Welcome to Iowa City Moms’ Blog’s guide to summer camps in the Iowa City area! When school is out for the summer, parents need a safe place for their kids to learn, explore, make memories, and try new things. Of course, kids just want to have fun! Luckily, everyone can get what they need when you find that perfect summer camp for your child. This guide features premier summer camp options brought to you by our local camp sponsors. (If you are interested in promoting your camp programs please email us. We’d love to talk to you!)
Discover some of the unique, challenging, and delightful summer camps that Iowa City has to offer. We hope you find just what you’re looking for!
CAMP WYOMING
Type
Dates/Time
Age Range
Camp Wyoming is a Christian Summer Camp located in Jones County, Iowa, just 60 miles from Iowa City. We offer a variety of summer camp programs for school age kids, including weekend camps where young kids can come with a parent, partial-week camps where campers can stay for just a few days, and week-long camps for kids in grades 2-12. Some of our camp activities include swimming, kayaking, arts & crafts, bubble soccer, archery, canoeing, sling shots, caving, worship, Bible studies, and more! Choose from traditional camp programs or come to theme camps like Music, Arts, & Drama, Sports, and Extreme Adventure. We provide fun, safe, and affordable programs that allow campers to get outdoors, make new friends, try new things, and grow in their relationship with God.
IOWA CITY PARKS & RECREATION SUMMER CAMPS
Camp Name
Type
Dates/Time
9 a.m.-4 p.m. with optional supervised play from 7:30-9 a.m. and 4-5:30 p.m. at no additional cost
Age Range
Camp Lightning: Grades 4-6
STEAM Camp: Grades K-6
Camps Thunder and Lightning will offer mixed recreation programming with themes for each week.
STEAM camp will focus on subjects related to Science, Technology, Engineering, Art and Math.
To learn more about our camp offerings and download a registration form visit www.icgov.org/camps.
KIRKWOOD INTERACTIVE CAMPS FOR KIDS
Camp Name
Type
Dates/Time
Age Range
YMCA CAMP WAPSIE
Type
Also year round Family Camps and Seasonal Camper Programs.
Dates/Time
Camp Wapsie operates year round programs as well.
Age Range
Founded in 1918, YMCA Camp Wapsie is a traditional summer camp serving the Cedar Rapids and Iowa City areas. Camp Wapsie’s coed summer camp programs serve boys and girls ages 6-18 in our overnight and day camp program. Camp also serves youth of all ages through our year-round retreats, season camps, and family programs.
Camp Wapsie supports young people build the character values of caring, honesty, respect and responsibility. With a deep tradition in camping, Wapsie strives to instill these underlying principles into each camper during their time at camp. Here at YMCA Camp Wapsie, we are for Youth Development, Healthy Living, and Social Development.
YMCA Camp Wapsie is an accredited camp of the ACA, (American Camp Association). ACA camps participate in a voluntary and rigorous review of more than 300 unique national standards, designed to ensure a well-supervised, positive environment with controlled boundaries and organized programs.
WILLOWWIND SUMMER PROGRAM
Type
Dates/Time
8:30 a.m.-3:30 p.m.
Before and after camp care is available from 7:30-8:30 a.m. and 3:30-6:00 p.m.
Age Range
Unique learning experiences, small multi-age classrooms, experienced educators, and a culture of caring are characteristics that set Willowwind apart from other programs. Our summer classes engage students in exciting, hands-on, experiential learning. Classes are organized in five multi-age groups based the grade your child will be going into next school year: preschool (ages 3-5), kindergarten, 1-2nd grade, 3-6th, and 6-8th. Class sizes of 10-16 students ensure each child gets individual attention and is able to take an active role in camp.
IOWA CHILDREN'S MUSEUM
Camp Name
Type
Dates/Time
Choose between the AM Session, PM Session, or all-day option, as well as extended care opportunities from 8-9 AM, and 4-5:30 PM.
Age Range
Day Camps are for children that are currently in Kindergarten through 5th grade.
Summer Camps are for children who have completed Kindergarten through 5th grade.
Get the most out of no-school days with Camps at The Iowa Children’s Museum! Whether it’s a one-day camp during the school year or a week-long camp during the summer, campers participate in exciting educational activities, explore the museum’s exceptional exhibits, and experience just how fun active learning can be!
Register early for these unique educational experiences led by skilled museum PLAYologist Educators.
Each camp is designed to appeal to kids of diverse skill levels and a wide range of ages.
INDIAN CREEK NATURE CENTER
Camp Name
Type
One-day experiences, four-day camps, weeklong camps, and overnights available.
Dates/Time
Half day, full day, overnight, and wrap-around care options available.
Age Range
Who knew learning could be so much fun? At Creek Camp, your child will be guided by naturalists and experienced interns as they explore the outdoors, learn about wildlife, enjoy unstructured play, practice outdoor skills, observe the wonder of nature and enjoy the beauty of the outdoors. Children will create memories while they learn and even get a little dirty, too. Creek Camp will help foster in your child a connection to the outdoors that lasts a lifetime!
CAMP TANAGER
Type
Dates/Time
Age Range
Explorers (Grades 1-3) Adventurers (Grades 4-6)
CORALVILLE PUBLIC LIBRARY
Camp Name
Type
Dates/Time
See calendar for weekly programs and events for specific ages.
Age Range
Children sign up and receive an activity sheet that encourages them to read and be read to throughout the summer. Activities also provide opportunities to play, discover, create, try new things, and learn more about using the library. When children complete their activity sheet, they receive a prize. See the calendar for weekly events for specific ages. The library has reading programs for all ages, from babies to adults.
CAMP LIBERTY
Type
Dates/Time
Age Range
SCATTERGOOD SUMMER PROGRAMS
Type
Dates/Time
9 a.m. – 3 p.m.
Additional care until 4 p.m. optional
Age Range
Scattergood Friends School is a boarding and day high school located on 126 rural acres in the greater Iowa City area. Our campus features a working organic farm, restored prairie, pastures, and pond. These living laboratories hold extraordinary opportunities for students from Iowa and around the world to grow as individuals, thinkers, and doers through inquiry and project-based learning.
This summer, your child will develop their passion for art and explore ceramics with a professional artist and learn about sustainable organic farming, livestock care, and delicious farm-to-table food. Students will experience a traditional summer day camp program that instills the values of community, cooperation, responsibility, and independence.
SYLVAN STEM Camps
Type
Dates/Time
June 26-30
July 10-14
July 24-28
July 31-August 4
August 7-11
Age Range
Robotics: Grades 2-6
Coding: Grades 2-8
Engineering Camp:
Learn the basic principles behind physical science and simple machines: gears, wheels, axles, levers and pulleys. Design models based on themes (think cars, ships, and all things that go!) Course has over 36 hours of material, so kids can come one time or multiple times and never repeat a lesson!
Robotics Camp:
A lively course of building and programming robots using LEGO. Your budding engineer will have a blast using their imagination to bring LEGO creations to life by coding them to the computer and watching them go! Course has over 36 hours of material, so kids can come one time or multiple times and never repeat a lesson!
Coding Camp:
Your child will be introduced to programming through video game creation and animation design. Get familiar designing 2D video games from start to finish, including animated players, and sound effects! This program is an advanced introduction to basic programming skills. Kids will have a blast designing intricate video games, animations, and special effects. In JavaScript Coding: they will learn to code in JavaScript as they solve fun puzzles! The kids will build their own projects, stories, and an awesome portfolio of JavaScript games including Snake, Breakout, Pong, and Geometry Dash. In Python Coding: kids learn to code in Python! Kids will learn Python syntax and programming logic as they solve fun puzzles. They’ll build their own projects, stories, and an awesome portfolio of Python games, including Connect 4, Snake, and Tetris. This camp is best for kids with some coding experience.
Camp Io-Dis-E-Ca is a Lutheran Camp that has week long and shorter camps through the summer. It is in Solon! Check out the website http://www.campiodiseca.org