The weather has turned for the better, and summer is on the horizon. While many smmer camps for kids in Calgary opened their registrations back in February, there are still many great options to give your kids a diverse, energetic, informative, and exciting camp experience this summer.
From making LEGO movies to re-enacting prairie history, from canoeing lakes to cooking and bakes, the options for summer camps for kids in Calgary number in the dozens.
Here are some of our Top Summer Camp Picks for Kids in Calgary, as well as a number of great resources to find your kids a great summer camp in Calgary:
DadCAMP Top Picks
These are some of the day camps that our sons have attended in the past. These are the ones we love the most and eagerly sign up for each spring.
MINI U at U of C – The depth and breadth of offerings at U of C make it unmissable. There is everything from golf and soccer to hiking and canoeing. From science camps to stop motion movie making. No matter the interest of your child, you’ll find something for them here.
WINSPORT – has a variety of multi sport, hockey, and mountain biking camps over the summer. My sons loved the Olympic spirit of the multi sport camp last summer and Zacharie tackled his bucket list of getting covered in mud on the mountain bike course. We’re looking forward to going back this year.
TELUS SPARK – Art meets science at the camps here. With camps for kids of all ages they really do inspire creativity and wonder while explaining the world around them.
Summer Camps For Kids In Calgary
BIG FACILITIES WITH LOTS OF CHOICE
With not as many students on campus over the summer months, Calgary’s post secondary spots turn their facilities over to daycamps. This is a great way to get older kids excited about university, or help younger gets get ahead in STEM. The day camps aren’t limited to these fields, the options are wide and varied. So check out Mount Royal University, ACAD, SAIT, or the University of Calgary.
There are a variety of local and community recreation facilities around Calgary with their own summer day camp programming. Have a look at the websites for Genesis Centre, Westside Rec Centre, Repsol Sports Centre, Trico Centre, and Vivo to find programming near you.
The YMCA might be a perfect option for commuting parents. Bring your 3-15 yr old kids downtown, drop them at the Eau Claire location for fun day of specialty Day Camps including ESL, climbing, creative arts or swimming.
OVERNIGHT CAMPS
(Many of the overnight camp options around Calgary are religious in nature. The camps listed here are only those that are not faith-based.)
Camp Chief Hector offers sleep away camp for kids of all ages AND families. For few weekends at the beginning and end of each season, the whole family can get the summer camp experience.
Camp Impeesa is Scouts Canada’s mountain adventure and wilderness experience centre and residential summer camp.
Heritage Park offers a number of day camps for younger kids, but middle schoolers get a chance to travel back in time and live on site for a week. Home on the Range Overnight Summer Camp lets young pioneers ages 11 – 14 experience the Park from sunup to sundown for five days.
Camp Jean Nelson is a camp for kids with diabetes in Water Valley, AB. I am a big supporter of Diabetes Canada and I love that kids (and parents) have a chance to get away for a week to gain independence, peer support, and inspiration. It is a truly wonderful place.
OTHER SUMMER DAY CAMP OPTIONS
There are Apple Camps being held at Apple Stores across the country. Kids from 8-12 will get a couple of hours instruction at the Apple Store to create music, make movies, and harness their inner iOS.
Calgary Game Developers Academy – for kids aged 9 -14. These full day camps through July and August are limited to 10 kids per class. Campers will learn how to build very basic gaming environments using the Unreal 4 Engine and have an opportunity to create their own virtual world.
Elbow Springs Golf Club – for kids aged 8 – 18. Two separate week long camps will happen in July from 830 – 430p. Kids will get lessons and play 9 holes each day. Classes will be small limited to just 8 juniors each.
Chinook School of Music – for kids aged 3 – 13. There are a variety of half-day camps offered over a few weeks in the summer. There are rockin rhythms, ukelele lessons, and musical theatre.
Butterfield Acres – for kids aged 3 – 14. There are half day camps for younger kids, full day options for older kids through the summer. Each day a farm animal is highlighted with a variety of hands-on activities which vary according to age and ability.
Mad Science – for kids aged 5 – 12. There are full and half day programs at a variety of communities in Calgary through the summer. Mad Science encourages scientific literacy in children in an age when science is as vital as reading, writing and arithmetic and we don’t stop there.
Evolve Skateboard Camp – for kids aged 6 – 15. These full day camps through July feature a bus that loads up and takes your kids on a Calgary-wide tour of different skateparks all summer, with a new location every day of the week!
SummerACT Musical Theatre Camp – for kids aged 7 -13. These July camps run by Arts Commons lets your kids experience the thrill of performing on a real stage. SummerACT instructors provide hands-on instruction in drama, creative movement, and music, giving children the opportunity to immerse themselves in creative discovery and learning. No previous experience required, everyone welcome!
Alive Danceworks – for kids aged 3 – 13. Half day camps running through the summer . There are rec camps and intensive camps depending on skill level.
Stryker Sports – for kids aged 6 – 16. These full day camps run on rotating weeks and locations through the summer teaching kids basketball and volleyball fundamentals.
Stagecoach Theatre – for kids aged 4 – 14. Full and half day camps at the Dalhousie Community Centre in NW Calgary. Dive deep into your imagination and explore magical worlds and themes to create your own world of Imagination play.
Freehouse Dance Plus – for kids aged 3 – 12. There is a selection of full and half day camps running for a week in July and August. There’s also an intensive dance camp for those over 12. Campers will go on a dance adventure of a life time! Jazz, modern, hip hop, musical theatre and african dance styles will be experienced.
Colour On Fire – for kids aged 4 – 12. Explore art-making during full and half day camps in July and August at the Colour On Fire Art Studio.
RESOURCES:
Here are some other ways to uncover summer camps in Calgary to keep your kids busy for the summer.
This is the mother of all lists. Calgary’s Child Magazine‘s spring issues are FILLED with ads, listings, and information for summer camps all over the city. From overnight camps to day camps to half day camps and more, get a copy, visit their website and get searching.
In addition to day camp activities and programs at the various City of Calgary facilities, one of the best summer camps in Calgary is the city’s Park N Play program. It moves from community to community throughout the summer offering free (or inexpensive) half and full day camps for local kids. Plan it right and you could travel around to them all summer.
From math to reading to frogs and science, the Calgary Public Library has unique activities all summer long. Check out the website, find a library near you and drop in for one of their free seminars. Most require registration, so plan ahead. Zacharie dropped in for the Math Minds sessions last year and LOVED working on math problems with peers. These are fun and free!
Disclosure: Bricks 4 Kidz, MRU, UofC, Diabetes Canada, WinSport, and TELUS Spark listed above are currently or have been brand partners of cyberbuzz media