Summer Camp Ideas for Kids

Have you been toying with the thought of activities for your child this summer? These summer camp ideas are great to research and explore. When it comes to exposing your child to a world of activity and knowledge, summer camps can be a perfect choice! And while some summer camps may or may not be happening this year, it’s always good to do the research in your area and find out what is available for the kids to do.

Summer Camp Ideas for Kids

There are literally hundreds and hundreds of different summer camp ideas and options that are out there. For the most part, you can easily narrow it down to what your child likes and wants to do. The good news is that there is a summer camp out there for almost any type of fun activity that they’ll look for. It’s up to you to find them, research them, and get your child signed up in time!

While there are too many summer camp ideas to go over entirely, here are a wide variety of summer camp ideas for kids!

Fun Summer Camp Ideas for Kids

Outdoor Adventure Camps

If your child loves the thought of being outdoors, this here is a great summer camp option for them! They’ll not only be surrounded by like-minded people but they’ll get to do a ton of these great activities as well:

Hiking
Biking
Dirtbiking
Swimming
Canoeing
Boating
Camping
Wilderness Spotting
Bird Watching
Fishing
Kayaking
Rock Climbing

And the list goes on and on. Anything that can be done outside that is exciting can be found at one of the many outdoor adventure summer camps.

Check with the local state parks in your area and see if they’re offering any type of outdoor or nature programs as well. They’re such a great resource to use.

Spirit Camps

Finding a camp for your child that is all about spirit and excitement can happen! There are different summer camps associated with:

Cheerleading
Gymnastics
Tumbling
Dance

If your child is looking for a way to stay active and creative, spirit summer camps may be a great option to explore further for them.

Sports Camps

Summer sports camps are probably the easiest type of summer camp to enroll in because there is always a sporting camp going on! With all the wide variety of sports available for kids, it just makes sense! Some of the sports camps to look out for are:

Basketball
Baseball
Softball
Soccer
Tennis
Track
Football
Swimming
Volleyball
Hockey
Skating

And the list goes on and on. The thing to remember about sports camps is that they are usually 1-2 weeks in duration and are located in your hometown. If your child is wanting that “going away to camp” experience, sports camps may not offer that.

Music Camps

There are some really great music summer camps out there for kids! While some specialize in varying instruments and music, there are many that are more broad and general to the public. Some of these include:

Band Camp
Choir Camp
Marching Band Camp
Competitive Choir

Your child will learn a great deal about music and continue on with their skillsets and talent during the summer months.

Church Camps

Depending on your religious beliefs, there is all type of summer church camps that go on in a short amount of time. While some of them are overnight and away locations, most of these church camps are commonly referred to as “Vacation Bible Schools” and happen right in your same hometown.

Keep in mind that church camps are focused heavily on the religion of the church that is holding it so if that isn’t your same belief or faith, it’s good to be aware of that aspect.

Educational Camps

It’s always a good idea to keep that learning and education going during the summer months! Did you know that there are a ton of educational summer camps that your child can experience and grow from? While these are just a few of the ones that might be available in your area, it’s always a good idea to really see how you can continue to support and enhance their knowledge.

Journalism
Science
Math
Geography
Archeology
Genealogy
Marine Biology

If your child is interested in a specific aspect of learning, there’s probably an educational camp out there for them!

What are some at home summer camp ideas for kids?

If you find yourself unable to send your children to summer camp, don’t fret. You can create that same type of summer camp atmosphere at home as well.

Set up a tent in the backyard for them to have a “campout” experience

Setting up space separately for your child to be able to camp in and explore is a great idea! And while they might have had their heart set on going somewhere else and doing this, you offering this gesture instead may be just the perfect response.

Set up a tent and let them have that campout experience right in your backyard. You can even work on teaching them the basics of starting a campfire and making s’mores as well. Plus, if you want to let them invite a few other campers to join, why not?! The more the merrier at this at home summer camp!

Pay for an in-home instructor to come to your house during the summer months

If you like the idea of your child attending a summer camp, but they don’t like the thought of being away from home, then it’s time to find a way to compromise. Having an educator or tutor come to your home during the summer months can still provide that knowledge and learning that they would have received from camp.

But by doing this, it also shows your child that you understand their worry of going to summer camp and you’re helping them overcome that obstacle with a doable solution.

Virtual Online Summer Camp

Thanks to the use of the internet, kids can even log in and have an online summer camp experience at home. Virtual summer camps are very popular and are a great way to avoid that summer slide, too.

Summer Camp Ideas Brainstorming Session

As you can tell, there are a ton of great summer camp options to consider. Set down with your child, find out what they’re interested in, and then make a plan on how it can happen.

And if you plan the summer accordingly, they might even be able to attend a couple of their summer camp wishlist locations! How cool would that be for them to be able to experience more than one camp during the summer months?

Working together is a great way to stay excited and interested about the possibilities. When it comes to figuring out summer camp ideas for kids, ask them what they would like, too!