Kids out of school over the holidays and looking for fun? Local attractions offer great programs for every interest and age. Check out these Winter Break Camps and Special Events in Kansas City:
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Winter Break Day Camps
Kansas City Zoo Winter Break Camps
The Kansas City Zoo (6800 Zoo Dr., Kansas City, MO) offers a variety of Day Camps this winter. Pre-registration is required for these programs and they do fill up fast! And, for those looking for a fun outing, the zoo is open year-round (except Christmas Day).
School’s Out Safari:
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School's Out Safaris (for ages 5-12) occur from 8:30 am-3:30 pm on the following dates. See theme schedule below:
- Dec 27: Animals Around the Clock
- Dec 30: Ice Age
- Dec 31: Polar Opposites
- Jan 2: Fancy Feathers
- Jan 3: Strange Flyers
- Jan 6: Panda-monium
- Jan 20: Desert Daze
Johnson County Museum Winter Break Kids Day Out
Johnson County Museum (8788 Metcalf Ave., Overland Park, KS. 913.715.2550) offers Kids Day Out when school's out. Discover history through hands-on activities and exploration of KidScape and museum exhibits, play games, and enjoy downtime. They provide one snack. Bring lunch, snacks, and a water bottle and dress for the weather.
- Dec. 23, 24, 26, 27 30, 31, Jan. 2, 3: Kids Day Out is open from 7:30-5:30, but you may drop off and pick up at any time. 5-year-old children must be currently attending kindergarten. Call to register 913-831-3359. $35 per participant
Sky Zone Indoor Trampoline Park
Have a blast at Sky Zone Shawnee or Sky Zone Lee's Summit bringing the unmatched, out-of-this-world, and high-flyin' FUN of the world's first all-trampoline, walled playing court to the KC area. Check our KC Coupon Page for deals at Sky Zone.
- Sky Camp: Dec. 23, 24, 26, 27, 30, 31, Jan. 1, 2, and 3: Choose FULL DAY: 8:30 a.m. - 5 p.m. $45.99 Daily / $179.99 Week. 2 snacks, lunch, and unlimited water provided! 20% Sibling discount for second child or HALF DAY: 8:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. or 12:30 p.m. - 5 p.m. $35.99 Daily. $139.99 Week. One snack and unlimited water provided! 20% Sibling discount for second child
Code Ninjas offers day camps when school is out. One-day camps are packed full of fun and engaging activities including coding, game-building, and other stem activities! Recommended for kids ages 7-14. Dates: Dec. 23, 26, 27, 30, 31, Jan. 2, 3, 20, 21, Feb. 13, 14, 17 & 18.
Read our Code Ninjas review here.
- Leawood Code Ninjas Day Camp Info
- Lee's Summit Code Ninjas Day Camp Info
- Lenexa Code Ninjas Day Camp Info
JCPRD challenges the next generation with fun and stimulating enrichment opportunities. Multi-talented and well-educated staff facilitate opportunities to explore.
- Dec. 23-27: Winter Break STEAM Camp (Ages 6-11: )Johnson County KS Arts and Heritage CenterGrow rock candy crystals, create conductive collages, deconstruct books, and make slime crossing science, technology, engineering and math with the arts!
- Dec. 30 - Jan. 3: Winter Break STEAM Camp (Ages 6-11)Johnson County KS Arts and Heritage CenterGrow rock candy crystals, create conductive collages, deconstruct books, and make slime crossing science, technology, engineering and math with the arts!
Independence Community Ice Learn to Skate Camps
Independence Community Ice Rink 19100 E. Valley View Pkwy., Independence, MO. Participate in Holiday Learn to Skate Camps! All ages three to adult are welcome try out a class! No experience necessary. Groups will be split up according to age and skill level. Each class is 30 minutes long. Camps held December 23-24th and Dec. 26 & 27th at 9:30-10:30 am. The camp is only $30!
KCMO Parks & Rec Winter Break Camp
KCMO Parks and Rec offers Winter Break Camp to give kids fun and enriching activities while school is out. We’ll enjoy arts and crafts, athletics, and fitness activities.
- Dec. 23 – Jan. 6. No camp on Dec. 25th or Jan. 1st. Fee: $40 per child/ per week. Location: Garrison, Hillcrest, KC North, Southeast, Tony Aguirre, Westport
Kemper Museum is offering a FREE three-day art camp with art activities inspired by the artwork of Hew Locke! Campers will experiment with a variety of media to create their own artwork based on symbolism and themes such as boats, travel, and culture.
- Camp Kemper January 2–4, 2020: Ages 6–12 | 10:30 a.m.–12:30 p.m. each day. To register, email jthompson@kemperart.org. Members enroll first, starting November 4; open registration begins November 18. Space is limited.
Winter Break Specials for the Whole Family
Paradise Park Winter Break Specials
Paradise Park (1021 NE Colbern Rd Lee’s Summit, MO) is a favorite indoor (and outdoor - weather permitting) attraction for family fun. They offer these great specials during Winter Break:
- Mondays mean FREE Discovery Play adult admission with purchase of full-priced child admission in Discovery Play. That give you great indoor and outdoor options -- 30 sensory, imaginative and experiential play stations to choose from!
- Wednesdays All arcade games are 50% off all day long! Every Wednesday. Includes 40+ games in our family-friendly Game Room with a great variety of game choices from classics to current.
- Thursdays This is a great deal available all day long on Thursdays! Buy one Operation Laser Tag admission, get one free all day long! Our double-decker games are "Call of Duty-style" tactical laser tag that get your minds and bodies both active. (30-minute games)
Main Event offers three locations in the metro: Main Event Olathe, Main Event Independence, and Main Event North KC where you’ll have a blast enjoying their state-of-the-art bowling, multi-level laser tag, thrilling high ropes adventure courses, video games, billiards and fast-casual restaurants. The 45,000- to 75,000-square-foot family entertainment centers offer specials throughout the week and great packages for groups. Sun-Fri enjoy $7/activity (bowling, billiards, laser tag & more).
- Mondays: Enjoy ALL-YOU-CAN-PLAY activities or arcade games for only $10.95 per guest from 4pm to close. Or, purchase an ALL-DAY FUNPASS. For only $24.95, you can play all of Main Event's activities all day, any day of the week. That includes unlimited bowling, laser tag, billiards, and more.
- Tuesdays: Main Event is now offering “Kids Eat Free” every Tuesday night at all three of their Kansas City-area centers. Bring your family to your nearest location and enjoy a delicious meal before capping the night off with arcade games, laser tag or bowling! (*Offer valid for kids age 12 years or younger).
Explore Sea Life Aquarium where you will get you up close and face-to-face with amazing underwater creatures such as sharks, octopus, our green sea turtle named Gertrude, stingrays, sea stars, seahorses, jellyfish and thousands of colorful fish! A favorite attraction is the Interactive Rockpool Experience, where you are able to touch animals like sea stars and sea urchins with the help of a Sea Life Educator! Check our KC Coupon Page for deals at Sea Life.
LEGOLAND Discovery Center
LEGO® Santa at LEGOLAND Discovery Center
Build an “earthquake proof” Lego tower at Legoland Discovery Center, where you can play with the world’s biggest box of Legos, watch a film in the Lego Studios 4D cinema, enjoy rides and explore a miniature Kansas City in Lego Miniland. Check our KC Coupon Page for deals at Legoland.
Urban Air Indoor Trampoline Park
Jump to new heights through the Warrior Obstacle Course or Slam Dunk Zone at Urban Air Lenexa or Urban Air Overland Park - the ultimate indoor trampoline park offering Open Play sessions daily.
Ceramic Cafe Winter Break Specials
Ceramic Cafe (9510 Nall Ave, Overland Park, KS) is a paint-your-own-pottery studio. Enjoy these upcoming events:
Creative Storytime: Do you have a pre-schooler that just LOVES TO PAINT? Ceramic Cafe offers a fun story and paint time every Tuesday and Friday. We read a book, then the kids get to paint a ceramic item that goes along with the story and finish with a snack. What a deal and a fun way to share a creative activity with a little one. We start at 10:30 on Tuesdays and Fridays. No reservations needed unless you want to come with a large group.
- 12/03 & 12/06: “Dinosaur’s Night Before Christmas” by Anne Muecke - Dinosaur Hand-print
- 12/10 & 12/13: “If You Give a Moose a Muffin” by Laura Joffe Numeroff - Moose Figurine
- 12/17 & 12/20: “Olive, the Other Reindeer” by J. Otto Seibold &Vivian Walsh - Reindeer Hand-print plate
- 12/27: “Little Penguin Gets the Hiccups” by Tadgh Bentley - Penguin Bank
- 01/03: “Who Wants a Dragon?” by James Mayhew - Dragon Figurine
- 01/10 & 01/13“The Biggest, Best Snowman” by Margery Cuyler - Snowman Dish
- 01/17 & 01/20“The Rainbow Fish” by Marcus Pfister - Fish Dish
- 01/24 & 01/27“The Monster Bed” by Jeanne Willis & Suzan Varley - Monster Bank
Kaleidoscope (2500 Grand Blvd. Kansas City, MO) offers lots of FREE Family Sessions during Winter Break. Explore the most wonderful and imaginative hands-on art center for children around. Children of all ages and their adults are welcome to attend our special Family Art Sessions. Each session lasts 40 minutes. All children must be accompanied by an adult and all adults must be accompanied by a child. Family Sessions are offered Monday-Friday. Call 816.274.8300 for more information.
Winter Break Ice Skating
Kansas City's Outdoor Ice Skating Rinks:
The season for the outdoor rinks is typically November through February or March. Please call for hours for each location.
- Crown Center Ice Terrace 2425 Grand Blvd., Kansas City, MO, 816.274.8411. The city’s original outdoor rink opens on Nov. 1 when you may enjoy free early morning skating, coffee and hot chocolate from 6:00 to 9:00 am. On Tuesdays after 5:00, pay one full-price admission and receive a second for FREE.
- Summit Ice 120 NE Chipman Rd., Lee’s Summit MO, 816.249.2600. Enjoy skating, pond hockey, curling, broomball and ice skating lessons at this facility.
- Linden Square Ice Rink 602 NE 70th St., Gladstone, MO, 816.423.4200, Children 4 and under skate free at this affordable local rink.
- Ice Rink at Bois D'Arc Park in Lenexa West 88th Terrace, Lenexa, KS. This rink is only open when temps are cold enough for the ice to be solid. The rink is open during daytime hours and is free to use, but you must bring your own skates.
Kansas City's Indoor Ice Skating Rinks Open Year-round:
- Independence Community Ice Rink 19100 E. Valley View Pkwy., Independence, MO, 816.795.7577
- Kansas City Ice Center and Pavilion 19900 Johnson Dr., Shawnee, KS, 913.441.3033
- Line Creek Community Center Ice Rink 5940 NW Waukomis Dr., Kansas City, MO, 816.513.0760
And, as always check the KC Parent Calendar and KC Coupons for MORE great ideas!