The fun and exciting times of camp combined with a challenging academic schedule will make for a memorable summer as Monticello Preparatory School has announced dates for its weekly summer camp sessions.

In addition, Monticello Prep School is once again co-sponsoring the SCV Youth Renaissance Faire along with the Santa Clarita School of Performing Arts on April 28 from noon to 6 p.m., at Richard Rioux Park in Stevenson Ranch. Admission is just $2 and the kids will get to meet professional actors portraying Henry the Eighth, Queen Elizabeth I, and William Shakespeare.

There will be exciting Renaissance-style skits and musical performances at the amphitheater, as well as face painting, hands-on craft booths for kids, Renaissance style games, and food and drinks will be served. Queen Elizabeth will award prizes for the best costumes worn by attendees.

“The SCV Youth Renaissance Faire is one of the highlights of our year and we are excited to be involved in this event once again,” said Rebecca Cranert, Monticello Prep Chief of School. “At Monticello Prep we try and give our children as much exposure as we can to events like this. We are pleased to once again be partnering with the Santa Clarita School of Performing Arts.”

Summer Camp at Monticello Prep School begins the week of June 17 and continues throughout the summer concluding the week of Aug. 26. A package rate of eight weeks or more is $200 per week with individual weeks $250. Camp hours are daily from 8 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.

“While our academics are indeed rigorous, we go out of our way to focus on fun in the summer,” Cranert said. “We want the learning to be fun so we do a lot with educational games, like spelling bees. We will include lots of science and hands on science experiments. We will have our regular activities like swimming, tennis, soccer, arts and crafts, as well as field trips. We are really looking forward to an exciting summer of camp.”

Monticello Prep is a fully accredited Christian-based school that offers challenging academics, inspiring arts and exciting sports, including weekly horseback, which takes place at the Wildwood Canyon Equestrian Center.

Another physical education program that has been flourishing at Monticello Prep has been introductory tennis lessons under the guidance of USPTA-certified professional Jocel Alcedo, a former NCAA Division I player at Loyola Marymount.

“We utilize the USTA’s 10 and Under Tennis format to make sure the game is sized just right for the children to succeed,” Alcedo said. “We believe tennis is a sport that can be enjoyed for a lifetime and we are excited to be exposing all the Monticello Prep students to tennis throughout the school year and during summer camp.”

The school hosts the annual Monticello Preparatory School Santa Clarita Valley Junior Tennis Invitational each Spring.

Students also participate in sports such as soccer, ice skating, basketball and softball during the school year. Monticello is a member of the SCV Private Schools League. The Monticello Preparatory School Golf team won the 2012 League Championship at the Fall Golf Tournament earlier in the school year.

Cranert concluded by saying she feels strongly about students who are well-rounded in both academics and athletics. “That is what we are all about at Monticello Prep,” she said.