2023 Summer Camp Guide

Want to learn how to write a script for a TV show? What about learning how to draw and animate an original character? Or how about designing your very own video game? Young people will have the opportunity to learn these skills and more at the Webster University School of Communications’ 2023 summer camps! Campers can sign up for any of the four camps offered in the month of June 2023. Camps being offered this summer are Scriptwriting, Animation, Game Design, and Film, Television, & Video Production.

Chaminade Summer Camps offer something for every interest from Basketball to Coding to Band and Organizational Boot Camp, and much more! Our camps have been developed to offer a sample of all that we have to offer – academically, athletically, and artistically. Plus, we have camps that both boys and girls grades 3-12 will enjoy.

Returning this year is Camp Chaminade – a one-week residential camp for boys in grades 5-8 that includes athletics, STEM, arts, and leadership activities. 

Ignite your child's creativity this summer at COCA! COCA offers a unique and fun-filled summer experience for kids and teens taught by professional artists and teachers. COCA prides itself on offering some of the most creative camps around, providing campers with the opportunity to experience new things, build their skills and have tons of fun. Kids and teens will learn to express themselves through poetry, dance, drama, sculpture, songwriting, videography and much more. Offering in-person (indoor and outdoor) and virtual, full-or half-day weeklong summer arts camps. Before- and after-care is available. 

What kind of summer do you want your family to have? Whatever your answer is, you'll find it at Saint Louis University. SLU offers camps and academies for Pre-K through high school students. From diving into creative arts to immersive experiences in our STEM programs, there is bound to be something that sparks your family's interest and leads to their best summer yet.

The Maryville Science and Robotics Program is a premiere academic summer program offering more than 80 courses for ages 4 - 12 taught by highly qualified faculty including professors, STEM professionals, and teachers with advanced education including gifted, early childhood, and STEM certification. A morning (9 a.m. – 12 p.m.) and afternoon (1 p.m. – 4 p.m.) session is held each day. 

We recommend that you register as soon as you are able as many classes fill early. 

Explore the summer camp offerings from Opera Theatre of Saint Louis! Choose from Opera Explorers and Sing Out!

Opera Explorers: Send your child on a week-long creative adventure with Opera Theatre of Saint Louis! During this summer camp, kids become writers, composers, designers, directors, and stars of their own production! Opera Theatre staff and leading music educators will guide campers on their journey, which concludes with a premiere of their original show for family and friends.

Sing Out: Join area university voice teachers in discovering your voice at Opera Theatre's Sing Out Vocal Camp!

In Mad Science camps, kids have so much fun, they don't realize they're learning! Mysteries are solved, rockets fly, and inventions are made! Explore the science behind boogers, burps and everything gross! Make your own sidewalk chalk, bath fizzers and a rocket that can leave the launchpad at over 200 MPH. Campers train like an astronaut and solve real-world engineering problems using spinoff technology in a brand-new camp: AstroInnovators. 

Made Science of St. Louis offers full- and half-day camps at locations throughout the metro area for ages 4-12. There's something for everyone at Mad Science camps, where kids will be wowed by our giant trebuchet, messages written in secret code, archaeological mysteries, and cool chemical reactions!

Our exciting 2023 camps include:

Move, engage, create, and play at Whitfield this summer! Join us for enriching experiences including Camp Whitfield, Whitfield Sports Camp, and a Summer Session with academic and leadership development for older kids. On the court, in the art studio, and in the lab, campers are guided by Whitfield teachers and coaches.

At Crayola® Imagine Arts Academy, we provide the creative spark and let children's imaginations do the rest. The fun and creative environment allows kids to use their ingenuity in new ways and fosters the development of important skills. We are offering both full-day and half-day camps. There are three week-long themes to choose from:

• Crayola® World of Design
• Crayola® Artist's Passport
• Crayola® Artblazers

Make music this summer! The Community Music School of Webster University offers a variety of summer music programs for all ages, including Kindermusik® Family Camp (6 months – 5 years); String Orchestra Camp (age 7 - high school); Chamber Music Encounter (by audition); Flute Camp (grades 7-12); Band Camp (grades 7-12); Composition Intensive (grades 7-12); "Clazz" String Intensive (ages 12 & up); Songwriting Camp (grades 9-12); and the MOCM Adult Chamber Music Intensive (21+). Kindermusik® Family Camp is offered in 2 locations – Webster Groves and Faust Park in Chesterfield. All other camps are at our main location at Webster University.

Jump Into Summer Day Camp!

Make this your summer for YMCA Day Camps, where kids make new friends and as they explore new adventures each day! You can find Gateway Region YMCA Summer Day Camps at 23 locations throughout St. Louis and the Metro East. The Y’s camps are designed for all ages - preschool, school-age and teen, which may vary by branch. Camps are offered on a weekly basis throughout the summer. Most are held or based at local YMCAs. Hours are typically 9 am - 4 pm, or half day for Preschool Camp. In addition, there is Fun Club, the Y's Before & After Camp Care, which is available as an add-on to all camps at an additional fee. Dozens and dozens of camps are offered by the YMCA, from Cheer, Dance and Drill and Sports of All Sorts to Baking and Water Park Hop. Camps are represented in these areas: Traditional, Special Interest, Arts & Humanities, Aquatics and Sports.

Here’s what some camp parents have to say:

Forsyth Summer Discovery provides a balance of structure and age-appropriate freedom, offering children age 3 through Grade 7 a largely “unplugged” experience with a neighborhood feel. Different weekly themes allow campers to become artists, engineers, filmmakers, cyclists, performers, scientists, photographers, explorers, and more! Summer Discovery is a place to play, try, make, be, and do—on the high ropes or obstacle course, in the science lab, on the stage, in the garden, or on the field.

Explore the vertical world this summer! Sign your climber up for an exciting week of climbing activities and games. Watch as they gain confidence in their ability to reach new heights! Climbers engage in a number of activities throughout a day of camp. They learn proper climbing etiquette and technique and develop these skills over the course of the week. They also play games such as dodgeball, tug-of-war, and gaga ball. Each of these is supplemented with time for arts and crafts and other downtime activities. Climbers are supervised at all times by our team of dedicated counselors.

Your summer adventure awaits at MICDS! Three camps – Pegasus, Rams Sports Camps, and Eliot Summer Academy – offer a unique variety of activities for children in grades K-12. Campers will explore unique learning opportunities, academic and enrichment courses, sports, and hobbies to ensure that brains and bodies are active. Campers are eager to return each day. All camps, except for the virtual GOA program, are located on the sprawling, 100-acre MICDS campus and supervised by enthusiastic counselors and expert MICDS staff. Pursue new passions, exercise athletic skills, and stretch your limits, and create lasting memories at MICDS summer camps. 

We understand the challenge of searching for memorable experiences for your kids during summer break. Look no further! Camp Westminster offers over 30 camps for children in grades 3-8. Whether they like to be outside playing lacrosse or thoughtfully tinkering with science projects, there's something for everyone. Choose from a variety of half-day and full-day camps including baking, musical theatre, outdoor adventure, science, sports, and more. 

Your kids deserve a fun summer! Every child is welcome at the J, and our camps feature the activities kids love most – like swimming, sports, gymnastics and arts. We offer one camp per age group at each location and many activities and focuses from which your child can choose. Older campers can choose their focuses or activities each week. Focuses and activities include sports, gymnastics, arts, science, cooking, swimming, traditional camp activities and more. Our camp community provides a safe space to be a kid and do kid things alongside kind, caring and safety-conscious counselors.

Aspiring astronauts, aviators, and engineers can experience a soaring adventure this summer at the Challenger Learning Center where they will explore space, science, and technology through simulated space missions and other engaging STEM activities. Design and build a lifesize lunar colony, launch rockets, build and pilot a drone, complete an underwater mission in SCUBA gear and more!

At New City School Summer Camp, your child will have an exciting time trying new activities, pursuing their passions, and meeting new friends. From chess, poetry and drama to cooking, STEAM challenges, and more, your camper is sure to find a camp that sparks their interest! New City Summer Camps complement busy schedules, with full-day options for ages 3 – 7th Grade (plus a half-day option for 3- and 4-year-olds). Early Care from 7 a.m. to 8:30 a.m., and Extended Care from 3:30 to 6 p.m. 

Project MEGSSS has been a haven for mathematically talented students in the St. Louis area for more than 40 years, and is offering exciting learning opportunities in mathematics this summer! MathJam is an open, summer program designed for rising 5th through 8th grade students and includes courses that are open to all interested students. Two, 2-week camps are offered for MathJam, one in June and one in July, and are intended for the top 10% of middle school math students. 

Yucandu Art Studio offers a safe, friendly, and creative environment in historic, charming Webster Groves. Part-time art camps for Grades K-2nd, 1st-5th, 3rd-6th, 6th-9th. Grade levels can be going into or out of, whichever is best for your family. All camps are part-time, with many dates and themes to choose from.

At YMCA Camp Lakewood overnight summer camp, ages 6-17 get to discover the wonders of the outdoors while making friends and memories that last a lifetime. Why is it such a memorable experience? When campers from all walks of life come together to try new things without judgment, to feel safe, happy and wanted – they discover more than a home away from home – they discover themselves. YMCA Camp Lakewood is an experience like none other. Kids come away with new skills, confidence and friendships that broaden their perspectives and strengthen their character. Their experience includes a 5,200-acre campus with forest-covered hills, caves, a creek, a lake, and lots to explore. The private lake offers a ton of waterfront activities like swimming, fishing, snorkeling, paddleboarding, kayaking and canoeing.

Don't miss summer fun at The College School! Campers ages 4-14 enjoy discovering through playful themed learning experiences, field trips, and swimming. 

Adventure into an inspiring world full of sculptures, natural wonders, and imaginative art projects with Laumeier Sculpture Park’s Summer Art Camps and Teen Art Programs. Half-day Little Buds Morning Art Camps are designed for ages 3.5-6. Young artists investigate art making through fun hands-on activities, explore the woodland creek and trails, and learn and socialize through play. Full-day Art Camps are designed for elementary grades K-5 and middle school grades 6-8. Teen Art Programs are geared for 9-12th grade artists. 

Academic summer camp at Fit Learning in Creve Coeur can get your child the accelerated learning help they need to be ready to start their new grade in the fall. Let us rapidly boost your student's scores on standardized tests so they can close the gap. Fit Learning has over a twenty-year history of making transformational learning gains with children of ALL ages and abilities, including those identified as gifted or talented and those with diagnoses such as dyslexia, ADHD, learning disabilities, autism, and slow processing speed. Your child will be assigned a one-on-one learning coach who approaches learning like a sport or video game with points, prizes, and lots of cheerleading. Kids truly enjoy attending Fit Learning because it is FUN, fast-paced and there is no homework.

Week-long camps featuring Arts and STEM experiences at DaySpring! STEAM camps are a perfect blend of summer fun and educationally based creative training. Professional artists and trained educators lend their expertise to activities in art, engineering, dance, drama, musical theatre, circus, and more.

Chesterfield Montessori School has summer camps for Elementary children within and beyond the CMS community. All camps take place at Chesterfield Montessori School’s 5-acre campus, which includes a prairie restoration project, an organic children’s garden, tennis and basketball courts and playgrounds. Each classroom within the artfully designed building is filled with natural light. Families may register for all or select camps within each session. Elementary children can experience one or all of the following camps at CMS in 2023:

Bricks 4 Kidz summer camps are a great way to learn STEM topics, building moving models from technic LEGO bricks! Build self-confidence and problem-solving skills. Foster teamwork and collaboration. Spark imagination. We offer basic brick building themed camps (Mario, Pokemon, Star Wars, Minecraft, Super Heroes, and more), Robotics camps, Minecraft Gaming and more. 

It's going to be a Great Adventure at Olympia Gymnastics this summer! Say Aloha to summer by joining us for a summer jam-packed with learning gymnastics and ninja skills, fun activities and games, and art & science projects all linked to our unique weekly themes. Campers can have a Nerf battle during Nerf week, be sneaky like a ninja during Ninja week, try to beat the clock with our Minute to Win It week, or make slime during our arts and sciences week. Our summer camps are full of activities designed to engage and foster learning. Olympia's trained and safety-certified staff are devoted to the well-being of our camp kids and truly enjoy engaging with children. 

Lifelight Youth Theatre offers one-week Broadway Theatre Performance Summer Camps for elementary, middle, and high school age groups. Camps culminate in a fully staged performance of a Broadway musical. Campers will spend their days rehearsing the music, choreography, and staging for their performance. When not rehearsing, they will spend time working on the technical elements of the show, playing acting games with teachers, and participating in team-building activities. In each week-long Broadway Performance Summer Camp students will be instructed in stage presence, characterization, improv, dance, choreography, proper vocal technique and projection, learning musical numbers, building the set & props, creating believable characters, establishing objectives and obstacles, and dissecting scenes by being in workshop sessions and going through the rehearsal/performance process.

Code Ninjas offers fun and rewarding coding camps for kids ages 8-14. At Code Ninjas, kids create, play and learn at their own pace, building awesome video games and developing ninja coding skills on the path from white to black belt. Campers get support and encouragement from Code Senseis® in our state-of-the-art dojo.

Full-day and half-day camps are offered. Choose from these exciting camps:

There's something to be said for longevity, and Vetta Sports Summer Camps have been around for more than 30 years. Simply put – we play sports and have FUN. As part of their summer camp experience, your child will discover a variety of activities, including classic sports such as soccer, basketball, tennis, inline hockey and kickball. But the fun doesn't stop there! Campers also learn innovative team-building skills, play archery tag, and get creative with arts & crafts. Special guests educate and entertain kids with animals, introduce science concepts, teach athletic skills and much more. 

UHSP's Health Care Summer Immersion Program gives high school students the chance to experience life on a university campus while exploring health care careers! This week-long residential, academic enrichment program offers hands-on activities including research and lab experiments, faculty lectures, leadership and network building events, and evening activities held in and around St. Louis. 

Play, learn, and create on Community School's beautiful 18-acre campus this summer. Camps are available for children age 3 through eighth grade and include full- and half-day options. Choose from dozens of activities led by our experienced faculty and partners from STAGES, COCA, Hi-NRG Gymnastics, Mad Science of St. Louis, and more. Programming also includes Community's signature FUNdamentals camp to help children fight the summer slump in August. Camps have limited enrollment, so register today!

Chess Summer Camps are the perfect way to introduce the game of chess to new students, deepen understanding of the game for established players, or offer intensive instruction for aspiring chess masters. Grandmaster instructors provide daily lessons, puzzles, and play to help guide students through each session. Instruction offers a solid basic foundation, emphasizing the fundamental skills needed to begin a lifetime of learning in chess.

Washington University's summer pre-college programs offer highly motivated middle and high school students the opportunity to experience WashU in the classroom and beyond. Students choose from a variety of credit and noncredit programs in the humanities, natural sciences, math, and social sciences. Our programs are ideal for students who want to challenge themselves academically, explore courses in a specific major or interest, and develop college readiness skills.

This summer the St. Louis Artists Guild is offering a variety of weekly camps for young artists! Our camps allow students to develop their abilities and imagination as they push themselves beyond what they knew they were capable of achieving! Camp STLAG Summer 2023 will allow our campers to explore new mediums and find their creativity in fast-paced, 5-day sessions. STLAG Summer Camps take place in person and meet on-site at the STLAG gallery/studio in downtown Clayton. Scholarships are available!

Camp Sabra is the J's premier residential summer camp, located on the Staenberg Peninsula at the Lake of the Ozarks, Missouri. The Camp Sabra family is made up of campers in third through tenth grades and our amazing staff. Together, we build a kind, tight-knit community each summer as we create lifelong memories. Our campers and staff come from all over the world, and bring their own experiences and perspectives on life that make each Camp Sabra summer unique and irreplaceable. 

Craft Alliance has provided arts education and craft experiences to the St. Louis community for nearly 60 years. We are thrilled to embark on another year of creative offerings for St. Louis families. Whether your young artist wants to sculpt with molten glass, learn to weave, or throw on the potter's wheel, we have a camp for them. Our team of professional teaching artists know how to engage students with new skills while having fun. We can't wait to welcome you to our expanded location in the Delmar Maker District, where we have updated, larger studio spaces to safely social distance and have fun learning a craft. Summer art camps provide young artists the outlet for exercising both critical and creative thinking through clay, fibers, metal, glass, and more. Our flexible camps fit into your busy summer schedule and are designed to engage youth in learning new and fun studio techniques by making amazing artworks.

Bring on summer! With 300+ full and half-day summer camps and programs at convenient Parkway and Rockwood locations, Community Ed has everything you need for a summer of FUN! Make a splash, unleash your imagination, discover nature, get out and play, express yourself and go on new adventures in aquatics, art, enrichment, outdoor ed, sports and more. With eleven weeks of summer program offerings to choose from, kids can experience something new each week. Community Ed programs are led by expert, caring instructors with a focus on safety and fun. Many of our half-day camps can be combined to make a full day of fun, and include extended care options. You do not have to be a Parkway or Rockwood resident to participate in Community Ed summer programs.