What do you have your child lined up to do this summer? There are many summer camps out there to consider in the Dallas area, and these days, the more unusual the camp, the better. From a camp at the Dallas Zoo to a brainy Chess Camp or a place to learn more about the performing arts, the adventure definitely awaits your child.

It’s called a wild adventure for a reason. The Dallas Zoo’s Wild Adventure Summer Camp goes until August 12, offering week-long and single-day camps from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.  BeforeCamp and AfterCamp are also available at the Dallas Zoo and Children’s Aquarium at Fair Park for most week-long and single-day camps. Children from Pre-K to third grade can take part in Animal Athletes and Animal-gination allowing campers to explore the Zoo and create stories, performing dramatic play activities and taking on animal and nature-themed projects. Campers are given the chance to discover animal adaptations that help different Zoo residents excel in the wild and learn about the cultures of the lands the animals come from like Asia, South America, Africa and North America. 

Annie, Peter Pan and the Wizard of Oz are what children will get to take part in at the Breitling Performing Arts Summer Camp in Garland. Students will perform the famous musical numbers and scenes from the shows for the camp they attend. There are three camp dates for each musical with the camp dates varying depending on the show desired.

The Artsvision Performing and Visual Arts Camp at St. Paul United Methodist Church in Dallas is for young artists, taking place from July 18-30 from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. It offers two weeks of a Visual and Performing Arts immersion where campers learn techniques in vocal from the Arts District Chorale or are trained in ballet, jazz, and hip hop dance. The camper leaves with a head shot and performance resume and a better idea of the performing arts.

Space camp, anyone? The Aviation and Space Camp at the Frontiers of Flight Museum is for the camper who loves all there is to know about space. Camps run various weeks during the summer with a variety of weekly themes from early Chinese rockets to America’s missions to Mars, or an aviation workshop or rocket lab week for campers.

The Dallas Center for Photography holds its Summer Camp for kids and teens to get the lowdown on photography. It’s a week of low-tech photo immersion and campers will learn how to build a camera, shoot film and shoot a group assignment on a roll of large 120 size black and white film in a Holga “toy” camera.

For kids who love chess or just want to learn more about it, the UTD Chess Camp in Richardson runs June 20-24, July 18-22 or July 25-29. Chess develops a child’s reading and math ability, critical and analytical thinking skills — and it’s also fun! Classes are offered for beginning, intermediate and advanced campers so all skill levels are welcome. 

Are your campers attending any unusual camps this summer? Let us know in the comments!