Summer camps for kids activities: 720 Best Summer Camp Ideas

Cedar Rapids Summer Camp and Activities Guide 2022

By Charlotte Linde and Celia Even, local Macaroni KID Publishers

January 19, 2023

(This is the 2022 Guide. 2023 updates coming SOON!)

Macaroni KID Cedar Rapids reaches thousands of families in Eastern Iowa – with that number growing every day. We are proud to offer parents a free, one-stop-shop filled with all the events and activities that the Corridor has to offer. After having numerous parents ask us about seasonal camp options, we decided to create a yearly resource for parents where they can see the best of what is available and feel confident about where they spend their money and send their children.

Be sure to check back often as camps will be continually added through the summer. We hope that you find our guide to be a valuable resource as you plan your children’s adventures this summer in the Cedar Rapids areas As always, please call ahead before visiting any event or venue as things can change without our knowledge.

Prestige Dance Studio in Cedar Rapids hosts several clinics, camps, and intensives throughout the summer. These events provide students from Cedar Rapids and the surrounding communities with the opportunity to work with dance professionals. Students can expect to work hard, try something new, and leave inspired. A great supplement to our regular summer class offerings! We hope you will take advantage.

Register

STEAM On Community Robotics and STEAM Center in cooperation with The Curiosity Path are pleased to invite students grades K-10+ to participate in our 2022 Summer Camps.   

Camps are instructor-led, in-person fun and educational experiences at Emerson Learning Center (MHSAP) in Marion, Iowa. With lots of great options, we have something for all interests – from STEM to robotics to maker experiences and crafting.

Register online today at www.STEAMOn.net/camps – the course catalog with descriptions and terms is online. Registration fee includes materials. *EARLY BIRD discount available before the deadline. Email [email protected] with questions or requests.

Register

AirFX in Hiawatha is excited to launch their 2022 Summer Camps for families in Cedar Rapids and surrounding areas!

Registration is now open for AirFX summer camps. This one-of-a-kind camp in the Cedar Rapids area, includes a variety of instructor-led indoor and outdoor activities, including:

• Rock climbing
• Obstacle courses
• Trampoline dodgeball
• Outdoor games
• Minigolf
• Bungee Jumping
• and more…

Register

Where campers come first! Camp Tanager established in 1926 has been providing summer camp opportunities for over 90 years! Today we serve over 1000 kids each summer through the day and overnight camp programs.

Camp Tanager offers Day and Overnight Camps for kids ages 6-11 in Cedar Rapids and surrounding areas. Day Camp operates from 9am-4pm each day with early drop off and late pick up available. Overnight Camps operate from Sunday evening – Friday evening. Camp Tanager also offers 100% free camp scholarships on most overnight camps!  

Summer camps are now open for REGISTRATION!

Contact us for more details at [email protected] or call 319-286-4510

Register

Summer registration is now OPEN for summer camps and activities in the Cedar Rapids area!

View the entire Play! Guide or choose one of the separate sections below:

• Spring/Summer Activities
• Spring/Summer Camps
• Spring/Summer Fitness
• Spring/Summer Swimming
• Spring/Summer Sports
• Events
• Golf
• Special Populations
• Northwest Recreation Center
• Old MacDonald’s Farm
• Ushers Ferry Historic Village
• Park Information
• Facility Rentals
• Registration Information/Form
• Summer Swim Pass Form

Register

The Coe College football program in Cedar Rapids will be hosting a Youth Mini Camp July 11-12 for children entering grades 3rd – 7th. This 2-day mini camp will feature individualized instruction from the Kohawk coaching staff and players. Complete camp information and registration can be found here: https://football.coecamps.com/youth-camp.cfm

Register

Curiosity. We all have it. About life. About others. About ourselves. The Grout Museum District in Waterloo, Iowa, offers four distinct museums to discover the past, present and future, and your place in it. 

Grout Museum District Summer Camps are week long with morning and afternoon options, June-July. Each weekly session is $58 for members and $65 for non-members. Before and after care is available for an additional fee. For more information and to register, go to www.gmdistrict.org/calendar

Register

KICK is back in-person AND online with over 175 exciting and educational summer camps for kids ages 8-15 in Cedar Rapids and surrounding areas. Designed around career exploration, KICK provides fun, hands-on activities that promise to develop and build key skills for future success. No matter what career field or interests you want to explore, these camps are sure to be an unforgettable adventure full of inspiring accomplishments and new friends! KICK offers programs in science, technology, engineering, arts, math, and culinary arts. Discover topics such as virtual reality, video game design, sustainable agriculture, social justice, public speaking, and so much more.

Every camper’s health and safety is important to us, so in-person camps will follow health protocols such as social distancing, mask requirements, temperature checks, smaller camp sizes, etc. Check out our convenient online camps, too! Camps are offered in Cedar Rapids, Coralville, and online in June, July, and early August. Tuition for KICK ranges from $45-$199; scholarships are available (limit 1 camp scholarship per child per school year).

For more information and to register, visit
www. kirkwood.edu/kick or call 319-398-1022. For tuition assistance, visit the website or call 319-398-5529.

Register

Registration for the 2022 Summer and Fall Camp Season is NOW open!

This year, we are offering half-day camps at Hiawatha City Hall (Hiawatha) and Lowe Park Arts and Environment Center (Marion) locations. Kids will have a blast making new friends and tackling S.T.E.A.M. projects with Snapology all summer long. View our Summer Camp Schedule to see the complete list of camp options at Snapology of Hiawatha.

Snapology teaches STEAM concepts to children through hands-on, interactive play, using LEGO® bricks and other fun tools. Our programs are designed to promote teamwork, inspire creativity, and gain confidence in STEAM (often robotics and engineering), while not even realizing it’s educational! Snapology of Hiawatha offers After-School Enrichment programs, Preschool Enrichment, Camps, Workshops, Scouting Events, In-school Field Trips, Special Needs programs, Custom Events, Senior programs, and Birthday parties.

Register

8 weeks of academic, themed, STEAM and recreation camps

Summit Schools has been the summer destination for local students for over 20 years and we are excited to welcome campers back in 2022! Summit offers 4-week academic camps in Cedar Rapids in reading/writing and math. Our weekly themed camps encourage kids to think critically and problem-solve while still having a blast! Summit’s summer camps are known in the community for their high-quality programming. Summer camps are open to all local K-6th grade students and run June 6-July 29. We offer both full-day or morning-only camps and before/after day care is available. 

*Summit Schools also offers summer tutoring in various subjects. 

View camp catalog and register at summitschools.org. 

Register

Choose a Summer Camp for For Your Kids in 5 Easy Steps

Other Iowa Camps to Consider

This is merely a list we compiled for you.  Please check ahead to see if the camp or organization is operating any activities this summer:

• 2-Jo’s Farm and Western Town ( Van Horne)
• Brucemore (Cedar Rapids)
• Camp Courageous (Monticello)
• Camp Wapsi
• Camp Wyoming
• ImOn Ice Arena (Cedar Rapids)
• Cedar Rapids Kernels Baseball (Cedar Rapids)
• Camp Hitaga (Walker)
• Coe College Boys Basketball (Cedar Rapids)
• Coe College Volleyball (Cedar Rapids)
• Coe College Soccer (Cedar Rapids)
• Coral Ridge Ice Arena (Coralville)
• EPIC Dance Studios (Cedar Rapids)
• F.W. Kent Park (Oxford)
• Girl Scouts
• Greenbriar Riding Academy  (Springville)
• Giving Tree Theatre (Marion)
• Harvest Christian Daycare & Learning Center (Cedar Rapids)
• Hawkeye Area Council Boyscouts of America (Cedar Rapids)
• Hilltop Ranch (Robins)
• Indian Creek Nature Center (Cedar Rapids)
• Jane Boyd Community House (Cedar Rapids)
• Kids First Gymnastics (Cedar Rapids)
• Kindercare Learning Center (Cedar Rapids)
• Kirkwood Interactive Camps for Kids  (Cedar Rapids)
• Missouri Military Academy
• Mount Mercy Sports Camps (Cedar Rapids)
• National Czech and Slovak Museum (Cedar Rapids)
• National River Museum (Dubuque)
• NewBo City Market (Cedar Rapids)
• Prestige Dance Studio (Cedar Rapids)
• Salvation Army (Cedar Rapids)
• SkyZone (Cedar Rapids)
• Taproot Nature Experience (North English)
• Theater Cedar Rapids (Cedar Rapids)
• Urban Farm Camp (Cedar Rapids)
• WayPoint (Cedar Rapids)
• Wickiup Hill Learning Center (Toddville)

Thank you to our  2022 Summer Camp & Activity Guide Partner  Prestige Dance Studio

If you would like to be included in our Summer Camp and Activity Guide, please email Charlottel@macaronikid. com.

When visiting events and local businesses, be sure to tell them Macaroni KID sent you… and don’t forget to tell all your friends!

Hidden 8/24/22. 

Summer Things to Do for Kids

Camps and Special Summer Activities for Children in Vicksburg

School has ended.  So, what will the kids do all summer?  No doubt that Vicksburg offers a host of kid’s summers camps, a kids movie series, cooking classes, art classes, story time adventures at the public library and Lorelei Books and much more.  Here are is a sampling of fun and entertaining activities for the kids this summer. 

To motivate children’s summer reading be sure to check out Storytime at Lorelei Books every Saturday at 10:30 a.m.  Vicksburg’s independent books store is located at 1103 Washington Street in historic downtown Vicksburg.  Also, all day on Saturday June 9th Lorelei will present Summer Bridge student brain quest activities from 10:00 a. m. until 4:00 p.m.  Participants are invited to come and go or stay all day!  For more information just visit www.loreleibooks.com or call 601-634-8624.

The Vicksburg Warren County Public Library does story time for children every Wednesday at 10:30 a.m. during the summer.  In addition, the library offers musical presentations, movies, crafts – even a karaoke party and a sock hop.  The library is located at the corner of Washington and Veto Streets.  For details and dates visit www.warren.lib.ms.us and go to Services:  Just for kids or call 601-636-6411.

Camp Invention, a nationally recognized nonprofit summer enrichment camp program for kids in grades K-6 will be offered at Dana Road Elementary School, South Park Elementary School, Bowmar Magnet School, Beechwood Elementary School and Warren Central Intermediate School from 8:30 a.m. until 3:00 p.m. June 4 – 8.  Camp Invention promotes science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) learning and is geared toward building resourcefulness and problem-solving skills and encourages entrepreneurship in a fun and engaging environment.  For more information visit www.campinvention.org.

Whether your kids like soccer, science, or anything in between, there is something for everyone at WinShape Camps for Communities.  Camp activities combine spots, recreation, arts, Bible study and worship into one incredible week.  WinShape Summer Camp will be at Crossway Church June 4 – 8 from 7:45 a.m. until 5:15 p.m.  Camp is for grades 1 – 9.  For more information visit www.winshape.org or call 601-636-2596.

Every summer the Vicksburg National Military hosts Junior Ranger Camps for ages 8 – 12 and Ranger-in-Training Camp for ages 13 – 16.  Both camps are free, but you must register in advance.  Applications can be found at  www.nps.gov/vick/learn/kidsyouth/junior-ranger-camps.htm .  The Junior Ranger Summer Camp will be June 25 – 29 from 8:00 a.m. until 12:00 p.m.  The Ranger-in-Training Camp will be June 4 – 8 from 8:00 a.m. until 2:00 p.m.

Crawford Street United Methodist Church has scheduled Magnificent Mini-Camps throughout the summer.  Camps will include art, language, play and music.  Camps are for kids 3 and 4 – 7 years of age.  Camp dates are June 5 – 7 “Campout” for ages 3 – 7; June19 – 21 “Step into Storybooks” for ages 3 -7; July 10 – 12 “Mad Scientist” for ages 3 – 7;  July 17 – 19 “Star Wars….Jedi Camp” for ages 3 – 7; July 24 – 26 “Bug-a-Paloosa” for ages 4 – 7 and July 31 – August 2 “Little Mexico” for ages 3 – 7.  For registration call 601-636-5312.

B&B Theaters give another reason to be a kid in the summertime at their Summer Kids Film Series.  B&B Theaters in the Vicksburg Mall offer screenings of fun and family-oriented movies for children.  The movies are presented at 10:00 a.m. each Tuesday – Thursday during the months of June and July.  Tickets are just $3.00 per person.  For a complete schedule of movies visit www.b&btheaters.com or call 601-501-4774. 

Tara Wildlife located at Eagle Lake just north of Vicksburg will be offering five camps this summer that are packed with summer fun activities and educational programs with an emphasis on outdoor skills, hunter safety and wildlife studies.  Activities include fishing, canoeing, wildlife tours, game calling, campfire and cookout and much, much more.  The camp dates are:  Camp I June 3 – 9; Camp II June 24 – June 30; Camp III July 8 – 14; Advanced Camp July 22 – 26 and Archery Camp July 29 – August 2.  For registration and pricing visit www.tarawildlife.com/camps/summer-youth-camps or call 601-279-4261.

Another sure bet for a great kid’s camping adventure is the Warner-Tully Memorial YMCA Camp.  Warner-Tully is located 22 miles south of Vicksburg on 108 acres of timberland.  The camp features newly renovated and air-conditioned cabins and lodge.  Activities include archery, fishing, mud slide, canoeing, hiking, ropes course, swimming and a whole lot more.  Warner-Tully offers five one-week camps for ages 7 – 13 and a 3-night mini camp for ages 6 – 10.  (Session 1 June 10 – 16; Session 2 June 17 – 23; 3-Night Mini Camp June 28 – July 1; Session 3 July 1 -7; Session 4 July 8 – 14 and Session 5 July 15 – 21. )  For more information visit www.warrnertullycamp.com or call 601-638-1071.

The Southern Cultural Heritage Center will be presenting several special summer activities.  The Southern Exposure All-Day Summer Camps begin June 18 – 22.  The camps will begin at 7:30 a.m. and conclude at 5:15 p.m.  Perfect for working parents!  This camp will feature exercising the mind, body and soul.  Camp is designed for ages 6 – 13.  Herman and Karen Biedenharn will oversee all camp activities.  The cost of the camp includes all supplies and a snack.  Additional camp dates are June 25 – 29; July 1 – 7; July 16 – 20 and July 23 – 27.  Each week features a different theme.  For more information email [email protected] or call 601-631-2997.

The Southern Cultural Heritage Center will present its Multicultural Arts Camp the week of June 18 – 22.  The camp will feature creative art projects and music.  The camp is from 8:00 a.m. until 12:00 p.m. and is designed for ages 6 – 12.  For more information email [email protected] or call 601-631-2997.

Rounding out the Southern Cultural Center’s kids summer activities are four cooking classes.  June 25 – 29 is “Kids in the Kitchen Disney Delights Camp” from 8:30 until 11:30 a.m. for ages 4 -8.  Also, June 25 – 29 is “Kids in the Kitchen Farm to Table” from 12:30 until 3:30 p.m. for ages 8 – 12.  The classes resume July 9 – 13 with “Kids in Kitchen Creative Cooking Camp” for ages 4 -8 offered each day from 8:30 until 11:30 a.m. and “Kids in the Kitchen Science Lab Chefs Camp,” also for ages 9 – 13, will be offered from 12:30 until 3:30 p.m.  For more information email [email protected] or call 601-631-2997.  Camp attendees are welcome to participate in Southern Exposure Camp for those who need stay all day.

Vicksburg offers some great options for keeping the kids entertained this summer.  In addition to these special events be sure to check out all-things Vicksburg on our Event Calendar.

8 programs where children learn new things

Polina Kalmykova

regrets that she cannot go to her shift

Author profile

Many parents are in no hurry to send their children to the summer camp because they remember what it was like in their childhood: students – counselors who do not care about pupils, boring classes and acquaintance with bad habits under the guidance of children from older units.

Now everything is different: in the camps they do not just look after children during the holidays, but try to teach them something useful.

This article contains 8 interesting programs in which not students, but professional artists, programmers, athletes and teachers work with children.

Culinary camp “Gurmania”

What they will teach: to cook
Address: Kaluga region, Kremenki, st. Ozernaya, 1
Age: from 10 to 16 years old
How much it costs: 58 500 R for 14 days

Gurmania is a culinary squad as part of the large Robin Hood camp: every shift takes place on its territory several themed races. There are advantages to this: children do not spend all day in the kitchen, but also participate in activities common to the entire camp – they learn fencing and archery, prepare numbers for a talent competition and go to discos.

Culinary groups are limited to 24 people. This is how chefs have time to follow each child: show cooking techniques, control safety in the kitchen and correct mistakes in time if something goes wrong. In the classroom, they analyze such recipes that children can repeat at home: the guys learn how to knead pizza dough, stuff peppers, bake gingerbread cookies and fry cheesecakes.

Mobile phones are prohibited in the camp, but parents can follow the life of a child almost live: children maintain a culinary blog on YouTube, and camp leaders post photos of the squad on Facebook every day. I recommend watching the reports from previous shifts with your child: this will help determine how suitable the camp is for him.

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Future art historians and programmers: 11 powerful online courses for children Address: Tver region, Konakovo district, resort “Zavidovo”
Age: from 8 to 16 years
How much it costs: 74 000 R for 14 days

Camp “Fantastica” is suitable for families who are not afraid of an atypical lifestyle . Children spend the night in camping tents, where instead of beds there are sleeping bags, and they move around the territory mainly on bicycles. But the highlight of the camp is in the sports program, which is not at all like physical education classes: here they offer to try their hand at golf and sailing. Although the shift lasts only two weeks, the children manage to master the control of a small yacht – a dinghy – so well that they can compete with each other in a regatta.

Rather harsh living conditions in the camp are balanced by liberal rules. Nobody forbids the use of smartphones, and the end time depends on age: children under 12 go to bed at 22:30, and those who are older can stay until midnight. You can also wake up at different times: yoga classes, meditation, cycling and fishing are organized for early risers from 07:00, while the rest can lie around for another hour before the general rise.

Sports training is not required for the trip: the organizers promise to teach the child everything, even ride a bike. But you will have to take care of the equipment in advance: children are not provided with bicycles and sleeping bags. Getting to the camp is also the concern of parents: a transfer from Moscow is not provided.

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Russian Chess School training camp

What they will teach: to play chess
Address: Moscow, settlement Krasnopakhorskoye, s. Krasnoe, Krasnaya Pakhra health resort
Age: from 5 to 15 years old
Price: from 10,000 R

Players of any level are invited to the camp, including those who are just getting acquainted with chess. Professional coaches, among whom there are international grandmasters, will be able to interest the child in playing from the very first game.

The trips are mainly thematic: the Chess and Business program helps to see the connection between the game and financial analytics, and during the Chess and Professions session, children will find out in which specialties a chess player’s intellectual skills can be useful. There are also active sports: mainly swimming in the pool and classic team games – football, volleyball and pioneer ball.

The format of participation is quite free: you can live in a hotel on your own, or you can go home with your parents or go home for the night. If a child has never been to a camp, this is a good opportunity to get to know how things work without too much stress.

Film camp “Maksatikha”

What they will teach: to make films and video blogging
Address: Tver region, Maksatikha district, Malyshevskoe rural settlement, Volodarka village, st. Solnechnaya, 1, building 1
Age: from 6 to 16 years old
How much it costs: from 60,000 R for 14 days

At Maksatikha, filmmaking is treated like an adult: at the beginning of the shift, children choose their own film profession and begin to engage in specialized workshops, and after a few days they already begin to create films. Everything ends with its own film award: the best film receives the Golden Baby Doll statuette.

The main camp is aimed at introducing children to classic cinema, but there are also special sessions dedicated to new professions, such as vlogging and streaming. Children will be taught to determine the target audience of the channel, select suitable artistic means and topics that will interest viewers. Practice is a must: each squad starts their own vlog while still on the bus.

Children are taught by true professionals: the camp team includes an actor from Fizruk, a Big Top Show cameraman, a choreographer who worked at Eurovision, and a director of children’s theaters. Those who enjoy the camp can continue their studies at the Maksatikha Club Moscow film school and shoot a short film in three months, taking part in all stages – from script writing to editing.

Summer country camp “Pixel”

What they will teach: to create computer games and robots
Address: Moscow, Voskresenskoye village, health-improving complex “Desna”
Age: from 8 to 15 from 24,500 R in 7 days

Pixel is a network of educational clubs where children learn robotics, programming and 3D modeling throughout the year. On vacation, Pixel organizes out of town trips. Depending on the shift, children will learn how to program in Minecraft, create games on Unity 3D, design quadcopters or print on a 3D printer in a week.

The level of training is not important: teachers will explain to beginners how to work with programs, and those who already have basic skills will be offered more difficult tasks. Classes at computers last for an hour and a half three times a day. The rest of the time, the children go about their business: swimming in the pool and playing outdoors.

There is no transfer to the camp, but all races start and end on a weekend evening so that parents can take and pick up the child without sacrificing working time.

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MBA Kids business camp

plan
Address: Moscow region, Kolomna city district, village of Maloe Uvarovo, Solnechny Olymp youth center
Age: from 13 to 17 years old
How much it costs: 51 801 R for 12 days