Strong Tower Ranch is an awesome place that helps kids who need it the most. They have day camps…read moreand horsemanship programs and offer sponsorship for those who wouldn't be able to have this type of opportunity otherwise. I've known several kids who've had wonderful experiences there, and return year after year. Many have gone on to become mentors and leaders at the ranch and in their communities. The Ranch also rents the property for private gatherings. The property is gorgeous with a lake (beach, swimming, fishing, kayaks, paddle boats, and canoes), open fields, horse pastures, trails, pavilion, kitchen, nice restroom and shower facilities, bunkhouse, RV and tent sites, and much more. There's even a beautiful butterfly garden! Over the years, our family has rented the property for graduation parties and family reunions, and I've attended several special events there. I highly recommend them for their kids' programs and private use of the amenities!

From the owner: Strong Tower Ranch is a Christ-centered refuge offering hope and mentoring to youth, especially…read morethose at risk. Our Mission: We feature horsemanship and day camps with the goal of providing quality programs that are entertaining, character building, and rehabilitating. "Strong Tower" reminds us that we have a mighty fortress in Christ. We want children, teens and adults who come here to find love and refuge from a harsh world. We are non-denominational, non-profit and dependent on prayers, financial support and volunteer help. How Can We Serve You? Located on 107 acres in Foristell, Missouri, we are prepared to host programs and events for area families, churches and civic groups. The Horsemanship program serves children from age seven and up, teens, and adults. The Day Camp program serves children ages 8-14. People come to volunteer expecting to be a blessing and leave saying they received more than they gave. The training for those who serve in programs is very valuable, especially to young people (15+) who wish to develop leadership skills. If you would like more information about our programs, summer mission trips, volunteer opportunities, or property reservations, send us a message.

Three years ago I attended my first ever Wall Ball; Wall Ball is the large annual fundraiser for…read moreSCOSAG, it was where I first learned about SCOSAG, and it is one of the best fundraising events in St. Louis. They have hundreds of artists create pieces live in front of you throughout the event and then they auction off the pieces to fund the studio. I was immediately intrigued and addicted. We have been every year since. Since that first event, St. Louis City Open Studios and Gallery has become one of my top "kid friendly" places in this city. They offer fun and educational art-centered classes for kids as well as open studio hours six days a week. Your "little" can learn how to throw some clay onto a wheel, string their own necklace, or illustrate their own book. My personal favorite is the kid and me class on Saturday afternoons. For one hundred bucks you get six weeks of uninterrupted quality family time with all of the art supplies as well as an art instructor provided. Who knows...you may have given birth to the next Picasso and never have known it with all that time they spend on the Wii. I am all for getting out and getting hands on and SCOSAG provides the perfect environment for good ole fashion fun. Love Live Creativity!

From the owner: Artscope is a youth arts organization located in the heart of Tower Grove Park, dedicated to making…read morecreative exploration accessible, inclusive, and meaningful for St. Louis children and families. Since 2002, we've offered nature-connected, multidisciplinary arts programs that nurture creativity, confidence, and critical thinking—whether through our beloved Summer Camp Create, school-year workshops, or partnerships with local schools and community organizations. Led by professional Teaching Artists, our programs emphasize self-expression, environmental awareness, and equitable access to the arts. From sculpture and storytelling to eco-art and animation, we help young people discover the joy of making, imagining, and building the future they want to see. Come visit us in our historic cottage, nestled inside one of the city's most beautiful parks—and see how creativity thrives here!

My ten year old daughter just completed a summer at Camp Jump Start. If you have a child who is…read morestruggling with their weight, this is the place to send them WITHOUT QUESTION. Personally, I have always struggled with weight issues as have many of my brothers and sisters. I wish that Camp Jump Start had been available when I was a child as I think it could have saved me a lifetime of struggles and probably kept me from passing on those same struggles to my child. When my daughter cried out to me one night about her weight and how she hated herself for being ugly and fat, I could not stand by and watch her go down my same path. I looked online until late that night and found lists of several weight loss camps for kids. I requested information from all of them. I talked to several individuals about their camps and programs. When I received a personal reply from CJS's director and I spoke to the director on the phone, I knew that Camp Jump Start was the right place and I didn't need to look further. The program, the commitment of the director, and the philosophy of the camp towards health, well being, and self esteem came across as amazing in that initial correspondence. I just knew this was the right and BEST choice for my child. Although I desperately wanted my child to go, I knew I could not force my daughter to go. When I first told her about the camp, she said no. I asked her to watch one video on You Tube of a former camper speaking of her experience. I told her that if she would just watch it, I would not bring it up again if she wasn't interested. After she watched the video, she decided she wanted to go...not for just one session, but two. It was the best and bravest decision of her young life. She returned from camp with the biggest smile on her face. She lost 17% of her body weight while there but she gained an infinite amount of self-esteem and self-worth. I truly believe she feels beautiful for the first time in her life and I think she feels that there is hope whereas before she saw no hope. Before she went to camp, she was still having accidents at night...almost every night. After having gone to camp, she has had no accidents. Before she went to camp, I had to beg her to get a bath, brush her hair, or go shopping for clothes. I think she had just completely given up on herself. Now that she has returned, she showers willingly, she has taken an interest in her appearance, and she has enjoyed seeing herself as beautiful. She skipped into the clothing store the other day, something that would have been unheard of before CJS. She has become less dependent on me and more reliant on herself. All of the changes are positive and for the better. I couldn't have asked for more. The director, staff, and counselors at CJS are just exceptional. It is clear they aren't doing this for the love of money but for their love of the kids. Unfortunately, my daughter is also having to deal with the divorce of her parents. This issue has been a real struggle for her, but I feel that the camp director's philosophy of "You are who you are, you got what you got, and now you have to deal with it" really helped her put the situation in perspective. I can't say that the road ahead of us will be easy. I'm sure it won't. I don't know how my daughter and I will do going forward, but I know that I have given her the best foundation possible for change. The Camp's name is truly reflective of its mission; it is a jump start. Hopefully it will be a jump start for both my daughter and I. If you are still reading this, I hope it will be a jump start for you and your child. Many Blessings

Grateful doesn't adequately capture our family's appreciation for Camp Jumpstart. Our daughter,…read morewho also struggles with an intellectual disability, was given an enormous gift this Summer -- the opportunity to reclaim her sense of self-worth and build life long healthy habits. She was a camper for eight weeks and her personal transformation was remarkable. She gained much more than the 23 pounds she lost -- confidence, discipline, new friends, a set of "tools", and a sunny outlook on life. She is committed to continuing-on with what she's learned at camp and we are supporting her by fully modeling and adopting the same lifestyle. Thank you Jean, Jeremy,,camp staff and counselors -- you are life savers. Jean - your good name is invoked regularly at the kitchen table. To anyone considering this camp: we found this to be a safe and exceptionally well-run organization. Important caveat: Jean expects full engagement not only from the campers but also from parents and siblings as well. That was a deep attraction for us!

Loveee to workout here, the staff rocks here as well and child care is awesome to be able to use !…read moreFamily prices are very reasonable! There are so many different classes to pick from ! They have it all .

This is a very popular facility. Easy to get in, the attendants are very kind and friendly. I…read morehaven't gotten to the pool yet, but I will soon. It is a great value for the monthly fees because of the convenience, and all of the classes offered.

Best place around! Staff is so helpful and keep the place super clean. Best river to float, clear…read moreand clean!

Great place for a large group float! We stayed at the Riverview cabin with a group of 19. The…read morecabin is beautiful with gorgeous wood everywhere, AC, fans, giant porch, and great tall ceilings. It has 4 bedrooms with queen beds, a loft with 2 queen beds, multiple pull outs or room for air mattresses. It's a wonderful place for a group of friends or family to stay and spend some time together. They pick you up from the cabin for the float and drop you back off at the cabin, making it very easy!!! Easy check in/check out at main lodge.

My daughter ( 8 years old) spent her first week away from home at Cub Creek. She loved it. Her only…read morecomplaint is that at check in they only had adult size tee shirts. She enjoyed it so much we are already signed up to attend for a week next summer!

I absolutely do not recommend this summer camp for any children or those seeking employment. The…read morebiggest concern I've seen and heard time and time again is the severe limitation on children contacting their parents, creating unnecessary stress for the kids and leaving families with little insight into how their children were actually doing. What little programming there is the campers are not able to engage with due to the chaos of poor leadership. I was gravely disappointed to hear about how staff members were treated, as the work environment felt toxic, unsupportive, and disrespectful, making it difficult for employees to do their jobs effectively and even driving many to quit each summer. Among the questionable treatment of the animals, there have been multiple medical emergencies (gone unreported to the parents of these campers, mind you) where the camp offered underwhelming response. Thank goodness my niece doesn't have any conditions but I'm seriously concerned about camper safety overall. This camp prioritizes maintaining its image over the well-being of both campers and staff, and restricts parent communication. Regardless of how much fun your child may have at any summer camp, this camp is not worth the risk of their safety.

We love the open gym & everything they have to offer. My daughter's muscles & agility are growing…read moreminute x minute.

Nice facility with lots of seating for parents. We enrolled in summer session which I was told…read moreusually has more kids to teacher ratio. Only wish is that there was more time each session for each kid to learn more skills and be able to practice more.

Great high-end facility with an excellent fitness floor and indoor lap pool, not too busy.read more

This place is great. Very spacious and the pool area is so big. There was a tall slide, water…read morewaves pool and an area for toddlers. The facility looks clean. The gym looks spacious. Overall lots of parking spots. Great facility to swim or to workout with the numerous gym equipments.

Our family just moved into the area this year and we've been regularly attending the O'Fallon Y for…read more3 months now. I give them 5 stars for the following reasons: 1) Wide selection of activities (Pool, gym, track, sports court, cycling rooms, fitness rooms...) 2) Large offering of classes 3) Friendliness of staff and members (sense of community) 4) Cleanliness 5) Free babysitting for up to 3hrs a day We have been very pleased with what the Y has to offer and will probably stay here for a while. We pay around $75/mo for a family membership.

Honestly, Courtney, who is over the YMCA summer program is very kind…read more However, our family and I including my ex whom is my daughters father have had MULTIPLE issues with payments and being charged incorrectly. The staff at the Y club does not require IDs however, if you go in the staff at the front desk, always ask for a photo ID and will not take my safe at home ID, which is what I am required to carry. Every single time it's an issue and they have to call Courtney over. When you pick up for aftercare the gentleman that is always there sits at a makeshift desk and refuses to get up to come to your car to have you sign out your kids, not a big big deal but when you have an infant in your car all the time it's very inconvenient and I do not like leaving him in the car alone. I say this every single time and every single time he refuses to come to my car so I can sign the girls out. There have been a couple other instances and I'm hoping the school year just goes a lot smoother.

I spent 3 summers working here as a college student, and just got back from volunteering for a 5…read moreday session with 7 & 8 year old kids. This camp offers kids from any income level the opportunity to go away to camp. They can learn to swim, climb a tower, perfect their artistic talents and so much more. The leadership program includes wilderness adventures of hiking and canoeing, takes them on college visits, lets them experience how volunteer service feels and gives them to skills to get to a job at the end of the 4 year program. While the kids think they are just having fun, the real goal is to give them the skills and desire to further their education...college or vocational...and break the cycle of poverty. It also is a wonderful work experience for young adults. Teaching them responsibility, exposing them to diversity and hopefully influencing their attitudes about the potential of all children if they are just given the opportunities and skills needed to succeed. If you are thinking of sending your kids to camp, SFC is a nurturing environment that will challenge them. They'll walk through the woods and sing songs around campfires. They'll make friends and learn the value of teamwork. They'll spend hours in the library and try new foods. They'll grow up with camp their second home. Start them young and keep sending them back.

All of my kids have been going through their program. Two of them have completed their program and…read moreare moving on to counselors in training. Not sure where they would be without the experience and leadership training that they received!