Denver Gymnastics and Ninja Camps: High-Energy Options for Younger Kids
Denver gymnastics and ninja camps: COED Ninja at $335/wk, KicksRUs at $99-$299/wk, High Altitude Martial Arts at $65-$350/wk. What's still open and what fills first.
Denver parents searching for high-energy summer camps have more options than most cities. According to ProjectKids camp data (projectkids.io), Denver and the surrounding metro area lists over 44 sports and athletics camps for kids in 2026. Weekly costs run from $65 at local martial arts studios all the way to $1,300 at JCC Denver. That range means most families can find something that fits, but it also means doing your homework before you register.
This guide covers what's available, what each program costs, and which camps tend to fill fastest. All prices come directly from the ProjectKids database, current as of May 2026.
Key Takeaways
- Denver has 44+ sports and athletics camps in 2026; prices range from $65/week to $1,300/week (ProjectKids)
- COED Ninja Summer Camp at $335/week offers 60 sessions, one of the highest session counts in the ninja-style category
- KicksRUs runs 3 Denver-area locations (Smoky Hill, S University Blvd, Parker), all priced at $99-$299/week
- TPRD Rec Center Camps list 410 sessions, the largest single rec-center program in the Denver metro
What Does a Ninja or Gymnastics Camp Actually Cost in Denver?
Denver's ninja and gymnastics camp market spans a wide price band. ProjectKids camp data (projectkids.io) shows 2026 weekly rates running from $65 at High Altitude Martial Arts up to $499/week at Centennial and Golden studio programs. The average for metro-area martial arts and ninja programs lands around $250-$335/week for a full five-day session.
Most of the variance comes down to facility type. Standalone martial arts studios tend to run cheaper. Specialty gymnastics and ninja gyms with dedicated equipment sit in the $300-$500 range. Full-service rec centers and JCC-style programs charge more because they bundle amenities alongside the athletic programming.
Before you assume the lower price is the better deal, check the ratio of kids to instructors. A $99/week camp with 25 kids per coach is a different experience than a $335/week program capping groups at eight. Ask directly when you call to inquire.
Which Ninja Camps Are Still Taking Registrations?
COED Ninja Summer Camp at 4860 Van Gordon St is one of the more established ninja-specific programs in the metro. At $335/week with 60 sessions listed, it offers more scheduling flexibility than most comparable programs. That 60-session count matters: many specialty camps list fewer than 30 session slots, so if your first-choice week is already closed somewhere else, you have real fallback options here.
[CITATION CAPSULE] According to ProjectKids camp data (projectkids.io), COED Ninja Summer Camp offers 60 available sessions at $335/week, one of the highest session counts among Denver's ninja and obstacle-course programs in 2026. The camp is located at 4860 Van Gordon St in the Denver metro area, making it one of the more bookable specialty ninja options in the city.
The ninja camp format works well for kids who get bored with repetitive drills. Sessions typically mix obstacle course runs, balance work, upper-body climbing elements, and team challenges. Kids who've done gymnastics or rock climbing often adapt quickly to the format.
If Van Gordon is too far, the closest alternative with a real obstacle setup is Avid4 Adventure Wash Park Rock Climbing at 1650 S Birch St in the Wash Park neighborhood. At $740/week it's more than double the cost, but it includes outdoor climbing instruction alongside gym-based movement work. Different format, different price point.
How Do Martial Arts Camps Compare to Ninja Gyms?
Martial arts camps and ninja gyms share a lot of the same appeal: structured movement, physical challenges, and a clear progression kids can see. The real difference is focus. Ninja gyms prioritize obstacle completion and physical creativity. Martial arts programs build technique, discipline, and self-defense foundations.
Denver has a solid spread of both. Here's how the main options stack up:
| Camp | Location | Ages | Weekly Cost | Format |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| COED Ninja Summer Camp | 4860 Van Gordon St | 5-14 | $335/wk | Ninja/obstacle |
| Venture Martial Arts | 8270 E Northfield Blvd | 5-15 | $399/wk | Martial arts |
| High Altitude Martial Arts | 8988 E Hampden Ave | 5-14 | $65-$350/wk | Martial arts |
| KicksRUs (3 locations) | Smoky Hill / S University / Parker | 4-14 | $99-$299/wk | Martial arts/ninja |
| Okinawa Dojo Summer Camp | 3425 S Oleander Ct | 6-16 | $200-$400/wk | Traditional martial arts |
| Premier Martial Arts - Wash Park | 1699 S Colorado Blvd | 5-15 | $200-$400/wk | Martial arts |
| Centennial Studio | 4151 E County Line Rd | 6-16 | $499/wk | Gymnastics/movement |
| Golden Studio | 17301 W Colfax Ave | 6-16 | $499/wk | Gymnastics/movement |
High Altitude Martial Arts at 8988 E Hampden Ave is worth a closer look for budget-conscious families. The $65-$350/week range is the widest on this list. That gap usually means they offer half-day options alongside full-week programs. If your kid is young and you're not sure about a full week, a half-day intro at the lower end might be the right first step.
Where Are the KicksRUs Locations and Are They Worth It?
KicksRUs stands out because it runs three separate locations across the Denver metro. At $99-$299/week, it's priced below most competitors. The three-location setup means you're more likely to find a session close to home, and that convenience matters when you're juggling drop-off logistics.
The three locations are:
- Kicks Martial Arts - 16655 E Smoky Hill Rd (east metro, Aurora/Centennial corridor)
- United Martial Arts - 6810 S University Blvd (south Denver, near Highlands Ranch)
- Parker Academy of Martial Arts - 18632 Pony Express Dr (Parker, southeast suburbs)
Each location lists 30 sessions. Across all three, that's 90 total sessions in the KicksRUs network. If your preferred week fills at one location, there's a real chance the same week is open at another.
The $99-$299/week spread typically reflects the difference between half-day and full-day programming. Full-day options tend to sell first. If you're targeting a specific week in July, book the full-day slot early.
In our research across Denver camp programs, multi-location operators like KicksRUs tend to have better late-season availability than single-location specialty gyms. Families who wait until June often find their only remaining options are at secondary locations of metro-wide programs, not the single-site specialty studios they originally wanted.
What Is the Biggest Rec Center Camp Option in Denver?
TPRD Rec Center Camps at 16799 E Lake Ave lists 410 sessions for 2026. That's the highest session count of any program in this category by a significant margin. For context, the next largest single program in this guide is Camp Shai at JCC Denver with 322 sessions.
[CITATION CAPSULE] ProjectKids camp data (projectkids.io) shows TPRD Rec Center Camps listing 410 sessions in 2026, the largest single rec-center program in the Denver metro. Weekly rates run $200-$400, placing TPRD in the mid-range for price while offering substantially more scheduling flexibility than specialty studio programs with 30-60 session slots.
TPRD serves the Tri-County area (Arapahoe, Jefferson, and Douglas counties) out of the recreation center at 16799 E Lake Ave. Pricing at $200-$400/week sits comfortably in the middle of the market. The benefit here is not novelty. It's reliability. Rec center programs tend to have consistent staffing, well-maintained facilities, and flexible scheduling that single-studio programs can't always match.
If you have multiple kids or a complicated summer schedule, TPRD's session volume means you're much less likely to end up without a spot.
Is Camp Shai at JCC Denver Worth $1,300 a Week?
Camp Shai at JCC Denver comes in at $1,300/week, the top of the range for Denver sports camps and almost four times the cost of COED Ninja. It lists 322 sessions, a full professional staff, JCC facility access, and a structured daily program that covers far more than a single sport.
The JCC model bundles swimming, sports, arts, and enrichment into a full-day camp experience. If you're comparing purely on athletic programming, you can find equivalent movement instruction for $200-$400/week. But if you want one camp covering the full day without needing multiple programs, the JCC math sometimes works out.
Families in south Denver and the Cherry Hills area tend to be the most consistent Camp Shai attendees. The JCC's location and reputation hold premium pricing year over year. For families already JCC members, the cost often comes down through membership discounts.
Across the 17 Denver-area sports and athletics camps tracked in the ProjectKids database for 2026, the median weekly price is approximately $335. The lowest price-per-session for full-day programming sits with KicksRUs at roughly $199/week for a full-day slot, while TPRD Rec Center Camps offer the most sessions in the $200-$400 range.
What About Specialty Sports Camps Like Tennis, Basketball, and Riding?
Not every high-energy kid is drawn to ninja obstacles or martial arts. Denver has solid options in a few other athletic categories worth knowing about before you decide.
High Altitude Tennis at 4305 E 4th Ave (near the Highlands/Berkeley neighborhood) runs $276/week with 40 sessions. That's one of the better-priced tennis programs in the metro, and the 40-session count gives you real flexibility across the summer.
Denver Nuggets Basketball Camp at 150 S Harlan St is $275/week with 30 sessions. The Nuggets branding pulls kids in, and instruction quality tends to be solid for kids already comfortable with basic fundamentals. This camp works better for ages 8 and up who've played organized ball before.
Riding Camp at Ken-Caryl, 14422 W Ken-Caryl Ave, runs $500-$525/week with 40 sessions. It's the most expensive option outside of JCC, but equestrian programs carry higher operating costs. If your kid has asked to try horses, Ken-Caryl is a legitimate program in a well-regarded facility on the west side.
Summer Camp on Pearl St at 1886 S Pearl St runs $200-$400/week across 90 sessions. The location is convenient for families in south Denver, Platt Park, and the Washington Park neighborhood. Ninety sessions gives you solid options if summer scheduling gets complicated.
How Do You Decide Between Ninja, Martial Arts, and Gymnastics?
The honest answer is that the activity matters less than the fit between your kid's temperament and the camp's structure. Getting that right is more important than which format you pick.
Ninja and obstacle-style camps work well for kids who are physical, competitive, and like seeing immediate progress. Sessions run hard. There's a lot of peer energy. The format rewards boldness and physical creativity. Kids who are more introverted or sensitive to noise and chaos sometimes struggle in the bigger group sessions.
Martial arts camps tend to have more explicit structure. There's a right way and a wrong way to perform a technique. That framework works well for kids who respond to clear expectations and visible progress (belts, stripes, recognition from instructors). It also carries over after summer ends in a way that ninja courses usually don't.
Gymnastics and movement studio camps split the difference. They build body awareness and physical confidence in a setting that's usually less competitive than martial arts and more structured than a pure ninja gym.
Age is a real factor. For kids under 7, the format matters less than the coach-to-kid ratio and the physical space. For kids 8 and up, you can start matching activity type to interest more precisely. A shy seven-year-old and a fearless ten-year-old will probably thrive in different programs even at identical price points.
Frequently Asked Questions
High Altitude Martial Arts at 8988 E Hampden Ave starts at $65/week, the lowest price among Denver-area sports and athletics programs in the ProjectKids database (projectkids.io). KicksRUs starts at $99/week across three metro locations. Both offer half-day options that bring the weekly cost down further for younger kids.
TPRD Rec Center Camps lists 410 sessions for 2026, the most of any program in this category. COED Ninja Summer Camp lists 60 sessions, and Camp Shai at JCC Denver lists 322. If you're registering in June or later, TPRD or JCC give you the best odds of finding an open week in your target month.
Pricing at $99-$299/week and session counts (30 per location) are consistent across all three KicksRUs sites. Individual instructors and daily schedules may vary between Kicks Martial Arts on Smoky Hill Rd, United Martial Arts on S University Blvd, and Parker Academy of Martial Arts on Pony Express Dr. It's worth calling your closest location to ask about the specific curriculum for your child's age group.
At $275/week, the Nuggets camp at 150 S Harlan St is a reasonable value for kids with some prior basketball experience. Families with complete beginners often report the camp moves faster than expected. If your child has never played organized ball, a shorter rec center clinic first might be a better starting point before committing to a full week.
Camp Shai is a full-day program that includes swimming, sports, arts, and enrichment activities throughout the day. The $1,300/week covers the full program, not a single sport. Families comparing it to a $335/week ninja camp are often comparing a single-activity morning program to a fully supervised nine-to-four day, which changes the math considerably.
Denver's ninja, gymnastics, and martial arts camp market covers the full price spectrum. At the low end, High Altitude Martial Arts at $65/week and KicksRUs at $99/week give families real options without stretching the budget. In the mid-range, COED Ninja at $335/week and TPRD at $200-$400/week offer solid programming with strong session availability.
The best camp for your kid comes down to fit: their energy level, their tolerance for structure, and how far you're willing to drive. KicksRUs covers three corners of the metro. TPRD lists 410 sessions, so you're unlikely to get shut out. If you want the most scheduling flexibility in a dedicated ninja format, COED Ninja's 60 sessions make it one of the more bookable specialty options in the city.
Check current availability at ProjectKids (projectkids.io) before registering. Popular weeks in July tend to fill by early June.
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