Some kids want the stage, some want to build robots, and some want to sit across a chessboard and win. Utah Valley has good options for most of those interests, several of them run by cities, the county extension office and nonprofits at modest prices, and a few interests where the options are thinner than you would expect. This guide goes interest by interest, with what we could confirm.
Drama
- The Covey Center for the Arts, Provo. The city's arts center downtown added two theater classes in summer 2026: Children's Theater: Characters and Comedy for ages 6 to 13, and Youth Theater: Acting for the Stage and Screen for ages 12 to 17, which met Mondays through Wednesdays from 2 to 4 p.m. Tuition was $135 for Provo residents and $148 for nonresidents, with no extra fees for costumes or performances. The Covey also runs dance classes by semester; fall 2026 registration ran from September 8 to November 18.
- SCERA Center for the Arts, Orem. SCERA runs youth theater programs through the school year, from early September to May, with several levels and a weekday program for homeschoolers, plus weeklong camps and a summer musical workshop. Its 2026 summer registration opened March 30.
- Hale Center Theater Orem. The theater runs education programming as part of its nonprofit mission, including classes.
For the shows these companies stage, see Live Theater in Utah Valley.
Coding and robotics
- Utah County 4-H. USU Extension runs 4-H in Utah County from its office at 1875 South State Street in Orem, with programs in computer science, robotics and drones through community clubs and at-home projects. Utah County 4-H robotics teams have competed internationally.
- The Mini-Tinker Lab. Inside the same Orem office, the Utah County 4-H Mini-Tinker Lab offers laptops, iPads and robotics kits, and it is open to Utah County youth and adults whether or not they are in 4-H.
- FIRST robotics. FIRST LEGO League and the older FIRST competitions have teams across Utah and a Utah regional championship; teams often form through schools, 4-H clubs and community groups.
- Code N Bots, Draper. Just over the county line, this robotics lab teaches engineering, coding and robotics to ages 6 to 16 through classes, camps and teams built around FIRST LEGO League robot games.
- University camps. BYU and UVU run summer camps, including technology camps; see Summer Camps in Utah Valley.
Chess
- The Utah Chess Association, the state affiliate of US Chess, is the place to start: it lists tournaments, clubs, instructors and scholastic events.
- Scholastic championships. The association's elementary state championship has been open to any kindergarten through sixth-grade student with no qualifying event; the 2019 edition was held in Provo.
- School programs. Chess enrichment companies such as Chess Wizards run after-school classes and break camps in Utah schools.
Utah Valley has a claim on the game online, too: Chess.com was launched in 2005 by two BYU alumni.
Cooking
This is the interest where we came up short. We did not find a regular kids' cooking program in Utah Valley that we could confirm. USU Extension lists food, health and wellness among its program areas, so its Utah County office, at the same Orem address, is a good first call; after that, check city recreation catalogs and the summer camp listings.
Close to home and free
The library is often the cheapest place to start an interest; see the Provo City Library and Free Passes on a Library Card. For museums that pair with a young scientist's interests, see the Best Museums and Art Galleries in Provo.
Practical notes
- Register early. The city and nonprofit classes are cheap and fill fast.
- Think in semesters. Many programs run September to May.
- Try 4-H first for STEM. It is low-cost and county-wide.
- Ask about cooking. It is the gap in the valley's offerings.
Related Guides
- Summer Camps in Utah Valley
- Live Theater in Utah Valley
- The Provo City Library
- Free Passes on a Library Card
- Utah Valley's Splash Pads
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Frequently Asked Questions
Where can kids take acting classes in Utah Valley?
The Covey Center for the Arts in Provo, run by the city, added children's and youth theater classes in summer 2026 at $135 for Provo residents and $148 for nonresidents, and the SCERA Center for the Arts in Orem runs youth theater programs through the school year and camps in summer. Hale Center Theater Orem also offers education programs.
Where can kids learn coding and robotics in Utah County?
Utah County 4-H, run by USU Extension from its office at 1875 South State Street in Orem, offers computer science, robotics and drone programs through clubs and at-home projects, and its Mini-Tinker Lab there is open to Utah County residents, in 4-H or not. FIRST LEGO League and other FIRST robotics teams compete in Utah, and Code N Bots in Draper runs robotics classes and teams for ages 6 to 16.
How can my child get into chess in Utah?
Start with the Utah Chess Association, the state affiliate of US Chess, which lists tournaments, clubs, instructors and scholastic events. Its elementary state championship has been open to any kindergarten through sixth-grade student with no qualifying event.
Are there kids' cooking classes in Utah Valley?
We did not find a regular kids' cooking program we could confirm. USU Extension lists food, health and wellness among its program areas, so its Utah County office is a good first call, along with city recreation catalogs and summer camp listings.
When do kids' classes register in Utah Valley?
Many run on the school year, starting in September, with summer camps registering in spring. SCERA's 2026 summer registration opened March 30, and the Covey's fall 2026 dance registration ran from September 8 to November 18.
Where is Utah County 4-H based?
At the USU Extension office, 1875 South State Street in Orem, which runs 4-H programs in computer science, robotics and drones through clubs and at-home projects.
Can any child enter Utah's elementary chess championship?
The Utah Chess Association's elementary state championship has been open to any kindergarten through sixth-grade student, with no qualifying event.
How much were the Covey Center's summer theater classes?
Tuition was $135 for Provo residents in summer 2026, for classes that met Mondays through Wednesdays from 2 to 4 p.m.
