By Vivienne Leyva
Riley County Public Information Officer
(Riley County, KS – March 17, 2026) Registration is now open for the eleventh year of Camp Kindergarten, a free program hosted by the Riley County Health Department and USD 383. The camp helps children build skills and confidence before starting kindergarten in the fall.
Children enrolled in the program will attend the four-week camp at Bluemont Elementary School in Manhattan from June 1–26. The sessions are half days (mornings or afternoons) in a classroom setting with licensed elementary teachers from USD383 and experienced support staff. Families interested in participating must apply by Friday, May 1, 2026.
To apply, parents can complete an online application at www.rileycountyks.gov/CampK or call the Riley County Health Department at (785) 776-4779 ext. 7663. Applications are available in English and Spanish. Class sizes are limited to 12 students per classroom, with space for 48 total participants.Camp Kindergarten offers many of the same activities children will experience at school, such as literacy and numeracy activities, art, sensory activities, recess, and snack time. Kids will learn classroom behaviors such as taking turns, listening, following routines, and fostering independence and confidence for a successful start to kindergarten. “It’s fun to see how much the kids grow and learn in just four weeks,” said Chelsea Manwarren, Raising Riley Community Outreach Coordinator. “Kids make significant improvements in sound identification and rhyming skills and get used to the routines and tasks of school.
”Camp Kindergarten can be especially helpful for kids who have not attended pre-school. Priority for attendance is given to families who are low-income, at-risk, teen parents, or children who have not attended any form of pre-school.“Getting to experience a classroom setting for a short period helps kids build confidence and overcome fears,” said Manwarren. “They get to see what school will be like, and it helps set the tone for success. USD383 kindergarten teachers have shared a lot of positive feedback over the years, saying children who attended Camp K are better prepared for school than peers who did not attend preschool.”