Would you like to see your camp in the “featured” section of the nwaMotherlode Summer Camp Guide for Kids? Contact Gwen and Shannon at mamas@nwaMotherlode.com — or call us at 479-409-0424 — for more information and pricing.
Mamas, we’ll be updating our Guide as new information becomes available, so check back often!
Featured Camps for NWA Kids:
Kid’s College, Northwest Arkansas Community College:
NWACC Kid’s College is an opportunity for children ages 9-13 to participate in fun, educational short-term courses offered on the campus of Northwest Arkansas Community College. From computer coding, robotics, and presidential elections to cooking, junior medic, and more, there are a variety of interesting options. Young students can experience the excitement of being on a college campus while learning about topics that ignite their passion. There are half-day and full-day Kid’s College camps. Some kid’s camp options include:
♦ Computer coding
♦ Robotics
♦ Draw comics and manga
♦ Cooking & Baking
♦ Junior Medic
Click here to read more about the cool Kid’s Camps that are being offered at NWACC in June and July!
The Rogers Activity Center is the place to be this summer to get some of that energy OUT! For over 30 years, RAC has offered an excellent Summer Day Camp program where the kids have a blast and parents are at ease knowing their children are well cared for. This year’s Summer Day Camp will be a 12-week program where parents can pick the weeks they need. Children are provided breakfast, lunch, and an afternoon snack. Campers will go on field trips, play games, participate in RAC’s summer reading program, and enjoy arts and crafts while making new friends. Field trips include: skating, swimming at Rogers Aquatics Center, Amazeum, High Rise, and much more. The RAC is a licensed childcare facility.
- Hours: 6:30 a.m. – 6:30 p.m.
- Ages: Children entering 1st through 7th grade
- One-week sessions: YOU pick the weeks you want!!
Camp is May 23rd – August 12th 2016 Fee: $95* per week per child (*RAC membership required, sponsorships available) For more information, contact Program Director Marleen Heyns 479-631-0336 ext. 2505 (mheyns@rogersar.gov)
Click here to visit the Rogers Activity Center website for more information!
Prism Education Center: 
Camp Prism 2016 offers a summer enrichment program for kids in kindergarten through 8th grades from May 31-July 29th. Camp Prism is offering two different summer programs this year. Students in grades K-2 can attend either full-time (M-F 8:00-3:00) or part-time (M/W or T/Th 8:00-3:00), with the option to add-on after care from 3:00-6:00. Part-time attendees may also add-on Friday if space allows. Students in grades 3-6 will choose between two different camp options on a week-by-week basis. These programs are more camp-based and are full-day programs from 8 AM to 3 PM, Monday through Friday.
♦ Students can register for only one week or all nine weeks of camp, but must register for the full week for every camp they attend.
♦ All camps will be held at Prism South on Razorback Road this summer. K-2nd grade weekly themes include:
- State Parks
- Passport to the World
- Mad Science
- Rhythm and Dance
- Baking Olympics
3rd-6th grade themes include:
- Into the Woods
- Sports Camps
- Camp Shakespeare
- Build Your Own Business
- Shark Tank
Click here to see more about summer classes at Prism Education Center!
Time for Art Summer Camp (Community Creative Center, across from Walton Arts Center):
Time for Art Summer Camp 2016 is for students ages 6-14 and weekly sessions will start on June 6th at the Community Creative Center at Walton Arts Center’s Nadine Baum Studios.
Time for Art will take children on an engaging and hands-on discovery of art and its impact on the world around us. Campers will use clay, paints, pastels and other creative art media to explore art through the lens of history, nature, science and other enlightening subject areas.
Camps are organized into two age groups 6-8 and 9-14 years old. Students may register for morning, afternoon or both camps. ‘All day’ campers need to bring a packed lunch. Lunch supervision, fresh air, and activities are provided.
- Morning Art Camp is from 9-11:30 am
- Afternoon Clay Camp is from 12:30-3 pm
Community Creative Center (CCC), formerly Northwest Arkansas Community Creative Center (NWACCC) is a studio arts center featuring adult and youth instruction in clay and pottery, drawing, painting, mosaic and a variety of specialized art and studio classes. Located in the heart of Fayetteville’s cultural district at Walton Arts Center’s Nadine Baum Studios, CCC provides a full spectrum of visual arts classes to children and adults along with specialized workshops, summer, afterschool and intersession arts camps, and gallery and studio space for local artists. For more information visit www.communitycreativecenter.org
Fayetteville Public Library:
Adults, kids and teens can pick up reading logs at Fayetteville Public Library and start turning them in for prizes during the Summer Reading Program kickoff scheduled for Saturday, June 4th. The kickoff event will be awesome, with all kinds of music and fun.
The library has TONS of great events and activities going on throughout the summer, including camps and workshops!
Click here to see a list of FPL camps and workshops!
Arts Live Theatre:
Arts Live Theatre has drama camps for various ages this summer in June, July and August — and they look like a blast! There are multiple camps to choose from, depending on your child’s age and the weeks you’d like to enroll them at Arts Live.
Summer Camps for ages 5-7:
- Musical Theatre Camps
- Create-A-Play Camps
Ages 8-11:
- Get Up and Dance Camp
- Musical Theatre Camps
- Reader’s Theatre Camp
- Create-A-Play Camp
- Comedy Improv!
Ages 12-18:
- Summer Theatre Conservatory
- Monologue Workshop
- Comedy Improv!
Each Arts Live camp will end with a free public showcase performance the final day of each camp. There are limited spaces in each camp, so sign up ASAP to reserve your spot. Camps will be held at Arts Live Theatre, 818 N. Sang Avenue, Fayetteville.
Driving Academy of Northwest Arkansas
While your younger kids are at camp, consider sending your teen to the Driving Academy of Northwest Arkansas. It’s a a private, fully-licensed school devoted to providing superior driver education, behind-the-wheel training, and evaluations for teens (and adults), whether novice or experienced drivers. It is Driving Academy’s vision to help save lives and prevent headaches and heartaches by offering research-based, expert-recommended methods of training that are fun and relaxing for everyone involved.
Summer Sessions:
- May 31st – June 4th
- June 6 -10
- June 13-17
- June 20-24
- June 27th – July 1st
- July 5-9
- July 11-15
- July 18-22
- July 25-29
- August 1-5
Theatre Squared Drama Camp:
TheatreSquared is committed to helping train the artists of tomorrow through professional, immersive workshops and academies that advance theatrical craft. All TheatreSquared programs are led by professional actors, directors and designers.
This summer T2 will be offering two different programs:
- A one-week drama camp for 10-12 year olds (July 11-15)
- A two-week Shakespeare Academy for 13-18 year olds (July 18-29).
The drama camp for younger students is a creative camp is perfect for those who are new to theatre as well as for those who are interested in further developing their skills. The program promotes active engagement and nurtures respect for the power of language, the examination of complex ideas, the expression of imagination and a deepened understanding of the richness of human experience. T2 camps enhance life skills of observation, focus, self-confidence, discipline, integrity, commitment and teamwork.
The Shakespeare Academy is a two-week “total immersion” in the theatrical world of William Shakespeare, and is designed to bring students into working contact with the creative process, while focusing and advancing the performance skills necessary to create an ensemble production.
Each program will end with a free public showcase so students can share their achievements with friends and family.
Click here to visit the Theatre Squared website and learn more about upcoming drama classes!
Kaleidoscope Dance Academy Camp:
Kaleidoscope Dance Academy offers themed dance camps in the summer that are perfect for kids who are new to dance as well as more experienced dancers who want to sharpen their skills during the 
summer. Each camp runs from 9 a.m. to noon, and each dancer will receive a camp t-shirt. Some camps include field trips, snow cone treats, visits from real princesses and more!
Summer sessions and themes:
- June 20-23: Tropical Paradise (Ages 3 to 9; grouped by age)
- June 27-30: Art of Dance (Ages 5 and up)
- July 11-14: Frozen in July (Ages 3 and up)
- July 18-21: Dance is Amazing (Ages 5 and up)
- August 1-4: Princess Camp (Ages 3 and up)
Click HERE to visit Kaleidoscope’s website for info on summer camps.
Jason Watson Volleyball Camps:
Jason Watson Volleyball camps are perfect for beginners and seasoned volleyball players. If you have elementary-age kids who are interested in volleyball, the Lil’ Backs camps are perfect for introducing them to the sport.
*JWVB camps are held on the University of Arkansas campus and the new volleyball coach’s goal is to provide you with “an intense, focused, and competitive volleyball experience.” The new UofA volleyball coach, Jason Watson, said, “Ultimately, we want you to end better than you start.”
Here are a few of the classes your kids can take at JWVB Camp:
Lil’ Backs Camp AM
(Intro to Volleyball for Elementary Students)
July 14 – 15, 2016
3rd – 5th Grade
9am – 11:30am
Lil’ Backs Camp PM
(Intro to Volleyball for Elementary Students)
July 14 – 15, 2016
3rd – 5th Grade
5pm – 7:30pm
Middle School Day Camp
(Introduction to Volleyball for Middle School Students)
July 21 – 23, 2016
6th to 8th Grade
9am – 4pm
Serving Clinic
(Fundamentals of the Overhand Serve)
July 16, 2016
5th – 7th Grade
9am – 10:30am
*Open to any and all entrants
For a full list of JWVB camps for beginners and experienced volleyball players, click here!
Camp options for kids by category:
Art Camps
Time for Art, Community Creative Center, Fayetteville (see more info above)
Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art, Bentonville
Painting with a Twist, Fayetteville and Bentonville
Abrakadoodle Summer Art Camps, NWA
Arts Center of the Ozarks, Springdale
Local Color Studio Gallery, Fayetteville
Mount Sequoyah Summer Camps
Imagine Studios NWA
Outdoorsy Camps
Rogers Activity Center (Field trips include: skating, swimming at Rogers Aquatics Center, Amazeum, High Rise, and much more.)
Ozark Natural Science Center, Huntsville
Hobbs State Park, Rogers (for kids 6-8 and 9-12)
Be Active! summer camps, Fayetteville Parks and Recreation Department
Bentonville Parks & Recreation
Summer Golf Camp, First Tee of Northwest Arkansas
Mount Sequoyah Summer Camps
Dance Studios
Kaleidoscope Dance Academy, Bentonville (see featured camp listing above for more info)
The Art of Motion, Fayetteville
Bak Stage, Rogers
Infiniti, Bentonville
All That Dance, Bentonville
Gymnastics Studios
The Little Gym
Aspire Gymnastics Academy, Bentonville
Hopes & Dreams Gymnastics, Springdale
Williams Center, Fayetteville
Club Infiniti, Bentonville
Music/Drama
Arts Live Theatre, Fayetteville (Camps offered in June, July & August for ages 5-7, 8-11 & 12-18. Limited space, sign up ASAP.)
Theatre Squared, Fayetteville
Trike Theatre, Bentonville
Arts Center of the Ozarks, Springdale
School of Rock, Bentonville/Rogers & Fayetteville
Northwest Arkansas Suzuki School of Music
Mount Sequoyah Summer Camps
Specialty Camps
Kid’s College at Northwest Arkansas Community College, Bentonville
Prism Education Center (summer-long programs or week-long summer camps are available, see above)
The Jones Center, Springdale (Speed Camp and Ice Skating Camp, see above)
Design Camp at the UofA Fay Jones School of Architecture (for students entering 9th grade)
Driving Academy of Northwest Arkansas (for teens and/or adults)
Jason Watson Volleyball Camp, University of Arkansas, for beginners and seasoned players
Apple Seeds Farm to Table Summer Camp, ages 8 and up (June 20-24 only at Apple Seeds Teaching Farm, Fayetteville)
First School, Fayetteville
Experience Robotics summer camps, Bentonville
Nerdies, NWA
Mad Science, NWA
University of Arkansas Volleyball Camp, 4th grade and up
Boys and Girls Club, Fayetteville
Bricks 4 Kidz, Fayetteville
Brick by Brick, Fayetteville
College of Engineering Summer Camps, University of Arkansas (4th grade and above)
NWA Mercy Family YMCA, Rogers (for kids who have completed kindergarten through 6th grade)
Football Camp, University of Arkansas (entering 1st grade up through high school)
Fast Lane Entertainment (one week in June, one week in July)
Grace Point Church, Bentonville (day camp for 1st through 5th grade)
Little Einstein Montessori School, Bentonville
Mount Sequoyah Summer Camps
Overnight camp
Camp War Eagle (Day camps + overnight)
New Life Ranch (overnights and day camps), Colcord, OK
Reading Programs/Summer events
Springdale Public Library
Rogers Public Library
Bentonville Public Library
