With the school year coming to a close and summer break right around the corner, students all over the Valley will be home with ample amounts of free time. While swimming, sleeping and playing video games might be high on many of their to-do lists, there are plenty of summer camps offering fun and educational activities for your youngsters to enjoy. Check out the list below for a summer camp near you!
Phoenix Zoo: Summer Camp Zoo
If your little ones love the zoo and all things animal, this is the perfect place for them to spend their summer days. This year's theme is Build the Zoo and each grade level will be focusing on a different aspect of what makes a zoo successful. Campers will use STEAM (science, technology, engineering, art and math) concepts to tackle real-world problems in their themed camps including building character, building biodiversity, building a habitat and more. For families who would prefer their children attend a virtual camp, the zoo is offering various programs that can be completed online from the comfort of your own home.
To learn more about the virtual camps they're offering, visit https://www.phoenixzoo.org/camps-programs/virtual-programs-camps/. To register, visit https://www.phoenixzoo.org/camps-programs/camps/summer-camp-zoo/ as sessions are filling up fast.
Details: June 6-July 29, Monday through Friday, kindergarten: 8 to 11:45 a.m., first through eighth grade: 8 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Pricing: Kindergarten member: $140, non-member: $160. First through eighth grade member: $285, non-member: $310.
Note: Each camp is one-week long and the curriculum will repeat each week.
To register for a session, visit https://www.phoenixzoo.org/camps-programs/camps/summer-camp-zoo/.
Valley of the Sun YMCA: On Track Summer Camp
In partnership with Gov. Doug Ducey, the YMCA will be offering its On Track Summer Camp for free this year. Through play-based learning, group sports, games, art activities and weekly field trips, students will be able to strengthen their literacy and mathematics skills for the upcoming school year. Teens can attend the Leaders in Training camps where they will shadow a YMCA employee and learn professionalism in preparation for their first job. Camps are offered for children ages 5 through 17, with multiple locations across the Valley.
For more information and to find your nearest YMCA, visit https://phoenix.recliquecore.com/programs/2000024/summer-day-camp/?locations=-1.
Details: Dates vary by location, but most are open May 23 through July 29. Locations vary throughout the Valley; see website for more details.
Ages 5-17, Pricing: Free for all ages.
Regular hours: 8 a.m. to 3 p.m., Monday through Friday. Extended care hours: 6:30 to 8 a.m. and 3 to 6:30 p.m., Monday through Friday.
Note: Children must be registered and attend regular hours in order to attend extended care hours. For extended care pricing without a YMCA membership, visit their website.
Boys & Girls Club of Arizona: Leap into Summer Fun Summer Camp
Like the YMCA Summer Camp, the Boys & Girls Club Summer Camp is also offered for free this summer through a partnership with Gov. Ducey. Campers will be able to participate in a variety of activities including arts, sciences and sports and teens will have the opportunity to volunteer. Breakfast, lunch and healthy snacks are also provided at no cost. Camps are offered at Boys & Girls Clubs throughout the Valley.
For more information, visit https://www.bgcaz.org/summerfun/.
Details: Various locations throughout the Valley; see website for more details.
June through August; no specific dates listed. Ages 5 through 18.
Hours: 7 a.m. to 6 p.m., Monday through Friday.
Pricing: Free for all ages.
Discovery Kids Presents Wet and Wild Summer Camp
Offered by the Queen Creek Unified School District, camp programs are open to children in kindergarten through sixth grade and campers do not have to attend a school in the Queen Creek Unified District to attend. The camps will be held at three different QCUSD schools and will feature activities such as sports, movie days, arts and crafts, and games.
To register, visit https://qcusd.ce.eleyo.com/child-care/3/discovery-kids-break-camps-2021-2022.
Details: May 23-July 22, kindergarten through sixth grade, 6 a.m. to 6:30 p.m., Monday through Friday.
Desert Mountain Elementary, Frances Brandon Pickett Elementary and Gateway Polytechnic Academy.
Pricing: $40 per day; registration ends on May 12. Registration fee is $20 per child, due the first week of camp. Siblings receive a 10% discount.
Combs Kidz Summer Camp
J.O. Combs Unified School District will be offering a summer camp for children ages 5 through 12. Children will be able to practice what their learned in the classroom through fun games and interactions with other students in a safe environment. Campers will be able to participate in weekly themed activities such as arts and crafts, board games, reading/math centers, and more. Combs Kidz Summer Camp will be offering both a full-day and half-day program to accommodate whichever works best for your family.
To register, visit https://www.jocombs.org/apps/pages/CampPrograms.
Details: May 31-July 15, ages 5 through 12, 6:30 a.m. to 6 p.m., Monday through Friday, Jack Harmon Elementary School.
Pricing: Full day: $35 per day, Half-day: $18 per day. Registration fee: $25.
Town of Queen Creek Parks and Recreation
Registration is now open for the Town of Queen Creek's summer recreation programs, with a variety of camps available for children. Programs available include Crayola Imagine Arts Academy, Dance Stars, Snapology, Babysitter Prep course, and much more.
For a full list of activities and details, visit https://www.queencreekaz.gov/residents/parks-recreation/recreation-programs/recreation-programs-draft.
Details: Dates, times, fees and locations vary per program. Visit the town's website for more information.
Pricing: Fees vary per program for residents and non-residents. Pricing information per program is available in the summer 2022 brochure on the town's website.
DePalma's Martial Arts Summer Camp
DePalma's Martial Arts in Queen Creek is offering week-long summer camp sessions in June and July and you do not have to be a karate student to attend. The daily schedule will include a karate class, board games, Nerf gun wars, dodgeball and more. No martial arts experience is required, but DePalma's students receive $20 off the weekly rate.
To register, visit https://sparkpages.io/cart/2/?i=GcJ&c=&ocu=.
Details: 21365 S. Ellsworth Road. Ages 5 and up.
Week of June 6th, 13th, 20th, 27th, July 11th and July 18th, 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., Monday through Friday.
Pricing: $249 per week or $60 per day, 20% off for additional family members and DePalma's students receive an additional $20 off the weekly rate.
