From canines to water slides, the summer programs at Nansemond-Suffolk Academy have it all.

The school opens its campus to the entire community every summer for a variety of day camps. The camps vary in length and topics. Parents can pick from week-long camps or summer-long camps. Children can discover everything from biology to basketball in the various themed camps.

“Some kids are here all summer, but some kids are just here certain weeks,” said Ashley Greene, communications coordinator for NSA. “We like that we can open up our campus beyond the regular school year.”

This is the 29th year of the camps at Nansemond-Suffolk Academy. Summer camps there started when Jean Mauck, the current assistant headmaster of the Lower School, opened what was called Kaleidoscope Camp, which had 10 campers and one teacher for two weeks of activities.

The camps have grown to include all ages that offer a full eight weeks of summer camp each year. Last year, 284 campers attended camp, including 68 from other schools — even some who lived as far away as New York and Ohio.

The camps include Papoose Camp for the youngest campers, Kaleidoscope Camp for rising kindergarten through fourth-graders and Adventure Camp for rising fifth- through seventh-graders. For teenagers, there are themes such as counselors-in-training, adventures in the great outdoors and high seas adventure week, which includes a cruise aboard the Spirit of Norfolk.

“I’ve been coming to this camp since I was little,” said Avery Benton, an 11-year-old NSA sixth-grader who is participating in the dog camp this week. “It’s fun. I just love coming here.”

Students in this week’s dog camp are learning about the different breeds of dogs, how to care for them and how veterinarians do their work. A golden retriever named Cheney visited the camp on Wednesday.

“I love playing with the dogs,” Avery said. “I want to do something when I’m older for my career with dogs.”

In addition to sports camps of all kinds, some academic camps focus on Spanish, philosophy, middle school preparation, literature and computers.

All of the camps (except Papoose Camp) include Wednesday field trips.

It’s not too late to sign up for summer camps. Call 539-8789 for visit www.nsacademy.com for more information.