The Best Summer Camp Options for Kids 9-12

These summer camps are perfect for older kids whether they want to do theatre, art, sports, or even explore STEM at camp this summer!

L. Elizabeth Forry

Updated: December 1, 2022

With summer vacation looming, parents anticipate eight to ten weeks of summer fun with their kids until the next school year begins. If it’s late in the game, you may be scrambling to find fun hands-on activities to keep your kids busy. Have no fear; with so many summer camp programs available, you can probably still find a spot with a day camp or specialty camp.

If you have high school kids, you don’t necessarily need to worry about your kids staying home alone or making new friends, although you may still wish to engage them in summer fun. However, if your kids are in elementary or middle school, finding fun activities to keep the boredom at bay is essential.

What type of summer program you send your kids to depends on your work schedule, your child’s age and interests, and if you need extended care. Many schools and county or city rec departments offer full-day, summer-long programs; your can sign up for pre-K through 5th or 6th grade (5-12 years old). If you work full-time, these are an excellent and usually affordable option.

However, if you work from home or are a stay-at-home- parent, you might only need or want half-day programs to offer enrichment to your child’s summer or to give your kid the camp experience.

We’ve broken down some of the top camp options available, sure to engage campers of all interests. With everything from robotics to kayaking to virtual and in-person these camps are sure to engage, entertain, and enrich your child this summer!

Music & Performing Arts Camps

There’s no question about it; theater, music, and art enhance our lives, and people sorely missed live performances during the COVID pandemic. So consider a theater or performing arts camp if you have a little performer on your hands. Even if your child has never performed, these camps teach the fundamentals of acting and stage performance at an age-appropriate level.

Age 9+ is a great time to begin learning an instrument or try acting for the first time. Your child’s cognitive skills are ready for the discipline it takes to practice and memorize lines and music. Plus, theater is a bonding and social experience guaranteed to make life-long friends.

To locate music or performing arts camps in your area, check out:

Children’s Theaters
Music Schools
Parks and Rec Departments
Dance or Gymnastic Schools

Athletic Camps

For children who love or need to stay active and dream of playing for the NBA or MLB, sports camps get your child active with training and exercise; plus, come home tired and ready to rest!

Sports summer camps are typically week-long sessions that focus on a particular sport or skill. Camps for specific skills, such as baseball-hitting camps, may only be half-day sessions.

Athletics teach teamwork and perseverance and encourage exercise. Camps for all types of sports can be found: baseball, basketball, archery, swimming & water sports, tennis, martial arts, softball, soccer, volleyball, gymnastics, etc.

To find athletic camps near you, check out:

Minor league team websites
Local athletic leagues
Schools
Aquatic centers
YMCA

Tech Camps

If you have a kid who loves spending time on their computer playing Minecraft or Roblox, use that to your advantage and find them a camp focused on STEAM and tech camp activities.

ID Tech offers online and sleepaway camp options for kids ages 7-19. ID Tech’s overnight camps take place on college campuses nationwide.

Outschool is another excellent online option that your child can do from the comfort of their own computer. Their camps are usually offered as an hour-long session once per day for a week. They offer everything from Minecraft game design, to coding to sound and video editing.

Online camps are great for kids who aren’t ready for traditional full-day camps or for health, medical or other reasons can’t participate in outdoor camps.

For individuals in the Bay Area/San Jose, San Diego, Los Angeles, Chicago, Denver, Boulder, Boston, Northern New Jersey, Austin, Dallas, or Fortworth, check out KidzToPros. They offer full-day, week camps, focusing on STEAM and athletics combined!

Digital and Creative Arts Camp

If you have a budding Picasso or the next animation genius on your hands, then a digital arts or creative arts camp might be best. Some summer day camps focus on art in general, or you can find ones specific for different mediums like pottery and ceramics, drawing, or painting.

Abrakadoodle Art Camps are offered in weekly sessions and are usually ideal for kids in elementary and middle school. These camps are usually offered through local parks and rec or school organizations. My son went to one last summer and loved every minute of his time there!

The YMCA is another excellent place to look for visual art-themed camps.

Outdoor & Nature Camps

Look for outdoor camps or overnight camps for children who love the outdoors and nature and don’t mind getting sweaty and dirty. These camps often offer a wide range of activities from horseback riding to canoeing to even zip-lining and surfing.

Children are divided into age groups and bunk with kids the same age. Overnight camps typically offer weekly camp sessions, but some offset two-week or monthly sessions.

For younger kids, grades K-2 some camps offer a trial sleep-over option, which only lasts 2 or 3 nights.

To look for overnight or outdoor camps in your area, check out: