Christmas To-Do’s in Chattanooga: Winter Fun for Kids

As a dad of three kids, I know how it goes. They’ve been counting down the days since Thanksgiving til school gets out. Seriously, visions of no homework, staying up late and sleeping in dance in their heads…only to get two hours into Winter Break before the “I’m bored!” and “what are we doing today?” begins!

We all know and love the Enchanted Garden lights at Rock City and have enjoyed family outings to Ice on the Landing and Ruby Falls. But what’s a parent to do to curb the weekday stircrazy or provide a stimulating environment while you’re at work? Fortunately, we know a little bit here about what kids like and have put together a go-to list of winter break camps in the Chattanooga area this holiday season!

Creative Discovery Museum
Winter Break Camp: Celebrate Winter!
Grades: K – 5

Thursday, Dec. 21
8:30 AM – 4:00 PM

Friday, Dec. 22
8:30 AM – 4:00 PM

Tuesday, Jan. 2
8:30 AM – 4:00 PM

Wednesday, Jan. 3
8:30 AM – 4:00 PM

Thursday, Jan. 4
8:30 AM – 4:00 PM

The kids are out of school. Now what? Avoid cabin fever this winter break and head to Creative Discovery Museum’s winter break camp for one, two, or all five days! It’s time to “Celebrate Winter!”

Campers will explore all things winter as they create tasty treats in Culinary Corner, craft wintry works of art and immerse themselves in seasonal stories. Time will be set aside each day for campers to explore the Museum.

“Celebrate Winter” is designed and run by professionals who know how to have fun with kids in a safe, nurturing environment. Our goal is for everyone to have fun while they learn about winter.

Registration: Reservations are required and can be made at cdmfun.org/camp For more information or to reserve by phone, call Nancy at (423) 648-6045 or Sheila at (423) 648-6040.

Chattanooga Zoo
Winter Wonder Camp 2017
Grades: K – 5

Wednesday, Dec. 20
9:00 AM – 3:00 PM

Thursday, Dec. 21
9:00 AM – 3:00 PM

Friday, Dec. 22
9:00 AM – 3:00 PM

– OR –

Wednesday, Dec. 27
9:00 AM – 3:00 PM

Thursday, Dec. 28
9:00 AM – 3:00 PM

Friday, Dec. 27
9:00 AM – 3:00 PM

The Chattanooga Zoo is excited to announce the upcoming Winter Break Zoo Camp. Please join us as we explore an amazing Winter Wonder-Zoo! Each day will present campers with many exciting and adventurous experiences including crafts, games, animal enrichment, animal encounters, lessons, and MORE! Registration is open for all campers, grades Kindergarten to 5th grade. To accommodate busy Christmas schedules, two sessions are offered, and campers are able to register for individual days or the whole session of 3 days! Celebrate winter break with your favorite animal friends as we explore a Winter Wonder-Zoo.

Registration: http://www.chattzoo.org/education/camps

If you have any questions or concerns about Winter Wonder Zoo Camp, please email the education department or call 423-697-1322 ext: 5782

Bricks 4 Kids
Santa’s Workshop
Ages: 6 – 10

Wednesday, Dec. 20
9:00 AM – 1:00 PM

Thursday, Dec. 21
9:00 AM – 1:00 PM

Friday, Dec. 22
9:00 AM – 1:00 PM

Come one day for $30 or all three for only $75. Different builds every day!

Santa is looking for LEGO-building elves to join his Bricks 4 Kidz workshop! There will be lots of Christmas builds and fun challenges to get everything ready in time for Christmas. We need your help! Santa’s helpers will build and help set-up the toy shop, while building holiday-themed models using LEGO bricks as well as special motorized models and other fun, festive creations.

Campers should bring a mid-morning snack, drink and lunch each day.

Registration: https://my.bricks4kidz.com/index.php?action=classdetail&record=185687

Tech Town
Winter Break Camp

Wednesday, Dec. 20 – Friday, Dec. 22
9:00 AM – 3:00 PM

Kilobytes (Ages 7-10) Film – Holiday Edition

DESCRIPTION
This Camp is for Young Innovators Ages 7 – 10

Have your Young Innovator join us for our Holiday Film Camp! Campers will have an opportunity to create their own Holiday Video Card, reenact scenes from their favorite Holiday Movie, Record

Karaoke Holiday Carol

Songs or Make short films about what the Holiday Season means to them.

We will also create Holiday videos to send to the local Senior Living facilities and Children’s Hospital.

Kilobytes (ages 7-10) 3D Design – Create a Winter Ornament

This Camp is for Young Innovators Ages 7 – 10

DESCRIPTION
This Camp is for Young Innovators Ages 7 – 10

Explore the fundamentals of 3D Design through hands-on and digital creation! Campers will have the opportunity to design an ornament of winter-themed object that will be 3D Printed for them to take home. All 3D Prints will be available for Campers to take home the last day of Camp.
Please Note: A Materials Fee is associated with this Camp. This fee is included in the price.

Megabytes (ages 11-17) Robotics – Snowball Edition

DESCRIPTION
This Camp is for Young Innovators Ages 11 – 17

Have you ever seen Robots having a snowball fight? Come to our Robotics Winter Camp and we will teach you to put together a robot that can throw a snowball (in reality a ping pong ball, but still VERY cool)! You will learn how to program a robot to move around and throw snow snowballs at designated targets. The winner will receive a trophy to take home at the end of the Camp Week!

Reading and basic typing skills required.

Reservations: https://gotechtown.org/adventures-and-camps/ *Lunch and Snacks provided*

GPS
Winter Camp 2018

Grades: K – 6

Tuesday, Jan. 2
8:30 AM – 3:30 PM

Wednesday, Jan. 3
8:30 AM – 3:30 PM

Thursday, Jan. 4
8:30 AM – 3:30 PM

Friday, Jan. 5
8:30 AM – 3:30 PM

Winter Camp allows girls and boys, grades K-6, to kick off the New Year with seasonal activities, crafts, snacks, games, swimming in our heated pool, and more! Choose the days that work for you—attend one, two, three, or all four days!

Register: https://www.gps.edu/page/camps–clinics/winter-camp

Downtown Family YMCA

Winter Break Camp
Ages: 5 – 12

Wednesday, Dec. 20 – Friday, Dec. 22
7:00 AM – 6:00 PM

Tuesday, Dec. 26 – Friday, Dec. 29
7:00 AM – 6:00 PM

Tuesday Jan. 2 – Friday, Jan. 5
7:00 AM – 6:00 PM

Break the boredom and come play at the Y over the holiday break! Enjoy swimming daily, structured routines, physical activities, socialization, and games. Choose the days that work for you – attend one day or two, three, or all four days!

Registration: contact Nicole Brogden at nbrogden@ymcachattanooga.org

Connect Training Center
Winter Softball Youth Camp
Ages: 5-14

Wednesday, Dec. 27 – Friday, Dec. 29
9:00 AM – 12:00 PM

Connect Training Center is hosting a 3-day Winter Softball Youth Camp. Campers will work on hitting, fielding, catching, and all other aspects of the game while having a blast with our future, current, and past college players. We will split up the girls into close age groups for the entire camp. This will benefit them because they will get to work in smaller groups and have more instruction.

Registration: https://clients.mindbodyonline.com/asp/adm/main_enroll.asp?fl=true&tabID=7

FURY Baseball
Stephen Gaylor Holiday Camp

December 29
9:00 AM -12:00 PM (ages 5 – 12)
1:00 PM – 4:00 PM (ages 13 – 18)

Looking for a winter baseball camp to get you ready for spring season? Stephen is a big part of the Braves organization and is headed to our town to bring his big league skills and knowledge.

Registration: https://www.furyacademy.net/events

Soccer Shots
Winter Soccer Camp
Ages: 3 – 12

Wednesday, Dec. 20
9:00 AM – 4:00 PM

Thursday, Dec. 21
9:00 AM – 4:00 PM

Soccer Shots is hosting a one- or two-day camp with hours of Indoor Soccer Shots fun with games, crafts, and snacks!

Registration: https://chattanooga.ssreg.org/?_ga=2.42600673.574997313.1511195961-984073532.1480516264

GCC Hixson
Holiday Camp
Ages: 4 – 11

Wednesday, Jan. 3 – Friday, Jan. 5
11:00 AM – 3:00 PM

GCC Camp is perfect after-the-holidays fun for boys and girls! There will be gymnastics instruction, games, open gym and tons of fun!! All campers will need a sack lunch.

Registration: www.gccgymnastics.com or contact 423-877-5433 or gcchixson@gymcc.com

McCallie School
Holiday Minecraft Camp – Viking World & Theme Park
Ages: 7 – 11 (boys and girls)

Thursday, Dec. 21
9:00 AM – 3:30 PM

Join us for a holiday camp of exploring, trading, building, and creativity in Minecraft! We will first explore Viking World where campers will interact and trade with Custom NPC’s to complete quests that will unlock tools, supplies, weapons and armor for the players. They will ultimately cross the sea to locate the NPC Viking Outpost and build a Viking outpost of their own. Then campers will work to turn the Group Building World into a Minecraft theme park. What will we include in our theme park…roller coasters, water slides, Parkour, labyrinths? It will be a day full of Minecraft fun!

Registration: https://mccalliesummercamps.com/weekends-at-mccallie/

McCallie School
Holiday Tennis Clinics
Grades: K – 12 (boys and girls)

December 20, 21, 22, 27, 28, 29
9:00 AM – 3:00 PM (full day)
9:00 AM – 12:00 PM (half day)
12:30 AM – 3:00 PM (half day)

Stay warm in our heated tennis center with six indoor courts! Tennis fun all day, with drills and running in the morning, followed by point and match play in the afternoon. And, of course, we will have holiday music too.

Registration: https://mccalliesummercamps.com/weekends-at-mccallie/

Enjoy this special time of the year with your family and friends and remember to share a smile with someone this holiday season!