Keeping kids engaged during summer break just got easier for KC-area families looking to trade screen time for dream time.
The 2025 Youth Opportunities & Resource Guide just dropped, created by ThrYve (Together Helping Reduce Youth Violence for Equity), and it’s packed with everything from paid gigs for teens to free spray parks for the little ones. Visit WeThrYve.org and click on “Youth Resources”; the guide is the top item on the page.
This 54-page treasure map, which covers both sides of the state line but has a strong Wyandotte County presence, offers a stunning variety of options:
- Youth Navigator Program with leadership training and stipends
- Armourdale Renewal Association’s paid summer employment for ages 14-18
- Health Sciences Academy at KU Medical Center with $1,000 stipends
- Academic research training at Children’s Mercy
- Ailey Camp dance program for ages 11-14
- KCYA Art Sampler Camps running June-August
- Camp Fury where girls train alongside female emergency responders
- KC Farm School’s agricultural apprenticeships
- Free Wyandotte County Spray Parks open daily 9AM-9PM
- Parkwood Pool $1 admission
From college campus experiences like UMKC’s Pharmacy Camp to community service through Youth Volunteer Corps, the guide spans activities for every interest, age group, and budget.
Programs run the gamut from one-day workshops to eight-week intensives, with start dates scattered throughout June and July. Many of the activities are free or paid opportunities.
The resource section of the guide extends beyond recreation, connecting families with food pantries, healthcare resources, educational support, and even gardening assistance through KC Farm School’s “Let’s Grow Wyandotte” initiative.
With most programs beginning in early June and many offering limited spots, families still looking for activities should get busy exploring options at WeThrYve.org before registration deadlines pass.
