Recreation - Variety St. Louis

Socialization through Recreation

Variety’s Recreation programs, which include Adventure Camp and social groups, aim to introduce lifelong friendships through engaging activities.

Making Friends and Having Fun

Variety’s Recreation programs give children with disabilities unique in-person and virtual opportunities to enjoy engaging activities while socializing with friends old and new.

From Adventure Camp to Social Groups, and more, these programs, which are open to Variety Kids living in the greater St. Louis region, help participants learn new skills, gain independence, build confidence, and more, by having fun.

Adventure Camp

Summer Camp

At Camp, Variety Kids are empowered to form friendships, try new things, grow in self-esteem, and explore the world around them with independence and confidence.

Summer Camp is for ages 4 – 20, and provides an unforgettable experience for local children and teens with disabilities living in the 30 Missouri and Illinois counties Variety St. Louis serves. Each camper is paired with a counselor “buddy” to ensure their needs are met each day.

Campers are split into groups based on age to enjoy activities geared more toward their interests. Activities include swimming, ice skating, fishing, playing games, making crafts, music time, visiting area attractions and much more, all under the guidance of a caring and enthusiastic staff.

Camp takes place in week-long sessions offered in June and July, Monday – Friday from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. The location of camp changes daily to accommodate different activities and adventures, but each is located within the St. Louis region.

NEW for Summer Camp 2024:

A $100 deposit is required to ensure camper attendance.
Campers are allowed to attend camp for ONE week only.
The camp schedule has been changed to the following:

June 3 – 7
June 10 – 14
June 17 – 21
June 24 – 28
July 8 – 12
July 15 – 19

Registration for Summer Camp 2024 has closed.

Want to Work at Camp?

Variety St. Louis is looking for kind, enthusiastic staff members and volunteers (ages 14+) to join our team for Adventure Camp. Our unique camp programs are free to area children and teens (ages 4 – 20) with a physical or developmental disability.

Learn more about each position and apply today!

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Winter Camp

Winter Camp takes place for one week during the last week of the year when school is out of session and is offered to those who participated in the previous Summer Camp.

Registration for the next winter camp will open in Fall 2024. In the meantime, don’t forget to check out the remarkable memories and photos from Winter Camp 2023.

Winter Camp 2023 Photos

Questions? Contact Renee at renee@varietystl.org or at 314-720-7718.

MO Tax Credits

Variety St. Louis has been awarded Youth Opportunities Program (YOP) tax credits by the Missouri Department of Economic Development. You can take advantage of these tax credits all while supporting Variety Kids!

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“At Adventure Camp, I got to go places I had never been before and I got to do activities I didn’t think I could do!”

– Variety Teen Andrew

Activities at Adventure Camp

Fishing

Making Music

Playing Games

Swimming

Exploring STL

Ice Skating

Rock Climbing

Variety Family Social Groups

Planned by Variety Families for Variety Families, Variety Family Social Groups are open to Variety Kids and their families. This Variety Family Council program is intended to give area children and teens with disabilities a chance to socialize while participating in various in-person and virtual activities as well as outings throughout the area.

Activities have included virtual hangouts and game nights, trips to the movies, bowling, playing at the park, and more. During the pandemic, Social Groups have shifted to a completely online format, with plans to move back to in-person outings as soon as it is safe to do so.

Families participating in Social Groups are also the first to be offered complimentary tickets to community-sponsored events and attractions when they are occasionally made available to Variety St. Louis.

Sign up for Social Groups today to be notified when new outings are planned and when complimentary tickets are available. We hope to see you soon!

Other Ways We Help

TherHappy Kids

Equipment

Performing Arts

Become a Variety Family

You can apply to become a Variety Family now – the only requirements are that you live in the greater St. Louis region and have a child with a medically diagnosed disability. After this application is accepted, you will be added to our exclusive Variety Family email list and will receive notifications of free family events and outings, registrations for our programs such as Adventure Camp and Performing Arts, and more.

Download PDF Application