Summer Camps & Activities for Teens
Uh oh. Your child is a teenager: That tenuous age when they’re feel like they’re too old to attend many traditional camps but too young to stay home for the entire summer by themselves. You cringe when you think about what they would be if they were left to their own devices at home: Snapchat, hours of television, video games, and too many Poptarts. Never fear because a number of camps are geared toward teens, and we’ve taken the guesswork out.
GUTS! Summer Outdoor Adventures
GUTS! welcomes girls, non-binary, transgender, two-spirit, and gender-diverse participants. This year GUTS is offering outdoor adventure DAY camps that will stay local to Missoula and run Monday-Friday, 8:30am- 4:30pm. Each day the group will travel to different destinations around town via bike to experience a variety of outdoor and community activities.
July 10-14: Incoming 5th & 6th graders
July 24-28: Incoming 5th & 6th graders
Aug. 7-11: Incoming 7th & 8th graders
Aug. 21-15: Incoming 7th & 8th graders
Any inquires can be directed to the GUTS! Program Coordinator, Mia McKinney at mmckinney@ywcaofmissoula.org.
Teen Workreation at Parks & Rec
Teens, ages 13 to 16*, can volunteer with Parks and Recreation to work with kids in their neighborhood parks, Currents and Splash Montana and Fort Missoula Regional Park this summer! If your teen is interested in getting on-the-job training, Parks & Rec may have a volunteer position for them.
Work with Parks and Recreation Staff as a:
Jr. Camp Leader • Jr. Lifeguard* • Jr. Site Facilitators
*Jr. Lifeguards can begin at age 12 after completing American Red Cross training programs offered at Splash Montana.
High School Girls Conservation Corps
MNHC is partnering with the Bob Marshall Wilderness Foundation to host an overnight backpacking trip. For these few days, girls ages 16-17 will be hiking in the Bob Marshall Wilderness with guides and MNHC staff to learn about conservation, do some trail work, nature journal, and enjoy the fresh mountain air. Please reach out to Camps Coordinator, Alyssa Giffin for more information: agiffin@montananaturalist.org Cost: $300
Junior Counselors at the YMCA
The Y offers a variety of camps that target middle- and high-school campers. Teens explore healthy living with Active 6 Camp, develop interpersonal skills in our Teen Leadership camps, get outside with friends in Teen Adventure camps, and grow their resumes with first-hand experience in Babysitting 101 and our Junior Counselors program.
Missoula Outdoor Learning Adventures- Counselor in Training
Geared toward 14-16 year olds, MOLA’s Counselor in Training program will teach teens the skills needed to become an incredible camp counselor! Counselors in Training will lead young campers to become great community members – teach them team-building skills, guide them as they embrace new activities, and help them grow during their MOLA experience.
This position requires candidates who are responsible, coachable, and have enthusiasm and fun energy all day long. This program provides a great opportunity for young people to gain valuable leadership skills and start building their resume.
CITs are placed with a younger group for the whole week, working as an assistant leader.
Historical Museum at Fort Missoula
The Jr. Docent Program at the Historical Museum at Fort Missoula is an opportunity for young people in the Missoula area to learn about the inner workings of museums. Through the program, participants will be a part of a team that will become educational leaders and tour guides at HMFM. Each docent will be able to harness their own skills and choose the aspect of museum work with which they feel most connected, and they will be able to specialize in that area during their time as a Jr. Docent.
Ages: 5th through 12th Grade
Whitewater Adventure Camps
Designed for families and kids age 11 through 17, Montana River Guides offers adventure day camps where kids can learn practical river skills with personal development in a fun, challenging setting. Participants learn fundamentals of river safety and paddling rivers while developing confidence, self-esteem, leadership, and teamwork. Campers will see how professional guides manage risk by wearing proper gear, containing trips with upstream and downstream safety and always having a back up plan.
Roxy Film Academy
Summer camps for ages 10 and up that combine storytelling, education, creativity and filmmaking.
Missoula Children’s Theatre
MCT summer day camps are open to students entering grades 1-12.
Day camp is 9 AM-5 PM, Monday-Thursday.
On Fridays, camp begins at 9 AM and finishes after the 6 PM performance. Day camps take place at the MCT Center for the Performing Arts in Missoula.
This teen series offers advanced projects to give campers ages 13+ more space to express their creativity. Teens will take a break from social media and engage with ARt media such as wood, paint, yarn and scent mixology candle pouring!
High school students can receive one-on-one instruction from UM Griz Basketball players and even stay over night in the dorms!