Des Moines Summer Camps

Welcome to the 2024 ultimate guide to Des Moines summer camps, programs, and activities for kids!

Summer camps are a great way to keep kids busy and engaged during break. From week-long educational camps to day camps exploring nature, there is a camp for every interest and budget.  Use this guide to help you plan a fun and stress-free summer for the kids.

Plus download our Summer Planner to plan out all your summer adventures.

The 2024 Summer Camp Guide is sponsored by our featured programs, but it is a comprehensive guide to all summer camps in Des Moines. We so appreciate the support of the community and the opportunity to present our readers with valuable resources.

Climb Iowa is Iowa’s largest climbing and training center. With two locations in the Des Moines metro, everyone can find the right fit for them. Send your kids on a climbing adventure. Climb Iowa Grimes camps introduce young adventurers to climbing, but they won’t stop there. Children will learn about trust, teamwork, and problem solving while developing their rock-climbing skills through our interactive activities. Climb Iowa offers kids and families the opportunity to explore new horizons, find an engaging form of fitness, and discover an engaged and close-knit community. 

At Premiere, we offer a variety of summer camps and classes to fit your child’s interests. Join us in the dance studio to develop their self-confidence, social skills, and creativity this summer! We are passionate about dance education, instilling confidence, and empowering students to achieve their goals. Our Premiere Family creates an environment where dancers can develop themselves individually, physically, and artistically. We can’t wait to dance with you!

The Playhouse creates extraordinary shared experiences through live theatre. In addition to a full season of shows, the theatre offers a wide variety of educational experiences including classes for ages 4 to adult, theatre trips to New York, and volunteer opportunities onstage and backstage. Theatre arts education at The Playhouse provides students with the opportunity to explore, create, imagine, and express themselves, all within a safe, nurturing environment.

Avoid Summer Slump and sign your kids up for a Jump Start Program! 

Looking for exciting and active summer fun? Registration is now open for all summer classes and summer camps at Inspiring Dance! Inspiring Dance is a premiere dance studio recently moved into a brand-new, state of the art dance building in Grimes, Iowa. They strive to inspire dancers of all ages to fulfill their creative potential and offer classes in many ages, styles and levels.

This summer, come dance like Taylor Swift in our iD Era Camp, Party like Bluey in Bluey Dance Party and other fun themes including Paw Patrol, Broadway and more! Call 515-986-0007 or email [email protected] for more details!

Easterseals Iowa Camp Sunnyside offers both day camp and traditional overnight camping experiences that provide an integrated setting where children and young adults with and without disabilities learn and grow together.  Activities include fishing, swimming, pony rides, rock wall climbing, arts and crafts, nature hikes, campouts and more!

Discover your inner artist at the Ankeny Art Center, a non-profit arts organization located in Ankeny, Iowa. With a wide range of classes, workshops, summer camps, exhibitions, and MORE, the center offers endless opportunities to explore your creativity. Join us throughout the year, and let your artistic journey begin!