Summer Camps for Kids in Austin

Spring break may have just wrapped up, but it’s already time to begin thinking about summer camps and enrichment programming for kids. Austin has over 80 camp options, catering to kids from preschool to senior high. Below are a few examples of available camps:

Outdoor Recreation – These programs offer the most common “camp” experience, with outdoor fun, arts and crafts, hiking, sports, and swimming. Specific options include Camp Champions for ages 6 – 18, featuring waterskiing, horseback riding, sports, crafts, climbing wall, and archery; Gardenheads for ages 4 – 8 that focuses on organic gardening and art projects that utilize natural mediums; and Girlstart Camps for ages 4 – 8 that let children explore the outdoors and study science topics that range from medicine to the ocean.

Special Needs Camps – These programs have special equipment, accommodations, and trained staff to help children with developmental disabilities, childhood illness, or physical limitations experience outdoor adventures. Down Home Ranch is one example, offering camp programs to children ages 13 and up with mild to moderate intellectual disabilities. Texas Lions Camp, located in Kerrville, TX, has programs for children ages 7 – 16 who live with physical disabilities such as diabetes and cancer.

Sports Camps – Sports camps programs offer an emphasis on team and individual sports, helping kids stay active and healthy during the hot summer months. Advanced level camps help children and teens hone skills for competitive team sports:

• University of Texas Soccer Camp for ages 7 – 18
• Westlake Youth Soccer Camp for ages 5 – 14 in the Westlake Hills neighborhood
• Chapparral Ice Summer Camp for ages 8 – 14
• Life Ki-Do Karate Camp for ages 5 – 11
• Rock Climbing Camp for ages 12 and up
• Sailing Camp with the Austin Yacht Club for ages 8 – 16 on Lake Travis, close to homes in Steiner Ranch
• Scuba Camp for ages 12 – 18

Educational Camps – Bridging the gap between the spring and fall semesters, educational camps help reinforce learning and prevent summer learning loss in a fun and interactive environment:

• Abacus Brain Gym to reinforce math skills for ages 5 – 12
• First Bytes for high school girls to learn computing and problem solving
• Live the Language Spanish Immersion Camp for ages 5 – 13 that also offers yoga, cooking, theatre, and art all in Spanish
• Summer Creative Writing Camp for grades 3 – 12
• Summer Institute for the Gifted Camp for ages 6 – 17

Art, Music, and Dance Camps – Art programs help foster creativity and a sense of connection to our cultural history:

• Cafe Monet Camp for all ages in the Triangle close to Tarrytown homes
• Dougherty Art School Camps for ages 5 – 15
• Girls Rock Camp for ages 6 – 17
• Austin Film Festival Annual Summer Film Camp for ages 9 – 18
• Kids Chef Camp for ages 7 – 18
• Young Shakespeare Intensive Summer Performance Group for ages 11 – 19
• American Ballet Theatre Summer Intensive for ages 12 – 18