Fun-Filled Calgary Summer Day Camps for Every Interest

Although there’s still snow on the ground in Calgary, if your kiddos are planning to attend camp this summer, it’s already time to start thinking about signing them up. Whether you have an artist, athlete, actor, butcher, baker or candlestick maker in your family, there’s a camp for kids of every age and interest area in the city. Registration for many camps fills up quickly, so we’ve rounded up some of our favourite options for you and your kids to check out while you’ve still got time!

Mount Royal University | mtroyal.ca

Times: 8:30-4:30 with complimentary before and after care from 7:30-8:30 and 4:30-5:30
Cost: $272-$375 for 4-5 day options; $612-$680 for 10-11 day options
Ages: 5-14 years

Mount Royal University has a ton of incredible summer camp options for kids interested in just about anything you can think of! Some of the Elementary Programs for kids between 5-8  include Hip Hop dance, Magical Adventures (think potion making and art sessions designing dragon eggs), Music Makers (a performing arts program where campers dance, sing and perform) and C.A.T.S. (Computer, Art, Theatre and Science).

Some of the Junior Youth camps for kids 9-14 include Drawing and Art History, Painting and Sculpting, Tech Academy (a 2-week camp where students build and program a Lego Mindstorm Robot), Reel-2-Real Film School and more!

For kids between ages 5-14, Sports + Adventure Programs are also available. If you’ve got a little one who wants to see everything there is to see, the Junior Field Trips Program where kids visit a new location such as the Calgary Zoo, Telus Spark, the Bow Habitat Station, Calaway Park and Heritage Park each day will definitely have your kids talking. Sport Highlights camps focus on a variety of different sports and the skills that kids will need to master the basics and go for the gold.

Quest Theatre | questtheatre.org

Times: 9:00-4:00 with drop off from 8:30 and pick up until 4:30. Additional before and after care includes drop off at 8 and pick up until 5 for a cost of $35.
Cost: Individual day camps are offered from July 2-4 ( $70 per day ) as well as a 3-day camp ($195 for all 3 days). 5-day camps are available for $315. There is also an “Expeditions” 2-week camp for kids from 10-14 for $560.
Ages: 6-10

Quest Theatre has some amazing camp opportunities for the budding actor or actress in your family. Campers will love getting the chance to perform in the beautiful, high tech studio theatre at cSPACE King Edward and will also spend lots of time outside enjoying the sun.

For single-day camps and 3-day camp at the beginning of July, activities include creating short skits, generating movement pieces, practicing improvisation, and participating in lots of team building and skill related games. At the end of each day, guardians will be treated to a short performance at pick up time. In the “Expeditions” 2-week camp, campers focus on writing and creating a piece that they will perfect and perform at the end of the second week. The “Journeys” weeklong camp for kids 6-9 includes storytelling, creative play and group activities. The “Treks” weeklong camp for kids 10-12 involves character work, movement, improv, and storytelling. Performing their masterpieces for a live audience at the end of the week is sure to be a highlight for every camper.

SAIT | sait.ca/summer-camps

Times: All camps run from 9 am to 4 pm and have complimentary before and after camp care. Before care begins at 7:30 am and ends at 5:40 pm.
Cost: Prices vary depending on camp theme and range between $260-$600.
Ages: Grades 1-12

It’s never too early for your kids to start exploring their interests to see where they might take them one day! Camps at SAIT vary in length from 1-3 weeks and are each linked to a SAIT program or career pathway. Many camps are even taught by SAIT instructors or industry professionals. There are over 100 (yes, you read that right – one hundred!) different summer camps to choose from at SAIT. With everything from Hockey, Literacy, Coding, Science and Sports for kids in grades 1-2 to Adulting 101, Baking, and Autobody and Trades camps for high schoolers, your kids will be thrilled to explore the endless options for summer fun in the program brochure! There is an optional lunch program available for an additional cost of $48 for 4-day camps and $60 for 5-day camps. For families with financial need, there is an opportunity to apply for a bursary to cover the cost of 1 week at camp.

YMCA – Camps In The City (Indoors with some outdoor activities) | ymcacalgary.org

Times: 8:30-4:30 with complimentary childcare available from 7:30-8:30 and 4:30-5:30
Cost: Prices vary depending on the theme of camp and add-ons such as swimming and climbing
Ages: 3-15 years

In multi-activity camps, kids will take part in all sorts of activities including singing, art, traditional camp games inside and outside, court sports, climbing and swimming. Climbing, art or swim options (with lessons) are available to add onto some camps that don’t already include them. There are also themed camps available, such as dance, drama, swim skills, visual arts, and more!  Half day, full day and week-long camps are all available. All week-long camps include an off-site field trip (like to the Calgary Corn Maze, Zoo, or Camp Riveredge!)

YMCA – Camps in the City – But Outdoors (at Camp Riveredge) | ymcacalgary.org

Times: 8:30-4:30 daily
Cost: 5-day camp for YMCA members is $205; Non-Members is $245, a 2-week camp for YMCA members is $369; Non-Members is$441
Ages: 6-15

Located at Sandy Beach Park along the Elbow River in Calgary’s Southwest, kids at Camp Riveredge’s multi-activity camps will love playing traditional camp games, climbing their way over the low ropes challenge course, and trying their hand at archery and bouldering. For riders interested in a bike-themed camp, Riveredge Bike Camps give kids a chance to explore the bike trail network in and around Sandy Beach while learning about riding techniques, safety, bike maintenance and more.

YMCA – Overnight Camp Outside the City (at Camp Chief Hector, in Kananaskis Country) | ymcacalgary.org

Times: Camp Chief Hector offers Overnight Camps ranging from 6-day camps to 13-day camps and month-long camps (for 16-17-year-olds). There are also day camps available for 6-9-year-olds as well as a 6-day family camp!
Cost: Prices range from $650 to $2995 depending on camp theme and length.
Ages: 7-17

Activities and amenities at beautiful Camp Chief Hector include archery, canoeing, horse corrals, high ropes and a climbing tower, and tipi and yurt accommodations. Kids at Camp Chief Hector learn the value of teamwork, practice their social skills and responsibility, and learn how to take risks in a safe and encouraging environment, helping to foster their self-esteem, creativity, leadership skills and more. Hikes, biking and overnight campouts are just some of the great activities that kids at Camp Chief Hector will get to enjoy!

Calgary Zoo | calgaryzoo.com

Times: Camps for preschoolers are half-day camps from either 8:30 – 11:30 (before care available at additional cost) or 1:00-4:00 (after care available at additional cost). Full-day camps run from 8:30-4:00 with additional childcare available for $50 per week for before care (7:30-8:30) and $50 per week for aftercare (4:00-5:00).
Cost: $160 for 5 day weeks/$128 for 4 day weeks for preschool camps; $285 for 5 day weeks/$228 for a shortened week for older children. Connect, Engage or Inspire Members receive 10% off camp prices.
Ages: Age 4 to Grade 9

The Calgary Zoo has camps for animal lovers of all ages and interests. Zoo Camps for kids from Grades 1-4 include games, activities, crafts, stories, interpretive programs and animal visits, while the Zoo Tots program for 4-5-year-olds helps younger kids enjoy the same types of activities in a half day program. For students in grades 7-9, the Zoo Academy program helps campers to explore the environment, zoology and natural history while also learning how to pursue a career path in one of those areas! As part of the program, budding zoologists will get to share what they’ve learned at camp with the public to practice the skills and show off the knowledge that they’ve gained at camp. For campers with an interest in animals and art, there are two Art camps available that include zoo-related art projects in addition to the animal visits and zoo exploration included in all other camps.

Telus Spark | sparkscience.ca

Times: 9:00-4:00 with complimentary before care from 8:00-9:00 and aftercare from 4:00-5:00
Cost: 4 day camp is $232; 5 day camp is $290. Gold and Ignite Members receive 10% off
Ages: 6-12

Telus Spark is a great place for kids to explore Science, Technology, Engineering, Art and Math in a hands-on way! With 14 different themed camps to choose from including dinosaurs, earth and space, sporting science, strategies and gaming, engineering, science, art, makers, ecosystem investigators, tools and tech, building, and even the wizarding world, there’s a 100% chance that every kid in your family will be begging to check out camp at Telus Spark! Whether your kid wants to explore bugs and mysterious creatures in the Spark Pond, build a collaborative woodworking project with fellow campers, explore and create puzzles, concoct bubbling potions, play a game of Quidditch, or explore math patterns using dance, their brains and bodies will be active and engaged all week long. There’s even an all-girls STEAM camp option available! Each camp registration includes supervised gallery exploration and admission to a dome theatre show in addition to all of the great activities that campers will participate in during the week.

Heritage Park | heritagepark.ca

Times: Overnight Camps and Day Camps available; Day Camps run from 9:30-4:00. Pre-care is available from 8:30-9:30 for an additional $30 per week.
Cost: $285 for Day Camps. $575 for Overnight Camp.
Ages: 6-14

For kids wondering what life was like over 100 years ago, Heritage Park offers three different day camps including History Hunters (for kids 6-8 years), Time Travellers (for kids 8-10) and a STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art and Math) camp for ages 9-12. There is also the Home on the Range Overnight Summer Camp for kids aged 11-14. Kids enrolled in the Time Travellers Day Camp will trade fur at the Hudson’s Bay Company Fort, meet farm animals at the Ranch, make ice cream in a hand-cranked churn, play old-fashioned games and more. History Hunters will get to ride the steam train, collect eggs at the Burnside Ranch, make old-fashioned butter, attend class in the one-room schoolhouse, create an old-fashioned toy and more. For both camps, kids get to dress in outfits that children in the early 1900s wore to help them feel like they’re really there! Costumes are provided by Heritage Park.  At the Home on the Range camp, campers get to experience Heritage Park for 5 days straight while trying out activities like cooking bannock, performing a play, taking part in a barn dance with live fiddle music, singing songs around a campfire and more. At night, they’ll sleep in the Burns Barn bunkhouse, Meals and snacks for this camp are provided.

Bricks for Kidz | bricks4kidz.com/canada-alberta-calgary

Times: Most camps are full week, half-day sessions (from 9:00-12:00 or 1:00-4:00).
Cost: $176.25 for 5 days of half day sessions
Ages: Camps for kids as young as 3!

Bricks for Kidz is Calgary’s leading Lego and Robotics program provider. Lego lovers will rejoice at getting the opportunity to attend one of the 16 themed camps at one of the 12 locations of Bricks for Kidz in the city. Be sure to check out the location nearest you to see which camp themes are available. There are Building Camps for kids between 5-12 which include STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art and Math) activity stations focusing on design, construction and testing. Technology Camps for kids 7 and up help campers learn about the world of coding and game design. They will also participate in 10 activities and 45 experiments to build their knowledge of circuitry. Outdoor play is another important party of each day, allowing campers to get some fresh air before hitting the bricks.

Granary Road | granaryroad.com

Times: 9:00-4:00 pm, no early drop-off or late pick up available
Cost:  $299 + GST

Granary Road has 35 acres of activities and 11 themed exhibits including a petting zoo! Their summer camp program is divided into four different themes for the nature lover in your family. The Entomologists Camp focuses on the world of bugs. Campers will explore the 4-storey Ant Farm, Arachnid Web and Bee-Hive in addition to examining a real ant farm, different spiders, beekeeper tools and retired beehives and will try on a beekeeper’s uniform. They will learn to identify different bugs and learn about bugs in the ecosystem. The Growers Camp teaches kids about plants including crops and edible wild plants. Campers will plant seeds with the greenhouse supervisor and will visit the greenhouse every day. Kids in the Environmentalists Camp will learn about how to tell the health of the ecosystem by looking at bugs and animals. They will learn about extinct and endangered animals and how to protect the planet. Finally, the Zoologists Camp is for animal lovers – they will spend most of their time at the Farm Friends Petting Zoo, where they learn about farm animals and how to care from them. They’ll get a tour of the farm and will help with morning and afternoon chores as well as collecting eggs at the chicken coops! Campers in all camps will get to visit all of the themed exhibits in the park which feature everything from trampolines to climbing structures and more!

Kyle Shewfelt Gymnastics | kyleshewfeltgymnastics.com

Times: Full Day camps run from 9-4 pm, half day runs in the morning from 9-12 or the afternoon from 1-4. Complimentary before and after care is available from 8:30 and ending at 4:30 sharp
Cost: Early Bird Pricing from March 18-April 30 – Full Day $325 and Half Day $185
Regular Pricing – Full Day $350 and Half Day $200. 4-day camp pricing is prorated. 10% off each additional week of camp, 5% off additional children from the same family
Ages: 3-12 with a Teen Gym Camp for kids from 12-15 during weeks 3 and 6

If you’ve got a kid who’s always on the move, a week at Kyle Shewfelt Gymnastics could be the perfect way to spend part of summer vacation. Each weekly camp has a different theme – from Jungle Week to Mission to Mars week and everything in between, check out the brochure and choose the theme that best suits your little gymnast. Every day at this fun-filled camp consists of gymnastics, themed crafts, games, free time, outdoor activities, a Mission Impossible obstacle course, a theme-inspired activity and/or special guest and more! Kids will work on a variety of gymnastics skills based on their age, goals and ability level. Campers of all ages will love exploring the equipment and learning to balance, tumble, climb and bounce in a safe and supportive environment.

Are you planning to register your kids for camp this summer? Which camp will you choose? Is there a great one that didn’t make our list, but should have? Let us know in the comments!