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KC's Spring Break Guide

2024 Edition

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It's time to plan for Spring Break! We have your guide to Spring Break camps, classes, and outings 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 Two Great Getaways.

Spring Break Camps & Special Events 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.

Kansas City Zoo & Aquarium

KC Zoo & Aquarium Spring Break Camp Come to the Kansas City Zoo & Aquarium on your Holiday Break for 4 Days of animal antics, fun games, crafts, experiments, and animal encounters.

Culinary Center of Kansas City

Kids learn cooking skills through hands-on classes at the KC Culinary Center. They offer three levels: Little Chefs (Ages 5-8): designed for kids to attend with adults. Junior Chefs (Ages 9-14): kids attend solo or with an adult. and Teen Chefs (Ages 14-18): higher-level for teens attending solo. 

KC Culinary Center SPRING BREAK 2024

Science City at Union Station

Science City is hosting these special events in March:

Union Station:

To purchase tickets for Science City and Union Station attractions and learn more about upcoming events, including Extreme Screen and Planetarium shows, visit UnionStation.org.

Theatre of the Imagination

Spring Break Drama Camp: This year's theme is Monster Jr. High. Spring Break Camp will be held March 11-15. 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!

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.

Club SciKidz

Club SciKidz Spring Break Camps: For years educators have stressed that students learn better “by doing” – especially in the sciences. Students of all ages learn more science content and skills when they engage in investigation and discovery using everyday materials and the basic equipment of science. Club-SciKidz-Science-Workshops are carefully designed inquiry-based lessons that involve children with hands-on activities, capturing children’s natural curiosity, stimulating their interest in science, and teaching them important science topics along with critical thinking skills. 2024 March Spring Break Junior Medical School Spring break camp is offered from 9 am-4 pm at Blue Valley Activity Center. Register here.

LEGOLAND Discovery Center

Families can become Spinjitzu masters with powered-up activities, experiences and LEGO builds during the all-new LEGO NINJAGO Dragon’s Rising Event thru April 1 at to LEGOLAND Discovery Center Kansas City!

Pirate Treasure Hunt at Sea Life Kansas City

Pirate Treasure Hunt at SEA LIFE Kansas City thru April 1: Oh no! Captain Careless has lost all his pirate treasure while at SEA LIFE. Join the Pirate Crew at this exclusive event and go on a quest to find the lost treasure. You may even learn all about our treasures of the ocean along the way!

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 before 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 downtime. This program is available for ages 6-10.  The schedule subject to change based on Shawnee Mission School District calendar. Bring a lunch, Kids in the dance studio snacks, and a 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 2024 Dates: March 8, 11 - 15. April 12 & 15. Fee: $38 per child 

KC Young Audiences

KCYA  Spring Break Camp March 11-15 and March 25-29, 2024.

KCYA offers a variety of camps featuring dance, musical theater, improv, and drama. You may choose the camp that interests you.

GENERAL CAMP INFORMATION:

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 more. Also, follow MCPL’s Facebook page for more events and ideas.

Mahaffie Stagecoach Stop

Mahaffie Stagecoach Stop Mar. 14-16,  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 are admitted for free.

Ernie Miller Nature Center

Spring Break Camps Mar. 11-15: 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 are free. For more information call (913) 826-2800. 

Lenexa Parks and Rec

From Mar. 11-15, Lenexa Parks and Rec offers Dodge-Kick-Orama Camp, the ultimate spring break sports camp for kids seeking excitement, teamwork, and thrilling games. This camp will be non-stop action and endless fun. Each day will be a different game: Monday-Dodgeball, Tuesday- Kickball, Wednesday- Mini Olympics (track and field), and Thursday-Gaga Ball. And, Spring Break Camp. Throughout the week your child will have the chance to participate in a variety of games, and activities, splash around in the pool, get plenty of exercise, and make new friends! Your child(ren) will be supervised by our summer camp director. Register here.

Urban Air Trampoline Park

Urban Air Overland Park and Urban Air Lenexa are open DAILY for 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.

BONUS: 2 FUN SPRING BREAK GETAWAYS LESS THAN A TANK OF GAS FROM KANSAS CITY:

Matt Suess https://MattSuess.com

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 octopuses, sharks, clownfish, 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

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 viewing space for visitors. Each member of our family participated in target training (the giraffes touched 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, 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 rhinos, 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.

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