KCKidsFun

Looking for a traditional summer camp in the Kansas City area? Here is our list of 2011 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:

Camp Manitowa is the newest premier residential summer camp in the midwest. Located on Illinois’ largest lake, Rend Lake in Southern Illinois, Camp Manitowa offers all the traditional camp activities and the best in camper attention and parent customer service. Directors Andy Brown and Dan Grabel have over 40 combined years of experience running overnight camps and take the most personal approach with every camp family. Please visit www.campmanitowa.com for more details.

Regular Listings:

• A Thyme For Everything (Lee’s Summit, MO) -June 18 – June 22, 2012 Kid’s Thyme in the Kitchen Culinary Camp
  10:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.  $275.00 per child.
• 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!
• Brain Balance of Overland Park (OP, KS) – Get a Jumpstart for the Next School Year. The Brain Balance Program can improve your child’s social, academic and behavioral abilities. To find out how – Call (913) 627-9400.
• 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!
• Carver Christian Academy Summer Program (7203 Paseo, KCMO)-an academic program in the morning and a recreational program in the afternoon.  All meals (breakfast, lunch and snacks) are included with the weekly program fee.  The program hours are 6am to 6pm Mon- Fri. $50 to enroll and $60 weekly fee.   Please call (816) 361-1548 and leave a message to receive an enrollment packet.
• Earnest Shepherd Memorial Youth Center (Liberty, MO) -currently in their 50th year of serving the KC area.  Features 60 acres of hills, creeks, and bridges to roam, and themed day camps for K-6th graders.  Enrollment begins Apr 2, 2012.
• 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 Summit (Lee’s Summit, MO) – open all summer, May- Aug 2012. Open to 5 -11 years olds from 6:30am to 6:00pm. $115 weekly fee includes 2 – 3 field trips per week, daily swimming at Summit Waves, daily snack and a safe, fun, energetic environment for your child. You pick and choose the weeks to attend!
• 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.  One week each month in June, July, Aug and Sept 2012.
• 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, (up to 3 a day!).   Call 913-780-6171 for information.
• 4-H Camp (Junction City, KS), open to youth ages 7-11.  June 18-21, 2010.  4days and 3 nights of adventure at Rock Springs 4-H Center!
• 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.
• 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!
• Learning 2 Fly (Mission, KS) – day camps focusing on youth health, mind and body, art and circus skills!  Camps are M-Th, 830-330pm all summer.  Activities include daily exercise, community gardening and art.
• 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.
• Mahaffie Stagecoach Stop and Farm Historic Site (Olathe, KS) drop-in summer programs on Wednesdays and Thursdays in June and July.  Learn more at www.mahaffie.org.
• Metropolitan Community College – Longview (Lee’s Summit, MO) sponsors programs for ages 3 -15 including a variety of different topics. As of February 28, 2012, 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 1, 2012 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) as of March 1, 2012- summer info hasn’t been posted.
• 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 summer info on their website as of March 2, 2012 – but check back soon!  They have a Spring Break 2012 camp.
• 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 1, 2012, 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!
• (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.
• Victory Temple Christian Life Center (KCMO) offers weekly summer camp, M-F from 8am-5pm.
• 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.
• Young Writers’ Academy (Blue Springs, MO)  designed for students entering grades 2-5 next fall.  Morning and afternoon sessions available.
• 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!
• Youth Tech Inc., (Kansas City) offers a non-profit computer camp dedicated to providing enrichment opportunities for students with a passion for learning. They offer courses like Video Game Design, Animation, Web Design, Movie Makers and many more.  For more info, 913-940-3155.

Kansas City is an amazing place to find a variety of camps to meet the special needs of children. Our list of Kansas City-area special needs summer camps probably doesn’t even begin to scratch the surface though! Please let us know of any new ones so that we can share!

Sponsored Listings:

Camp Kidz Rock! (Overland Park, KS) is sponsored by Successful Sounds, “A Neurologic Music Therapy Based Approach to Teaching the Autistic Child”, and offers a FUN, unique & memorable summer day camp experience through singing, dancing, playing music, outdoor activities, exploration, exercise, games, crafts, field trips, swimming & more!  Due to the social nature of this camp, it is appropriate for verbal Autism Spectrum children ages 4-10 (Additionally, private social skills groups & music therapy sessions are available for all ASD children ages 2-8).  Camp 2011 series includes 4 interactive themes: “Party, Sports, Sensory & Swimming.” For more info, check them out at www.SuccessfulSounds.com!

Regular Listings:

• Autism Concepts Inc. (Lenexa, KS) Don’t see anything about camp on their website as of March 3, 2011 but, in the past, Autism Concepts has put together (2) 2-week day camps for kids on the autism spectrum who are vocal kindergarten thru middle school students with emerging social and play skills.
• Autism Works (Liberty, MO) Offering YEAR-ROUND support for families! Social Clubs are for children ages 5 and up and meet twice a month focusing on creating a fun environment to learn social skills. Kids Club is for children on the autism spectrum ages 5-8. Tween Club is for children on the autism spectrum ages 9-12, and Teen Club is for teens on the spectrum ages 13-18. *Yoga Classes available children on the spectrum ages 5 and up and also for mothers who care for them. *Parent Support group is for parents/caregivers of children on the spectrum. *They also offer workshops and plenty of resources.
• Blue Valley Recreation (Overland Park, KS) – Blue Valley Rec offers many adapted and integrated leisure activities designed for individuals with disabilities. Includes swim lessons, bowling, dancing, cooking, open swim, open gym, a walking club, T-ball, softball, golf and bocce ball. Single day events include miniature golf, gardening, karaoke and much more!
• Boy Scouts Rotary Scout Camp (Lee’s Summit, MO) offers long-term camping experience to Boy Scouts with special needs.
• Brain Balance of Overland Park (OP, KS) – Get a Jumpstart for the Next School Year. The Brain Balance Program can improve your child’s social, academic and behavioral abilities. To find out how – Call (913) 627-9400.
• Camp Barnabas (Purdy, MO – southwest Missouri) is a residential camp which focuses on people with all types of disabilities. Campers can be anywhere from 7 to 35, depending on their disability. Each session is directed to specific needs: developmental disabled, physically disabled, autistic/Asperger’s, blind/visually impaired, deaf/hearing impaired, amputees, chronic illnesses and others. Siblings are also welcome and have their own programming.
• Camp Carousel (held at the Heartland Presbyterian Center, Parkville, MO) is a two day camp for families who are grieving the loss of a loved one. This retreat is hosted by Kansas City Hospice and offers relaxation and activities for family members of all ages.
• Camp ChiMer (National Kidney Foundation of Kansas and Western Mo. and Children’s Mercy Hospital) is located east of Excelsior Springs, MO. It offers overnight outdoor experiences for children 8-18 who undergo dialysis or who have had a kidney transplant. There is on-site medical care and no fee for those whose applications are accepted. This year’s camp runs from August 5th thru 9th.
• Camp Courage (held at Tall Oaks Conference Center in Linwood, KS) accepts children from ages 6 to 14 with sickle cell disease. No update yet on this one for 2011 – we’ll check back and update! (Has been sponsored by Turning Point in the past.)
• Camp Encourage (held at Tall Oaks Conference Center in Linwood, KS) is tailored to children with autism, Asperger and related pervasive developmental disorders. Peer models (children without an autism spectrum disorder) will also participate in the camp.
• Camp Erin (held at the Heartland Presbyterian Center, Parkville, MO) is a two day overnight camp for kids ages 6 to 17 who are grieving the death of someone close to them. Staffed by certified grief counselors and hosted by Kansas City Hospice, this camp is free and early application is recommended.
• Camp Hickory Hill (Columbia, MO) is a summer camp for children with diabetes. They offer a supportive medically supervised environment where children with type 1 diabetes, ages 8-17 have an opportunity to discover kindred spirits, build self-confidence, learn about managing their diabetes more independently and have a whole lot of fun.
• Camp Hope (Claflin, KS – about 60 miles from Kansas City) is open for children from 7-18 who are in cancer treatment or in remission from cancer. The camp  runs the third week of June and is staffed by pediatric oncologists and nurses. This is an overnight camp with all of the traditional camp activities. A day camp is offered for kids ages 4-6.
• Camp MITIOG (Excelsior Springs, MO) is a camp for young people with spina bifida. All of the traditional camping activities are offered, with a one to one camper/counselor ratio and medical staff on-site.
• Camp Planet D – Kansas City (Kansas City, MO) is an overnight camp for kids with diabetes, ages 7 to 14. Newly diagnosed and first time attendees receive priority admission.
• Camp Quality (Excelsior Springs, MO) is an overnight camp for children, ages 3- 17 with cancer. This year’s camp is July 30 thru August 4. Every child has an assigned adult “companion” and an on-site oncology specialist is available for every camper.
• Camp Wilderness (Lawson, MO) accepts children with hemophilia and other bleeding disorders. Ages 7 to 17 welcome.
• Cheley / Children’s Hospital Burn Camp (Estes Park, CO) hosts children ages 8 to 18 who have been hospitalized in burn units across the country for a very traditional camp experience with specially trained staff.
• Children’s Therapy Group (Overland Park, KS) is a multi-disciplinary clinic specializing in sensory integration therapy. This summer, they offer fine motor enhancement classes for preschoolers and kindergarteners, a handwriting class for ages 6-8, cursive writing for kids 7-10, Fun with Language for kids 3-9 who have problems with social, pragmatic and expressive language, sensory motor group for preschoolers, creative arts for kids 6-9 and water fun for kids with behavioral, learning and motor coordination problems.
• CLO’s Midnight Farm Day Camp (Baldwin City, KS) Midnight Farm will hold two day camps for children with Autism. Camp dates: June 25-29 and July 23-27, 2012. The July camp will include free parent training.  Activities include crafts, singing, animal interactions and more. Horseback riding will be available for an additional fee.  For registration information please contact campdirector@clokan.org or call Diane Bannerman Juracek at 785-218-9329
• Concerned Care, Inc. (North Kansas City, MO) hosts recreational sports, youth day camp and vocational day camp for young people with developmental disabilities. Campers must be Clay County residents (due to funding issues).
• Discovery Trails is an experience for teens who are blind or visually impaired. The teens will experience the old pioneer trails leading westward from Kansas City and back. The living history trip lasts 3 weeks and 2800 miles. The teens travel by minivan and camp each night. How cool! (No new itinerary posted yet for 2011, as of 3/4/2011)
• Girl Scouts Juliette Low Camp (Jackson County, MO) is held at Rotary Youth Camp at Lake Jacomo for girls with physical disabilities, ages 8-18. Campers are encouraged to invite friends without disabilities to share the camp experience with them. This is an overnight camp, lasting 6 nights.
• Horizon Academy (Roeland Park, KS) sponsors summer classes for kids with average or above average intelligence who are struggling with basic skills due to learning disabilities. This summer, they offer a full summer school program, a reading clinic, a math clinic, a social skills clinic and an art clinic for grades 1-12.
• H.O.R.S.E. (Helping Others Reach Success and Excellence)/Camp Round-Up (south Kansas City, MO) is a summer day camp for children ages -18 diagnosed with an autism spectrum disorder. This is a horse and horseback riding centered day camp with other traditional camp activities as well. H.O.R.S.E. offers many fun yet therapeutic services for children within the autism spectrum. (Site not updated yet as of 3/4/2011)
• 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.
• Johnson County Park and Recreation District offers 39 summer camp programs for ages 3-18.  They have programming available for special populations, as well (SEE “NEW HORIZONS CAMP” BELOW).  Dates, locations and fees vary.
• Joint Adventures (Missouri) is a five-night overnight camp for children with rheumatic diseases.  For more information, contact the Department of Rheumatology at Children’s Mercy Hospital.
• Joshua Center Summer Camp (Kansas City, MO) is sponsoring a summer overnight camp at Lake Jacomo (Rotary Youth Club Camp) for 5 days/4 nights in June. The camp is for 3rd to 8th graders with Tourette Syndrome, Asperger Syndrome and Obsessive Compulsive Disorder.
• Marian Hope Center (Independence, MO) offers social skills camps, handwriting camps, reading camps, speech camp and gross motor planning camp for children with autism and other special needs. (As of March 3, 2011, no new summer info on their website yet – but check back or call them!)
• Midwest Brachial Plexus Network, Inc. and Rotary Youth Organization (Lee’s Summit, MO) offer a three day overnight camp for children with brachial plexus birth injuries.
• Missouri Children’s Burn Camp (Lake of the Ozarks, MO) is held at Camp Sabra, a residential camp. This is a program for children ages 6 to 17 with burn injuries and offers traditional camp activities. There is no charge for the camp.
• Muscular Dystrophy Camp is a one-week residential camp for anyone ages 6 to 21 with a neuromuscular disease. Contact the local MDA office for details – 913-859-0632
• National Sports Center for the Disabled sponsors AbilityCAMPS and fun sports camps throughout the spring and summer. These are one-time classes for kids 6 to 18, with physical or developmental disabilities. The NSCD helps children with the following disabilities or conditions: ADD, Amputation, Arthritis, Autism, Behavioral Health, Bone Disorder, Brain Injury, Cerebral Palsy, Deafness, Developmental Disabilities, Diabetes, Down Syndrome, Epilepsy, Fragile X, Hemophilia, Learning Disabilities, Little People, Multiple Sclerosis, Muscular Disorder, Muscular Dystrophy, Nerve Disorders, Neurological Disorders, Paraplegia, Post-Polio, Quadriplegia, Respiratory Disorder, Spina Bifida, Spinal Cord Injury, Stroke, Substance Abuse and Vision Loss/Blindness. No new info on their site as of 3/4/2011 – so keep an eye on their website for more details to come!
• New Horizons Camp is sponsored by the Johnson County Parks and Recreation Department. This camp is for children (ages 6-18) with learning, developmental and mental disabilities. This is a nine week day camp but is not a clinical setting, so they are unable to accept kids with special medical needs or behavioral issues which may require restraint.
• Poss-Abilities Summer Programs (Merriam, KS) – Handwriting help, Kindergarten Prep, Core Exercise and more with licenses occupational therapists, a sensory integration gym and super fun themes all summer! (No 2011 update posted on their site as of 3/4/2011)
• Premier Therapy Services (office in Kansas City, MO – services at various locations) offers therapy, classes and groups for children with varying communicative needs. Camps focus on developing social skills in peer groups. (Not positive this is up-to-date info – call the number on the PTS website for current info!)
• Rainbow Center Day Camp (Blue Springs, MO) offers a traditional day camp with activities and field trips for children with special developmental needs such as autism, Down Syndrome, cerebral palsy and other communication or behavioral disorders. (No camp info on their site yet as of 3/4/2011)
• Sertoma Fantasy Sports Camp (Overland Park, KS) sponsored a three day camp for children with speech and hearing disorders last summer. Baseball and lacrosse instruction were provided. Interpreters were on-site to help with instruction. Keep an eye on their website for 2011 camp details!
• Sertoma-Schiefelbusch Communication Camp (Lawrence, KS) is a collaborative effort between the Lawrence Sertoma Club and the Shiefelbusch Speech-Language-Hearing Clinic at KU. The camp is open to children ages 4 to 10 with and without communication challenges.
• Sky’s The Limit Studios (Lawrence, KCK and Overland Park, KS) – STL offers specialized art therapy groups for children with Autism Spectrum Disorders and other special needs.  Check the website for details.
• Spofford Scamps Summer Day Camp (south Kansas City, MO) holds day camps at their campus near Oakwood Country Club. An unbelievably good resource for Kansas City, Spofford works with children with behavioral issues related to abuse, neglect and mental health disorders. Day camp is offered for children, ages 6-13. Camp goals are related to social skills development, peer interaction, self-confidence and conflict resolution. (2010 info still posted on their site as of 3/4/2011)
• Successful Sounds (Overland Park, KS) – for vocal children ages 4-10 with immature or delayed social and play skills, Asperger’s, High-Functioning Autism, Pervasive Developmental Disorder, Sensory Integration Dysfunction and related play/social delays.
• Sugar Creek Equinapy (Pleasant Hill, MO) offers summer therapeutic riding programs for special needs children. (This facility suffered a devastating fire on February 20th. Please watch their website for updates.)
• Superkids Summer Asthma Camp (Asthma & Allergy Foundation of Greater Kansas City.) For asthmatic children who have completed grades 2-6.  July 9-13, 2012 for grades 1-3, and July 23-27 for grades 4-6. Children will learn about asthma management through crafts, games and outdoor activities, including swimming. Medical professionals are always on hand. An inspiring and empowering week for children (and lots of FUN)!!
• Wonderland Camp (Lake of the Ozarks) is a residential camp for children with developmental and physical challenges. All of the traditional camp activities are offered. There are also special weeks for children with Prader Willi Syndrome and brain injuries.
• YMCA (20 locations in the metro) offers camps for 5-11 year olds and run June 1- August 7.  Bonus:  before and after-camp care is available, as is financial assistance.

Please feel free to let us know about any other great camp out there for Kansas City kids with special needs!

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.)