Let’s all just take the summer off and go to camp. Pretty please with s’mores on top?? One can dream. While we adults are putting in the 9-5 hours, our kids are able to dive into the most fun summer ever! Here’s our list of kids' camps for the young ones to older teens!
Photos | top row: @tallpinesdaycamp, @schuylkillcenter, @morrisarboretum | bottom row: @briarbush_naturecenter, @riverbendeec, @camphalfbloodbk
Kids Who Love the Great Outdoors (Day Camps)
Tall Pines Day Camp
Ages: 3-14 years old
Where: Williamstown, NJ. Bus pick-ups and drop-offs in Philly and NJ, including down the shore. Pick-up is sometime in the 8 o’clock hour and drop-off is generally around 4 pm.
What to expect: Jam-packed with all things camp: athletic activities, creative and performing arts, boating and fishing. They offer healthy meals, including vegetarian and nut free options! Book a tour to see the camp and activities, and then register for the summer season.
Schuylkill Center for Environmental Education
Ages: 4-12 years old (10-12 years currently has a waitlist)
Where: Roxborough, Philadelphia
What to expect: Access to 340 acres of forest, fields, streams, and ponds all with lots of hands-on activities. Take a peek at their Camp Schuylkill 2023 Handbook to get more information. Register via their website.
Morris Arboretum Summer Camp
Ages: 4-11 years old (currently all programs are waitlisted)
Where: Chestnut Hill, Philadelphia
What to expect: Themed weeks that highlight all the good stuff like bugs, plants, and mythology.
Briar Bush Nature Center Summer Camp
Ages: 4-15 years old. Overnight options for 11-15 years old
Where: Abington, PA
What to Expect: Choose themed weeks that are varied for specific ages. Think nature, water discovery, primitive skills, and animals at the working farm.
Riverbend Environmental Education Center Summer Camp
Ages: 5-13 years old
Where: Wayne and Gladwyne, PA locations depending on ages and sessions
What to Expect: Expect muddy clothes at the end of the day- all in the name of fun. Campers explore nature exploration, games, crafts, and hikes.
Camp Half-Blood
Ages: Rising 2nd-9th grades
Where: Wissahickon Valley Park
What to expect: A Percy Jackson (fantasy novel character) themed camp. Through storytelling and activities, campers act out, learn skills, read, and discover their inner warrior through various quests.
Philly Parks & Rec Camps
Ages: 6-12 years old
Where: Neighborhoods throughout Philly!
What to Expect: Themed camps focus on specific activities. Get ready for performing arts, skateboarding, swimming, rowing, and more. Camps vary in length from 1 week-6 weeks or longer. Most offer before and after care for an additional fee. Registration is open!
Photos: @campzeke, @campdarkwaters, @campsaginaw
Classic Overnight Camps
Camp Zeke
Ages: 7-17 years old
Where: Lakewood, PA
What to Expect: Full-blown overnight camp. Kids pick which sessions they want from ziplining, performing arts, sports, waterfront activities, and cooking classes. No dingy stays here, cabins are modern and equipped with heat and A/C. Meals are also self-serve buffet style- with only healthy options. Week sessions and longer summer sessions are offered.
Camp Dark Waters
Ages: 7-14 years old
Where: Medford, NJ
What to Expect: An overnight camp in its 96th season. This is the camp movies are made of. Taking pride in inclusivity, Camp Dark Waters welcomes all. Although they don’t have gender-neutral cabins, they make sure to place non-cisgender campers and staff into the cabin groups they feel most comfortable. Get ready to play, sit around the campfire in the evenings, sing songs, swim, and do all things camp. Dates and rates are already posted!
Camp Saginaw
Ages: 6-16 years old
Where: Oxford, PA
What to Expect: Separated into Girls and Boys camp and then by ages. They’re so sure you’re kid will love it that they even have a first-time camper guarantee. If your camper leaves early they will pro-rate the unused tuition. But with waterfront activities, sports, games, crafts and hang time they’ll love it! Full-season or half-season options.
Photos | top row: @penntenniscamp, @sixerscamp, l@egacyyte | bottom row: @philadanceacademy, @zoomdancephilly, @balletsunmi
For the Sports Fanatic
Penn Tennis Summer Camp
Ages: 3-18 years old
Where: University City
What to Expect: Touted as one of the “most popular tennis camps in the nation.” Offering 9 weeks of sessions where kids will learn new tennis skills, play games with peers, raffles, and can chow down on complimentary lunch. Register for your weeks here. Aftercare is offered for an additional fee.
Legacy Community Tennis Camp
Ages: 5-18 years old
Where: East Falls, Philadelphia
What to Expect: Themed weeks based on skill level. Munchkin campers (5-7 years old) learn the ABCs of tennis on and off the court. Higher-level players will not only play on the court but also study via video-based training and mental conditioning in the classroom. Elite players will receive top-tier coaching on the court to fine-tune their skills.
Philadelphia Dance Academy Summer Program
Ages: 6-9+ years old (dance level specific)
Where: Old City, Philadelphia, and Ardmore, PA
What to Expect: Depending on your dancer's level, there are half-day and full-day intensive classes. Early drop-off and aftercare are provided for an additional fee.
Ballet Sunmi Summer Camp
Ages: 4-12 years old
Where: Callowhill, Philadelphia
What to Expect: Week-long sessions (full or half day) that focus on dance. Includes ballet, acrobatics, theatre, live music, mask making, and prop designing. When weather permits the campers will also have outdoor free play at the Rail Park. Early drop-off and afternoon programming are also available.
Zoom Dance
Ages: 3-8 years old
Where: South Philly, Philadelphia
What to Expect: Campers explore creative movement, group activities, art projects, and dancing. Themed weeks add to the fun. Extended care also available.
76’ers Camp
Ages: 6-15 years old the R
Where: Various locations throughout PA, NJ, and DE
What to Expect: Sharpen your b-ball with focused games and exercises. Some locations offer early morning care before sessions start at 9 am.
Eagles Youth Football Academy Clinics
Ages: 5-14 years old
Where: Packer Park, Philadelphia
What to Expect: Not quite a camp, more of summer day sessions/clinics. Meet and take photos with alumni or current players, play and train with coaches, and meet Swoop the Eagle’s mascot! Dates and locations posted starting in March 2023. Sign up for updates and announcements.
Phieldhouse Summer Camp
Ages: 6-12 years old
Where: Callowhill, Philadelphia
What to Expect: Energetic activities (think classics like dodgeball), group challenges, and a final end-of-the-day thrilling activity to keep them feeling the fun. Before and after care is offered for an additional fee.
Photos | top row: @blackhoundclay, @walnutstreettheatre, @ardentheatreco | second row: @theclaystudiophl @schoolofrock, @fleisherart | bottom row: @queenrookcafe, @phillyartcenter, @tuft_the_world
Creative Juicers
Music and Mud Summer Camp
Ages: 5-14 years old
Where: West Philly, Philadelphia
What to Expect: A balance of art and music in one camp! A full-day split into morning and afternoon sessions (ie. music in the morning and clay/drawing in the afternoon). No music or art experience is necessary. At the end of each camp week, parents, siblings, and friends can partake in a party celebrating the music and art that they made that week!
Tuft The World Summer Camp
Ages: 8-16 years old
Where: Bok Building
What to Expect: Week-long sessions that are all about textiles. Screenprinting, tie-dying, and weaving are some of the highlights. Each week will offer a different theme. Kids Camp is for ages 8-12. Teen Summer Studio is offered for ages 13-16.
Camp Walnut
Ages: 7-18 years old
Where: Center City, Philadelphia
What to Expect: Be a superstar and perform a real live musical on the Walnut Theatre stage. Beginner actors find their parts in a 30 min musical, (our fav is Annie for kids 7-11)! For your advanced actors who are more familiar with the stage, they’ll perform in more complex productions that are led by industry professionals. This season features Into the Woods Jr. and As You Like It.
Arden Summer Camp
Ages: Rising 1st-5th graders
Where: Center City, Philadelphia
What to Expect: Camps in musical theatre, drama, comedy, and design. Six themed sessions that run one week or longer. All offer final performances for friends and family!
Clay Camp
Ages: 6-18 years old
Where: Kensington, Philadelphia
What to Expect: Held at the brand new gorgeous facilities of The Clay Studio. Campers learn how to throw clay on the wheel and handbuild. They can even sign up for a Claymation-themed week!
School of Rock Summer Camp
Ages: 7-18 years old
Where: Callowhill, Philadelphia
What to Expect: Depending on your skill level you can sign up for various camp sessions with themes like Best of the 90s, Beatles Camp, or even Songwriting and Recording. Learn to explore instruments through musical games and activities. Specific sessions geared to more experienced players as well.
Art Camp at Fleisher
Ages: 5-18 years old
Where: Bella Vista, Philadelphia
What to Expect: Younger artists can enroll in full days on a week-by-week basis. Older artists immerse themselves in half days for two weeks. Great for young artists looking to expand their portfolios! Anime, Art and Activism, Mural Masterpieces, and Experiments with Sculpture are just a few of the classes offered. See the full list here.
Queen and Rook Board Game Adventure Summer Camp
Ages: 6-13 years old
Where: Queen Village, Philadelphia
What to Expect: Focused on playing, designing, and learning about board games. If your campers are into trading card games they’ll get to learn and play those too! Guest speakers will be announced closer to camp. Registration for the weekly sessions is open. A break to play outside each day is included. Aftercare is available for an additional fee.
Philly Art Center
Ages: 4-14 years old
Where: Fairmount, Queen Village, Mt Airy, Philadelphia, and Cherry Hill, NJ
What to expect: Younger kids get to dive into weekly themes that highlight 2&#-D media. With studio time, lunch, and playground time! Tween sessions are focused on the particular medium that floats their boat- including comics, drawing, painting, ceramics, and sewing.
No matter which camp (or camps!) they pick, we know they’ll have a blast. Meanwhile, we’ll keep waiting for the adult summer camp trend to catch on!
