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It's time to sign up for summer day camps! As your Type A Mom friend I'm here to lessen the behind-the-scenes work of parenting, and signing up for camps is definitely a lot of work! To help lessen that work, I've put together a list of day camps offered in many locations around the US, and I've listed different local resources to contact to see what they offer for summer day camps.
I have 3 kids and I've been signing up for summer day camps for over 10 years. After all that experience, these are the three key things I've learned to keep in mind while researching day camp ideas and adding them to your schedule:
- Drop off and Pick Up Time and Location: If I’m looking at different camps for each of my 3 kids then the drop off and pick up timing and locations need to work well together - this is a big component of how I plan our weeks!
- Date in the Summer: If it’s the middle of the summer then my kids may need to have air conditioning so I look for camps that offer that (camps at a school campus or a YMCA offer indoor time so are a good option for this).
- Fall School Plans: If my child is starting a new school, I try to find a camp that is on that campus so they can get used to the school. Even if the camp isn’t related to the school at all, if my child goes to a camp there they’ll learn where the bathrooms are, where the playground is, and may meet other children attending that school in the fall.
Below is a list of in-person day camps to reach out to, and resources to contact, in your search for camps for your kids. I hope this helps you and alleviates the stress that planning the summer day camp schedule can bring!
Day Camps Offered In Many Locations:
US Sports Camps - NIKE Sports Camps
Pedalheads Bike, Swim, Trail Outdoors Camp
Local Resources:
There are places that you may not have thought about that offer summer day camps right in your town! Take a look at this list and search your local option’s website to see what’s offered and then call to see what’s still available:
• Local Preschools: Often local preschools offer camps that are not just for their students.
• Local Public Elementary Schools: Camp companies often use public elementary school campuses for their camp location – call the school and ask if there are any camps using their facilities for the summer and get that information to contact the camp.
• Local Private Elementary Schools: Private Elementary Schools often offer summer day camp to anyone who wants to attend – you don’t have to be a student at the school to go to camp.
• Local Colleges: Camps often use college campuses for their camp campus– call the main college office and ask if they know about camp companies using their facilities for the summer.
• Local churches and temples: Churches and temples may offer campsduring the summer. Some may offer camp just one week but that can be helpful if it’s a week you need!
• Recreation Department/Parks Department: Rec departments usually have different programs available during the summer.
• YMCA: Local YMCAs usually offer options for kids day camps during summer and school days off during the school year.
• Community Services Department’s Instagram: Community Service Departments usually list summer camp and activities on their page, and you can always DM them to find out what options they know about in your area.
• Tennis Clubs/Golf Clubs/Country Clubs: Clubs often offer sports camps for non-members.
• Museums: Both big city and small town museums offer camps during the summer.
• Zoo: If you have a zoo nearby they usually offer a summer camp.
• After School Activities: Art studios, martial arts studios, dance studios, gymnastics centers, etc all usually offer camps during summer months.
I hope these camp ideas and resources to find camps can help you fill out your summer schedule and give your kid wonderful summer memories. Please let me know which camp was the most fun!
❤️, Amanda, your Type A Mom friend
PS: if you'd like day camp ideas for Los Angeles, please message me directly - hello@type-a-mom.com - and I'll share my and my kids' favorite camps!
