New England Aquarium offering virtual programming during temporary closures

With students across New England (and the US) home from school amid closures related to the COVID-19 (Coronavirus) outbreak, the New England Aquarium is offering special virtual programming to keep families engaged.

Each day at 11:00 a.m., (10am Central) content will be posted on the Aquarium’s social media platforms that includes live videos with educators, a behind-the-scenes look at animal care, and fun activities for children. Online visitors will also find a special webpage on neaq.org to take a “virtual visit” to the Aquarium, featuring video, at-home projects, and other educational resources. This page will be updated regularly with fresh material.

Last week, the Aquarium made the decision to close to the public and suspend all events and educational programming for a minimum of three weeks as a precautionary move to protect staff and visitors and ensure continued care for the animals. Much of the special programming available online will focus on the important work still happening at the Aquarium amid the closure.

“Even though our doors are closed to the public, a limited number of Aquarium staff are onsite daily caring for and supporting our nearly 20,000 animals,” said Vikki N. Spruill, President and CEO. “Engaging and inspiring the public about the wonders of our blue planet is central to our mission. We are delighted to be able to provide an educational outlet for families and their students who are losing valuable time in the classroom.”

The New England Aquarium has a long-standing tradition of supporting education outside its walls. That includes homeschool program offerings, classroom resources for teachers, and educational tools for parents.

The public can find special features and projects on:

NEAQ.org

Facebook – @NewEnglandAquarium

Twitter – @NEAQ

Instagram – @newenglandaquarium

 

COVID-19 Resources for Families in Birmingham

Our community and many companies are coming together to help ease the stress of the school closings for parents during the COVID-19 shutdown. Whether it’s free meals or online learning classes, there are more and more options for helping parents during this time. We will continue to update this list as we learn more.

COVID-19 Resources for Families in Birmingham

 

Meals:

Birmingham City Schools:
“Grab-and-go” meals for students
Multiple locations (check website for details)
Hours vary

Charley’s at Brookwood Mall:
744 Brookwood Village Ste 239 | Birmingham, AL 35209
Free kids meal to any child

Homewood Bagel Company:
2907 Central Avenue | Homewood 35209
If you are concerned about your child not being able to eat breakfast or lunch due to the school closures bring them to Homewood Bagel for free cereal breakfasts or PBJ lunches. No questions asked.

Homewood CNP
Will be making lunch each day for those Homewood Students and delivering them to a pick up spot. They will also be given breakfast for the following day.

ALL Hoover City Schools
*Student meals will be available at Green Valley Elementary School next week (Monday-Friday) between 11:00 a.m. and 1:00 p.m. These will be drive-up, grab-and-go bagged meals. Green Valley Elementary School is located at 3200 Old Columbiana Road Hoover, AL 35226

Morris Volunteer Fire Dept:
668 1st Ave S, Morris, AL 35116
Hours vary, call for details

Over Easy:
358 Hollywood Blvd. | Birmingham, Alabama 35209
If the school closures have you concerned about a child not being able to eat breakfast or lunch, bring them to the OE M-F for a free kid’s breakfast or lunch. No questions asked.

Pizzaria GM
600 Oak Grove Road | Homewood, Alabama 35209
In support of our local community, bring the kids in for lunch Monday – Friday until they go back to school and they eat free!

St. Clair County Schools:
Free lunch and breakfast to ANY child
Multiple locations (check website for more information)
Opens 11AM

YMCA Chilton County:
405 Ollie Ave | Clanton, Alabama 35045
Serving free lunch for all school aged children at the Y when school is out.

Vintage Comfort Food Truck
Free PBJ & other food items to children
Delivery to Hoover and surrounding areas (contact owner on their Facebook page)
Opens 6AM, Mon – Fri

Learning Resources:

Comcast:
Offering new customers 60 days of complimentary Internet Essentials service, which is normally available to all qualified low-income households for $9.95/month. For more information click here

McHarper Manor:
Beginning March 16th, our studio will be going live daily with free art & craft tutorials to create at home with your kids! We’ll have shopping lists (with links to the supplies you can order from Amazon) to have on-hand to complete the projects with us! For supply lists click here

Scholastic:
Free Resources for school closures can be found HERE

Spectrum:
Beginning March 16, the company commits to offering free internet for 60 days to households with K-12 or college students who don’t already have a Spectrum subscription.
To enroll, call 1-844-488-8395. Or for more information, click here.

Virtual Museum Tours:
12 museums offer virtual tours, click here for details

Kidstir:
Free cooking kit to the first 5000 to register. Just pay shipping. Order here while supplies last.

5 Tips for Students (and Parents) Dealing with Online Schooling

Little girl holding pencil doing school workMany Americans are familiar with the acronym WFH (Work From Home); however, not as many are familiar with the similar acronym SFH (School From Home).

As U.S. schools and colleges nationwide react to the global coronavirus pandemic, many education institutions are moving classes online—or planning to—and students are having to deal with the transition to SFH.

Brainly, the world’s largest online learning community with 150 million monthly users, surveyed 1,600 U.S. high school and college students to find out how the coronavirus is impacting them.

Nationwide, 40% of students worry their grades will be negatively impacted by school closures or transitions to online classes due to coronavirus.

Eric Oldfield, Chief Business Officer of Brainly, has a few tips for students who are suddenly having to SFH to maximize their productivity and ensure they don’t fall behind during the lapse in classroom instruction.

1. CARVE OUT SPACE. Setting up a dedicated SFH zone that is organized and tech-ready is crucial to maintain a routine and ensure academic success. If you are not able to carve out space for a desk and are working at a kitchen table, on the couch or on a countertop, Brainly recommends having a designated school bag where you keep your computer and any necessary school materials. This allows you to be flexible in your schoolwork space but also have everything you need in one place.

2. BREAK TIME. Nationwide, 40% of students report that staying focused is the biggest challenge when receiving online instruction. And let’s face it: sitting and learning for hours on end can be extremely mentally exhausting. The easiest ways students can ensure they’re able to stay focused when SFH is taking breaks to recharge their minds. So, what is the ideal length of your breaks? The best way to maximize productivity is by taking SHORT breaks – say 5 to 15 minutes – every hour or so. Then take a longer break – at least 30 minutes – every 2 to 4 hours (depending on your tasks).

3. SOCIAL INTERACTION. Humans are social animals, and SFH can feel isolated for many students who are used to highly social interactions and periods of time throughout their day. Thankfully, online communities like Brainly or Kahoot bring in elements of social learning and encourage collaboration and the exchange of knowledge and ideas. You can take advantage of any number of these peer-to-peer learning platforms to stay engaged.

4. NO PAJAMAS. For many students starting to SFH for the first time, it can be difficult to delineate the start of the school day and ensure they get in the right academic mental space without the physical classroom around them. One of the best ways to ensure you continue academic routines and success is to actually get up and get dressed for the day as if you were still going to a physical class. Plus, bonus points that you’ll look good for video-conferencing if needed!

5. BE HEALTHY. It’s no secret that you can’t concentrate when you’re hungry and you won’t be prepared to bring your A-game if you haven’t had a proper night’s rest. Students should make sure they have ready-to-grab nutritious snacks prepared for their SFH days so they don’t have to take disruptive breaks to rifle through the pantry or refrigerator to find something to eat. Similarly, sleep and exercise are just as crucial for SFH success as they are for a regular school day– if not more.

Coronovirus Closures and Cancellations around Birmingham

Many experts have advised that communities across the Country reduce and alter events that typically draw large crowds. As mentioned on our Facebook Page, we will continue to keep you updated on happenings around the city, however some of the events listed on our website may occur while others may be cancelled or postponed. If you don’t see your event listed, please check with the event websites to make sure everything is still going according to plan.

Closures and Cancellations in Birmingham

ALABAMA SCHOOLS:
Alabama Schools will close effective Thursday March 19th and plan to reopen April 6th.
The following school systems have elected to close effective immediately:

Alabaster
Homewood
Vestavia
Birmingham City Schools
Oneonta
Jefferson County Schools
Bessemer
Shelby County Schools
Pelham
Chilton County Schools
Pell City
St Clair County
Fairfield
Tarrant
Trussville City
*Mountain Brook City Schools will be e-learning only from March 16 through March 18 before closing

Alabama Institute for Deaf and Blind:
AIDB will extend spring break by one week. All students will be sent home tomorrow, Friday 13, 2020. We will continue to monitor the COVID-19 situation while our students are off campus and will remain in contact with parents and guardians. We expect students to return, as normally scheduled, on Sunday, March 29th to begin class on Monday, March 30th.

Alabama International Auto Show at the BJCC Exhibition Hall:
Scheduled for April 2-5, will be postponed to a later date.

Acting Out Academy:
1) Starting Monday March 16th we will be holding all classes via zoom. We will send information on how to do that soon!
2) Tomorrow’s Saturday classes are cancelled out of an abundance of caution. We will have a make-up class on Saturday May 16th.
3) Since many of us will now be home for spring break and mostly likely out of school for a while too, we will be adding a few extra online classes as well as doing Skype privates to keep everyone busy so stay tuned!

Alabama School of Fine Arts:
Online learning will begin Monday, March 16th and classes will resume on March 30th unless told otherwise.

Alabama Soccer:
At this time we will be suspending all play (ASL,Tournaments,Practice,Games) in Alabama associated with ASA through March 29th.

Aldridge Gardens:
All educational classes have been cancelled and will be rescheduled. This includes bird walks, field trips, and any other classes that are scheduled through Aldridge Gardens. Weddings that were anticipating attendance over 50 people have also been postponed to a future date.

Apple Stores:
All Apple stores closed until March 27th

Birmingham Barons:
2020 Season start date will be delayed. New start date TBD

Birmingham Bulls:
Suspended the 2019-2020 season effective immediately.

Birmingham Southern Athletics:
Will suspend all athletic activities after March 20th

Birmingham Southern:
Spring break will be extended for students by one week, concluding on April 3. Students are encouraged to remain at home after spring break when BSC will transition to online instruction.

Birmingham United Soccer Association:
All Games, Practices, Individual Sessions and other BUSA related activities have been canceled until March 30th, the Monday after our Spring Break Week in Birmingham.

Birmingham Volleyball Club:
Effective immediately all BVC activities are suspended. This includes tournaments (Heff Memorial Tournament scheduled for 3/14), all club team practices, practice player practices, agility & conditioning, court crashers, and any activities at the BVC Center. At this time, the suspension will last until March 22.

Brian Regan at the Alabama Theatre:
Performance taking place at on March 20 at the Alabama Theatre will be postponed. We are working to reschedule the date, and we will alert fans as soon as a new date has been scheduled. Fans should hold on to their tickets, which will be valid

Cher at the BJCC:
CHER has announced the postponement of all concerts on the “Here We Go Again Tour” effective immediately. The Birmingham, AL date scheduled for March 18, will not be re-scheduled due to impending renovations at the venue.  Refunds will be posted to credit card within 7-10 days.

Chris Stapleton’s All American Road Show at the BJCC:
Birmingham show for March 21st will be re-scheduled for a later date TBD

Darci Lynn and Friends at the BJCC Concert Hall:
March 28th show has been postponed with rescheduled date to be announced shortly:

Element Student Ministry at Trinity Methodist Church In Homewood:
All Element programs and Ministries cancelled until further notice

Emmet O’Neal Library:
Closed until further notice.

Exceptional Foundation:
Effectively immediately, The Exceptional Foundation will be closed for all daily programs and extracurricular activities. Unfortunately, we will have to postpone our prom that was set for Sunday, April 5. Schedule to re-open April 6th.

Gardendale Soccer Club:
ALL Gardendale Soccer Club practices and games have been suspended until March 29.

Greater Birmingham Humane Society:
Beginning Thursday, March 12 the Greater Birmingham Humane Society (GBHS), is temporarily suspending all on-site and off-site events. Please note that this suspension of events includes the Sips for Strays event on 3/12/2020 and the BMW Adoption Event on 3/14/2020.

High Point Climbing:
Will discontinue all group oriented events and programs effective Sunday, March 15th through March 31st. This includes all classes, youth programming, yoga, climbing leagues, and community events. If you currently have a group event or birthday party booked with us during this time, a High Point representative will be in contact with you shortly to discuss your booking options.

Hoover Public Library:
The Hoover Public Library will be closed Sunday, March 15th and will reopen for curbside delivery only beginning Monday, March 16th. Curbside delivery will be available during normal business hours. Patrons may call the library at 444-7800 to request items for pickup or use our online reserve system by visiting our web site at www.hooverlibrary.org. Also, during this time, the library will waive fines on all Hoover materials. In the meantime, patrons can access many online services, such as downloadable audiobooks, ebooks, videos and magazines as well as databases on our web site. Our wireless network will remain available to use in our parking lot. We will notify the community as soon as possible as to when we will return to normal operating business.

Lauren Daigle at the BJCC:
Reschedule all our upcoming shows through 4/29, including Birmingham. Reschedule dates, TBD

March Gourd Madness at the Clanton Performing Arts Center:
Event for March 20 & 21, 2020has been CANCELLED. Those signed up for classes will be refunded.

Mason Music:
In coordination with public health officials and our staff, we have made the decision to move our lessons online beginning this coming Monday, March 16.

McWane Science Center:
McWane Science Center will be closed until further notice, effective Monday, March 16. Check social media and website for updates.

Natural Hair Show at BJCC Exhibition Hall:
Birmingham Show for March 21st, postponed no new date at this time.

Nike:
All Nike stores across the US closed until March 27th

Oak Mountain Pediatric Dentistry
Closing this week to all elective procedures and cleanings. Will still be available for emergencies.

Opera Birmingham:
Performances of Cinderella on March 20 and 22 are cancelled.

Samford University:
Beginning Monday, March 16, all Samford University courses will move to online instruction until at least April 6. Visit their coronavirus webpage for ongoing updates and more information.

Saturn Birmingham:
Beginning Monday 3/16 all shows will be suspended through 3/31

Shelby County Schools Sporting Events:
All sporting events cancelled until April 3rd.

Sidewalk Film Center and Cinema:
Sidewalk Cinema will be closing Thursday, March 12 with a target reopen date of Thursday, March 26, pending additional guidance from local authorities as well as the CDC and World Health Organization. Our 22nd Annual Sidewalk Film Festival, August 24-30 is set to take place as scheduled.

St. Patrick’s Day Party at Soho Social
Event scheduled for March 17th is cancelled

SWAC Tournament Bartow Arena:
All SWAC games suspended.

The Bell Center:
Expanding Spring Break to begin 3/16

Trussville United Soccer Club:
At this time TUSC will be suspending all play through March 29th. This includes practice, games, tournaments, and friendly matches for all of our programs- Intramurals, Juniors, Recreational, Academy & Competitive.

University of Alabama, Birmingham:
UAB will be extending its originally scheduled spring break through at least March 24. Following spring break, students should not return to campus and will continue their course work via distance learning. Students, faculty and staff will be notified when the semester will resume. More info: https://www.uab.edu/news/coronavirus

UniverSoul Circus at Legion Field:
Postponed. Dates for future shows will be announced at a later dates.

Vestavia Hill Library in the Forest:
Closed effective immediately until further notice. The lockers at Liberty Pharmacy will remain operable during pharmacy hours. Additionally, we are exploring options for online program offerings. Program options will be announced via social media and on the library website at vestavialibrary.org.

Closures and Cancellations Near Birmingham

Alabama State University:
After Spring Break, students should not return to campus for face-to-face classes as online and other alternative delivery methods will be used to allow students to complete their courses for the semester.

The University will communicate with all students about plans for returning to campus to retrieve personal belongings from the residence halls.

Auburn University:
Auburn University will transition from on-campus instruction to remote delivery beginning Monday, March 16 and continue through April 10

Jacksonville State University:
Effective Friday, March 13, all JSU classes will begin online/distance education. Additionally all campus events have been cancelled.

Troy University:
We will transition classes at all Troy University locations to online or other alternative delivery formats effective Monday, March 16. In-person classes are currently scheduled to resume Monday, April 6.

University of Alabama:
Student spring break is extended until March 30 as UA transitions to remote learning. After Friday, March 13, The University of Alabama will extend spring break for students through Sunday, March 29, to allow additional time for instructors to transition to alternative teaching resources. Remote instruction will resume Monday, March 30. Students should not return to campus when classes resume. Students will continue their course work via distance learning. More info: http://bit.ly/38HiFrD

University of Montevallo:
Extending its spring break for students and begin earlier than originally scheduled on Monday, March 16.

36th Annual St Patrick’s Day Parade

Put on some green and head out to the 36th Annual St. Patrick’s Day Parade, led by the Ian Sturrock Memorial Pipe Band.

Come early for kids activities, live music and brunch or stay after the parade to grab some lunch, dinner or a drink from any of the participating merchants who will be offering Irish food and drink specials ALL day from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. While getting into the Irish spirit, grab a great spot to watch the parade with the family or visit one of our many indoor music venues.

Parade
Saturday, March 14th from 1:30 p.m. to 2:30 p.m.
Click Here for Parade Route

Line-up Starts at 11 a.m.
2001 15th Ave. S. (Zydeco)

Lucky Zone for Kids at Chick Fil A 5 pts

Entertainment
3:30 p.m. – 3:40 p.m. – Bagpipes
11:15 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. – Irish Dancing
11:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. – Games & Activities

Chick-fil-A Herd of Cows
Face Painting – Starshine Faces
Balloon Artist – Startshine Faces
McWane Science Center
Mini Horses & Goats from Wendy’s Minis
Birmingham Police Horse
Birmingham Fire Truck
Sparky from the Birmingham Fire Department
V from Vulcan
Babe Ruff from Birmingham Barons
Westwood Irish Dancers

Event of the Week: Color4Friendship One-Mile Color Run

Join Friendship Circle of Alabama in raising awareness for individuals with special needs by taking part in a one mile COLOR RUN!

The Color4Friendship Run is a 1 mile, un-timed event in which “Color Runners”, are doused from head to toe in different colors at different points throughout the mile. We are running to proclaim love, inclusion, and friendship for all people, regardless of any disability, emotional or physical, one may have. The fun continues after Color Runners complete the race with a super fun fair with music, color throws, inflatables, balloons, and more!

Sunday March 15 at 1:30 at the LJCC- 3960 Montclair Rd, Birmingham, AL 35213

Get your tickets at https://www.eventbrite.com/e/88875263305

See you there!

Member Appreciation Morning at the Birmingham Zoo

As a thank you for supporting the Zoo, Members ONLY are invited to a special Member Appreciation Morning this Saturday, March 14 from 8am until 9am.

Members can enjoy special breakfast treats (while supplies last) and FREE rides until 9am. Don’t miss this chance to explore the Zoo before it opens to other guests with early morning fun!

To become a Zoo Member to enjoy this event, free admission daily, and a variety of other perks, click here!

Birmingham Summer Camps, 2020

WE’RE SO GLAD YOU FOUND OUR LIST OF SUMMER CAMPS FOR 2020!!! DUE TO COVID19 MANY OF THESE CAMPS HAVE BEEN CANCELLED OR HAVE ADJUSTED THEIR DATES AND TIMES. PLEASE VISIT OUR UPDATED LIST FOR CAMPS THAT WILL OPERATE FOR SUMMER 2020!  CLICK HERE ——>   UPDATED SUMMER CAMP LIST 2020

 

Birmingham Area Summer Camps are registering now! Summer time is just around the corner for Birmingham Families, many of our area attractions have great options for Summer Camps to help Moms look like heroes while keeping the kiddos entertained during the Summer Break. Check out this full guide of options available for 2020!

Birmingham Summer Camps 2020

Advent Episcopal School:

2019 Sixth Ave. North | Birmingham | 205.252.3535 | adventepiscopalschool.org/summer
June 8th – July 24th

Variety of programs to engage, enrich, and entertain students of all ages through the summer break. Open to rising pre-kindergarten through eighth grade students from the greater Birmingham area, the summer program is centered at Advent and designed to stimulate and challenge students over the course of six great weeks.

Alabama Ballet:

2726 First Ave South | Birmingham | 205.322.4300 | www.alabamaballet.org

Junior Camp:
Students will take age appropriate ballet classes, learn modern dance and jazz technique, and take character and/or theatre dance classes. All students will study dance history and prepare for an end of the session performance. Family and friends are invited to join us for this performance.

July 20th – 31st.  Ages 8-12  $285 weekly

Tutus and Tiaras:
Does your little one dance around the house pretending to be Cinderella or the Sugarplum Fairy? Is “Barbie Swan Lake” in heavy rotation on your DVD player? Then Tutus & Tiaras is for you! For one week, four hours a day, children ages 4- 7 will take age appropriate ballet and tap classes, create ballet-oriented crafts and learn how ballet dancers tell stories with pantomime. During these four hours, the children will also have a story time where they can learn the story of ballets such as The Nutcracker, Swan Lake, Don Quixote, The Sleeping Beauty and other classical ballets.
Session 1 | July 20th – 24th
Session 2 | July 27th – 31st
$250 weekly

Alabama School of Fine Arts:

1800 Reverend Abraham Woods, Jr. Blvd | Birmingham | 205.252.9241 | CLICK TO REGISTER NOW 

ASFA Summer Camps meet the needs of the young sketch artist to the young scientist. Programs are designed to educate, inspire and enrich the student in a fun and collaborative environment. Campers may choose to build their dance technique, their confidence on the stage or even an app.
June 1st – June 19th | Rising 5th and up | Multiple camps offered starting at $195

Aldridge Gardens

3530 Lorna Road | Hoover | 205.682.8019 | aldridgegardens.com
June 3rd – June 26th | 5k – 5th Grade

June will be a full month long of excitement, entertainment and, of course, education at Aldridge Gardens. Whether your little campers like American Girls, art, music, cooking or building and engineering We have something they’re sure to enjoy!

Acting Out Academy

2531 Rocky Ridge Road, Suite 125 | Birmingham | www.actingoutacademy.com
June 15th – June 19th | Ages 8-18 | $650

The summer’s biggest and best on-camera training program is going to be bigger than ever!
Acting Out Academy set out three years ago to create a camp to give kid actors the best and most well rounded on- camera TRAINING for kids to WORK in film and TV and introduce them to top regional and national agents.

Beauty and Brains

Vestavia Civic Center | beautyandbrainsgirlsstem.com
June 15th – July 31st | Multiple camps offered | K- 8th grade

Beauty & Brains is a fun, creative, high energy, and hands-on innovative STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) summer camp program. We wholeheartedly believe that summer camp should be super-duper crazy fun and amazingly enriching at the same time. We aim to empower and inspire girls through a variety of critical thinking projects that give them the chance to explore and experiment with science, creative design, math, engineering and technology – all while having fun in a gender affirming environment. Our goal is for girls to increase their interest, understanding and participation in innovative STEM related activities and careers.  We work to increase their creative and critical thinking skills. Our vision is to create a world of girls that are not afraid to become innovators, idea makers and game changers.

Birmingham Botanical Gardens

2612 Lane Park Road | Birmingham | 205.414.3950 | bbgardens.org
May 26th – July 31st | Ages 4 – 6th Grade

Programs are designed to actively promote your child’s natural sense of creativity and discovery with fun learning experiences in the unmatched setting at Birmingham Botanical Gardens!

Birmingham Children’s Theatre

2130 Richard Arrington Jr. Blvd N | Birmingham | 205.458.8181 | www.bct123.org
Camp Dates: June and July | Ages 4 – 17

One of the nation’s oldest and largest professional theatre companies for young audiences, Birmingham Children’s Theatre produces high-quality, professional theatrical entertainment and curriculum-relevant arts education experiences for children and families.

Birmingham Fencing Club

1581 Montgomery Highway, Suite 109 | Birmingham | 205.823.4448 | https://www.fencingclub.org/
DATES TO BE ANNOUNCED | Ages 6-12

Summer Camps introduce students to the basics of fencing. You have lots of choices, selecting activities for your children, and we offer a unique opportunity. The sport of fencing is gaining popularity.

Birmingham School of Music

800 Old Towne Road | Birmingham | 205.969.8763 | birminghamschoolofmusic.com
Camp Dates: May – July | Classes available for ages 5 and up

Drum Set Camp, Guitar Camp, Rock ‘n Roll Band Camp, Musical Theater/Vocal Camp, Beginner Music Camp.

Block Out Academy Volleyball Camps

133 West Oxmoor Road, Suite 203 | Homewood | 205.401.6485 | CLICK HERE TO REGISTER 

2020 Dates TBA

Camp Fliptastic at Head Over Heels Gymnastics

500 Caldwell Mill Trace | Birmingham | 205.981.2720 | www.headoverheelsgyms.com
June 8th – July 29th | Ages 3- 14

Daily Themes, fantastic staff, creative crafts, circus arts and plenty of gymnastics

Camp Indian Springs

190 Woodward Drive | Indian Springs | 205.982.9720 |  www.campindiansprings119.com
May 26th – July 24th | Ages 5 – 13

Camp Indian Springs is a summer day camp for kids ages 5-13 at Indian Springs School located on HWY 119. Campers will spend their summer engaged in on-campus activities including tennis, hiking, beach volleyball, gymnasium sports, outdoor sports, gardening and arts and crafts along with field trips such as bowling, movies, skating and more!

Camp VST at Virginia Samford Theatre

1116 26th Street S | Birmingham | 205.251.1228 | virginiasamfordtheatre.org/vststars/camp-vst
June 1st – June 19th | Ages 7-17

Summer theatre intensive designed to give children the opportunity to explore all aspects of working in live theatre. Aciting, singing, dancing, stage makeup, improv, stage-combat and more.

The Dance Foundation

1715 27th Court South | Homewood | 205.870.0073 | www.thedancefoundation.org
entering 4K: Tu-Th 9am-1pm | $145/session | June 9-11 | June 16-18 | July 14-16
entering 5K: M-F 9am-1pm | $190/session | June 8-12 | June 15-19 | July 6-10

Summer Day Camps are led by by caring, enthusiastic professional staff in our studios in Downtown Homewood. Early drop-off option is available for full-day camps. All campers should bring a lunch each day.  Snacks provided for full-day campers. All campers receive a T-shirt.

The Exceptional Foundation

1616 Oxmoor Road | Birmingham | 205.870.0776 | www.exceptionalfoundation.org
June 8th – July 31st | Ages 5 and up

Social and recreational activities  for individuals with special needs. Campers will have the opportunity to do art, play sports and go on field trips.

Fish Camp Films Summer Camps

2020 Summer Camps TBA

We all have our favorite stories and films, but what if you could learn the secrets to making your own? At Fish Camp Films, we’re sharing all the tips and tricks! Students will learn from filmmakers, photographers and professional storytellers as they create their own portfolio and experience the city through a new lens.

Through trainings based on both professional equipment and the cameras they always have with them —smartphones — campers will learn the techniques to artfully tell a story. With opportunities to capture the city and visit filmmakers on set, this is a great summer experience for students that love all things media.

Fresh Air Family

Gross Out Camps | Various Locations around Birmingham | www.freshairfamily.org/gross-out-camp
June and July

Hands-on field biology along with science experiments. Outdoor lessons in nature. Learning so much fun, they will never know it! Live animal shows, exploring in creek beds, exploring the woods, under rocks and digging for decomposers, and Roly Poly races.

Highlands School Summer Camp

4901 Old Leeds Road | Birmingham | 205.956.9731 | www.highlandsschool.org
June 1st – July 31st (no camp 4th of July week) | Ages 4k – 8th grade

Art, sports, science and more.

High Point Climbing and Fitness

4766 Hwy 280 | Birmingham | 205.981.9190 | www.highpointclimbing.com/birmingham

High Point camps teach kids 5-14 years old about rock climbing. Our enthusiastic instructors will teach climbing skills and equipment usage, and facilitate warm-up and team building games to keep your young athlete engaged, moving, and having fun!

Hoover Met Complex Summer Sports Camp

100 Ben Chapman Dr | Hoover | 205.739.7364 | www.hoovermetcomplex.com
June 1st – July 31st (no camps week of July 4th ) | Ages 5-13

Build the foundation for physical skills and teamwork with sports including, basketball, flag football, soccer, and volleyball

Joseph Bruno Montessori Academy

5509 Timber Hill Road | Birmingham | 205.995.8709 | www.jbma.education
June 1st – July 24th | Grades 1 – 8 | Preschool

Interactive and creative summer camps designed to engage children in meaningful and fun summer activities.

Kidcam Oak Mountain State Park

Oak Mountain State Park | Pelham | 877.4kidcam | www.kidcamcamp.com/2019
May 26th – July 31st | Ages 5-13

Kidcam offers 10 weeks of summer fun with all the best activities offered at Oak Mountain State Park. Full summer and weekly camp sessions are available online now for registration. Purchase only the weeks you need and build your summer around you!

LJCC

3960 Montclair Rd | Birmingham | 205.879.0411 | bhamjcc.org/summer-camp-2/

Camp LJCC offers day camps to the entire Birmingham community for kids entering grades K-8. We offer camps 11 weeks of summer and most importantly, our camp has a  “camp a la carte” system that allows you to plan your summer exactly as you wish – sign up for one week or all eleven.  You can mix and match weeks with Day Camp, specialty and/or sport camps.

Mason Music

Bluff Park | Cahaba Heights | Greystone | Mountain Brook | masonmusicstudios.com

Guitar, Piano, voice drum and violin lessons for all ages.

North Star Martial Arts

2772 BM Montgomery St S. | Homewood | 205.462.8600 | email: Kamp@northstarma.com
June 1 – August 7th

Ages 5 and Up. You select your weeks… More weeks equal more savings. No karate experience necessary! But, existing students will have an opportunity to advance a Belt Level.

Samford University: Academy of the Arts

1939 South Lakeshore Dr | Birmingham | 205.726.2739 | www.samford.edu/go/aota
June 3rd – July 26th

Art Studio for Teens: Grades 6-8
Bulldog Art Camp: Grades 1-5
Music and Art for Minis: Ages 4-6
Adventures in Music: Grades 1-12
Writing Camps for Tweens and Teens: Ages 11-15

Samford University: Bulldog Soccer Camps

1939 South Lakeshore Drive | Birmingham | www.bulldogsoccercamp.com/day-camps.aspx
Boys & Girls Ages 4-13 | June 15th – July 11th

Designed to develop young players technical skills through a series of fun yet challenging activities

South City Theatre

2969 Pelham Parkway Suites J-K | Pelham | 205.621.2128 | www.southcitytheatre.com/acting-up-summer-camp/
June 22nd – July 3rd |Rising 1st – 12th grade students

Students will develop their actor’s tools of body, voice, and imagination through dancing, singing, and acting! Whether they are new to theatre or veterans of the stage, they will gain confidence and self-esteem as well as performance skills by working with our professional teaching artists.

StickAndStrum Academy

106 A David Green Road | Birmingham | 205.690.1521 | www.stickandstrum.com/summer-camp-sign-up
June 1st- June 24th | Ages 5 and up

From RockBand Camps to Instrument Intensive Classes, there’s something for everyone!

Villager Yoga

3150 Overton Road | Birmingham | 205.262.2012 | TBA

YMCA Summer Camps

Rising 1st – 8th Grade | https://www.ymcabham.org/summer-day-camp

There is no place like Y Day Camp. A home away from home where your children laugh, learn, explore and grow in the outdoors while creating memories and friendships that last a lifetime. Kids discover not just the wonders of day camp but the joy of exploring their unique traits, talents and interests and the power of sharing their strengths and skills to benefit the group.  That’s why more than 1900 kids in the Birmingham area attend the Y’s summer day camps – to belong, achieve and build relationships.

Wondering about sending your kid to camp? Here are 5 good reasons you should!

Don’t see your camp? Message us at contact@birminghammommy.com
Want to upgrades your camp listing? Message amy@birminghammommy.com

Exceptional Foundation Chili Cookoff

Mark your calendars for The Exceptional Foundation’s 16th Annual MortgageBanc Chili Cook-Off on Saturday, March 7, 2020 in the Upper Parking Lot at Macy’s Brookwood Village!

The Chili Cook-Off is a family friendly event featuring live music, a kid zone, and all the chili you can eat. Last year, over 100 cook teams competed for the title of Chili Cook-Off Champion, and over 12,000 people attended the event. All proceeds from the event directly benefit The Exceptional Foundation.

TICKETS
$10 in Advance (Online or at The Exceptional Foundation)
$15 at the Gate
Kids 12 and Under FREE

PARKING
Because parking is limited we encourage using rideshare, such as Uber and Lyft. Public parking is available at Brookwood Village in their parking decks beginning at 10:00 AM. Oakworth Bank and Synovus will also allow patrons to park in their parking lots. You may also utilize available street parking.

NO PARKING
The lower lot of Macy’s and Grill 29 are reserved for their patrons only, these lots are not available for Chili Cook-Off patrons.

5 Reasons Parents Send Their Kids to Camp

Summer is just around the corner and we’ve got the skinny on why many parents send their kids to camp each Summer. The American Camps Association (ACA) is a community all about promoting the benefits of Camp to kids nationwide. In the Summer, they concluded a 5-year long research project looking into the effects of camp on their campers and how camps prepare youth for college, careers, and adulthood. The results are in, and the positives are endless.

boy with caribiners, and climbing equipment

Here are 5 reasons parents can feel good about sending their kids to camp:

Develop Independence
Going to camp – whether for a day or for a summer – gives children the opportunity to thrive without being under a parents constant supervision. This promotes independence, confidence and mindfulness in the child, which in turn is shown to promote academic and social skill development as well as overall healthy psychological functioning.

“Going to camp has made me even more independent and a much better people-person. I am able to go confidently up to someone and introduce myself or hang out with someone new because of my time at camp.” ~ Fifth-year camper

Experience Outdoor Childhood Fun and Adventure
Children will develop their own, individual – and fun! – memories (think dirt, adventure, stories, jokes, and days and nights spent with friends outdoors). Not only does the data suggest that fun plays an important role in helping campers feel free from worry and connected to the moment, allowing their memories to last a lifetime.

Relaxation
Children are given a break from the pressures and stress of everyday life – competitive sports, school, and even life at home. This distinct stress reduction element can potentially change how campers grow as individuals.

Living Unplugged
Children have the chance to unplug and connect face-to-face with other kids and positive, young-adult role models. Interestingly, a handful of participants discussed the separation from technology as something that helped them feel present in the moment. Screens and their effects on learning are well documented in the ACA’s research, which means we can be pretty confident that technology-free experiences at camp have an impact on the extent to which campers develop important Social Emotional Learning skills.

“Camp has helped me appreciate nature and the outdoors a lot more than I think I would have if I didn’t go. I can go without my phone or connection to social media awhile because camp has shown me that amazing stuff happens when you put your phone down and have a nice conversation with someone.” ~ Fifth-year camper

Become Better at Making and Keeping Friends
The bonding and friendships that happen at camp are different from those that occur at school and on sports teams. The intensity of living together and experiencing life together, without distractions, creates the ideal setting to form lifelong friendships and really get to know people well. Camp also encourages kids abilities to make friends. Even camps with shorter schedules create powerful connections because they provide a unique environment for learning, prioritization of youth, and daily opportunities to bond with others.

“I feel like I have become a kinder person and am better at making friends because of camp.” ~ Third-year camper