Karate summer camp in Highland Park

It's the middle of winter, a perfect time to think about the summer.

True North Martial Arts in Highland Park will offer a summer camp of mixed martial arts, from June 24-Aug. 23. Students may enroll for anywhere from one to nine weeks at a time.

Registration costs $50 for students not already enrolled at True North, and $25 for current students. Cost of the camp is $160 a week for one to three weeks, $135 for four to six weeks, and $125 for seven to 10 weeks. There is a 15 percent discount for students registered and paid for by March 1.

A registration packet is available online.

True North Martial Arts is located at 320 Raritan Ave., Highland Park. For more information, call (732) 317-3025.

Bridgewater: Homeschool swim

The Sometset Valley YMCA will hold a homeschool open swim at the Bridgewater pool on Monday afternoon.

The event, which runs from 1-3 p.m. weekly, costs $6 per swimmer. There is a maximum cost of $20 per family. There will be a free family day at the facility on Feb. 18.

The pool is located at 601 Garretson Road, Bridgewater, across from Bridgewater-Raritan High School, just down the road from Bridgewater Commons.

Update: New location for indoor soccer

The new indoor winter homeschool soccer season is kicking off at a new location.

The new season with Rovers Soccer begins Feb. 7, and runs for six consecutive weeks, through March 14, at Stelton Community Center, 328 Plainfield Ave., Edison. The program costs $75 per child, and is open to children 4-15 years old. Play runs from 10:15-11:15 a.m. for all age groups. Payment is due Feb. 7, with checks payable to Rovers Soccer.

Players should bring their own shin guards.

The session does include any scheduled make-up days. If anyone misses a day because of illness or vacation and would like to do a make-up class, either visit www.roversoccer.com for other scheduled soccer classes, or check with Spencer directly. He can be reached at (732) 777-1600.

To register or for more information, contact Donna Dorsey at wicket1124 at msn dot com. Include names and ages of children to participate, as well as a parent contact name, phone number and e-mail address.

Ice skating at Mercer Rink

Punxsutawney Phil may have missed his shadow and predicted an early spring, but ice skating will continue at Mercer County Skating Center until March 8.

The rink is open to homeschoolers from 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Mondays. The cost is $5 to skate, with an additional $3 to rent skates. The rink is located in Mercer County Park, between Old Trenton Road and Paxson Avenue.

Skating on Feb. 4 will end 20 minutes early, at 2:40 p.m.

Families may bring a treat to share.

Indoor soccer begins Feb. 7

The new indoor winter homeschool soccer season is all set to kick off.

The new season with Rovers Soccer begins Feb. 7, and runs for six consecutive weeks, through March 14, at Inman Sports Club in Edison. The program costs $75 per child, and is open to children 4-15 years old. Play runs from 10:15-11:15 a.m. for all age groups. Payment is due Feb. 7, with checks payable to Rovers Soccer.

Players should bring their own shin guards.

The session does include any scheduled make-up days. If anyone misses a day because of illness or vacation and would like to do a make-up class, either visit www.roversoccer.com for other scheduled soccer classes, or check with Spencer directly. He can be reached at (732) 777-1600.

To register or for more information, contact Donna Dorsey at wicket1124 at msn dot com. Include names and ages of children to participate, as well as a parent contact name, phone number and e-mail address.

Update: Indoor soccer will be held at Stelton Community Center, 328 Plainfield Ave., Edison.

Karate summer camp

If you're looking for a summer camp experience for your kids that will get them moving and maybe even develop a passion for fitness, I can vouch for senseis Mercee and Dovi, who run the program at True North Martial Arts. My second daughter attended summer camp with them two years ago, and enjoyed it so much that she soon became a regular student.

Camp will run from 9 a.m.-2 p.m. weekdays, beginning June 25 and continuing through August. The cost is $150 per week with discounts for multiple weeks, plus registration. (Read more about the camp.)

Sensei Mercee, who owns True North, was an instructor at the former Family Kickboxing Academy on North Fourth Avenue in Highland Park. That school closed in Feburary, but he has brought the same culture of respect, discipline, and fun to his new academy, at 320 Raritan Ave.

Classes are come-when-you-can on Mondays through Thursdays, with kids' sessions beginning at 4:15, 5:15 and 6:15 p.m. Classes for adults start in the evenings. The first lesson is free.

Karate

My kid does really well when she's left to herself.

Some kids are extroverts and love being part of a team. They draw their strength from the cheers and accolades of their friends, they feel secure knowing that someone else is there to get their back, and they love being a part of something larger than themselves. Stick them on a team, and they blossom.

Other kids are introverts, and they love being on their own. They're encouraged by affirmation, but what they really crave is the focus that comes from being in the zone. They feel secure when they lose themselves in the process of discovery, of learning; and they live the most deeply when they're striving on their own or with one or two close friends. Leave them to their own devices, and they blossom.

My oldest is an introvert. Team sports are not for her.

This past week, I took her to a trial class at True North Martial Arts in Highland Park. Located at 320 Raritan Ave., right next to 10,000 Villages, the studio is a new effort by Sensei Mercee, of the former Family Kickboxing Academy. The new studio is just getting started, but it is full of promise.

The studio, incidentally, is having its grand opening celebration from noon-4 p.m. April 22, with information about its children and adults programs, as well as about its children's summer camp.

Unlike softball, where Oldest Daughter too often was stuck warming the bench because she compared negatively to other players, martial arts are an activity where the only person you compare to is yourself. In the class, you gauge your progress by how you are improving over your past performance.

The big lessons at True North are respect, hard work, discipline and focus. Students refer to instructors as "sir," and no one is ever spoken down to. I've seen students' attention wander, and they're always gently brought back into the fold. Middle Daughter has taken karate lessons for most of the past year, and she's never had a bad time.

The attitudes taught are good, the workout is excellent, and my daughter, who often resists my efforts to get her to move in the morning, asked if she could go back as a regular.

A recommendation doesn't get any better than that.