Topeka's youths and parents have more than a dozen options for summer camps this year

With the last quarter of the school year underway, local parents are turning their attention toward what to do with their children over summer vacation.

Private businesses and community organizations in Topeka offer a variety of options from traditional to specialty camps in athletics, academics and the performing arts.

Check out this roundup of camp options in the Capital City to keep children pre-K through high school busy and engaged over the summer months:

Shawnee County Parks & Rec

Site: Various locations throughout Shawnee County.

Telephone number: 785-251-6800.

Ages: 6-21 years.

Dates: May 28-Aug. 2.

Price range: $90-$135 per week.

The county offers a multitude of camps that run 8-10 weeks in length and include pre- and post-care drop-off and pickup times for added convenience. Children get a traditional camp experience with sports and games, crafts, camp songs, outdoor activities and more.

The Civitan program is geared toward youths 8-18 years with developmental, cognitive or behavioral disabilities. Registration for all county camps opened March 5, and they tend to fill quickly, so snag your child’s spot before they’re gone.

• Back to Nature at Big Gage Shelter in Gage Park.

• Camp Connections Lake at Lake Shawnee.

• Camp Connections North at Shawnee North Center in Shawnee North Park.

• Passport to Adventure at Crestview Shelter.

• Civitan Camp at Gage Park.

• Fun Zone at Oakland Community Center.

Topeka Zoo

Address: 635 S.W. Gage Blvd.

Telephone number: 785-368-9180.

Ages: 6-18 years.

Dates: June 3-Aug. 2.

Price range: $155 per week for members of FOTZ; $190 per week for nonmembers.

Eight weeks of full-day camps for children ages 6-12 years explore such themes as Dive into Disney and Secret Life of Zoos. Campers get up close and personal with the zoo animals, learn about their habitats, dietary needs and conservation efforts and explore the animal kingdom through stories, games and interactive play. The zoo also offers three-week teen camp sessions in June and July for middle and high school students, which include an optional overnight experience off of zoo grounds. Scholarships are available by application.

Boys & Girls Club of Topeka

Addresses: Various locations throughout Topeka.

Telephone number: 785-234-5601.

Ages: School-aged children.

Dates: June 3-Aug. 2.

The Boys & Girls Club of Topeka Summer Enrichment Program runs for eight weeks from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily. Boys & Girls Club seeks to prevent summer learning loss through engaging enrichment activities and offers a School Year Springboard Program July 29-Aug. 2 to prepare students to enter the 2024-2025 school year successfully. Parents can choose from one of five locations across the city, including the Adams Club, Teen Center, Montara Unit, Tecumseh North and Logan Elementary School. Registration opens March 18 for current members and March 25 to the general public.

YMCA of Topeka

Addresses: 3635 S.W. Chelsea Drive and 5440 S.W. 37th St.

Telephone number: 785-271-7979.

Ages: Pre-K through eighth grade.

Dates: May 30-Aug. 2.

Price range: $150 per week for YMCA members, $160 per week for nonmembers

The YMCA of Topeka provides a traditional camp experience for children preschool through the eighth grade. The youngest campers attend the Hilltop Center, while kids entering third grade and beyond are at the Southwest Center. Breakfast, lunch and a snack are provided daily, and camp hours are 7 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.

Genesis Health Club Southwest

Address: 2909 S.W. 37th St.

Telephone number: 785-338-4918.

Ages: 5-12 years.

Price range: $165 per week for members, $185 per week for nonmembers.

Mighty Camp at Genesis Health Club Southwest allows campers to swim daily, try new sports, go on field trips, engage in STEAM activities, learn life skills and participate in character-building lessons. Programming runs through the summer months, and parents can choose from full week, partial week, and customized options.

Topeka Civic Theatre & Academy

Address: 3028 S.W. 8th Ave.

Telephone number: 785-357-5213'

Ages: 4-16 years.

Dates: June 3-Aug. 2.

Price range: $120-$425 per session.

Offering full-day, three-week sessions for kids 6-16 years, TCT Academy campers play theater games, audition for shows, produce and rehearse scripts, and build audition, characterization, dance and improvisation skills. Campers are grouped by age, with kids older than 12 eligible to participate in a technical theater-themed option where they explore set design, construction, lights, sound, and costume design. Younger campers may enroll in a one-week session that meets during the morning only. Scholarships are available for those who apply and qualify.

Helen Hocker Theatre

Address: 700 S.W. Zoo Parkway.

Telephone number: 785-251-5990.

Ages: 5-13 years.

Dates: June 3-Aug. 2.

Price range: $205-$265 per session.

Located inside historic Gage Park, Helen Hocker Theatre caters to young thespians. Campers are divided into alike age groups with such names as Broadway Bound, Star Struck Players, Production Workshop and Break-a-Leg. They conclude each three-week full-day or half-day session with a public performance for parents and guests.

Barbara’s Conservatory of Dance

Address: 4300 S.W. Huntoon St.

Telephone number: 785-272-5991.

Ages: 3-18 years.

Dates: June 3-26.

Have an aspiring ballerina or a kid who just loves to move? Barbara’s Conservatory of Dance offers summer programming perfect for movers and shakers. They’ll work on coordination, flexibility, rhythm and poise. Older dancers can study different styles of dance, including ballet, tap, jazz and contemporary. Workshops run two to three weeks in length, Monday through Friday, with evening classes also available Mondays and Wednesdays through June 26.

Washburn University Music Camps & Workshops

Address: 1700 S.W. College Ave.

Telephone number: 785-670-1511.

Ages: 6th through 12th grade.

Dates: June 2-July 26.

Price range: $275-$490.

Student musicians in grades 6 through 12 can hone their craft while experiencing what it’s like to live on campus at Washburn University. From June 2-7, the Coleman Hawkins Summer Jazz Camp will host jazz musicians and educators. Participants will focus on jazz improvisation, small group performances, jazz theory and more. Residential and commuter pricing options are available. The deadline to register is May 17.

The 19th annual Total Percussion Camp is scheduled for July 15-20. Percussionists receive hands-on instruction covering marching percussion, drum set, concert percussion, samba band and more. They also have the opportunity to attend professional concerts and give a performance of their own on the last day of camp. Register before April 1 for discounted tuition and prior to June 1 to avoid late fees.

Budding pianists and organ players will convene July 22-26 for Washburn’s Keyboard Academy. Campers must have at least two years of private lessons and the ability to read music to register. Registration opens March 22 and remains open thru July 1.

Topeka Collegiate

Address: 2200 S.W. Eveningside Drive.

Telephone number: 785-228-0490.

Ages: First through eighth grade.

Dates: June 3-July 26.

Price range: $200 per week.

Your child doesn’t have to be a student at Topeka Collegiate to benefit from the school’s summer programming. Offering nine-week-long sessions, campers are immersed in a STEAM curriculum, playing games, making crafts, engaging in water play, music appreciation and physical activity all summer long. Camp hours are 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. daily, but working parents can pay an extra $25 per week for before- and after-care that begins at 7:30 a.m. and ends at 5 p.m. Summer Blast themes for 2024 include Fun in the Sun, Super STEAM, Carnival Craze, and Summer Blast Olympics.

Kansas STARBASE

Address: 7116 S.E. Forbes Ave., Building 688.

Telephone number: 785-554-5274.

Ages: Students who completed the fifth or sixth grade in May 2024.

Dates: June 3-20.

Price range: Free.

Sponsored by the Department of Defense, Kansas STARBASE is located at Forbes Field. Trained instructors use a STEM curriculum that encourages hands-on, minds-on learning and activities during three sessions that meet 9 a.m. to 2 a.m. Monday through Thursday during the month of June. Your camper can experience 3D CAD software, coding, robotics, drones, rockets and more during this free summer program. Registration opened March 19 and spots fill quickly.

Sports Zone

Address: 3909 S.W. Burlingame Road.

Telephone number: 785-267-4658.

Ages: Kindergarten through sixth grade.

Dates: June 3-July 26 (closed July 1-5).

Price range: $140 per week.

Sports Zone has full day camps from 7:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. with lunch provided daily. Campers engage in multisport athletic experiences, with all activities taking place on site at the Sports Zone facility. Registration will open the end of March.

Master Overbey’s Martial Arts

Address: 5331 S.W. 22nd Place (inside Fairlawn Plaza).

Telephone number: 785-273-9988.

Ages: Kids 5 years and older who have attended kindergarten.

Dates: May 28-Aug. 9.

Price range: $159-$179 per week

Enrolling now, Master Overbey’s offers eleven week-long sessions incorporating movement-based activities, indoor and outdoor games, arts and crafts, and trips to the pool, SkyZone, local parks and roller skating. Campers enjoy an onsite Parkour course, arcade activity room, ping pong, air hockey and Skee-Ball. Staff leads participants in high-energy team games and weekly Nerf battles. Working parents can take advantage of early drop offs and late picks at no additional charge.

Capital Gymnastics & Athletics

Address: 3740 S.W. South Park Ave.

Telephone number: 785-266-4151.

Ages: 4 years and older.

Dates: June 3-Aug. 1.

Price range: $22-$90 per camp.

Flip, turn and tumble through the summer months at Capital Gymnastics. Campers can participate in themed two-hour mini camps designed for children ages 4-10 during June and July. Aspiring and experienced gymnasts should consider the two-or-four-day skills clinics to help them perfect their cartwheel or hand springs. On Aug. 1, Capital Gymnastics will host an Olympic Day Camp with group games, ninja activities, free play and crafts from 9 a.m. to noon.

Topeka Soccer Club

Address: 4829 N.W. 17tth St.

Telephone number: 785-233-9700.

Ages: 3-14 years.

Dates: July 8-19.

Price range: $110-$240 per camp.

Soccer enthusiasts from recreational to competitive players receive instruction from experienced coaches during the month of July while engaging in fun, interactive soccer games, learning the technical, psychological and philosophical aspects of soccer, participating in small-sided games and working on ball control, teamwork and quick decision-making. The week-long Tiny Tykes camp geared toward players 3-5 years old meets 45 minutes each morning. Recreational players 5-14 can enroll in a half-day program July 8-12, while more competitive kids 7-14 meet half days July 15-19.

This article originally appeared on Topeka Capital-Journal: Topeka's youths and parents have many summer camp options this year