We are so excited you found the SMB Guide to Surviving Summer. This is our 6th year of bringing you tips, tricks and things to do, all written to help YOU survive summer with your littles!

We use this Guide as reference when planning the week ahead, or when we are feeling stuck in our homes wondering

“WHY OH WHY, DO I LIVE HERE?”

We truly do love living in Arizona and want to make sure that you know what local moms really do to handle the extreme heat! We believe that when we put our heads together and share our tried and true Mom-Wisdom, it makes life richer for our families and our community.

In this guide, you will find over 35 articles all hand-picked to help you survive summer! There is everything from summer recipes, tips & tricks, travel tips, indoor activities and more.

We couldn’t do what we do without our sponsors! Thank you to the following businesses for continuing to support SMB, our Guide to Surviving Summer and our community of readers.

SMB Sponsored 

OdySea Aquarium

It’s hot outside, come CHILL with the SHARKS at OdySea Aquarium! Recently voted Best Kids Indoor Entertainment, OdySea Aquarium offers educational, interactive and entertaining experiences for guest of all ages. Get up close and personal with otters, penguins, rays, sea turtles, octopus, and step aboard OdySea Voyager, the world’s ONLY rotating aquarium exhibit experience! Located in Scottsdale.

OdySea Aquarium
9500 Via De Ventura
Scottsdale, AZ 85256

iD Tech Camp

At iD Tech Camps, students ages 7-17 learn to code, design video games, produce videos, mod Minecraft, create with Roblox, engineer robots, model and print 3D characters, work with AI and machine learning, build laptops, learn about cyber security, and more! Week-long, day and overnight summer programs that instill in-demand skills and embolden students to shape the future.

Arizona State University
Tempe, AZ

Call 1-888-709-8324

Dolphinaris

The Only Summer Camp In Arizona with Dolphins

Dolphinaris Arizona provides 5th – 12th graders the opportunity to get up close and personal with dolphins this summer at Dolphin Explorer Camp. Not only will kids have the opportunity to interact with dolphins in the water and from land, but they will also learn about dolphin intelligence and behavior, dolphin care and feeding, physiology, ocean conservation, and more. Camp sessions are from 9AM – 2PM Monday through Friday from June 4 through August 24. Camp includes a land and deluxe dolphin experience, a dolphin presentation, lunch, t-shirt, an 8 X 10 group photo and certificate of completion.

To reserve, email [email protected].

Kidspark Paradise Valley

Flexible summer camps to fit your schedule with different themes each week.
May 25th – August 3rd

Why KidsPark for Summer Camp?
– Pay as you go. Make your own schedule. Pay only for the time used.
– Activities included in our hourly rates.
– No need to pre-register, just pop in!
– Stay for the whole day or just an hour or 2, it’s up to you.

 Flexible Hours!

It's All about Etiquette

Would you like your child to get a few helpful and fun-filled lessons in manners and proper etiquette this summer? As much as you try teaching manners and proper etiquette at home, sometimes children just need to listen and learn from another adult. Certified etiquette instructor, SueAnn Brown, owner of It’s All About Etiquette, offers wonderful, four-day summer etiquette camps for two different age groups. The children meet for just two hours a day, from 10 a.m. to noon.

Your child will be amazed at how much fun learning about manners and proper etiquette can be! 

Camp Hubbard

Since 1998, Camp Hubbard​ (ages 4.5 – 12) ​ has provided hundreds of campers the opportunity to develop active skills to last a lifetime. They watched their campers grow socially, emotionally and physically in a positive environment. One week sessions, full day or half days, provide flexibility to attend camp sessions around summer plans.​

Teen Leadership Camp (ages 13-16) is ​designed to develop communication skills, goal setting, and cooperation​. It​ is a great combination of learning​ leadership skills while​ playing a variety of sports daily.

More Than Modeling

Learn life skills through modeling and fashion in a week long day camp.

They teach posing, runway walk, fashion and beauty. Lessons in nutrition, science, geography, math and etiquette are immersed in the curriculum. Their mission is to build confidence and prepare children for their futures, whether they become models or not. 

The classes are fun, educational and affordable.

After and before care available.

Monday – Friday, 9am-3pm.

Weekly enrollment from May 28th – August 3rd.

Early Bird sign up, and sibling discounts, available.

Musicology AZ

Reserve your spot today! MUSICOLOGY is an enhanced music program designed specifically for newborns through 4-year olds. Classes are divided into developmental age groups which promote language, rhythm, motor skills, self-esteem, creativity and joy!

Musical Learning Classes offered in 3 valley-wide Locations.

Musicology Scottsdale
13802 N. Scottsdale Rd, Suite 129 

Musicology Northwest Phoenix
625 W. Deer Valley Rd #100

Musicology Chandler
2390 N. Alma School Rd #107

Summer Session runs June 4th – September 1st

Phoenix Zoo

Phoenix Zoo – Camp Zoo
June 4th – July 27th

Best. Camp. Ever!

Children will have fascinating adventures with the natural world this summer at Camp Zoo at the Phoenix Zoo! Each week-long session is filled with up-close animal encounters, behind-the-scenes experiences, hands-on activities, games, in-depth investigations and organized free time. During the mornings, we take advantage of the cooler temperatures and participate in outdoor activities such as water-play and hiking. In the afternoons, when the temperatures increase, more time is spent participating in indoor activities.

Discover more about Camp Zoo!

Primrose Adventure Camp

Experience the excitement of Primrose Adventure Club where imaginations are free to run wild. Get ready for engineering design challenges, discoveries, outdoor exploration and more. It’s going to be one epic summer. 

Fun for ages 5-10!

Flexible schedules, onsite splash pad, field trips to Arizona Science Center, Pump It Up, Harkins and more. 

Sportball Summer Camp

Sportball INDOOR Summer Sports Camps

Keep your kids active and engaged this summer with Sportball’s half-day Sports camp! They introduce children to two new sports a day as well as water-play games and activities PLUS arts and crafts, snack time, stories, music, cooperative games and more!

Sportball is a Fundamental based multi-sport program for kids. Your children will learn the basic concept of eight core sports, soccer, basketball, t-ball, football, tennis, golf, hockey and volleyball. Sportball uses sports instruction as a way to help teach and refine both gross motor and social skills.

CAMP TIME: 9:00AM – 12:15PM
CAMP AGES: 3 – 6 YEARS
CAMP DATES: 5/29 – 8/3, Mon – Fri

Advertise with Scottsdale Moms Blog….or suggest a Summer Guide Topic by emailing us…[email protected]

Things to do/ Places to go/ Surviving Summer in AZ

List of family restaurants!

Meet new friends & try something new!

Pack up the car and hit the road!

Who doesn't like a great staycation!

Tips and recipes!

Everything we do to make it to September!

All of our sponsors and the SMB Team

Want to be a part of a future Guide?

We want to show our readers all of the amazing things to do in the Scottsdale area. Partnering with us allows your business greater visibility with a large targeted market of local families. Join us and help enrich the lives of Scottsdale Moms!