Kids Summer Camps In and Around Missoula, Summer 2023
When I was a kid growing up in Missoula we definitely had summer camps (shout out to the YMCA and Missoula Parks and Rec). Summers in Missoula are amazing, and engaging with the city and landscape in meaningful ways during the summers definitely helped shape me into who I am today. But oh my goodness, there are so many more opportunities now than when I was a little tyke.
I've also heard from my friends with kids that sometimes, the plethora of choices can be overwhelming, and it's easy to miss out on opportunities. So let me help. Here's a roundup of summer kids' camps in and around Missoula for summer 2023. I tried to grab as many as I could, but I'm sure I'm missing some. Feel free to message me on the app with anything I may have missed.
You can also attend a Summer Camp Expo at the Missoula Public Library on March 11 from 11 am - 2 pm.
Animal Wonders/Parks and Recreation
This is a collaboration between Animal Wonders and Missoula Parks and Rec that includes a range of animal education for a variety of ages. Many programs will have campers interacting with animals.
According to their site, "Updated summer camp information will be published on March 13, 2023."
Registration opens: April 2 at 9:00 am
Visit their Website
Boys & Girls Club of Missoula County
For a full-day camp with three meals and a snack provided, consider registering for Summer Club through the Boys & Girls Club of Missoula County. Campers will have the opportunity to take field trips all over the state. Summer Club serves those entering 1st - 8th grade.
Registration opens: April 3
Visit their website.
Garden City Harvest — Summer Camps
Have your child ever wondered where food comes from? This program provides insight into our food system. They explain on their site: "Campers will explore life on a working farm, learn how food gets from the field to our plates, and about plant and animal life-cycles."
Garden City Harvest offers programs for kids entering 1st-5th grade but they also have counselor opportunities for those in 6th-9th grade.
Registration opens: March 13 at 9:00am
Visit their Website
Historial Museum at Fort Missoula
This summer, Fort Missoula is running two camps, a Junior Docent Camp (5th-12th grade) and a History Camp (8 to 12 year olds).
Registration opens: March 1
Visit their Website
Learning With Meaning Summer Camps
These camps are geared toward the sciences: "learn traditional skills from all over the world or beef up your brain with our STEM camps. Archery, survival skills, robotics, projectiles, and more..."
Take do take place at multiple locations. Check out their FAQ for more information.
Registration is now open on their website.
Missoula Art Museum
For kids aged 12 years old and younger, the Missoula Art Museum has weekly art camps in varying mediums hosted by different Teaching Artists beginning the week of June 12 and wrapping up the week of August 7.
Registration is now open on their website.
Missoula Children’s Theatre
This beloved staple of the Missoula Community not only hosts Summer Day Camps, but Performing Arts Camps around Montana too.
Registration is full for their "Sleeping Beauty" and "Treasure Island" Summer Day Camps.
Registration is open for their "Pied Piper" Summer Day Camp on their website.
Applications for Performing Arts Camps are due April 7. Find all the relevant information at this link.
Missoula Community Access Television
There are two video-themed camps for kids this summer, one focused on stop animation and another for making horror movies.
Registration is now open on their website.
Missoula Outdoor Learning Adventures (MOLA)
This is a great opportunity for engaging kids in some of the outdoor activities that Missoulians love, like biking and whitewater rafting. Camps are for kids in grades K-10 and last for five days.
Registration is open now on their website.
Missoula Parks and Recreation
With a host of programs and places like Currents and Splash Montana, waiting for the Missoula Parks and Rec Summer Camps guide and camp schedule to come out is a little like waiting for Christmas.
The guide will be published online on March 13, 2023.
Registration opens: April 2, at 9:00 am.
Visit their website
Missoula Writing Collaborative
Programs for grades 3-8 and 9-12 will focus on creative writing in creative ways and creative settings, like the Missoula Butterfly House and Insectarium and the University of Montana Zoological Museum.
Registration is open now on their website.
Montana Natural History Center
"Connecting People with Nature" the Montana Natural History Center has multiple camps for multiple age groups. There are also programs dedicated specifically to girls, one focused on STEEM and another focused on conservation.
Registration is open now on their website.
Montana Natural Resource Youth Camp
A camp hosted by MSU Extension Forestry, kids who have graduated 8th grade (age 13-18) have the opportunity to study science and land management in the Lubrecht Experimental Forest which is east of Missoula. It's not all study, though, campers will also float the Alberton Gorge.
Applications are now available on their website and are due July 7.
University of Montana
If your kid is interested in sports, you'll definitely want to get them into a University of Montana summer camp, like Griz Football or Lady Griz Basketball. Of course, UM definitely has other amazing camps, too, like SpectrUM.
Registration varies depending on the camp. For a complete list of programs, start here.
YMCA
Summer camps at the YMCA offer so. many. options. There are 11 weeks of camps and each week has a theme, with multiple options to choose from.
Registration opens: March 1
Visit their website
ZACC Summer Youth Art Camps
For young artists, Zootown Arts Community Center offers art and music camps and even camps inclusive of nonbinary and trans campers.
Register for visual arts camps here.
Register for music camps here.