guides

Kansas City Summer Camp Guide

A Macaroni KID Guide to all the best summer camps in Kansas City

By Melissa Basgall, Editor and Publisher, Macaroni KID Kansas City January 30, 2023

Welcome to the 2023 Kansas City Summer Camp Guide. Our goal is to help you find the perfect camp solutions for your kids. More camps will be added between now and July. For those of you who are early planners, now is the time to make sure you get the spots at the camps your kiddos want to attend the most! Some camps will sell out!

Thank you to the Kansas City Zoo and Mission Creek Camp for sponsoring this year's camp guide!


Kansas City Zoo



Location: 

Kansas City Zoo

About Kansas City Zoo Camps

Explore nature and the wonderful world of animals at the Kansas City Zoo. During day camps, your children will have adventures in a safe and fun environment that is sure to get a ROAR of approval! Our summer camp curriculums are designed to be age appropriate and are properly chaperoned at all times. Activities may include, but are not limited to: educational games, physical games like tag, crafts, on-grounds tours, zoo shows, zoo rides, playgrounds, science experiments, and educational movies.





Mission Creek Camp & Retreat Center



Location: 

7240 SW Douglas Rd Topeka KS 66610

About Mission Creek Camp:

Mission Creek Camp is a place that provides individuals of all abilities with the opportunity to have an inclusive and unforgettable residential summer camp experience! By creating an environment for disabled individuals to partake in activities alongside their non-disabled peers, our summer camp imparts a sense of belonging, self-confidence and empowerment that encourages both personal growth and development. Activities include: horseback riding, archery, fishing, canoeing, art & crafts, splash park, & MORE!




STEAM Studio



Location: 

STEAM Studio, 4200 Pennsylvania Ave. Kansas City, MO 64111STEAM Studio has 4 summer camp options for 2023.

About STEAM Studio

Coding & Programming - We will code robots, make a virtual game, tell virtual stories and much more!

Architecture & Design  - Together we will create sketches, digital designs, choose paint colors and fabrics for a vision board, and design your ideal dream space.

Engineering & Construction - Channel your inner engineer this week while we construct games, mazes, or even pinball machines. If you love building and creating, this camp is for you!

Entrepreneur Camp - Together we will explore how entrepreneurs start businesses and you will get to create your own product. 





Summer at Barstow



Location: 

The Barstow School, 11511 State Line Road, KCMO and IDEA Space KC (for STEAM camps), 12200 State Line Road, Leawood KS

About Barstow Summer Camps:

Have you heard the buzz? Summer at Barstow is just around the corner — and there are hundreds of reasons campers swarm to us every year!

Summer at Barstow offers Kansas City's best camp experience for kids of all ages, every interest, budget and schedule. Our campus is a hive of activity from late May to mid-August, as kids move from one adventure to the next. Choose from arts, athletics, academics, crafts and hobbies, day trips, STEAM learning and adventures packed into every week.

Our experienced staff creates an atmosphere where fun and friendship thrive. Whether you want academic enrichment, arts and hobbies, dance & theatre, sports & games or STEAM learning at our brand-new IDEA Space, this is the place to 'bee' your best.





Youthfront



Location: 

Youthfront Camp West (21667 Spoon Creek Rd, Edgerton, KS 66021) and Youthfront Camp LaCygne (22626 E 2400th Rd, Lacygne, KS 66040)

About Youthfront Summer Camps

Faith. Fun. Friendships. Experience it all this summer at Youthfront Camp! We offer day camp for younger campers and overnight camps for elementary, middle and high school students. Camp features include our Splash Park on the lake, water slide, zip-lines and more. It’s sure to be a blast! At Youthfront, kids can grow in their relationship with God and make friendships that last a lifetime.





Madam President Camp



Location: 

KCKCC June 12-16 9am-4pm
KU Edwards: July 10-14th 9am-4pm
Notre Dame de Sion Lower School July 17-21 9am-12pm
Notre Dame de Sion Lower School July 17-21 1pm-4pm
Notre Dame de Sion Lower School July 24-28 9am-4pm

About Madam President Camp: 

Where girls are leaders! Find your true awesomeness at Madam President Camp, a week-long day camp for girls ages 11 to 13 who are looking for a different camp experience in a fun and supportive environment where they can learn and practice leadership skills. Registration for 2023 is open! 





Johnson County Museum



Location: 

Johnson County Arts and Heritage Center - 8788 Metcalf Avenue Overland Park, KS 66212

About Johnson County Museum Summer Camps

Explore the Johnson County Museum and our kid-sized community, KidScape, this summer! Discover history through crafts and projects inspired by our signature and temporary exhibits. Museum members receive a 20% discount!





KidStrong



Location: 

 16140 W 135th St, Olathe, KS 66062, 9522 Nall Ave, Overland Park, KS 66207, &1204 NE Coronado Dr STE 103, Blue Springs, MO 64014

About KidStrong Summer Camps:

KidStrong Brain + Body Camps help build stronger kids!

Character: social interaction with peers, building leadership, confidence, and working as a team.Body: Physical education curriculum designed by our PTs, OTs, pediatricians, and behavior specialists specifically for each age group.Mind: word, pattern, and number games to improve focus and activity-based learning to accelerate educational milestones. 

Camps also include themed projects and quiet time for learning activities. Your child will have a blast while learning with their peers and getting tons of physical activity. We’ll be reinforcing important skills like confidence, teamwork, physical fitness, social skills, good sportsmanship, and more! We host camps year-round when schools are out (Spring Break, Summer, Christmas Break, etc)!





MyGym of Overland Park




Location: 

 8502 W 133rd St, Overland Park, KS 66213

About My Gym Summer Camps:

At My Gym camp, we activate the fun every single day. Energizing games, exciting gymnastics, cool arts and crafts, and music that guarantees to keep them moving and engaged. And they can kiss boredom goodbye with themes and programs that constantly change, so no two days of camp are ever the same! 

Our drop-off program and pay-by-day options make My Gym camp an awesome, affordable, and no-stress option."


Who: kiddos 2.5 years old (& potty-independent)-10 years old

Cost: $49 per day 

When: Tuesdays, Wednesdays & Thursdays from 12:45-3:45pm starting June 6- August 3





Red Bridge Early Childhood Center



Location: 

Red Bridge ECC, 636 E. 117th Street Kansas City, MO 64131

About Red Bridge Early Childhood Center Summer Camps

Welcome to summer fun at Camp ECC! You will find everything you love about Red Bridge ECC with lots of flexibility for your summer schedule. Children must be 3 and potty trained to attend camp. Each week of camp runs Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday from 9:00am-1:00pm in June and July. The cost is $100/week plus a one-time $20 registration fee. A Camp ECC t-shirt in included in your registration fee. Camp has a fun different theme each week! Registration opens on March 1.

Camp Themes and Dates
Contact us 816.942.4262 or on our website at www.Redbridgeecc.com







Kids on Campus



Location: 

KCKCC Main Campus - 7250 State Ave Kansas City, KS 66112


About Kids on Campus

Kids on Campus is a summer camp program offered at Kansas City Kansas Community College (KCKCC) for school-aged children with weekly fun-filled themed programming and a field trip at the end of the week. This year's theme weeks include; Multicultural Celebrations, STEM, Nature/Go Green, Art, and Performing Arts. Campers will divide into small groups by age, participating in age-appropriate activities. Programming also includes a daily dance class from Em's Spotlight Dance Co. with an end-of-camp dance performance for the families. 

Breakfast and snack is provided by Catholic Charities and lunch is served by the Kansas City, Kansas Public Schools (KCKPS – USD 500) through the Kansas Summer Food Service Program, an equal opportunity provider. Kids on Campus operates on KCKCC's main campus from Monday through Thursday from 8:45 am to 3:30 pm. Kids on campus will promote physical movement, social interaction, educational opportunities, leadership building, personal growth and creativity. Enroll Today!




Emler Swim School



Location: 

Leawood:

612 W 135th St, #201, Leawood, KS 66224 

Westwood:

 2848 W 47th Ave, Kansas City, KS 66103

About Emler Swim School:

Emler is an award-winning swim school with more than 45 years of experience, we’re proud to be the only swim school with a 100% swimmer guarantee. That only happens through a proven, ever-evolving curriculum, a quality staff that undergoes one of the most thorough training programs in the nation, and – above all else – a passion to nurture children in a healthy, safe and fun environment.

We were founded on the principle that every child has the ability to swim, and it’s our calling to help them discover that ability. To do that successfully, we employ a proven approach that integrates child development best practices. By providing your child with consistent opportunities to apply their skills, and positive reinforcement to encourage accomplishment, your child will learn to become a safer swimmer.