Park City Camp Schedules for Summertime Funtime

Mother Nature might be particularly mercurial this year, but summer will be upon us before we know it, so it’s high time to figure out which one of the many Park City camp options are best suited for you and your kids.

With daily, weekly and full-summer options aplenty, Park City offers both year-round residents and visitors a chance to keep kids active, prevent “brain drain,” and make new friends all summer long. Here are a few Park City camp options to consider.

Park City Day Camp, one of the most popular camps among local working parents, is operated by Park City Recreation and headquarters out of City Park every day from 8 a.m. – 6 p.m. for kids ages six and older. Campers can add on tennis, skateboarding and swimming lessons, and (new this year) golf at the Park City Municipal Golf Course. Registration begins on April 1, and this year they’re signing up folks willing to commit to the full summer before they’ll register the weekly and daily campers beginning on April 15. More info can be found in the online PLAY Magazine, or by visiting www.parkcityrecreation.org. If you’ve signed up before, but need your login for online registration, call the MARC front desk at 435-615-5401.

Summertime is a great time for kids to take to the slopes at two of Park City’s resorts. Deer Valley’s Summer Adventure Camp runs weekdays from 8 a.m. – 5:30 p.m. and is based out of the Children’s Center at Snow Park Lodge, providing ideal access to all the things that make up the “Deer Valley Difference.” From hiking and visits to the local duck ponds, to indoor activities like crafts and games, the state-licensed center offers something for every kid from age two months to 12 years. Pack a lunch and note that Deer Valley is a nut-free environment. Reservations can be made at 435-645-6648.

Canyons Resort’s Little Adventures Children’s Center welcomes kids aged six weeks to 12 years. However, this state-licensed child care facility offers actual camp activities just for kids aged six to 12, including nature hikes, swimming, zipline, arts and crafts, gondola rides, indoor and outdoor games, and field trips. Camp hours are from 8:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m., but can be extended to 7:30 a.m. – 5:30 p.m. for an additional fee. Lunch and two snacks are included for full-day campers. Call 435-615-8036 for reservations.

Swaner Preserve and EcoCenter, along with Utah State University Extension’s 4-H, offers camp options for kids within a wide range of ages, from those about to enter kindergarten, up through 8th grade. Camp topics include outdoor exploration, environmental education, science, and stewardship. They also provide leadership opportunities for teens in grades nine to 12 by engaging them as teen camp counselors to help the staff lead activities and keep campers safe. Click here for more information on the teen camp counselor program, and here to register day campers. Although half-day sessions are listed on the registration form, morning and afternoon sessions can be put together to create a full-day camp experience.

Snyderville Basin Recreation offers its Summer Blast Camp every week of the summer, from 9 a.m. – 4 p.m., though typically allows for extended hours from 8 a.m. – 5 p.m. Based alternately out of Ecker Hill Middle School and Trailside Elementary, the camp offers sports, arts & crafts, relays, table games and contests. Campers will swim at the indoor Ecker Hill pool and can be registered by calling 435-655-0999, or by visiting the Fieldhouse (online registration is not available at this time).

The PEEK Program, located in that cute log cabin facing I-80 in Pinebrook, offers a camp for 32 kids ages three-to-eight, promising a 1:8 ratio and fun-filled weekly theme camps, including art, gardening, building, theater, sports, history, dinosaurs, science and cooking. Campers can register for half- or full-days, and chose between one and five days each week. To learn more or to register, click here, or call 435-649-9188.

The YMCA runs a traditional sleep away camp just 20 minutes from Park City in the Uinta Mountains called Camp Roger, where kids take a break from all electronics to learn archery, horsemanship and other skills while spending Sunday-Friday away from home – many for the first time. Camp Roger brings in talented counselors from across the country and throughout the world (England, in particular), giving the camp a more global feel amid the aspens and dusty trails along Mirror Lake Highway. Camps average $505 for the week, with support available based on income. Learn more at http://ymcautah.org/camp-roger.

Themed camps are also offered during the summer, with opportunities to keep kids occupied, but not for entire days/weeks, making these camps fun for kids whose parents have the flexibility to enroll in half-day adventures.

The beloved Egyptian Theatre offers Youtheatre camps during the summer for aspiring thespians from ages five through teens, with camps focusing on theatre basics, puppetry, film and production. To check out this year’s lineup, click here, or call 435-649-9371 ext.27.

Camp Invention will be held at Parley’s Park Elementary School from June 8-12, and at Weilenmann School of Discovery from June 22 – 26. Camp is held from 9 a.m. – 3:30 p.m., and kids work in diverse teams to engage in investigations, experiments and engineering challenges. The cost is $235 for the week, with a $15 discount until May 12 using the promo code SPRING, and additional discounts based on the number of children you enroll. Registration and more information can be found by clicking here.

Park City Cooperative Preschool offers a camp for 3-5 year olds from 9 a.m. – 12:45 p.m., Monday – Thursday, with creative themes for 2015, such as Little Chefs, Peewee Picassos and Digging for Dinosaurs. Register by clicking here, or call 435-640-3315.

Finally, Park City School District offers kid-themed courses through its Leisure Learning program. Past courses have included topics such as cooking, math, science and foreign languages. The Summer 2015 catalog isn’t out yet, but they are offering a sneak peek by clicking here.

With so much to do, it’s a shame summer vacation only lasts a few months, as anyone who’s spent even a few days in town during June, July or August knows that summertime can be the best time in Park City.