It's summer-camp season, and visions of canoes, crafts, and campfires are dancing in kids' heads. But there are many kinds of camps, and TV is here to highlight the fun and fantasy of heading off on a summer adventure (including a new Peanuts musical!)
This year marks the 75th anniversary of Peanuts, and this new special is the first Peanuts musical in 35 years.
From AppleTV+:
In the first Peanuts musical in over three decades, Charlie Brown, Snoopy and the rest of the gang break out in original songs by Emmy Award nominees Jeff Morrow and Ben Folds in the latest franchise special that invites kids and families to discover the magic of summer camp.
Apple TV+ has a new original film dedicated to the experience of summer camp. The Peanuts gang returns to their annual camping fun, however this is the first year for little Sally.
Sally is apprehensive about going away. She doesn’t understand why everyone looks forward to camp. So, she relies on her big brother Charlie Brown to help her adjust, and soon, to her surprise, she is having a great time.
When the kids learn the camp is going to be shut down, they decide to put on a play to help raise awareness of the Cloverhill Ranch camp that they have enjoyed year after year. Sally joins in, knowing that if the camp shuts down she will not have the same experiences and memories as the rest of the gang.
Unlike the other Peanuts specials, this one is a musical. And yes, they do break out into song from time to time.
Peanuts has come a long way in 75 years!
The special premieres July 18 on AppleTV+. Unfortunately, the trailer has not been released quite yet.
This is a faith-based Christian camp where the emphasis is building self esteem while enforcing Christian attitudes.
The campers say grace before meals and learn about Christian values. While it is an entertaining film, it also emphasizes many lessons about life and Biblical lessons and principles.
From Common Sense Media:
Parents need to know that Camp Cool Kids is a story that is set in a real-life, functioning Louisiana Christian camp. It's about confronting fear, coping with bullies, and confirming religious principles. The two central boys, one teen and one tween, are still grieving for their recently deceased dad and struggling with a move to a new community when they're sent to Camp Istrouma for a two-week summer session.
While the issues are serious ones, the treatment of them is upbeat and straightforward, and relies on humor as well as pathos. The bullying includes insults, intimidation, and some nasty pranks -- including one in which kids endure the always-good-for-a-laugh stomach catastrophes. Fine for middle grades and tweens as a simple, religious, and moralizing tale with obvious outcomes.
The Parent Trap is a classic when it comes to family films. The original starring Hayley Mills was released in 1961. Mills played both Sharon and Susan, twins that were separated when they were very young and their parents divorced.
Sharon went to live with her mother in England and Susan grew up with her father in California. Neither was aware they had a sibling, let alone a twin, until they accidentally met at summer camp.
While the other campers were off playing in the lake and enjoying all the wonders of nature, the two girls were plotting a way to get their parents back together so they could be one family again.
The movie was remade in 1998, with Lindsay Lohan taking the part of the twins. Opinions vary as to which is the superior version (sometimes depending which one you saw first).But parents should be aware that, while the 1998 version is rated PG by the standards of its time, some language and sex-related discussions would likely render it a PG-13 today.
While many camps focus on enjoying nature, there are some that are specific to subjects like art, music, mathematics, religion, and science. This film highlights the real Space Camp, however the storyline is somewhat far-fetched, as some of the campers accidentally get launched into space on the shuttle.
A remake of this story is in development for Disney+.
The real Space Camp is a weeklong program in Huntsville, Alabama, in which kids who are interested in science and space exploration can gain hands-on knowledge. Their website says it helps “inspire the next generation of explorers…”
If your kids (aged 9-18) are interested in space, aviation, or robotics, check out their website. They also have programs for the entire family.
Here's an NBC News report from 2024:
Kids who do not want to leave their families, or families that cannot afford to send their kids to summer camp, can enjoy some fun activities in their own homes. This show is designed for ages 5-9.
Learning about animals, nature, and science isn’t specific to outdoor camps. This series provides fun explorations and lessons on crafts and other projects kids can enjoy doing in the comfort of their own homes.
There are virtual field trips to museums and zoos as well as activities to explore personal creativity. This series a nice alternative to attending a summer camp away from home, and a way kids can feel like they have had a new summer experience even if they haven’t gone away.
Lastly, for tweens and up, there's the charming Netflix musical A Week Away. A troubled teen (Kevin Quinn) goes to Christian summer camp instead of juvenile detention.. The soundtrack is mostly Christian contemporary music, and the acting, singing and dancing are just fine.
There's romance and some drama, but it's all squeaky-clean.
While perhaps not of interest to littles, it's great summer-evening fare for the whole family.
Francine Brokaw is a longtime journalist whose articles have been published in national and international publications. She is accredited by the MPAA and is a long-standing member of the Television Critics Association. She also hosts Beyond the Red Carpet on YouTube.
Recent posts:
Faith & Family News: 'David' S2 to New Streamer; 'Chosen' at Vatican
'Jaws@50': NatGeo Remembers the Landmark Film (And So Do We)
Wes Anderson's 'The Phoenician Scheme' & the Question of Discernment
'Drive Thru History' Is Fun, Fresh, Fast, Fact-Filled & Full of Faith'
Keep up with Family Theater Productions on our website, Facebook, X, Instagram and YouTube.