With the arrival of longer days and warmer weather, it’s time to start thinking about summer camp. Does your child want to learn about computer coding or would he or she prefer to spend a week at a traditional summer camp in the mountains? Camps in the greater Philadelphia area cater to a variety of interests and ages, including several camps with counselor-in-training programs for teens.
Take advantage of the local universities, science museums and outdoor spaces, and enroll your child in one of the many fun summer camp programs available around Philly.
Need more info before sending your kid off? Check out our Parent's Guide to Summer Camp.
ESF Camps & Experiences
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Age: 3 to 18 years old
Length: Day camp, with extended care available
Cost: Prices vary by session
ESF Camps focus on education, sports and fun. Day and senior camps offer a wide variety of activities over the week, including outdoor adventures, sports, drama, science and innovation labs, swimming and martial arts. The camps offer special events throughout the summer as well, which vary across ESF locations. They run several camps in New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, Pennsylvania and Maryland.
If your child prefers to focus on a specific area or activity, ESF has a huge range of offerings. You (and your child!) can "Choose Your Path" with programs specializing in STEM, performing arts, culinary arts, academic enrichment pathways, technology, graphic and visual design and various sports—even triathlon camp. There is truly a camp for everyone.
Germantown Academy
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Age: 3 to 16 years old
Length: Day camp; Overnight camp
Cost: Starting at $340
Located on 126 acres in Fort Washington, Pennsylvania, Germantown Academy has been running traditional day and overnight camps, as well as specialty camps centered around sports, technology or the arts, for almost 50 years. Day camps for first through sixth graders include daily art, science and nature activities. A creek also runs through camp, providing a base for fishing, wildlife exploration and canoeing. The Adventure Course, with ropes, balance challenges and a zip-line, is available for wilder pursuits.
With over 50 specialty programs, there is a camp for nearly every interest, including multiple sports camps, Art Quest, Kids' Kitchen, theater camps and a variety of technology-based camps. Teen Caravans take older kids on daily field trips for a full week of adventure. Finally, Itty Bitty Camp and Adventurers camps, offered for 3 to 5-year-olds, give the youngest campers a chance to spend summer days at play.
Center for the Creative Arts
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Age: Kindergarten to 9th grade
Length: Day camp, with extended care available
Cost: Starting at $150 (scholarships available)
The Center for the Creative Arts in Yorklyn, Delaware, runs high quality arts camps, including both visual and the performing arts. Camps include specialized instruction in a variety of topics, including painting, sculpture, pottery, glasswork, theater, music and dance. Themes change each week, but campers are always encouraged to express themselves, and camps are run by professional artists and educators. The Center also runs a Teen Intern Program, where teens learn about art and instruction, helping with student activities, exhibitions and performances.
Fleming Tech Camps
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Age: 5 to 18 years old (day camps); 9 to 18 years old (overnight camps)
Length: Day camp; Overnight camp
Cost: Starting at $595
Fleming Tech Camps offer programs in eight main areas: video game design, Minecraft, LEGO-based camps, tech adventures, R-Botx, tech art, coding and engineering. There are over 30 specialty camps offered, and all camps work to build tech skills for life, while encouraging creativity and problem-solving skills. Tech Adventure camps combine core projects and outdoor play, bringing together technology and the more traditional aspects of day camp. Camps are offered at several locations in Pennsylvania, Maryland and New Jersey. Overnight camps are held at Cabrini University.
Riverbend Environmental Education Center
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Age: 3 to 13 years old
Length: Day camp, with extended care available
Cost: Starting at $209
At REEC, instructors believe that nature is the real classroom. The Summer Exploration Camp helps kids connect with the outdoors while teaching environmental principles. Kids get dirty and have fun by exploring animal habitats, playing games, stomping in streams and catching bugs, all while learning about the natural world and how to protect it. There is an Educators-In-Training program, open to interested teens.
Princeton University Sports Camps
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Age: First to 12th grade
Length: Day camp; Overnight camp
Cost: Starting at $180
Princeton University Sports Camps offer 69 sessions, with camps specific to 19 different sports. Princeton varsity coaches direct camps, while college coaches and players act as assistants. Overnight campers stay in Princeton dorms for a true taste of collegiate life. Camp length varies by sport, and some may be offered as individual or team camps. The camp has won the Markel's Safety 1st Award for 10 consecutive years.
Camp Haluwasa
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Age: 6 to 16 years old
Length: Day camp; Overnight camp
Cost: Starting at $275
Camp Haluwasa, which stands for "Hallelujah, What A Savior," is the ultimate Christian camping experience. Day camp and overnight camp both provide action-packed days full of swimming, boating, fishing, crafts, games and songs, with Bible stories and Christian fellowship woven in. During registration, campers can choose daytime add-on activities, including horsemanship, archery or culinary arts. Summer programs combine fun, team building and traditional camp experiences.
Butcher's Sew Shop Junior
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Age: 5 to 15 years old
Length: Day camp, with extended care available
Cost: Starting at $360
Butcher's Sew Shop, named for its landmark butcher's shop location, runs a variety of sewing camps that encourage creativity and risk-taking while learning a life-long skill. Camps have different themes and teach new students hand stitching, machine sewing and embroidery. Challenge pieces also encourage innovation. For older campers, Fashion Week explores every step of creating a fashion line. Campers can expect Project Runway-style challenges within a single theme, like accessories or back-to-school fashion, with some unconventional materials included for fun.
Da Vinci Science Center
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Age: Pre-K to 8th grade
Length: Day camp, with extended care available
Cost: Starting at $155 (scholarships available)
Da Vinci Science Center Camps combine hands-on activities with play and learning led by professional STEM educators. Themes include Animals, Chemical Chaos, Mission Milky Way, Multibot and Planet Hunters. Camps are held in two locations: the DVSC and March Elementary School in Easton, Pennsylvania (for pre-K to fourth grade). Camps at the DVSC take advantage of the exhibitions, and any field trips are specific to the camp theme. For example, mini-med camp explores St. Luke's University Hospital.
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