Fort Collins is all about recreation, exploring and trying new things. That means our kids grow up in an environment perfect for summer vacation — complete with hiking, community engagement, free family festivals (NewWestFest, anyone?) and plenty of opportunities for getting outside.
But, like may of us, when you’re not spending time with the whole family at a NoCo festival, you’re probably working during the week. If you’re looking for a way to keep your children active, engaged and safe this season, consider one of these local day camps. From science and art to sports and cooking — there’s something for every child to enjoy. And, most likely, your kids will come home with new knowledge to share at the dinner table!
Fort Collins Museum of Discovery
Cost: $120 – $200
Fort Collins Museum of Discovery is a local favorite. Day to day, they strive to create opportunities for every community member to learn, reflect and have fun with hands-on exhibits in science and culture.
In the summer, they offer 14 camps from Animal Adventures for children ages 3 – 5 to Space Academy for children 9 – 11 to Immersive Virtual Reality for ages 11 – 15 and everything in between. All camps are science, culture and education focused and most are between four days to one week long.
The Gardens on Spring Creek
Cost: $135 – $250
Photo courtesy of The Gardens on Spring Creek and April Whicker
At The Gardens on Spring Creek the mission is to promote sustainability through botanical experiences. Their summer camps are hugely popular, especially for children who want to be outside in the sun this season. They offer six camps, but each one fills up quickly so check for availability this summer. Then get ready for a camp full of garden-centric games, exploration and art, music and cooking. The camps are designed for children ages 6 – 11 years old or those entering first through fifth grade.
Mountain Kids
Cost: $880+
For children ages 5 – 12 who want to stay active and try new things this summer, Mountain Kids is the go-to option. Their day camps include on-site swimming lessons and open swim, gymnastics, library visits, arts and crafts, and local field trips to places like Fort Fun, Inner Strength Rock Wall and City Park pool. And every week features Free Pizza Friday when you get to skip packing a lunch and your child gets a lunch treat!
Registration is $220 per week for part-time students and $285 per week for full-time. Four weeks is the minimum requirement for registration, but they can be scheduled at any time during the summer and you can participate in as many as you like.
BASE Camp
Cost: $12.10 – $42.10 per day
Photo courtesy of BASE Camp
The summer program at BASE Camp is all about fun and building upon the previous school year’s learning. After a summer BASE Camp, your child will return to the classroom ready to learn! Well-trained staff will guide kids through hands-on activities in science, art, culture, environmental education, field trips, theme days and more. Everyone will receive two nutritious snacks and a hot lunch each day, and each week features a park walk, swimming and an off-site field trip!
The 2017 camp will be held at Global Village Academy and the theme is At the Movies with a different kid-friendly movie theme each week. Daily pricing is determined by a sliding scale based on your household income.
City of Fort Collins
Cost: $69 – $181
The City of Fort Collins knows how important it is for kids to get outside in Northern Colorado. With so many opportunities in the city and in the surrounding area, their summer camps encourage recreation. They offer programs during the spring and summer including three summer camps and six others in the Teen Super Camp Series. Our favorites are the Bike Around Fort Collins in July and the Survival in the Woods Nature Camp with options in June, July and August.
APEX School of Movement
Cost: $250
APEX Fort Collins is not a gym, it’s a school of movement that specializes in parkour. Driven by a desire to help each member become stronger, healthier and happier, the coaches train in technique, strength and confidence. Their kids’ summer camps include timed obstacle courses, unique challenges and parkour games that don’t require any previous parkour experience. For a full week, children from age 8 to 16 can explore the gym and learn everything from the fundamentals to the advanced aspects of the sport.
The Cooking Studio
Cost: $275
At The Cooking Studio they teach your kids like they would anyone else. Each day your child will practice a new recipe and master culinary creations from scratch. Then they can come home and show off their new knowledge! They’ll also get to participate in relays, blind taste tests and other fun food-themed competitions. Every four-day camp has its own theme — from Italian and French cooking to Latin American Street Food and even Breads and Pastries — and there are ten options from June through August.
Debut Theatre
Cost: $60 – $330
Photo courtesy of Debut Theatre
Debut Theatre Company is one of the few theater companies in the western US that involves students directly in all aspects of the craft. After dividing students into groups based on age and experience, the kids can perform, direct, build sets, research stories and essentially produce their own program.
This summer, they’re offering some smaller workshops in 1-3 day sessions as well as other 2-week, intensive classes meeting Monday through Thursday. These include classes in improvisation, makeup, monologue and playwriting!
Contemporary Dance Academy
Cost: $70 – $600 for six weeks
Fort Collins’ Contemporary Dance Academy educates children in technique, style and performance year-round. For the first time, their summer camps will include a six-week series June 19th – July 29th as well as the regular week-long intensives. The intensives are perfect for any child looking for an introduction or any existing student hoping to continue training over the summer.
Canyon Concert Ballet
Cost: $130 – $175
Photo courtesy of Canyon Concert Ballet
Canyon Concert Ballet is an impressive performing arts academy for both children and adults. In addition to the one-week Intensive workshop, the academy offers classes in four-week sessions during the summer as well as week-long workshops and camps. Register your toddler for Move with Me or check out one of ten other childrens’ classes. Their highest level program is the Pre-Professional Ballet option for anyone aged 12 and over.
The Edge Sports Center
Cost: $30 per day – $125
The Edge Sports Center is Northern Colorado’s largest indoor sports field and facility and offers year-round programs in baseball, softball, soccer, football, rugby and more. This summer, register your kids for any of The Edge’s 13 sports camps for beginners and experienced players. They also offer ten other baseball camps, summer instructional leagues in soccer, basketball and flag football as well as multi-sport day camps in June, July and August!
Rivendell School
Cost: $50 per day — $240
Photo courtesy of Rivendell School
Since 1976, Rivendell School has offered individualized programs for children to learn, practice their creativity and become contributing citizens. The Summer Enrichment Camps offer a wide variety of topics and activities, creating opportunities for every child to explore new subjects, learn new skills and discover new interests in a positive and engaging environment.
Have a Good Summer!
Let us know how you and your kids stay entertained while school’s out for the season!
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