KCKidsFun

Vacation Bible School (VBS) is something that many families look forward to each summer.  Typically kids go for several hours a day for one week, kids enjoy being with their friends, playing games and even learning a thing or two–all in a safe environment.  Most VBS camps are very reasonable, at $20-$40 for the week.  Many churches even offer assistance or scholarships.

This is also a great opportunity for you to check out our extensive Preschool Directory! It’s not too late to get a spot in a fall preschool and we have links to many programs.  And, since we’re on the topic of Directories…now that it’s May…are you ready for summer?  There’s still time to get your kid(s) enrolled in a summer camp or class.  We have added lots of camps to the list since we published theSummer Camp Directory 2011 in March, so even if you’ve looked it over, it wouldn’t hurt to give it another go!  If your church or place of worship conducts a summer camp or bible school–let us know!  We’ll gladly include it if we’ve missed it!

KCMO VBS programs

• Calvary Lutheran Church, 12411 Wornall Rd. KCMO
• Colonial Presbyterian Church, 95th and Wornall Rd. KCMO
• Country Club Christian Church, 6101 Ward Parkway, KCMO
• One Spirit United Methodist Church, 7900 Blue Ridge Blvd., KCMO
• St. John’s United Methodist Church, 6900 Ward Parkway, KCMO
• St. Luke’s United Methodist Church, 9420 James A Reed Rd., KCMO

Johnson County, KS programs

• Old Missions UMC, 5519 State Park Rd., Fairway
• King of Kings Lutheran, 306 E Madison, Gardner
• Church of the Resurrection (COR), 13720 Roe, Leawood
• Lord of Life Lutheran, 3105 W. 135th St., Leawood
• Lenexa UMC, 9138 Caenan Lake Rd., Lenexa
• Salem Lutheran Church, 9143 Haskins, Lenexa
• St. Paul’s UMC, 7740 Lackman, Lenexa
• Westside Family Church, 8500 Woodsonia, Lenexa
• Saint Michael and All Angels Episcopal, 6630 Nall, Mission
• Advent Lutheran, 11800 W. 151st, Olathe
• Aldersgate UMC, 151st and Black Bob, Olathe
• Beautiful Savior Lutheran Church, 13145 S. Black Bob, Olathe
• First Baptist Church of Olathe, 22024 E. 151st St., Olathe
• Prince of Peace Catholic Church, 16000 W. 143rd, Olathe
• Redeemer Lutheran, 920 Alta Lane, Olathe
• Bethany Lutheran, 9101 Lamar, Overland Park
• Colonial Presbyterian, 12501 W. 137th St. Overland Park
• First Family Church, 7700 W. 143rd., Overland Park
• Church of the Ascension, 9510 W. 127th St., Overland Park
• Grace Covenant Presbyterian, 11100 College Blvd, Overland Park
• Heritage UMC, 12850 Quivira, Overland Park
• Knox Presbyterian, 9595 W. 95th St., Overland Park
• Legacy Christian Church, 10150 Antioch, Overland Park
• Rolling Hills Presbyterian, 9300 Nall , Overland Park
• Grace Fellowship Church, 10201 W. 127th St., Overland Park
• Presbyterian Church of Stanley, 148th and Antioch, Overland Park
• Valley View UMC, 8412 W. 95th St., Overland Park
• Overland Park Church of Christ, 119th and Pflumm, Overland Park
• Nall Avenue Baptist Church, 6701 Nall, Overland Park
• Asbury UMC, Prairie Village
• Hope Lutheran Church, 6308 Quivira, Shawnee
• Shawnee Presbyterian Church, 6837 Nieman, Shawnee
• Shawnee United Methodist Church, 10700 Johnson Drive, Shawnee
• Trinity Lutheran Church, 7740 Hedge Lane, Shawnee

Northland programs

• Barry Christian Church, 1500 NW Barry Rd., KCMO
• Highlands Community of Christ, N. Platte Purchase Drive, off Barry Road, KCMO
• Pine Ridge Presbyterian Church, 7600 NW Barry Rd., KCMO
• St. Therese Parish, 7207 NW Hwy 9, KCMO
• Chandler Baptist Church, 11401 Hwy 33, Liberty, MO
• Pleasant Valley Baptist Church, 1600 N 291 Hwy, Liberty, MO
• Platte Woods Church, 7310 NW Prairie View, Platte Woods, MO
• Liberty United Methodist Church, 1001 Sunset, Liberty, MO
• Harvest Church International Outreach, 4300 N. Corrington Ave., Kansas City, MO

Cass County, MO programs

• Crossroads United Methodist Church, 700 Quik Trip Way, Belton, MO
• First Baptist Church, 810 S. Cedar, Belton, MO
• Peculiar United Methodist Church, 20521 S. School Rd.

Kansas City, KS and Leavenworth programs

• Holy Name Catholic Church, 16 South Iowa, KCK
• Living Water United Methodist Church, 3001 N. 115th St, KCK
• Lutheran Church of Our Saviour, 4153 Rainbow Blvd, KCK
• Wallula Christian Church, 23785 139th Street, Leavenworth

Eastern Jackson County, MO programs

• Timothy Lutheran Church, 425 NW RD Mize Rd., Blue Springs
• St. Mark’s Catholic Church, 4746 S. Lee’s Summit Rd., Independence
• The Stone Church, 1012 W. Lexington, Independence
• Sycamore Hills Baptist Church, 15200 E. 39th Street, Independence
• Grace UMC, 2400 SE 50 Hwy, Lee’s Summit
• Lee’s Summit Baptist Temple, 2614 NW Chipman Rd., Lee’s Summit
• Lee’s Summit UMC, 114 SE Douglas, Lee’s Summit
• Summit Woods Baptist Church, 2501 SE Shenandoah Dr., Lee’s Summit
• Our Lady of the Presentation Catholic Church, 130 NW Murray Rd., Lee’s Summit
• St. Matthew Lutheran Church, 700 NE Chipman, Lee’s Summit
• New Summit Church, 1800 NE Independence Ave, Lee’s Summit

*image courtesy of gospelgifs.com

It’s Here! It’s Here!

Kansas City summer camps, Overland Park summer camps, Lee’s Summit summer camps, Northland summer camps, Johnson County summer camps – Yes! They’re all here! As happens every year, we’ve been getting antsy emails from Kansas City moms for the last few weeks. Everyone’s looking for summer camp information.

And, finally, our 2011 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.)

Summer in KC has a way of exiting just as quickly as it heated up!  These cool temperatures feel amazing and Wal-Mart is already brimming with Halloween candy. You can’t let fall get away without taking the family to one of the area’s pumpkin patches and/or apple orchards.  As with any event or activity, you’ll want to check for dates/hours of operation.  Most pumpkin patches/orchards open next weekend or soon thereafter.

If I’ve overlooked your favorite pumpkin patch or orchard…please leave a comment and we’ll get it added.  Also – if you operate one of these businesses and would like to purchase a Sponsored Listing (affording you prime, top-of-list placement along with a graphic) please contact me at kiran@kckidsfun.com.  It’s just that easy!

You’ve got many, many choices to pick from this year in Kansas City:

Sponsored Listings

Faulkner’s Pumpkin Farm Faulkner’s Ranch huge Pumpkin Season Celebration Sept. 30th -Oct. 31st, 2011.  10am – 6pm daily.  Family Play Area admission just $7.00 per person plus tax.  Quality fall family fun, pumpkins galore and fall decor.  New group hayride package, birthday parties, and playdates. Check out www.faulknerspumpkinfarm.com for more details!

KC Pumpkin Patch (Gardner, KS) – TONS of fun things to do (and they have pumpkins!)  This place has so much to see and do–general admission gets you into the petting zoo, haunted barn, hay bale maze, zip line on weekends, and more! They will even host birthday parties and school field trips.

General Listings

Northland:

Alldredge Orchards (Platte City) – apples, pumpkins, playground and more!

Carolyn’s Country Cousins Pumpkin Patch & Corn Maze (Liberty, MO) – pumpkins, hayrides, train and many other activities

Looper Farms (Holt, MO – just north of Clay County on I-35) – u-pick pumpkin patch, hayrides, trainrides

Pumpkins, Etc. (Platte City, MO) – pumpkins, mums, haystacks and fall decor

Red Barn Farm (Weston, MO) – pumpkins, animals, hayrides and corn maze

Schweizer’s Orchard (St. Joseph, MO) – pick your own apples and pumpkins!

Vaughn Orchard, 816-386-2900 (Weston, MO) – pick your own apples and pumpkins

KCMO:

Faulkner’s Pumpkin Farm (Kansas City, MO – south of I-470) – a TON of family-friendly fun!

6th Annual Pumpkin Patch for DeLaSalle School – Oct. 20, 2010, 10am-2pm, Brookside Park (56th St at Brookside Blvd, KCMO)  features pumpkins, ponies, inflatables and music!  Admission is free with donation suggested  for pumpkins.

Cass County, MO (just south of KCMO):

The Berry Patch (just south of Leawood & Martin City) – no blackberries yet for the fall; not sure if there will be pumpkins this year – keep checking their website!

Dunn’s Cider Mill (Belton, MO) – cider and donuts!

Johnson Farms (Belton, MO) – you pick pumpkins, playground, animals and more!

Pumpkins & Pines (Pleasant Hill, MO) – tons of varieties of pumpkins!

Shuck’s Corn Maze & Pumpkin Patch (Pleasant Hill, MO) – HUGE cornfield maze, pumpkins and variety of activities

Johnson County, KS:

Wagon Wheel Orchard (Gardner, KS) – apples but be sure to check the picking report!

Miami County, KS (just south of Johnson County, KS):

Louisburg Cider Mill (Louisburg, KS) – cider, donuts and fun activities!

Louisburg Corn Maze (Louisburg, KS)

Powell Pumpkin Patch (Louisburg, KS) – you pick pumpkins, playground, hayrides, corn maze

Douglas County, KS (just west of Johnson County, KS):

Pendleton’s Country Market (Lawrence, KS) – pick your own pumpkins and more

Schaakes Pumpkin Patch (Lawrence, KS) – you pick pumpkins, hayrides, mazes, animals

Eastern Jackson County, MO:

Sibley Orchards (Sibley, Jackson County, MO) – apples, pumpkins, hayrides & cider!

Wyandotte County, KS:

Kerby Farm Pumpkin Patch (Bonner Springs, KS) – pumpkins, corn maze, hayrides

Our friends over at VisitKC.com put together a terrific Google Map showing most of these locations:
View Fall Pumpkin Patches and Apple Orchards in a larger map

(And if you haven’t checked out VisitKC.com, what are you waiting for?! It’s a terrific resource for locals and visitors alike.)