Most camps offer extended care for a small additional fee; some include before or aftercare in the cost. Financial aid and scholarships are also often available.
Pricing is based on latest available published information. Check websites or call for updates.
It’s a partly cloudy afternoon at Delaware Nature Society’s Coverdale Farm Preserve, where dappled light sprinkles over verdant pastures filled with roaming livestock and children engaging in myriad activities. Near the old barn, a group of 5- and 6-year-olds go wild with excitement as their counselor helps them feed a flock of equally eager chickens. Others explore idyllic ponds, source art materials from nature or pick organic vegetables from one of the gardens before learning how to prepare them in the kitchen.
At nearby Ashland Nature Center, which serves as DelNature’s headquarters, staff help a group of older kids gear up for a canoeing excursion on the Brandywine River. For some it’s their first outing; others are returning for a second or third year of exhilarating adventure. Across Ashland’s 130-acre campus of meadows, marsh, woodlands and creek, young outdoor enthusiasts can enjoy activities like archery, hiking, birding, skygazing and nature education.
Similar programs are offered at DelNature’s two other locations, as well as throughout the state of Delaware with various organizations. While summer is the ideal season for your wild child to get their fill of the great outdoors, it also caters to indoor interests. Whether the interest is coding and science, athletics and water sports, music and theater, or the arts at large, a thrilling summer camp awaits. Here, we dive into the latest offerings.
Statewide
4-H camps offer a wide range of activities, including environmental education, photography, cooking, camping, leadership and swimming. Ages: 5–19. Price: $50–$375. State overnight camps: 831-2509. Day camps: New Castle County: 831-8965. Kent County: 730-4000. Sussex County: 831-3350. udel.edu/4-H
Delaware Nature Society offers nature education, water sports, cooking, archery and more at locations in Wilmington, Greenville, Hockessin and others. Ages: 3–15. Price: Starting at $150. 239- 2334. DelNature.org/summercamp
Delaware Technical Community College Camps offers activities in STEM, photography, cooking, illustration, sports, cosmetology, architecture, Star Wars, music production, musical theater, robotics and more. Ages: 5–13. Price: $79–$209. Stanton, Wilmington and New Castle: 453-3041. Dover: 857-1400. Georgetown: 259-6330. go.dtcc.edu/campssw
The Music School of Delaware hosts classes, workshops and camps featuring private and group musical instruction, vocal and instrumental programs, special recitals, concerts and more. Ages: 4 and older. Price: $80–$475. Wilmington: 762-1132. Milford: 422-2043. musicschoolofdelaware.org
YMCA Summer Day Camp operates camps in multiple locations throughout the state, offering activities from art and music to nature and swimming. Ages: Pre-K–Grade 11. Price: $170–$300 (Financial assistance is available.) ymcade.org/programs/summerdaycamp
New Castle County
Alapocas Run State Park offers summer camps with activities including rock climbing, rappelling, kayaking and hiking. Ages: 8–15. Price: $290–$350. Wilmington: 577-1164. destateparks.com/programs/summercamps
American Karate Studio offers a summer camp in martial arts, and keeps kids entertained with books, board games and more. Ages: 5–12. Price: $225 per week; additional costs may apply. Newark: 737-9500. newarksbestsummercampandafterschoolprogram.com/program/summer-camp/
Aspira Academy Summer Camp offers STEAM, performing arts, weekly field trips and splash days, breakfast and lunch included. Ages: 5–13. Price: $195 per week. Newark: 292-1463. aspiraacademy.org
Bellevue State Park camps include hiking, fishing, engineering experiments, field trips, boating and nature education. Ages: 5–15. Price: $125–$350. Wilmington: 793-3046. destateparks.com/programs/summercamps
Brandywine Creek State Park camps provide nature education, outdoor adventure, sports, orienteering, survival skills, tubing and more. Ages: 5–14. Price: $200–$285. Wilmington: 577-3534. destateparks.com/programs/summercamps
Brandywine Zoo lets kids spend the summer at the zoo learning about animals and wildlife conservation. Ages: 4–17. Price: $125–$355. Wilmington: 407-4407. brandywinezoo.org/learn/camps
Cab Calloway School of the Arts and Charter School of Wilmington’s SMArtSummer camps specialize in the performing arts, animation, anime, graphic design, illustration, photography, coding, video game design, escape room activities, radio theater, textile arts and more. Ages: Grades 1–12. Price: $285–$325. Wilmington: 766-3411. cabsummer.org
Camp JCC is an outdoor, traditional summer day camp for rising first to eighth graders with leadership opportunities for ninth and 10th graders, all on a 32-acre campus with outdoor pool, recreation areas and nature trails. Ages: Grades 1–8. Price: $330–$355. Wilmington: 478-5660. siegeljcc.org/camp
Caravel Day Camp promotes building lasting friendships for children through such activities as nature walks, scavenger hunts, field trips, ninja competitions, water activities and more. Ages: Grades K–8. Price: $180–$250. Bear: 740-4333. caraveldaycamp.com
The Center for Creative Arts offers a summer camp focused on visual and performing arts, with activities like pottery, music, stained glass, theater and more. Ages: Grades K–9. Price: Starting at $155. Yorklyn: 239-2434. ccarts.org
Centreville Layton School offers two camps. The Academic Morning Program focuses on math, reading and writing. The Afternoon Recreational Camp includes swimming, arts and crafts, and outdoor activities. Ages: 4–14. Price: $3K. For more information, contact agilbert@centrevillelayton.org or 571-0230. centrevillelayton.org
Delaware Aerospace Academy divides campers into small teams and provides hands-on activities and many opportunities for problem-solving. Ages: Grades 1–10. Price: $350–$700. Bear: 834-1978. dasef.org
The Delaware Art Museum’s summer program provides a creative experience with professional instruction in a fun and relaxed atmosphere. Young artists explore drawing, painting, ceramics, and more in the Bank of America Education Wing Studio as well as throughout the museum’s galleries and Copeland Sculpture Garden. Camp is from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Each session ends with a camper art show for family and friends. Ages: 6–17. Price: $240–$555. Wilmington: 571-9590. delart.org
Delaware College of Art and Design (DCAD) offers summer pre-college commuter and residential studio immersion programs for high school students interested in animation, game art, graphic design, illustration, fine art or photography and video. Ages: 14–18. Price: $775–$1,400 (commuter) or $1,275–$2,400 (residential). Also offering camp for middle schoolers who aspire to be animators, illustrators, artists and designers. Ages: Grades 6–8. Price: $645. Wilmington: 622-8000. dcad.edu/community-education/pre-college-program
Delaware Dance Company offers dance camp for 4-to-10-year-olds with any level of experience and dance workshops for 10 to 18 years with advanced beginner through advanced level training. Ages: 4–18. Price: $180–$360. Newark: office@delawaredancecompany.org. delawaredancecompany.org
Delaware Museum of Nature and Science camps offer nature and science exploration, with time for outdoor play, experiments, games, stories and crafts. Ages: Pre-K to 15. Price: $290–$375. Greenville: 658-9111. delmns.org/camps
First State Ballet Theatre Summer Intensive gives older students a chance to develop their technique and artistry and further their dance education with FSBT faculty and distinguished guest teachers. Classes will include ballet, pointe, variations, contemporary, character and more. Three years of previous ballet training required. Younger aspiring dancers can enroll in the Summer Children’s Workshop for a blend of ballet instruction with ballet arts and crafts in a joyful, enthusiastic setting. An ideal way to introduce your child to the art of ballet. A short performance will be held on the final day of each week. Ages: 4–22. Price: $275–$1,650. Wilmington: 652-5503. firststateballet.org
Girl Scouts of Chesapeake Bay gives girls unique, hands-on opportunities to try new things, hone their outdoor skills and take on new leadership roles. Overnight camp, mini camp, day camp and teen leadership programs are available. Ages: Grades 1–12. Price: $275–$650. Hockessin, Denton: 456-7150. gscb.org/en/members/for-girl-scouts/summer-camp.html
Hagley Museum offers day camps with experiences ranging from STEAM discovery to old-school fun. Campers can journey back to the 19th-century STEAM concepts to complete challenges and bring new ideas to life. Ages: 7–12. Price: $290–$400 per week (member discounts available). Wilmington: 658-2400, ext. 285. hagley.org/calendar/summer-camp-hagley
Hockessin Athletic Club campers enjoy recreational swim daily plus a range of indoor and outdoor activities from laser tag to STEM workshops and games. Ages: 3–12. Price: $188–$453 a week. Hockessin: 239-6688. hachealthclub.com/camp
Hockessin Montessori School offers arts and crafts, science, technology, dance, drama, education, singing, swimming and field trips. Ages: 1–12. Price: $185–$350. Hockessin: 234-1240. thehms.org
Lums Pond State Park offers nature education, wildlife research, watersports, rock climbing, crafts, fishing, survival skills and boating. Ages: 6–13. Price: $200–$300. Bear: 368-6989. destateparks.com/programs/summercamps
Newark Arts Alliance Camp Imagine hosts activities in visual arts, theater, dancing and singing. Ages: 7–12. Price: $275–$525. (Before and aftercare and scholarships available.) Newark: 266-7266. newarkartsalliance.org/camp
Newark Bike Project features half-day camps for cyclists, including bicycle maintenance and leadership experiences. Ages: 11–14. Price: $50. Newark: 525-6833. newarkbikeproject.org/events/youth
Newark Parks & Recreation offers camps in basketball, soccer, arts, dance, theater, nature education, archery and more. Ages: 6–15. Price: $44–$230. Newark: 366-7169. newarkde.gov/play
New Castle County Summer Camps offer a wide variety of camp options from traditional day camps, sports camps, art camps, equestrian camps, and Safety Town with locations across New Castle County. Ages: 6-17. $140 per week and up. 395-5654. newcastlede.gov/Camps
Salesianum Summer EDGE is a program that offers comprehensive summer programming, including academics and sports camps. Children work with current faculty, staff, coaches and alumni. Ages: Grades K–12. Price: $75–$1,250. Wilmington: 654-2495. salesianum.org/programs/salesianum-summer-edge
St. Anne’s Episcopal School offers six weeks of traditional and specialty camps like cooking, basketball, kayaking and chess. Half-day and extended care options are also available. Campers are invited to explore the outdoors, learn about themselves and make friends in a scenic lakeside setting. Ages: 3 through Grade 8. Price: Starts at $280. Call 551-6822 or email amchone@saintannesschool.org.
Spark Summer Camp empowers children through team sports, martial arts, crafts, STEM activities and more. Ages: 5–12. Price: Starting at $195. Middletown: 572-4123. Middletownsummercamp.com
Tatnall School summer camp features traditional, specialty and sports camps such as swimming, basketball, soccer, archery, art, dance, STEM, graphic design and more. Ages: Pre-K–Grade 12. Price: $175–$475. Wilmington: 892-4337. atatnallsummer.org
The Independence School provides opportunities to experience new activities and develop friendships while participating in outdoor exploration, creek activities, arts and crafts, STEM projects, sports and games on a 90-acre campus. Specialty camps in arts, space, coding and more are also available. Ages: 3–Grade 8. Price: Starting at $210. Newark: 239-0330, option 4. theindependenceschool.org/summer-camp
Tower Hill School offers thematic day camps, enrichment bundles, sports camps and clinics. Ages: 3–18. Price: Starting at $125. Wilmington: 575-0550, ext. 204. towerhill.org/community/summer-programs
Urban Bike Project of Wilmington features biking, bike mechanics and maintenance, community service, leadership, field trips and outdoor adventures with three options: Build-A-Bike Camp for all skill levels, Advanced Bike Camp and Girls Bike Camp. Ages: 11–17. Price: $150. Wilmington: 300-4323. urbanbikeproject.com/summercamp
Wellspring Farm provides a summer program for children to learn about horses and horseback riding with a focus on correct riding basics, a balanced seat and horsemanship both on and off the horse. For more information and questions, contact wellspringfarmcamp@gmail.com. Wilmington: 798-2407. bewellatwellspringfarm.com
White Clay Creek State Park offers summer camps with activities such as nature education, mountain biking, tubing, survival skills, geology, rock climbing and more. Ages: 4–15. Price: $125–$295. Newark: 368-6900. destateparks.com/programs/summercamps
Wilmington Friends School provides camp experiences in performing arts, fine arts, technology, field trips, music, swimming, dodgeball, video games, ice skating, bowling, design and more. Ages: 3–Grade 9. Price: $325–$425. Wilmington: ccharriez@wilmingtonfriends.org, 576-2900. wilmingtonfriends.org/our-programs/summer-programs
Wilmington Montessori School programs include day camps for younger ages and specialty camps such as archery for older campers. A toddler camp program is available to students enrolled at WMS. Ages: Preschool–Grade 8. Price: $175–$445. Wilmington: 475-0555. wmsde.org/programs
Wilmington Youth Rowing Association offers a variety of camps introducing kids to the “ultimate team sport” of rowing. Ages: 10–18. Price: Starting at $250. Wilmington: 777-4533, Louis@WYRA.org. wyra.org
Kent County
Biggs Museum of American Art ArtVenture summer camps provide week-long themed camps with projects exploring painting, sculpture, drawing and more. All activities are aligned to the National Art Standards for classroom education. Ages: 6–13. Price: $300, 20% off for Biggs members. Dover: 674-2111. biggsmuseum.org/education/summer-artventures
Killens Pond State Park camps offer hiking, fishing, boating, water activities, nature education and trips to the water park. Ages: 6–13. Price: $165–$220. Felton: 284-4299. destateparks.com/programs/summercamps
Yoon’s Martial Arts offers summer camp opportunities to learn about martial arts with different themes each week. Weekly and daily rates. Ages: 6–12. Price: Starting at $55. Dover: 734-4429. yoonsma.com
Sussex County
Alley Oop Skim camp offers a fun, three-day experience for children interested in learning to skimboard and looking for skill improvement. Multiple sessions available. Ages: 6–15. Price: $330. Dewey Beach: 930-7546. alleyoopskim.com
Camp Arrowhead provides day and sleepover camps. Activities include archery, swimming, kayaking, hiking and more. Operated by the Episcopal Church in Delaware. Ages: Grades 2–11. Price: $400–$1,530. Lewes: 645-5348 or 945-0610, ext. 105. camparrowhead.net
Cape Henlopen State Park offers history- and nature-themed camps with activities, games, exploration and more. Half-day and full-day camps. Ages: 5–10. Price: $75–$250. Lewes: 645-6852. destateparks.com/programs/summercamps
Dave Marshall Tennis & Fitness offers summer camps and private lessons for children interested in tennis. Ages: 5–18. Price: $320 for the week and $90 per day for a drop in. Lewes: 645-0713. davemarshalltennis.com
Epworth Preschool will be offering summer camps for children in 2024 with information announced in March. For more information on costs and themes, email bplowman@epworth.faith. Ages: 2–6, in 2023. Rehoboth Beach: 227-7120. preschool.epworth.faith
Kids Cottage offers summer camps with a variety of themes. Ages: 3–9. Price: $225. Rehoboth Beach: 644-7690. kidscottage.com
Mr. Hetfield’s Rock & Roll Summer Camp campers will improve their musical skills while having a real band experience. Camp takes place at Rehoboth Elementary School. Ages: 8–16. Price: $650. Rehoboth Beach: 245-1670. rockandrollsummercamp.com
Rehoboth Summer Children’s Theatre offers film and theater camps. Ages: 8–14. Price: $375–$395. Rehoboth Beach: 227-6766. rehobothchildrenstheatre.org
RELYance Skim Camp teaches participants how to skimboard and helps improve skills. Ages: 6 and older. Price: $325. Rehoboth Beach: 745-6358. relyanceskimcampde.com
Trap Pond State Park camps offer fishing, hiking, nature education, camping, crafts, canoeing, survival skills and more. Ages: 7–14. Price: $160–$225. Laurel: 875-5163. destateparks.com/programs/summercamps
Over the Line
Echo Hill Camp on the Chesapeake allows campers to have a meaningful experience where they build confidence, independence and grit. The residential camp has a free choice program, with water sports, land sports, ropes courses, archery, drama, music, arts and crafts, nature and more. Ages: 7–16. Price: Starting at $1,800. Maryland: 410-348-5303. echohillcamp.com
Camp Odyssey offers Adventure Camp with outdoor experiences, team challenges, swimming, art and more. Ages: Pre-K–Grade 8. Price: Starting at $193. Maryland: 410-883-7934. campodyssey.org
Camp Pecometh has been providing exceptional overnight camp programs to the youth of Delmarva Peninsula for over 75 years. Participate in a variety of activities including swimming, arts and crafts, challenge courses, canoeing/kayaking, Bible study and more. The organization also offers a Summer Respite for Adults with Disabilities camp. Ages: Grades K–11. Price: Starting at $349. Maryland: 410-556-6900. pecometh.org/summer-camp
Easterseals Camp Fairlee is a residential, overnight camp offering arts and crafts, music, sports, games, swimming, hiking, canoeing, hayrides, campfires, and more for children and adults with disabilities, including those with autism. Ages: 6+. Price: Starting at $2,000. Maryland: 410-778-0566. campfairlee.com/summer-camp
Girl Scouts of Chesapeake Bay gives girls unique, hands-on opportunities to try new things, hone their outdoor skills, and take on new leadership roles. Overnight camp, mini camp, day camp and teen leadership programs are available. Ages: Grades 1–12. Price: $275–$650. Hockessin, Denton: 456-7150. gscb.org/en/members/for-girl-scouts/summer-camp.html
YMCA Camp Tockwogh is a coed overnight camp that offers traditional camp sessions as well as a specialty watersports camp, teen leadership programs, minicamps and family camps. Waterskiing, sailing, fine arts, archery, outdoor exploration, ropes course and more. Grades K–11. Price: $120–$3,600. Maryland: 410-348-6000. ymcacamptockwogh.org
Related: This Delaware Town Is a Top “Calm-Cation” Destination
