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Ultimate Omaha Summer Camp Guide 2025

Summer break always seems to sneak up faster than expected, and if you’re like me, you know that finding the right camp can make all the difference in keeping your kids active, and happy. Whether your child is into sports, arts, science, or the outdoor, the Omaha metro area offers an incredible variety of summer camp options to fit every interest!

From day camps packed with hands-on learning to overnight experiences that build independence, I’ve explored many of these programs firsthand with both of my kids. Here’s a guide to some of the best summer camps in Omaha to help you plan an unforgettable summer!

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What are the best summer camp options in Omaha?

There are a head-spinning amount of summer camp options in Omaha. What’s “best” for one kid is not the best for another. Things to consider what makes a camp “the best” for your kid:

  • Your kid’s age. All-day camps are tough for younger kids, especially if they still nap.
  • Your kid’s interests. Whatever interests your kid, there’s probably a camp for that. Themed camps are great to introduce the idea of summer camps to kids since characters are familiar and comforting. 
  • Your kid’s comfort level for adventure. Trying new things is a big deal, and some kids thrive on it, and some do not. Overnight camp is not for everyone.
  • Is a friend going? Sometimes, my kids picked a summer camp only because they knew a friend already signed up for it. And sometimes that friend is what makes a summer camp experience unforgettable.
  • The teachers/camp counselors. It’s not easy to scope out, in advance, who’s leading camps, but ask around and you’ll learn who has top-notch staff. 
  • The drop-off & pick-up process. This shouldn’t make or break your choice to send your kid to camp, but it’s always good to know in advance. I like well-organized places that don’t feel like utter chaos at the end of the day. Call me crazy.

Want to know which camps I liked best (and of course, which ones my kids liked)? Check out my Parent’s Guide To Omaha Summer Camps! Looking for the best camps for kids under age 6? Read this guide to the Best Camps For Younger Kids.

Half-Day Camps

Half-Day Camps in the Omaha Metro often combine more than one of the other categories in this camp guide. You'll find camps with a little bit of arts & crafts mixed in with a lot of play, for instance. They may mix outdoor experiences and indoor experiences.

Brownell Talbot

Address: 400 N. Happy Hollow Blvd.

Camp Discovery offers summer programs for preschool to 12th grade, featuring STEM, arts, leadership, sports, and future readiness activities. Open to the public.

Creighton Bluejays Kids Summer Camp

Address: 2500 California Plaza

Ages: Grades 1-5

Summer Camp offers kids fun-filled sessions with games, sports, swimming, arts, and excursions, led by Creighton students, faculty, and staff.

Metropolitan Community College's College for Kids & Teens

Addresses: Various MCC locations

Ages: 3-12 and 12-18

Metropolitan Community College's College for Kids offers summer camps in art, science, tech, entrepreneurship, trades, and more.

Lee G. Simmons Wildlife Safari Park

Address: 16406 N. 292nd St., Ashland, Neb.

Day camps include Includes interactive STEM activities, tours and animal encounters led by educators and animal care experts. June – July

Marian High School Summer Sampler Camps

Address: 7400 Military Ave.

Ages: Entering grades fifth through eighth

Summer Sampler camps for girls designed in a modular format.

Omaha Children’s Museum

Address: 500 S. 20th St.

Ages: 4-8

Summer camps are offered as weeklong morning and afternoon sessions for kids.

Omaha Fashion Camp

Address: 200 S. 31st Ave., Suite 4107

Ages: 6-10 and 11-17

Cost: $225

Fashion Camp is July 7-11 covering all aspects of the fashion industry, from sketching, photography and modeling, to creating a garment or accessory.

Omaha's Henry Doorly Zoo & Aquarium

Address: 3701 S. 10th St.

Day camps include Interactive STEM activities, tours, talks and animal encounters led by educators and animal care experts. May - July

Staenberg Omaha JCC

Address: 333 S. 132nd St.

Ages: 3 to seventh grade

Summer camps run from the end of May through early August and are accredited by the American Camp Association. Registration opens Feb. 5 for members and Feb. 19 for non-members.

Y Summer Camps

Address: Various Y locations

Ages: 5-12

Y camps offer kids a fun & safe environment where they will learn, find friends, & accomplishment.

Full Day Camps

Brownell Talbot's Camp Discovery

Address: 400 N. Happy Hollow Blvd.

Ages: 3 to grade 8

Cost: Varies depending on type and length of camp: $120 - $975

Experience endless possibilities at Brownell Talbot's Camp Discovery! From STEAM to sports, preschoolers through eighth graders build confidence and friendships while exploring diverse activities in a supportive environment.

Outdoor Camps

Outdoor camps often offer the quintessential "summer camp" experience. There may be hikes, lessons in archery or animal footprint identification, or just a ton of fun games in the sunshine. From experience with having kids in these camps, the more your kid likes mud, the better.

Camp Adams

Address: 3230 John A. Creighton Blvd.

Ages: Kids in grades 1-7

This camp run by Omaha Parks offers canoeing, fishing, archery, crafts, and games. Weekday camps include lunch, snacks, and transportation, 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Registration opens Feb. 22 (in-person) and March 7 (online).

Camp Zorinsky

Address: 3808 S. 156th St. (Aquatic entrance)

Ages: Kids in grades 1-7

This Omaha Parks camp at Lake Zorinsky offers canoeing, fishing, archery, and swimming at Zorinsky Water Park for a fun-filled outdoor experience. Registration opens March 3 and 4.

Carol Joy Holling Camp

Address: 27416 Ranch Road, Ashland, Neb.

Ages: Elementary age kids

Carol Joy Holling Camp has weeklong, on-site day camps (as well as overnight camps for older kids).

Fontenelle Forest

Address: 1111 Bellevue Blvd. N., Bellevue, Neb.

Ages: 3 to 15

Our mission is to foster a love of our local ecosystems and inspire future generations to care for the natural world. Registration opens Jan. 31.

Hummel Day Camp

Address: 3033 Hummel Road

Ages: Completed 1st – 7th grade by the summer of 2025

Cost: $130 per week ($50 for kids that quality for free/reduced lunch)

Summer camp run by City of Omaha Parks, is one of Omaha's most popular day camps. Nature-based weeklong camps. Registration dates are Feb. 24-28.

Into The Wild Outdoor Adventure

Ages: Kids entering grades 7-9

Pottawattamie Conservation's Into The Wild Outdoor Adventure is June 24-26 at Arrowhead Park in Neola, Iowa. Includes canoe trip on the West Nishnabotna River Water Trail (water level dependent) and an overnight campout at Botna Bend Park.

Itty Bitty Hummel Camp

Address: 3033 Hummel Road

Ages: 3-6

Cost: $20

This is a version of the nature-based Hummel Day Camp for younger kids to get a feel for summer camp. Bus transportation and lunch are provided.

Mandan Day Camp

Address: Mandan Park Nature Center, 6215 S. 13th St.

Ages: Kids currently in first through seventh grade

Cost: $115 per week ($50 for kids that quality for free/reduced lunch)

Summer camp run by City of Omaha Parks at a new location. Enjoy traditional camp activities like archery, gaga, 9 Square, outdoor cooking, crafts, and games. Bus transportation and lunch are provided. Registration opens March 5 & 6.

Wild Ones Summer Camp

Ages: Students entering first and second grade

Pottawattamie Conservation's Wild Ones Summer Camp is June 3-5 (Arrowhead Park in Neola, Iowa), June 10-12 (Botna Bend Park in Hancock, Iowa), July 22-24 (Hitchcock Nature Center in Honey Creek, Iowa).

Wild Seekers Summer Camp

Ages: Students entering third and fourth grade

Pottawattamie Conservation's Wild Seekers Summer Camp is June 10-12 (Hitchcock Nature Center in Honey Creek, Iowa), July 8-10 (Botna Bend Park in Hancock, Iowa), July 15-17 (Arrowhead Park in Neola, Iowa).

Wild Wanderers Summer Camp

Ages: Students entering fifth and sixth grade

Pottawattamie Conservation's Wild Wanderers Summer Camp is June 17-19 (Hitchcock Nature Center in Honey Creek, Iowa), July 8-10 (Arrowhead Park in Neola, Iowa), July 22-24 (Botna Bend Park in Hancock, Iowa).

Wildlings Camp

Address: 27792 Ski Hill Loop, Honey Creek, Iowa

Ages: 3-5

Pottawattamie Conservation's Wildlings Camp has morning and afternoon sessions July 29-31 at Hitchcock Nature Center.

Arts Summer Camps

Arts summer camps include a wide variety of options! If you're looking for camps focused on performing arts, music, visual arts, or dance, this is the category for them. Camps are available for kids in pre-k all the way up to 12th graders.

Creighton Preparatory High School

Address: 7400 Western Ave.

Ages: Entering second through eighth grade

Cost: $100

The high school's enrichment camps include Art Camp and Music Camp. These are half-day camps.

Doodle Art Studio

Address: 10812 Elm St.

Ages: Kindergarten through fifth grade

Summer camps are three days and include Pet Shop, Craftsmen, Dreamhouse Design, Mini Makers, Ocean Adventure, and Treehouse Designs. Camps went on sale on Jan. 27.

Heart and Soul Art Studio Summer Camp

Address: 14871 Mormon St., Bennington, Neb.

Summer camp registrations open March 1.

KANEKO Creative Camps

Address: 1111 Jones St.

Ages: Typically sixth grade through ninth grade

Discover, enjoy, and expand creative capacities through a wide range of individual and collaborative projects. KANEKO partners with professionals in different fields to provide week-long, immersive sessions.

Omaha School of Music & Dance

Address: 14505 California St.

Ages: 4-12

Special-themed dance and musical theatre camps at the performing arts school focused on dance, musical theatre and show choir.

Roncalli Catholic Youth Summer Camps.

Address: 6401 Sorensen Parkway

Ages: Students entering fifth-eighth grade

Camps include Band Camp (June 10-14), Choir Camp (June 17-21) and Theatre Camp (June 24-28).

The Rose Theater

Address: 2001 Farnam St.

Ages: 3-18

Summer camps at The Rose are hands-on learning in drama, dance, and song.

Shirlee & Henry Fonda Theatre Academy

Address: Omaha Community Playhouse, 6915 Cass St.

Ages: 5-18

Summer camps at Omaha Community Playhouse include Production Camps, as well as camps for ages 5-8, 9-11, and 12-18.

Sing Omaha Studios

Address: 8438 Park Drive

Ages: Entering first through 12th grade

Young campers will move, play instruments, and create stories, while older campers learn the basics of singing and moving, and expand upon their show choir skills.

Science & Educational Camps

Educational Camps are anything but dry and boring academic experiences. These are often STEM-focused or STEAM-focused programs that mix in a ton of fun -- sometimes messy fun -- for a variety of ages. It's all about learning without even realizing they're learning.

Camp Kindness

Address: 8929 Fort St.

Ages: 6-13

Cost: $!70

Nebraska Humane Society's Camp Kindness offers half-day Junior Camps and Senior Camps. Each session has a different theme, and includes hands-on experiences such as caring for camp critters, interacting with animals, educational games, art, guest-speakers and learning new ways to show kindness.

Creighton Preparatory High School

Address: 7400 Western Ave.

Ages: Kids entering sixth through ninth grade

Creighton Preparatory High School offers academic and enrichment summer camps including robotics, sixth & seventh grade Summer Climb, and eight grade Summer Climb. There's also a Ninth Grade Creighton Prep's Primer Program.

Nebraska Methodist College Healthcare Career Camp

Address: Nebraska Methodist College Clark Building, 720 N. 87th St.

Ages: Entering sixth through eighth grade

Cost: $175

Go behind the scenes in healthcare settings at Healthcare Career Camp. Campers will get a first-hand look at the healthcare field through activities, labs, tours, and simulations by faculty, students, and staff. Registration opens Feb. 1.

Omaha's Henry Doorly Zoo and Aquarium Camps

Address: 3701 S. 10th St.

Ages: 3-11

Cost: Varies

Have a WILD time with Omaha's Henry Doorly Zoo and Aquarium's day camps! Certified teachers will guide students through camps from one-half to five days in length with educational activities, tours, games and much more.

Strategic Air Command and Aerospace Museum

Address: 28210 W. Park Highway, Ashland, Neb.

Ages: 6-16

Cost: Varies

The museum offers summer camps that explore aviation, robotics, space and STEM themes. Most camps are full-day experiences, though Fight Camp for ages 12-16 includes overnight stays. On-sale is TBA.

University of Omaha’s Aim For The Stars

Address: 6001 Dodge St.

Ages: Students entering grades 3–10

Cost: $265

Weeklong, full-day STEM camps held on the campus of UNO. Some camps may have a field trip off campus. Limited tuition assistance is available. Camps went on sale the first week of January.

Camp Invention

Address: Pine Creek Elementary School, Titan Hill Intermediate School, Gretna Middle School, Deerfield Elementary School

Ages: Kindergrten through sixth grade (and Leaders-In-Training sport for seventh through ninth graders)

Cost: $275

National Inventors Hall of Fame's camp is held at schools in the metro each summer. Focused on STEM learning through hands-on challenges.

Sports Camps

Summer Sports Camps are often focused on a single sport where campers improve skills. Other summer camps focus on building agility, self-confidence, or speed.

Creighton Preparatory High School

Address: 7400 Western Ave.

Ages: Pre-K to Eighth Grade

Creighton Preparatory High School offers athletic summer camps, including basketball, football, wrestling (co-ed), speed & agility (co-ed) and soccer (co-ed). Nike Sports Camps include Boys Baseball, Boys & GIrls Basketball, Boys Football, Boys & GIrls Soccer, Boys Lacrosse, Track & Field, and Wrestling. Camp sizes are limited and are filled on a first-come, first-served basis.

Ironhawk Juniors Triathlon Club

Ages: 7-14

Ironhawk Juniors Triathlon Club is a free, multi-week training program for girls. Registration for 2025 has closed.

Nebraska DEVO Mountain Biking Camp

Address: Swanson Park or Tranquility Park

Ages: 5-18

Cost: $125 per rider with a $10 discount for each sibling ($115 per rider after the first rider is registered).

This biking camp is held over eight weeks at two Omaha locations: Swanson Park and Tranquility Park. Registered riders must have the ability to ride his or her bicycle unassisted. Registration opens April 1.

Roncalli Catholic Youth Summer Camps

Address: 6401 Sorensen Parkway

Ages: Students entering fifth-eighth grade, (boys basketball open to second-eighth graders and volleyball is open to 6-year olds to eighth-grade).

Camps include basketball, weight training & agility, baseball, soccer, volleyball, wrestling and football.

Omaha Soccer Academy Youth Day Camps

Address: Caniglia Field at University of Nebraska at Omaha, 6001 Dodge St.

Ages: 5-13

Cost: $175

University of Nebraska at Omaha is a recreational camp run by the Omaha men’s and women’s soccer teams and will see campers interact with current Mavericks student-athletes from both teams. Two sessions of Youth Day Camps are available (June 9-12 and July 21-24). Middle School/Junior Elite Camp is July 14-16.

Overnight Camps

Overnight camps are incredible opportunities for kids to experience independence while still being supervised and guided by experienced camp counselors. Both of my kids have loved their overnight camp experiences and come home full of fun stories.

YMCA Camp Kitaki

Address: 14917 E. Park Highway, Louisville, Neb.

Ages: 7-17

Camp Kitaki is an overnight camp focused on youth development in a natural setting. Kim's note: This has been my kids' favorite camp, hands down year after year! Sessions run from June to early August, and include the option of Ranch Camp with horses.

Carol Joy Holling Camp

Address: 27416 Ranch Road, Ashland, Neb.

Ages: First through 12 grade

Carol Joy Holling Center has different sites for different age groups. Each site has unique housing units and activities.

YMCA Camp Foster

Address: 1769 260th Ave., Spirit Lake, Iowa

Ages: 7-16

Many Omaha area kids also go to Camp Foster, a weeklong camp in Iowa, partly because there's a bus that will take the kids there and bring them back. Camp Foster sessions go on sale in August and are often full shortly after the on-sale.

Into the Wild Outdoor Adventure

Address: Arrowhead Park, 29357 310th St., Neola, Iowa

Ages: Entering grades seventh-ninth

Pottawattamie Conservation's Into the Wild Outdoor Adventure is June 24-26 starting at Arrowhead Park. Includes a canoe trip on the West Nishnabotna River Water Trail and an overnight campout at Botna Bend Park. Non-member registration opens Feb. 3.

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