Broward — Once upon a time, before video games, social media and smart phones captured children’s attention, playing outdoors for hours on end was considered good, wholesome fun. Camp Chameleon is dedicated to helping youth to experience this carefree, yet important pastime in its summer camp, which runs in three week sessions from June to August at the spacious Markham Park in Broward County.

In order to keep the focus on enjoying the outdoors, the camp emphasizes physical activity with a variety of non-competitive sports and games. Boredom is not a part of the agenda, as in addition to the outdoor activities, youth also participate in field trips to local pools and aquatic parks, bowling, movies, arcades, roller skating, painting, ceramics, indoor gyms and more.

“We have been at Markham Park since 2009.  We are a traditional day camp that encourages getting kids outside for good old fashioned fun and exercise.  We emphasize nature, creative arts, athletics, aquatics, and daily field trips,” said Lori Laurens, director of Camp Chameleon.

The camp offers something for children of all ages. Its Young Chameleons program is for boys and girls entering grades kindergarten through fifth. That program offers small, age appropriate groups with low camper to counselor ratios.

Campers have fun swimming, playing sports, discovering nature and the arts, and going on field trips five days a week.

For middle school boys and girls entering grades six through eight, there is Chameleon Teen Camp, with an itinerary designed with teen interests in mind.

High school students who have outgrown the camp experience can still benefit from Camp Chameleon’s leadership program. Counselors in Training offers youth who will be entering ninth and tenth grade an opportunity to use creative and leadership skills by assisting counselors and the camp director with special event planning and coordination. The only requirements are that they be responsible, playful and love young children. The CIT role affords youth the ability to earn community service hours that are required for high school graduation.

Camp Chameleon prides itself on offering something for everyone. For children who are drawn to nature, they will have a chance to explore local parks with hikes, fishing, animal and plant studies, naturalist guided tours, Everglades airboat rides and science experiments.

For those who are looking to express their artistic side, the camp offers arts and crafts including drawing and painting, ceramics, cooking, drama, dance, cheerleading and music, most of which can be put on display during the camp talent shows.

Young athletes will be able to flex their muscles and stay in shape with the camp’s non-competitive athletics including conditioning, stretching, volleyball, basketball, soccer, flag football, tennis, track and field and racquetball. Some of the athletic activities that are less about sports and more about fun include good old fashioned games like kickball, dodgeball, boxball, food eating contests, group games, and Color War.

Children will be able to take advantage of the water fun while at camp with swimming at local pools, water playgrounds, slip and slide. No camp is complete without water balloon fights and wacky water games.

A registration fee of $55 per child is required; and weekly camp rates range from $145 to $175.

For more information, please visit campchameleon.com or call 954-815-9054.