Campus, a Fun Science (12,000rmb) at the Minhang Campus, Fun Music (11,250rmb) at the West Hongqiao Campus and English Drama (10,125rmb) at the Xuhui Campus. Register on their website www.montessorisos.com.

For the past three years Wellington has hosted a camp operated through Ivy League Summer Camps, now known as Worldstrides Global Camps. For 2019, the same organization is running a summer camp at Huili and the Oriental Sports Center. (The Wellington campus is undergoing renovation this year). They've got three 10-day programs; the Junior Explorer Program (ages 5-6) and Discovery Program (ages 7-12), which is more skill-focused and costs 10,760rmb (plus bus fee), and the sports-focused Major League Sports Camp (ages 7-12) at Oriental Sports Center, which is 9,560rmb (plus bus fees). All registration is done through their WeChat Service account (worldstrideglobalcamps) or on their website.

BISS runs a summer program handled by DDC. They have a bunch of courses intended for grades 1-9, like "Fairy Tales & STEM," a hands-on course with STEM challenges based on Chinese and American fairy tales, such as designing a carriage that will able to travel down a ramp for a specified distance after reading Cinderella. They also do Creative Writing, Physics of Photography, Kinetics Sculpture, basic robotics, and Upper SSAT Preparation in Verbal and Writing. Prices start from 24,600rmb for each three-week session. Info and registration on their WeChat, DDC_Education, email admission@dd-learning.com, or visit their website.

Shanghai Community International School (SCIS) is offering specialized summer camp programs consisting of developmentally appropriate activities at both Hongqiao and Pudong campuses. Their summer camp programs are non-academic, thematic programs, including games, sports, outdoor exploration, water activities, field trips, art, music & movement, drama, Mandarin language/culture fun, and free play. Full-day fees start at 3,500rmb per week, plus transportation fees. Contact summersactivities.hq@scis-china.org for more information or scan the QR code on their flyer.

Britannica's running a summer school program at their Gubei Lu location for students 5-11 years old, focused on team building and learning. Students will be taking part in English language sessions, drama workshops, and a wide range of team building games and sports. The day starts at 8.45 and goes until 3pm. Places are limited. Price is 3,000rmb/person. Register by scanning the QR code on their flyer, or call 6402 7889. For more education content, see our super-duper Education Directory right here.