As the school year winds down on May 25, it can be hard to keep your kids busy. That’s why summer camps are a great option. With so many different ones to choose from, you’re bound to find something that matches up with your schedule and your kid's interest.
If you live in Queen Creek, San Tan Valley, Mesa, Gilbert or Chandler, here’s your go-to list for some of the best local summer camps.
When: May 30-July 14
Where: 18395 S. 186th Way, Suite 106/108, Queen Creek
Cost: $52 single day
Age: 6 to 12
With each four-hour day filled with physical activity this is the perfect place for your kid to burn off some energy. Each day the kids will be broken up into groups by friends (if requested), skill level and age. Throughout the day there will be breaks and rotations to ensure everyone gets to try out all of the different activities Aerial Warehouse offers.
There will be Aerial Arts instruction in hammock, trapeze and silk, Jumping and Air Awareness on the trampoline and Tumble Track, obstacle course work, off axis jumping/flipping in their Parkour environment and dancing.
Elite Sports Summer Break Camps
When: May 30-July 21
Where: 6321 S. Ellsworth Road, Mesa
Cost: Costs vary
Age: Age varies
Elite Sports will be hosting a variety of summer camps this year for kids of all ages and abilities. For kids 3 and up, they’ll have their five-week Arizona Dynamics camp with each week having its own theme.
Athletes from American Ninja Warrior will be training campers during the Legends Ninja Camp. Club Dance will be offering Strut Camps and Pom Camps, there will be Youth Sports Camps, Elite Pickleball Camps, Coerver Soccer Camps and Nike Volleyball Camps.
As the largest sports and entertainment facility in North America, Elite Sports at Legacy Park is your one stop shop for all things sports.
When: May 30-July 21
Where: 1 E. Main St., Mesa
Cost: Varies
Age: Varies
Mesa Arts Center offers tons of camps and classes throughout the summer months. There’s everything from one-day classes to eight-week courses that you can register for. Under the description for each camp you can see all the activities you’ll partake in as well as the recommended age.
Camps include Teen Blacksmithing, Teen Beginning Jewelry/Intro to Silversmithing, Creation Craze, Come Clay Around, Photography Camp, Desert Designs with Fabric, Kids Jewelry and Enameling Camp and more.
SPF Summer Camp at Parkour Academy
When: May 30-Aug. 2
Where: 1830 E. Baseline Road, Suite 108, Mesa
Cost: $45 half-day, $200 half-day week, $65 full-day, $300 full-day week
Age: 4 to 17
Parkour Academy brings you a summer full of adventure-packed days. Broken up into different age groups, all campers will get the chance to master their parkour, trampoline, ninja warrior and boxing skills.
When: Eight session from June 5-July 28
Where: Phoenix Zoo; 455 N. Galvin Pkwy., Phoenix
Cost: Price varies on age, time and members/non-members.
Age: Kindergarten through Grade 6
This camp is perfect for all animal lovers! Campers will get the chance to go behind the scenes to learn more about the animals through science experiments, games and hikes that'll provide up-close animal encounters. Kids will get to learn about all the different jobs at the zoo and how the work they do has an impact that goes beyond the Phoenix Zoo.
What grade your kid is going into for the upcoming school year will determine what camp they'll be in and what the focus will be. Kindergartners will have a half-day camp that focuses on the work of the zookeepers. For grades 1 and 2 they'll be learning the science behind animal behavior by getting the opportunity to become zoologists. Grades 3 and 4 will learn about the work of veterinarians and the health and wellness of the animals at the zoo, and grades 5 and 6 will become conservationists. All campers will get the opportunity to see first-hand how the Phoenix Zoo works towards conservation efforts around the world.
Main Event - Gilbert Summer Camps
When: June 5-Aug. 4
Where: 1735 S. Santan Village Pkwy., Gilbert
Cost: $289/week (includes lunch) pick four weeks or more, $269/month
Age: Day camps, ages 5 to 12/Sleepaway Camp, ages 7 to 17
Main Event - Gilbert hosts a variety of summer camps all season. Each camp is five days. With nine camps to choose from, Main Event - Gilbert kicks off the summer with their Animal Camp on June 5 and winds down the season July 31 with their Adventure Camp.
Animals, adventure, cosmic, gaming, sports, water and LEGO are the offered categories. Additionally, the Main Event incorporates STEAM educational modules into each camp. See below what you can expect with each.
Animals: Perfect for all animal lovers, this camp brings all the animals to you. You can expect everything from horseback riding to petting zoos, selfies with llamas and more.
Adventure: Get ready for laser tag, board games, STEAM, crafts and movies during your adventure filled week.
Cosmic: At the Main Event, Cosmic Week means the lights are turned down and the music’s turned up. Lasers and strobe lights surround you as you partake in all of their glow in the dark activities.
Gaming: With everything from bowling to billiards, virtual reality, laser tag and a stocked arcade, you’ll find plenty of games from your old favorites to some you may have never tried before.
Sports: During Sports Week you’ll get the opportunity to learn gymnastics, hip-hop dancing and martial arts.
Water: What better way to cool down from the summer heat than a good, old fashioned water war? Water Week includes water games with a fire truck as well as foam parties.
LEGO: Perfect for all LEGO lovers, your week will be filled with LEGO games and LEGO movies.
When: June 12-July 7
Where: 2835 E. Washington St., Phoenix
Cost: Prices vary.
Age: 4 to 12
Kids 4 - 12 have until May 18 to audition and secure their spot in the School of Ballet Arizona's Summer Ballet School. Whether you're in the children or intermediate divisions, you can choose to have your classes two to five times per week. Traditional ballet training is done with internationally renowned instructors at this state-of-the-art Ballet Arizona facility. There will even be a live piano accompaniment!
Uptown Jungle (Chandler) Summer Camps
When: June 12-30
Where: 2061 N. Arizona Ave., Chandler
Cost: Half-day camp $195, All-day camp $295
Age: 5 to 11
Chandler’s Uptown Jungle is offering three different STEM camps this summer to keep your kids engaged and learning (while also having fun). With a focus on science, technology, engineering and mathematics, each camp has two age groups. Junior camps are for kids aged 5 to 7 and regular camps are for kids 8 to 11.
Each camp is scheduled over the course of five days. June 12 to 16 is the Eager Engineering Camp. Their Computer Game Design Camp is June 19-23 and their LEGO Robotics Camp will be June 26-30.
Chandler Children’s Choir Summer Camp
When: June 19-23
Where: 1251 E. Southern Ave., Tempe
Cost: $215
Age: 6 to 15
If your child loves to sing and dance, then this is the perfect summer camp to look into. Whether they're a pro or have no experience, everyone is welcome to join in on the fun.
Led by professional musicians and music educators, the week will be filled with singing and lively choreography. As a way to show off all you’ve learned with your new friends, the camp will wrap up with a showcase performance.
