Seattle-area kids — and their parents — need a break from school! Many families are staying home rather than traveling this mid-winter break, making it the perfect time for kids to try a camp where they can learn a new skill or explore a new topic.
A few organizations around the Puget Sound are hosting in-person camps with COVID-19 precautions in place, and many more are upping their virtual game with interactive online camps. Check out the options below, with in-real-life camps sorted by region, then find virtual camps below that.
Camps in real life
Eastside-area in-person camps:
Youth Theater Northwest, Mercer Island
YTN is offering two Drama-and-Dance camps, one for kids in grades K–2 and another for grades 3–6. Both run Feb. 15–19 with half-day morning or afternoon sessions. Young thespians in grade 6 and older can hone their acting chops at Actor's Boot Camp during the same week. YTN offers a tiered cost structure and it does not turn away any family due to financial hardship.
ISC Gunners Soccer Camp, Issaquah
Soccer stars in age groups U8–U14 can level up their skills both on the field and as goalkeepers this mid-winter break. This camp is offered Feb. 15–18 and is intended for intermediate- to advanced-level players.
J Camp, Mercer Island
Stroum Jewish Community Center's J-Camp is open Feb. 15–19 for mid-winter break. Kids in grades K–5 will have fun with different activities, games and arts and crafts. They will also join in physical activity as permitted by Covid guidelines.
Sambica, Bellevue
Sambica is a non-denominational Christian camp and it's offering mid-winter break camp Feb. 15–19. Details are to be announced; check the website or call for more information.
Seattle-area in-person camps:
SANCA Circus Camp, Seattle
Learning and practicing circus arts at the School of Acrobatics & New Circus Arts seems like the perfect antidote to screen-time overload. Kids ages 6–8 can enroll in Circus Odyssey Camp and kids ages 9–12 will love Ringmaster Camp. Both camps run Feb. 15–19.
Stone Soup Theater's 'In the Heights' camp, Seattle
Before "Hamilton," Lin-Manuel Miranda wrote another hip hop musical called “In the Heights” about the goings-on in a tightly-knit Latino neighborhood in New York. During this camp, held Feb. 15–19, kids ages 8–15 will rap, dance and sing to three of the hit musical’s songs which detail the characters’ hopes and dreams.
Snow Camp Mountaineers, Seattle
Learn climbing and rappelling during this Mountaineers camp Feb. 15–19. Kids ages 7–12 will play games, engage in activities and take a fun field trip to Hyak Sno-Park for a day of snowshoeing and sledding.
South Sound-area in-person camps:
Mini Maker Camp, Auburn
Create STEAM projects and enjoy arts and crafts as well as other fun camp activities Feb. 16–19 at Mini Maker Camp. Kids ages 6–11 can get creative digging into science, technology, engineering, art and math.
Club Moss Wilderness Skills, Olympia
Sharpen those wilderness skills at Priest Point Park Feb. 15–17. Campers ages 6–11 will hike, explore the beach, build shelters, identify plants, make cordage and play games for some much needed outdoor time.
Play-Well Winter Wonderland LEGO Engineering, Covington
Kids ages 6–11 can get ready for the winter freeze by building bobsleds and snowplows in this camp led by a Play-Well instructor. The camp runs Feb. 16–19 and kids get to play with thousands of Lego pieces to take their engineering skills to the next level.
Virtual camps
Because of the pandemic, many school break camps have gone virtual. The good news is that your child may be able to participate in a camp that would otherwise be geographically impossible!
Taproot Theater's Dramaquest camp
Taproot is offering two camps during the week of Feb. 15–19, both of which culminate in a recorded performance for showing off to friends and family. Kids in grades K–3 can participate in an intro-to-drama camp with theater games, stories and practice developing a character using household objects. Kids in grades 4–12 can be in the Youth and Teen showcase where they'll execute a full production, from auditions to the performance.
YMCA Camp in a Box: Blowing Off STEAM
Pick up a box filled with classic camp activities for your child in grades K–5. Each box also contains a hands-on STEAM project. Campers will stay connected with each other and a leader with twice-daily interactive meetings during the week of Feb. 15–19.
Beginning and intermediate students, ages 8–15, who are interested in learning to code or game development will love this coding camp. Camp runs Feb. 15–19. Using the Lua programming language, students will create their own Fortnite-style Battle Royale or Mining Sim game in Roblox!
Outschool offers a wide variety of mid-winter break camps for kids age 4–16. Camps take place virtually, last 3–5 days long and take place during the week of Feb. 15–19. Learn to code, cook, put on a play, play chess, play D&D, make arts and crafts and lots more.
Kids ages 6–12 can learn French cooking styles in this online camp offered by Seattle Cucina, Feb. 16–19. Choose to join for all four days or just drop in for one day. Learn to cook breakfast, lunch, dinner and dessert. Beret not required but recommended!
Coyote Central is bringing its camps into your home with a variety of sessions for kids ages 10–15. Camps run Feb. 15–19 and include Comedy Magic, cooking, phone photography, acting, spoken word, fashion, animation and music. All Studio Coyote classes are “pay what you can.”
Studio East Training for the Performing Arts
During the week of Feb. 15–19, Studio East is offering four different virtual camps. Kids in grades K–8 can choose a one-day camp to explore "Hamilton," "Descendants" or improv, or enroll in a full week of drama with Drama Makers camp.
Kindness camp is for children ages 5–12 and is held in Zoom rooms divided by age. For two hours a day, Feb. 16–18, kids will explore mindful movement exercises, games, projects and more to help make the world a kinder place.
