Camping for children is not necessarily some major outdoor activity that would deter the less adventurous. Encourage your young ones to attend one of the many overnight and day holiday camps, which have activities ranging from pitching a tent at the zoo to practising yoga to tinkering with coding.

Lawyer Marilyn Chia, 45, has booked a tent at the Safari Snooze overnight experience at the Singapore Zoo next weekend, as a treat for her two girls, aged 13 and 16.

"This is the first time we will be camping in Singapore and we decided to try something different," she says.

The Straits Times susses out 15 holiday camps to consider.

Sporty camps

CHILDREN'S HOLIDAY CAMP

Children will take part in activities that work on fundamental movements such as running, balancing, catching, jumping and throwing. There is a range of other sport camps to sign up for, too, such as badminton and archery.

Suitable for: Kids aged seven to 12

Where: Hougang Sports Hall, 93 Hougang Avenue 4

When: June 1 and 20, 8am to 1pm

Admission: $60 (ActiveSG credits can be used to offset 30 per cent of the fee)

Info: Register at www.myactivesg.com/programmes/activesg-school-holiday-sports-programmes

BOUNCE TRAMP CAMP

At indoor adventure and trampoline park Bounce Singapore, the little ones will get to explore the different zones in the 24,000 sq ft space and pick up aerial and wall-running skills.

There is the Leap of Faith station where participants can boost their confidence by jumping off a 5m-high platform and leaping to catch hold of a trapeze or grab bag.

Suitable for: Children aged three and older

Where: Bounce Singapore, 09-01 Cathay Cineleisure Orchard, 8 Grange Road

When: June 5 to 7, 12 to 14 and 19 to 21; 9am to noon daily

Admission: $290 a participant (includes fruit platter, water and goodie bag)

Info: Register at www.bounceinc.com.sg/tramp-camp

Hands-on camps

HOME FOR THE HOLIDAYS

This visual arts camp, centred on the theme of home, is based on Playeum's newest exhibition Making It Home: Dreaming Rooms, Making Spaces, Creating Places.

Children are invited to explore the various rooms of a home, such as the bedroom, laundry room and store room and experiment and then create something using items they can find around the room.

This will be done using art processes such as clay-making and painting.

Suitable for: Kids aged five to 12

Where: Playeum, Children's Centre for Creativity, 01-23 Gillman Barracks, Block 47 Malan Road

When: May 30 to June 2 and June 6 to 9, 10am to 1pm daily

Admission: $300 a child (includes all-day admission into Playeum)

Info: Register at www.playeum.com/holiday-camps

TINKER CAMP

Appealing to budding inventors and engineers, this overnight camp has kids working with tools and teaches them how to use a solder- iron, hand-saw and drill.

Participants also learn to work together to create an indoor farm or a "laser" maze from yarn, bells and tape.

Suitable for: Kids aged nine to 12

Where: Tinkering Studio, Science Centre Singapore, 15 Science Centre Road

When: June 16, 9am, to June 17, 2pm

Admission: $428 a child

Info: Registration closes on May 22. Go to www.science.edu.sg/events/Pages/TinkerCamp.aspx

MINECRAFT ADVENTURE CAMP

Taking inspiration from the video game Minecraft, kids will be taught 3D game design processes. Subsequently, they will be challenged to design their own simple Minecraft adventure maps.

Suitable for: Kids aged seven to 12

Where: Children's Worklab, 02-K1 Forum The Shopping Mall, 583 Orchard Road

When: 9am to noon or 2 to 5pm, from May 29 to June2 and June 12 to 16; 2 to 5pm from June 19 to 23

Admission: $499 a child

Info: Go to bit.ly/2qzCzRa

Educational camps

MAGIC IS HERE! - OVERNIGHT ADVENTURE

Sign up your kids for a magical sleepover at the Singapore Philatelic Museum.

They will be entertained by a magician and juggler and go on an amazing race around the museum.

A jaunt at the museum will not be complete without an after-dark tour of the exhibitions, including one based on fairy tales.

Meals will be provided. Suitable for: Kids aged seven to 12

Where: Singapore Philatelic Museum, 23B Coleman Street

When: May 30 to 31 and June 7 to 8; 6pm to 9am the next day

Admission: $100 a child

Info: E-mail SPM_EDU_PRG@nhb.gov.sg to register or go to www.museums.com.sg/cs17/programmes/magic-is-here---an-overnight-adventure

MULTI-ACTIVITY CAMP

If your child loves art, cooking, sport and drama, then Camp Asia's multi-activity day camp is the perfect one for him or her.

Divided into two groups - one for kids aged three to five and another for those six to eight - the kids will be kept busy with a packed programme that includes baking cookies, playing sports such as soccer and tennis, and getting crafty with painting and papier mache.

Suitable for: Kids aged three to eight

Where: Stamford American International School, 1 Woodleigh Lane

When: June 19 to 23, 9am to 3pm

Admission: $625 a child (includes lunch, snacks and Camp Asia T-shirt) Info: Go to www.campasia.asia/holiday-camps/multi-activity.html

STAGE CAMP BY SRT

The Singapore Repertory Theatre is running holiday day camps for three age groups: four to six, seven to 12, and 13 to 16.

The little ones (Play Stage) will be eased into the world of theatre through fairy tales using song, dance, and movement and perform a stage presentation at the end of the week.

Primary schoolgoers (Theatre Stage) will learn the art of storytelling and pick up acting and theatre techniques.

Children in the oldest group (Acting Stage) will work together to stage their own show and develop their performance skills.

Where: Level 2, KOP building, 25 Tai Seng Avenue, or KC Arts Centre - Home of SRT, 20 Merbau Road

When: June 12 to 16, 10am to 12.30pm (Play Stage and Theatre Stage); 1.30 to 4pm (Acting Stage)

Admission: $350 a child

Info: Go to srt.com.sg/learning-engagement/current-upcoming- programmes.html

Outdoor camps

RIVERBED AND BREAKFAST @ RIVER SAFARI

Have a sleepover with the manatees next to their tank in the air-conditioned Amazon Flooded Forest aquarium exhibit, go on a behind-the-scenes tour of the space and feed the silver arowanas. Tents will be provided.

There will be guided tram tours around the park and the Singapore Zoo too.

Buffet spreads are offered for dinner and breakfast.

Suitable for: All ages

Where: River Safari, 80 Mandai Lake Road

When: May 27, 4pm, to May 28, 11am

Admission: $800 (up to four people) or $1,025 (up to five people) a tent

Info: Registration closes on May 24, 11.59pm. Go to education.zoo.com.sg/campfest.html

SAFARI SNOOZE @ SINGAPORE ZOO

Campers will pitch their tents in an open area, close enough to hear the calls of the animals once the sun sets. Tents will be provided.

Beside playing games at an evening campfire, participants will be given access to the breeding complex at Fragile Forest where invertebrates such as the stick insect and tarantula are bred.

Buffet spreads will be offered for dinner and breakfast.

Suitable for: All ages

Where: Singapore Zoo, 80 Mandai Lake Road

When: May 27, 3.30pm, to May 28, 11am

Admission: $550 (up to four people) or $700 (up to five people) a tent

Info: Registration closes on May 24, 11.59pm. Go to education.zoo.com.sg/campfest.html

GLAMPING IN THE WILD @ NIGHT SAFARI

Campers will not have to rough it out in this glamorous camping - or glamping - experience as they will stay in a large air-conditioned teepee tent that can comfortably fit up to 10.

They will also go on a personalised buggy Safari Adventurer tour around the park, feed the elephants and possibly catch a glimpse of the adorable baby of the pack, Neha.

There will be other animal encounters as well, with a binturong, hedgehog, green iguana or owl.

Admirers of the white tigers will get a special back-of-the-house tour to find out how the animals are taken care of.

Suitable for: All ages

Where: Night Safari, 80 Mandai Lake Road

When: May 27, 5pm, to May 28, 11am

Admission: $8,000 (up to 10 people). Only one tent available.

Info: Registration closes on May 24, 11.59pm. Go to education.zoo.com.sg/campfest.html

CAMP UNPLUGGED 2017

This is billed as a digital detox camp as conceptualised by playgroup Sprouting Seeds and supported by Wow Kampung, a social enterprise by the non-profit Ground-Up Initiative. It will take place at Kampung Kampus, a nature- inspired educational campus.

Children will go on nature explorations, help with the harvesting and food preparation from the farm and try woodworking.

Suitable for: Kids aged seven to 12

Where: Kampung Kampus, Ground-Up Initiative, 91 Lorong Chencharu

When: June 19 to 23, 9.30am to 1.30pm (half day) or 9.30am to 3.30pm (full day)

Admission: $300 (half day) and $500 (full day) for bookings made by Sunday, after which it is $350 (half day) and $550 (full day).

Info:bit.ly/2pZb6q1

FAMILY NATURE CAMP AT PULAU UBIN

Campers will go on guided nature romps around different parts of the island. Along the way, they might spot some of the island's non-human inhabitants including the buffy fish owl, greater mousedeer and oriental whip snakes.

The camp is organised by non-profit environmental education group Cicada Tree Eco-Group and is part of Pesta Ubin, a festival celebrating the culture and ways of the offshore island.

Suitable for: Families with children aged six to 12

Where: Ubin Living Lab, Pulau Ubin

When: June 10, 1.30pm, to June 11, 1.30pm

Admission: $100 an adult and $70 a child (includes tent, dinner and book on wild animals of Singapore)

Info: Registration opens on Monday at www.facebook.com/cicadatreeecoplace. There is a maximum capacity of 20.

NIGHT@ARMS

Prepare your boys for National Service at this overnight camp at the Army Museum of Singapore.

Together with their dads, the children will learn how to pitch a basha tent, be introduced to cooking in the wild, go on a confidence walk, and get a taste of the standard obstacle course.

Suitable for: Kids aged 10 to 12

Where: Army Museum of Singapore, 520 Upper Jurong Road

When: May 27 to 28, June 3 to 4 and 10 to 11; 1.30pm to 1.30pm the next day

Admission: $102 a father-son pair

Info: Register at ARMSprogrammes@sdc.com.sg or go to www.museums.com.sg/cs17/programmes/night-at-arms

THE OPEN CENTRE RESILIENCE & MINDFULNESS CAMP

This five-day camp will focus on imparting mindfulness and social-emotional skills to primary school children.

Besides learning breathing techniques through mindfulness activities, the campers will go on field trips nearby for pet therapy and horse-grooming sessions.

There will also be sessions for the kids to learn to get creative using natural or recycled items such as leaves and sticks.

Suitable for: Children aged six to 12

Where: The Open Centre, 100 Turf Club Road (opposite Horse City)

When: May 29 to June2, June 12 to 16 and 19 to 23; 9am to 4.30pm daily

Admission: $680 (includes lunch and snacks)

Info: Go to theopencentre.com.sg/workshops/holiday-camp/