KCKidsFun

LOTS of outstanding Kansas City-area theatre, dance, vocal music, instrumental music and other performing arts camps for 2011. In every part of town, there are great offerings for your child, no matter his or her age. Be sure to check your parks & recreation department as well as our listing here.

Sponsored Listings:

Christian Youth Theater (CYT) is the largest youth theater program in the nation and has camps throughout the metro KC area.  Offering half day, full day and overnight options, your child will develop singing, dancing and acting skills while making great friends!  A variety of camps are offered beginning at age 4.  High school students may also audition for the master camp which produces a full Broadway-style musical in one week!  Call 913.681.3318 or go to cytkc.org for more info.

And if you’re interested in a Sponsored Listing (with graphic and priority positioning), email us for information.

Regular Listings:

• Academy of Performing Arts – Summerstage (Grandview, MO) has two-week sessions of performing arts training for ages 6 to 13, culminating in a musical play and talent showcase on the Academy’s outdoor stage. This year’s production – The Princess and the Pea!
• Act One (Northland) will be offering two summer camps.  Showstopper Show Choir for teens and Suessical for kids. Both camps are located North of the River at 600 NE 46th Street, Kansas City, MO.
• Alcott Arts Center (Kansas City, KS)  is hosting a 2011 Summer Theatre Academy lead by an actor and teaching artist from New York City!  The Summer Theatre Academy has several sessions for ages 3-18, starting June 20-August 5, 2011.
• American Rhythm with the Ballet Conservatory of Independence and Pure Dance Studio (Independence, MO) offers a summer performance camp in basic dance, ballet, clogging, music dance theater, stage makeup and more. For ages 5 to 19.
• Ballet North (Northland) offers week-long dance camps for ages 4 and up. Morning or evening sessions are available. (No 2011 camp info still up on the Ballet North website as of March 3, 2011 – might need to give them a call!)
• Blue Valley Recreation (south Johnson County, KS) offers Camp Center Stage and Camp Center Stage Junior as well as music and rock band camps!
• Camellot Academy (Kansas City, MO) offers a camp program at Rockhurst High School for kids age 5 through grade 9. Campers participate in activities related to dance, art, drama, vocal music and performance skills. They rehearse and perform a complete play the final week of camp.
• Chestnut Fine Arts Center (Olathe, KS) is offering two one-week theatre workshops this summer. Topics covered include scripts, songs, dances, costume design, set building and performance. A 30 minute production caps off the week. This year – Schoolhouse Rock, Jr.
• Christian Youth Theater (multiple locations) offers several day and overnight camp options for kids from age 4 through high school. Each session is a week long. The kids work on fun productions all week long and then perform!
• Community School of the Arts offers a comprehensive and energizing week of dance!  The basics of ballet, modern, jazz, choreography and improvisation are taught.  $210, *$180 (week of 7/5)  Ages 7-12   No Experience necessary!  8am-4pm

  Dates: June 13-17, *July 5- 8,  July 18-22

• Coterie Theatre (multiple locations) has courses for grades k through 12 – try acting, playwriting or theatre exploration classes. Camps will be offered at Miller-Marley School of Dance in Overland Park, Pembroke Hill School, Notre Dame de Sion High School, Liberty Community Center and Longview Community College this summer.
• Creative Arts Academy (Gladstone, MO) offers weeklong, full day camps for kids from ages 4 to 14, each week in July. Camp activities include hip hop dance, gymnastics, trampoline, tumbling, arts/crafts, sports, drama and swimming. (As of March 3, 2011, no camp info has been updated on their site – check back for updated info.)
• Culture House (Olathe, KS) has a HUGE variety of summer courses available from dance and ballet to music and theater. Take a performance combat class, a musical theater class and more!
• Dramatic Truth School of Arts (south KCMO) introduces two new teen acting intensives, June 10-11 and July 8-9, as well as a Pre-K Princess Weekend July 29-30.  3-6 year old girls get a chance to be treated like royalty while taking drama, dance, and etiquette classes. The camp is two half days with a “Royal Ceremony” at the end. $50 per princess.  Teen intensives, $100/student.
• Dave’s Gymnastics Factory (Lee’s Summit, MO) offers a full day camp for ages 5 to 11, all summer long. Activities include not only gym time but also outdoor activities, arts and crafts and swimming.
• 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 Glee Song & Dance Camp, Domestic Diva Camp, Amazing Races Camp, even a science camp…to name a few!
• Emerald City Gymnastics (Overland Park, KS) offers four-day camps with gymnastics, games, playing in Bump City and a week-ending show for parents.
• Camp Shakespeare/Heart of America Shakespeare Festival (various locations) has a wide range of offerings for kids from 5 to 18. Camps range from one day to two weeks and many camps end with a camp performance of a Shakespearean play.
• Hoffman Models Fashionista Summer Camp (Overland Park, KS) has hosted a unique summer camp in the past – learn makeup, skin care, etiquette, hairstyling, acting, runway and more! As of March 4, 2011, no summer info on their website yet.
• Ibsen Dance Theatre (Northland) doesn’t have their summer schedule posted on the website yet. But they traditionally have a theatre camp in addition to dance classes during the summer. The theatre camps include classes in make-up, acting, mime, improv, dance and more. Check back on their website or just give them a call!
• Johnson County Community College Performing Arts Series (Overland Park, KS) offers visual and theatre arts classes for K-8 as well as several chamber music classes.
• Johnson County Park and Recreation District offers 39 summer camp programs for ages 3-18.  Included are camps focusing on theater, art, dance and music!  Dates, locations and fees vary.
• Kansas Academy of Theatrical Arts (KATA) (KCK) provides performing and fine arts classes to children (5-16yrs) during their SUMMER DAY WORKSHOPS. Daily workshops include team acting skills, craft projects, story time, outdoor play, and daily class presentations.  Students are divided into age appropriate class groups with instructors. SPACE IS LIMITED and pre-enrollment is required by calling Mrs.Judi Jones  913 961 2393 or www.katayouthacademy.com
• Kansas School of Classical Ballet (Overland Park, KS)  is a not for profit organization devoted to providing the finest training available to students interested in learning the art of ballet. Now enrolling for the Summer Intensive which will be held July

  18-August 5, 2011.

• Kansas City Ballet School (Prairie Village, KS) hosts summer programs for ages 3 and up, for every skill level.
• Kansas City Friends of Alvin Ailey AileyCamp (Kansas City, MO and Kansas City, KS) is a six week day camp for KCMO and KCK middle-schoolers which uses dance as a vehicle to build self-esteem, self-discipline and critical thinking skills. Camps are held in KCMO and in KCK, transportation may be available.  The camp is FREE but there is an application/selection process.
• KC Young Audiences (Kansas City, MO) gives kids ages 5 to 18 a chance to learn music, musical theater, Shakespeare, comedy, dance and show production. The younger kids can take half-day classes; older kids are eligible for full-day camps. Extended care is available. Classes held at the Community School of the Arts on the campus of St. Teresa’s Academy.
• Kindermusik Camps (Kearney, MO) – Available for children birth to age 7. Sessions in May-June and July-August. Music and Movement camps with and without parent involvement (varies with age). Check website for details.
• Legacy School of the Arts (Olathe, KS) offers regular and intensive summer dance classes as well as drama and musical theatre camps for all ages, from 3 to teen. No 2011 info posted to their website as of 3/4/2011.
• Lyric Opera (Kansas City, MO) hosts an amazing two week camp for kids ages 10 to 18. Campers will study opera and acting techniques. They will perform a family opera at the end of camp and will have the opportunity to be chosen to sing in an actual Lyric Opera production next season.
• Miller-Marley School of Dance and Voice (Overland Park, KS) will have a full summer of dance classes, Coterie Theatre classes and Theatre in the Park rehearsals!
• Music House School of Music (south Overland Park, KS) has some super non-traditional camp offerings – Rock Band, Rock Class, Guitar Riffology and Guitar Legends – for ages 10 to 17. Check out their new, larger facility!  My son takes piano lessons here and it is fantastic and fun!
• Music Theatre for Young People (Olathe, KS) hosts a summer day camp for ages 7 to 12, culminating in a performance.   Summer programs for high school age kids also available.
• Patricia Stevens Model Summer Camp (Kansas City, MO) offers week long camps teaching posing, runway, etiquette, acting, fashion, makeup and the modeling/fashion industries.
• School of Rock (Parkville, MO) offers Rock camps this June and July!
• Paul Mesner Puppets (Kansas City, MO) is  hosting Puppet Camp for ages 6 and up! Learn to make puppets and create puppet shows from the best! (As of March 3, 2011, the 2010 info was still up – but call the studio or check back for updates!)
• The Pulse PAC (south Kansas City, MO) offers some workshops and intensive dance classes this summer.
• ReAct (south Overland Park and south Kansas City, MO) – theatre camps from the founder and staff of Camp CenterStage
• St. Teresa’s Academy Summer Camps (Kansas City, MO) offer Dance and Art Workshop camps for girls in grades 4 thru 9.
• Stage Right Performing Arts (Overland Park, KS) offers 3 different musical theater camps, including final performances, for kids ages 6-18.  Students learn audition techniques, staging, voice, singing and dancing.  Mon through Fri, June 13-July 10, 2011.  Check out their website for all the details!
• Steppin’ Out (Lee’s Summit, MO) offers Dance, Acting and Cheerleading Camps this summer. No info yet on the website – but keep an eye out for summer info soon! Ages 4 to 12, changing themes each week!
• Theatre for Young America (Shawnee, KS) hosts drama classes and five-day workshops at Wonderscope Children’s Museum, at Union Station and at Avila during the summer.
• Theatre of the Imagination (various locations) offers theatre camps at several locations around the city. Check out their website for updates. All ages, several themes – acting, singing dancing!
• Trilogy Cultural Arts Centre (Olathe, KS) has 10 theater and visual arts summer camps available this year. Something for everyone – ages 3 to 18!
• University of Missouri – Kansas City Community Music and Dance Academy (Kansas City, MO) has several dance and musical instrument summer programs. Some are offered at UMKC and others are offered at Notre Dame de Sion lower school.
• YMCA (20 locations in the metro) offers camps for 5-11 year olds.  Drama camp is available in addition to crafts, sports and nature!  Bonus:  before and after-camp care is available, as is financial assistance.

Also be sure to take a look at the camps listed in our General Day and Overnight Camps list – many of them offer performing arts sessions as well!

This city is full of artists – and so many of these artists are generous enough to share their talents with our children. Kansas City has the Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art, the Kemper Museum of Contemporary Art, the Nerman Museum of Contemporary Art, the Crossroads District galleries, the Kansas City Art Institute and Hallmark.  Take a peek at the great Art Camps in Kansas City this summer!

Get started by checking out your local parks and recreation catalog and then check these out!

(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, email us for information.)

Sponsored Listings:

• Little Masters…big art Summer Camps! During 4-day camps students will be painting, cutting, forming, gluing, constructing, learning, tearing, creating, sculpting, laughing, drawing, designing, thinking and having LOTS of fun!  Camps for ages 6+ as well as camps for 3-5 year olds.  Check out the site for more info!

Regular Listings:

• ARTichokes (Leawood, KS) is a great locally-owned art gallery that hosts ARTmania camps in the summer for kids ages 5-12.
• Artrageous Creative Studios (Prairie Village, KS) offers art camps for all ages. The theme changes each week – the kids will learn a little art history, explore other cultures through art and, of course, CREATE! Morning and afternoon classes.
• Blue Valley Recreation (Overland Park, KS) Art Camps include making jewelry, stick fairies, collages, mobiles, journals/sketchbooks and woven pieces. Kids will paint, draw, sculpt, use model magic, and much more.
• CartoonWorks (Kansas City, MO) offers one-week camps for ages 8 through High School from June to July. Ron Wheeler’s Cartoon Camp teaches the basics of cartooning, sculpting with clay and creating a comic strip. Audrey’s Art Camp includes working with clay, etching and crafting paper.
• Community School of the Arts (Kansas City, MO) has many dance and theater options for 5-15 year olds – but look closely and you’ll find a few very interesting visual arts offerings too! Classes are held at St. Teresa’s Academy between Brookside and the Plaza.
• HodgePodge Workshop (KCMO) – an art venue, gallery and boutique offering arts and craft workshops for adults and children. HodgePodge offers workshops in Batik, candle-making, soap-making, mosaics, ceramics, pottery painting and more. HodgePodge is also a great place to host your next birthday party, baby shower, or ladies night out!
• Johnson County Park and Recreation District offers 30+ summer camp programs for ages 3-18.  Included are camps themed around arts and crafts, history, pirates, art and music.  Dates, locations and fees vary.
• Kansas City Art Institute (Kansas City, MO and Riverside, MO) has the MOST amazing offerings for kids ages 6-15! Painting, ceramics, drawing, computer design and more. I just wish I lived a bit closer to take advantage of these awesome programs!
• Mattie Rhodes Art Center (Kansas City, MO) has awesome art exploration classes and programs for your little ones, ages 5 to 12 this summer! Experience five different mediums – ceramics, textiles, cultural art, mixed media and painting/printmaking.
• The Culture House (Olathe, KS) has four “schools”:  Theater, Dance, Music and Fine Art– each with summer camps!
• The Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art (Kansas City, MO) has a mix of hands-on and art appreciation classes for ages 3-18.  These programs sell out FAST!
• Nerman Museum of Contemporary Art (Overland Park, KS)  These are technically classes, but they look fantastic!  For children ages 5-11.  See website for specifics.
• Paint Glaze and Fire (Overland Park, KS) does ceramics camps (Ceramics Cafe) in south Overland Park.
• Waldo School of the Arts (KCMO) -a themed weekly fine arts camp. They include painting, sculpture, music, dance and theater into a weekly extravaganza. The camps will run from 8:00 am until 5:00 PM daily. Lunches and snacks are included as part of the registration cost.
• YMCA (20 locations in the metro) offers camps for 5-11 year olds and run June 1- August 7.  Arts and Crafts-themed camp is available in addition to drama, sports and nature!  Bonus:  before and after-camp care is available, as is financial assistance.

We’ll add to this list as we discover new camps and classes for summer 2011! In the meantime, take a look at the ones listed here, the ones offered by your parks and rec department and even the ones put on inside your favorite chain craft store (like Michael’s or JoAnn – they’ve always got a full calendar of classes).

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. 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!