Summer Schools/Courses

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Hi I wondered if anyone could offer any insight into Summer activities in Edinburgh for a 10 and 11 year old.
I am looking at the one at Edinburgh Zoo, Stagecoach at Dance Base, the ones at the Lyceum theatre, the Green Team, City Farm helpers . . . so many on offer but can't find any reviews anywhere.
Can anyone give me any recommendations?
TIA

My eldest (aged 7) has done a couple of holiday weeks (last summer and easter this year) with the Drama Studio which are based in either Liberton or Wardie. She also attends the weekly classes. She loves it, the kids have a great time and provide input, and end up putting on a show at the end of the week. The staff are fantastic and really enthused. www.thedramastudio.com/

Have you looked at Edinburgh Leisure Activator camps held at the various gyms/pools etc? we're trying it for the first time this year. Just for a couple of days to see how it goes.

Thanks for the reply Starfish. They both did an Activator at Craiglockhart two years ago and really enjoyed it but I think my son particularly is probably too old for that now - he will be 12 in October. They also did a council swimming one but didn't think much of that. The Edinburgh Zoo one went on sale on March 1st and when I looked at it around March 10th it was already sold out in my daughter's age group so that is clearly popular which is why I'm thinking popular must equal good?! The ones I listed are all easy to get to from where we live in the west end which is why they are on my short list. Any others around that area could be considered too.

For something different, I recommend this one if they are interested in making things or Learning something new www.makesummerschool.co.uk/

My DD (13) has gone to both the Lyceum and the Drama Studio summer schools, and has had a great time at both. The Lyceum is more expensive, but the end of course show is on the big theatre stage, which the kids loved. It is very professional. The Drama Studio allows the kids more creative freedom, I think, as they create their own show. As mentioned before, the staff are fantastic.

The zoo course is supposed to be fantastic, a friend of mine's DS has done it. Apparently friend got up at 4am the day they went on sale, went to the zoo and queued till 10 to get his place on it though! Which probably puts it in the realm of 'too much like hard work' for this bad parent

DS 10 did the Galleon sports camp last summer and enjoyed it so much he insisted on going on the Friday as well even though I wasn't working:
www.gwc.org.uk/beyond-the-classroom/holiday-activities/
Although it's run at George Watson's it's open to all.

The summer ski school at Hillend is always really popular, my DC love it.

I have heard really good things about the Dance Base one as well.

If it is more for entertainment / socialising then childcare the trips / activities here are brilliant value. It's an Edinburgh council initiative
3msyouth.org/summer-activity-programme-july-aug-2016/

I hate having to drag my daughter from place to place in the summer hols. Sometimes you feel obliged to make these trips and I'm not sure it's that necessary these days. My daughter loves singing, dancing and musical theatre, she does swimming classes but we found a great online music school so she can take music classes at home with a teacher on Skype. She finds it really fun, using the screen and talking to the teacher (it's like startrek or something lol!) I wouldn't have believed it as a kid in the 80's.