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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 four 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 in early 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).
  • Omaha Girls Rock has a Kick Start summer camp for girls ages 4-6.
  • 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.

Summer camps in Omaha for early grade schoolers (ages 6-8)

Around the time kids start elementary school, they’ve shaken off the need for nap times and have started needing less help with certain day to day tasks. They’re ready for new camp experiences designed for grade schoolers, too!

A summer camp wearing a bike helmet and having a popsicle at DEVO Mountain Biking summer camp

Half-day camps for kids ages 6-8

Half-day camps are typically three hours long (I know, not quite a half-day of work), though some may have before- and after-care options.

  • Creighton Prep offers various sports and academic camps, with some open to kids about to enter third grade; the soccer camp sessions runs from 9 to 11:30 a.m. for a week in June, and include groups for boys and girls up to those entering seventh grade.
  • DEVO youth mountain bike camps runs for eight weeks in the summer (in the evening one day a week) and are open to children ages 5 to 18, all abilities even beginners. Location choice of Tranquility and Swanson park.
  • Fontanelle Forest’s camps 
  • 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. Kids ages 7-11 can enroll in Rockapalooza for a half-day or a full-day.
  • Omaha Children’s Museum has a variety of half-day camps for kids ages 6 to 8, and you can combine morning and afternoon sessions to create a full-day camp experience for your child. They will need to bring their own lunch.
  • Omaha Community Playhouse has half-day camps for kids ages 4-7 (mornings only).
  • Omaha’s Henry Doorly Zoo & Aquarium has Kindergarten Half-Day Summer Camps for kids ages 5-6, which are for three hours each day for a week (morning and afternoon sessions available). Themes are different each week and highlight some of the zoo’s most popular exhibits and animals.
  • The Durham Museum offers half-day and full-day summer camps for kids entering first through fifth grade. Choose from a wide range of camp themes including science, construction, wizards and more
  • The Rose Theater offers half-day Musical Theater summer camps for ages 4-7, as well as Creative Drama & Stories and Production summer camps for ages 6-7.

Full-day camps for kids ages 6-8

Because my husband and I both worked full-time for many years during summers, my kids did attend full-day summer camps. And they did just fine. Each kid is going to be different when it comes to comfort levels regarding time away from parents.

Hummel Day Camp campgrounds at Hummel Park

My kids’ favorite full-day camps tended to keep them active all day long, and created an atmosphere that lent well to friendship-making.

  • Camp Adams, all-day camp for one week (June only) for kids entering first through seventh grade. Incredibly priced and includes transportation, lunch and snack.
  • Camp Zorinsky, all-day camp for one week. Campers bring own sack lunch.
  • Fontanelle Forest has several different all-day summer camps for kids ages 6-8.
  • Hummel Day Camp, all-day camp for one week. Super popular, and registration tends to fill up in the first few minutes. Transportation, lunch and snacks provided. It’s open to kids who have completed first grade through seventh grade by the summer of 2023, no age exceptions.
  • J Camp at the Jewish Community Center features full-day camps open to members and non-members of all backgrounds, regardless of faith, race, or national origin. They offer a K-First Grade camp and a Second-Third Grade camp for kids in this age group.
  • Lauritzen Gardens offers full-day summer camps for kids ages 5-12.
  • McGuigan Arts Academy offers the week-long Rockapalooza for kids ages 7-11, with the option of half-day or a full-day.
  • Omaha Girls Rock has the Boost summer camp for girls ages 7-9.
  • Omaha’s Henry Doorly Zoo & Aquarium has one-day, two-day, and five-day camps for kids ages 6 to 8 that run from 9 a.m.–3:30 p.m. Campers bring their own lunches.
  • Omaha Community Playhouse has full-day camps for kids ages 8-10.
  • The Rose Theater offers a variety of full-day camps for kids ages 8-11, ranging from Theater Drama, Theater Technique, Sketch Comedy, Musical Theater, and so much more.
A boy holding a LEGO set he built at University of Nebraska at Omaha's Aim for the Stars summer camp

Summer camps in Omaha for grade schoolers (ages 9-11)

Half-day camps for kids ages 9-11

Half-day camps are typically three hours long (I know, not quite a half-day of work), though some may have before- and after-care options.

  • Creighton Prep offers various sports and academic camps, with some open to kids about to enter third grade; the soccer camp sessions runs from 9 to 11:30 a.m. for a week in June, and include groups for boys and girls up to those entering seventh grade.
  • DEVO youth mountain bike camps runs for eight weeks in the summer (in the evening one day a week) and are open up to children ages 5 to 18, all abilities even beginners. Location choice of Tranquility and Swanson park.
  • Omaha Community Playhouse has one half-day camps for kids ages 9-13, featuring stage makeup.

Full-day camps for kids ages 9-11

  • Camp Adams, all-day camp for one week (June only) for kids entering first through seventh grade. Incredibly priced and includes transportation, lunch and snack.
  • Camp Zorinsky, all-day camp. Campers bring own sack lunch.
  • Fontanelle Forest has several different all-day summer camps for kids ages 9-12. Registration includes one camp morning at Tree Rush Adventures ropes course.
  • Hummel Day Camp, all-day camp for one week. Super popular, and registration tends to fill up in the first few minutes. Transportation, lunch and snacks provided. It’s open to kids who have completed first grade through seventh grade by the summer of 2023, no age exceptions.
  • J Camp at the Jewish Community Center features full-day camps open to members and non-members of all backgrounds, regardless of faith, race, or national origin. They offer a Fourth-Seventh Grade camp for kids in this age group.
  • McGuigan Arts Academy offers the week-long Rockapalooza for kids ages 7-11, with the option of half-day or a full-day.
  • Omaha Community Playhouse has full-day camps for kids ages 9-13.
  • Omaha Girls Rock has the Amplify summer camp for girls ages 10-12.
  • Omaha’s Henry Doorly Zoo & Aquarium has one-day, two-day, and five-day camps for kids ages to 11 that run from 9 a.m.–3:30 p.m. Campers bring their own lunches.
  • The Durham Museum offers half-day and full-day summer camps for kids entering first through fifth grade. Choose from a wide range of camp themes including science, construction, wizards and more
  • The Rose Theater offers a variety of full-day camps for kids ages 8-11, ranging from Theater Drama, Theater Technique, Sketch Comedy, Musical Theater, and so much more.
  • University of Nebraska at Omaha’s Aim for the Stars offers the Totally Cool Math and Science Combo for kids entering third and fourth grades. The same camp offered three different weeks. Camps are from 8:30 to 3:30 p.m. for one week.

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