Apple Valley Just Launched a Full-Day Summer Camp

TLDR

• Apple Valley Parks & Rec launched a brand-new full-day summer camp: the Valley Adventure Club
• Monday–Friday, 8am–5pm, June 15 through August 21 at Johnny Cake Activity Center
• Cost: $275/week. Capacity: ~50 kids. Already filling up.
• Includes Splash Valley trips, local day trips, on-site activities, and more
• Traditional half-day playground program at Quarry Point Park is still happening: $15/week

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If you're a parent of a school-age kid in Apple Valley — and you haven't heard about this yet — you'll want to read this.

At the March 5 Parks & Rec Advisory Committee meeting, parks staff unveiled the Valley Adventure Club, a brand-new full-day summer camp program launching this June. It came up pretty casually in the meeting, and one committee member admitted they had no idea it existed. So if you've already locked in your summer childcare plans, you're not alone — but it might be worth knowing about this one for next year, or checking if there are still spots.

What Is the Valley Adventure Club?

The Valley Adventure Club is designed for working parents who need full-day coverage for their kids during the summer. It runs Monday through Friday, 8am to 5pm, from June 15 through August 21. The home base is the Johnny Cake Activity Center and Johnny Cake Ridge Park West.

The programming is a hybrid of camp favorites: regular trips to Splash Valley (once or twice a week), local day trips to destinations around the south metro, on-site activities, and some contracted programming brought in from outside vendors. The city's goal was to keep costs reasonable by staying mostly local and limiting transportation costs.

Cost is $275 per week.

For context, Parks staff compared that to other public and private full-day camps in the area and landed on $275 as a competitive, accessible price point — especially for a first-year program.

How Many Spots Are Available?

Capacity is capped at about 50 kids for year one. That's intentional — it's a new program, and the city wants to make sure it runs well before scaling up.

The good news: early registration has been strong. The not-so-great news for anyone reading this late: it could fill up soon. Check the Apple Valley Parks & Rec registration page to see current availability.

What About the Traditional Playground Program?

The half-day playground program is still happening — don't worry. It's running at Quarry Point Park this summer with morning and afternoon sessions. Cost is $15/week per session.

This is a great fit for younger kids who might not be ready for a full-day camp, or for families with more flexible schedules. As one committee member put it, it's often a kid's first introduction to organized park programming in the summer — and at $15 a week, it's one of the best deals in the city.

So you've got two options: a half-day program for $15/week, or a full-day camp for $275/week.

The Bottom Line

This is a direct response to something parents have been asking for: full-day summer coverage that's city-run, affordable (relative to the market), and local. If you've struggled to find summer childcare that doesn't require planning six months in advance or spending a small fortune, the Valley Adventure Club is worth a look.

Check registration at applevalleymn.gov and see our broader Apple Valley parks coverage for more updates from the 2023 referendum projects.

FAQ

Who is the Valley Adventure Club for, age-wise?

The committee discussed it in the context of school-age kids whose parents work. Specific age ranges weren't confirmed at the meeting — check with Apple Valley Parks & Rec directly for eligibility details.

What's included in the $275/week?

The weekly fee covers the full camp experience: Splash Valley trips (1-2x per week), local day trips, on-site programming, and contracted activities. Transportation to local destinations is included.

Where exactly does drop-off and pickup happen?

The camp is based at the Johnny Cake Activity Center (14255 Johnny Cake Ridge Rd). Johnny Cake West is right there with Splash Valley nearby, so the location is ideal.

Is there financial assistance available?

Apple Valley Parks & Rec has a scholarship fund for recreation programs. If cost is a barrier, it's worth asking about scholarship options when you register.

What if my kid wants the half-day program instead?

The traditional playground program at Quarry Point Park is still running — morning and afternoon sessions, $15/week. It's been around for decades and is a great lower-cost option.