Whether it’s the performing arts, therapeutic programs, fitness and sports, or science and nature, there is no lack of summer activities for kids in our area. We know parents and grandparents are already searching for camps and programs, and our advertisers offer a TON of wonderful summer camps and programs. We’ve collected the best of the best right here in one convenient place just for YOU! It’s never too early to start planning your child’s summer, and remember to tell our advertisers you saw them in Kids Directory!
Cub Creek Science Camp
16795 State Route E • Rolla
573-458-2125 • cubcreeksciencecamp.com
Cub Creek Science Camp has more than 300 animals including lemurs, foxes, porcupines, wallabies, parrots, sloths, and lizards in a hands-on, interactive zoo. When you hear “Science Camp,” don’t think it’s all about classrooms and books. Cub Creek is about friendship, fun, curiosity, guided learning, building self-confidence, learning problem-solving skills, and creating lasting memories. Campers choose two week-long activity courses and two daily classes from 100 engaging options to round out their days. Each day is balanced with open time, evening activities, and options for those who are “early birds” and “night owls.”
Dickerson Park Zoo
1401 W. Norton Rd. • Springfield
417-833-1570 (M-F, 8 a.m.-5 p.m.) • dickersonparkzoo.org
Spend the summer at Wildlife Zooniversity and take a closer look at wildlife and wild places during ZOO MAGNIFIED–an exciting new camp series at Dickerson Park Zoo. Learners of all ages will be invited to discover the amazing world of animals and get a closer look at DPZ. Wildlife Zooniversity campers will be engaged in discovering current exhibit and educational animals to inspire curiosity, connect with nature, and encourage the desire to protect and conserve the natural world around us.
Dogwood Canyon Nature Park
2038 State Hwy 86 • Lampe
Education Office: 417-225-1162 • dogwoodcanyon.org
Keep your child connected to the great outdoors with summer camps at Dogwood Canyon. Through in-depth, hands-on learning, the Conservation EdVenture team inspires students of all ages to take an active role in conserving our planet’s natural resources. Summer campers in 3rd-12th grades learn through daily exploration of the park, guided hikes, and nature crafts for an unforgettable summer experience. Drop-off is available at Wonders of Wildlife where students will shuttle to Dogwood Canyon each day for camp.
Rutledge-Wilson Farm Park
3825 W. Farm Rd. 146 • Springfield
417-837-5949 • ParkBoard.org/Camps
Got a future farmer? Get their hands dirty at Rutledge-Wilson Farm Park, with interactive experiences with farm animals, gardening, and outdoor survival skills. Rutledge-Wilson Farm Park offers several week-long full-day camps for ages 6-12, and half-day camps for 5- and 6-year-olds. Childcare before and after camp is available for a fee. Space is limited; register early. Presented by Springfield-Greene County Park Board.
Sac River Stables, LLC
5798 N. Farm Rd. 125 • Springfield
417-742-4200 • sacriverstables.com
Sac River Stables’ Wrangler Worship Day Camps promote spiritual growth and horsemanship for students in kindergarten and older. Camps supervised by CHA-certified riding instructors at a CHA-accredited indoor/outdoor riding facility with well-trained horses. Campers are instructed in safety while working around and riding horses along with daily non-denominational devotions and praise songs. Horses, tack, helmets, equipment needed for riding, and Bible class materials provided. Early drop-off and late pick-up available. Spaces are limited; register early. Day camp information under the “Services” tab on the website. Camps are Monday-Friday beginning June 3, 10, and 24. (No camp during the week of June 17.) The July 1 camp is three days.
Valley Water Mill Equestrian Center
4007 N. Farm Rd. 171 • Springfield
417-833-3291 • ParkBoard.org/Camps
Spend the week with horses in the barn and the arena at Valley Water Mill Equestrian Center. Half- or full-day camps for beginner, intermediate, and advanced riders ages 7-17. Camp includes safety rules, haltering, saddling, grooming, and handling, combined with daily barn chores and riding skills. Participants are assigned their own horse for the week. Friday performances highlight learned skills. Space is limited. Presented by Springfield-Greene County Park Board.
Wonders of Wildlife National Museum & Aquarium
600 West Sunshine St. • Springfield
Education Office: 417-225-1162 • wondersofwildlife.org/camps
Dive into summer with an EdVenture at Wonders of Wildlife. Experience the wonder with four- or five-day summer camps that run from the end of May through mid-August. Your camper will learn about the creatures that call Wonders of Wildlife home while testing their survival skills, encountering live animals, exploring nature, and creating memories. From kindergarten to high school, students learn through games, crafts, and experiments for an unforgettable summer experience. Kindergarten-12th grade, full-day 8 a.m.-3 p.m., with Stay and Play available from 3-5:30 p.m.
AR Workshop
1550 E Battlefield Rd., Suite N-1 • Springfield
417-429-0803 • arworkshop.com/springfield
Register your child for a hands-on crafting experience with AR Workshop’s Youth Art Camp. Camps are 9:30 a.m.-noon. Choose from a four-day or five-day option with a new project every day. Select one or multiple weeks, each with a different theme, beginning on Mondays in June and July. (No camp for the week of July 1.) Does your crafter need a “Room Refresh”? How about something for the sports kid in the family? Regardless of the project, your child will have fun, make new friends, and express themselves through new creative avenues.
Springfield Art Museum
1111 E. Brookside Dr. • Springfield
417-837-5700 • sgfmuseum.org
Summer Art Camps at the Springfield Art Museum provide an enriching summer experience. Campers will spend the week expanding their creativity through interactive learning, art making, and gallery exploration. Camps are full-day camps with opportunities for all ages. Visit the Springfield Art Museum’s website for more details and registration information.
Springfield Ballet
411 N. Sherman Pkwy. • Springfield
417-862-1343 • springfieldballet.org
Summer is an excellent time to develop dance technique, and Springfield Ballet offers summer camps, intermediate and advanced intensives, and classes which allow students to start or continue their ballet training. Daytime camps and intensives offer learning experiences far beyond the barre including music, drama, nutrition, and anatomy. A special presentation at the end of each camp and intensive showcases the dancers’ hard work.
Springfield Little Theatre
SLT Education Department
237 S. Florence Ave. • Springfield
417-413-2287 • springfieldlittletheatre.org
Let your child try something new or follow their passion and improve their craft at Springfield Little Theatre. SLT offers one-week and two-week summer workshops from May through August. These camps serve beginner to advanced students ages 4-18. SLT is proud to provide enriching, entertaining, and exciting summer theatre camp experiences in acting, musical theatre dance, performance, technical theatre, film, or theatre administration for every child who participates. Youth involvement at Springfield Little Theatre encourages a love and respect for the community, the arts, and all aspects of theatricality. It promotes discipline and the pursuit of excellence, and also provides an outlet for friendship and fun.
Camp Claw at Missouri State University
Foster Recreation Center
417-836-5334 • missouristate.edu/Recreation/camp-claw.htm
Camp Claw is a summer youth camp that provides activities such as rock wall climbing, swimming, and team and solo games. Camp Claw leaders utilize MSU’s Foster Recreation Center and the recreation turf fields for these experiences. Lunch is provided each day by a sponsor, or the group eats at the campus dining hall. Camp runs from 8 a.m.-5 p.m. with before-care starting at 7:30 a.m. and after-care until 5:30 p.m. available (additional fee of $25 or $50 for both times).
Camp Invention at St. Elizabeth Ann Seton School
2200 W. Republic Rd. • Springfield
800-968-4332 • invent.org/local
Inspire your child’s creativity and watch their confidence soar with the all-new Camp Invention® program Illuminate! When this nationally acclaimed program comes to St. Elizabeth Ann Seton School from June 10-14 campers in kindergarten-6th grade will team up with friends for hands-on, open-ended STEM fun. They’ll design a light-up ball game, explore the science of illumination, tackle global water challenges, and star in a prototyping game show. Each experience is designed to spark curiosity, build persistence, and create an unforgettable summer. Visit invent.org/local to secure your spot. Use promo code LOCAL25 by March 27 to save $25.
SPARC and the Springfield-Greene County Park Board
Ritter Springs Park and various Springfield school sites
417-837-5737 • ParkBoard.org/Camps
Sign up for one week or all summer at SPARC day camps, Monday-Friday, 7 a.m.-6 p.m. Camps include games, crafts, sports, swimming, field trips and team building for ages 5-14. Choose from SPARC Adventure Camps at school sites or get out in nature and play in the creek at Ritter Springs. Middle schoolers, check out SPARC Summer Quest, with special field trips and activities for older kids. SPARC offers before- and after-Explore! programs, in partnership with Springfield Public Schools, as well as one-week specialty camps. All SPARC day camps offer a safe, affordable opportunity for kids to have fun, make new friends, and stay active. Presented by Springfield-Greene County Park Board.
Sylvan Learning Center
1830 E. Independence St. • Springfield
417-268-9392 • sylvanspringfield.com
Recreate a love for learning. Sylvan can help you end the educational roller coaster you and your child are on, avoid summer learning loss, and improve confidence. Sylvan’s personalized approach will drive test scores through the roof. Open year-round; instruction is available for K-12 after school and on Saturdays. Sylvan provides instruction in reading, writing, math/algebra, study skills, homework support, and ACT/SAT prep. Morning hours are available June-August.
The Summit Preparatory School
202 E. Walnut Lawn St. • Springfield
417-869-8077 • thesummitprep.org
Spend your summer at The Summit with Camp Raven. These weekly camps provide a fun, safe, and enriching way to continue learning over the summer break. Each camp, led by talented and enthusiastic instructors, focuses on a central theme from explorations in STEM and art to music and movement. Campers will have fun while learning and making new friends. Camps are available for students in PreK through high school. Complete details about the 2024 camps including morning/afternoon schedules and pricing are available online. Space is limited; register today.
Ozark Parks & Recreation and The OC
1530 W. Jackson St. • Ozark
417-581-7002 • ozarkmissouri.com
Ozark Parks & Recreation offers a fun and engaging summer day camp for your kids and teens. The highly sought-after Finley River Camps include field trips, swimming, and crafts. Registration opens on March 16. From youth sports teams and classes, inflatable and laser tag birthday parties, to the Ozark Community Center’s rock wall, gymnasium, and indoor aquatic facility, there’s no shortage of things to do. And for parents who want to work out, KidZone provides a safe and fun space for young children to play.
Ozarks Regional YMCA
Day camp: orymca.org/springfield-summer-day-camp
Sleep-away camp: campwakonda.org/summercamp
Y Summer Day Camps for kids entering Kindergarten through 5th grade are full of learning, adventure, active play, and friendship. No two weeks of camp are the same with different themes, new activities and experiences, and memories. Play a new sport, learn about science and nature, or explore creativity. Your child will build confidence and develop friendships that last a lifetime. YMCA Camp Wakonda, the Y’s sleep-away camp, is led by mature, caring counselors who share a variety of fun, exciting, and safe activities. Campers grow in confidence and build self-esteem by engaging in unique challenges and adventures. YMCA Camp Wakonda is located 30 minutes west of Springfield.
