According to the proverb, the worm is already gone, consumed for breakfast long ago by the early bird. But fear not, procrastinating parents! There are still plenty of great local summer camps available for those who have put off registering. In this fourth and final installment of Best Bets to explore summer camps, we look at some of the best last-minute camp options still available in St. Louis.

Turner Center for the Arts – Kids Camp
3109 Sutton Boulevard, Maplewood, MO 63143
314-781-4440
www.turnercenterforthearts.org
Cost per session: $100 per week
Located in the heart of downtown Maplewood, the Turner Center for the Arts is a multi-use art studio that offers a broad range of programs for kids, teens and adults of all ability levels. During the summer months, the center offers weeklong summer camps for kids ages 5 to 10 on a variety of subjects. Upcoming sessions focus on “Recycled Art,” “Art Around the World,” “Art Today” and “Artful Dwellings.” Sessions run from 9 a.m. to noon Monday to Friday.

The Improv Trick – Kids Classes
The Playhouse at Westport Plaza, 635 Westport Plaza, Maryland Heights
314-922-1998
theimprovtrick.art.officelive.com
Cost per session: $100 per week
Whether or not you aspire to raise a future Saturday Night Live cast member, exposing your child to the art of improvisation can offer major benefits, including increased confidence and improved teamwork skills. The Improv Trick – St. Louis’ only improvisation school – offers special summer sessions designed specifically for children ages 8 to 13. Weeklong sessions – two hours per day – are offered throughout the summer.



YMCA of Greater St. Louis Camps
Multiple Locations
314-436-1177
www.ymcastlouis.org
Cost per session: Camp fees vary widely based on location, length and subject matter
New camp operators pop up ever summer, but if you’re looking for a camp provider with a proven track record of success, you’d be hard pressed to find a better option than the YMCA. For more than a century, “The Y” has been offering action-packed summer camps for kids across the nation. In St. Louis, the YMCA offers hundreds of camp options each summer. Camps range from half- and full-day traditional summer camps to specialized camps focusing on everything from sports and aquatics to cheerleading, and arts and crafts.

Camp Jam
De Smet Jesuit High School, 233 North New Ballas Road, Creve Coeur
800-513-0930
Cost per session: $399 to $549
www.campjam.com
Is your child ready to rock? If so, then Camp Jam is the summer camp for you. Housed at De Smet Jesuit High School, Camp Jam offers aspiring rockers a chance to hone their chops. Offered in weeklong sessions, the camps are divided into two age groups: 7 to 10 years (Camp Jam Kidz Camp) and 11 to 17 years (Camp Jam Day Camp). Participants in the younger group need not have any musical experience. Campers in the older group should have at least six months of playing experience. Sessions run from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. for the younger group and 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. for to older group. The camps aren’t cheap, but they offer considerable hands-on instruction for novices and experienced players alike.

City of St. Louis – Free Summer Sports Camps
Multiple Locations
314-289-5367
stlouis.missouri.org
Cost per session: Free
When looking for the most affordable summer camp options, it doesn’t get much better than “free.” That’s exactly what the City of St. Louis’ Parks, Recreation & Forestry Department offers through its free Summer Sports Camp. Offered at locations across the city, the camp offers training and instruction in such sports as tennis, football, basketball, soccer and track. All of the remaining camps are offered in weeklong sessions throughout July. Space is limited and the attractive price guarantees that remaining slots will go fast.

St. Louis County Government Day Camps
Multiple Locations
www.stlouisco.com/parks
Cost per session: Camp fees vary based on location, length and subject matter
The St. Louis County Parks Department, in cooperation with area community centers and municipalities, offers an array of affordable day camps throughout the summer. Whether you’re looking for an all-purpose traditional camp or a specialty sports camp, options abound. Each location offers its own specialty camps and prices vary accordingly.

Best Bets articles represent the views and the research completed by St. Louis Sprout & About journalists and are not driven by advertising or requests by vendors or venues.

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