An opportunity for youth to canoe, fish, scuba dive and more will be offered next month at Missouri Western State University. 

Missouri Western’s Department of Health, Physical Education and Recreation offers the Children’s Lifetime Sports Academy and the Adventure Sports Academy June 5-9. 

Dr. Justin Kraft said the Children’s Lifetime Sports Academy started in 1973 and is for youth ages 8 to 12. 

“All the activities are not your typical sports but they’re all activities that can be carried out for, really, a lifetime,” Kraft said. “We have activities varied from swimming to archery, disc golf, canoeing, rappelling is one of the favorite of students… so it’s all activities that are designed for them to be able to engage in them throughout their entire life.” 

The Children’s Lifetime Sports Academy classes will be held from 1:30 to 5:15 p.m. Monday through Friday, June 5th through the 9th. The cost is $80 for the first child in a family and $70 for each additional child.

Kraft said the Adventure Sports Academy, which takes place the same week, was started three years ago.

“It was really started because children were having so much fun at the Lifetime Sports Academy and they were aging out of it and they wanted to come back and do more,” Kraft said. “So we started the Adventure Sports Academy and that is for children age 13 through 8th grade so really for middle schoolers.”

Kraft said the Adventure Sports Academy features scuba diving, rock climbing, an overnight outdoor camping experience and more. The Adventure Sports Academy is full but there is a waiting list available. The classes are held from 1:30 to 5:15 p.m. Monday through Wednesday and from Thursday evening to Friday morning. The cost is $165 for the first child in the family and $155 for each additional child.

For more information about the Children’s Lifetime Sports Academy, click here, to join the Adventure Sports Academy waitlist, click here, or call (816) 271-4491.