Businesses and agencies both new and established in Pasco are hosting summer camps this year that offer everything from athletics to the arts, karate to dance.

Serving the area for 24 years, the Dance and Gymnastics Academy of Tampa in Land O Lakes is moving to a 12,000-square-foot facility at 23633 Venezia Drive — a location that comes complete with a 2,000-square-foot dance room, lobby area with observation rooms, gymnastics equipment that includes a 40-foot-long trampoline, and an in-ground foam pit.

DGA will host summer gymnastics camps all season long at this new facility, where new and experienced gymnasts are invited to learn and improve upon their skills.

Were really excited about hosting the camp at our new location, said Susan Sisk, owner of the Dance and Gymnastics Academy of Tampa. Well have more space and more activities for the kids.

Another Pasco staple, Blackwood Studios Inc. in Dade City, is hosting a World of Wonder Summer Fun Day Camp from July 5-15.

Open to students in kindergarten and up, the camp will teach ballet, musical theater, jazz, acrobatics, and tap. Fun activities will include a costume day and picture-taking day and an in-studio party.

We teach different types of dance, drama, the arts, how to put on a show, and will have glamour shots, said Sally Blackwood, director of Blackwood Studios Inc. Its really great fun.

Serving the Lutz community since 2001, Grandmaster John Prevatts After School Karate is again hosting its karate summer camp this year.

We have no contracts, no registration fee, no late pick up fee. What we do have is a structured karate camp, said Master Zico Cheng, program director at John Prevatt Karate. We teach karate and also offer swimming, movies and horseback riding. And parents can put their kids somewhere safe.

At a new location in Land O Lakes is Krav Maga Martial Arts, on Collier Parkway. KMMA Summer Camp 2011 is a rank training and promotion camp which will allow students to train like martial arts professionals, while also enjoying fun activities such as Nerf wars, water games and field trips.

Summer camps also are available for the younger set this year. At ABC Academy in New Port Richey, the Step It Up Camp will offer sports and karate lessons, as well as Spanish, drama, sign language, reading, theater and music.

We offer everything, said Laurie Mykel, owner and director of ABC Academy, adding, We have one coach who is both an ice hockey player and a black belt in karate.

At Gymboree in Land O Lakes, even very young children can learn academic skills such as counting and the alphabet, the arts, literature, plays, and many types of sports.

Kids can find out a young age what they like to do, and what they want to do more of, said Nicole Cooper, a teacher in Gymboree. All classes are child-based.

Kids can be everything from Top Chefs to Mad Scientists, Island Hoppers to Extreme Sports players at the Kids Stuff preschool summer camp, also based in Land O Lakes.

With these themes kids learn from playing, said Jackie Genovese, assistant director of Kids Stuff. And we have field trips and music as well.

For those who want to try something else, someplace else, Someplace Else Golf Driving Range in Zephyrhills will offer golf day camps for kids this year.

People of all skill levels are welcome. Theyll learn to play, said Kevin Tejwani, manager of Someplace Else Driving Range. Theyll learn everything about golf.

Tags: Activities