Camp fairs are a great way to find summer camp opportunities for your St. Louis kids. All the camp representatives gather in one place so you can ask questions and take home camp literature.

But hey, you're a parent and that means your weekends are packed with activities, so it's not always possible to make those once-per-year Saturday or Sunday fairs.

If you’re worried your kids will get bored over winter break, or if you need a few hours alone to shop (or restore your home to its former condition after the little hooligans have been home from school for a few days) consider signing them up for camp. We've rounded up four best bets for winter break camps this season. All offer activities kids will love, and one even has a sleep-away option. And they all offer you a much-needed break too.

The Des Peres Parks and Recreation hosts this Expo featuring the more than 15 camps they offer this summer. Information on all the camps will be available at this free event. 9 a.m. to noon. The Lodge of Des Peres, 1050 Des Peres Road. More information: www.desperesmo.org

At Vetta Sports Camps, your child is the focus. The camps, held at five locations across the St. Louis metro area, offer activities that challenge kids mentally and physically with indoor and outdoor play. The well-rounded camps are run by an experienced staff of athletes who teach not only skills, but good attitudes and a love of the game.

Get ready to have a blast! Sign up for Summer Science Blast at the Saint Louis Science Center and find amazing summer adventures. Learn to fly a real airplane. Design and build your own robot. Master the Segway. Explore the science behind cooking, and more! There are new and exciting camps for every grade level, including a spin into nuclear science with Small Particles, Big Bang, explosive adventures in chemistry with Camp KaBoom and nine full weeks of early childhood day camps!

New for this year: Online registration! Parents, through the new online registration process you can get immediate feedback on which camps have availabilty and if you're officially registered.

Full and half-day camps at COCA are for kids to sing, paint, draw, act, sculpt, dance and have a great time. Camps are held for kids from ages 3 to 18, featuring creative arts programs taught by professional artists and instructors.

You'll find summer learning and enrichment experiences for kids ages toddler to teen. Check out  our 2010 Summer Camp Guide for camp descriptions and contact information, and links to camp web sites. Get Started