• TYLER PARKER

In Vermont, schools let out in mid-June and start back up again at the end of August. For 10 weeks or so, kids are hanging out at home — unless you can find something else for them to do.

Luckily, the Green Mountain State is home to a vast array of camps and summer programs that offer the kind of learning experiences you just can't find in the classroom. At camp, kids can make new friends, get outdoors and test their independence by spending time away from home.

Or if you'd rather have your little learners concentrate more on academics, there are camps for that, too.

To help you understand all of your options, we've created an easy-to-navigate directory of area summer camps. We've noted the type of camp, the age of the campers, the location and the dates of the sessions. We've also included phone numbers and websites where you can find program details and fees.

This month, we're listing traditional day and sleepaway camps, academic camps and adventure camps. In the March issue, we'll feature camps focused on arts, athletics, religion, science and nature and specific themes like computer programming. We'll also point out camps that serve specific types of campers — kids with parents serving in the military, for example.

Got specific questions? Ask them in person at the upcoming Kids VT Camp & School Fair on Saturday, February 7, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Hilton Burlington. We've noted the camps listed here that, as of January 23, had registered to exhibit.

Good luck filling up those long summer days. They'll be here before you know it!

— Cathy Resmer

General Interest Day Camps

*Registered to exhibit at the Kids VT Camp & School Fair

• Camp Abenaki Mascoma (Girl Scouts) Girls • ages 5-18 • June 29-July 10 • Thetford • 888-474-9686
• *Camp Edge Day • coed • ages 5-12 • June 15-August 28 • Essex/Williston/South Burlington • 879-7734
• *Camp Greylock Coed • ages 6-15 • June 23-August 22 • Ferrisburgh • 652-8139
• *Camp Koda (YMCA) Coed • ages 5-12 • June 23-August 22 • various locations • 652-8150
• Camp Twin Hills (Girl Scouts) Girls • ages 5-18 • June 29-July 17 • Richmond • 888-474-9686
• Farm & Wilderness Barn Day Camp Coed • ages 4-10 • June 29-August 14 • Plymouth • 422-3761
• Green Mountain Day Camp (Girl Scouts) Girls • ages 5-18 • June 22-June 26 • Salisbury • 989-4449
• *Heartworks Summer Camp Coed • ages 2-5 • June 22-August 14 • Shelburne • 985-2153
• *Renaissance Enrichment Academy Coed • ages 6-11 • June 22-July 24 • Shelburne • 985-2153
• Saxon Hill Summer Camp Coed • ages 3-9 • Call for dates • Jericho • 899-3832
• *The Schoolhouse Coed • ages 5-13 • June 22-August 21 • South Burlington • 658-4164

Traditional Sleepaway Camps

• Aloha Camp for Girls Girls • ages 12-17 • June 24-August 12 • Fairlee • 333 -3400
• *Brown Ledge Camp Girls • ages 10-18 • June 25-August 19 • Colchester • 862-2442
• *Camp Abnaki Boys • ages 6-16 • June 21-August 15 • North Hero • 652-8180
• Camp Betsey Cox Girls • ages 6-15 • June 28-August 22 • Pittsford • 866-213-4717
• *Camp Birch Hill Coed • ages 6-16 • June 28-August 9 • New Durham, N.H. • 603-859-4525
• Camp Dudley (See "Endless Summer," page 22.) Boys • ages 10-15 • June 23-August 24 • Westport, N.Y. • 518-962-4720
• *Camp Hawkeye Coed • ages 8-16 • June 29-August 23 • Moultonborough, N.H. • 718-315-1297
• *Camp Hochelega Girls • ages 6-17 • June 28-August 15 • South Hero •862-7520
• *Hosmer Point Coed • ages 5-15 • June 21-August 14 • Craftsbury Common • 586-7767
• Camp Kiniya Girls • ages 9-15 • June 23-August 24 • Colchester • 893-7850
• Camp Sangamon Boys • ages 9-16 • June 28-August 22 • Pittsford • 665-7505
• Keewaydin Dunmore Boys • ages 8-16 • June 28-August 22 • Salisbury • 352-4770
• *Pok-O-MacCready Camps Girls/boys/coed • ages 6-16 • June 28-August 15 • Willsboro, N.Y. • 518-963-7656
• Songadeewin Girls • ages 8-16 • June 28-August 22 • Salisbury • 352-9860

Adventure Camps

• *Champlain Discovery Day/sleepaway • coed • ages 13-16 • June 22-July 25 • Vergennes • 475-2022
• *Green Mountain Freestyle Center Day • coed • ages 6-18 • Call for dates • Williston • 652-2454
• Green Mountain Rock Climbing Center Day/sleepaway • coed • ages 7-18 • July 6-August 14 • Quechee/Rutland • 773-3343
• Farm & Wilderness Sleepaway • girls/boys/coed • ages 9-17 • July 1-August 16 • Plymouth/Mt. Holly • 422-3761
• Keewaydin Temagami Sleepaway • coed • ages 10-18 • June 20-August 11 • various locations • 352-4709
• *Lake Champlain Maritime Museum Lake Adventure Camps Day • coed • ages 4-16 • June 22-August 14 • Burlington/Vergennes • 475-2022
• *Night Eagle Wilderness Adventure Sleepaway • boys • ages 9-14 • June 28-August 8 • Cuttingsville • 446-6100
• *Northern Lights Rock and Ice Day • coed • ages 6-15 • June 22-August 21 • Essex Junction • 316-3300
• *Petra Cliffs Day/sleepaway • coed • ages 6-16 • June 15-August 21 • Burlington • 657-3872
• *Raised Jay Day/sleepaway • coed • ages 6-15 • July 6-August 14 • Jay • 327-2596
• *Smuggs Camp Day/sleepaway • coed • ages 5-15 • June 15-July 31 • Smugglers' Notch • 332-6841
• Talent Skatepark Day • coed • ages 5-13 • June 15-August 21 • Williston •864-2069
• *Vermont Adventure Camps Sleepaway • coed • ages 13-17 • June 14-August 15 • Thetford Center • 591-0328

Academic Camps

• Future Einsteins Day • coed • ages 6-12 • June 9-August 21 • Colchester • 288-9035
• International Children's School Day • coed • ages 3-6 • July 6-24 • South Burlington • 865-3344
• Kumon Math & Reading of the Upper Valley Day • coed • ages 3-18 • June 1-August 30 • Norwich • 649-1416
• Middlebury Monterey Language Academy Sleepaway • coed • ages 13-18 • June 21-July 16 • Colchester (French, Chinese) / Poultney (Arabic, German, Spanish) • 888-216-0135
• *Stern Center for Language and Learning Camp Compass Day • coed • call for ages and dates • Williston • 878-2332
• *Sylvan Learning Center Day • coed • call for ages and dates • South Burlington • 864-5600
• *Talent Development Institute Day/sleepaway • coed • ages 9-14 • June 21-27 • Johnson • 658-9941