Summer Day Camps in Calgary
If your kiddos are planning to attend day camps in Calgary 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 YYC. 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!
Summer Day Camps in Calgary
Mount Royal University | mtroyal.ca
Times: 9 am-4 pm with complimentary before and after care from 8-9 am and 4-5 pm
Cost: $304-$390 for 4-5 day options
Ages: 4-15 years
Mount Royal University has a ton of incredible summer day camps in Calgary for kids interested in just about anything you can think of! This year, camps are geared towards kids from kindergarten age to grade 9. Registrants must be the appropriate age for camp by the first day of camp.
A few of the exciting camps for kids between 4 and 5 to look forward to include Active Kids, Critters and Crawlers (exploring the natural world of trees, flowers, and of course, BUGS) and Prehistoric Preschoolers (filled with fossils and dinos galore). Kids between 5 and 9 are gonna love camps with themes like Magical Adventures (think potion making and dragon egg decorating) Junior Robotics, Maker Lab (for kids who love working with their hands), C.A.T.S. (Computer, Art, Theatre and Science)) and Rising Stars (for budding actors and dancers).
For kids between ages 9 and 12, tons of fun new themed camps are being offered, like Astronauts in training (prepare to take part in simulated astronaut training and build your own space suit!), Global Sports and Reel-2-Reel Film School. One special camp being offered for kids in grades 5-9 is Achievers – a free camp for kids with physical disabilities who want to check out para sports like wheelchair basketball and goalball.
Kids between ages 12-15 also have a range of fantastic camp options available to explore, such as Youth Science Academy, All About Architecture, Art Attack, Young Aviators and Young Game Designers.
Quest Theatre | questtheatre.org
Times: 9:00-4:00 with drop off from 8:30 and pick up until 4:30. After care is available until 5 pm.
Cost: $350 for 1-week camp (Journeys for ages 6-8 and Treks for ages 9-12) or $580 for 2-week camp (Expeditions for ages 12-15). Register 2 or more kids to receive $25 off per child. Register for 2 or more camps and receive $25 off per camp. Bursaries are available to access programming for families in need. Applications must be submitted by May 31.
Ages: 6-15
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. In each camp, participants will work together to come up with creative ideas to use for a final performance piece to be filmed of performed live on the final day of camp!
SAIT | sait.ca
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 pm.
Cost: Prices vary depending on camp theme and range between $320-$760.
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 1-4 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 which requires pre-registration. 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
Cost: Prices vary depending on the theme of camp
Ages: 4-15 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, swimming and more. There are also themed camps available, such as dance, drama, swim skills, visual arts, and more!
YMCA – Camps in the City – But Outdoors (at Camp Riveredge) | ymcacalgary.org
Times: 8:30-4:30 daily
Cost: See registration portal for pricing
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 $380 to $4000 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! There is also a Day Camp option for kids between the ages of 6 and 9 years.
Calgary Zoo | calgaryzoo.com
Times: Camps for preschoolers are half-day camps from either 9:00 – 12:00 (before care available at additional cost) or 1:00-4:00 (after care available at additional cost). Full-day camps run from 9:00-4:00 with additional childcare available for $50 per week for before care (7:30-9:00) and $50 per week for aftercare (4:00-5:00).
Cost: $170 for 5 day weeks/$136 for 4 day weeks for preschool camps; $295 for 5 day weeks/$236 for a shortened week for older children. Lemur Art Camp for ages 7-12 is $300 for 5 day weeks and $240 for 4 day weeks. Connect, Engage or Inspire Members receive 10% off camp prices.
Ages: Age 4 to Grade 9
The Calgary Zoo has day camps in Calgary for animal lovers of all ages and interests. Zoo Camps for kids from ages 5-14 include games, activities, crafts, stories, interpretive programs and animal visits, while the Northern Leopard Frog program for 4-5-year-olds helps younger kids enjoy the same types of activities in a half day program. For campers aged 7-14 with an interest in animals and art, the Lemur Art Camp includes zoo-related art projects in addition to the animal visits and zoo exploration included in all other camps.
Telus Spark | sparkscience.ca
Times: 9 am – 4 pm with complimentary before care from 8 – 9 am and aftercare from 4 – 5pm
Cost: 4 day camp is $275; 5 day camp is $340. Gold and Ignite Members receive 10% off. Complimentary before and after care is available from 8 – 9 am and 4 – 5 pm.
Ages: 6-12
Telus Spark is a great place for kids to explore Science, Technology, Engineering, Art and Math (STEAM) in a hands-on way! Camps are selling out quickly, but there are still a few slots open for the themes of Code-A-Bot (Age 7-8 and 8-10), Algorithmic Artists (Ages 9-12), and Surgeon School (Ages 9-12) In addition to themed camp activities, all camps include hands-on STEAM activities, supervised exploration of all of the galleries in the science centre, admission to all of Spark’s featured exhibits and shows in the Infinity Dome for the Summer, and admissions to Quantum Sandbox in the Digital Immersion Gallery.
Heritage Park | heritagepark.ca
Times: Overnight Camps and Day Camps available; Day Camps run from 9:30 am – 4 pm Pre-care and after care are available from 8:30-9:30 and 4 – 5 pm for an additional $45 per week each, or $85 for both.
Cost: $315 for 5-Day Camps. $252 for 4-Day Camps. $598 for Overnight Camp.
Ages: 6-15
For kids wondering what life was like over 100 years ago, Heritage Park offers three different camps where kids dress up in (provided) costumes and travel back in time! Camp themes for 2023 are Frontier Artists (for kids from grade 5 to high school) and the Home on the Range Overnight Summer Camp for kids aged 12-15.
Kids enrolled in the Frontier Artists camp will make all kinds of cool artwork including making art prints on an antique printing press, trying needle felting, sketching, beading and more. At the Home on the Range camp, campers get to experience Heritage Park for 5 days straight while trying out activities like cooking over a fire, exploring the park behind the scenes and after dark, and riding the antique midway. At night, they’ll sleep in the Burns Barn bunkhouse. Meals for this camp are provided.
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!
