Your kid is going to
beg to come back.
RC racing, foam tipped archery, drone battles, sports clinics, and 20+ other programs for kids ages 5–14 — brought directly to your community. Offered across St. Louis, Nashville, Kansas City & Medford.
↓ Start here — find a program near you
Families served
Now enrolling
Summer Camps
- Background-checked staff
- SEL-focused approach
- NAA-aligned programs
- 1:14 staff-to-kid ratio
Play with purpose.
Kids learn best when they're fully engaged. That's why every program starts with something they genuinely can't wait to try — RC cars, foam archery, drone competitions, sports clinics, and more.
The real magic happens in the moments that follow. A disagreement with a teammate. A challenge that doesn't have an easy answer. A time they need to ask for help. Our coaches guide kids through those moments, not around them.
The fun gets them in the door. The experience is what they take home.
Trusted by schools, parks & rec centers across 4 regions
Vetted by the people who know what to look for.
STEM.org Accredited
Best in STEM — Top 5%
Best in Youth Enrichment
Partnered with
- School districts & private schools
- Community centers
- Parks & Rec Departments
- 24+ current partnerships
Something for every interest.
Tap any program to see schedules and register.
Enrichment Clubs
Weekly after-school programs built around what your kid is actually into — STEM, sports, games, trading cards, and more. They show up excited. They leave with more than they came with.
- 4–8 week sessions at partner schools & rec centers
- Rotating themes: sports, STEM, art, leadership
- Same coach every week — kids build real relationships
Sports Clinics
Six focused sessions where kids build real skills, compete, and learn how to win — and lose — like a teammate.
- Basketball, flag football, baseball, soccer & more
- Small groups, big reps — every kid gets touches
- Drop-in single days or full multi-week clinics
Before & After School
Structured mornings and afternoons that go way beyond supervised waiting. Real programming, real coaches, real growth.
- Homework help, free play, and guided activities
- Background-checked staff, 1:14 average ratio
- Daily schedule built around your school's bell times
School Break Camps
Full and half-day camps packed with high-energy activities on days school is out. Your kid won't want to leave.
- Summer, winter, spring & teacher-workday camps
- Sports, STEM challenges, water days & field trips
- Flexible weekly sign-up — pick the weeks you need
See us in action.
By the numbers.
Real families, real seasons, real results.
Families re-enroll
Season over season across programs
Happy participants
Ages 5–14
Partnerships launched
Schools, districts & community sites
Staff return for multiple years
Enrichment instructors
Not just another
kid's program.
Most programs keep kids busy. We keep them growing.
The fun is intentional.
RC racing, foam archery, drones, and 20+ activities aren't just crowd-pleasers — high engagement is what makes kids fully present, willing to take risks, and open to learning. You can't coach a kid who's checked out.
Every session has a debrief.
After each activity, our coaches pause and guide kids through what happened — what worked, what was hard, how they showed up as teammates. Kids don't sit through a lesson. They process something they just lived.
Coaches who guide, not rescue.
Our staff let kids work through frustration, conflict, and challenge — then help them make sense of it. That's the rep that builds confidence for when parents aren't in the room.
Safe, structured environment.
1:14 staff-to-kid ratio, background-checked and CPR-certified coaches, and clear safety protocols at every site.
Don't just take our word for it.
Verified reviews from Google, Facebook, Indeed, and LinkedIn — the parents who trust us, the partners who host us, and the coaches who work here.
"Wow! Our 9 yr. old son attended a Pokémon card game/trading week long workshop. Fabian, the instructor was terrific. He has great awareness and made the week amazing."
Douglas Bram
Parent, St. Louis
"We have had such a great experience with Recreation Academy at Kirkwood Park. Our kids have attended several weeks of extreme sports summer camp and have always had a great time. Staff and management are accessible and wonderful to work with."
Amanda Penick Brauer
Parent
"The Recreation Academy has helped us add so much variety to our weekly end-of-day enrichment programs — tons of sessions have been a hit with our families. Their staff are professional, prompt, and always super engaged. Truly a fantastic company to work with."
Eve R.
The Community School
"I have absolutely loved my time at The Rec Academy and can't wait to come back and see all of my Cadets again next summer! It's really refreshing to be at a youth organization that promotes a healthy environment for everyone and supports their staff so well."
Camp Counselor
Camp Counselor (Seasonal) · St. Louis, MO
"I worked here through college and it was easily the most rewarding job I've had. The team is supportive, the schedule works around classes, and you get real coaching experience with elementary-age kids. Highly recommend for anyone in education."
Jordan P.
Former Enrichment Facilitator
"Highly recommend Rec Academy for your kid camp needs! Great staff! Awesome activity games my super active 7 year old. Naps will ensue!"
Gary Stewart
Parent, St. Louis
"My son loves the Extreme Sports camp. Great experience!"
Lindsay Schultz Wessels
Parent
"Fantastic program with excellent staff! Kids have so much fun!!"
Katrina Paumier
Parent, St. Louis
"Our kiddo loved the sports camp. The teachers were very helpful. What a great week."
Jen Kaesberg
Parent
"Fun and supportive environment with a lot of room for personal and professional growth! Working for The Recreation Academy has truly been a fulfilling experience."
Area Manager
Area Manager · St. Louis, MO
"My son attended their Summer camps and had a blast! The staff was great and caring. Highly recommend!"
Kelli Jaeger
Parent, St. Louis
"I have an uncoordinated six year old who loves running around. I was worried he might not be able to follow all the rules or would get out right away, but that wasn't the case with the playground games camp. The counselors did a great job of making sure everyone was included. His only complaint was that I picked him up… he wanted to stay all day."
Rebecca Zide
Parent, St. Louis
"Both of my boys have loved The Recreation Academy. They've done both Spring Break camps and Summer Camps. Each day they are excited to participate!"
Tiffany Whelehon
Parent, St. Louis
"Wow! Our 9 yr. old son attended a Pokémon card game/trading week long workshop. Fabian, the instructor was terrific. He has great awareness and made the week amazing."
Douglas Bram
Parent, St. Louis
"We have had such a great experience with Recreation Academy at Kirkwood Park. Our kids have attended several weeks of extreme sports summer camp and have always had a great time. Staff and management are accessible and wonderful to work with."
Amanda Penick Brauer
Parent
"The Recreation Academy has helped us add so much variety to our weekly end-of-day enrichment programs — tons of sessions have been a hit with our families. Their staff are professional, prompt, and always super engaged. Truly a fantastic company to work with."
Eve R.
The Community School
"I have absolutely loved my time at The Rec Academy and can't wait to come back and see all of my Cadets again next summer! It's really refreshing to be at a youth organization that promotes a healthy environment for everyone and supports their staff so well."
Camp Counselor
Camp Counselor (Seasonal) · St. Louis, MO
"I worked here through college and it was easily the most rewarding job I've had. The team is supportive, the schedule works around classes, and you get real coaching experience with elementary-age kids. Highly recommend for anyone in education."
Jordan P.
Former Enrichment Facilitator
"Highly recommend Rec Academy for your kid camp needs! Great staff! Awesome activity games my super active 7 year old. Naps will ensue!"
Gary Stewart
Parent, St. Louis
"My son loves the Extreme Sports camp. Great experience!"
Lindsay Schultz Wessels
Parent
"Fantastic program with excellent staff! Kids have so much fun!!"
Katrina Paumier
Parent, St. Louis
"Our kiddo loved the sports camp. The teachers were very helpful. What a great week."
Jen Kaesberg
Parent
"Fun and supportive environment with a lot of room for personal and professional growth! Working for The Recreation Academy has truly been a fulfilling experience."
Area Manager
Area Manager · St. Louis, MO
"My son attended their Summer camps and had a blast! The staff was great and caring. Highly recommend!"
Kelli Jaeger
Parent, St. Louis
"I have an uncoordinated six year old who loves running around. I was worried he might not be able to follow all the rules or would get out right away, but that wasn't the case with the playground games camp. The counselors did a great job of making sure everyone was included. His only complaint was that I picked him up… he wanted to stay all day."
Rebecca Zide
Parent, St. Louis
"Both of my boys have loved The Recreation Academy. They've done both Spring Break camps and Summer Camps. Each day they are excited to participate!"
Tiffany Whelehon
Parent, St. Louis
"Good place to work while being active and having fun with the kiddos. If you work in education and are off during the summer months, this is the best way to make some extra cash."
Coach
Coach · St. Louis, MO
"One of the best side gigs I've had. The Rec Academy trusts you to run your own class, gives you real curriculum to work from, and pays well for the hours. The kids genuinely look forward to it every week."
Marissa T.
Former Enrichment Facilitator
"My sons (5 and 9) had a great week of camp at Kirkwood Park with the Rec. Academy. They came home happy and excited to go back the next day."
Nora Schweighart
Parent, St. Louis
"My daughter Corinne loved it, highly recommend!"
Caroline Tee
Parent
"Working with The Recreation Academy has allowed our school to increase summer revenue, expand programming availability, and has been an absolute pleasure to work with. We love the Rec Academy and look forward to continuing to work with them."
Adam H.
New City School
"Management and team are great! They truly care about you and your personal & professional development. The work/life balance is for you to create. You choose your hours and what activities you work. I love the flexibility."
Area Manager
Area Manager · Chicago, IL
"Great organization to grow with. I started as an Enrichment Facilitator running after-school programs and left with real experience leading groups of kids. Management actually listens and invests in staff development."
Alicia R.
Former Enrichment Facilitator
"Very fun place to work if you're looking for something to keep you active and with kids. You are supplied with the materials needed for each class. You make your own schedule and the pay is great."
Assistant Manager
Assistant Manager · St. Louis, MO
"My son loves after school kickball! It's a great way to interact with kids from other grades and have fun!"
Liz Pratt
Parent, St. Louis
"My son loves all classes through the Rec Academy! He has fun and stays active. The instructors play with the kids and seem to be having a great time."
Beth Hausner
Parent, St. Louis
"My son did a Recreation Academy summer camp through his elementary school and had a great time doing all the fun activities, such as dodgeball, games, and sports."
Julia Maranan
Parent, St. Louis
"My son started camp this week at Kirkwood park and has absolutely loved it! He's getting three straight hours of energy out playing different sports and connecting with friends. Thanks for a great start to the summer!"
Chad Lembach
Parent, St. Louis
"Good place to work while being active and having fun with the kiddos. If you work in education and are off during the summer months, this is the best way to make some extra cash."
Coach
Coach · St. Louis, MO
"One of the best side gigs I've had. The Rec Academy trusts you to run your own class, gives you real curriculum to work from, and pays well for the hours. The kids genuinely look forward to it every week."
Marissa T.
Former Enrichment Facilitator
"My sons (5 and 9) had a great week of camp at Kirkwood Park with the Rec. Academy. They came home happy and excited to go back the next day."
Nora Schweighart
Parent, St. Louis
"My daughter Corinne loved it, highly recommend!"
Caroline Tee
Parent
"Working with The Recreation Academy has allowed our school to increase summer revenue, expand programming availability, and has been an absolute pleasure to work with. We love the Rec Academy and look forward to continuing to work with them."
Adam H.
New City School
"Management and team are great! They truly care about you and your personal & professional development. The work/life balance is for you to create. You choose your hours and what activities you work. I love the flexibility."
Area Manager
Area Manager · Chicago, IL
"Great organization to grow with. I started as an Enrichment Facilitator running after-school programs and left with real experience leading groups of kids. Management actually listens and invests in staff development."
Alicia R.
Former Enrichment Facilitator
"Very fun place to work if you're looking for something to keep you active and with kids. You are supplied with the materials needed for each class. You make your own schedule and the pay is great."
Assistant Manager
Assistant Manager · St. Louis, MO
"My son loves after school kickball! It's a great way to interact with kids from other grades and have fun!"
Liz Pratt
Parent, St. Louis
"My son loves all classes through the Rec Academy! He has fun and stays active. The instructors play with the kids and seem to be having a great time."
Beth Hausner
Parent, St. Louis
"My son did a Recreation Academy summer camp through his elementary school and had a great time doing all the fun activities, such as dodgeball, games, and sports."
Julia Maranan
Parent, St. Louis
"My son started camp this week at Kirkwood park and has absolutely loved it! He's getting three straight hours of energy out playing different sports and connecting with friends. Thanks for a great start to the summer!"
Chad Lembach
Parent, St. Louis
Frontload. Experience. Debrief. Repeat.
Every session runs the same four-step loop. Kids start to anticipate it. They internalize the language. They bring it home. That's how soft skills actually stick — not from a lesson, but from doing it over and over in a context they care about.
Frontload
Set expectations before the activity starts so kids can focus on playing well.
Experience
Kids do the activity. Coaches model and reinforce values in real time.
Debrief
Pause and reflect: what worked, what was hard, how we showed up as teammates.
Repeat
Next activity, next session, next week — the loop builds the muscle.
Three doors. One mission.
Whether you're enrolling your kid, hosting a program, or looking for a job — start where you stand.
Common questions.
Ready to see the difference?
Start with a zip code. Whether you're a parent, school admin, or future coach — we'll get you to the right next step.