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.
5/29/26 - 8/21/26
(Select dates not available)
9am-4pm, 9am-12pm, or 1-4pm
$255.00 / child / wk - Full Day
$150.00 / child / wk - Half Day
$840.00 / child / 4 weeks Full Day
$1560.00 / child / 8 weeks Full Day
CAMPER FAVORITE ACTIVITIES:
RC Racing 101
Ready to race? It's go time!
Cars. Drones. Racing. RC Racing 101 Camp is a high-energy, hands-on experience where campers learn to drive RC cars and fly drones—then put their skills to the test in short challenges, course builds, and friendly races every 30–60 minutes. Half racing, half active games—built for nonstop engagement.
6/22/26-6/26/26 & 7/20/26-7/24/26
9am-12pm
$155.00 per child, per week
CAMPER FAVORITE ACTIVITIES:
Flag Football Camp
Learn football in a fun environment!
High-energy flag football, built for nonstop reps. Campers switch between drills, mini-games, and friendly competitions—focusing on a new skill each day like catching, route running, flag pulling, and teamwork—so they’re never doing the same thing for too long.
6/15/26-6/19/26 & 7/27/26-7/31/26
1-4pm
$135.00 per child, per week
CAMPER FAVORITE ACTIVITIES:
Camp At Kirkwood Park
See the activities kids keep asking about in action!
After activity discussions to help foster growth.
Tons of high engagement activities that keep kids entertained and active.
Epic adventures in a structured environment? Yes please.
Everyone on our team has a genuine desire to see kids have fun and grow while they participate.
Our own Rec Academy twist to the classic game of wiffle ball!
Putting them in the driver's seat to spur creativity.
We give participants a short break from time to time to help them decompress from challenging activities.
We work extremely hard to ensure that participants have a great time during our sessions.
Kirkwood Park
Established in 1941, Kirkwood Park is a beautiful 92-acre park featuring playgrounds, athletic fields, picnic pavilions, and the Kirkwood Community Center. It's the perfect setting for active, outdoor summer camp fun!
Address
111 S. Geyer Road, Kirkwood, MO 63122
Ages
5 - 12 years old
Staff Ratio
1:15 or better
Dates
May - August coverage, with the exception of a week or two
Extras
Before & After Care Available, Sibling & Multi-Purchase Discounts
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