STORY SPARK CAMP

Adventure awaits this summer at Story Spark Camp at Salem United Methodist Church in St. Louis, MO. Children will have seven full weeks of fun in a rotation-style summer camp with arts, movement, games, reading with volunteers, and more. This program uses Project Transformation curriculum (a nationally recognized program) to ensure a fun summer for everyone!

Registration Opens February 1

Kids will have a blast at Story Spark Camp at Salem!

Register Now

✅ June 17-July 30, 2026 (Monday-Thursday) 

✅ 9:00 am-3:00 pm
✅ Reading Fun
✅ Art Activities
✅ Rotation-Style Camp
✅ Open to Kids 1st-5th Grade
A young Black boy wearing a Sonic the Hedgehog t-shirt smiles warmly while standing in front of white bookshelves filled with colorful books.
Two young girls sit side-by-side at a classroom table, smiling for the camera while working on an art project with markers and pink paper.
A young female counselor sits cross-legged in a circle with five young children on a wooden floor, all engaged in a lively conversation during a camp activity.
A young Black man in a pink shirt smiles while talking to a young boy with glasses in a green shirt as they sit at a table in a classroom setting.
A young boy and girl with blond hair stand side-by-side, smiling broadly at the camera in a classroom with colorful papers on the wall behind them.
A young girl with dark hair and glasses smiles warmly at the camera. She is wearing a white t-shirt and denim overalls and stands in a classroom.
A young Black boy stands and listens as a smiling Black camp counselor with dreadlocks sits and reads a book to him in a colorful classroom.
A young Black boy wearing a Sonic the Hedgehog t-shirt smiles warmly while standing in front of white bookshelves filled with colorful books.
Two young girls sit side-by-side at a classroom table, smiling for the camera while working on an art project with markers and pink paper.
A young female counselor sits cross-legged in a circle with five young children on a wooden floor, all engaged in a lively conversation during a camp activity.
A young Black man in a pink shirt smiles while talking to a young boy with glasses in a green shirt as they sit at a table in a classroom setting.
A young boy and girl with blond hair stand side-by-side, smiling broadly at the camera in a classroom with colorful papers on the wall behind them.
A young girl with dark hair and glasses smiles warmly at the camera. She is wearing a white t-shirt and denim overalls and stands in a classroom.
A young Black boy stands and listens as a smiling Black camp counselor with dreadlocks sits and reads a book to him in a colorful classroom.

Story Spark Camp Details

Register NowVolunteer

Dates & Times

June 17-July 30 // 9:00 am-3:00 pm (Monday-Thursday, first week will be Wednesday & Thursday) 

Child Age

Children entering 1st-5th grade in the fall of 2026

Cost

$20 registration fee

Location

Salem United Methodist Church // 1200 S. Lindbergh Blvd., St. Louis, MO 63131

Directions

Leaders

All Staff & Volunteers are background checked and trained

Sign-Up

Register now to save your spot! Registration starts February 1, 2026.

Program Director: Pastor Elisabeth Danielsons

Program Director: Pastor Elisabeth Danielsons

Elisabeth is excited to lead our summer adventure. She has prior experience as an elementary teacher and has served as the Curriculum Coordinator for Project Transformation North Texas. She looks forward to instilling a love of learning alongside the young adult interns this summer. Her favorite children’s book is Purple, Green, and Yellow by Robert Munch.

A young woman with brown braided hair sits on the floor reading a book with a young Black girl who is sitting in a pink beanbag chair.

Make a Difference: Volunteer at Story Spark Camp!

Spend a few hours this summer reading with children and fostering their literacy skills. Volunteer commitment is Monday through Thursday from 9:30 am to 12:00 noon during your chosen week(s). Training will be provided. Sign up to volunteer!

Volunteer for Story Spark Camp

FAQ

Yes, the program is set up for participants to attend the entire summer. At this time, we are only offering registration of the full program.

Late Pick Up Policy: Pick up is promptly at 3:00 pm.  Parents picking up after 3:15 pm will be charged $5 for every 15 minutes thereafter which must be paid upon pick up in the office. 

No, there is a faith component during the day called TAG (Talk About God). This time is designed for children to explore faith using stories from the Bible as the anchor. 

The summer program is designed to support children in mind, body, and spirit, emphasizing literacy. Each day, children will get to read with community volunteers, participate in creative art and movement activities, and more. Our program is facilitated by young adults and community members who are passionate about supporting youth. We use curriculum from Project Transformation, which emphasizes diversity, literacy, social emotional skills, and leadership development. 

Children are encouraged to bring reusable water bottles (with name) and sunscreen. Please do not send your child to camp with electronics, as there won’t be free time to use them.  

The camp is run by young adults and community volunteers, who all go through state background checks and training to ensure the safety of your children.  

At Story Spark Camp we are using Project Transformation curriculum (a nationally recognized program) to ensure a fun summer for everyone!  Salem United Methodist Church has purchased the Project Transformation curriculum for children grades 1-5. The curriculum focuses on enriching mind and body with an emphasis on literacy. Each day, children read one-on-one with community volunteers and participate in activity-based literacy intervention. Children also participate in daily enrichment activities including recreational play and exercise, creative arts, and interaction with our young adults and community volunteers, who inspire and encourage youth daily to make responsible, sound decisions. Click here to learn more about Project Transformation curriculum.

Through generous support from our church community and grants, we can offer a low-cost, quality program for children in our community. If you would like to support the program, you can add a donation to your registration.

Don't Miss the Voices & Visions FREE Concert Series: February 7 & 12!
Our series begins with two performances: "An Evening of Romance" on February 7 at 7:00 pm and "The Wailing Woman" on February 12. Click to learn more.
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