A few weeks ago, we asked all of the parents, teachers, and coaches in the area to submit the best summer camps of the year. We got some amazing submissions, both via emails and our calendars, so we wanted to put them all together in one place so you can browse all of the options. If you know of other great kid-friendly camps, feel free to leave other links and suggestions in the comments!
Dallas County
Model Prep Workshop Focused on Helping Young Girls (June 7 - 12)
Girls from all over the metroplex are welcome to join this workshop. Together, with the help of Texas-based model Amber Griffin, the young women will work to build confidence and inner strength while receiving instruction in makeup, nutrition, social media, fashion, and more. The future supermodels and female leaders of the world are being created at this powerful workshop. For prices and enrollment info, visit www.modelprep.com.
Central Christian Church Summer Showtunes (July 9 - 21)
Open to kids in 5th through 8th grade, this camp gives summer breakers a chance to experience acting and singing with a host of professionals. It's a two-week session followed by a final performance at the church on July 21. Register now to snag a spot by visiting Central Christian Church's website. Cost: $449 per child
Summer at St. John's Episcopal School
The one-week camps at this school are tailored for girls and boys in grades PreK through 8th. With a variety of camp themes, from sports to academics, every camper can find a week that interests them. Check out all of the different camp options by clicking here, then register ASAP before spots fill up.
Camp on the Lake by the YMCA Dallas
The slew of summer camp activities at this waterfront day camp is perfect for kids of all ages. Attendees will learn life skills and build friendships as they explore nature around Lake Lewisville. There are dozens of fun experiences, from archery to horseback riding. Click here to learn how to register. Separate camps are offered by age (6-8 or 9-13).
Texas Ballet Theater School Summer Programs
Over the course of the summer, this organization will offer a range of programs for ballerinas in the making at both the Dallas and Fort Worth locations. Sign your child up for a week of ballet basics, a fairytale adventure, or more intense training sessions. Prices vary depending on the particular program. Click here to learn more about the programs and enroll.
STEM Summer Camps by Microsoft
Want to start your kid down the coding career path? Sign them up for one of these Microsoft summer events. Even if your child has no previous coding knowledge, they can learn the basics and even work towards programming their own robot. Children ages six and up are welcome to attend these free educational camp. Check the Microsoft website for the local calendar.
Dallas Museum of Art
Whether your child loves painting or inventing, drawing or designing, this is the place for creative youngsters ages 4 to 12. They'll experience the DMA in a new way, make friends, and create their own works of art. There are morning and afternoon camp options during the weeks between June 4 and 29, as well as July 9 and August 3. DMA members pay $175 and non-members pay $210 per camp.
Dallas Children's Theater Summer Classes
The DCT wants to foster a love of art and performance in kids of all ages through fun, educational classes. All of the summer programs are taught by theater professionals and segmented into age and experience levels. To enroll your children, follow the instructions posted on this page.
It's a Sensory World Summer Camps
This center in Farmers Branch offers educational, recreational, and therapeutic services for children with special needs. Over the summer, they will offer their 11th year of summer camps for children of all abilities over the age of two. There are eight different weeks to choose from and each week costs $350. Click here to learn more and register.
White Rock Rowing Learn to Row Camps
Your middle school or high school student can use this summer as an opportunity to learn how to row. After all, who doesn't want to spend their break on the lake? There will be instructional sessions with some of the top coaches and plenty of fun activities. Register at this link. Cost: $250 per week
Lakehill Summer Camps
Voted in the past as the Best Summer Camp here on BubbleLife, LakeHill Summer Camps are a great way to keep your kids engaged and learning. Camps are offered from June 4 all the way through August 3 for various ages. Half-day week-long camps are $240 and full-day, week-long camps are $315 per week. Click here to register.
Lil' Rangerettes Summer Camp at Jesuit (June 18 - 22)
Girls PK3 through 6th grade are invited to learn fun dance routines, make crafts, play games, and build memories at this one-week summer camp. To register your daughter for this five-day experience, click on this link. Cost: $175
Study Skills Summer Camp at Good Shepard Episcopal School (August 6 - 10)
This one-week camp will provide practical experience with test taking and studying. Experienced educators will work with kids in grades five through ten to ensure that they maximize their learning potential and know how to handle the challenges of school, testing, and extracurriculars. Cost: $250
Parish Episcopal Summer Camps
From May 29 to August 17, the school will be hosting a variety of stimulating summer programs for kids ages 3 to 18. Themes range from academics to arts and athletics, so there's something available for every kind of camper. Check out the day camps and specialty camps, then register online.
Alcuin Summer Camps
Children ages 3 to 14 are welcome to attend a variety of camps at Alcuin School. There are educational opportunities for toddlers, adventure camps, half-day Montessori school sessions, and more. Check out your options here.
Dallas Episcopal School Camp
Waterslides, sports, and crafts are just the beginning at this school's adventure, sports, academic, arts, and STEM camps. Browse their full selection of summer opportunities on their website and claim a spot before they're all gone.
DAMPA Summer Camp
The Dallas Academy of Music and Performing Arts is open for summer camp enrollment right now, and you won't want to miss it. They offer a wide variety, from a summer ballet intensive prep course to a one-of-a-kind Broadway Bootcamp. View the options and sign up here.
Shelton School Summer Camps
The summer sports camps at Shelton are open for enrollment now. There's a volleyball clinic (grades 5-8), a basketball clinic (grades 5-8), and several kinds of development sessions. Learn more at www.shelton.org.
Summer Enrichment Camp at DIS
Dallas International School offers half-day or full-day sessions for language development. All campers will attend for a minimum of three intense weeks and walk out with an impressive exposure to a new language. Browse the summer camp catalog to see if this enrichment camp sounds right for your kid. There are also science, art, sports, and personal development camps.
SMU Summer Camps
There are a variety of camp options at SMU over the summer that provide new experiences and fun for kids and teens. Start dates range from early June to August. Look into the youth programs, engineering programs, art events, and athletic camps staggered throughout the summer. Click here to learn more and register.
Collin County
The Learning Academy Camps
From May 29 through August 24, The Learning Academy will be offering summer camps full of science experiments, swimming field trips, baking, water sports, and so much more. With this kind of non-stop adventure, every kid will have a blast. Click here to view the different camp options based on ages and dates, then register your children before time runs out.
Allen Community Theatre Summer on Stage
With ten weeks of themed theater camps, Summer on Stage is truly the perfect solution for the drama lover in your family. Allen's Community Theater will be putting on a host of summer camp performances, which will give attendees the opportunity to act and learn about the world of theater. Prices range from $150 to $225 per week, depending on the theme and age restrictions. Visit their website to learn more and register.
The Lions Club Summer Camps for Children With Disabilities
The McKinney Lions Club will be offering several summer camps for children with physical disabilities, down syndrome, epilepsy, cancer, and diabetes. The nine different sessions span from June 10 to August 11 and are currently open for enrollment. Camper applications are available online.
UT Dallas Summer Camps
Whether you're looking for a speech class or a therapeutic class for socially-anxious children, UT Dallas has what you need. Check out their variety of camps for children of all abilities and ages to find the one that's right for your family. Prices vary from $150 to $825, depending on length and other factors.
Focus on the Future Summer Adventure Camp (June 11 to July 20)
Focus on the Future Training Center in Plano is committed to helping children with special needs develop the skills they need and the memories they deserve. Experts in academics and social/physical development will use this camp as an opportunity to work with children as they become more independent. Visit their website to learn more.
McKinney Christian Academy Summer Camps
Multiple sports summer camps will be hosted at this school for campers of all age, including wrestling, volleyball, baseball, football, and more. There will also be an Art Science and Ukelele Music camps. Register online today to prepare for the start day on June 5. Prices may vary depending on camp.
Heard Natural Science Museum Summer & Wildlife Sanctuary Nature Camps
With a variety of nature-based summer camps, this museum is a fantastic option for bored kids. At the Heard, they'll learn about everything from what lives in ponds to how volcanoes spout boiling lava. There are also camps that blend art with nature, hands-on experiences with animals, and miniature camps for kids between 6 and 12. Click to learn about all of the options and prices.
The Heights Church Camps
This Richardson church will offer a VBS camp, student camp, kids camp, and plenty of summer activities for children over the next few months. Check out all of the options on their website.
First Christian Church of Plano VBS
This year's shipwrecked theme will bring kids together as they play games, experience Bible stories, and make crafts to bring home. There are also camps for older children throughout the North Texas area. To learn about the youth trips or VBS, visit the First Central Christian's website today. Enrollment is open now.
Tarrant County
City of Irving Parks and Recreation Day Camps
Summer Splash Camp is a fun, safe environment for children to get wet and have a good time under the sun. There are five sessions of two-week camps for kids in kindergarten up to fifth grade. There are also several different locations, so you can find the one that works best for you. Each session is $190 per camper. Learn more and register on the Parks and Rec website.
ARC Adventure Camp
This summer day camp is for children and teens (ages 5 to 21) with developmental disabilities. They will have the opportunity to engage in a variety of games, computer fun, field trips, swimming, crafts, and entertainment. To learn more about ARC of Dallas or enroll, click here.
YMCA Camp Carter
The Y is hosting a variety of day camps and overnight camps, as well as discover camp day open houses. Learn about all of the amazing memories your kids could make at these various camps by visiting this link. Each camp teaches kids about self-reliance, nature, and leadership, as well as classic activities like campfire building and outdoor sports.
The Actors Conservatory Theatre
The ACT hopes to inspire children across the North Texas area to foster a love of the performing arts. Their summer musical theatre camps provide an incredible experience of music, acting, and learning for kids of various ages. This summer, there will be three different camp themes: Willy Wonka Jr., Grease (School Version), and The Lion King Jr. Visit their website to register and pick which week you want.
Taste Buds Kitchen
When school is closed, the summer camp at Taste Buds is the place to be. There are week-long camps and single-day adventures to choose from, and all of them teach children how to become the chefs they've always wanted to be. Every week hosts a new and unique menu, so your little chefs can learn tons of new recipes this year. Click here to browse all of the camps and classes offered in 2018. Prices may vary.
Irving Arts Center Camps
For a quarter of a century, this center has been providing kids with educational summer opportunities. There are camps for children of all ages, and all of them encourage the attendants to develop self-confidence and a love of learning. This year's theme? "Road Trip! L.A. to Chicago on Route 66!" Click to register your kids today.
Techie Factory Programs and Camps
This organization aspires to ignite a passion for technology and real-world skills in young learners. Their camps provide a hands-on environment in which participants learn to code, play with robots, design video games, and so much more. View their summer camp options and classes on their website. Prices are typically between $475 and $500 per camp.
Rockwall County
Art's A Blast
Hosted at Utley Middle School, these art camps take place over seven weeks and offer children loads of creative fun. Talented instructors will help them improve their artistic skills while making creations they can take home with them. Registration is open and spots are filling quickly, so check out the options now.
Rush Creek Yacht Club Sailing Camp
Kids ages 7 to 18 are invited to learn how to sail at this fun summer event. There are five different sessions to choose from, along with a special adventure camp in late July/early August. Find out more and register on their website.
Boys and Girls Club of Northeast Texas Summer Camp
Beginning in June, children are welcome to engage in programs about everything from robots to brain games. Great futures start at the Boys and Girls Club, so check out the options near you and sign up for the available camps.
Summer Rock Camp
The Rockwall Parks and Recreation Department is putting on 10 hours of daily supervised fun, both indoors and outdoors. Kids will swim, do arts and crafts, and go on field trips to new destinations form the Harry Myers Community Center. Check out the six weeks of amp options and the various field trips on playrockwall.com.
Thanks to all of our submitters, and to Dr. Brian J. Dixon, a local pediatric psychiatrist who contributed many of the camp suggestions for special needs children.
"Having worked in the teaching, community mental health, and private healthcare settings, I have found many forces (personal, professional, financial, psychological, etc) affect the availability, access, expectation, and quality of mental health care. Building this private practice allows me to take the best parts and provide them to my patients. While I am a fully trained and board certified child & adolescent psychiatrist, I founded Progressive Psychiatry to show Texans that mental health is important and can be completed in safe, efficient, and empowering techniques for people of all ages. We look forward to working with you." -Brian J. Dixon, MD