KCKidsFun

The Kansas City metro is FULL of outstanding theatre, dance, vocal music, instrumental music and other performing arts camps. No matter what part of town you live in, there is bound to be something 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:

If you’re interested in a Sponsored Listing (with graphic logo, long text description 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 – Down in the Dumps!
• Act One (Northland) will be offering two summer camps.  Guys & Dolls for teens and Aladdin for kids. Both camps are located North of the River at 600 NE 46th Street, Kansas City, MO.
• 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. (2009 camp info still up on the Ballet North website as of March 3, 2010 – 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 – Snoopy & Friends
• 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! My kids attended a really fun session of CYT two summers ago and LOVED it!
• 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, 2010, 2009 info is still posted on their website – 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!
• 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.
• A Fairytale Ballet (Prairie Village, KS and Overland Park, KS) has one and two day “princess” camps for little girls ages 2 thru 8, throughout the summer. Mornings and afternoons.
• 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 limited space available for its summer camp – learn makeup, skin care, etiquette, hairstyling, acting, runway and more!
• 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 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. This summer’s drama camps include Jack’s Big Music Show, Yo Gabba Gabba and Dr. Seuss!
• 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.
• Paul Green School of Rock (Parkville, MO) offers Rock Camp 101 and Rock Boot Camp this 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, 2010, the 2009 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.
• 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 (Johnson County, KS) offers a musical theatre camp.  Students learn audition techniques, staging, voice, singing and dancing.  Mon through Thurs, 1230-430pm, June 7-July 8, 2010.
• 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 and at Avila during the summer. As of March 3, 2010, they didn’t have 2010 summer information on their website – but check back soon for an update!
• 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!

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.

Sponsored Listings:

Pinnacle Gymnastics (Shawnee and Overland Park, KS)– offers weekly summer camps at both facilities.  Children will enjoy instruction on vault, bars, beam, floor and trampoline as well as free play and games.  All camps are co-ed, ages 4 and up.  Check their schedule and register online!

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 5, 2010, 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 5, 2010, summer info was not listed on the website. Call them for details.
• 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.
• Band B Stables (Lee’s Summit, MO) general outdoor fun!  Offering day  and week-l0ng Ranch Camps and overnight trail riding camp.  Near Longview Lake.
• 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 5, 2010.
• 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.
• 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. Their website does not yet have summer 2009 info available (as of March 8, 2009).
• 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.
• 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.
• Lonestar Ranch (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!
• MovinNgroovin (south Overland Park, KS) hosts fun half- and full-day camps, by the day or by the week. Featured activities include gymnastics, rock climbing, sports, relays and more!
• 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 19-22, 2010 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.  Camps not updated as of March 5, 2010.
• 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 5, 2010).
• 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!

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. This city is full of artists – and so many of these artists are generous enough to share their talents with our children. Take a peek at the great Art Camps in Kansas City this summer!

Like I always say, 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!  They are offering 1/2 day camps during SPRING BREAK 2011; one from 9:30-12 and the other 1-3:30pm.

Regular Listings:

• ARTichokes (Leawood, KS) is a great locally-owned art gallery that hosts ARTmania camps in the summer for kids ages 5-12. As of March 5, 2010, the details of this summer’s program weren’t on the website – but check back.
• 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.  As of March 5, 2010– site hasn’t been updated.
• CartoonWorks (Kansas City, MO) offers one-week camps for ages 8 through High School from June 28- July 30. 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.
• 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! (Not updated as of March 5, 2010.)
• 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. Their website still shows last year’s camp info as of March 5, 2010.
• 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. 816-809-2630
• 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.
• Young Champions Summer Art Camp (four different metro locations) – Get messy this summer and explore ART through sculpture with clay, painting on canvas and more! Choose between morning or afternoon. Every week will be a new theme. No duplicated projects. Attend camp all summer and you wont do the same project twice. Locations in Lee’s Summit, Lenexa, Northland and Independence. Check their website for details.

I’m sure that there are more art classes and camps to be offered this summer around town. If I find any interesting ones, I’ll let you know! 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). There are plenty of places to satisfy your child’s inner artist!