BY ISAIAH FRIZZELL
Summer is nearly here, can you believe it! Yes the chill is still in the morning and evening air, and snow still falls on occasion. It’s been a mild winter if not lasting a bit longer, considering your tolerance for cold. This is springtime but when school’s out the kids need a place to play!
There are any number of things for the young ones to do for entertainment and education during the summer months. Want to try something new this year? The facilities are open and the time is nigh.
A list of camps for everything from outdoors to cooking:
Ketchum 2025 Summer Youth Recreation Program
The “granddaddy of all the valley’s summer youth programs” returns! Fun, safe, and affordable activities for kids take place at Atkinson Park from Monday to Thursday, 8:30 AM-4:30 PM. There is an optional adventure on Fridays.
The first session of programs runs June 16-July 17. Session two begins July 21 and runs through August 14. Scholarships and payment plans are available.
Register at ketchumidaho.org/registration or contact Recreation Supervisor Nate Sheehan (208.726.7820 or nsheehan@ketchumidaho.org) for more information.
Sun Valley Music Festival Summer Programs
Experience the joy of studying music through orchestras, ensembles, classes, and master classes with leading instructors, musicians, and guest artists of the Sun Valley Music Festival.
For grades 2-12, from August 4-8, this week-long course will challenged students to have fun, and leave with a sense of accomplishment and inspiration, to return to their local programs with a renewed interest in music.
Students arrive with different skill levels and the programs are designed to embrace that diversity. Students should be challenged, have fun, and leave with a sense of accomplishment and inspiration to return to their local programs with a renewed interest in music.
Navigate to svmusicfestival.org/summer-programs/ for details.
Sun Valley Youth Adventure Camp
Just the right camp for your child’s age, Sun Valley offers summer camps with Tennis, Pickleball, Ice Skating, Golf; Swimming, Paddle Boating, Gondola Rides, Hiking/Mountain Adventures, River Explorations, Scavenger Hunts, Hayrides, Bowling, Soccer, Biking, Archery, Yoga/Zumba, STEAM Activities, Themed & Costumes Parties, and more! See sunvalley.com/explore/kids-programs for details.
Summer Program at Community School
Sun Valley Community School’s Summer Program offers opportunities for kids of all ages to play, learn, and explore on our Trail Creek and Dumke Family Sagewillow campuses in Sun Valley, Idaho and in the surrounding area.
Programs are available for children of all grades, which include both academic and recreational activies. See communityschool.org/summer-program/ for more.
Galena Youth Adventure Camp
Offering mountain biking, paddle boarding, white water rafting, horseback riding, hiking, rock climbing, swimming, and exploring.
Galena Youth Adventure Camp — Ages 8-12, offering mountain biking, paddle boarding, white water rafting, horseback riding, hiking, rock climbing, swimming, and exploring.
Galena Mountain Bike Camp — Ages 8-12, kids should be comfortable on a mountain bike and plan to ride 2-3 hours not including on swim days. Bike rentals are available.
Galena Kids Adventure Camp — Ages 6-8, kids will explore the Galena Lodge trail system, play in the creeks, rock climb, and mountain bike. Ultimately preparing them for the Youth Adventure Camp.
Call 208-726-4010 to sign up or go to galenalodge.com/gyac.html for information and registration.
Camp Perkins
Camp Perkins offers overnight camps for children and teens, featuring outdoor activities, team-building exercises, and Christian-based programming in a beautiful mountain setting.
Daily activities include boating, archery, Bible studies, crafts, music and skits, hiking or biking (age appropriate), outdoor games, and water play. For an additional fee, you can add either a horseback ride or a rafting trip for your camper on one day. Specialty camps offer campers a more in depth experience in an area of interest like backpacking and hiking, art, fly fishing, sailing, or guitar.
See campperkins.org for more.
Idaho BaseCamp
Idaho BaseCamp gets kids outside to develop the next generation of confident, kind, and empathetic leaders.
It can be a challenging world out there, and young people often bear the brunt of societal pressures and shifts. At Idaho BaseCamp, we believe in the power of connection with self, others, and nature through intentional play, curiosity, exploration, and community. Our set of values remain consistent throughout our five distinct programs.
Idaho BaseCamp offers three programs for ages 4-6, 6-8 and 9-11. Visit roaring waterfalls, tromp through muddy creeks, or even visit the fire station
Go to idahobasecamp.org for details.
SummerBridge Education Camp
This camp began as a YMCA program and has grown to include partnership from Blaine County School District, College of Idaho, Sun Valley Community School, Far + Wise, and Lee Pesky Learning Center. This program provides summer education coupled with traditional summer camp experiences. This is a fun way to recapture lost learning days, while experiencing the adventure of summer camp. Camp activities will include field trips, group games, camp songs, and outdoor play. Student Campers will need to bring sunscreen, closed toe shoes, a water bottle, 3-4 snacks and backpack. Breakfast and lunch will be provided.
This program is free and transportation and meals are provided. To register contacy Melanie Blacker at mblacker@blaineschools.org or 208-578-5090.
Boulder Mountain Clayworks — Youth Clay Camps are themed summer clay camps for kids aged 6-12. All classes are 9:30-12:00 and tuition $155.
Teen Throwing Camps are for middle school and older, who will learn the basics of pottery throwing while making mugs, ice cream bowls and all things round. The potters with more experience will design their own projects and try a set of mugs, bowls, etc. All classes are from 1:30-4:00 and tuition $175.
Go to bouldermtnclay.org/spring-classes/ for registration and details.
Sturtevants Mountain Bike Camps — Professional Instruction and lots of fun riding bikes in the dirt! Teach kids to ride safely; Develop skills (braking, shifting, cornering, ascending and descending); Demonstrate trail etiquette and more!
These camps are for kids aged 9-13, who have mountain bike experience and a functional bike. See sturtevants-sv.com/mountain-bike-camps for dates and details.
5B Anglers — New for 2025, we will be hosting two Kids Camps! Emergers, our beginners 101 camp, will be JUNE 25-27, 2025 and Streamers, our advanced 201 camp, will be JUNE 18-20, 2025. To register, go to 5banglers.org.
Lost River Outfitters — For ages 7-13, Lost River Outfitters offer a half day fishing camp which teaches the kids the basics of navigating the river corridor along with casting, entomology, stream-side etiquette and safety. Go to lostriveroutfitters.com/kids-camp for details and dates.
Footlight Dance — Offers special workshops during the school year and many over the summer months.
DANCEcamp is held twice during the summer in Hailey (Session #1 June 16-20, 2025 or Session #2 July 14-18, 2025). DANCEcamp North in Ketchum July 7-11, 2025. This week long camp explores all forms of dance for 2nd-4th graders.
DANCE TAPESTRYis a three day dance intensive with guest artists. July 29-31,2025, workshop with artists from Ballet Idaho & others; Ballet, Contemporary/Modern & Hip Hop. Junior workshop for Grades 5-6, Intermediate level for middle school/high school age, Advanced level for high school – adults.
CECCHETTI BALLET workshops. Graded levels 1-2, 3-4, 4-5, 6 will be offered. July 21 – 25 (levels 1-5). Syllabus work based on the teachings of Enrico Cecchetti.
BALLET SUN VALLEY – 2025 June 28-29, with master teachers National Ballet of Canada. Visit balletsunvalley.org to apply for this 1-2 day intensive here in Sun Valley.
Get details on the summer schedule at footlightdance.com/summer-workshops.
Laughing Stock Theater Company — Offers Camp Little Laugh 2025, which focuses on giving students the opportunity to learn firsthand that there is a place for everyone in the performing arts. Little Laugh runs from June 30 – July 11 and is for ages 5 – 14 Details are available at laughingstocktheater.com/classes.
Sun Valley Museum of Art – Multiple art programs, classes and events for kids are offered by this long-standing local organisation. Go to svmoa.org for registration and details.
One Soccer Schools Day Camp – This school has been coming to the valley every summer for years. camps will be in Hailey July 7-11, and in Sun Valley July 14-18 and 21-25. Onesoccerschools.com will have all the details.
Bug Zoo Festival – Hosted by the Sawtooth Botanical Gardens, the Bug Zoo Festival will be on May 17 from 11-2. Get in on the fun with hands-on educational activities in a festival atmosphere. There will be pollinator exhibits, live critters, fun activities, face painting, food trucks, snow cones, plant and honey sales and much more! Entrance tickets: adults $10, youth 3-18 years $5, and littles 0-3 years free. Sbgarden.org/events has the details.
Jr. Mountaineers – Designed to inform, inspire and challenge young explorers ages 10-16, Jr. Mountaineers offers multi-day adventures focused on hiking, biking, climbing, camping, backpacking, and mountaineering. See svguides.com/youth-programs for all the details.
HSBCAMPS Basketball – Returning to the Wood River Valley for the nineteenth straight summer, HSB’s SVCS Day Camp will offer boys and girls in the elementary, middle, and high school grades, a chance to train one-on-one with actual pros. Curriculum includes player development drills, station work, organized team competitions, contests, and guest lectures. Navigate tohsbcamps.com/sun-valley-basketball-camps/ for details and sign up.
Bobbin Winders Sewing Camps – Sun Valley Fabric Granary presents Beginning Sewing on July 14-17, and on August 11-14. Register at sunvalleyfabric.com or call (208) 788-1331.
