Cool Camps

Texas has a lot of cool camps and fun summer classes — whether you're into science, surfing, sewing or screenwriting, there's surely something on this list that can help you explore your interests. Maybe you're looking for something to do with your summer days, or maybe you're up for a real sleepover experience — you shouldn't have a hard time finding something to suit your tastes.

Finding a summer camp that fits your interests is easy. Ask around at your school, church or local community center for camps in your area. You may also ask your teacher, guidance counselor or friends. Or check out camps online at MySummerCamps.com or CampPage.

Think you can't afford to go to camp?
Don't jump to conclusions! Many camps offer full or partial scholarships for students with financial need.

Texas Camp Listings by City:

Note: This list is a starting point and does not include all camps in Texas. All links are current as of June 2009, but are subject to change. For further information about any of the camps listed below, please contact the camp directly. To request to add a camp listing you don't see here, e-mail us.

Arlington	El Paso	Port Aransas
Austin	Galveston	San Antonio
Clear Lake	Houston	San Marcos
Commerce	Lubbock	Tyler
Dallas / Fort Worth	Mount Pleasant	Weslaco

ARLINGTON

Engineering and Computer Science Summer Camp

This one-week camp teaches students about engineering — aerospace, biomedical, civil and environmental, computer science, electrical, materials science and mechanical. The camp also includes related study in chemistry and physics, as well as hands-on projects. Field trips allow campers to see engineering in action at area businesses. Both residential and day camps are available.

Ages: Entering grades 6-11

Dates: June 7-12, June 15-19, June 28-July 3, and July 6-10

Cost: $200-$325

Deadline: May

Scholarships available

Girlgeneering

This one-week, girls-only camp on the UT-Arlington campus introduces middle schoolers to the field of engineering, including aerospace, biomedical, civil and environmental, computer science, electrical, materials science and mechanical engineering. The camp includes faculty presentations, lab tours, field trips, hands-on activities and a "Design Squad"-based team project.

Ages: Girls entering grades 5-9

Dates: July 20-24

Cost: $100

Scholarships available

Deadline: May

Materials Science Camp

This one-day camp gives students the chance to learn about the properties of metals, ceramics, polymer and semiconductors. Students have the chance to use an electron microscope, tour the UT Arlington (UTA) NanoFab facility, and watch a show at the UTA Planetarium.

Ages: Middle school and high school students

Date: July 18

Cost: $30

Deadline: May

River Legacy Science Center Summer Classes

In this three-day session, students explore River Legacy Parks' bottomland forest along the Trinity River while sharpening navigational skills. They learn about early use of the sun, stars and landmarks as navigational aids before progressing to the modern tools of compass and topographical maps. The class ends with a GPS (Global Positioning System) geocache experience.

Ages: Entering grades 7-8

Dates: July 21-23

Cost: $150 — all equipment is provided

Scholarships available

AUSTIN

Advancing Robots Lego Robotics Camp

This camp offers young inventors from the basic to advanced level an opportunity to build robots with regular and NXT Legos. Offered in four locations in Austin and Round Rock.

Ages: 6-14

Dates: June 15-18, June 22-25, June 29-July 2, July 13-16, July 20-23, July 27-31, August 3-7

Cost: $389

Austin Film Society Summer Filmmaking Camp

Make your own film this summer at Austin Studios. Classes teach hands-on narrative and experimental filmmaking technique with digital video. Students work in teams to create short digital films and animations, followed by an exhibition of group films. The camp will also include filmmaker visits, and behind-the-scenes studio tours. The camp is co-sponsored by the Texas Film Commission.

Ages: 12-15

Dates: Camp 1, June 22-26; Camp 2, July 6-10; Camp 3, July 20-24; Camp 4, August 3-7

Cost: $250

Scholarships available

Austin School of Fashion Design Summer Camp

Austin School of Fashion Design offer a full range of classes for teens who want to learn skills in sewing, fashion illustration, hat and purse design, knitting, crocheting, or sewing from a pattern. Classes are organized in a way that encourages a three-week course of study, but students may also take classes for only one week, if they prefer.

Ages: 8-16

Dates: June 8-July 31

Cost: $150 per class (10 hours total)

Badgerdog Summer Writing Camp

These three-week summer workshops are led by award-winning Austin poets, novelists, playwrights and essayists. Students write poetry and prose, and learn to revise and edit their work for publication. When camp is over, students receive a bound anthology of the group's work and participate in two public readings.

Ages: Entering grades 3-12

Dates: Session 1, June 8-26 (Downtown, North or South locations); Session 2, July 13-31 (Downtown or North locations)

Cost: $400

Scholarships available

Camp Wired

Students at this Austin camp study computer game design, digital video editing, Web design, graphic design and animation. Each camper gets his or her own computer, and instruction from teachers from local districts. Camps are available at both Eanes ISD and Round Rock ISD.

Ages: 11-14

Dates: Session 1, June 8-12; Session 2, June 15-19; Session 3, June 22-26; Session 4, July 6-10; Session 5, July 13-17; Session 6, July 20-24; Session 7, July 27-31

Cost: $220 per week for half-day camp, $440 per week for full-day

Scholarships available

Careers in Engineering for Women

This week-long camp aims to encourage girls' interest in math, science and engineering through hands-on experiences, and to introduce them to engineering career options. Over the course of the camp, students work in teams to complete an engineering project design contest.

Ages: Girls entering grades 6 or 7

Dates: June 7-13

Cost: $25

Scholarships available

Deadline: January

channelAustin Kids Make TV Camp

At this camp, kids make their own public-access TV show. channelAustin staff help kids produce, direct, write and edit music videos, talk shows, short movies or reality TV shows. All shows made at the camp will be broadcast on channelAustin!

Ages: 10 and up

Dates: Session 1, June 8-12; Session 2, June 29-July 3; Session 3, July 6-10

Cost: $250

Deadline: April

Digital Media Academy

Students at Digital Media Academy, a week-long camp on the UT Austin campus, study game creation, robotics, programming, digital movie making, special effects, web design, flash, cartoon creation, comic creation and more. Instructors are real-world industry professionals from the fields of 3D animation, video production and game design.

Ages: 7-13, 13-18

Dates: Session 1, July 6-10; Session 2, July 13-17; Session 3, July 20-24

Cost: $795-$995

Scholarships available

Entrepreneur Camp

At Entrepreneur Camp, kids have a fun, hands-on experience with money by starting a real business for the week — and making money that they get to keep! Campers develop a business idea, including a marketing plan, analyze expenses and potential profit, and determine how to deliver their good or service. Camps take place in four Austin locations.

Ages: 8-18

Dates: June 15-19, June 22-26, June 29-July 3, July 6-10, July 13-17, July 20-24, July 27-31, August 3-7, August 10-14

Cost: $300-$325

Scholarships available

Expedition Camp

At this camp, students learn stand-up paddling, hiking, mountain biking and rock climbing. They also swim in local watering holes and raft a river. In addition to first aid skills, campers will learn orienteering, expedition preparedness, backcountry cooking, weather and climate forecasting, and flora and fauna identification.

Ages: 11-17

Dates: June 29-July 3

Cost: $375

GameCamp!

GameCamp! is a summer program for middle school and high school students interested in the video game design industry. Classes are taught by real game developers, and students focus on Game Design, Game Art, Programming, and Production/Business in a career-oriented environment. GameCamp! uses a combination of lectures, hands-on projects, software tutorials, small group projects and directed game play, and impresses on students the importance of teamwork, networking and other career-building tips.

Ages: 10-17

Dates: Session 1, June 22-26; Session 2, July 13-17; Session 3, August 3-7

Cost: $500-$625 for day camp, $1,000 for overnight camp

Scholarships available

Girls Rock Camp Austin

Girls Rock Camp is a summer day camp. Campers learn to play instruments of their choosing (guitars, drums, bass, keyboards, or vocals), form bands, write songs and perform live at a showcase at the end of the camp. They also attend workshops on women who rock, self-defense, images of girls and women in popular culture, the music business, rock writing and zine-making and more.

Ages: 10-18

Dates: Session 1, June 22-26; Session 2, July 27-31

Cost: $365

Scholarships available

Deadline: May

Girlstart Summer Camp

In Girlstart's Animal Clinic and Pet Vet camps, students explore the world of veterinarians. In the Crazy Concoctions camp, students mix up recipes and chemistry formulas in the kitchen.

Ages: Entering grades 4-8

Dates: Animal Clinic, June 8-12 and June 15-19; Pet Vet June 22-26, July 6-10 and August 10-14; Crazy Concoctions July 13-17, July 20-24 and August 3-7

Cost: $350

Scholarships available

Deadline: May

Heart of Texas Young Writers Camp

Are you ready to let out the writer inside? This two-week camp offers middle school students the opportunity to learn more about the craft of writing, and share writing with others in their age group.

Ages: Entering grades 6-8

Dates: June 22-July 3

Cost: $250

Scholarships available

Deadline: May

Red Leaf Rocks Summer Band Camp

Red Leaf Rocks allows young rockers to learn music skills and teamwork as they form groups and prepare songs for an end-of-camp concert.

Ages: 8 and up

Dates: July 6-23

Cost: $825

Scholarships available

Texas Arts Project

This performing arts camp attracts students from across the U.S. Campers learn acting, singing, dance, filmmaking, musical theatre and technical theatre.

Ages: 9-18

Dates: Senior Camp, June 7-28; Advanced Camp, June 7-July 4; Junior Camp, June 14-20; Day Camps June 8-12 and June 29-July 4

Cost: Boarding Camps $1,050-$28,50; Day Camp $150-$325

Texas Student Media Camps

This camp is offered by Texas Student Television, the student TV station at the University of Texas. Students in the Production Camp learn how to produce an entertainment or music video show. Campers produce a show that will air on TSTV and Time Warner Cable Channel 16. Students in the Journalism Camp learn how to write, shoot and edit, producing a news show that will air on TSTV and Time Warner Cable Channel 16.

Ages: Entering grades 6-8

Dates: Production Camp June 15-19; Journalism Camp July 13-17

Cost: $225

Theatre Action Project Summer Camp

This theatre and arts camp teaches students to express themselves with their bodies, voices, paint brushes, pens and media. Activities include team building and group theatre games, outdoor play, and themed activities. Each week-long camp experience has a different theme, such as "Dance and Drums," or "Songs for the Stage."

Ages: 5-12

Dates: June 22-26, June 29-July 3, July 6-10, July 13-17, July 20-24, July 27-31, August 3-7, August 10-14

Cost: $195

Scholarships available

CLEAR LAKE

Arts Alliance Center Summer Arts Camp

Ages: 4-16

Dates: Week one, July 6-10; Week 2, July 13-17; Week 3, July 20-24; Week 4, July 26-31

Cost: $45 per class, per week

Scholarships available

COMMERCE

Tech Quest Texas Camp

Students at this computer camp will learn basic project management, digital media and business processes. A field trip to the TAMU-Commerce Planetarium features technologies employed in the planetarium. Students complete a Power Point presentation to be given the final day of camp.

Ages: Grades 5-8

Dates: June 16-20, June 23-27

Cost: $125

Texas A&M Equine Science Camp

Ages: Grades 1-12

Dates: Beginning Horsemanship — June 8-12, June 15-19, June 22-26, July 6-10; Intermediate Horsemanship — July 27-31

Cost: $125

DALLAS / FORT WORTH

Casa Manana Camp Casa

This theater camp gives students the opportunity to rehearse and perform a show for friends and family at an end-of-camp performance. This year's campers will perform "Dear Edwina Junior."

Ages: 8-14

Dates: July 6-25

Cost: $850

Camptivity Youth Adventure Program

Camptivity's Youth Adventure Program is an exciting way for youth to develop leadership, teamwork and communication skills while participating in community service projects. Campers learn about CPR, first aid and babysitting, and have the opportunity to visit with professionals during career exploration days. Community service projects involve research and planning by every participant, making it a more significant venture for each child.

Ages: Grades 6-8

Dates: June 8-August 21

Cost: $170 per week

Club Scientific

This summer camp is for students who are interested in how things work. Camps offered for middle-schoolers include "Camp Emergency Vet," "Camp Robot Inventor" and "Camp CSI."

Ages: 9-13

Dates: Week 1, July 13-17; Week 2, July 20-24; Week 3, July 27-31; Week 4, August 3-7

Cost: $250

Scholarships available

Dallas iMedia Network Summer Media Camp

At this week-long day camp, students learn to storyboard, script and shoot their own video project to be broadcast on iMedia's Youth Channel.

Ages: 9-16

Dates: Session 1, June 15-19; Session 2, June 22-26; Session 3, July 6-10; Session 4, July 13-17; Session 5, July 20-24; Session 6, July 27-31

Cost: $225 per session

Dallas Summer Musicals Academy of Performing Arts

This program allows students to explore drama and musical theater with professional music directors, acting coaches and choreographers. In Musical Theatre Camp, students 7-11 will rehearse and perform Red Riding Hood and the Big White Lie for family and friends. In Broadway Camp, students 12 and up will learn Broadway-style dancing and singing, with scores from current and classic musicals as text books. An end-of-camp Broadway revue will entertain family and friends.

Ages: 7-11, 12 and up

Dates: Musical Theatre Camp — June 15-26; Broadway Camp — July 13-24

Cost: $429

Scholarships available

Dallas Zoo Animal Adventure Summer Camps

The Dallas Zoo's summer camps offer middle-schoolers the opportunity to learn about zoo life firsthand. In "Zoo By Design: African Savanna," sixth- and seventh-graders meet experts from the zoo's Animal Care, Graphics, Education and Zoo Operations departments to talk about their ideas about what the zoo's African Savannah should look like. In "Exploring Zoo Careers," eighth-graders spend a week at the zoo and learn about career possibilities.

Ages: Entering grades K-8

Dates: "Zoo By Design" — July 6-10, July 13-17, July 27-31; "Exploring Zoo Careers" — July 20-24

Cost: $250

Frisco Wilderness Summer Camp Adventures

The five-day and seven-day expeditions offered by Frisco Wilderness allow campers to fully experience the wilderness. Emphasis is placed on leadership, teamwork, self confidence and survival skills. Activities include hiking, camping, river crossings and rock-climbing.

Ages: 12 and up

Dates: Ouachita National Forest — June 29-July 3, July 27-31; Buffalo National River — July 11-17

Cost: $395-$595

Junior Players Discover Art Summer Camp

This free, educational art class for kids ages 10-14 will be held at the Latino Cultural Center near downtown Dallas. Discover Art will be taught by Junior Players Master Artist Jennifer Kindert, who will guide the children through a variety of visual art projects.

Ages: 10-14

Dates: June 9-26

Cost: FREE

Junior Players Discover Shakespeare Summer Camp

This free two-week summer camp for students in grades 6-8 will be led by Junior Players Master Artist David Goodwin. Students will study Shakespearean drama and acting techniques specifically designed to help them better understand and convey the text. The camp will culminate in a shortened Shakespearean production to be performed at the Shakespeare Festival of Dallas on July 3.

Ages: Entering grades 6-8

Dates: June 22-July 3

Cost: FREE

Junior Players Discover Theater Summer Camp

This free two-week day-camp program gives students a chance to express themselves dramatically at more than 40 locations across Dallas. The camp session culminates with a final performance at The Festival of Plays.

Ages: 7-14

Dates: June 15-26 or July 6-17

Cost: FREE

Museum of Nature and Science CSI: Dallas Camp

This spine-tingling introduction to the real world of forensic science gives kids ages 13-17 hands-on experience in crime scene investigation. "Junior Investigators" will learn how to conduct an investigation from start to finish by collecting fingerprints, searching for DNA evidence, interviewing witnesses and more! Camps will be led by Chief Investigator Stephanie Abramoske-James and a team of specially selected UTD criminology graduate students.

Ages: 13-17

Dates: June 15-17, June 17-19, July 6-8, July 8-10, August 3-5, August 5-7

Cost: $275

Museum of Nature and Science Discovery Camp

Campers at the Dallas Museum of Nature & Science get hands-on experience with science. Weekly class themes include "Global Safari," "Survivor Science," "World of Robots," "Spy Week" and more!

Ages: 5-9, 10-12

Dates: Week 1, June 15-19; Week 2, June 22-26; Week 3, July 6-10; Week 4, July 13-17; Week 5, July 20-24; Week 6, July 27-31; Week 7, August 3-7; Week 8, August 10-14

Cost: $210

Power Chord Academy

This music camp for teens offers students the opportunity to be a "professional" musician for a week — they play in a band, record a CD, make a music video, headline concerts, meet a pro touring band and attend a private concert, observe educational seminars, meet industry guests and more!

Ages: 12-18

Dates: July 26-August 1

Cost: $1,795

Scholarships available

Summer Physics Camp

Sponsored by The Women in Physics at UT Dallas, this camp allows girls to work in teams of four to collect and analyze data under the guidance of a UT Dallas physics student. Team competition demonstrates students' accomplishments.

Ages: Completed grades 7-8

Dates: June 15-19

Cost: FREE

Deadline: April

EL PASO

El Paso Museum of Art Art Camp

This El Paso camp offers painting, drawing, collage, tempera paint, watercolor, pastel, papier mache, sculpture and found-object art. The focus of this class is on the process of making art, problem solving and creative thinking.

Ages: 6-12

Dates: June 8-12

Cost: $195

Scholarships available

GALVESTON

Sea Camp

This camp at Texas A&M Galveston offers a huge variety of sessions, including Marine Biology, Sharks and More, Coastal Ecology, Fishing Camp, Marine Mammal Workshop, Ocean Careers, Coastal Photography, Oceanography and Nautical Archaeology, and SCSI: Sea Camp Scene Investigators (Forensics). Ages for courses vary, and there are a number of sessions throughout June and July.

Ages: 10-18

Dates: Check Web site for schedule

Cost: $785-$850

Scholarships available

HOUSTON

American Robotics Academy

The American Robotics Academy allows students to understand "how things work" through hands-on activities that demonstrate the principles of simple and motorized machines. The camp offers a number of classes, including robotics, Lego miniature golf, "Crazy Action Contraptions," "Robots on the Rampage," "Saving Galveston Island," NXT programming and more.

Ages: K-12

Dates: 12 weeks of camp are offered, starting June 1 and ending August 21

Cost: $165-$175 for half-day camp, $295-315 for full-day camp

Camp Katy Computer Camp

Camp Katy bridges the gap between what kids learn at school about computers and what they will need to know to be successful. The camp offers a huge number of computer courses, including web design, comic book creation, game engine design, game modding, filmmaking, computer building and more.

Ages: 8-17

Dates: 11 week-long sessions are offered, starting June 8 and ending August 21

Cost: $395 per week

Chefs2B

Aspiring chefs at the Chefs2B Cooking School attend camp three hours a day, three days a week. In each session, campers learn and create one recipe from start to finish — then sample the results at the end of class! Classes include candy making, baking around the world, Mexican fiesta, Italian cuisine and cooking around the world.

Ages: 6 and up

Dates: June 8-August 19

ComedySportz Summer Improv Camp

Each camp is a one-week session, and all sessions are taught by a seasoned professional from ComedySportz Houston. Each session ends with a Friday evening performance for family and friends at 5 p.m.

Ages: 8-17

Dates: Ages 8-12, June 15-19 and July 13-17; Ages 13-17, June 22-26 and July 20-24

Cost: $150 per session, per child

CompuCamp 2009

This camp sponsored by the University of Houston and Science Adventures allows kids to get hands-on with science! Camps offered include "The Chemistry Mystery," "Mini Medical School," "How Does It Work?" "Secret Agent Lab," "Robot Space Rescue Mission," "3-2-1 Blastoff" and "Robots in the Rough."

Ages: 6-12

Dates: Week 1, June 8-12; Week 2, June 15-19; Week 3, June 22-26; Week 4, June 29-July 3; Week 5, July 6-10; Week 6, July 13-17

Cost: $169 half-day camp, $259 full-day camp

Scholarships available

EnergyVenture Camp

If you're interested in Texas' future as an energy-producing state, the EnergyVenture camp may be for you. Students at this camp experience what it's like to work in the state's energy industry. They perform lab experiments, take a "behind the scenes" tour of an energy-related production facility and hear from guest speakers currently working in the field. Students are also encouraged to attend camp reunions and to re-enroll in the program each summer, leading up to actual job interviews in the energy field when they're at the appropriate age.

Ages: Grades 7-9

Dates: Dates are available throughout July in the southeast Texas area, including Houston, Pasadena, Baytown, Lake Jackson and Texas City.

Cost: Scholarships are available to the first 40 applicants accepted to the camp; otherwise the cost is $330 per student

Houston Arboretum Summer Camp

Join Houston Arboretum and Nature Center teachers for week-long camps that explore the natural world through active hands-on indoor and outdoor adventures at this 155-acre sanctuary.

Ages: 9-12

Dates: Weekly sessions start June 8 and end August 14

Cost: $150 mornings-only; $270 full-day

Houston Audubon Society Summer Nature Camps

Camps sponsored by the Houston Audobon Society are held at the Sims Bayou Urban Nature Center. Middle-school camps include "Birds, Bayous and Beyond," a bird-watching camp, or "By the Light of the Moon," a nocturnal camp that lets kids explore the world of owls, bats and other nighttime creatures.

Ages: 8-12

Dates: "Birds, Bayous and Beyond," June 22-26; "By the Light of the Moon," August 3-7

Cost: $125

Houston SPCA Critter Camp

This camp is for animal lovers and future veterinarians. Each day of camp is filled with age-appropriate crafts, games, activities and many interactions with shelter pets! Critter Camp subjects include "Animal Welfare Camp," "Animal Kingdom Camp," Dog & Cat Camp" and "Tween Career Camp."

Ages: 8-14

Dates: Weekly sessions start June 8 and end August 14

Cost: $265

Deadline: April

Kids on Stage Summer Performing Arts Camp

At this performing arts camp, students collaborate to create an original play and a dance piece. Students take charge of all aspects of performance, including character development, dialogue, story, sets and costumes.

Ages: 6-14

Dates: Sessions are June 8-26, June 29-July 17, July 27-August 7, June 8-19, June 29-July 10, July 20-31 and August 3-14

Cost: $400-$520

Museum of Fine Arts Houston Junior School

The Houston Museum of Fine Arts Junior School hosts classes year-round. Their summer session features courses in drawing, ceramics, sculpture, architecture, multimedia and more.

Ages: 10-12, 11-13, 14-18

Dates: Summer session begins June 1 and ends July 31

Cost: $130-$220

Scholarships available

Space Center Houston Day Camps

This camp encourages students to keep looking at the skies! Available one-day classes include "Failure Is Not an Option," "Space Detectives Unit" and "Robotics 101." There is also a week-long "Mission to Mars" space adventure, where students design and build a rocket, then launch it at NASA's Johnson Space Center.

Ages: 12-14

Dates: Check Web site for schedule

Cost: $55 per day

Summer EcoCamp

EcoCamp is a day camp that offers a variety of exciting activities and learning opportunities using Armand Bayou Nature Center as a living laboratory. Middle-schoolers can participate in the Trailblazers camp, where they learn basic survival skills and engage in outdoor activities like dip netting, hiking and canoeing. Or they can attend Pathfinders camp, where they will investigate the forests, prairies and bayous of the nature center and discover what it was like to be an early explorer.

Ages: 4-13

Dates: Classes for grades 6-8 are June 15-19, July 13-17 and July 27-31.

Cost: $320

Deadline: Registration is due two weeks prior to the camp date

Writers in the Schools Summer Creative Writing Workshops

Middle school and high school writers in the WITS program explore different literary genres (poetry, fiction, nonfiction) in a supportive writing environment. Students participate in readings and one-on-one conferences. An anthology of student work is published at the end of the workshop. The Summer Creative Writing Workshops are offered by Writers in the Schools in collaboration with Rice University's School Literacy and Culture Project.

Ages: Entering grades 6-12

Dates: June 8-26 (other sessions are closed and currently have a waiting list)

Cost: $460

LUBBOCK

Science — It's a Girl Thing

This girls-only science camp promotes future women scientists. Students attend hands-on science classes in university classrooms and laboratories.

Ages: Entering grades 5-11

Dates: Session 1, June 22-25; Session 2, July 20-23

Cost: $320

Wind Engineering Camp

This camp explores the power of the wind and how it's harnessed. Students learn how scientists forecast and measure the wind, learn basics of turbine design, and build and test their own wind turbine.

Ages: Entering grades 7-11

Dates: June 7-12

Cost: $595

MOUNT PLEASANT

Camp Langston Texas Adventure Camp

This outdoors-oriented camp in northeast Texas offers the opportunity to work with horses and learn rodeo skills, including indoor rodeo and barrel racing. Other activities include canoeing, archery, shooting and ATV trail rides.

Ages: 6-14

Dates: Week 1, June 28-July 4; Week 2, July 5-11; Week 3, July 12-18; Week 4, July 19-25

Cost: $350 per week

PORT ARANSAS

Texas Surf Camp

This camp allows students to spend five days learning to surf with pro surfer Morgan Faulkner. In the afternoons, campers study ecology and marine biology at the University of Texas Marine Science Institute and attend lectures and hands-on skill sessions. All participants complete the course with American Red Cross certifications in first aid and CPR.

Ages: 11 and up

Dates: Session 1, June 15-19; Session 2, June 22-26

Cost: $750, plus $100 transportation

SAN ANTONIO

SeaWorld Expedition Camp

Campers at SeaWorld's Expedition Camp, for grades 7-8, and Junior Expedition Camp, for grades 5-6, enjoy getting up close and personal with the marine life at SeaWorld. Camp activities include feeding and learning about a number of animals, including stingrays, seals, parrots, dolphins and sea lions. Campers also talk to animal trainers, learn about endangered species, and enjoy a sleepover at Penguin Encounter.

Ages: Entering grade 5-8

Dates: June 7-12, June 21-26, July 5-10, July 19-24, August 2-7, August 16-21

Cost: $900

Summer Art Camp

These art camps at the Southwest School of Art & Craft offer students a huge variety of classes, including pottery, photography, painting, drawing, collage, watercolor, sewing, stained glass, printmaking, basketry, kinetic sculpture, fashion illustration, cartooning, tapestry weaving, mobile-making, anime, eco art, batik, paper quilting, puppetry, doll-making and more!

Ages: 5-12, 13-16

Dates: Week 1, June 8-12; Week 2, June 15-19; Week 3, June 22-26; Week 4, June 29-July 2; Week 5, July 6-10; Week 6, July 13-17; Week 7, July 20-24; Week 8, July 27-31; Week 9, August 3-7; Week 10, August 10-14

Cost: $135 per week for half-day camp; $290 for 8-week half-day camp

Scholarships available

SAN MARCOS

Aquatic Sciences Adventure Camp

This camp, sponsored by the Edwards Aquifer Research and Data Center and Texas State University, teaches students about aquatic biology and water chemistry. Activities include tubing on the San Marcos River, glass-bottom boat rides at Aquarena Center, snorkeling and scuba at a local dive facility, rafting on the Guadalupe River, swimming at Landa Park pool and a trip to Sea World San Antonio.

Ages: 9-15

Dates: Camps for different age groups take place throughout the summer; check the Web site for further information.

Cost: $680 resident camp, $130 day camp

Scholarships available

Texas Mathworks Junior Summer Math Camp

The Texas State Mathworks camp is a multi-level, two-week program that ranges from beginning concepts in algebra through play-acting and drama (dramathics) to a more advanced program in problem solving and discreet math. The half-day program is held at DeZavala Elementary School in San Marcos. The residential camp is for the most advanced scholars only, and is on the Texas State University campus.

Ages: Entering grades 4-8

Dates: June 8-19, 2009

Cost: $995 residential camp, $290 half-day program

Scholarships available

Deadline: April

TYLER

Balloon Federation of America Hot Air Balloon Camp

The ultimate experience for anyone wanting to learn more about hot air balloons. Campers do not need previous experience handling balloons, and balloon tethers are scheduled throughout the camp — weather permitting — under the leadership of certified pilots. The camp includes visits to balloon- and aviation-related sites, as well as hands-on activities and presentations on balloon piloting.

Ages: 13-18

Dates: July 12-16, 2009

Cost: $395

Scholarships available

Deadline: July

WESLACO

Kids' Nature Photo Camp

This four-day camp at Valley Nature Center offers students the chance to work with professional nature photographer Ruth Hoyt. Classroom time covers basic functions and and operations of digital cameras. Outdoor time is spent photographing nature subjects.

Ages: 8-15

Dates: July 14-17, 2009

Cost: $120 — all equipment is provided

Deadline: July 1

PLEASE NOTE: This camp listing and links to other camp lists above are intended for informational purposes only and do not represent an endorsement by the Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts. To request to add a camp listing you don't see here, e-mail us.