Need childcare for Spring Break or just want to keep your kid off the couch for the week? Spring Break camps are “springing” up all over the country to fill this demand. Indoor, outdoor, full-day, half-day—many programs even offer flexibility to sign up by the day or for the entire week.
Whether your child is into coding, soccer, rock climbing, digging for fossils, or performing on a stage, there’s something out there for every interest. Here are a few of the best Spring Break camps that we found across the country.
Mega Machines Robotics & Battle Robotics
Louisville, KY
For LEGO enthusiasts, Snapology’s Louisville-East location gives kids, ages 5-10, a chance to learn about gears, sensors, and coding while they build motorized trucks, space rovers, and helicopters. Robotics is on the menu, too. Campers can build robotic catapults, crossbows, tanks, and more. Plus, they get to create their own mini-figure to keep at the end of camp.
Snapology has locations nationwide, with a variety of Spring Break offerings that give kids a full STEAM learning experience—including workshops for designing and building amusement parks, creating robotic animals, and even making LEGO animation. Dates, times, themes, and costs vary by location.
Dates: March 30-April 3, 2020
Time: 9:00 a.m.-4:00 p.m.
Cost: $243
Spring Cooking & Science Camp
Chicago, IL
Science in the kitchen? You bet! Offered by Kids Table, this program lets campers ages 4-10 conduct science experiments in the kitchen—and then eat some of the results. Who wouldn’t want to do a “magic milk science project,” make a lava lamp, or eat a “DNA pasta bowl” for lunch? Campers also get plenty of fresh air and exercise, with games in the park and dance parties.
Dates: March 23-27 and April 6-10, 2020
Time: 9:00 a.m.-3:00 p.m.
Cost: $400/week or $90/day
Fashion Camp
New York City
For future fashion designers, The Fashion Class offers sessions at its two New York City locations. Kids, ages 6-12, learn how to use a real sewing machine to make their one-of-a-kind design a reality. Projects vary, but are usually a type of apparel (i.e. a simple dress, shorts, or top) or an accessory (i.e. a messenger bag or scarf) that campers can take home at the end of the day or week. In addition to sewing skills, campers also learn about “illustration, merchandising, fashion history, the business of fashion, entrepreneurship, and a little DIY crafting, too.”
Dates: April 13-17, 2020
Time: 10:00 a.m.-3:00 p.m.
Cost: $125/day
Printmaking Camp
Portland, OR
In this high-tech world, kids may not have had an opportunity to try their hand at the art of printmaking. Activate Studio offers kids ages 7-12 a chance to get a little messy while using engraved plates and ink to create magnificent art. Campers use professional-grade “lino” blocks, foam blocks, and other materials like plates as well as screens. They even get to print their designs on a shirt to keep at the end of the session.
Dates: March 23-27, 2020
Time: 9:00 a.m.-4:00 p.m.
Cost: $280
Youth Cartooning Camp
Berkley, CA
Kids, ages 7-13, who dream of turning their own stories and characters into real comic books will love this camp offered by Liv and Chiu Art Studio. Campers of all skill levels learn about inking, coloring, lettering, and making detailed backgrounds. While studying the work of well-known artists, Pixar storyboard art, and classic comics like Peanuts, campers create a 3-panel comic of their own, a cartoon logo, a mini-comic book, and more.
Dates: March 30-April 3, 2020
Time: 9:30-11:30 a.m.
Cost: $275
Magic Camp
Austin, TX
Calling all jugglers, puppeteers, and magicians-in-training, Fantastic Magic Camp offers a Spring Break session for kids ages 5-12. During the week, campers learn to juggle everything from scarves to rings and can try their hand at spinning plates and balancing a variety of objects. They also learn about different types of puppets and performance techniques, how to make their own puppet, and they get to participate in a puppet show. The rules of magic are “spelled” out for campers, too. They learn “sleight of hand” tricks and the art of “misdirection,” giving them plenty of tricks to practice each night at home after a full day at camp.
Dates: March 16-20, 2020
Time: 9:00 a.m.-4:00 p.m.
Cost: $325
If these camps aren’t in your backyard, don’t worry. You can find Spring Break camps at your local museum, zoo, library, kids’ gym or art studio, or academic enrichment center, to name a few. Almost every organization or play space that runs an afterschool program during the school year offers a session or two during Spring Break.
Best Spring Break Camps – Sources
Snapology
Kids Table
The Fashion Class
Activate Studio
Liv and Chiu Art Studio
Fantastic Magic Camp