Omaha Area Family Fun Guide - Summer 2023

WELCOME!

Summer days are finally here! We are so excited to bring you the 2023 Summer Issue of our Family Fun Guide for the Omaha Area!

This edition is filled with a great variety of Farmers Markets – the perfect opportunity to continue supporting local businesses, and beautiful hiking trails to visit with your family this summer. We know your kids are looking forward to school being out, and what better way to keep them entertained with a fun summer camp!

Family Fun has included our Summer Camp Guide with information on incredible summer camps for kids in this edition! After you’ve found the perfect summer camp, complete a word search with your child to get into the summer spirit!

Family Fun thanks you for your continued support as your trusted source for fun activities in the area. We wish you and your family a fun and safe summer season!

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DISCLAIMER:

©2023 Family Fun in Omaha, All rights reserved. We are not responsible for errors and omissions, or changes since publication. Reproduction in whole or in part granted only by written permission of the publisher.

BEST PLACES FOR HIKING WITH KIDS IN THE OMAHA AREA

Are you ready for family adventures this Summer? Get ready for an exciting hiking experience with your family that will leave you with memories to cherish forever. Omaha is full of beautiful hiking and walking trails where you can discover the wonders of nature. From lush forests to cute critters, there's so much to see and explore. So pack your water bottles, put on your best hiking shoes, and get ready to embark on an unforgettable journey through Omaha's breathtaking wilderness!

DESOTO NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE

Location: 1434 316th Lane, Missouri Valley, IA

Cost: Daily entrance fees per vehicle.

Visit DeSoto’s Visitor Center, Auto tour route, Hiking trails, Steamboat Bertrand Discovery Site.

Note: DeSoto National Wildlife Refuge limits access to some of the refuge roads during the fall and spring waterfowl migration season. This includes the south entrance gate, as well as the south and east side of the loop road. This limited access is in effect each year from October 15-April 14.

EUGENE T. MAHONEY STATE PARK

Location: 28500 West Park Hwy, Ashland, NE

Cost: Park Entry Permit is required. Families can visit the aquatic center and indoor playground, explore the park’s hiking and biking trails, climb the observation tower and enjoy sledding and ice skating during the Winter months.

FONTENELLE FOREST

Location: 1111 Bellevue Blvd N, Bellevue

Cost: Memberships available.* Trails, boardwalk, children’s play areas, special programming and classes throughout year.

*Note: Members of Omaha Public Libraries, Council Bluffs Public Library, and Bellevue Public Library can check out a pass to visit Fontenelle Forest!

HENRY DOORLY ZOO AND AQUARIUM

Location: 3701 S. 10th Street, Omaha

Cost: Memberships available.

One of our favorite Omaha treasures, the Zoo provides many walking areas to view the animals and a playground.

HERON HAVEN

Location: 11809 Old Maple Rd., Omaha

Cost: Free. Donations welcome.

Heron Haven is a spring-fed wetland sanctuary with trails and special programming throughout year, including family-friendly 2nd Saturday events.

HITCHCOCK NATURE

CENTER

Location: 27792 Ski Hill Loop, Honey Creek, IA

Cost: Park Permit Required.

Picturesque area full of hiking trails, an observation tower, Visitors Center, and fun special events. Find out more about the scenic trails here!

HUMMEL PARK NATURE CENTER

Location: 3033 Hummel Park Rd., Omaha

Cost: Free. Special programs throughout year (some have small charge).

Hiking trails, Gaga pit, Frisbee / Disc Golf course, Hummel Hike Club, special programs throughout year.

LAURITZEN GARDENS

Location: 100 Bancroft St.

Admission Cost. Memberships available.

Stroll around the beautiful Botanical Gardens with paved walking paths. See a model train railroad, indoor Conservatory, Visitor Center, and many themed garden areas.

OPPD ARBORETUM

Location: 108th & Blondo

Cost: Free

The OPPD arboretum is an outdoor education area where you can walk along paved pathways.

PLATTE RIVER STATE PARK

Location: 14421 346th St., Louisville, NE

Cost: Park Entry Permit is required. Enjoy the park’s picturesque waterfall, scenic hiking and biking trails, and two observation towers that allow those who climb to the top a spectacular view of both the Platte River and Eugene T. Mahoney State Park, which is just across the river.

SCHRAMM PARK

Location: 15810 Hwy 50, Louisville, NE

Cost: Park Entry Permit is required. Families can explore a geologic display, feed fish in cool water trout ponds, tour the Schramm Education Center (admission charged) and enjoy a picnic on the bluffs.

WILDLIFE SAFARI PARK

Location: 16406 N. 292 Street, Ashland

Admission Cost.

Open end of March through October. See website for dates.

There are over two miles of hiking trails throughout Wildlife Safari Park. Hike through Wolf Canyon or head over to the lake, visitors are sure to find a trail for all level of hikers to enjoy.

OMAHA AREA FARMERS MARKETS

Choose from a variety of the best Farmers Markets in the Omaha area, many with special events and kids activities! A perfect opportunity to ”Buy local and eat fresh!”

FARMERS MARKET COUNCIL BLUFFS

Thursdays, May 4 – Sept. (4:30 –7:30 pm)

Opening Day: May 4, 2023

Location: 1st Avenue and Bayliss Park, Council Bluffs, IA.

OMAHA FARMERS MARKET IN THE OLD MARKET

Saturdays, May 6 – Oct. 14 (8 am –12:30 pm)

Opening Day: May 6, 2023

Location: Old Market, 11th St. & Jackson St., Omaha, NE.

VILLAGE POINTE FARMERS MARKET

TBA 2023

Opening Day: TBA

Location: Village Pointe Shopping Center, 168th St. & Dodge St., Omaha, NE.

OMAHA FARMERS MARKET IN AKSARBEN VILLAGE

May 7 to October 15

Opening Day: May 7, 2023

Location: Aksarben Village at 67th St. & Mercy Rd., Omaha, NE.

NIGHT MARKET IN MIDTOWN CROSSING

May 26, July 28 & August 25 (6 – 10 pm)

Opening Day: May 26, 2023

Location: Turner Park, 3110 Farnam St., Omaha, NE.

BELLEVUE FARMERS MARKET

Thursdays, May 18th (3 pm – 7 pm)

Opening Day: May 18, 2023

Location: Washington Park, 20th St. & Franklin St., Bellevue, NE.

PAPILLION FARMERS MARKET

Wednesdays, May 24th – Aug. 16 (No market on June 14, Papillion Days) (5 – 8 pm)

Opening Day: May 24

Location: City Park, W. Lincoln St., Papillion, NE.

THE GIFFORD PARK NEIGHBORHOOD MARKET

Opening Day: June 3, 2023 (5 – 8 p.m.)

Opening Day: June 3, 2023

Location: Gifford Park Business

District – 520 N. 33rd St., Omaha, NE.

THE FLORENCE MILL FARMERS MARKET

Sundays during the summer (June through September)

Location: 9102 N. 30th St.

CHECK OUT OUR LIST OF LOCAL FARMS WHERE YOU CAN BUY PRODUCE, MEAT, AND MORE!

VISIT:

FAMILYFUNINOMAHA.COM/

LOCAL-FARMS/

Looking for fun at a variety of Summer Camps in Omaha?

Create, discover, explore, perform, play, and make memories this summer with many Omaha Area Summer Camps!

Summer camps are a great way to keep your kids active, having fun, and learning while school is out of session.

From Art Camps to Specialty Camps and themes for every age and interest, you are sure to find one for your kids.

Be sure to visit the online guide, too, where you can search by Type of Camp, Age of Campers, and Week of Camp!

Browse through this updated guide to find the perfect Summer Camp for your kids!

Featured Listing

100 Bancroft Street Omaha

Exciting adventures await campers 5-12 years old! Lauritzen Gardens is a giant outdoor learning lab, where hands-on experiences in nature and outdoor activities are supplemented with crafts, games, snacks, and in-class lessons. Choose from six full-day camps with fun themes that connect children to nature, build life skills, and foster an appreciation for the environment.

Featured Listing

Two convenient locations: 20th & Farnam and 120th & Center

Spend a Summer in the spotlight at The Rose! Camps for ages 3-18 in drama, dance, musical theater, voice, acting and theater skills! Grow as a performer, learn new skills, expand your creativity and have the time of your life! Enroll TODAY at www.rosetheater.org!

LAURITZEN GARDENS SUMMER ADVENTURE CAMP

THE ROSE THEATER SUMMER CAMPS

New to the Guide:

Multiple Locations

At Girl Scout Camp, the possibilities are endless. You'll be amazed at what outdoor experiences can do to develop her confidence to take on new challenges. Day, overnight and weekend camps await you!

Multiple locations in Papillion, Lincoln, Fremont, Neb City, Grand Island, Valentine and North Platte. Experience ziplining, challenge courses, archery, swimming and more!

This summer, the KANEKO team and professional partners will provide week-long, exciting immersive sessions in Architecture, Movement, Textiles, and Visual Art. Campers also have opportunities to spend time in the spectacular KANEKO exhibition of sculptures and drawings by James Surls.

GIRL SCOUTS SPIRIT OF NEBRASKA SUMMER CAMPS

KANEKO CREATIVE CAMPS

1111 Jones Street, Omaha

AMAZING ATHLETES SPORTS CAMP

Multiple Locations

Amazing athletes is a multi sport program for kiddos ages 2-8 years old. Each camp is action packed with 8 different sports, games and fun activities.

Come join us at Barreras Family Farm this summer for hands-on learning and outdoor fun! Campers, ages 3-15, can explore the farm with our 1/2 day or weeklong camp themes. Help take

care of the farm animals, or experience our adventure camps including survival, predators, pioneering, and mommy & me. And our Farming with STE+AM camp takes farming to the next level!

AND CLASSES

Multiple Locations

PARENTS! Are you looking for an activity for your child that is positive, safe, and encourages development? Sign up at Bloom for summer dance

camps or weekly classes!

• Ages 3 - Adults

• Ballet, Tap, Jazz, Hip Hop, Acro, Contemporary, Musical Theater + more!

• Three Locations: Northwest Omaha (Blondo), Southwest Omaha (Oakview) & Elkhorn

Join us at Bloom this summer!

14449 F. St. Omaha

BARRERAS FAMILY FARM

BLOOM DANCE STUDIO SUMMER DANCE CAMPS

BLUEJAY SUMMER CAMP

Creighton University - 2500 California Plz, Omaha

Campers from grades 1-5 are invited to register for one or more sessions for days filled with indoor and outdoor games and sports, swimming excursions, museum and zoo visits, nature walks,

arts and crafts, and much more!

Campers will have the opportunity to interact with and learn from Creighton students, faculty, and staff from various departments and fields of study.

CAMP AT THE MAC

Maple Athletic Complex - 4718 N 120th Street, Omaha

Camp at the MAC is a sports camp for kids! Our goal is to teach kids the fundamentals of multiple sports in a fun and safe environment! Kids will be grouped by age and run through age-appropriate drills, activities, and games for each sport. Days will consist of lessons, games, snack/lunch, and other fun activities!

CAMP LEGACY

6860

Situated on 11 acres in Bennington, NE, Camp Legacy offers week-long day camps for children K-6th grade (Upper Camp).

Activities include: swimming, arts & crafts, team building, cooking, sports, and MUCH MORE!

N. 166th Ave, Omaha

CREIGHTON PREP SUMMER CAMPS

Creighton University - 2500 California Plz, Omaha

Whether you want to help your child develop an existing skill or explore something entirely new, Creighton Prep Summer Camps offer the perfect opportunity. Designed for boys and girls from

kindergarten through ninth grade, camps meet daily. With morning and afternoon sessions, you can select multiple camps to attend. Visit www. CreightonPrep.org/camps to learn more!

DURHAM MUSEUM SUMMER CAMP

801 S 10th Street, Omaha

What's a great way to inspire young minds and give them a summer of fun? Summer camps at

The Durham Museum, of course! Choose from a wide range of camp themes including science, construction, wizards and more! Half-day and full-day programs are available for 1st-5th graders. (Please note these are the grade levels your child will be entering in the 2023-2024 school year.)

FONTENELLE FOREST SUMMER CAMPS

Multiple Locations

Experience a wild summer outdoors at Fontenelle Forest, just minutes from downtown Omaha. Campers ages 3 to 15 will explore the outdoors

through positive and fun nature-based activities designed to teach your child to love nature. With a variety of camp themes and activities, there is something for everyone! Register early to save your child's spot!

KINDERMUSIK - MUSIC AND MOVEMENT CAMPS!

11802

Sing into summer as we explore instruments galore and so much more! Each class includes activities to support your child's musical, socialemotional, large-motor, fine-motor, cognitive, and literacy skills. Agespecific classes are available for kids ages 6 months - 10 years. Ukulele Camp, too! Travelling? It's ok with our flexible make-up policy during our summer session!

MCGUIGAN ARTS ACADEMY - ROCK

Multiple Locations

Rock 'n' Palooza runs Mon - Fri in June & July at Countryside Village and Benson Theatre. Happy Feet runs Saturdays in June & July at Countryside Village.

Explore the music of great rock bands! Explore acting through improvisation and scene work! Get messy and create outside the box through drawing and painting! These camps explore it all!

METROPOLITAN COMMUNITY COLLEGE FOR KIDS & TEENS SUMMER EXPLORATION

Multiple Locations

Metropolitan Community College offers College for Kids and College for Teens courses that bring fun and learning to children ages 3-18. Kids and teens can take classes that focus on art, culinary, engineering, science, robotics, STEM and more. Courses are offered at multiple locations within Omaha and our four county service area.

Pacific St, Omaha

NEBRASKA DANCE

Multiple Locations

Nebraska Dance offers Summer Camps for age 3 through 5th grade. Our 3-day camps are offered M/W/F, with options at our West location in June and Central location in July. Camps include

dancing, crafts, snacks and tons of fun! Boutique Ballet will be performing "Dorothy Meets the Wizard". This 5 day session meets M-F with a special show for families on Friday evening.

OMAHA SCHOOL OF MUSIC & DANCE SUMMER CAMPS

14505 California St, Omaha

FULL DAY camps filled with fun to keep your children busy during summer break!

We will teach your child SEVERAL different styles of dance and will provide a camp t-shirt, morning and afternoon snack, and crafts. They will learn a dance routine or Musical Theater number and on the last day of camp, each group will have a performance for friends and family to come watch!

QUEST FORWARD ACADEMY SUMMER EXPLORATIONS CAMPS

2810 N 118th Street, Omaha

Fun, one-week courses at "The Forward-Thinking High School" designed to spark curiosity and build skills for current and/or upcoming 6th, 7th, and 8th-grade students. We have seven exciting, four-day courses to choose from: Outdoor Education, Geology & Archaeology, Entrepreneurship, Crime Scene Forensics & Psychology, Film Making, Graphic Design/Marketing, and Robotics.

Multiple Locations

Our summer show choir camps are preparatory/ growth experiences for students. Unlike curricular show choirs in schools, we are not preparing for competitions. This affords us the opportunity to meet each student at their current level of development to help them improve their abilities through focused instruction and performance in a low-pressure environment.

WILDLIFE ENCOUNTERS SUMMER CAMP

17114 S 63rd St, Papillion Kangaroos, Parrots & Lizards

oh my! Meet real animal ambassadors while learning about wildlife conservation, zookeeping, animal careers & animal care! Miles of hiking trails, swimming pool with lifeguards, nature center & more!

Girl Scout Camp

14917 E Park Hwy, Louisville

Staying at an overnight summer camp is one of the most fun and positive growth activities a child or teen can participate in. We invite your child to join us at YMCA Camp Kitaki for

both exciting and relaxing activities such as archery, campfires, zip lining, canoeing, and crafts...all while building life skills, character, friendships, and a lifetime of memories!

Multiple Locations

YMCA Day Camps offer kids aged 5-12 years* a fun, safe & engaging environment where they will find friends & a sense of belonging & accomplishment. With a focus on closing

the summer achievement gap, parents can rest easy knowing your child is learning every day, all while having a great time. Camps fill up quickly, so don't wait!

*Must have completed kindergarten.

BE SURE TO VISIT THE ONLINE GUIDE, TOO, WHERE YOU CAN SEARCH BY TYPE OF CAMP, AGE OF CAMPERS, AND WEEK OF CAMP!

YMCA CAMP KITAKI

YMCA DAY CAMP

WOODBROOK ELEMENTARY PTO

If you are a Woodbrook Elementary parent, community member or friend and you would like to become a sponsorfor our school, we would love to have your support. Funds raised through sponsorships will benefit various programs provided by the Woodbrook Elementary PTO.

BRONZE LEVEL SILVER LEVEL

GOLD

PLATINUM

LEVEL $400 $1,000 $2,000 $3,500

BENEFITS

PTO Website & Social Media Exposure

Ad Space in Yearbook

Logo on Fall Fundraiser and Spring

Carnival T-Shirts

PTO Newsletter Acknowledgement

Appearance in Thank You Sign at School

BENEFITS

PTO Website & Social Media Exposure

Medium Ad Space in Yearbook

Logo on Fall Fundraiser and Spring

Carnival T-Shirts

Activity Sponsor at Fall and Spring School Wide Events

PTO Newsletter Acknowledgement

Appearance in Thank You Sign at School

(1) Feature in PTO Newsletter

LEVEL

BENEFITS

PTO Website & Social Media Exposure

Large Ad Space in Yearbook

Logo on Fall Fundraiser and Spring Carnival T-Shirts

Activity Sponsor at Fall and Spring School Wide Events

PTO Newsletter Acknowledgement

Appearance in Thank You Sign at School

(1) Feature in PTO Newsletter

(4) Complimentary Passes to Fall, Winter and Spring School Wide Events

BENEFITS

PTO Website & Social Media Exposure

Large Ad Space in Yearbook

Logo on Fall Fundraiser and Spring

Carnival T-Shirts

PTO Newsletter Acknowledgement

Appearance in Thank You Sign at School

(1) Feature in PTO Newsletter

(4) Complimentary Passes to Fall, Winter and Spring School Wide Events

(1) VIP Tent at Fall and Spring School Wide Event

Community-Wide Exclusive Event Sponsor

Name ___________________________ Phone # ______________________ Email ________________________

Address _____________________________________________________________________________________

Sponsorship Donation Level : Platinum ___________ Gold ____________ Silver __________ Bronze _________

If you would like to provide a donation to support the efforts of the Woodbrook Elementary PTO, please fill out the below form with your information. Complete form along with a check made payable to Woodbrook Elementary PTO. Online Instructions please visit the Woodbrook PTO website.

OMAHA Family Fun IN

FIND MANY MORE IDEAS OF THINGS TO DO THIS SUMMER HERE: