By David Markham
This year we offer more than 30 youth camps over spring break (March 16-20), but there’s so much more, including the first (indoor) show of Theatre in the Park’s 2026 season, a four-day lifeguard certification course, Kids’ Day Out sessions, art labs, a free day at the Johnson County Museum, and Gamin’ with the Grandkids.
In all, more than 55 programs being offered by JCPRD over spring break this year should help keep the kids and the whole family busy. The biggest challenge will be sorting through the many options, but register soon, as a few programs have already filled!
Whether your child’s interest is in arts, nature, sports, and theatre, there’s no shortage of fun things to do. Programs range from special events to instructional classes to specialty-themed day camps.
While many of the spring break programs listed below are for youth, some are for families and/or all ages. All of them are popular, and most require advance registration.
Thursday, March 12, through March 15
- Lifeguard Certification Course (Ages 15 & Older) Shawnee Mission School District Aquatic Center – FREE
Friday, March 13
- Gymnastics: Open Playground (Ages 1-4 with Adult) Mill Creek Activity Center
- Snapology: Amusement Park & Brick City Full-Day Camp (Ages 5-12) Meadowbrook Park Clubhouse
- Snapology: Amusement Park Engineers Half-Day Camp (Ages 5-12) Meadowbrook Park Clubhouse
- Snapology: Brick City Half-Day Camp (Ages 5-12) Meadowbrook Park Clubhouse
- Museum: Kids’ Day Out (Ages 6-10) Johnson County Museum
Saturday, March 14
- Lanesfield Historic Site: Open Hours (All Ages) – FREE
- Gymnastics: Open Gym (Ages 4.5-16) Mill Creek Activity Center
- Make: LED Lights Lab (Ages 8-15) Johnson County Arts & Heritage Center
- “Nunsense” (Rated PG) Presented by Theatre in the Park indoors at The Black Box Theatre inside the Johnson County Arts & Heritage Center
Sunday, March 15
- “Nunsense” (Rated PG) Presented by Theatre in the Park indoors at The Black Box Theatre inside the Johnson County Arts & Heritage Center
Monday, March 16
- Gymnastics: Open Playground (Ages 1-5) Mill Creek Activity Center
- Volleyball: Volleyball Basics (Grades 3 & 4) New Century Fieldhouse
- Volleyball: Volleyball Basics (Grades 5 & 6) New Century Fieldhouse
Monday, March 16 through Thursday, March 19
- Basketball: Spring Camp (Grades 2-8) New Century Fieldhouse
- Discovery: NERF® 2.0 Battles (Ages 8-12) Mill Creek Activity Center
Monday, March 16, through Friday, March 20
- Art Labs: Sculpture (Ages 8-11) Johnson County Arts & Heritage Center
- Challenge Island: Island Adventure Spring Break Camp (Ages 6-11) Meadowbrook Park Clubhouse
- Ernie Miller Spring Break Discovery Camp (Ages 6-7) Ernie Miller Nature Center – FULL, waitlist available
- Ernie Miller Spring Break Discovery Camp (Ages 8-10) Ernie Miller Nature Center – FULL, waitlist available
- Mad Science: Brixology Spring Break Camp (Ages 7-12) Roeland Park Community Center
- Maker Labs: Wearable Art (Ages 8-11) Johnson County Arts & Heritage Center
- Museum: Kids’ Day Out Spring Break Camp (Ages 6-10) Johnson County Museum
- Snapology: Pokemania Spring Break Camp (Ages 5-12) Meadowbrook Park Clubhouse
- Theatre: Broadway Style Workshop – Take on the Tonys (Ages 8-12) Johnson County Arts & Heritage Center
- Theatre: Hogwarts Academy Spring Break (Ages 8-12) Johnson County Arts & Heritage Center
- Theatre: Theatre Academy Audition Lab (Ages 10-16) Johnson County Arts & Heritage Center
- TimberRidge Spring Break Adventures Camp (Ages 9-13) TimberRidge Adventure Center
Tuesday, March 17
- Volleyball: St. Pats Day Just the Serves (Grades 3 & 4) New Century Fieldhouse
- Volleyball: St. Pats Day Just the Serves (Grades 5 & 6) New Century Fieldhouse
- Museum: Scandal in the Schoolhouse – Historic Escape Rooms (Organized Groups Ages 10 & Older) Lanesfield Historic Site
Tuesday, March 17, through Thursday, March 19
- Basketball: Spring Break Camp (Grades 4-8) Okun Fieldhouse
- Basketball: Spring Break Camp (Grades K-3) Okun Fieldhouse
- Gymnastics: Spring Break Camp (Ages 6-14) Mill Creek Activity Center
- Running club: Mini Milers (Grades K-5) Mid-America West Sports Complex
- Soccer: JOCO Soccer Spring Break Camp (Grades 1-4) New Century Fieldhouse
- Soccer: JOCO Soccer Spring Break Camp (Grades Pre-K & Kindergarten) New Century Fieldhouse
- Soccer: Spring Break Camp (Grades 4-8) Mid-America West Sports Complex
- Volleyball: New Century Fieldhouse Spring Break Camp (Ages 7-14) New Century Fieldhouse
- Volleyball: Okun Spring Break Camp (Grades 3-8) Okun Fieldhouse
- Softball: Girls’ Spring Break Softball Camp (Ages 7U-14U) Mid-America West Sports Complex
Wednesday, March 18
- Volleyball: NCF Brush Up Skills: Bumps & Sets (Grades 3 & 4) New Century Fieldhouse
- Volleyball: NCF Brush Up Skills: Bumps & Sets (Grades 5 & 6) New Century Fieldhouse
- Games: Gamin’ with the Grandkids (Ages 5 & Older with 50 Plus) Matt Ross Community Center
Thursday, March 19
- Museum: Free Day at the Johnson County Museum (All Ages) Johnson County Museum – FREE
Friday, March 20
- Volleyball: Okun Intro to Volleyball (Grades 3 & 4) Okun Fieldhouse
- Volleyball: Okun Intro to Volleyball (Grades 5 & 6) Okun Fieldhouse
- Volleyball: Okun Volley Nights (Grades 7 & 8) Okun Fieldhouse
- Gymnastics: Open Playground (Ages 1-5) Mill Creek Activity Center
- “Nunsense” (Rated PG) Presented by Theatre in the Park indoors at The Black Box Theatre inside the Johnson County Arts & Heritage Center
Saturday, March 21
- Gymnastics: Open Gym (Ages 4.5-16) Mill Creek Activity Center
- Make: Mini Makers – 9:30 a.m. (Ages 3-7) Johnson County Arts & Heritage Center – FULL, waitlist available
- Make: Mini Makers – 10:45 a.m. (Ages 3-7) Johnson County Arts & Heritage Center – FULL, waitlist available
- “Nunsense” (Rated PG) Presented by Theatre in the Park indoors at The Black Box Theatre inside the Johnson County Arts & Heritage Center
Sunday, March 22
- “Nunsense” (Rated PG) Presented by Theatre in the Park indoors at The Black Box Theatre inside the Johnson County Arts & Heritage Center
If this list doesn’t provide inspiration enough, consider visiting the Johnson County Museum with its “Everyday Democracy: Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness in Johnson County” special exhibit and KidScape, one of more than 20 playgrounds, one or more of JCPRD four Off-Leash Dog Areas, one of four disc golf courses, or a walk on one of the district’s Steamway Parks or other trails.
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