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KC's Spring Break Guide

2023 Edition

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It's time to plan for Spring Break and that means many terrific family fun outings, great classes for Kansas City Kids, and Special Spring Break Programs. This is our 2023 guide to Spring Break in KC:

Note: This guide was compiled by the staff of KC Parent Magazine and may not be reproduced in print or online without permission. If you have additions to this guide, please email kristina@kcparent.com.

This guide features two sections: Spring Break Camps and Fun Outings for Families During Spring Break.

Spring Break Camps in the Kansas City Area

Spring Break Camps fill up fast! Make your reservations today! Camps require pre-registration as slots fill quickly. Some programs offer discounts for residents (through local parks & rec departments) or memberships with attractions.

Theatre of the Imagination

Spring Break Drama Camp: There is treasure to be found at our Spring Break Drama Camps!  Play games, act silly, and get a great role in a play about pirates and mermaids! Arrg! Your child will get to be creative with drama games, wear fun costumes, and get an awesome part in a fun play written just for them!  We are passionate about building their confidence and letting everyone shine on stage. Friends and family get to see the big performance on the last day of each class.  Register today!

Kansas City Zoo

KC Zoo Spring Break Camp Come to the Kansas City Zoo on your Holiday Break for 4 Days of animal antics, fun games, crafts, experiments and animal encounters. Discover how scientists group animals and what it means.

KC Young Audiences

KCYA  Spring Break Camp March 13-17, 2023:

GENERAL CAMP INFORMATION:

Johnson County Parks and Rec Department

Photo by JCPRD Teaching Artist

JCPRD Spring Break Camps No matter which of the four Johnson County public school districts your kids attend, JCPRD can help them and the whole family stay busy with about 35 programs being offered for spring break.  Different school districts will be observing different spring break dates.  Whether your interest is in sports or nature, there’s no shortage of fun things to do. Programs range from kids’ day out programs, to special events to instructional classes to specialty-themed day camps. While many of the spring break programs listed below are for youth, some are for families and/or all ages. Many of them are popular, and most require advance registration. Learn more on the JCPRD website.

Urban Air Trampoline Park

Urban Air Overland Park and Urban Air Lenexa are open DAILY for open jump and play times for children of all ages. Urban Air is an attractive solution to a common problem: needing one place to entertain kids of every age. If you’re a parent or guardian with more than one child whose ages differ by more than a year, you know the struggle, but we promise—there is a way. We’re not just a room full of trampolines or another neighborhood park. We’re bringing families and friends together for a hyped-up, healthy dose of jumping, climbing, swinging, crawling, building, flying, and dunking. Check out our attractions including our Kidzone and Urban Air Warrior Course to learn more about the generous helping of frenetic fun Urban Air brings to you. Learn more about Urban Air Overland Park and Urban Air Lenexa.

YMCA

No School Days at YMCA locations For those irregular days when school isn't in session, such as seasonal breaks, conference days, and in-service days, the Y offers No School Days at locations throughout the area. If a child is not registered for Y Club for the school year, a $75 one-time registration fee must be paid by calling 816.360.3390. You must bring a copy of your child’s Emergency Information Packet to the No School Day location. You must bring a sack lunch. A morning and afternoon snack will be served. Read more about what to expect at a No School Day. Tuition for No School Days is non-refundable and non-transferable. No School Days have limited space availability. Register early. All registrations will close one week prior to the scheduled No School Day. Programs are subject to cancellation when low enrollment occurs. Decisions will be made one week before the scheduled program.

Johnson County Museum

Kids' Day Out Come have fun when school is out! Discover history through hands-on activities and exploration of KidScape and museum exhibits, play games, and enjoy down time. This program is available for ages 6-10.  Schedule subject to change based on Shawnee Mission School District calendar. Bring a lunch, Kids in the dance studiosnacks, and water bottle and dress for the weather - we will go outside if we can. We are open from 8:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m., but you may drop off and pick up at any time. To register for Kids' Day Out, call (913) 715-2552. Upcoming 2023 Dates: 3/10, 3/13, 3/14, 3/15, 3/16, 3/17, 4/7, 4/10 Fee: $38 per child 

Mid-Continent Public Libraries

MCPL is hosting a variety of online programs that are both educational and entertaining. You'll find storytime events, performances, and classes for every age and interest in their catalog. Topics include cooking, hobbies, science, history, theater, puppetry, magic, local interest, gardening, and much more. Also, follow MCPL’s Facebook page for more events and ideas.

Mahaffie Stagecoach Stop

Mahaffie staff

Mahaffie Stagecoach Stop Mar. 16-18,  Spring is time for plowing & planting! Activities may include*: Horse powered plowing. Blacksmith demonstrations at 11 a.m., 12:30 p.m., 2 p.m., & 3:30 p.m. See what is cooking on the cookstove. Stagecoach rides at 10:30 a.m.,  12:00 p.m., 1:30 p.m., & 3:00 p.m. Play 1860s games. Visit exhibits in the Heritage Center and Agricultural Heritage Livestock Barn. Cost: $9/adults, $7/children ages 5-11, and includes all activities! (Olathe residents receive $2 off admission)Mahaffie members admitted free *All activities are weather and ground conditions permitting.

Lee's Summit Parks and Recreation

School Break Camp: Lee's Summit Mar. 27-31: School Break Camp is a recreational program for youth, ages 5 to 11 years old that is operated by Lee's Summit Parks and Recreation. It provides a wide variety of activities including but not limited to: swimming, bowling, skating, field trips, movies, guest speakers, organized games and activities, and much more!  Campers are required to bring their lunch. An afternoon snack and drink are provided daily. The camp is staffed by counselors, beginning with high school graduates through college degreed staff; trained in leadership, safety procedures, activities, and supervisor skills. The staff/participant ratio is 1:12. School Break Camp is held on most R-7 No School Days from November - April from 6:30 AM to 6:00 PM at Harris Park Community Center.

Ernie Miller Nature Center

Spring Break Camps Mar. 13-17: Come enjoy spring with a trip to Ernie Miller Nature Park. Visitors are welcome to view the exhibition gallery and hike the trails all week. Park staff will entertain guests with a special program each day at 10 am. Every program will feature live animals. Ages 2 and under free. For more information call (913) 826-2800. 

Blue Springs Parks and Recreation

Blue Springs Parks & Rec Spring Break Camp Mar. 13-17: Spring Break Camp is BACK! Join us during your spring break to stay active and have fun! If you plan on taking a staycation  over spring break this year and need a place to keep the young ones occupied, look no further than Spring Break Camp at Blue Springs Fieldhouse. Enjoy fun activities, gym games, daily arts and crafts, guest speakers and more!   We look forward to seeing all those familiar faces as well as some new ones this year. 

Olathe Parks and Recreation

Olathe Kids Crew March 13-20: OKC is provided on Olathe School District teacher in-service/professional days, some holidays, and Winter and Spring break for children in grades K through 6. Each day includes a unique activity, games, crafts, and more! Registration is limited to 60 participants per day. Register at 913.971.8563.

THREE FUN SPRING BREAK GETAWAYS LESS THAN A TANK OF GAS FROM KANSAS CITY:

The Gathering Place in Tulsa, Oklahoma is hosting family fun during Spring Break! This March, Gathering Place will host free events for families during Spring Break. Tulsans of all ages are invited to enjoy a week full of fun, free entertainment from Monday, March 13 through Friday, March 17 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., daily.  In partnership with more than 20 local organizations, guests can participate in over 30 hands-on, educational, and unique activities located throughout the 66.5 acres of the park. Spring Break at the Gathering Place Schedule.

The Gathering Place is an unbelievably cool park in the heart of Tulsa! Some of highlights include:

Chapman Adventure Playground is the place for kids to learn through play. In this five-acre kingdom, you will be transported to a magical land where anything is possible. Kids can let their imaginations run wild by exploring the playground’s signature towers, slides, climbing features, play gardens, sand lot and water areas.  Chapman Adventure Playground contains elements to engage children at various developmental levels and with different physical abilities.

The Spiral Connector is one of the most iconic realms in the Park.  These majestic towers, seven in total, are specifically designed to encourage physical play while stimulating the imagination. With a series of climbing structures, slides, suspension bridges, puzzles and instruments, each tower is completely different and promises a unique experience each visit. 

The Land of River Giants is a larger than life feature that takes imagination to the next level! Ride the slides of the Blue Herons, climb in and out of the Paddlefish, and relax in the cradle swings. These Oklahoma native creatures bring a one-of-a-kind experience while reminding us of the natural beauty throughout the Park. 

Located on the west side of Adventure Playground, Skywalk Forest takes adventure to new heights. From thrilling slides to unique net climbing structures, the play opportunities are sky high. Skywalk Forest pathways float twenty feet above the ground level, and one even crosses above the Caterpillar Bridge sidewalk. 

Fairyland Forest is a special section of Adventure Playground that brings fairytales to life. This networked series of tiny houses invites preschoolers in for an enchanting experience. 

Built with toddlers in mind, Volcanoville is a padded play area with low level climbing elements and bright colors specially designed to engage and stimulate your child's mind. Toddlers 6-24 months of age will increase their cognitive abilities while learning through play. 

Learn more about The Gathering Place here.

Wonders of Wildlife National Museum and Aquarium

500 W. Sunshine St., Springfield, MO, 888.222.6060. Admission charged.

Weekend getaways to Springfield, MO, are an easy family overnight or even day trip for the ambitious. We love visiting Wonders of Wildlife. This fantastic natural history museum and aquarium is a phenomenal attraction and requires most of a day to visit and enjoy thoroughly.

Wonders of Wildlife bills itself as the "largest, most immersive fish and wildlife attraction in the world!" The attraction was created by Bass Pro founder Johnny Morris. His love for nature is contagious, and his passion comes across in every aspect of this attraction.

The museum includes first, a natural history museum, with breathtaking exhibits showcasing the history of the Ozark region, Native American heritage, the Lewis and Clark Expedition and wildlife from around the world. From sheep to bears, deer to antelope ... we saw thousands of animals. The centerpiece of this half of the museum is the Great African Hall with beautiful displays showcasing African animals. The lighting and sounds of the hall transform from day to night while you are there, creating the feeling that you are among the elephants, zebras and giraffes on the African tundra.

I recommend spending the morning in the natural history portion, then taking a lunch break at Fish Tales, a lunch spot for the museum, or heading to a restaurant within Bass Pro shops or in the neighborhood. After a midday meal, return to visit the aquarium. We ate at Fish Tales on our visit, enjoying pizza and sandwiches.

The aquarium is truly spectacular. This is unlike any aquarium we have ever visited. The displays include not only aquariums, but swamp exhibits, fishing exhibits and history exhibits celebrating the history of fishing, the sport of fishing and even the passion America's presidents have held for the sport.

The 1.5-million-gallon aquarium adventure features 35,000 live fish, mammals, reptiles, amphibians and birds. We loved the shark exhibit, we were transported to the bayou in the swamp exhibit, and the stingray exhibit is the best we have ever experienced. My girls enjoyed seeing sloths, bears, alligators, flamingoes, otters and countless sea creatures, including octopus, sharks, clown fish, rays, jellyfish and other fish from around the world. The stingray touch pool, the finale of the attraction, is truly world-class.

Tip: For more inspiration for this getaway, search “Adventures for the Family in the Ozarks” on KCParent.com.

Have you ever wanted to swim with penguins? Pet a sloth? Hold a lemur? Believe it or not, there is a magical zoo right in the heart of Kansas (near Wichita) where you can do all that and more!

Tanganyika Wildlife Park is unlike any other zoo we've visited—this privately owned zoo is small and intimate, but every exhibit is beautiful, immaculate and spacious and offers the most natural habitat possible for the animals.

Visitors customize their park experience with the activities they book. You may elect to participate in all their "Wildly Different Experiences" or purchase the opportunities a la carte. The park offers more than 15 experiences hand-crafted by Tanganyika keepers.  Each animal encounter deepened our understanding of and appreciation for the animals and how to care for them. This is truly the perfect getaway for all ages and makes a wonderful multigenerational vacation. We visited with grandparents, parents, teens and children, and all eight of us highly recommend this trip!

The ultimate animal lovers’ bucket list getaway is the Ultimate Weekend Experience. Families spend three days learning about animals through unique experiences, meeting wonderful zookeepers—all of whom have a contagious passion for animals and for making unforgettable memories. 

Some of our favorite experiences included:

The Otter Meet & Greet where we met three Asian small-clawed otters. We watched as they ate and played, participated in training and even posed for a picture. During this, our first animal encounter, we learned the park uses only positive reinforcement training for all the animals.

At the Giraffe Encounter, we went behind the scenes for a tour of the African/Asian barn. The giraffe exhibit at Tanganyika Wildlife Park is especially beautiful. The zoo uses as many natural barriers as possible to create the best habitat for its animals and the best viewing space for visitors. Each member of our family participated in target training (the giraffes touch their noses to the target) and fed lettuce to the very happy reticulated giraffes.

The Small Cat Meet & Greet was a favorite for our teen girls! We met Jade, an African serval, and Hazel, a Eurasian lynx. During this encounter, we "played with the cats," throwing them toys, taking photos and helping train them with ... you guessed it ... target training. 

At the Sloth Encounter, we all fell in love with Chewbacca and Molasses (what perfect names for sloths!) and Sydney and Oscar. We fed Chewbacca a delicious salad of yummy fresh fruits.

The Origins Tour was one of my favorite experiences at Tanganyika Wildlife Park. This interactive behind-the-scenes tour gave us the history of the Tanganyika Wildlife Park and the chance to see many wonderful animals in person, including Amur leopards and lions!

We experienced the Penguin Meet & Greet, feeding, and our grand finale ... the penguin swim! We learned about penguins and their care, had the opportunity to feed them, and then, we swam with the penguins! Keepers gave us clear instructions for safety and told us exactly how to enter the pool and interact safely with penguins. Tanganyika Wildlife Park provided wet suit rental and towels (and clean bathrooms with showers for changing). We spent about 30 minutes in the water playing with penguins, including Nugget, the charming young penguin we met earlier in the day. My girls learned the names of many of the penguins and fell in love with these beautiful birds. This was truly an incredible family bucket list experience!

In addition to the Wild Encounters, our family loved the feeding stations. Visitors may feed Ring-tailed lemurs, giraffes, pygmy hippos, Indian Rhino, lorikeets, African tortoises, bunnies and guinea pigs.

Tanganyika is truly a boutique zoo right in the heart of Kansas. With a passion for animals and conservation they strive to provide the best animal and visitor experiences to inspire future generations of animal lovers.

MORE Fun Kansas City Outings During Spring Break:

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