Summer is the time for swimming, hiking, and camping. And with school out for the summer, your kids need something to do during the day, right? You’re in luck, as Northwest Arkansas has several summer camps that will please most kids.
The best summer camps in Northwest Arkansas include Camp War Eagle, Bike Camp, and Crystal Bridges Art Camp. Engineering camp is always a hit with your science-loving child, while the Jones Center has several themed camps that will satisfy and entertain a variety of interests.
If you have children complaining about how bored they are at home, you might want to pay attention. This article outlines the best summer camps Northwest Arkansas offers and how to register.
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Camp War Eagle
The best camp in the area, Camp War Eagle, is located near Rogers, Arkansas, by the Hobbs State Park Conservation Area. It’s a well-known camp, but only Northwest Arkansas residents can attend it.
The camp has several activities to keep your kids occupied, including the following:
- Acting
- Conservation
- STEM Activities
- Rock Climbing
- Archery
- Candle Making
- Different sports
- Learning to make campfires
- …and many other activities
The camp is tucked away in a beautiful little area with pine trees and surrounded by water. Many resident children absolutely love this camp, and I wish I had gone there as a kid.
Bike Camp
If your family is completely into biking and want your kids to improve their biking skills, you must check out Bike School in Bentonville. While there are several biking camps in the area, this is by far the best one. They know the trails and have experience teaching kids, teens, and adults the intricacies of trail riding and safety rules.
They hold weekly classes for children aged 7-13, a performance academy for teens, and private sessions for adults who might want to get better at bike and trail riding. However, the classes do more than teach skills and safety. They also provide physical and mental endurance training and nutrition and wellness coaching.
For the best in biking camps, the Bike School is the best in the area.
Brightwater Camps
Now this camp is just a little different than the others on this list, as it’s a culinary camp for kids ages 9-17, hosted by the Brightwater culinary school.
Northwest Arkansas is home to a great culinary school, Brightwater. And during the summer, they host a summer camp for future chefs and kids who enjoy the culinary arts. The best part about this camp, if you don’t want your child staying overnight, is that it’s a day camp. So, much like the school year, they attend during the day and come home in the evening.
The camp is connected to several area restaurants, and with huge kitchens, your kids can learn several cool things. Many of the classes include the following:
- How to make fast food favorites
- Making festival foods like corn dogs and banana ice cream
- Learning how to make dumplings
- Baking everything from desserts to bread to international pastries
To make the experience even more fulfilling, they have a greenhouse in the back of the school so kids learn about using fresh ingredients in their cooking and baking.
Also, I have a 3-day itinerary that can help you decide what activities to do if you’re overwhelmed by everything Northwest Arkansas has to offer.
It doesn’t matter if you’re a foodie, a sports person, a sightseer, or want to spend quality time with your kids; I have something for you. Check out the link below to learn more:
https://www.allthingsnwa.com/3-day-itinerary-northwest-arkansas
Crystal Bridges Art Camp
Budding artists will love this next camp selection. Crystal Bridges art camp is for those who are not into biking, culinary arts, or even Camp War Eagle. Since Crystal Bridges is a major art center, it makes sense that they would host art camps.
While your child will learn how to create art, there are many other opportunities to learn about different artists, how to curate art, and art history. The staff is very knowledgeable and passionate about art and excited to pass this down to children.
Of course, your child can learn this stuff on Youtube, but it’s so much different when they see it in person.
If you’re unable to afford camp but really want your child to go, they have a limited number of need-based scholarships available through a lottery system. However, if your child has already registered for camp through the normal process, they are ineligible for a scholarship.
Engineering Camps
The University of Arkansas is very STEM-heavy, and they pride themselves on their business, medical, and other science-related courses. But during the summer, they host engineering camps for elementary and high school students.
It’s designed to provide enrichment activities in the STEM fields for children. If your child is more of the science type who’s always into experiments, this is definitely the camp for them, as the camps dive deep into engineering and other science topics.
The best part is that many of the graduates or college students will teach many of the courses to the kids, so this gives them an opportunity to get teaching experience during the summer.
Jones Center
The last camp on our list today has everything your child could ever want to do. From building LEGO robots to ice skating to the performing arts, the Jones Center offers many fun things for your child. Here’s a short list of the many options they provide:
- Baton twirling
- Fitness camp
- Learning how to ride a bike
- Soccer camp
- Musical theater
- Exploring the outdoors
- Getting messy on purpose
- LEGO robotics
- Baking
- STEAM classes (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, and Math)
- Computer coding
- Art
- Magic
As you can see, there are several options that your child can choose from, and since they go all summer, your child can choose 2 or more camps, providing there is space.
They also work with you on scheduling by offering flexible times. If you work the traditional 9-5, their days can go that long, too, so you don’t need to worry about finding someone to watch your children until you get off of work.
And if you’re a member of the Jones Center, you can get up to 20% off of select camp registrations. Definitely check it out this summer.
Conclusion
So there you have it–the best summer camps in Northwest Arkansas. If you’re interested in any of them, definitely check them out. But if you don’t live in the area and would like to, contact me, and I’ll give you the $10 tour and show you around.
