While many teenagers are looking to work summer jobs, others aren’t old enough or have other activities like marching band, athletic training, or travel that keep them busy. There are a lot of summer camp opportunities for teens in middle and high school that want to explore STEM, sports, the performing arts, and more. It’s a great time to try something new that they don’t have time for in their school schedule. Don’t forget to check out our guide to sleepaway summer camps if your teen is ready for a week away from home.
Mom Pro Tips
- The most affordable camps are often offered by school districts and local parks and rec departments.
- Very few camps offer all day coverage but some like JCCC and Barstow do cover work hours if you feel your child is still too young to be home alone.
- Use this key to decipher which age groups the camps are for:
- MS: Middle schoolers
- Early HS: 9th/10th graders
- HS: High schoolers
Variety of Camp Options
These camps offer more than just one type of camp and some offer more niche camps like creative writing, cooking, or babysitting camps in addition to art, sports, and STEM camps.
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Summer at Barstow in Kansas City, MO (MS)
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Bishop Miege in Roeland Park, KS (MS/early HS)
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Blue Valley Rec in Overland Park, KS (MS/HS)
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Bluhawk Adventure Camps in South Overland Park, KS (MS)
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Culinary Center of Kansas City in Overland Park and Northland (MS)
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Johnson County Community College in Overland Park, KS (MS/HS)
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Johnson County Parks and Rec various locations in Johnson County (MS/HS)
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KCK Community College in Kansas City, KS (MS/HS)
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Kansas City Parks and Recreation Camps in Kansas City, MO (MS/early HS)
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Lee’s Summit Parks and Rec in Lee’s Summit, MO (MS/HS)
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Madam President Camp various locations (MS)
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Metropolitan Community College various locations (MS/early HS)
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The J KC in Overland Park, KS (MS)
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Whatsoever Community Center in Kansas City, MO (MS/HS)
STEM Camps
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Code Ninjas in Leawood, KS and Lee’s Summit, MO (MS)
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Kansas City Design Discovery in Kansas City, MO (HS)
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KU Design Camp in Lawrence (HS)
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KU Engineering Camps in Lawrence, KS (HS)
Performing Arts
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Camp Shakespeare in Kansas City, MO (MS/HS)
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Culture House in Olathe and Overland Park, KS (MS/HS)
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First Act Theater Arts in Leawood, Olathe, and Overland Park, KS (MS/HS)
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Youth Chorus in Mission Hills, KS (MS/HS)
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Kansas City Young Audiences in Kansas City, MO (MS/early HS)
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Kansas City Repertory Theatre in Kansas City, MO (MS/HS)
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Midwestern Music Camp in Lawrence, KS (MS/HS)
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Music House in Lenexa, Overland Park, and Prairie Village (MS/HS)
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Music Theater Heritage in Kansas City, MO (MS/HS)
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Stage Right Performing Arts in Kansas City, MO (MS/HS)
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Stageworx in Olathe, KS (MS/HS)
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Storybook Theater in Kansas City, MO (MS/HS)
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Theater of the Imagination in Overland Park, KS (MS)
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Trilogy Cultural Arts in Olathe, KS (MS/HS)
Sports Camps
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Bluhawk Sports Camps in Overland Park, KS (MS/HS)
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KC Football Camp in Kansas City, MO (MS/early HS)
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M14 Hoops in the Northland (MS/HS)
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Nike Camp Database lists a variety of sports camps in the metro (MS/HS)
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Sporting KC Soccer Camps has a variety of camps in the metro (MS)
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UMKC Roos Youth Soccer Camp in Kansas City, MO (MS)
