• Summer camps in Middletown, CT expose kids to sports, technology and the Arts.soccer tike image by Mitchell Knapton from Fotolia.com
  
  Summer camp programs are an effective way to keep children active and involved in extracurricular activities when school lets out. For parents in the Middletown, CT area, great summer camps are available right in the neighborhood, due in part to the thriving arts and academic community supported by Wesleyan University. Whether you want to encourage healthy and active lifestyles with sports or help your child to cultivate artistic talents, Middletown has entertaining and educational summer programs that can keep the kids busy until season's end.
  
  

ID Tech Computer Camp

• Wesleyan University in Middletown, CT hosts the iD Tech Computer Camp, where children aged seven to 17 are given hands-on experience in computer and gaming technology. The program features week-long sessions in subjects such as programming, game design, graphic design and animation. Campers can travel to the campus daily or stay overnight (ages 10 and older) in Wesleyan dorms. In addition to instructional classes, campers can participate in various scheduled activities during downtime, including movie nights, team sports and video game tournaments. Sessions are typically offered from late June to early August.
  
  

YMCA Camp Ingersoll

• The Middlesex County YMCA offers the Ingersoll summer day camp for children aged four to 16. Participants can enroll in the traditional camp program, engaging in a range of fun summer activities like swimming, sports and arts and crafts, or join specialty camps that focus on activities like basketball, wilderness exploration, film-making, dance and rocketry. Sessions run from late June to late August, and each session features a special Family Night and dinner. Campers aged 7 to 14 can also participate in the annual Triathlon, competing in running, swimming and biking events.
  
  

Center for Creative Youth

• The Center for Creative Youth partners with Wesleyan University to provide high school students with five-weeks of training in the Arts. Students are accepted to the program by audition, and can register for classes in creative writing, music, film-making, dance, theater, photography and visual arts. Students focus on one major area of study, but are able to participate in interdisciplinary courses that cover other subject areas, such as ballroom dancing, mask-making and playwriting. The program also incorporates off-campus visits to art venues, social events and participation in open mic nights, allowing students to showcase their talents.
  
  

U.S. Sports Institute Summer Camps

• The U.S. Sports Institute sponsors various summer sports camps in a range of U.S. cities, including Middletown, CT. Children aged three to 14 can take part in multi-sports programs or enroll for individual sports like golf, hockey, tennis, basketball and soccer. The type of camps offered depends on the location and may change from year to year. As of 2010, the Middletown division offers lacrosse camp and Sport Squirts, a multi-sports program designed for three to five-year-olds. Campers can attend for half-day or full-day sessions throughout the summer.