Merritt Clubs Blog

As the summer begins, parents may be looking for opportunities to add some structured fun into the long days of summer. Baltimore's best gym and fitness club is available to help out with that, offering summer camps in a variety of locations to provide opportunities for kids to have fun, be active, and learn.

Kids Camps in Eldersburg

Eldersburg offers a variety of camps for children of many ages. Water lovers can participate in the easy-going Splash and Swim camp, the more focused Michael Phelps swim school, or a junior lifeguard camp. View Eldersburg Camp brochure here. Other offerings include camps focused on:

• Sports
• Karate
• Dance
• American Girls
• Fairy Tales
• Musical Theater
• Video Gaming
• Art
• Pirate Island
• Theme Days

Younger children are not excluded at Eldersburg with special camps just for preschool-aged children, including Wee Sports, Superheroes, and theme camps such as "Dynamic Dinosaur Camp," "Around the Campfire," or "Kids in the Kitchen."

Towson Camps and New Outdoor Pool Complex

Towson offers a brand new pool complex for its members, which includes a baby pool, a large pool with two 18 foot water slides, and a sports field. Towson also offers summer camps for kids, including Junior lifeguarding, the Michael Phelp's swim camp, sports, and American doll camps. View Towson Camps brochure here. They also offer a Princess dance camp for the youngest dancers, and a Walk the Runway Camp for young aspiring fashion designers.

Canton Camps

The Canton location offers many of the same camps as Towson and Eldersburg. Swim camps, sports camps, dance camps, and American girls are some choices. Their unique camps include a Pop Star Dance camp, and an Ultimate Fun camp where kids will go on scavenger hunts, conquer obstacle courses, and play games. View Canton Camps brochure here.

Dance Camps at the Cranbrook Location

If you've got a dancer in the house, and the Cranbrook location is convenient for you, they are offering the Mini Dancing Princess Camp for children ages 3-5, and the Pop Star Dancing Camp for ages 5 and up.

Merritt Athletic Clubs has got you covered for summer activities! Children will not only learn a lot at these camps, they will have lots of fun and want to come back for more. Check our brochure for exact dates, times, and prices for all of these camps and contact us if you have any questions.

A recent study found that kids fitness programs may reduce their risk for suffering fractures when they reach old age. It’s another powerful argument for regular physical exercise for youths.

Researchers from the American Orthopaedic Society found that boys and girls who got 40 minutes a day of physical education at school increased their spine bone mineral density and had almost 50% fewer fractures compared to kids who spent only 60 minutes a week in gym class. An accompanying study of men with an average age of 69 found that former athletes lost only minimal bone mass compared to their more sedentary peers.

It’s long been known that the years before we reach 20 are critical for bone development. The National Institutes of Health estimates that girls acquire 90 percent of their peak bone mass by the age of 18 and boys by 20.

Any weight-bearing exercise will help build bone density. If your kids participate in organized sports like soccer or basketball, they’re getting off to a good start. There are also plenty of individual activities that some children may prefer like dancing or skiing or just taking long walks. In addition to regular exercise, there are a few more ways you can help your kids build up more bone mass to see them through their later years. Give them several servings a day of foods rich in calcium and vitamin D. Good choices are dairy products, tofu and vitamin-enriched breakfast cereals. Keep in mind that tobacco weakens bones along with all its other dangers. Limiting soft drinks is also a good idea.

Merritt Athletic Clubs is the most complete fitness organization in Maryland and a leader in kids fitness programs like our popular Zumba Kids classes and a Junior Fitness Certification for children between the ages of 12-15. Contact us to learn more or join online.