Educational & Engaging Activities for Kids & Teens in Toledo

Fun Guide  |  07/07/2023 3:00 pm

Learning Doesn’t Stop in Summer: Educational & Engaging Activities for Kids & Teens in Toledo

Learning Loss. Summer Slide. You’ve heard all about the challenges kids face keeping their minds active during summer, but are you aware of the many solutions available right here in Toledo? From a couple hours here and there to days-long camps, there is a youth development opportunity for every interest and age group.

We know it can be frustrating as a parent or caregiver, as these summer opportunities for kids often book up well before you’re even looking for them. Below is a round up of programs which - at the time of this writing - had spots open. That said… it certainly wouldn’t hurt to hurry up and register! 

Programs listed may be free or for a fee, so tap those Learn More links to get the scoop. We hope your young learners are having a wonderful summer so far!

Summer Learning Opportunities

Toledo Metroparks 
Learn More

The earlier sessions of the Toledo Metroparks Outdoor Explorers Camp were snapped up quick, but as of this writing some spots do remain for the final session, which runs 9am to 2pm from July 31st to August 4th! This last offering for the season will be held at Wildwood and is open to ages 5-7.  Adventurous kids will enjoy immersive nature-based activities, including nature strolls, wildlife viewing, hands-on experiments, crafts, games, outdoor skills, and more! 

Scrap4Art
Learn More

Scrap4Art in downtown Maumee is all about making brand new fun out of recycled materials. From July 17 - 20 during their Puppet Fun camp, youngsters ages 6-12 are invited to create independently or in small groups to adapt a familiar story into a puppet show. In addition to crafting puppets, kids will write a script and assist in making a puppet theater. Families will even be invited to attend the finished show at the conclusion of camp!

St. Ursula Academy Enrichment Camps
Learn More

St. Ursula Academy in Ottawa Hills has several cool camps for students in grades 5-8 with limited spaces available! We were intrigued by…

July 17-20 |  Astronaut Camp
Learn more about outer space and meet a real astrophysicist! This summer learning opportunity focuses on  astronomy, the solar system, and space exploration. You’ll even make your own rocket! 

July 17-20  |  Girls in Mural Art
Learn how large-scale mural art is produced, and get hands-on opportunities to paint! Through this summer course, students will also understand mural conservation and recognize the role and function of public art. 

July 10 - 13  |  CSI at SUA
Students who love a good mystery will be highly engaged as they learn crime scene investigation techniques and explore the science behind them. They’ll also have an opportunity to draw rough sketches as they work to reconstruct mock crime scene details.

City of Toledo

Learn More

View the Summer Programming Booklet

The City of Toledo has been putting in the work for months on end to craft a truly amazing lineup of activities for kids in every corner of Toledo. With programs for ages 4 through 17 and topics and timeframes all across the board, parents will find peace knowing that their area parks and community organizations have teamed up to make sure this summer is one to remember. 

Below are a few programs that caught Toledo.com’s eye, but do be sure to hit the links above for full details as there’s so, so much more to see!

July 10 - 14  |  Chinese Art & Culture Camp
Presented by the Chinese Center of Toledo, this camp for ages 8-12 at Ottawa Park lets youngsters explore Chinese culture through art, language, and physical activity. The camp offers martial arts, Chinese games, and crafts. 

July 10-13 or 17-20 | UrbanVolley 419 Four Day Volleyball Training Camps
Athletes will have the opportunity to train in a fun beach volleyball setting at International Park! Players will also develop their individual communication, listening and motor skills. Instruction takes place for ages 6-12 in the mornings, then ages 13-16 in the afternoons.

July 11 - August 3 |  Speak Up Poetry & Performing Arts Program
Presented by the Madd Poets Society Inc., this arts experience runs Mondays through Wednesdays at Robinson Elementary to engage youth in drawing, writing, drumming, performing, poetry, and painting. In addition to artistic components, the program offers peer-to-peer mentorship, needed resources, and confidence-building opportunities.

July 17-21 | Camp GOTR
Girls on the Run Northwest Ohio combines athleticism with friendship in their intentional curriculum that supports not only physical health but social and emotional learning. Their one-week camp is open to ages 8-11, and the session mentioned here takes place at Trilby Park.

July 24-27 or July 31-August 3 | Literacy Camp
Read for Literacy is offering several one-week literacy camps for children, focusing on increasing early literacy skills such as letter recognition, rhyming, alliteration, and phonemic awareness. The late July & August lessons take place at Walbridge Park and are geared to ages 4-8.

August 7-11  |  Summer Basketball Weekend Camps
In addition to providing athletic instruction, these week-long camps at Wayman Palmer YMCA are led by experienced coaches who will inspire confidence and positive social skills among campers ages 9-16.

Toledo Zoo
Learn More

Take the whole family out for an evening animal adventure! Twilight Treks run from 6:30 to 9:30pm at the Toledo Zoo, during which you’ll get up close to touchable animals, enjoy a pizza dinner, meet a zookeeper, tour the grounds, learn about zoo conservation and take home a souvenir. Twilight Treks are open to ages 5 on up!

Imagination Station
Learn More

At the time of this writing, a couple late July and early August camps at Imagination Station still had limited availability! With offerings running July 24 to 28 or July 31 to August 4, choose from…

Project: Storytime
Little engineers are encouraged to find solutions for their favorite storybook characters. Kids will combine fantasy and reality as they explore ways to save the Three Little Pigs, Cinderella and Mousetronaut.

The Science of Magic
Be a magician and uncover the science behind magic tricks. Discover how objects disappear and fly through the air while performing astonishing feats!

Toledo Library

Learn More about Summer Reading
Learn More about Youth Programs

As you would expect, the Toledo Library has far more summer opportunities for kids & teens than this article can contain! Visit your favorite branch or their website for more, but here are some highlights…

Now through August 5  |  Summer Read
Toledo Library’s Summer Read is simple- just read for 30 days this summer and be eligible to win prizes! The program is also super manageable; you can track your progress with a paper tracker, count days digitally, or add stickers to the physical reading boards at your home branch. Everyone who completes Summer Read is entered into grand prize drawings for Nintendo Switch Lites, Kindles, Cricuts, Fitbit trackers, gift cards, and more!

Saturdays from 10 to noon  |  Saturday Morning Chess
Visit the Main Branch downtown every Saturday to play chess with other interested kids and teens. No experience or instruction needed! Young players from ages 6 - 17 will be welcomed by their peers for an engaging, easygoing  morning of play and conversation.

July 11 - 19  |  Don’t Croak! Science & Animal Conservation Program
These single session youth science programs occur at various branches between July 11th and 19th, with each running about one hour. Learners ages 6-10 are welcomed to join the Lucas County Soil and Water Conservation District team to be ‘transformed’ into a frog! The frogs - er, um, students! - will learn all about how a frog uses only their tongue to catch their food and be challenged to eat rather than croak.

St. Francis de Sales School Sports Camps
Learn More 

Kids in grades K-4 can learn an exciting new sport when they sign up for Lacrosse Camp, which runs July 10-12. 

For grades 7-12, the Knights coaches will offer a Strength & Conditioning Camp from on July 13 & 14 where campers get an introduction to free weights, calisthenics and plyometrics.

YWCA TOP Summer Program
Learn More 

Among the Toledo-area camps great for teens is the YWCA’s Teen Outreach camp. Available to Toledo Public School students who will enter grades 9 through 12 come Fall 2023, the summer program offers a safe place to experience a little bit of everything - such as sports, gardening, and service learning. The program will also include opportunities to enjoy various outings and field trips. The TOP Summer Program kickoff meeting is July 7th at 1:30pm.