Summer is a time for kids to follow their bliss, and Utah has no shortage of summer camps to help them do exactly that, whether it’s rocking out with a band or going on an outer-space mission. And even though spring has just sprung, it’s time to figure out what that bliss is going to be. Utah’s summer camps are registering campers now, and they fill up fast. Here are eight of our favorite 2019 summer camps accepting applications right now:
Rock ’n’ Roll Camp for Girls Salt Lake City
Rock ’n’ Roll Camp kids learn to play an instrument, join a band and write music over a week, culminating in a performance for friends, family and, yes, fans. The camp welcomes girls and transgender and gender non-conforming youth of all skill levels. While the camp is full for 2019, you can put your kid on the waiting list to join as soon as a spot opens up.
- Dates: June 10–15; July 29–Aug. 3, 2019
Cost: $300
Ages: 8–17
Location: Salt Lake School for the Performing Arts (SPA), Salt Lake City
Rock ’n’ Roll Camp for Girls - Note: Moms can rock, too, at the Slay Lake City camp for adults.
Write On! Workshops
Kids who love dance, sports or music have many outlets to build their skills over the summer, but camps that focus on kids who dream of becoming published authors are few and far between. Write On! kids write fantasies, poetry and plays, while making friends who share their passion for the written word. Each year, pros like Brandon Mull and Jessica Day George stop by to offer advice and sign books.
- Dates: June 24–28, 2019
Cost: $169, $274 (teen edition)
Ages: Grades 2–9
Location: Westminster College, Salt Lake City
Write On! Workshops
Luna Lobos Dog Sledding Summer Camp
If you’ve seen White Fang, you know dog sledding isn’t quite the same as taking a tube down a hill at Sugar House Park, but kids can learn the basics of the sport while bonding with adorable canines at Luna Lobos Dog Sledding Camp. Campers also learn archery and basic outdoor survival skills (they might need them while racing in the Iditarod one day).
- Dates: June–August, 2019
Cost: $250 (full week), $75–$100 (single day)
Location: Rancho Luna Lobos, Peoa
Luna Lobos Camp
YMCA Camp Roger
This is what you think when you think “camp” — archery, horseback riding, etc. Camp Roger started as a place for boys to swim and build campfires. It became co-ed in the ‘60s, and in the 2000s, buildings were renovated for a new generation. Camp themes range from Wacky Scientist to Wild Wild West. Camp Rogers also offers Little Rogers (one night and two days) for first-timers, horsemanship camps and leadership camps.
- Dates: June–August, 2019
Cost: Prices range widely depending on program
Location: Uinta Mountains
YMCA Camp Roger
Samba Fogo Dance and Drumming Camp
Samba Fogo’s colorful, high-energy performances stand out in the local arts scene, and your kid can be part of the action. The Brazilian drum and dance company has teamed up with Discovery Gateway to teach campers drumming, dancing, craft-making and folklore. Each 2019 summer camp culminates in a high-octane performance put on by campers for family and friends.
- Dates: July 8–12 (grades K–1), July 15–19 (grades 2–6)
Cost: $120–$140
Location: Discovery Gateway Children’s Museum, Salt Lake City
Discovery Gateway Summer Camps
Real Salt Lake Summer Soccer School
Real Salt Lake hits the road this summer, and not just to play teams across the country. The RSL Summer School, which focuses on fundamentals of the game in four day camps, will take place in communities throughout northern Utah, from Park City to Clinton. RSL also offers camps for goalkeepers, teams and experienced players looking to take their game to the next level.
- Dates: June–August
Cost: $99 (ages 4–5), $129 (ages 7+)
Location: Northern Utah communities
RSL Summer Camps
Wasatch Community Gardens Summer Camps
At Wasatch Community Gardens camps, kids work on an urban farm, where they grow their own food and care for chickens. Campers also learn about nature and how to cook. And this summer, WCG will partner with the Natural History Museum of Utah, Red Butte Garden and Tracy Aviary to offer even more programming outside the soil.
- Dates: June–July
Cost: $168 –$315
Location: WCG’s Grateful Tomato Garden, Salt Lake City
Wasatch Community Gardens Camps
Weber State STEM Camps
Weber State University has a wide range of camps that prepare future STEM professionals for the high-tech world. This summer’s lineup includes a 3D printing camp, a camp for creating video games and a digital technology camps for girls. Might as well get them started in their major early.
- Dates: June–August
Cost: $30–$205
Location: Weber State University, Ogden
WSU Summer Camps
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