The national building material of Denmark is the brick. Chances are your child knows that already, given how much he probably loves crafting Danish architecture, or, as he might put it, playing with LEGO. In an unabashed effort to pair their popular brands, LEGO and Atlantis, Paradise Island resort in the Bahamas have teamed up to launch the LEGO Atlantis Fantasy Camp.
Designed for kids 6-12, a five-day camp session at the resort will cost $425 per child and will be available to families who book a four-night minimum stay. The first three camp sessions will debut in July. The camp price excludes room cost but does come with lunch each day as well as some very LEGO-oriented stuff, including instruction from a “LEGO master builder” who will direct kids in group projects. Some of that time will be spent in a brick-filled LEGO Construction Zone, but like any good specialty program, the camp isn’t all about the specialty. Brick play will be supplemented by interaction with the famous Atlantis dolphins, access to the resort’s water park and speedway track, and other activities that are either included in the camp price or already included in your resort rate.
In my youth LEGO was always a solitary pursuit, and happily so, but there’s merit to the group approach, especially if you have a third or fourth grader who’s beginning to learn about team dynamics. In addition to working together on LEGO projects the campers will split into groups for beach Olympics and a resort-wide scavenger hunt, during which kids will explore parts of the resort “never-before-seen by guests.”
If there’s a push to buy merchandise, it’s not evident in the camp literature but you can be sure there will be some focus on building Atlantis-themed LEGO sets, and your campers will be issued a LEGO tee-shirt and backpack.
JetBlue is bundling airfare to Nassau with an Atlantis room and is offering a rebate if you book your trip by May 10. Or, if you’re feeling lucky, enter the resort’s sweepstakes: ten families of four will win a 5-day/4-night package including airfare, room, meals, and camp tuition for the week.
