KCKidsFun

Good morning, readers!  You may have noticed something a bit different about the site when you arrived… to celebrate our 2nd birthday, Kate and I decided to give the site a thorough redesign.  We are really pleased — and hope you will be, too.

Don’t worry– ALL of your favorite features are still here, in the same basic locations.   The LINKS DIRECTORY is still down the right-hand side, the BLOG (with our reviews, trip descriptions and general musings) is still in the middle, and the EVENTS CALENDAR is still easily accessed from any page; just locate the calendar icon near the top.

With the help of local web design firm Revisin, we have incorporated some custom artwork and new colors.  Play around on the site for a while– and please bear with us over the next day or two as we work out any minor kinks and issues.  Let us know what you think!  Thanks again for reading, passing us along to your family and friends and supporting local businesses.  Remember that you can get updates on Facebook and follow us on Twitter, too.  Cheers!

We’ve been watching. We know you’ve been coming to KC Kids Fun looking for the scoop on Kansas City summer camps for the last few weeks. And, finally, our 2010 Summer Camp Directory is here!

As usual, we’ve broken them down into six categories for you:

• General Day and Overnight Camps
• Sports Camps
• Science and Nature Camps
• Art Camps
• Performing Arts Camps
• Special Needs Camps

(If you operate a Kansas City area day or overnight camp which is not listed here in our camp listings, please let us know! And if you’re interested in a Sponsored Listing, email us for information.)

Looking for a traditional summer camp in the Kansas City area? Here is our list of 2010 general day and overnight camps – some of these camps have no theme, no greater purpose other than fun; some of them have multiple themes to choose from, multiple goals and choice (but still lots of fun).

Sponsored Listings:

If you operate a Kansas City area day or overnight camp which is not listed here or in one of other other camp listings, please let us know! And if you’re interested in a Sponsored Listing (with graphic and priority positioning), email us for information.

Regular Listings:

• Check out your local parks and recreation department. The Kansas City area parks and rec departments are really fabulous.  A great resource for parents and kids across the metro. Take a look at their summer catalogs – lots of offerings for every interest. You can find their websites by clicking the Classes link on the right side of this page.
• Barstow School Summer Program (south Kansas City, MO) – Voted “Best Summer Camp” by 425 South Magazine readers, Barstow offers over 250 programs for ages 3 to adult.  Extended care and lunch service available.
• Blue Valley Recreation (south Johnson County, KS) has many different summer offerings including Camp Center Stage and Safety City. Other camps include sports, technology, dancing and Special Olympics. BVRC is a GREAT resource for summer fun!
• Blue Valley School District Summer Explorations Program (south Johnson County, KS) offers a variety of classes for kids in grades 2-7, including math, engineering, music, drama, chemistry, technology and more.
• Boys and Girls Clubs of Greater Kansas City (Kansas City, MO/Kansas City, KS/Independence, MO) has programs for kids from 5-18. You’ll need to call your local club for more details on this summer’s offerings!
• Brookridge Day School (Overland Park, KS)offers summer school – keep an eye on their website for details!
• Calvary Lutheran Church and School (south Kansas City, MO) offers summer care/camp for kids who have finished kindergarten through 5th grade. Lots of activities, field trips, etc. Good hours for working parents.
• Camptastic at Creative World (Liberty, MO) offers five different themes this summer for ages 6 to 10. Full and part-time schedules available. Field trips, crafts, special events and more!
• Extreme Discoveries at Kids R Kids School (Olathe, KS) has weekly-themed projects, activities and field trips. Great hours for working parents!
• Camp Chippewa (Ottawa, KS) is a Methodist overnight camp with traditional camp activities for kids from K to 12th grade. (Kindergarten thru 3rd grade camps are just two nights and campers must have an parent or other adult with them.) All other camps are 3 or 5 night camps.
• Camp Eagle Summit at Lee’s Summit Community Christian School (Lee’s Summit, MO) is a summer day camp with before and after care available at no extra charge. Weekly themes with lots of fun activities and outings.
• Camp Galilee (El Dorado Springs, MO) is a Methodist overnight camp with traditional camp activities for children from 8 to 18. Christian-based, this camp is northwest of Springfield, MO.
• Camp Shawnee (Waldron, MO – Platte County near Parkville) – traditional day camps and overnight camps for ages 5 to 16. Affiliated with Camp Fire USA.
• Camp Special Beginnings (Lenexa, KS) – summer day camp for kindergarten thru 6th grade, tons of activities, library time and field trips; flexible schedule for working parents!
• Camp Taum Sauk (Lesterville, MO – southwest of Rolla, abt 6 hrs from KC) is a co-ed residential camp with 2, 3, 5, 6 and 8 week sessions for kids ages 8 to 15. ACA accredited with every traditional camp activity.
• Camp Tekakwitha at Prairie Star Ranch (Williamsburg, KS) – sponsored by the Catholic Archdiocese of Kansas City, KS, this is an overnight adventure camp for grades 5 through 12 (separate sessions). Great outdoor activities as well as prayer and Scripture. A one week Family Camp is also available.
• Camp Wornall (Kansas City, MO) is held at the historic John Wornall House in the Loose Park/Brookside area. Kids ages 6 to 12 will learn about life and childhood in the 1800’s with tons of hands-on activities. They can even wear period dress.  Half- and full-day programs are available.
• Camp Wood (Elmdale, KS) is a YMCA residential camp for kids ages 7 to 17. One and two week sessions are available and include traditional camps, horse camps, skateboard camp and music camps.
• Clay-Platte Montessori School (Northland) offers camps for ages 2 – 12 including sports, science, art, cooking, computers, language, crafts and more. Some offered by the week; others offered on flexible daily schedule.
• Congregation Beth Shalom (Overland Park, KS) Fun in the Sun Summer Camps offer 2, 3 and 5 day options for kids ages 18 months through kindergarten. Half day programs with optional extended care until 3 pm.
• Cub Scouts of Heart of America Council (various locations) sponsors three to five day long day camps for Cub Scouts as well as residential camps of varying lengths for Cub Scouts, Webelos Scouts and Boy Scouts. BB guns, bows and arrows, nature, crafts and games.
• The Field Trip Club (Olathe, KS) – This is a state-licensed summer day camp for ages 5-14, with fun field trips each week. Call 913-780-6171 for information. (After several years, we still can’t find a website for these folks – does anyone know if they’re still in business?)
• First Kidz Camp, First Family Church (Overland Park, KS)
• Goddard School (various locations) has summer care/camps for preschool and elementary school-aged children. Great activities, great hours, different themes each week.
• Gymboree Play & Music (various locations) usually has special play and music offerings during the summer for babies through age 5.
• Gymboree (Lee’s Summit, MO) – 2 camps offered for 3-5 year olds:  July 13-15, 2010, and July 20-22, 2010.  Camps will focus on global adventures, art exploration and one sport, either t-ball or soccer.  For reservations, call 816-525-PLAY.
• Heartland Center (Parkville, MO) hosts a day camp program for 1st through 5th graders (and overnight camps for 2nd through 12th graders). They have the typical sports, swimming, music, crafts and games of most camps as well as regular Bible study.
• Jewish Community Center of Greater Kansas City (Overland Park, KS) has summer day camps for all ages as well as sports, theatre and dance camps! Before- and after-care also available for working parents.
• Johnson County Community College Summer Youth Enrichment (Overland Park, KS) has academic enrichment for kindergarten through 9th graders. There are some REALLY cool-sounding camp/courses at JCCC this summer!
• Johnson County Parks & Recreation Summer Day Camps (various locations) include fun day camps, preschool camps, sports camps, performing arts camps and nature/science camps! Full- and partial-day programs available.
• Kanakuk Kamps (Lake Taneycomo and Tablerock Lake, MO) are Christian-based overnight camps with 7, 13 and 25 day sessions. Ages 7 to 18, traditional camp activities. Golf camp and family camp also available.
• Kansas City Parks & Recreation summer camps (various locations in KCMO) offer arts & crafts, tennis, field trips, games, sports, swimming and more!
• Kansas City Urban Youth Center (KCMO) hosts a full-day camp for kids grades 1 thru 8. Mornings include literacy programming; afternoons feature field trips and fun!
• Kids Creative Summer Academy at Countryside (Mission, KS) – summer day camp for ages 6 through 5th grade.  M-F,730am – 530pm, June 7- Aug 13, 2010.  Features music, drama, science and nature, bowling, swimming, arts and crafts.
• Leawood Summer Camps (Leawood, KS) – Parks & Recreation half and full day camps for kids from K up to 17. Arts, sports, outdoor and “extreme tween” camps in addition to adventure camps held at City Park, Ironwoods Park and Community Center.
• Metropolitan Community College – Longview (Lee’s Summit, MO) sponsors programs for ages 3 -15 including a variety of different topics. As of March 2, 2010, the website didn’t have summer offerings posted. Check back for summer offerings or call 816-672-2030.
• Metropolitan Community College – Maple Woods (Northland) offers classes and camps for ages 8-14, covering topics such as art, drama, science, writing, animal care and sports. No info posted on their website yet as of March 2, 2010 but check back!
• Missouri Military Academy Enrichment and Recovery Academy (Mexico, MO) has day and residential programs geared towards academics and study skills with a variety of activities and sports in the afternoons and weekends. This is not a military program. For grades 7 through 12, boys and girls.
• Museum Kids Summer Workshops at the Kansas City Museum (KCMO) are two one-week workshops (9:30 to 3:30) exploring different cultures and countries. Play games, do arts and crafts, sample treats!
• My Gym (Overland Park, KS) has weeklong summer day camps for ages 2 to 8. Different themes each week. Crafts, sports, gymnastics, music and more! My children have attended several camps at My Gym and absolutely loved them…
• North Kansas City Community Center (North Kansas City, MO) holds weekly fun camps. No detailed info on their website as of March 2, 2010 – but check back soon!
• North Kansas City Schools Community Education Services (North Kansas City, MO) usually has camps for ballet, dance, art, computer and drama – ages 4 through 18. We’ve jumped the gun again! As of March 2, 2010, NKC doesn’t have their summer offerings available yet through the website. Call them at 816-413-5494.
• Notre Dame de Sion Elementary (Kansas City, MO) offers Sion Summer School for preschool through grade 8. The camp offers before- and after-camp extended care for working parents.
• Notre Dame de Sion High School (south Kansas City, MO) hosts art camps and sports camps for girls in grades 2 – 9.
• Oakhill Day School (Northland) offers many different sessions for age 2 through 8th grade. The sessions include cooking, computers, karate, academics, sports, swimming and more. Full- and part-day programs available.
• Pembroke Hill School (Kansas City, MO) holds an extensive summer program, similar in breadth to the Barstow program, for kids ages 2-18. There are many themed classes as well as offerings like debate, self-defense and SAT/ACT prep course! There are many more and the hours are excellent for working parents!
• Rockhurst High School (Kansas City, MO) offers a wide variety of day camps for kids of elementary, middle and high-school ages, including academics, computers, music and sports.
• Rock Springs Family Camp (Junction City, KS) – three day overnight sessions for Mom, Dad AND the kids! Horseback riding, swimming, hiking, fishing, trap shooting, crafts and more!
• St. Paul’s Episcopal Day School (Kansas City, MO) offers morning and afternoon classes in art, music, theater, soccer, basketball, academics, cooking and more! Ages 3 to 13.
• St. Thomas Aquinas High School (Overland Park, KS) sponsors several day camps for boys and girls in kindergarten through grade 8. Most offerings are sports camps with some dance, sewing and cooking thrown into the mix!
• Shawnee Mission School District (Johnson County, KS) has an amazingly broad Summer Enrichment Program for students in preschool through 8th grade. Programs range from art, math, computers, sports, science and music to theatre, cooking, woodworking and foreign languages. This one looks awesome!
• Tall Oaks Camp (Linwood, KS) hosts several day and overnight camps for the Disciples of Christ Christian Churches. Camps for kids K thru 12 are available as well as family camps.Check the website for details.
• Wildwood Outdoor Education Center (near LaCygne, KS) offers residential camping in a gorgeous setting. Five-day programs for boys and girls ages 8 to 14 or the Women of Wildwood program for girls ages 10 to 15 with an emphasis on leadership and self-esteem.
• Wonderscope (Shawnee, KS) holds weekly themed camps for kids ages 5 to 9. Fun, educational programs in an amazing environment!
• YMCA Summer Day Camps (various locations) The YMCA is one of the Kansas City metro’s best resources for kids’ camps. They’ve got sports camps, outdoor camps, fine arts camps and traditional day camps offered through many local school districts.
• Youthfront Camps (near Edgerton and LaCygne, KS) has overnight Christian-based camps for kids from grades 3 through 12+. There are week-long sessions for older kids; half-week sessions for the younger ones. Traditional, fun camp activities!