Summer Camps and Activities for Kids
It is every parent’s favorite time of year: school is coming to a close, and you will soon find yourself responsible for entertaining your child(ren) for the next few months! No need to fear though - there are a plethora of local camps and activities to choose from! Here are some of our favorites:
Camps
Critter Camp at the Yellowstone Valley Animal Shelter
This animal-themed camp teaches children ages 8-11 the importance of kindness and compassion for animals through humane education lessons, guest speakers, activities and crafts, and animal interactions. Located at YVAS’s Learning Center at 2010 Grand Avenue Suite #1, Critter Camp will be held Monday through Friday (drop-off between 8:30-9am and pick-up between 3-3:30pm) for five weeks throughout the summer; the cost of tuition is $200 per week/camp. For more information on Critter Camp, contact YVAS by phone at (406) 294-1137 or email tiffany.smith@yvas.org.
Wise Wonders Science and Discovery Museum
If you have a science-enthusiast in your family, Wise Wonders is the place to be! With separate camps designed for children ages 4-7 and 8-12, Wise Wonders offers five different camps during June and July, running from 9am-12pm Monday through Thursday. The cost per week/camp is $150 or $125 for members (a family membership is $75 for the year). To register your child(ren), complete this form.
Billings Parks and Recreation
Parks and Rec offers a summer camp for everyone, ranging from general summer camps for kids, sports camps, art camps, swimming lessons, and even a cooking camp! Check out all they have to offer here!
Other Honorable Mentions
- Harry Potter camp at the Moss Mansion
- Thrive Academy camps (Lego fans, check out the Building Bricks Education Challenge)
- Rocky Mountain College camps (fly in an airplane at the Aviation Camp, or check out their numerous sports camps)
- Swimming lessons at Billings Gymnastics School and Oasis Waterpark
- Dance, music and theater camps through NOVA Center for the Performing Arts and Billings Studio Theater (call 406-248-1141 for information)
- Climbing and fitness camps at STEEPWORLD
- Gymnastics camps at Billings Gymnastics School
- Golf camps at Yegen Golf Club
- Yellowstone Art Museum camps
- Granite Fitness camps
- Montana Learning Center camps
- Nature camps at the Montana Audubon Center (most camps are already full, but you can be put on a waitlist)
Activities
Visit ZooMontana
ZooMontana is Montana’s only true zoological park, home to over 100 animals of 56 species. Summer hours are 10am-4pm, 7 days a week. Guests may stay on the grounds for one hour after closing, so enter before 4pm and enjoy the park until 5pm. Children 2 and under are admitted for free, while rates for older children and adults range from $8-11 (or, invest in a membership). Children 15 and under must be accompanied by an adult.
*Only service animals are permitted; pets and emotional/therapy animals are not permitted on zoo grounds.
Visit Wise Wonders Science and Discovery Museum
In addition to their summer camps, Wise Wonders also makes an excellent activity for the whole family! It is open to the public from 10am-5pm Tuesday through Saturday; admission is $5 for all ages (they also offer annual family memberships for $75). Check out their special STEAM (science, technology, engineering, arts, and math) activities here!
Events
- Check out the Yellowstone Art Museum’s SummerFair at MSU Billings June 24th-26th
- Watch fireworks for the 4th of July in Laurel or at MetraPark (TBD)
- Walk the track all night at West High for the Yellowstone Relay for Life on July 8th, starting at 6:30pm
- Homesteader Days in Huntley from July 9th from 9am-1am
- Strawberry Festival downtown on July 10th from 9am-4:30pm
Other Honorable Mentions
- Go to a Mustang’s baseball game
- Take a swim at Rose Park or South Park pools, Oasis Waterpark, or even Lake Smellmo (er, we mean Lake Elmo… it might not be as smelly after they drained it this year)
- Visit the Yellowstone Art Museum (appointments are recommended until June 30th)
- Take a tour of the Moss Mansion
- Get outside - take a walk on the Rims, at the Shiloh Conservation Area, Riverfront Park, Pioneer Park… the list goes on
For a full list of summer camps and activities for the whole family, check out Simply Local Magazine’s 2022 Guide.