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Spring is just starting today and we are already talking summer! In fact now is the perfect time to think about a camp that your child will not only enjoy but that will help him/her strengthen his German language skills during summer!
Growing up in a multilingual family offers many advantages, but often it can also be challenging, especially in regards to the second language, the language that is not spoken as frequently. To help your child with this process experts recommend to find different ways to get him/her immersed into the non-dominant language as often as possible. This gives the child the opportunity to connect to that language and become more familiar with its usage as well as its particular culture.
In the case of many CaliforniaGermans this ‘second’ language is German. Once children are in school they speak English for most of the day. Back home again they might hear some German, and if lucky also speak some German with their mother or father.
Spend Summer in California Attending a German Immersion Camp
Many expat families plan on going back home to Germany, Austria or Switzerland during the summer months to visit family. This of course proofs to be the perfect solution for giving your children a firsthand experience and immersion into the German language and culture. But that’s of course a perfect scenario. What if work or other factors don’t allow for a European vacation?
Wouldn’t a German language camp in somewhat close vicinity to your home in CA be a great alternative for your child to still benefit from speaking, hearing and learning German all day long for the duration of a fun summer camp?
That’s exactly what we thought and put together this compilation of German Language Immersion Summer Camps throughout California. We hope you find the perfect one for your child and would love to get your feedback on your experience.
German Immersion Summer Camps for Children in California.
Southern California offers camps in Los Angeles, San Diego, and Big Bear. Northern California has camps in Oakland, San Francisco, Menlo Park, Mountain View and Berkeley.
Southern California:
Big Bear – (offered through the German-American School Association of SoCal) 7 Days German Immersion Overnight Camp
- Dates: 23 June – 29 June, 2013
- Minimum age: 7 years
- Fun Activities include: archery, swimming, rock climbing, nature hikes, baking & much more.
- All activities are in German
- Cost: $575.00
- Location: Presbyterian Conference Center, Big Bear
- Contact: Email for enrollment forms, gasa54@aol.com
Los Angeles – (offered by Tivoli Rainbow Garden Preschool – Regenbogen Kindergarten ) – “Spiel, Spass und Sommer-Aktivitäten” –
- Dates: July 1 – July 31 (half-day 8:30am-1pm or full-day until 3pm optional )
- Age Group: 2.5 – 5 years
- Activities are in German & English
- Cost: Call for info
- Location: 4051 Tivoli Avenue, Los Angeles, CA 90066
- Contact: TivoliRainbowGarden@gmail.com or phone (310)-301 9147
- Website: http://tivolikindergartenla.com
San Diego – (offered by Enrichment4Kids – 3 Sessions available )
- Dates: Session 1: July 29th-2nd; Session 2: Aug 5th-9th; Session 3: Aug 19th-23rd
- Age Groups: Pre-K to Elementary Age
- Activities: “Enrichment for the Head, Heart and Body”. Math & reading, both in German will be taught for the first 3 hours each day before activities like swimming, piano, field sports, tumbling, skateboarding, etc.
- Cost: Call for info
- Contact: Kimberley@ReCenter.org
- Website: https://www.facebook.com/Enrichment4Kids?ref=ts&fref=ts
Northern California:
Oakland – (Organized by BAKS plus – 2 Sessions available )
- Dates: Session 1: June 17th-28th; Session 2: July 1st -12th
- Age Groups: 4-14 years
- Activities: Session 1 – ”Wer waren die alten Germanen? – Who were the Germanic tribes? Session 2 – “Klaus Stoertebeker & CO. – A Pirate’s Life for Me! “
- The whole program is in German Immersion. Prior knowledge of German is advisable.
- Hours: Sessions run from 9-1pm daily. Extended Care is available until 5pm
- Cost: Session 1 – $400; Session 2 – $360 (Discounts available for siblings, Combination of session 1 & 2, and early bird sign ups )
- Location: Archway Lower School, 250 41st Street, Oakland, CA 94611
- Contact: sommerschule@kinderstube.org
- Website:http://www.kinderstube.org/plus/plusprogram.html#summercamp
Menlo Park – (organized by GASPA-German American School of Palo Alto) One 4-week full immersion summer camp session . “Gedanken in den Wolken…Füsse im Matsch!”
- Dates: One session from June 24th – July 19th, 2013 (9am- 2pm Mo-Fri; extended time 2-6pm available)
- Age Groups: 3-12 years ( no prior language knowledge required!)
- Activities: music, art, cooking, crafts, sports games, dancing & much more
- Cost: Early bird – $995 and Regular – $1095
- Location: GAIS School Campus, 275 Elliot Drive, Menlo Park, CA 94303
- Contact: office@gaspa-ca.org;
- Website: http://www.gaspa-ca.org/summer-school-program/overview
- Note: Earl Bird Tuition valid through March 31st & non-refundable $150 registration fee for all registrations per child!
GISSV – German International School of Silicon Valley offers German Summer Camps in 3 different locations in NoCal: San Francisco, Berkeley & Mountain View. ( www.gissv.org/summerprogram )
San Francisco – (Organized by GISSV – 4 one-week sessions available)
- Dates: June 17th – July 12th 2013 (Four sessions)
- Ages: 4.9 -7 years
- Activities: Indoor & Outdoor Adventures. Per session children will discover one of the four elements, air, earth, fire & water.
- Hours: 9am-4pm
- Cost: $395/Full Day Session
- Location: San Francisco Campus, 4 Funston Avenue, San Francisco, CA 94129
- Contact: office@gissv.org, phone: 650-254 0748
- website: www.gissv.org/summerprogram
Berkeley – (Organized by GISSV – 5 one-week sessions available)
- Dates: June 17th – July 19th 2013
- Ages: 3-6 and 7-12
- Activities: Explore the world with topics like Ocean, Circus, Space, and Fairy Tales from Around the World!
- Hours: 9am-2pm
- Cost: $247/Half Day Session
- Location: Berkeley Campus, 1581 Le Roy Avenue, Berkeley, CA 94708
- Contact: office@gissv.org, phone: 650-254 0748,
- website: www.gissv.org/summerprogram
Mountain View – (Organized by GISSV – 4 sessions available)
- Dates: June 24, 2013 to July 19, 2013
- Ages: Ages 3-4, ages 5-14, and adult classes
- Activities: Students will be exposed to German throughout the day. Music, Art, Art History, Soccer, Basketball and much more. For further information on our program
- Hours: 9am – 12pm/ Half day, Afternoon activities available from 12pm – 4pm
- Cost: $375 – $750
- Location: Mountain View Campus, 310 Easy Street, Mountain View, CA 94043
- Contact: office@gissv.org, phone: 650-254 0748,
- website: www.gissv.org/summerprogram
- SPECIAL Website: http://www.gissv.org/podium/default.aspx?t=151553&rc=0
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Related Articles:
Hilfe, mein Kind spricht Kauderwelsch! – http://www.bibernetz.de/wws/interview-rosemarie-tracy.php
Wie lernen Kleinkinder sprechen? Prof. Rosemarie Tracy, Sprachwissenschaftlerin an der Universität Mannheim, im Interview mit Leslie Rowe über Spracherwerb und Mehrsprachigkeit – http://www.br.de/radio/bayern2/sendungen/radiowissen/gespraech-rosemarie-tracy-100.html
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