Bengaluru’s summer camps offer children a creative escape

Summer is here, bringing with it memories of childhoods spent under the scorching sun, playing on the streets, splashing in neighborhood ponds or pools, and gathering around board games on lazy afternoons. For many in Bengaluru, summer once meant a trip to their grandparents’ village or native towns, the joy of climbing mango trees, licking ice lollies, and returning home covered in dust and stories. At least until the early 2010s, the city’s children had the luxury of open spaces and carefree play.  

But Bengaluru has changed. The open grounds have been replaced by concrete towers, and the once-friendly neighborhood streets are now congested with traffic. Grandparents, who once lived in ancestral homes in villages, now reside in the same city, making the “native place” summer trips a thing of the past. With fewer outdoor spaces and the demands of urban life, structured summer camps have become the new summer tradition, offering children an escape into creativity, learning, and play in a city that no longer lets them run free.

Anita R., an IT professional and mother of a 10-year-old said, “When we were children, summers meant playing outside all day, but now, there is hardly any safe space for children to run around. I prefer enrolling my son in an outdoor adventure camp where he can experience activities like trekking and cycling. It keeps him physically active and away from screens.” 

Another parent, Neha Suresh, an entrepreneur and mother of a 12-year-old said, “With both my husband and I working, we want a camp that offers full-day activities. Something like theatre or music camps where my son can learn something new while also socialising with other kids. It is a great way for him to build confidence and make new friends.” 

Similarly, Vikram N., a doctor and father of a nine-year-old boy said, “My son is very shy and does not easily make friends. I wanted him to be in an environment where he could socialise, gain confidence, and interact with kids his age through group activities. He is much more open and confident when he is asked to do something in a group rather than doing it alone. That’s why we picked a drama and storytelling camp.” 

Like every year, this year too Bengaluru has a variety of summer camps starting from April going on till May on various topics like art, theatre, music, dance, sustainability, sports and much more.

Here is a sampling

Summer Express at Ranga Shankara 

Like every year, Ranga Shankara in J.P. Nagara is holding Summer Express workshops this year too. Adithya S., a programme assistant at Ranga Shankara, said, “We have identified what we really want to offer our children. It began as shorter workshops 17 years ago and has grown over the years to the current 13-day intensive format we follow. We now do mostly theatre workshops, that range a variety of different topics. Apart from this, we also have shorter cooking workshops conducted by Angela Sudarshan in Anju’s cafe on the premises.” The workshops will be conducted by theatre makers like Shibani Rao, Vikram Sridhar, Srinivas Beesetty, Kirtana Kumar, Manjari Kaul, Kavya Srinivasan and Surabhi Visisht. Children present a small performance on the last day of their workshop for their families.  

Date: Batch 1, April 1-27; Batch 2, April 28-May 11 

Age limit: 8-12 years 

Fees: ₹10,000 

Registration: at venue

‘What if’ by Our Theatre Collective 

Abhitej Gupta, one of the facilitators of the workshops, said, “The workshops are all about diving into children’s imagination and creating unique stories through play, sound, rhythm, and performance. Through the workshops, we will explore the question ‘What if?’ by ⁠playing with sound and rhythm to make stories come to life, ⁠exploring fun characters, working with props, and learn how to perform with them, ⁠and working with a group to create something together.” The workshops will also be facilitated by Laya Kumar and Laxmi Priya. On the final day, the children will have the chance to share their creations in a special performance for family and friends. The workshops will take place in Our Theatre Studio at Koramangala and at Courtyard Koota, Kengeri.

Date: Batch 1 and 2, April 21-27 

Age limit: 7-15 years 

Fees: ₹3,600 

Registeration: 9886508191 

Yours Truly Theatre at Indiranagar 

The children’s edition, catering to ages 7 to 11, will include interactive exercises that adapt to the participants’ responses. The sessions will begin with activities to help children feel comfortable with one another before transitioning into collaborative exercises. The workshop follows a flexible format, ensuring that each child is engaged and encouraged to explore their creativity. As a culmination of their learning, the children will stage an informal performance on the final day, showcasing their newly acquired skills. Meanwhile, for teenagers, the workshop will place greater emphasis on creativity and self-expression. It will serve as a platform for participants to engage in meaningful discussions on topics such as mental health and body shaming. Through theatre exercises, they will be encouraged to articulate their thoughts and experiences in a supportive environment. 

Date: April 20-31 

Age limit: 7-17 years 

Fees: ₹6,000 

Registeration: BookMyShow 

Art Commune at Medai 

This six-day camp is designed to nurture a child’s overall development through a blend of engaging and hands-on activities. From gardening to mind sports, art and craft, and theatre, each activity is carefully crafted to inspire creativity, critical thinking, and self-expression, said one of the facilitators. Facilitated by experienced trainers Chaithanya Srinivas and Omkar Kibe, this camp combines artistic expression, cognitive skills, and a connection with nature, the program not only help enhance a child’s awareness of their surroundings but also supports their academic and personal development.  

Date: April 7-12 

Age limit: 7-14 years 

Fees: ₹6,000 

Registeration: 9886612423/8779126641  

LVDS’ dance summer camp 

Lourd Vijay Dance Studio also known as LVDS is hosting Break a Leg, an intensive dance summer camp for children across 10 locations in the city. It will be held between April 7 and 25. The programme will focus mainly on hip-hop, breaking, and popping. In addition to dance, children will also get to learn gymnastics, theatre and art. The camp will end with a performance by the students.  

Date: April 7-25 

Age limit: 4-14 years 

Fees: ₹2,499 onward 

Registration: 9845239123

Nature Trails Kanakpura 

This four-day residential workshop offers a unique blend of outdoor learning methodologies focused on experiential and hands-on activities to facilitate the growth and development of children. One of the founders of the camp said that the core idea behind our summer camp is to empower participants with self-reliance, independence, courage, life skills acquisition while igniting a spirit of adventure within them. The camp offers activities like naturopathy, learn how to make bio-enzymes and probiotics, basics of forest survival, farming and cocoon attraction, tent pitching challenge, cave expedition and more. 

Date: April 21-24 

Age limit: 8-15 years 

Fee: ₹11,500 

Registration: 6361401179/9113507543 

Yoga Amidst Nature

Yogi Re, a Bengaluru-based yoga organisation, is set to host Srishti, a five-day residential camp for children. Since 2017, the group has been organising immersive yoga retreats, and this year’s edition will take place in two scenic locations, Chikkamagaluru and Bandipur. Designed to blend wellness with the outdoors, the camp offers yoga sessions, meditation, guided treks, nature walks, engaging games, and nutritious meals, fostering a holistic experience for young participants. 

Date: Batch 1, April 8-12; Batch 2, April 30-May 4 

Age limit: 8-12 years

Fee: ₹3,000

Registration: https://yogire.com/