Learning doesn’t stop just because school isn’t in session. Growing kids have growing minds, and in Springfield, kids can engage in a variety of educational programs and camps to continue their education through the summer months.
From state-of-the-art library facilities and a comprehensive children’s science center to myriad park board, school district and university-sponsored programs, you’ll find an abundance of enriching educational experiences and activities for children of all ages, and adults too, year-round.
With 10 branches and a mobile library, you can easily find yourself lost in the pages of a literary masterpiece or sipping coffee with a friend while the kids enjoy an interactive workshop or story time.
Our library district has programming for all ages, from craft classes and lunch-and-learns for adults to hands-on educational programs in science, computer programming, musical theater and much more for kids.
Our library district has state-of-the-art facilities with three “destination” libraries that tout amenities comparable to today’s best urban facilities, including coffee and gift shops, fully equipped computer labs and unique specialized collections in consumer law, automotive repair, local history and genealogy.
Whether you’re checking out a book, using your library card to access the latest DVD or CD release or attending a program, the Springfield-Greene County Library District has educational opportunities for the whole family.
Springfield’s downtown science center provides approachable, hands-on learning experiences across more than 60,000 square feet spanning six floors of interactive exhibits. Visitors can explore subjects across a spectrum of sciences, from geology to chemistry, physics to life science, culture to nanotechnology and more.
Walk through the inner workings of a giant eyeball, dig for dinosaurs in the largest gallery of giant animatronic dinosaurs in the Midwest, or step into the cockpit of a real Merlin aircraft. With educational events and student outreach year-round, learning is possible at the Discovery Center well beyond a single visit.
Summer of Science Camps
The Discovery Center’s summer camp program, Summer of Science, offers STEAM-focused camps for kids in full-day, half-day, and drop-in-by-the-week formats. Weekly themes rotate throughout the summer, and spots are limited, so early registration is recommended. Visit the Discovery Center’s website closer to summer for current dates, themes, and pricing.
SPARC is a partnership between the Springfield-Greene County Park Board and Springfield Public Schools that promotes opportunities for youth and families through before- and after-school programs, summer camps, sport leagues and increased availability of joint school/park facilities.
In the summertime, there’s a camp for every child. Summer Adventure serves ages 5 to 12 with themed activities, crafts, swimming, and field trips to area parks. Summer Quest is designed for ages 11 to 14, giving older kids a more independent camp experience with weekly swimming, field trips, and friendly competitions. Both camps are held at Pershing School, with breakfast and lunch provided.
Affiliated with Drury University, The Center for Gifted Education is believed to be one of only 17 complete gifted education centers in the United States. Since 1981, the Center has offered programs for gifted children, their families and educators. Each summer, more than 700 children attend the residential and nonresidential pre-college programs: Summer Pals (pre-K through 1st grade), Summer Quest (grades 2 through 5), Summerscape (grades 6 through 8), and Drury Leadership Academy (grades 9 through 12).
The hands-on courses allow gifted children to interact with peers of similar academic abilities and interests while pursuing areas of interest they would not have a chance to study elsewhere. Registration typically opens in January, with tuition increasing as the summer approaches, so families are encouraged to apply early. Visit the Center’s website for current dates and pricing.
Drury University is also the host venue for the Duke University Talent Identification Program, which searches through south-central states to locate seventh graders who perform at college level on the SAT or ACT.
Whether you’re looking for a place where your kids can learn all summer long or just for a week or two, both YMCA Camp Wakonda and the Ozarks Regional YMCA Summer Day Camp programs provide children of all ages with a variety of exciting activities and field trips to help make their summer exciting, productive, and full of learning and making memories.
At Camp Wakonda, located in Ash Grove, youth can enjoy activities like a climbing tower, canoeing, archery, swimming, ropes courses, and more during overnight camp sessions running from June through August.
At the Summer Day Camps, children play sports, learn about science and nature, take part in activities and games, and develop friendships with other kids at camp. With so many summer opportunities between the two, the YMCA’s summer camps are worth a look.
Explore sessions for elementary, middle and high school students each summer keep kids learning over the extended break, and this isn’t your average classroom experience. Students design their experience around personal interests and goals, choosing from a wide range of enrichment courses across two summer sessions.
High schoolers have options for earning credit over the summer, from academic coursework to electives. Younger students can explore hands-on courses spanning the arts, outdoor education, and STEM. Artworks, the district’s fine arts summer offering, brings free classes taught by professional artists and art teachers to schools across the district. Visit sps.org/Explore for current course offerings, session dates, and enrollment details.
Springfield offers a wide range of summer learning options, including hands-on science camps at the Discovery Center, park and school district partnership camps through SPARC, gifted education programs at Drury University, YMCA day and overnight camps, and SPS’s own Explore summer school.
Yes. The Discovery Center’s Summer of Science camps offer STEAM-focused programming in full-day, half-day, and drop-in-by-the-week formats, with weekly themes rotating throughout the summer.
SPARC is a partnership between the Springfield-Greene County Park Board and Springfield Public Schools. Its summer camps include Summer Adventure for ages 5 to 12 and Summer Quest for ages 11 to 14, both held at Pershing School.
Yes. Drury University’s Center for Gifted Education, one of only 17 complete gifted education centers in the United States, offers Summer Pals, Summer Quest, Summerscape, and Drury Leadership Academy for students from pre-K through 12th grade.
The Ozarks Regional YMCA offers both Camp Wakonda, an overnight camp in Ash Grove with activities like canoeing, archery, and a climbing tower, and Summer Day Camps for kids who want a full summer of sports, science, and games closer to home.
Explore is Springfield Public Schools’ summer learning program for elementary, middle, and high school students. Students choose from a range of enrichment courses across two summer sessions, with high schoolers also able to earn academic credit.
Yes. The library district offers hands-on educational programs in science, computer programming, musical theater, and more for kids, along with craft classes and lunch-and-learns for adults, across its network of 10 branches.
