Summer Day Camps for Kids in the Sacramento Area

It’s almost summer! It’s time to plan for family vacations, make your Fourth of July plans, and of course, register for summer camp.

There are a variety of camps available for children throughout the entire summer, providing non-stop fun, thrilling activities and hands-on educational experiences. Take a peek at some of these art, theater, nature and sports camps provided throughout the Sacramento area this summer!

Art + Theater Camps

Firefly Art Galactic Adventure Summer Camp

Dream Enrichment is a local business bringing exciting themes, passionate teachers and engaging camp curriculum to the Sacramento community. Their specialty STEAM camps line up with your child’s passions, helping them create, invent and discover all summer long! Choose from their diverse options, including art camp, building camp, coding camp, robotics camp and stop motion camp! Pay attention to the age groups for each camp and the varying dates and locations throughout the Sacramento area.

Overwhelmed? Check out their full schedule to get a clearer picture.

Fairytale Town Summer Camps

Photo Courtesy of Fairytale Town

Fairytale Town offers 16 exciting and educational week-long summer camps, featuring unique themes including visual art, animals, gardening, puppetry, literature, theatre arts and more. Find a session and theme suitable for your child’s age group, as Fairytale Town offers morning sessions from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. for children ages 4–6 and ages 7–9.

The Afternoon Adventures session from 12–4 p.m. is offered for all ages (4–9) to create a full-day camp experience with lunch, recess, open-ended activities, storytime and more. Check out their full list of camps spanning the entire summer, covering a variety of subjects from music to farm-to-fork food, and everything in between.

Pierce Art Summer Camps

Pierce Art in Arden-Arcade hosts an exceptional Summer Art Camp each summer, with a variety of sessions Monday through Thursday from 9:30 a.m. to 12 p.m. Campers may join at age 5, and will be grouped by age and ability, including teens or advanced artists who want a more individualized experience. The sessions are limited in size to allow personalized instruction, so sign up before they fill up! The cost for Summer Art Camp is $250, and all supplies and materials are included.

Sacramento Theatre Company’s Summer Camps

Photo Courtesy of the Sacramento Theatre Company

The Sacramento Theatre Company hosts an exceptional summer camp, with a diverse curriculum based on teamwork, confidence building and creative expression. Camps include acting, dancing and singing master classes, with some focus on scenic arts, improvisation, stage combat, costuming and more. Most camps run from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, and before- or after-care is available with an additional fee. Choose from STC’s variety of sessions, including High School Summer Shakespeare Camp, a number of Summer Act*Dance*Sing Camp sessions, and many more. Each camp is held at Riverside United Methodist Church in Land Park.

Sacramento Children’s Museum Summer Camps

The Sacramento Children’s Museum is offering three fun and educational hands-on camps for kids ages 5–11 in partnership with the Cordova Recreation and Park District. Cooking Around the World Camp (June 5–9) allows children to prepare and sample dishes from around the globe, with each day focusing on a different country. Art Studio Camp (June 19–23) introduces children to different art materials and techniques, from clay sculpting to Pollock-inspired drip painting. From Book to Table Camp (June 26–30) is a multi-sensory reading adventure, as each day features a different story and recipes inspired by the book.

Nature Camps

Sacramento Zoo Summer Camps

Zoo Camp provides a fun and exciting atmosphere (that doesn’t feel like school!) that inspires children to care about wildlife and wild spaces, and learn how to protect them. There are a number of options for kids in kindergarten through 6th grade, including the choice of full-day and half-day camps for 1st and 2nd graders. Camps for all grade levels, including preschool, feature the following experiences: silly songs and fun crafts, interactive lessons and games, tours of parts of or all of the zoo, interaction with zookeepers, animal encounters, and much more.

Effie Yeaw Nature Center Summer Camps

The Effie Yeaw Nature Center in Carmichael provides a wide variety of nature camp programs throughout the summer for 5-year-olds, ages 6–7, ages 8–11, and ages 12–15. Many sessions are full, but you still have a chance to register for others if you act quickly! Encourage your child to connect with nature in a fun and hands-on way with an adventurous week spent at the Effie Yeaw Nature Center.

Soil Born Farms Summer Camps

Photo Courtesy of Soil Born Farms

Soil Born Farms is a 55-acre ranch located along the beautiful American River Parkway. Their summer day camps provide a wonderful opportunity for young people entering grades 1–12 to make the connection between food, health and the environment. This farm-to-table hands-on learning exists in the form of three camps — Farm Camp, Cooks Camp and Nature Camp! Check out the full list of summer day camp sessions, each of which runs Monday through Friday 8 a.m. to noon.

Placer Nature Center Summer Camps

The Placer Nature Center in Auburn hosts a number of three- and five-day camps throughout the summer, focusing on nature subjects — from creepy crawlers to life-giving plants. Most sessions are for children ages 3–10, but there is an option for ages 3–12 or training opportunities for kids over 13. The cost of five-day camps is $150 for non-members or $135 for Placer Nature Center members. Three-day camps cost $100 for non-members or $85 for members.

Sports Camps

River Cats Summer Baseball Camp

Photo Courtesy of the Sacramento River Cats

Play where the pros play! Take the field this summer with River Cats players and coaches for a group baseball camp at Raley Field. This two-day, complete skills camp focuses on all the fundamentals of baseball and includes individual attention for each camper. Take the mound in the River Cats bullpen, take your hacks in the team batting cage, and much more. The two-day camp takes place Monday and Tuesday, June 19–20 from 8:30 a.m.–12:00 p.m. By signing up for the skills camp, each camper will also receive two tickets to a 2017 River Cats game!

NIKE Basketball Camp at Jesuit High School

Your little basketball star can learn skills directly from the excellent Jesuit High School team and staff this summer! The Complete Skills Camp helps players of all abilities develop athletically, refine fundamental basketball skills, and enhance their skill set. Choose from either of the two sessions, either Session I from July 24–28, or Session II from July 31–August 4. This will be a valuable, fun and memorable experience for your child — no matter their previous experience or athletic abilities.

NIKE Basketball Camp at William Jessup University

William Jessup University in Rocklin offers an exceptional basketball camp each summer, available for girls and boys of all ages. The girls camp offers extended day (9 a.m.–9 p.m.) or overnight options for ages 8–18, and the boys camp includes both a complete skills camp and a shooting camp, both of which are available for overnight or extended day campers.

National Academy of Athletics Summer Sports Camps

Photo Courtesy of National Academy of Athletics

The National Academy of Athletics offers a variety of programs for boys and girls of all ages. Their Summer Camp program is designed for boys and girls grades 1–8, and the Juniors Academy is for boys and girls ages 3–6. Each session is one week long, available for beginners to more experienced players, covering a wide range of sports, including baseball, basketball, soccer, volleyball, lacrosse, and much more. Enjoy the convenience of a nearby location, as you can use their locator to find a camp near you.

Sacramento United Soccer Camps

Sacramento United offers a variety of summer camps at Granite Regional Park for soccer players of all ages who benefit from a dedicated coaching staff. Camps emphasize increased player touches on the ball, dynamic foot skills and developing coordination. Choose from the Summer Skills Camp, the GK! Goalkeeper Camp, the Sactown Quickness Camp, or the Go! Girls Only Camp. Select the specialized camp and dates that fit your soccer player’s interests and your family’s schedule.

Sacramento YMCA Summer Day Camps

Photo Courtesy of YMCA

The YMCA is a reliable source for active, family-friendly fun all year long — especially during the summer. Their summer day camps provide an exciting, safe environment for kids to have an unforgettable summer of action-packed fun with activities such as swimming, camp games, arts and crafts, sports and field trips. The Y offers day camps throughout the region, including Central Sacramento, East Sacramento YMCA, Yolo County YMCA and more.

Camp Olympus at the Olympus Sports Coliseum

Camp Olympus provides a plethora of fun-filled activities for kids ages 6–12. Each week has a unique theme, including Kickin’ It Old School, Super Hero Week, Extreme Survivor, and much more. Plus, campers embark on a field trip adventure each week to places like Camp-a-Palooza, John’s Incredible Pizza and much more. Your child will enjoy games like basketball and soccer, in addition to camp-like games. Take a look at the lineup for the summer of 2017 and register while there’s still room at Camp Olympus!

Sacramento State Aquatic Center’s Summer Youth Camps

Photo Courtesy of Sacramento State Aquatic Center

Get your kids involved in one of the best summertime activities — water sports. For over 30 years, the Sacramento State Aquatic Center has offered instruction for youth ages 7–17 focused on a number of activities, including sailing, windsurfing, canoeing, kayaking, wakeboarding, water skiing, jet skiing, rowing, stand-up paddling, whitewater rafting and more. Enroll your child in a thrilling week of camp focusing on a special activity, or register for Basic Camp, which covers a wide range of subjects and is available all nine weeks of the Aquatic Center’s summer camp program.

West Sacramento Recreation Center Summer Sports Camps

At West Sacramento’s Summer Sports Camp, your child will get an overview of a variety of sports, including soccer, basketball, tennis, volleyball, rock climbing, badminton, swimming, and more! Bring a lunch, snacks and water, and the rest is up to the staff members, who provide an array of fun athletic activities at the West Sacramento Recreation Center. Choose from the nine sessions available from June 12 through August 11 for kids ages 5–12. The camp costs $100 per weekly sessions, and discounts are available for full summer in-person registration or multi-child registration.

Happy Summer!

Enjoy the wide variety of camps available in the area for little ones this summer!