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Best Omaha Summer Camps For Young Kids

There’s no magic age when a young kid is ready for summer camp. But, when you decide it’s time to enroll your child in a summer camp, there are some camps better suited for a new camper than others. So, I’m here to share some insight on picking summer camps in Omaha. Here are some that my kids loved when they were little, and I hope your kids will love too.

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Summer camps in Omaha for preschoolers

There aren’t very many summer camps for kids ages 4 and 5, and definitely not many for kids younger than that. My kids were still in daycare at that age, so I just kept them there during the summer. If daycare isn’t an option, here are a few suggestions:

A girl at summer camp at Omaha Children's Museum with fake glasses and a paper bag puppet

Omaha summer camps for ages 4 and 5

Because I worked at Omaha Children’s Museum for years, my kids attended camps from about ages 4 to 8, so they attended A LOT of camps there. And loved them. For kids ages 4 and 5, the summer camp group sizes are kept small. The education department plans age-appropriate hands-on activities, and there is always plenty of active time inside the museum, plus there’s a snack time. Camp sessions are offered in the morning and the afternoon, and usually have appealing themes for kiddos. Registration is already open.

Kids can’t start going to Hummel Day Camp until their about to start First Grade, but there’s a way for younger kids to enjoy a shortened version of the summer camp: Itty Bitty Hummel Camp for ages 3 to 6. For two days, littles attend Hummel Day Camp from 9 to 11:30 a.m. and get to enjoy the songs, games, hikes, crafts, and wilderness skills all without having to deal with bigger kids being around. Registration opens mid-May.

Omaha’s Henry Doorly Zoo & Aquarium has Early Childhood Camps in the summer, which are for three hours each day for a week (morning and afternoon sessions available). They’re open to kids ages 3 to 5 who are fully potty-trained. Themes are different each week and highlight some of the zoo’s most popular exhibits and animals.

More summer camps:

  • Creighton Prep Soccer Camp sessions runs from 9 to 11:30 a.m. for a week in June, and include groups for Pre-K boys and girls.
  • DEVO youth mountain bike camps runs for eight weeks in the summer (in the evening one day a week) and are open to children starting at age 5. Location choice of Tranquility and Swanson parks.
  • Fontanelle Forest offers Lil’ Acorns camps for kids ages 4 and 5 to attend with a caregiver. Sessions are half-day, with choice of morning or afternoon.
  • Jewish Community Center’s Camp Shemesh is open to JCC members ages 3-5. The morning camp includes time at the Goldstein Family Aquatic Complex Splash Pad, Art & Crafts, Music, Movement & Fine Motor Activities.
  • Lauritzen Gardens offers full-day summer camps for kids ages 5-12.
  • McGuigan Arts Academy offers Happy Feet, an introductory camp for kids ages 5-6. The camp is held in the summer on Saturdays from 9 a.m. to noon.
  • Omaha Community Playhouse has half-day camps for kids ages 4-7 (mornings only).
  • The Rose Theater offers two-hour summer camps called Little Rosies for kids ages 3-5 with themes ranging from Bluey to Cinderalla. Kids ages 4-7 can also enroll in half-day Musical Theater camps that run a week.

Tips for enrolling preschoolers in summer camps

  • If your child has a regular nap time or downtime, keep that in mind when picking a camp. My youngest nearly always fell asleep after lunchtime when she was younger, so I avoided afternoon summer camp sessions. The AM camps — usually between 9 a.m. and noon — suited her best.
  • Let your child lead on summer camps. Not all youngsters are ready to be away from their parents for a couple hours a day. If there is an older sibling or relative who attends summer camps, perhaps find a camp that mixes different age groups together.

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