Traditional Day Camps

Kids Club at The Altoona Campus
Ages: PK-5th grade
A variety of programs with different foci including aquatics, sports, and more.

Camp Fire Heart of Iowa
Ages: 1st-10th grade
Days full of crafts, outdoor exploration, and activities.

Engman Camp Shalom
Ages: K-7th grade
Play, explore, create, and discover. Sponsored by the Jewish Federation but open to all children.

Kids Create
Check out a diverse menu of options including drawing, pottery, STEM, and more.

Living History Farms
Ages: K-12th grade
Experience the daily lives lived on farms and towns during 1700-1900. The activities, games, crafts, and site visits are a delightful way to explore history.

YMCA – Day Camps
Camps are offered for children of all ages at several YMCA locations. Some camps are offered at the actual facility while other camps are offered at different locations.

Special Interest Day Camps

Art and Music

Des Moines Symphony
Ages: K-12th grade
Work with professional musicians on listening, playing, and musicianship in a fun and creative environment.

Des Moines Performing Arts Center
Ages: 6-19 years
Theater camps with a variety of themes and interest areas related to the world of theater. Hosted by the professionals of the Des Moines Performing Arts Center.

Des Moines Playhouse
Ages: 4-18 years
Camps of various length and style all designed to engage children in the different components and demands of theater. Children will sing, dance, laugh, and create as they express themselves as a thespian.

Ankeny Art Center
Ages: 5-15 years
Numerous camps are offered for students to explore the diversity of art and the mediums used to create it.

Des Moines Art Center
Ages: 2-18 years
Each session has a unique focus and interest area for campers to experience and use to create art. Individual and family camps are available.

Sports and Recreation

Climb Iowa
Ages: 1st-10th grade
Discover climbing basics and non-climbing activities.

Jester Park Equestrian Center
Ages: 5-18. Adult camps also available.
Discover the wonder and joy of horses. Classes are leveled based on rider skill.

Sapphire Gymnastics – Discovery Kids Club Summer Camp
Triad Gymnastics – Summer Kid Care
Emerge Academy - Summer Camps
A variety of activities to keep kids of all ages active and burn off energy. Each camp is a different theme with a variety of activities and field trips.

STEM: Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics

Blank Park Zoo – Summer Safari Camps
Ages: 3-12 years
Engage in science experiments, crafts, and experience all the Zoo has to offer.

Camp Invention
Ages: 1st-6th grade
Offered through public schools in Des Moines, Johnston, Urbandale, and Waukee. Open to outside students interested in creative thinking and design.

Code Ninjas
Ages: 7-14 years
Learn to code while engaging in challenges that require innovative problem solving and teamwork

Innovators Academy
Ages: PK-8th grades
Emphasis on engineering with activities related to robotics, coding, building, and makerspace projects.

Iowa State University
Ages: PK-12
From LEGOS to agricultural sciences and everything in between. Iowa State hosts a variety of camps that will spark a love of STEM in any child. Check out the different STEM departments to see what camps are offered.

Greater Des Moines Botanical Garden
Ages: 1st-5th grade
Explore the gardens and unique plants of the Center as well as other activities.

Polk County Conservation
Ages: 6+ years
Outdoor explorations, activities, games, crafts, and more led by naturalists

Science Center of Iowa
Ages: PK-8th (duration depends on age)
Investigate SCI and experience hands-on science through experiments, dissections, and engineering

Overnight Camps

Camp Fire Heart of Iowa-Camp Hantesa (Boone, IA)
Ages: 1st-12th grades, grouped in to cabins with similar-aged children
Duration: 3-5 days
Focus: sports and the great outdoors

Camp Tanager (Mount Vernon, IA)
Ages: 6-11 years
Duration: 3-5 days. Day camps also available.
Focus: education, crafts, leadership, and outdoors activities

Catholic Youth Camp (Panora, IA)
Ages: 3rd-12th grades, grouped in to cabins with similar-aged children
Duration: 3-5 days. Day camps also available.
Focus: education, faith, and water activities

Central Iowa Bible Camp (Earlham, IA)
Ages: K-12th grades, grouped in to cabins with similar-aged children
Duration: 3-5 days
Focus: faith, fellowship, and outdoor recreation

Easter Seals Camp Sunnyside (Ankeny, IA)
Ages: 4 years and up. Children with and without disabilities.
Duration: 3-5 days. Day camps also available.
Focus: water activities, horses and farm animals, indoor and outdoor recreation

Wesley Woods Camp and Retreat Center (Lake Ahquabi, IA)
Ages: 6-17 years, grouped in to cabins with similar-aged children
Duration: 1-5 days. Day camps available for younger children.
Focus: faith, water sports, leadership, crafts, equestrian, and other sports/recreation

Lakeview Camp (Pella, IA)
Ages: 2nd-13th grades, grouped in to camp sessions with similar-aged children
Duration: 5 days. Day camps and family camps also available.
Focus: faith, fishing, leadership, crafts, and other recreation

Riverside Lutheran Bible Camp
Ages: 3rd-12th grades.
Duration: Full and half week options. Family and ranch camps also available.
Focus: faith, swimming, crafts, equestrian, and adventure sports

YMCA (Multiple Locations)
Ages: 6-16 years, grouped in to cabins with similar-aged children
Duration: 5 days typically
Focus: sports and recreation, leadership, crafts, equestrian, and outdoor skills