Holiday Break Camps for Houston Kids

1/3/17 - By Rachael Cherry

It's a school holiday and your kids are at home, but you still have to go into the office, leaving you scrambling for childcare. If you find yourself in this situation, or if you just want to have the kids do something fun and different on a day they're out of school, check out some of these holiday day camps around Houston. We picked a variety of camps that span everything from arts and crafts to gymnastics to a day at the Zoo, so your kids can spend their day learning through creative outlets and active play while you're at work.

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artmix creative learning center
3701 W. Alabama, Suite 250
713-552-9028

For pint-sized artists in need of a day camp, artmix offers a creative outlet through sculpting, drawing, painting and creating mini masterpieces. Holiday camps include school holidays, such as MLK Day and President's Day, and extended school breaks. There are a variety of day-camp options, including morning, afternoon and full day camps. Additionally, artmix will set up a day camp for any school holidays, parent/teacher conference days or other school closings for groups of 5 or more students. Full day camps are from 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Hours vary for all other day camp options.

K2 Academy
15255 N. Eldridge Pkwy
281-655-7272

A typical camp day at K2 Academy is packed with learning fun for your kids and includes gym time, board games, arts and crafts, outside play, music and more. Holiday camps include MLK Day, President's Day, Spring Break, Columbus Day, a Turkey Run during the Thanksgiving holiday break and Santa's Workshop during winter break. Day camps are from 6: 30 a.m.-6: 30 p.m.; 9 a.m.-4 p.m., and 9 a.m.-2 p.m. (preschool only)

Houston Zoo
6200 Hermann Park Drive
713-533-6500

Animal lovers unite at Camp Zoofari at the Houston Zoo where campers learn from a fun-filled, animal-based curriculum. They'll get to meet the animals, have story and craft time, feed the giraffes, and play games while exploring the Zoo. The Houston Zoo offers Camp Zoofari during Summer Break and Winter Break, as well as on Columbus Day and Black Friday. Camp Zoofari is open for campers ages 4-12. Camp days are from 9 a.m.-4 p.m.


Photo courtesy of Stephanie Adams/Houston Zoo

Space Center Houston
1601 Nasa Road 1
281-244-2100

For all the extended school breaks during the year - spring, summer, and winter - Space Center Houston offers week-long space camps for kids ages 4-11. These camps focus on teaching kids about the technology, engineering, mathematics and science involved in space exploration. Camp days are from 8: 15 a.m.-3: 15 p.m. Before-care (starting at 7 a.m.) and after-care (ending at 6 p.m.) for camps are available for $15 each per day. 

Discover Gymnastics
747 N. Shepherd Drive, Suite 400
713-680-0045

Looking for an active way for your kids to spend their school holiday? Head over to Discover Gymnastics, where kids can practice gymnastics, play games and do crafts during their day(s) off school. Holiday camps offered at Discover Gymnastics include MLK Day, Black Friday, and winter camps. Full camp days are from 8 a.m.-5 p.m. Hours vary for all other camp options. Early drop off (7: 30 a.m.) and late pick up (6 p.m.) are available for a fee. 

Tree House Arts + Crafts
2419 Sunset Blvd.
832-659-2074

Budding Picassos can perfect their craft at the day camps available at Tree House Arts + Crafts. At these camps, kids get to do arts and crafts, experiment with watercolors, draw on the chalkboard wall and may even get to have a dance party or two. Camp days are available on all traditional school holidays and teacher in-service/parent-teacher conference days. Tree House will also accommodate any random holidays at school with advance notice. Camps run from 9 a.m.-noon, and with advance notice can continue from 1-4 p.m. upon request as long as more than six kids will be attending. Children attending must be at least 3 years old and fully potty-trained.


Photo courtesy of Annie Polasek/Tree House Arts + Crafts

Houston Sports Adventures
Various locations
713-984-4779
There are two different types of camps offered through Houston Sports Adventures: Sports Camp and Baseball Camp. Sports Camp is held during Winter Break and Spring Break for girls and boys ages 5-12. At Sports Camp, kids are able to test out a variety of sports, such as kick ball, dodge ball, floor hockey, capture the flag and more. Baseball Camp, also for kids ages 5-12, meets during Winter Break and Spring Break also, as well as on MLK Day and Black Friday, and allows kids to work on fine-tuning their baseball skills. Sports Camp meets at the Bellaire Rec Center and Baseball Camp meets at Post Oak Little League. Camp days are three hours long and prices vary based on the type of camp and when the child is attending.

Idea Lab
8404 Katy Freeway, #200
832-672-7932

When school is out, Idea Lab is open and ready to accept students for a plethora of different camps, ranging from cooking camps to robotics and everything in between. Hands-on activities encourage kids to use their imagination while developing math, science and critical thinking skills. Idea Lab offers a variety of camps on school holidays and during the spring, summer and winter breaks. For a full list of camps offered, visit the website. 

YMCA
Various locations around Houston. Find one closest to you here
If you're a YMCA member, you may be able to take the kids to your local Y on their school holidays, where active play is used to teach core values, conflict resolution, leadership skills and more. Many locations offer day camps for kids during Spring Break, Thanksgiving break, and winter break, as well as some in-service days and other school holidays. For a full list of Houston-area YMCA's that offer holiday camps and the holidays covered, check here

Jungle Kids Academy
Pearland - 2849 Miller Ranch Rd. #501
713-413-0700
Webster - 20810 Gulf Freeway, Suite J
281-557-0700

Games, arts and crafts and lots of bounce time at Jungle Kids Academy gives kids plenty to do on the days they're out of school but you're still at work. Both the Pearland and Webster locations offer day camps for kids during the standard school holidays and major school breaks. Camps are for kids ages 5-12. 

Top image courtesy of Stephanie Adams/Houston Zoo

 

 

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