Shutterstock.com
Kids in STEM
Pikes Peak Library District , ppld.org | 719-531-6333
At PPLD’s makerspaces, kids and adults alike can use equipment ranging from 3D printers to button machines at the district’s Sand Creek Library, East Library, Library 21c and Manitou Springs Library/Manitou Art Center. Check ppld.org/kids for activities geared to ages 0-5, and click on “Programs” at ppld.org to find activities for teens and tweens.
Western Museum of Mining and Industry , wmmi.org/education/stem-camps.html | 719-488-0880
If your kid likes rocks, chemistry or electricity, they’ll definitely like WMMI’s summer camp for third to fifth graders. The program features a new STEM topic every day, with guest speakers and activities catered toward each day’s theme. This year’s camps run June 19-23 and July 17-21, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at 225 North Gate Blvd. Camps are $225 for members, $250 for non-members.
Challenger Learning Center, challengercolorado.org/what-we-do/public/summer-camp.html | 719-598-9755
The Challenger Learning Center will be hosting summer camps for kids. Information about camps will be posted on Feb. 15 and registration opens March 1.
Pikes Peak Children’s Museum, pikespeakchildrensmuseum.org, 719-357-7726
Interested in making rock slime or color-changing volcanoes? Every second Thursday of the month from 10:30 to 11:30 a.m., the Pikes Peak Children’s Museum offers “Stories and STEAM” for children of all ages. The program consists of “two stories, an art project, and a science project that goes along with a particular theme,” says Spring Jones, “Stories and STEAM” Project Coordinator. Visitors must pay museum admission to attend the program: $5 for children 11 and up, $10 for 2 to 10-year-olds, and free for kids
under 2 years old.
Concrete Couch, concretecouch.org/calendar.html
Concrete Couch offers summer programming for kids and kids at heart — like citizen science, trail maintenance, tree care, and arts and crafts! Check out the calendar for more information about specific programs, dates, times, and locations.
Bill Nye: It’s not magic, it’s SCIENCE!, billnye.com
Want to bring STEM learning to your living room? Explore everything from the science of music to mammals, or delve into an at-home science experiment with Bill
Nye’s guidance.
42 Virtual Field Trips for Kids to Get Them Learning About the World, tinyurl.com/gh-virtual
“Kids can go from Ellis Island to Mars without leaving the couch,” writes Good Housekeeping’s Marisa LaScala. And she’s right.
Catamount Institute, catamountinstitute.org, 719-471-0910
Colorado-ology, Rocky Mountain Highlights and the Front Range Playground are a few of the camps hosted by the Catamount Institute this summer. Week-long programming offered for children ages 5-16 will allow them to explore the state’s natural beauty, learn about its ecosystems, and challenge themselves. Programs are $395, except for “Extreme Education Excursions,” which is $575. Scholarships available.
Space Foundation Discovery Center, discoverspace.org, 719-576-8000
The Space Foundation offers “a gateway to education, information and collaboration for space exploration and space-inspired industries that drive the global space ecosystem,” and has educational events all summer. 4425 Arrowswest Drive.
Get Creative and Active!
Colorado Springs Pioneers Museum, cspm.org/summercamps, 719-385 5990
The Colorado Springs Pioneers Museum is offering two camps this year for students interested in museums and becoming a “steward of local history [to] help preserve the present and the past.” There’s “History Detectives” for fourth through sixth graders, June 19-23, and “Museum Discovery” for seventh and eighth graders, July 10-14. Summer camps run from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., and registration opens on Friday, Feb. 3.
Pikes Peak Artist Collective, pikespeakartist.com, 717-875-5200
The Pikes Peak Artist Collective will host summer kids camps in 2023. More information about the camps will be posted on their website in early March.
UCCS RecKids, recwellness.uccs.edu/campus-rec/rec-kids/summer-camps, 719-255-3429
Calling all young adrenaline junkies! UCCS RecKids is hosting three camps for kids entering first through eighth grade with activities like rock climbing, swimming, hiking and paddleboarding. Campers will “have fun with other campers as well as the Campus Recreation Counselors as they experience and discover the world around them.” First through eighth graders are eligible for the “Mountain Lion Camp” and the “Splish ‘N Splash Swim Camp,” and third to eighth graders can participate in the “Outdoor Adventure Camp.” Camp dates and times coming soon, with pricing ranging from $300 to $350 based on membership status and sibling discounts available during registration.
Colorado Springs Parks, Recreation, and Cultural Services Youth Sports, coloradosprings.gov/sports-office/page/youth-sports, 719-385-5981
Summer baseball, T-ball and softball is offered for pre-kindergarteners to high school seniors through the Colorado Springs Parks, Recreation, and Cultural Services youth sports program. The “philosophy is to instill a positive attitude, sportsmanship, basic fundamentals, confidence, and high moral standards.” Practices start the week of May 8 and the season ends no later than July 14, with prices ranging from $70 to $75.
CityROCK, climbcityrock.com | 719-634-9099
CityROCK climbing gym will offer single- to four-day summer rock climbing programs for kids 6 and up from June to August. Youth programs are “designed to teach [kids to] explore vertically while learning technical climbing skills.” Single-day classes are $65, four-day programs are $279, at 21 N. Nevada Ave.
Sky Zone Trampoline Park, skyzone.com/coloradosprings/programs/skycamp, 719-354-2626
Sky Zone, at 1750 E. Woodmen Road, will be offering SkyCamp for kids this summer, with more information to be released later this spring.
Soccer Buddies
coloradosoccerbuddies.com 719-330-9642
Colorado Soccer Buddies is offering one-week long summer camps for kids 4 to 12 years old. “Our high energy coaches will develop their soccer skills and their love for physical fitness.” Camps run from 9 a.m. to noon at a different local park each week.
Volunteers for Outdoor Colorado, voc.org/youth-programs 303-715-1010
Get more involved with Colorado’s landscape through VOC! Every summer, VOC hosts youth projects to help Colorado kids learn more about their natural environment. Projects range from community gardening to habitat restoration to family camping. Information about upcoming projects should be posted in mid-February.
National Gallery of Art NGAkids ArtZone for iPad, nga.gov/learn/kids-app.html
Learn about and create art with NGAkids. The child-friendly interface “has eight interactive activities inspired by works in the collection of the National Gallery of Art, plus a sketchbook for freehand drawing,” according to NGA’s website.
Millibo Art Theatre, themat.org | 719-465-6321
Millibo Art Theatre is offering half-day and full-day camps this summer for youth of all ages. More information about summer programming will be posted in mid-February.
Cheyenne Mountain Zoo, cmzoo.org | 719-633-9925
Kids ranging from pre-K to eighth grade are eligible for Cheyenne Mountain Zoo’s summer camp. There are full week camps and day camps where kids can “share the wonders of wildlife and wild places in fun and exciting ways.” Registration is open for members and opens to the general public on Feb. 9. Scholarships available.
SoccerHaus Sports Camps, soccerhauscs.com/camps/summer-camp | 719-761-7586
Children 5 to 13 years old can learn flag football, T-ball, basketball, soccer, kickball, dodgeball and other schoolyard games with SoccerHaus this summer. Camps run from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. June 1-July 29, with daily, weekly and monthly packages available.
Gripstone Climbing & Fitness, gripstonecs.com/camps-clubs 719-559-4747
Gripstone has day and week-long climbing camps for 4- to 17-year-olds with morning and afternoon sessions. “The day will consist of a group warm-up and stretching, followed by lots of climbing (children will get to boulder, use auto-belays, and climb top rope routes), and varying activities such as crate stacking, traverse games, rope swings, obstacle courses and sit-down activities for when the children need to rest.” Morning sessions run from 8:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. and afternoon sessions run from noon to 3 p.m. $65 for a one morning or afternoon session, $300 for a week of half-day sessions. 6220 Tutt Blvd.