The City of Helena Parks and Recreation Department is proud to partner with the Kay McKenna Youth Foundation to offer affordable summer camps for kids ages 6-9. The program is held at Memorial Park and serves two age groups, 6-7 and 8-9 years old. Campers attend camp at the same park, but the age groups participate in different activities with different counselors. Each week of camp has a different theme - no two weeks of camp are the same! Field trips occur at least twice a week, some of our favorites are; Cinemark Theatre, Last Chance Splash Pool, Great Northern Carousel, Exploration Works, Last Chance Train Tour, Legion Baseball Field and Carroll College. We also have visitors come to camp like Cohesion Dance Company, Montana WILD and Helena Fire Department.
Program Details
When: The summer 2025 camp schedule is not available yet. Please check back. Typically camp is offered Monday-Thursday, from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Where: Memorial Park (1005 Last Chance Gulch)
We meet every day at the Memorial Park Cottage, next to the playground equipment.
Cost: Camp is $25 per week. If you need a scholarship, just select the option at checkout and it will automatically be applied.
Weekly Themes: Check back for weekly themes for the 2025 summer camp season.
Other Information
Registration
Registration for the 2025 summer will happen in April. Please check back here closer to spring.
Who are the Counselors?
Kay's Kids Counselors
- Kay's Kids Summer Camp Counselors are paid and trained employees of the city, they are not volunteers.
- All employees go through a screening and interview process before being hired.
- Once hired, employees are certified in CPR, First Aid and AED use. Counselors are trained in positive behavior interventions to best support campers, utilized schedules to provide the best experience for campers, and learn a ton of fun games!
- Our Recreation Supervisor is always on site with counselors and campers to provide support.
Become a Camp Counselor
- Pay starts at $15.94 an hour.
- Free CPR and First Aid Training.
- Camp runs Monday - Thursday. Staff has three day weekends and 4th of July off.
- Play sports, do crafts, build sets, go swimming, perform chemistry experiments and help kids have the best summer ever.
Hiring for camp counselors typically starts in the spring. Please check back for updates. You can call 406-447-8077 with any questions.
Free Lunch and Snacks
Our camp partners with the USDA Summer Meal Program to provide free lunch for our campers. This summer meal program is also available to all Helena children under the age of 18. Children do not have to be registered to Kay's Kids to participate in the free summer meal program. To learn about the program and locations, visit their website HERE.
Campers are provided with a morning snack and afternoon snack. Please talk to us if you are interested in donating a snack for the day! We love goldfish and fruit snacks from Costco. Children have access to water and parents hare required to provide their child with a water bottle every day of camp.
Support Kay's Kids
The Kay McKenna Youth Foundation is a local non-profit that is named in honor of former Helena Mayor, Kay McKenna. The foundation provides funds to allow the City's summer program to be affordable, with scholarships available. If you are interested in supporting the Kay's Kids Summer Program, there are a few ways you can get involved.
Each summer, the program will also seek donated snacks. Please talk with the Recreation Supervisor if you are interested in providing snacks.
