Looking Ahead to Summer
Summer is a great time to get out and explore the Black Hills. There are festivals, rallies and concerts to suit every taste — but what about kids? Luckily, we also have a great selection of summer camps and activities for kids. From outdoor adventures to coding and music, here are some camps your kids might enjoy.
The South Dakota School of Mines and Technology hosts a variety of day camps targeted at high school students. Topics include atmospheric sciences, chemistry, 3D printing and more! These camps are popular, so sign up early! See their site here for dates and sign up information.
South Dakota Mines also hosts summer sports camps for volleyball, boys and girls basketball, track and field, and football. Age groups are K-5, 6-9 and 10-12 grades. For sign up information see their site here.
Rushmore National Music Camp hosts senior high students for a week at Camp Judson near Keystone. Campers have the opportunity to perform in concert and jazz band, with weekly activities including chess, fitness, dance, and choir. Weather permitting, the final concert is held at the Mount Rushmore Amphitheater; truly a once-in-a-lifetime experience for your young musician! See their site here for dates and sign up information.
TimberNook Black Hills offers day camps for kids ages 1.5-4, 4-7, and 7-12. Their programs are nature-based with large sensory experiences that both excite and challenge your kids. The programming changes from year to year so your kids can come back and learn new things every summer! See their site here for dates and sign up information.
Black Hills State University in Spearfish offers a variety of youth sports camps throughout the summer, including cross-country, men’s and women’s basketball, soccer, softball, track and volleyball. Ages vary by sport and camp, for more information see their website here.
If your kids are into computer gaming and coding, Code Ninjas in Rapid City hosts summer camps guaranteed to teach them something new. Code Ninjas camps empower kids to learn valuable tech skills, but also give them the change to make new friends that share their interests. See their website here for more information.
There are several religious organizations throughout the Black Hills that host camps as well.
Camp Judson has been a staple in the Black Hills since 1926. Their vision is to help young people grow their relationship with Jesus through a summer camp experience focused on the outdoors and finding community with others. They have both overnight and day youth camps, and adult and family programs. See their site here for more information.
Outlaw Ranch near Custer is run by Lutherans Outdoors in South Dakota, and they have weeklong camps for kids in grades 3-4, 5-6, and 7-8, and shorter day outings for kids in grades 7-12. Activities focus on the outdoors, including hiking, canoeing, and horseback riding. See their website here for more information.
The Dakotas United Methodist Camps have several options for kids as well, with Storm Mountain Center located just outside of Rapid City. They offer both outdoor-focused camps and more faith-based instructional camps. See their website here for more information.