Specialty Camps

Explore the Possibilities

With a wide variety of camps in academics, cooking, dance, engineering, gaming, languages, science, sports/fitness, technology, and more, you can choose the adventure you want!  Specialty camps are available for PreK 4 – 12th grade students.

Parish Summer runs 11-weeks, from May 27 – August 8 at our Midway Campus (4101 Sigma Road | Dallas, TX 75244 ).

Browse Summer Camps

Specialty Camps By Week

Explore our Specialty Camps by week! Click below to view available camps and details for each week.

Meet Our Partners

All Things Mahj

Natalie Knight and Mary Valuck are two friends with a shared passion for mahjong. Their mission is simple: to create a fun, welcoming space for players of all levels to connect, learn, and enjoy mahjong. Whether you’re new to the game or a seasoned pro, they are here to help you grow your love for mahjong.  When they’re not hosting events or teaching mahjong, Natalie works as a Child Life Specialist, spending time with her husband Zach, their puppy Winnie, and their soon-to-arrive baby girl. Mary is an elementary school librarian, enjoying time with her family, friends, and dog, Annie.

Dallas Magic Academy

Dallas resident Dal Sanders opened Dallas Magic Academy in 2016; he has been a professional magician for more than 40 years and has performed across the United States and overseas. Dallas Magic Academy programs help students build self-discipline, self-confidence, and interpersonal abilities. The Discover Magic course is an educational program specifically designed to teach respect, creativity, confidence, and preparedness among other things. In fact, it’s best described as a life skills course camouflaged to look like magic lessons. Kids become so engrossed and entertained in learning the magic tricks that they don’t realize they’re acquiring skills whose benefits they’ll reap for a lifetime. Indeed, many opportunities for performing magic tricks arise later in adult life, whether as an ice breaker for colleagues or a doctor who uses magic tricks to put their young patients at ease.

Jeff Peck

 Jeff Peck has taught for more than 20 years, including the last 13 as the drama teacher at The Lamplighter School. He enjoys helping students write their own material or choose from a wide selection of written works. He utilizes improvisational theatre in both classwork and rehearsal to demonstrate concepts and just for the fun of it! In addition to drama, Mr. Peck also has a wide range of pop culture interests including Anime (which includes Pokemon and its card game), Harry Potter, Star Wars, the DC and Marvel comics universes and his personal favorite, Doctor Who. He’s looking forward to being a guest here at Parish this summer.

The Knight School

Founded by Head Coach and 20-year veteran classroom teacher David Brooks, Ph.D., The Knight School, and their coaches are powerfully driven to bring the joy of chess to every child in America. During their allotted weekly chess time, coaches initiate a unique, party-based, kid-focused, high-octane approach to learning chess and rocking a very fun chess tournament. The long, boring chess clocks, awkward required silence, mandatory chess notation, and friendless chess tournaments of our grandfathers’ generation are gone! In their place is The Knight School: fun movies, exciting driving music that accompanies their challenging chess puzzlers for candy prizes, their colorful silicone wristbands system in which each color connotes mastery of a different chess tactic, and daily chess tournaments where students play for each other’s Mardi Gras beads! Laughter and friends and silliness abound, and their chess classes ring every single kid-bell. In this party atmosphere, kids get better each week without even noticing.

SPARK Business Academy

 SPARK Business Academy was founded by J. Chuchi Arevalo in 2013 with the mission to empower students of all ages with essential financial literacy skills and an entrepreneurial mindset.

​SPARK is the financial literacy partner at over 250 public and private schools, including many of the top schools in the country and outside of the U.S.

​Before launching SPARK, Chuchi enjoyed a successful career in finance as a Director at PwC’s Financial Services Advisory practice, where he managed large-scale, multi-million dollar engagements at some of the most prominent global banks and led numerous corporate training programs for staff. Chuchi was a key member of the September 11 Victim Compensation Fund (VCF), which awarded over $7 billon to victims of the 9/11 terrorist attacks. Chuchi earned an MBA with an emphasis in finance from the Georgetown University McDonough School of Business and a BA (Hons) degree in Economics from the University of West London, England. Chuchi is a Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) charter holder and a Certified Fraud Examiner (CFE).

Sticky Fingers Cooking®

Sticky Fingers Cooking® is a unique cooking school for children, offering enrichment classes since 2011 to over 125,000 kids in more than 1,000 schools nationwide. We help young chefs discover the joys of cooking healthy, delicious meals while promoting nutrition and wellness. Our classes teach adaptable cooking skills and integrated nutrition education, fostering a lifetime of health and vibrancy. We believe in inclusivity, offering scholarships and accommodating all food allergies, and have given over $1.5 million back to schools. Our strong relationships with schools, students, and families create a thriving, supportive community.

The Shelton Speech Center

The Shelton Speech Center is on the campus of Shelton School and their mission includes working with students with a variety of communication challenges not only at Shelton, but on the campuses of many private schools in the Dallas area. The Speech Center employs seven speech-language pathologists with extensive experience working with students with articulation, language, reading, and social language difficulties.

VineyardApp

 VineyardApp was built on the belief that early acts of entrepreneurship and development of real skills pay dividends down the road. All students have great ideas; with mentorship to unlock their ideas, they can begin their journey. Through building on their own, students learn to think critically about a problem and identify ways to solve problems with the tools they have. With so many different camps available VineyardApp wanted to build one where students can walk away with a tangible accomplishment.

VineyardApp cares about how they teach just as much as what they’re teaching. Their instructors are engaging, experienced, and fun. They constantly challenge students’ thinking, and the small group environment lends to students learning from each other in addition to the instructor. Students immediately put into practice the information they learn with activities and exercises, cementing students’ knowledge of the material. Not only that: their class curriculums are version controlled so that teachers are able to submit curriculum improvements after every class.

Yogees Yoga 4 Kids

Taylor Gutow, Yogees Yoga 4 Kids creates a space where children can simply be—free from competition. As the program grew, Stephanie Spett joined in 2012, followed by Heather Hopper in 2015, helping develop the 95-hour teacher training certification under Yoga Alliance RCYS. Today, Yogees Yoga 4 Kids teaches children across DFW and beyond, with certified instructors in Texas, Oklahoma, Louisiana, California, and New York.

 

Creativities Studio

Founded by Emily Knauer, Creativities Studio brings interactive and engaging children’s classes to the public. Emily’s 16 years of teaching experience and passion for education have shaped a program that enhances learning through creativity and hands-on experiences. The Creativities Studio team is made up of enthusiastic professional dancers and educators who create an upbeat, encouraging, and inclusive environment for every child. Whether through movement, art, or culinary exploration, their programs ensure that children learn with joy and confidence.

DIMA Texas

DFW Institute of Musical Advancement (DIMATexas) provides after school music enrichment programs to independent schools in the Dallas Metroplex. DIMATexas was founded in 2018 by Dr. Elida Dakoli when she discovered that there was a need for high quality music instruction in the Dallas/Fort Worth area. She was asked quite often to provide private piano lessons at the school her children attended. DIMATexas has since expanded into a multitude of independent schools, providing more than ten classically trained artists that teach private, semi-private, and group lessons.

Dr. Dakoli began her formative musical training at a young age in Durres, Albania and by the age of twelve she had performed her first solo recital and began performing concerts throughout Albania. At the age of 18, Dr. Dakoli was accepted into the University of Music, Tirana, Albania to study under Professor Anita Tartari and received her Bachelor of Music degree in Piano Performance and Pedagogy. She has won many awards and has performed on some of the world’s most prestigious stages. In 2003, Dr. Dakoli left Albania to study at Baylor University in Waco. She graduated with a Master of Music in Piano Performance in 2005. In 2017, Dr. Dakoli earned her Doctor of Musical Arts in Piano Performance degree from Louisiana State University. She serves as music faculty at Dallas Baptist University. Dr. Dakoli also serves on the Lamplighter Parents’ Association and coordinates The Lamplighter School’s annual Media Center Open House Student Recital. Dr. Dakoli is a Mason & Hamlin Artist and serves as the face of and is a recording artist for PianoDisc.

Jeff Peck

 Jeff Peck has taught for more than 20 years, including the last 13 as the drama teacher at The Lamplighter School. He enjoys helping students write their own material or choose from a wide selection of written works. He utilizes improvisational theatre in both classwork and rehearsal to demonstrate concepts and just for the fun of it! In addition to drama, Mr. Peck also has a wide range of pop culture interests including Anime (which includes Pokemon and its card game), Harry Potter, Star Wars, the DC and Marvel comics universes and his personal favorite, Doctor Who. He’s looking forward to being a guest here at Parish this summer.

Melanie M Brannan

At an early age Brannan loved art. In elementary school her crayon drawings drew the attention of classmates and sometimes the objection of her teachers for not following exact instructions. At the age of 10, her mother gave her a small set of oil paints. The set didn’t come with a paint brush, so she created her first painting on a discarded wooden panel with toothpicks. From that painting, she knew she had found her place. In high school, Brannan won her first two Best of Show awards in art competitions.

Brannan received her Bachelor of Fine Arts from Louisiana Tech University in Advertising and Graphic Design. After graduation Brannan opened her own graphic design firm in Dallas which she had for 25 years. Her client list included national and international accounts including Neiman Marcus, Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport, Southwest Airlines, and Mobil Oil Corporation.

In 2009, Brannan closed the design firm and returned to painting. She started working with a client who was building a home in Highland Park and wanted a few commission pieces. For years, they would meet weekly discussing art, reviewing comps, and delivering the final pieces. Overall, she painted 27 pieces for that home.

While starting this new career as a fine artist, Brannan taught painting classes to adults and children. She discovered how much she loved to teach the techniques, the history of art and the Masters. Brannan stated, “Teaching has brought so much to my own paintings. When you are teaching a Matisse, van Gogh or Kandinsky, you need to know their story, brush strokes, techniques, and palettes…I will forever be a student of art.”

Michelle Noah

 Michelle Noah holds a BFA in Art from the University of Oklahoma . She is a working artist and the owner of Nonth Street Gallery. Michelle is starting her 10th summer at Parish teaching art, cooking and gardening.

OontzKids DJ Academy

 OontzKids DJ Academy was founded in 2016 by full-time DJ & dad Dan Quinn who helps kids and teens find their own beat, spark their own creativity and discover their own unique styles within their passion for all styles of music. Along with lead instructor DJ KB, OontzKids has grown into one of the most popular music and technology camps in DFW and beyond. OontzKids has been featured in the Dallas Morning News, CBS11, Southlake Style, 76092 Magazine, and Mobile Beat Magazine, and many students have gone on to produce and release their own original music, and even start, grow, and operate their own DJ businesses playing everything from birthday parties to school dances.

 

 

Casey Riedel, Girls’ Varsity Volleyball Head Coach, Parish Episcopal

Coach Riedel has dedicated over two decades to athletics, inspiring and developing young athletes both on and off the court. Her journey began as an athlete, continued as a coach, and has now expanded to significant administrative roles, all of which have allowed her to connect and motivate those she leads.

Coach Riedel is a former volleyball scholarship athlete from Cal Poly Pomona where she also served on SAAC as Publicity Director and President. She graduated with a degree in Behavioral Science and took her love for the game as a player and immediately poured that passion into coaching.

She assisted in winning three state championships and one runner up at Los Angeles Pierce College, serving as an assistant coach for nearly a decade. At Kent State University, she spent five years as a Division I assistant coach, contributing to practice plans, training sessions, and recruitment strategies.

As the Camp Coordinator and 14 and Under Director at Academy Volleyball Cleveland, she managed 24 teams, over 300 athletes, and 45 coaches. Additionally, at Los Angeles Volleyball Academy and Santa Monica Beach Club, she served as Lead Administrator and Junior National Volleyball Coach, overseeing the training and development of over 800 athletes and 200 coaches.

Passionate about sports and mentorship, she strives to shape futures and help student-athletes achieve their greatest potential. Her and her husband Eric Oakley live in The Colony with their two dogs, Tag and Rally.

Jarrett Moffit, Boys’ Varsity Lacrosse Head Coach, Parish Episcopal

Coach Jarrett Moffitt is a native of Elmira, New York, and has lived in Dallas, Texas, for over six years. He excelled in football and lacrosse at Corning Painted Post West High School, earning All-State honors on the gridiron and All-American honors in lacrosse. He concluded his high school career as the all-time leader in goals and points for his school.

After graduation, Coach Moffitt attended Hobart and William Smith Colleges, where he played Division I lacrosse for two years until an injury curtailed his career. He then transferred to Alfred University, where he earned Empire 8 All-Conference honors as a senior, leading his team in goals and groundballs. Coach Moffitt graduated from Hobart and William Smith in 2007 with a Bachelor’s Degree in Secondary Education and pursued a coaching career at the collegiate level. Over eight years, he coached goalies, face-off specialists, offense, and defense at both Alfred University and SUNY Alfred State College. In 2017, he was inducted into the Corning Sports Hall of Fame.

While in Dallas, Coach Moffitt coached at the youth and high school levels, leading the Prosper Youth program to two city championships and one runner-up finish in three years. As an assistant coach for Prosper’s varsity team, he helped secure the 2019 State Championship. That same summer, he achieved success with the 2024 Texas Mustangs, guiding them to a US Lacrosse National Championship.

Now entering his fourth season as the head coach of the Boys’ Varsity Lacrosse team at Parish, Coach Moffitt has overseen the program’s growth from 35 boys in grades 7-12 to over 130 from K-12. He has led the varsity team to one Final Four appearance and coached six All-State players. In 2024 coach Moffitt was voted as the THSLL Class C Person of the Year by the Class C North District coaches.  In addition to lacrosse, he also serves as the head coach for middle school football.

KidoKinetics

Founded by Terri Braun, Kidokinetics has engaged children with fun, high-energy sports, and fitness classes since 1996. They are a premier sports, fitness, health, and recreation program provider that comes to local preschools, elementary schools, local parks, or community centers.

Terri Braun is an athlete, leader, teacher, and mother of three. Her programs keep children moving and active. The magic of Kidokinetics is that they’ve made sure achieving goals is an exciting experience — one that is so much fun, kids aren’t even aware of the fact that they’re learning.

XFactor Cheer

 Coach Ty Smith is from Chicago and started in competitive gymnastics in elementary school and by the time he was 16 he was an assistant coach. Coach Ty has been teaching recreational and competitive Gymnastics for more than 30 years. He coaches gymnasts on balance beam, vaulting horse, floor tumbling skills and uneven/parallel bars. He also has taught recreational and competitive cheerleading for more than 25 years including stunts, cheers, chants, motions, transitions, voice projection and power tumbling. He is safety certified American First Aid AED/CPR Association Advance Broken Bone Certificate.

8Bit Education

 Serving schools and recreation centers in the Dallas/Fort Worth area, 8Bit Education strives to create fun, engaging STEM curriculum that encourages technical and social skills both in and out of the classroom. 8Bit Education is family owned and operated. They were founded in 2015 because they saw a need for high-quality, affordable STEM Education.

Founder, Adrian Sanchez, Jr., has been in the field of STEM Education for more than 12 years; he has worked with other companies and has seen what is possible when you open the door to the world of tech for students. He believes everyone should be able to have the experience of learning new skills and having fun at the same time!

Adrian works very closely with his brother and lead instructor, Tony Sanchez. Tony ensures the staff are properly trained to their high standards. The Sanchez brothers work diligently to keep each student engaged and will often team up to teach camps and classes. They also work very closely in developing new material and camps.

The final member of the team is Olivia Sanchez, Adrian’s wife. She works closely with the brothers to develop new curriculum as well as recruiting new partners, developing marketing materials, and working on anything 8Bit might need. 

Challenge Island

Challenge Island® is where engineering meets imagination! It’s a one of a kind enrichment program on the cutting edge of S.T.E.A.M (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art and Math) education and 21st century learning.  Each semester of Challenge Island takes place on a unique thematic island where our adventurous tribes tackle high-level thinking and engineering challenges at whimsical weekly destinations-combining kids’ love of creating with STEAM concepts making learning fun. 

GearMinds STEM Academy

 Serving the local community since 2020 GearMinds STEM Academy strives to inspire kids in elementary through high school through robotics and coding programs based on their integrated STEM curriculum. The curriculum promotes communication, collaboration, and problem-solving skills through a unique learn-by-doing approach. GearMinds also offers opportunities to participate in robotics competitions and hackathons. The Teams have demonstrated stellar performance in the First Lego League competitions since 2021 by advancing to higher levels and winning awards for Robot design. GearMinds takes pride in instilling a passion for STEM careers at a young age because they believe passion is the foundation for meaningful education and a bright future.

Play-Well TEKnologies

 Play-Well TEKnologies was founded by Tim Bowen in 1997. Tim was introduced to the LEGO® building system a year earlier and recognized it to be both a popular play medium and a tremendous learning medium. He began to develop projects which drew on his professional experience and combined the elements of fun, challenge, and learning and began operating a summer camp program, followed by after school enrichment classes. With steady growth of the company, project development is now undertaken by a staff of instructors bent on constantly improving the programs.

Play-Well strives to build problem-solving skills, provide an opportunity for creative expression foster a greater appreciation of how things work and encourage the qualities of inquisitiveness, self reliance, and self confidence in children.

Techie Factory

 Techie Factory is a locally owned STEAM/Esports enrichment franchise. Techie Factory is the home of all things STEAM! They began six years ago right here in Dallas just down the road and now offer camps all over the country. They offer fun STEM options for kids of all ages but they like to make sure they don’t forget the A in STEAM. Like many folks out there they offer coding but also have Art, Music, Esports, Entrepreneurship, LEGO, and 3D Design options no one else is doing.

 

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