• Camps keep kids occupied during the summer.happy kids image by Marzanna Syncerz from Fotolia.com
  
  When school is out and the dog days of summer set in, keeping kids entertained and out of trouble during the summer can be a challenge, particularly for working parents or guardians. In Atlanta, there are a variety of summer camps to keep your kids occupied, happy and mentally stimulated.
  
  

Camp Best Friends

• The City of Atlanta's Office of Recreation hosts Camp Best Friends, a summer day camp for kids 5 to 16. Campers can expect to participate in arts and crafts, play games, go swimming, play sports and take field trips to attractions around the city like Zoo Atlanta and the Georgia Aquarium. Throughout the city, Camp Best Friends operates 10-day camps for kids 5 to 12; 8 age-specific specialty camps; and 2 teen-focused camps. There is also a day camp for seniors aged 50 and older during the summer. As of 2010, the weekly cost for a city of Atlanta resident or government employee is $30, and non-residents pay $90 each week.
  
  Camp Best Friends
  
  55 Trinity Avenue
  
  Atlanta, GA 30303
  
  404-658-6381
  
  atlanta.gov
  
  

Big Thinkers Science Exploration

• Big Thinkers offers a summer day camp for kids in first through sixth grades, and campers get to experience science hands-on with activities presented in an upbeat and interesting way. The science summer camp has five locations throughout metro Atlanta, and offers exploration activities such as making robots, riding hovercrafts, dissecting owl pellets and building bridges. As of 2010, the fee for Big Thinkers summer camp is $199 a week.
  
  Big Thinkers Science Exploration
  
  1270 Caroline Street, Suite D120-348
  
  Atlanta, GA 30307
  
  678-392-1500
  
  big-thinkers.com
  
  

Camp Twin Lakes

• Established in 1993, Camp Twin Lakes is for children who are mentally and physically disabled or who have a serious illness. There are a network of camps throughout Georgia, and Camp Twin Lakes also has a Camp to Go day program in Atlanta, serving children who are hospitalized. In the Camp to Go program, Camp Twin Lake brings the campfire experience indoors, and takes an imaginative approach to bringing the camp experience bedside.
  
  Camp Twin Lakes
  
  600 Means Street, Suite 110
  
  Atlanta, GA 30318
  
  404-231-9887
  
  camptwinlakes.org