KCKidsFun

***THIS IS THE 2009 DIRECTORY. PLEASE REFER TO

OUR 2010 KANSAS CITY SUMMER CAMP DIRECTORY! THANKS!***

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 we’re excited to tell you that, after months of compilation, our 2009 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.)

***THIS IS THE 2009 DIRECTORY. PLEASE REFER TO

OUR 2010 KANSAS CITY SUMMER CAMP DIRECTORY! THANKS!***

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 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 (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 – Camp Happy Hollow!
• Act One (Northland) will be offering two summer camps.  Teen Camp Broadway:  Bye Bye Birdie Camp will be July 6-12.  Kids’ Camp Broadway:  Camp Rock will be July 20-24. Both camps are located North of the River at 600 NE 46th Street, Kansas City, MO.
• Act Out! (Olathe, KS) is an acting camp for ages 6 and up, hosted by the First Christian Church in downtown Olathe. (Their website has still has 2008 info posted – check back for 2009 info!)
• Ballet North (Northland) offers week-long dance camps for ages 4 and up. Morning or evening sessions are available.
• 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 – Kids on Broadway and Hooray for Hollywood!
• 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 last summer and LOVED it!
• Coterie Theatre (multiple locations) has courses for grades 1 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 Legacy Park in Lee’s Summit 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 8, 2009, 2008 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 Jedi Stunts course, learn to perform High School Musical 3, West Side Story, Shrek the Musical 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 Disney Dance Camp, High School Musical Camp or a Beach Party Blowout, 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 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 The WonderPets, Backyardigans, Ramona Quimby and Suessical Jr.!
• Lyric Opera (Kansas City, MO) hosts an amazing two week camp for kids ages 10 to 18. Campers will study the opera Tosca and acting techniques. They will perform a family opera – Cinderella – at the end of camp and will have the opportunity to be chosen to sing in an actual Lyric Opera production next season.
• Martin City Melodrama (Overland Park, KS) offers two-week comedy camps for grades K through 12 during the month of June. The kids will perform a comedy vaudeville revue to cap off the session!
• 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.  Details not on website as of March 8, 2009. 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 (North Kansas City, MO) offers rock music performance camps and theory camps. Check back at their website soon for details.
• Paul Mesner Puppets (Kansas City, MO) is once again hosting Puppet Camp for ages 6 and up! Learn to make puppets and create puppet shows from the best!
• The Pulse PAC (south Kansas City, MO) offers some fun camps this summer in addition to their regular and intensive dance classes. Sign up for High School Musical, Pop Divas and Fairytale Princess camps.
• St. Teresa’s Academy Summer Camps (Kansas City, MO) offer Dance and Art Workshop camps for girls in grades 4 thru 9.
• 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 during the summer. As of March 8, 2009, they didn’t have 2009 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 and run June 1- August 7.  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 IS THE 2009 DIRECTORY. PLEASE REFER TO

OUR 2010 KANSAS CITY SUMMER CAMP DIRECTORY! THANKS!***

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:

CartoonWorks (Kansas City, MO) offers one-week camps for ages 7 through High School from June 1-26. 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. $125 per camp.

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.

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 8, 2009, 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.
• Community School of the Arts (Kansas City, MO) has many dance and theater options – 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 39 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) 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 Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art (Kansas City, MO) has a mix of hands-on and art appreciation classes for ages 3-18. Enroll soon! These programs sell out FAST!
• Overland Park Parks & Recreation is hosting Youth Painting Classes at Matt Ross Community Center (downtown OP) from June 3 through July 9. One and a half hour classes once a week for beginners or intermediate painters. And the price is phenomenal! For pre-teens and teenagers.
• Paint Glaze and Fire (Overland Park, KS) does ceramics camps in south Overland Park. Their website still shows 2008 info (as of March 8, 2009 – so you might want to give them a call!)
• Still Fired Up (Northland) does ceramics camps north of the river! They have different offerings or, if you can put a group together, they’ll let you customize a class.
• 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.

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!