Desmond Jordan, Executive Director

Who better to deliver exciting Academic & Enrichment Camps than Sylvan Learning? For over 35 years Sylvan has been the leading provider of supplemental education across North America.  We have drawn on that experience locally, to design what we believe are some of the best academic camps available.  If you are a parent who wants their child to have fun and be challenged intellectually during the summer, then the Sylvan Academic & Enrichment Camps are for you.

Also back by popular demand is our Early Literacy Read-Ahead camp which focuses on strenghting core reading and early printing and writing skills.  These young campers will also have the opportunity to develop basic STEM skills as part of newly enhanced program.

New to Sylvan this year, our High School Prep camps are specifically designed to help students start the school year off with confidence!  Ideal for students entering Grades 8 through 11. Writing for Success, Study Skills and Math Preview weekly camps are now available but space is very limited.

WHY CHOOSE SYLVAN SUMMER CAMPS FOR YOUR CHILD?

 Academically enriched daily and weekly activities

 Highly interactive and adaptive to student needs

 Age-appropriate games, challenges and team assignments

 Designed and led by Ontario Certified Teachers

 Based around fun and engaging themes

 High quality with small groups and low ratios

 Great value pricing includes a camp T-shirt and option of extended care

 Our “Stealth Learning” approach means your child will have fun while learning.

 Weekly full and half day camps all summer long from July 4-Sept 1

SYLVAN Read-Ahead & STEM camps for ages 4-7 years

Half Days 9am-12pm. Optional extended hours. Max 6:1 ratio

Early literacy enrichment program led by a Certified Teacher

Focused on strengthening core reading and early writing skills enhanced with STEM exploration.

SYLVAN ACADEMIC & ENRICHMENT CAMP for ages 7-12 years

Full Days 9am–4pm Max 8:1 Ratio

Optional early drop off from 8.30am and late pick up until 4.30pm (for a fee)

Aside from fun, all camps will include applied elements of STEM and Language Arts.

WHAT WILL MY CHILD BE DOING EACH WEEK?

Our Stealth Learning approach means that, while you will not see text books in the Sylvan camps there will be consistent use and application of essential academic skills such as math, science, technology and literacy. All of the camp modules will be age appropriate to the group and our low Teacher to Camper ratio will ensure all of the activities will be delivered in a fun and supportive individual and team format. We are happy to share our daily and weekly schedlues with you upon request. 

WHAT ARE THE WEEKLY THEMES?

Children love fun themes and these will differentiate each week of camp so your child will never be bored, no matter how many weeks they attend. 

Weekly Themes include: Celebrating 150 Years of Canada, CSI Forensics, Smart Super Heroes,  Earth & The Environment, Space Odyssey, Exploring Ancient Worlds, At The Movies, Exploring Engineering, News & Clues.

Regardless of the specific theme, each camp includes critical areas of applied learning such as creative thinking and logic, math and science (STEM), the examination and comparison of facts and fiction and the use of individual and team projects and challenges in an engaging and dynamic manner.

We use a wide variety of entertaining learning media which will vary from week to week. This use of media will align with our theme and will involve investigation, exploration, discussion, analyzing, measuring, building ideas, structures and theories.

Robotics and Coding are now a daily part of our weekly themed camps.  From 9am-12pm we incorporate Robotics and interactive Lego WeDo software, into our program to enhance our math, science or writing focused theme. We will also do further ‘drag and drop’ computer coding techniques using Tynker to allow campers to learn how to build their own video games.

We are confident that if you have a curious child or one whom you know enjoys having fun in a group environment, then they will thoroughly enjoy our camp. As a parent you will also have the comfort of knowing they are having a fun and intellectually engaging summer. 

Best Regards

Desmond Jordan 

Executive Director of Sylvan Learning in Burlington

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Reviews of Sylvan Burlington

At Sylvan Learning of Burlington, we celebrate successes in many ways: bigger smiles at homework time, newfound confidence on tests and report card victories. But of course, we also love hearing directly from Sylvan families! Every week, parents tell us: “My child is so much happier.” “My child is thriving in school.” “My child wouldn’t have gotten into college without you.” Please explore our testimonials to discover what local families have to say about us.

Sylvan Learning of Burlington customer comments

• We have been a client of Sylvan in Burlington for the last 13 months and have nothing but amazing things to say about it. The staff is extremely friendly and caring towards my son and we have seen improvements in his report card that we never thought possible in such a short amount of time. Our son initially just started just doing the math program but recently he has asked to start the language part also. Our previous attempts with tutoring had our son not wanted to do the class, crying and feeling stressed about going. It was not a positive experience but at Sylvan he is upset if he has to miss a session and that tells me what they are doing is working. Sylvan has completely changed my son’s view of school and his ability to be a comfortable with the work he is being given to do in grade 8.”Amy D.

• “All the staff at Sylvan Burlington are extremely friendly and welcoming. My son walks out of his sessions with a positive attitude and says that he had a great session, each and every time. I highly recommend Sylvan Burlington. I have noticed a significant improvement in my son's confidence when it comes to his reading. Sylvan will also work with your schedule which is important. Very highly recommended!”Sheri B.

• “How friendly and outgoing all the staff is at Sylvan Burlington. I feel that they have helped my son come out of his shell. I like the class size and I also love the idea of the tokens for The Sylvan Store. They make learning fun with extra little touches like joke of the week, etc.”Liana F.

• “The Burlington staff are truly there to help the children succeed. They definitely take pride in their work. This is a great investment for my child!”David P.

• “Sylvan has been an exceptionally wonderful experience. I love that they make my children feel important, give them the confidence boost they need. They go above and beyond by working with the students, teachers, and making customized plans when needed.”Lisa A.

• “Caring, friendly and the staff know how to approach the best methods in teaching. We have noticed a difference in our child's work.”Brenda K.

• “About Robotics: Great class. Excellent staff and teachers. I would recommend this to everyone. A great investment.”Marshall M.

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How to Get Ready for Summer Camp

How to Get Ready for Summer Camp

BY DR. RICK BAVARIA

If summer camp is in the future for your child, spring is the perfect time to start planning and preparing! Whether your kids are interested in day camp or sleep-away camp, there’s no denying the educational and social benefits summer camps can have. However, some kids find it easier to adjust to the new routine than others.

For children returning to a camp they’ve attended in the past, the process can be exciting! They’re looking forward to seeing old friends, practicing sports, arts and crafts, exploring interests, and discovering talents. For other kids, especially if they’re attending a new camp, the idea can be stressful. What can they expect? Will they make friends? Will it be scary? If it’s a sleep-away camp, will they be homesick? What if they don’t like it?

Now’s the time to address these potential issues and put them to rest. Here are some tips to consider.

Decide together.

When your child has a say, it’s more likely they’ll be invested in the selection process. This will also help build their confidence that camp will be a positive experience. Talk about what kind of camp your family is interested in. Would they prefer a day camp or sleep-away camp? Would they like one with an emphasis on sports? Computer skills? The arts? Church-affiliated?

Emphasize the positive.

Talk about the fun things that will be a part of the daily camp life, such as doing new and different activities and spending loads of time on a favorite sport or hobby.

Be realistic.

Camp is like real life. Some days are fantastic. Some days aren’t. It’s what we make it. Teach your kid to recognize and appreciate the good things and to learn from setbacks, not to dwell on them. If you have happy memories of summer camp, share them. Kids want to be independent, but they need a little help. Learning from your experiences can be helpful.

Give your child opportunities to talk about concerns.

Listen and stay positive. Don’t let them worry about the “what ifs.” (“What if a monster’s in the lake?” or “What if everyone hates me?”) Bring the conversation back to the promising “what ifs.” (“What if you make a great new friend!” or “What if you finally crush that difficult soccer move?”)

Visit ahead of time.

Plan a short trip to campgrounds with a friend or co-camper if possible. Seeing what the place looks like and being familiar with it will help your child feel less surprised on the first day. If you can’t visit, look at brochures and videos together. You could also talk with other kids who’ve been to the camp before and hear abut their experience.

Get a camp buddy.

If your child can go to camp with a friend, that’s great! If not, encourage them to make new friends early. Socializing skills lead to friendships.

Keep in touch.

If it’s a sleep-away camp, promise your child you’ll keep in touch as often as the camp allows. Keep the messages upbeat, supportive, and friendly. Express interest in what they are learning, the experiences they’re having, and the talents they’re developing.

Help the camp counselors.

They want your child to succeed and have an enjoyable experience. If your child has allergies or special medications, for example, make sure you’ve communicated that to the counselors. They don’t know what you don’t tell them.

Get yourself ready.

If this is the first time your child will be away from home, realize that you’ll need some period of adjustment, too. Plan some time to enjoy the change in routine, and catch up on chores, reading, or your own on-hold interests.

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