11 Great Spring Break Camps in the Seattle Area for 2013

Editor's note: This article was originally written in 2012 and updated in March 2013.

Back in simpler times — like the 1980s — we spent spring break sitting on a bean-bag chair and watching Day of Our Lives. Of course we’re all for kids having unstructured time, but we know watching the soaps is the opposite of enriching. (It’s not even fun!)

So with spring break right around the corner, find a camp that lets your kids have fun, enjoy some play time, and explore a truly enriching activity that they might not encounter during the average school day. Our camps calendar can show you the way. Read on for 10 highlights from this year’s spring break offerings. (Note: dates of spring break vary by school district around our region. Dates for camps mentioned below are included.)

1. Young storytellers learn and practice the craft of writing at Rewriting the Classics Camp from Young Writers’ Academy. Participants put their own twists into a favorite classic story in this camp, designed to increase skill in, and love of, writing. This half-day camp is for students in grades 2 to 5 and it meets the week of April 8–12 at locations in Bellevue and Redmond.

2. For Tacoma Public Schools’ break April 1–5, Metro Parks Tacoma’s Spring Break Camp offers parents flexibility, and promises campers arts and crafts projects, outdoor adventure and non-stop fun. Families of campers ages 6 to 12 can choose from two locations: Titlow Lodge or the Center at Norpoint, and opt to enroll in the full week or single days as needed.

3. For a fun-filled spring break on Mercer Island, Stroum Jewish Community Center offers its School’s Out Camps the weeks of April 1–5 and April 8–12. Field trips and daily themes (like Splendid Slumber Party and Hero Day) make camp days exciting, and daily swimming is a surefire crowd-pleaser. Camp is for kids grades K to 5 and is open to all.

4. For youngsters enticed by the dramatic, Stone Soup Theatre in Seattle offers a camp called Captains, Clowns, and Fools for kids ages 8–13. Campers learn parody and explore physical comedy and improvisation, bringing their own humor and creativity to life. Stone Soup’s Where Are the Wild Things? camp caters to the younger set, ages 5–7, and campers use imagination and improvisation to explore the beloved tale from Sendak. Both camps run the week of April 15–19.

5. Arena Sports’ camps in Seattle and Redmond give young minds a needed vacation, yet put energetic bodies through the paces. Campers go nuts for games like human pinball, capture the flag, and the inflatable FunZone. Camp is for ages 6 to 12 and runs the week of April 8–12 in Redmond and the weeks of April 8–12 and April 15–19 in Seattle. Half-day camp for little kids (ages 3 to 5) also offered.

6. For another physically-focused camp, check out Parkour Visions’ Spring Break Kids Camp in Seattle. Participants develop their “inner monkeys,” learning to jump, climb, and move in confidence-building ways. Half-day camp is offered for kids ages 8 to 12 the week of April 15–19; Teens Camp is also available for ages 13–17. No prior experience is necessary.

7. Woodland Park Zoo knows kids love animals and discovery. This spring break, Zooper Day Camp takes campers around the globe on an exploration of where and how animals live, in a camp called Habitats of the World. Full-day camp for ages 5–9 and half-day camp for ages 4–to 6 both run the week of April 15–19.

8. South Sound kids can dive into nature in springtime with Environmental Connections Outdoor School’s Spring Break Camp. Camp meets at Priest Point Park in Olympia and kids ages 2.5 to 9 explore the natural environment through art, songs and play, plus plenty of time to unwind. Camp takes place April 1–5.

9. Another option for those who may be itching to get outside, Bellevue Parks serves up its High Adventure Spring Break Camp. Kids ages 12–17 take three separate day trips for hiking, snowshoeing and exploring new terrain. All equipment and transportation provided. This camps meets for three days, April 8–10.

10. Neo Art School’s Spring Break camp in Seattle presents the opportunity for artistic dabbling. Young artists — all kids are artists — can try different techniques, which may include ceramics, drawing, painting, papier-mâché, batik, collage, paper-making, bookbinding, printmaking, sculpture, or creative projects using recycled materials. Camp is for ages 7–12 and runs April 15–19 with half-days or single days available. All art supplies are included.

11. Campers keen on the arts will bloom at Seattle Opera’s Spring Break Camp. Singing, acting and dancing activities provide participants with an introduction opera and specifically to Wagner’s Ring. Half-day camp is for grades 2–5 and runs the weeks of April 8–13 and April 15–19. No prior experience is needed.

Good luck! We are sure that an eye-opening, horizon-widening, and positively enriching spring break awaits.