KCKidsFun

Everywhere we look there are new sports camps popping up in the Kansas City metro area. We won’t even begin to scratch the surface with this list, I fear – but we’ll give a go! The obvious place to start is with your local parks and recreation department. Click here for some easy links to parks and rec websites.

Regular Listings:

• Academy of Riding Starlight Stables (Liberty, MO) offers summer day camps for all levels of experience with lessons in riding, saddling and bridling, stable maintenance, breeds/colors, equine anatomy and safety. Ages 8 and up will enjoy all of this plus water fun, crafts, games and snacks!
• AKKA – Karate USA (Kansas City, MO/Independence, MO/Gladstone, MO/Overland Park, KS/Olathe, KS) offers a variety of summer camps at their locations. And it’s not just karate!  These camps include many traditional day camp activities like swimming, crafts, field trips, etc. -  as of March 3, 2011, some of the sites have not been updated with summer camp information yet. So, check back!
• All American Cheer & Stunt (south Kansas City, MO) will be hosting summer fun and cheer camps for all ages at their facility at 143rd and State Line. As of March 3, 2011, summer info was not listed on the website. Call them for details.
• AmeriKick Martial Arts offers a fun and exciting summer camp for kids ages 6-13.  Students will not only learn karate, but will also go swimming, take field trips, do crafts, and participate in a variety of other fun activities.  No martial arts experience is necessary!
• Barstow School Summer Camps (south Kansas City, MO) has a great variety of camps for all ages – baseball, basketball, soccer, tennis, volleyball, football, fencing, golf, gymnastics, rock-climbing and horsemanship.
• Bishop Ward High School sports camps (KCK/Wyandotte County) for boys and girls in grades 3 to 9. Choose from baseball, basketball, football and volleyball.  Check the site in May 2010 for updates.
• Blue Valley Recreation (south Johnson County, KS) hosts many different camps all summer long for various age groups and sports. Check their online catalog for details.
• Blue Valley Soccer Club (south Johnson County, KS) will host recreation-level and premier-level soccer camps – for ages 5 through high school.
• Camp WIN (Overland Park, KS and Kansas City, MO) introduces girls 6 to 8 and 9 to 12 to 14 new sports and fitness activities as well as lessons on body image and healthy eating. Sponsored by the Kansas City Sports Commission and the Women’s Intersport Network for Kansas City.  Not updated as of March 3, 2011.
• Challenger British Soccer Camps (multiple locations across the Kansas City metro area), through city and county parks and recreation department and private soccer clubs, holds TONS of camps for kids of all ages and skill levels. The instructors are excellent young British coaches with a high level of skill and patience
• Challenger KC Wizards Soccer Camps (multiple locations) -The 2009 KANSAS CITY WIZARDS SOCCER CAMPS will once again provide local area players of all ages with a fantastic camp program and a chance to meet Kansas City Wizards players and coaches. Now featuring new Wizards Junior camps for younger fans!
• Coach Rocky Lamar’s Fundamentally Driven Basketball Camp (Olathe, KS) is one of the most well-respected camps in the metro area. The camp is held in Olathe at the Mid-America Nazarene University. Camps are offered for girls and boys, grades 3 through 12 and are coached by MANU’s head men’s and women’s basketball coaches.
• Dave’s Gymnastics Factory (Lee’s Summit, MO) offers a Spring Break 2012 Day Camp as well as Summer Day Camps. Camps include crafts, games, swim time in their pool and fort building in the gym.
• Eagles Gymnastics and Dance Centre (south Kansas City, MO) has half day camps with different themes each week. Each camp includes gymnastics and special activities related to the week’s theme. Boys and girls of all ages are welcome to check out Barbie Princess or X-Games camps…to name a few!
• Emerald City Gymnastics & Adventure Center (Overland Park, KS) will host half- and full-day camps featuring gymnastics, rock wall, arts and crafts and more.
• Faulkner’s Ranch Pony Camps and Clinics (Lee’s Summit, MO)  Your kids can learn what it’s like to take care of a pony at Faulkner’s Pony Camp!  Kids will learn important equine skills and how to groom, feed and ride ponies during this fun week at the ranch.  For children ages 5-10, with a maximum of 10 campers per session.  New this year (upon request!) extended camp time 9:00am – 3:00pm.
• First Tee of Greater Kansas City (many locations across the city) hosts junior golf camps at public courses to teach kids ages 5 and up golf skills and life skills. Classes and leagues are also available.
• Gamebreaker Lacrosse Camp (Kansas City, MO – Rockhurst University) will hold a weeklong residential or extended day camp for boys in grades 3 to 12.
• Great American Gymnastics Express (GAGE Center) – Bump City Kids Club (Blue Springs, MO) offers week-long, full-day camps all summer long for ages 4 to 12. Activities include gymnastics, rock climbing, games, sports, swimming and more.
• Got Skills Soccer Camp (Northland) teaches soccer fundamentals and advanced techniques to boys and girls of all skill levels, from age 6 to 14.
• Heartland Fencing Academy (Lenexa, KS) will be holding introduction to fencing camps for kids ages 7-13.
• Horsin’ Around at Midnight Farm Horsin’ Around is a horsemanship day camp for children ages 6-16 with or without special needs. Campers will learn riding skills, general horse knowledge and ground skills to help them become well-rounded riders. Camp will also include horse-themed crafts, games, pony parade and a horse show on the last day.  For 2012 registration information email dionnenewton@clokan.org or call 785-979-1889.
• Hybrid 180 Youth & Fitness Sports Camp (Riverside, MO)  -Camp sessions run weekly from May 31st – Aug 4, 2011  from 8AM to 12:00 PM Mon through Thurs, for 7-12 year olds.  Kickball-Soccer-Baseball- Flag Football-Wacky Olympics-Track and Field-Dodge Ball-Capture the Flag-Obstacle Course- Frisbee Golf are just some of the sports and games included in the camp.
• Johnson County Community College (Overland Park, KS) offers camps for just about every sport you can think of – as well as before- and after-camp activities.
• Johnson County Park and Recreation District offers over 30 summer camp programs for ages 3-18.  Included are camps focusing on recreation, sports, water activities and hiking!  Dates, locations and fees vary.
• Kansas City Athletic Cheer – KCAC (Overland Park, KS) will host tumbling and stunt camps for all ages!
• Kansas City Fencing Center (Overland Park, KS) offers introductory, recreational and competitive fencing camps for kids ages 7 and up.
• Kansas Gymnastics & Cheer (Olathe, KS) will have a full summer of Monday thru Thursday, half-day gymnastics camps (preschool and recreational) for ages 3 and up. A full rotation around the gym along with arts/crafts activities and free time!
• Kansas Rush Soccer Club (Olathe, KS) will offer week-long soccer camps for kids ages 5 and up at Lone Elm Soccer Complex. Recreational and competitive levels.
• KC Sports Academy (various locations, Johnson County) offers boys and girls basketball skills and drills summer program—The cost is $125.00/month, with a $25.00 per month DISCOUNT when you mention KC Kids Fun!!  For 1st-8th graders.
• KC Watersports (Paola/Hillsdale, KS) offers 1 day to 5 day camps for kids, 10 and up, at the KC Watersports Cable Lake location.  Beginner to advanced are welcome.  The park can also be rented/reserved for private camps/parties for a more personal learning experience.
• Lonestar Ranch - website down as of March 3, 2011- (south Kansas City, MO) will be hosting week-long, half- and full-day horse riding camps throughout the summer. Ages 6 thru 15 are welcome. Learn about riding (ride every day!), basic horse care and grooming, tack, and more!
• Mariways Stable Summer Horse Camps (Lee’s Summit, MO) offers two one-week sessions from 10am to 3pm daily. Camps include lessons in riding, grooming, basic horse care, saddling and bridling, types of horses, types of riding styles, arts, crafts and other activities!
• My Gym Children’s Fitness Center (south Overland Park, KS) during this 3-hour drop off program, kids will participate in music, dance, story-time, games, relays and MY GYM activities!  For ages 2 1/2 (potty trained/pull ups) to 10 years old.  Weekly themes throughout the summer!
• Northland Youth Football Camp (Liberty, MO) hosts kids K-8th grade for a four evening football camp at William Jewell College. Camp is July 18-21, 2011 and is held from 6pm to 8:30pm – best for the July heat, for sure!
• Peeper Ranch (Olathe, KS) offers riding camps with two lessons every day plus crafts, buggy rides and more horse-related education. Space is limited!
• Pembroke Hill Summer Camps (Kansas City, MO) offer a little bit of EVERYTHING including sports like basketball, mixed martial arts, climbing, soccer and volleyball.
• R&R Stables (Lee’s Summit, MO) offers a host of horse riding clinics and camps. Contact them for more information.
• Rockhurst High School (Kansas City, MO) hosts several different sports camps this summer. These include baseball camps for boys in grades 4 through 9; basketball camps for boys in grades 3 through 10; football camps for boys in grades 4 through 9; lacrosse camps for boys and girls in grades 3 through high school and soccer camps for boys and girls K through 12.
• Sports City (Blue Springs, MO) looks like it might have camps for baseball, softball, volleyball, basketball and football throughout the year. Their website was a little lacking in information about summer programs – so you may just need to give them a call!
• St.  Teresa’s Academy Summer Camps (Kansas City, MO) offers basketball, volleyball, tennis, softball, dancing, lacrosse, soccer, and distance running instruction for girls in grades 4 thru 9.
• St. Thomas Aquinas Summer Camps (Overland Park, KS) has grade school camps for baseball, basketball, football and wrestling (boys) and basketball, cheerleading, softball and volleyball (girls). They also offer high school camps for the same sports.
• Tally Ho Equestrian Centre Horse Riding Camp (Leavenworth, KS) has week-long sessions taught by world champion rider and trainer Amara Packwood. Check their website for details (not updated as of March 3, 2011).
• TEAM Sports is offering training in sports broadcasting, with a chance to do actual games live as part of the training.
• TOUR Academy Junior Summer Golf Camps at Shoal Creek Golf Club (KCMO) offers full and half-day camps in June, July and August. Campers receive great instruction, including golf fundamentals such as full swing mechanics, putting, and chipping. We focus on good sportsmanship, integrity and other skills which can be applied both on and off the course.
• YMCA (20 locations in the metro) offers camps for 5-15 year olds and run June 1- August 7.  Bonus:  before and after-camp care is available, as is financial assistance.

Be sure to also check the list of General Day and Overnight Camps, as many of those will have sports-related offerings as well!