Nikki Lansford 
Editorial Assistant

Each year as school comes to an end, parents begin to ponder what to do with their children during the hot months ahead. Many have work obligations, while others simply want to prevent the “summer slide,” a loss of academic skills and knowledge over summer vacation common among many students. What better way to solve these issues than with fun, interactive and educational camps and programs?

Below is a list of some of the programs and camps the Northeast and greater Kansas City metro have to offer kids for the summer. This list gives parents insight into an array of programs, ranging in cost and time commitment. For more information on any of these programs, visit their websites for additional inquiries and enrollment applications.

Be sure to check out the Northeast Newscast this week at northeastnew.net for information on the Mattie Rhodes Center’s programs and camp, as well.

Boys’ & Girls’ Clubs of Greater Kansas City Summer Enrichment Program

The Boys’ and Girls’ Clubs are known to provide a fun learning experience each summer, and this year is no different. For the summer of 2021, the organization is introducing the Atomic Blast Summer Enrichment Program. For kids ages 5 to 12, the program teaches math and science skills through fun activities while nurturing a love of learning through reading comprehension and writing exercises. Participants will experience field trips and team sports opportunities. Additionally, there is an exclusive teen program available for youth ages 13 to 18. 

The program runs Monday through Friday beginning at 7 a.m. and ending at 6 p.m. Dates of when the program begins vary by school district summer schedule. Rates for the program are affordable, and breakfast, lunch and snacks are provided. The enrichment program is offered at nine locations throughout Kansas and Missouri, including the Kansas City North Community Center, located at 3930 NE Antioch Rd.  

Kansas City Parks and Recreation Summer Day Camp 

KC Parks is providing outdoor fun for children all throughout the metro this summer with their Summer Enrichment Camps. The day camps provide kids ages 6 to 13 with the chance to stay mentally, socially and physically active. Campers will enjoy educational enrichment opportunities, games, and crafts all the while practicing safe socialization. 

The 10-week day camps run Monday through Friday from 7:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Parents can choose to enroll their students anywhere from one week to all 10 weeks. Camps begin June 7 and run until August 13. Lunch and snacks are provided. Camps are conveniently located at five KC Parks Community Centers throughout the metro, including the Kansas City North Community Center, located at 3930 NE Antioch Rd. and Tony Aguirre Community Center at 2050 W Pennway St. There is an $80 fee per week of the day camp, and scholarships are available. 

Kansas City Public School Summer School

Whether your child is a Kansas City Public Schools (KCPS) student or not, he or she can still take advantage of the extra educational help by enrolling into KCPS Summer School. The program is for all grades from kindergarteners to seniors. New this year for students in grades K-8, the program consists of teaching students both about academics and civics. Students will partake in academic courses that will help accelerate learning. They will also learn civic responsibility through a combination of service-learning and community activism. High school students can enroll for two semesters and earn 0.5 credit for each semester course. 

The first session of summer school begins June 21 and lasts through July 23. There is a second session from July 26 to August 12, but it is for the Boys’ & Girls’ Clubs of Greater Kansas City only. Elementary students will attend 9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. each week for the session’s duration, while middle and high school students attend from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Students can choose to attend either in-person or online with a self-paced course through Kansas City Virtual Academy. Both transportation and lunch are provided, and there is no enrollment fee for the program. The deadline to enroll is May 24.

Kansas City Young Audiences Summer Camps

If your child is interested in all things art, look no further than the variety of weekly camps Kansas City Young Audiences (KCYA) has to offer this summer. KCYA summer camps feature an assortment of activities with dancing, music, theatre and the visual arts. From Improv Adventure to Art Studio Camp, KYCA can fit any child’s artistic interest. 

The camps are Monday through Friday, and are split between age groups. Some camps are for ages 4 to 7, while others are for 8 to 13-year-olds. Camps for the younger children are half days that start at either 8:30 a.m. and go until noon or begin at 1 p.m. and finish at 4 p.m. All of the camps for older children begin at 8:30 a.m. and go until 4 p.m. Full day campers need to bring a sack lunch, but daily snacks are provided. Camps start as early as June 7 and the last camp ends on August 6. Camp fees range $160 to $265. Parents can also pay an extra $50.00 per child per week for them to stay until 5:30 p.m. Multi-camp and multi-kid discounts are available, along with scholarship opportunities.

RoKC

If your child is looking for a new hobby to take up this summer that will help them expel a lot of energy, consider RoKC rock climbing summer camps. There are two different summer camps provided by RoKC, Little Sender, for ages 4 to 7, and Crushers, for ages 7 to 10 and 10 to 13. During each camp, kids will learn to build confidence, learn how to problem-solve and develop climbing skills from game centric instruction and other fun activities. 

All camps run weekly at both RoKC locations, the closest being the North Kansas City location at 1501 Howell St., beginning June 7 and ending August 12. Little Senders is a one week summer camp for a fee of $60, while Crushers is a two week camp for $180. The fees include climbing instruction, camp activities and rental gear. Exact days and times each camp takes place depends on the dates selected, but all camps are half-day activities. Parents are responsible for providing their child with snacks and adequate active clothing for the camp. 

Royal Summer Slugger Program

Don’t have the time or accessibility to drive kids around during the summer but still want to provide them with productive activities at home? Then the Royal Summer Slugger Program might be right for you. The free online program, created by EVERFI and Major League Baseball, is a standards-aligned course designed to help prevent summer learning loss of math and language.

Using the game of baseball, students between the ages of 8 to 11 complete a series of fun, baseball-themed math and literacy games each week to practice critical lessons learned in school. In the 18-week program, each lesson averages to be around 10 minutes long and it takes a total of six hours to complete the entire course. Students earn trophies and other incentives as they complete the activities, which unlock at regular intervals throughout the entirety of the program. To get started, all you have to do is visit summerslugger.com/royals to register.

The Upper Room Summer Academic Program 

To prevent the “academic slide” that can happen to students during the summer months, the Upper Room Summer Academic Program might be what you are looking for. The summer program is designed to help working parents who are looking for a fun and educational environment for their children. For Kansas City students entering kindergarten through eighth grade, the program’s curriculum focuses on English language, arts, and math taught by certified teachers. Incorporated into the curriculum are project-based activities including art, music and PE, as well as field trips. 

The program runs Monday through Friday from 7:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. beginning June 7 and ending July 30. The entirety of the program is free to families in the Kansas City metro area. The program offers breakfast, lunch and an afternoon snack. Multiple sites around the city are hosting the program, including Holy Cross Catholic School, located at 121 N. Quincy Ave. Spots at each site are limited on a first come, first serve basis.

University of Missouri – Kansas City Honors Summer Program 

Summer programs can be a great way for high schoolers to keep learning while school is out, and the University of Missouri – Kansas City (UMKC) aims to do just that. The Roo Honors Academy is a one-week summer enrichment program that provides high school students with the ability to participate in non-credit classes in an array of categories. Participants will choose one morning course and one afternoon course taught by UMKC faculty members. The classes offered are Cuisine as Culture, Evolution of Cities and Wildlife, Environmental Justice and Kansas City as Text.

All classes will be held from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. on the Volker campus of UMKC. Neither transportation nor meals are provided by the program. The program is selective and students have to apply by June 1 for the opportunity to be selected to partake in the classes. The honors program costs a fee of $265, but need-based scholarships may be available. 

YMCA of Greater Kansas City Youth Day Camp 

With a new theme each week of the summer, the North Kansas City YMCA Youth Day Camp, located at 1999 Iron St., is sure to keep your children active and interested throughout the summer. The day camp focuses on activities that promote caring, honesty, respect and responsibility. Each week features a unique theme with activities that allow for physical movement, educational opportunities, leadership growth, social interaction and creativity. Some themes include The Show Must Go On, Mad Scientist, and Game Show Mania. 

The camp is for kids ages 5 to 12. Campers are divided into small groups by age with activities appropriate to the interests and needs of each group. The day camp runs Monday through Friday from 6:30 a.m. to 6 p.m., with the first of the themed weeks beginning on June 7 and the last ending on August 13. Parents can choose to enroll their child anywhere from one week all the way to 10 weeks. A one-time $55 registration fee is due at the time of registration, in addition to $160 fee per each week a camper attends. Scholarships are available and can provide families who qualify up to a 60% discount.

Wildwood Outdoor Education Center

Wildwood brings kids outside to learn and grow together, transforming summer into a season of learning, youth development, and outdoor adventure for low-income Kansas City area youth through day camp and overnight camp. Camp Wildwood will have all of the great adventures your campers love—swimming, hiking, exploring, climbing, making new friends, campfires, canoeing, and more. Leadership Camp for teens builds leadership and other skills needed to become a counselor. Finally, new this year is Wildwood Day Camp at Unity Village. Scholarships are available for all programs, and the camp has bus stops throughout the metro. They provide lunch every day of camp session, and can accommodate most dietary restrictions.