Summer camps in Boston take advantage of the nearby mountains, waterways and harbors and colleges and museums to deliver a special experience for campers. In addition, many camps specialize in one area—technology, performing arts or sports—to let your child dive deep into one subject or interest.
Whether your child wants to try something new, spend time outdoors or become an expert in a long-held interest, there's a camp for them in the Boston area.
Need more info before sending your kid off? Check out our Parent's Guide to Summer Camp.
Boston Children's Theatre, Inc.
1 of 10
Age: 4 to 14 years old
Length: Day camp, with extended care available
Cost: Starting at $145 (financial aid available)
Boston Children's Theatre offers summer programs across many theater disciplines. For those new to performing, Studio Discovery and Studio One are both one-week camps that use theater games, singing, dancing and choreography to introduce students to the performing arts. Studio Two, Three and Four, are multi-week programs that require an audition to attend and culminate in full musicals at the end of the summer. During each intensive, students have daily acting, singing and dancing classes.
Studio Four, a pre-professional program that accepts students from across the nation as well as international students, also hosts master classes with current and former Broadway performers. BCT's technical theater program, Behind the Scenes, teaches participants about lighting, props, sound and stage management, and offers experience in show running during two productions on the main stage.
Manchester Sailing Association
2 of 10
Age: 7 years old and up
Length: Day camp (two-week sessions)
Cost: Starting at $385
Manchester Sailing Association is a non-profit that teaches sailing lessons at Tuck's Point, near the docks of the Manchester Yacht Club. Classes and camps are available for beginners to advanced sailors, with two tracks available after the intermediate level. In the Adventure track, kids learn sail configurations, navigation and seamanship, but do not focus on racing. In the Racing track, students learn the rules and tactics of competitive sailing, in preparation for joining a race team. Camp sessions run for two weeks.
Camp Waubanong
3 of 10
Age: 3 to 17 years old
Length: Day camp; Overnight camp
Cost: Starting at $250 (scholarships available)
Camp Waubanong, located on 100 beautiful acres in southern Vermont, encourages kids to explore nature by teaching "ancient skills with modern mentoring." Campers spend 35 hours per week in the outdoors, learn primitive skills like shelter building, wilderness cooking, natural navigation and tracking. The camp uses games, free play and observation to build confidence in a natural environment. The camp's farm and garden provide local, organic produce, meat and eggs for camp meals.
During overnight camp, campers stay in Adirondack shelters in the forest with up to eight other campers. Teen campers are allowed off-campus adventures which include paddling, swimming and water play. Want to go to camp with your kids? The last weekend of summer is Family Camp at Camp Waubanong.
Zoo New England
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Age: 3 to 13 years old
Length: Day camp, with extended care available
Cost: Starting at $170 (sliding scale plan available)
Zoo Camp runs at two locations, Franklin Park Zoo (6- to 13-year-olds) and Stone Zoo (3- to 13-year-olds). Franklin Park Zoo runs full-day programs with extended care. Kids have a daily animal encounter and a behind-the-scenes experience during the week of camp. The Junior Zookeepers program, for 12- to 13-year-olds, is a two-week camp that allows kids to shadow professionals at the zoo. Junior Zookeepers learn about careers with animals and are exposed to behind-the-scenes areas more frequently.
At Stone Zoo, the youngest campers can participate in half-day camp. Campers explore the zoo, play games and do hands-on activities to facilitate learning and fun. Stone Zoo also offers similar camps for older participants, with extended care offered for full-day programs.
Theater in the Open
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Age: 5 to 18 years old
Length: Day camp, with extended care available
Cost: Starting at $245
Theater in the Open, located in Newburyport, is a professional theater company that produces free outdoor theater. Summer Arts workshops are two to four weeks long, with daily acting, improvisation, dance and visual arts lessons. Students learn to use nature and their imagination to improve their performance. Older performers stage a full-scale production, or can choose to work specifically on Shakespearean theater or in Arts Education. The 5-year-old campers have the theater space to themselves during their half-day, week-long program, giving them space to play, learn and discover outdoor theater.
Leaders of Future Technology
6 of 10
Age: Varies by session
Length: Day camp
Cost: Starting at $449
LOFTechnology was founded to help train kids in STEAM topics, prepare them for college and to teach future innovators. LOFT focuses on leadership, collaboration and creativity, while helping kids learn the STEAM skills they will need in the future. Camps cover topics including robotics, Scratch programming, 2D and 3D game design and animation, LEGO and the integration of engineering, physics and math. Camps are held at Rivier University and have age suggestions, which vary by topic.
World Cup Soccer Camp
7 of 10
Age: 1st to 8th grade
Length: Day camp
Cost: Starting at $235
World Cup Soccer Camp expects players to compete, be challenged and learn that success comes from "hard work and sacrifice." They teach kids fundamental soccer skills by establishing a good rapport with campers, teaching soccer through play and by creating a training environment called the "Competitive Climate." The goal is to teach players both sportsmanship and a competitive mindset. Campers work on soccer skills and tactics, and through that hard work, also develop strength of character.
Natick Summer Academics
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Age: Kindergarten to 8th grade
Length: 60-minute classes, up to four hours per day
Cost: Starting at $50/class
This summer enrichment program through Natick Public Schools offers classes for kids in kindergarten through 8th grade. Classes are incredibly varied; they include basic academic preparation, but also offer a chance to explore new interests. Is your child interested in science, sports or global arts and crafts? There's a class for that. Kids can also study a foreign language, learn mythology with Percy Jackson, do yoga and cook a meal—all in the same day. Each class is 60 minutes long. Students can register for one to four classes during each weekly session, building their day—and their summer—according to their interests. Classes fill quickly!
The Volleyball Camp at Harvard
9 of 10
Age: 6 to 12th grade
Length: Day camp
Cost: Starting at $350
Volleyball camp at Harvard is open to middle school and high school girls of all skill levels. During each session, players learn individual and team skills from the Harvard volleyball staff. The camp also welcomes teams that attend together, or if coaches want to set up satellite volleyball camp, the coaching staff will come to you. Harvard Volleyball also offers a camp for boys age 12 to 18.
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