Sneak Peak Video
See why parents all over St. Louis are falling in love with Rec Academy youth programs!
Choose Your Adventure
From STEM to sports, we have the perfect camp for every kid! Featuring trained staff, age-appropriate activities, and non-stop fun. Register for a nearby program today!
Sports & Games Madness
Want a camp they can't get enough of?
Our take on the classic summer day camp- faster-paced, more engaging, & built to hold kids' attention. Campers rotate through a mix of high-energy games, team competitions, and creative challenges every 30-60 minutes, so they're never stuck doing the same thing long.
6/22/26-6/26/26 & 7/27/26-7/31/26
9am-4pm, 9am-12pm, or 1-4pm
$255.00 / child / wk - Full Day
$150.00 / child / wk - Half Day
CAMPER FAVORITE ACTIVITIES:
Basketball Camp
Calling all future NBA stars!
Hoops. Hustle. Confidence. We’re putting the FUN back in FUNdamentals with a fast-paced basketball experience where players learn drills, sharpen core skills, and practice game-ready techniques—then put it all into action through mini challenges and scrimmage-style play to elevate their game.
6/22/26-6/26/26 & 7/27/26-7/31/26
9am-12pm
$155.00 per child, per week
CAMPER FAVORITE ACTIVITIES:
Minecraft E-Sports
Build, Create, Adventure!
Build. Collaborate. Level up. Minecraft Camp blends creativity with teamwork as campers tackle guided build challenges, group missions, and friendly competitions every 30–60 minutes. Kids practice communication, planning, and problem-solving while bringing big ideas to life—without long downtime. Chromebooks provided, or campers can bring your own.
6/22/26-6/26/26 & 7/27/26-7/31/26
9am-12pm
$155.00 per child, per week
CAMPER FAVORITE ACTIVITIES:
Camp at Affton Rec. Center
See the activities kids keep asking about in action!
Know what you're looking for before you arrive!
Check out the indoor and rainy-day space we have to work with!
Plenty of outdoor space to get some sunshine at camp this summer. The Rec. Complex also is very close to Suson Park.
Gender specific bathrooms available on site inside the center.
Everyone on our team has a genuine desire to see kids have fun and grow while they participate.
The goal with every activity is to have as much fun as possible. Group growth is a natural byproduct of making this happen.
Putting them in the driver's seat to spur creativity.
We work extremely hard to ensure that participants have a great time during our sessions.
Affton Community Center
The Affton Community Center is a prime youth destination featuring a sprawling climate-controlled gymnasium and a dedicated neighborhood playground for active outdoor play. With its expansive indoor court space and convenient breakout rooms, the facility provides a secure, flexible environment for both high-energy games and focused creative projects.
Address
9801 Mackenzie Rd, St. Louis, MO 63123
Ages
5 - 12 years old
Staff Ratio
1:15 or better
Dates
June - July coverage options
Extras
Early Bird, Sibling & Multi-Purchase Discounts Available
Don't Just Take Our Word For It
Hear from families who've experienced the difference.
"We sent our son to The Rec Academy’s summer camp and it was FANTASTIC! The staff kept him excited and active every day. He made new friends and came home smiling. Best summer decision ever!"
Max D.
Summer Camp Parent
"We've had our kids attend The Rec Academy's Kirkwood Park camp for three years in a row now and they absolutely love it. The staff are always very friendly and super engaged. We highly recommend giving them a shot if you're on the fence, you won't regret it."
Jessica V.
Summer Camp Parent
"My kids have attended three different camps with The Recreation Academy and they BEG to go back every time. The variety of activities keeps them engaged all day, and they come home exhausted but happy. Worth every penny!"
Amanda R.
Summer Camp Parent
Teaching Life Skills Through Fun & Games
Our staff are trained to keep participants engaged, create impactful moments, and facilitate. This isn't just supervision with fun activities. We're creating new expectations for youth programs everywhere.
We use high-energy, engaging activities to teach social and emotional life skills. We believe skills like teamwork, communication, problem-solving, and self-awareness are best developed through experience—not lectures. Every activity we run is intentionally designed to put participants in real situations where they must work together, think critically, and navigate challenges in the moment.
What makes our approach effective is how we turn those moments into learning. The activity creates the experience, but the reflection gives it meaning. Through simple, guided conversations, we help participants connect what happened in the game to real-life situations—so the lessons go beyond the activity and become something they understand and can apply.
Reinforcing the idea of having a Growth Mindset plays a key role in this process. It helps participants stay engaged when things get difficult and reinforces the idea that growth comes through effort and persistence. By encouraging the mindset of “not yet,” we keep kids open to challenges long enough to build confidence, resilience, and leadership—skills that develop through doing, reflecting, and trying again.
How it works
A shy kid gets an opportunity to speak up once → more likely to do it again
A frustrated player takes a breath → discovers they can handle bigger setbacks
A team that talks through issues → participants take away new strategies to resolve conflicts
These aren't just feel-good moments — they're building blocks that compound over time, creating momentum that carries into school, friendships, and beyond.
Growth Mindset = Perseverance, Grit & Resilience
Our Proven Method
Every session follows a structured approach that turns casual play into meaningful learning.
Set Clear Expectations
Every session starts with clarity. Kids know what's expected because confusion kills confidence. When everyone understands the game, they can focus on playing it well.
Learn from Challenges
Here's what makes us different: we don't rescue kids from struggle. When someone gets frustrated or teams clash, that's our classroom. We guide them through it, teaching life skills for real situations.
Identify Teachable Moments
We listen before we lead. Kids have great ideas, and when we use them, they're more invested in the outcome. We embrace opportunities to model empathy and reinforce values.
Get Participant Feedback
After each activity, we pause and reflect. We ask "What went well?" "What could we improve?" and "How did we show up for each other?" This process turns fun into fuel for real development.
Frontload → Experience → Debrief → Repeat
The cycle that runs multiple times throughout every single session we facilitate.
A Simple Process - With A Powerful Impact
Allowing kids to walk away with