The Sassy Mama Guide to Christmas Holiday Camps and Workshops 2013

In theory all kids love school holidays with plenty of free time and nothing to do but play. But – inevitably – a few days in comes every mama’s worst fear… the howls of “I’m boooreed!” ringing through the walls! Here at Sassy Mama, we’ve compiled a comprehensive list of all the most creative and educational camps in town this holiday, banishing boredom and keeping the kids happy. (Meaning mama gets her holiday too!)

SPORTS & ADVENTURE

Asia Pacific Soccer Schools
27-28 and 31 December 2013; 2-4th January 2014
Sandy Bay and Kowloon Cricket Club.
If they’re passionate about the beautiful game, send them off to Asia Pacific Soccer School’s holiday programme. There’s camps in two locations for budding athletes from 5 to 13 years old and there’s also a separate Kinder Kicks holiday programme for the under 5’s.

ESF Sports Camps
30-31 December 2013; 2-3 January 2014, 9am – 12pm
Renaissance College and West Island School.
Providing age-appropriate sports camps for kids from age 3-10 years, the ESF make full use of their great facilities, offering soccer, trampolining, swimming and martial arts to name but a few of the activities available.
Full details of the programmes on offer here.

Outward Bound X’mas4Kids Camp
27-31 December 2013
For adventurous 8-10 year olds, Outward Bound is offering one week of serious camping and team building fun. This is a chance to experience being away from home with peers, in safe hands.
Check out Outward Bound X’mas4Kids here.

Tinytots
Dates TBC (unavailable at time of publishing)
A soccer camp for wee ones from 18 months to 5 years old. Tinytots is the expert in providing a safe and fun environment for young footballers.
For more details, click here.

Tru-Flight Christmas Golf Camp
18-20 December 2013
The whole family can attend this residential camp at the famous Palm Island resort just across the border in Guangdong. Held over 3 days, this includes 9 holes with a PGA pro so you can be sure they’re really learning!
Click here for details.

YMCA Christmas Sports Academy
19-20, 23-24, 30-31 December 2013
Various locations around Hong Kong
If your child has energy to burn, check out this fab multi-activity camp by the YMCA. Just some of the activities on offer are gymnastics, Kung Fu, Taekwondo, rope skipping and hip-hop movement. Suitable for 3-12 year olds.
Click here for details of programmes and locations.

ART & THEATRE

Complete Deelite
28 November; 11 and 21 December 2013
Central
At Complete Deelite’s ‘We Luv Cupcakes’ workshop, your child will spend a frosting-filled afternoon decorating their yummy yuletide munchies. There are also cookies and gingerbread house workshops for the holiday season. Best bit? You get to sample their handiwork!
More information can be found here.

Spark Studios Christmas Workshops 
4-27 December 2o13
Quarry Bay

Our Junior Master Chefs will be kept busy at Spark Studios this holiday season at its Cupcake and Yule Log workshops. Not only will the little ones learn how to make classic Christmas desserts, they’ll be able to spread the holiday spirit of sharing by bringing their final products home!
For details on the workshop schedule, click here.

Faust International’s Holiday Theatre & Creative Writing Workshops
30 December 2013 – 3 January 2014
Sheung Wan
Faust International is hosting two exciting holiday workshops this year – Holiday Theatre and Creative Writing. Just so you’re kept in the loop, parents are given mid-week reports and we’re invited to attend an open session on the final day of camp. For the older teen drama queens (and kings!), Faust has a special theatre workshop, ‘Play in a Day’, that takes place on 28 December 2013.
For workshop details and the registration form, click here.

Kids’ Gallery Creative Arts
Various dates
Central and Kowloon Tong
Kids’ Gallery is hosting a range of camps this holiday season for kids from 2.5 years – 6 years. The kiddos will get to put their creative thinking caps on while decorating a delicious snow-capped Christmas tree cake, a DIY model festive fireplace, and even 3D holiday bell. At this holiday camp, there more than enough to keep the kids busy!
Click here for schedule and registration details.

Little Picasso Painting Studio
19-20, 23-24, 30-31 December 2013
Ap Lei Chau
Inspired by the cheerful festive season, Little Picasso is inviting kids from the age of three to young teens to come make art. Help the little ones put their art smocks on for lots of drawing, painting, and creating at this holiday camp! Mamas can choose between two, four or six-day holiday camp options.
See here for further details and to register.

RockABaby Winter Creative Camp
23 December 2013 – 3 January 2014
Sheung Wan
There’s art meets music, hip hop styling and drum jamming on offer over at RockABaby’s holiday camp. Classes are suitable for kids from 9 months up to 10 years old.
Full details are here.

Winter Wonderland Workshop at Anastassia’s Art House
22 December 2013 – 3 January 2014
Anastassia’s Art House in Stanley, Happy Valley, Sai Kung and Repulse Bay
There’s a host of Christmas-themed art activities at Anastassia’s four locations around town. With classes suitable for ages 3 and up, the diverse selection of workshops (just to name a few: Snowman Painting & Collage, Gingerbread Man Paper Sculpture, Winter Lantern 3D Creation) will entertain and educate.
See Anastassia’s Art House’s Facebook album for the full list of workshops and schedules.

SCIENCE & MATHS

Lego Education Christmas Day Camps
17 December 2013; 3 January 2014
Central and Prince Edward
With ‘Elf’s Playground’ and ‘Santa’s Factory’ themes, these festive camps use the Lego Education System to make learning super-fun.
For the full list of workshops and its schedule, click here. Apply on Cityline for a $100 discount!

Science Workshop Christmas Odyssey Workshops
19-20, 23-24, 27, 30-31 December 2013; 2-3 January 2014
Various locations
Offering maths, science and technology workshops for children of all ages, including a specially designed toddler’s camp, children will be developing their skills alongside others of similar age and expertise, whilst having great fun.
For registration information, please click here.

LANGUAGE

Mandarin for Munchkins Christmas & New Year Camp
23-24 December, 26-31 December 2013; 2-4 January 2014
Central, Sheung Wan and Discovery Bay
There are fun Chinese workshops for Munchkins from 3.5 – 12 years on offer here. Activities are varied and include Mandarin karaoke, cookery, clay sculpting and calligraphy.
See the website for location schedules.

The Open Classroom Christmas Workshops
27-28 December, 30-31 December 2013 ; 2-3 January 2014
Tin Hau
A whole host of enriching workshops focused on vocabulary, grammar and writing for kids from kiddy to teen.
For more on the individual workshops click here and registration information is available here.

British Council Winter Intensive Courses
27-31 December 2013
Admiralty
English learning is starting early this holiday season with a course specially designed for K3 students to brush up their interview skills for primary school admissions. Meanwhile, the British Council is also offering other interactive courses for older children, such as learning English through poetry, stories, or drama, and even a DSE modular for Secondary 6 students.
The early bird gets the worm! Register here on or before 7 December for a 10% discount.