By EMILY REED

Staff Writer

NORTH SHELBY – A range of summer camps for children of all ages will be offered through Asbury United Methodist Church beginning in June.

“We have been offering these camps for about 15 years,” director of recreation Ellen Dean said. “Every year there are about 300-350 children that attend. What makes the camps unique compared to others is they are very diverse. We have camps that focus on all different activities.”

The church offers camps focusing on chess, soccer, softball, art/painting, volleyball, musical theatre, basketball, baseball, lacrosse and Lego.

There is also a Vacation Bible School beginning June 26-29 that children can attend from 8:30 a.m. to noon, and attend either the chess or soccer camps which will be held after VBS.

“We have a lot of camps that coincide with other camps,” Dean said. “There are a lot of children who like to attend camps in the morning, and then stay for an afternoon camp.”

Dean said the camps are open to everyone, and kids do not have to live in Shelby County to attend.

“This is an outreach for our church,” Dean said. “A lot of local people teach the camps, which makes it fun. We will have local coaches from some of the schools teach some of the camps.”

While many of the camps are popular among certain age groups, Dean said basketball and soccer tend to be the two most popular.

The dates and times of the camps are listed below:

-Basic skills softball camp: June19-21 from 9:30 a.m. until noon for girls ages rising K5-5th grade. The camp is $65.

-Art/painting camp: June 19-21 from 12:30 p.m.-2:30 p.m. for rising second graders to sixth grade girls and boys. The camp is $50.

-Volleyball camp: July 10-12 from 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. for rising second grade girls through sixth grade. The camp is $65.

-Musical theatre camp: July 10-12 from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. for rising second grade boys and girls through sixth grade. The camp is $25.

-Basketball camp: July 18-20 from 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. for rising second graders through fifth grade boys and girls. The camp is $65.

-Baseball camp: July 18-20 from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. for rising second graders through sixth grade girls and boys. The camp is $65.

-Lacrosse camp: July 24-26 from 8:30 a.m. to 11 a.m. for rising second grade boys and girls through sixth grade. The camp is $65.

-Lego challenge camp: July 27 from 10 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. for rising second grade girls and boys through sixth grade. The camp is $25.

-Chess camp: June 26-29 from 12:30 to 3:30 p.m. for rising second grade girls and boys through sixth grade. The camp is $75.

-Soccer camp: June 26-29 from 12:30 p.m. to 3 p.m. for rising first grade boys and girls through fourth grade. The cost of the camp is $75.

All of the camps are held at the church, which is located at 6690 Cahaba Valley Road.

For more information about the camps or to register, visit AsburyOnline.org/summercamps or call 271-9919.