Explore the Main Line Region’s Many Summer Camps

Now more than ever, kids need a place to escape and connect. Here’s a curated list of camps around the Main Line.

Camp as we know it was originally developed in the early Industrial Age so boys from inner cities could have the same character-building experiences their wealthier peers supposedly enjoyed at their country homes. These days, camps are $26 billion industry, hosting 26 million kids and families at over 15,000 locations staffed by 1.1 million seasonal employees. The American Camp Association lists 141 camps and 359 programs within 50 miles of Philadelphia. The range of offerings is vast, whether it’s summer day programs, week-long themed camps or overnight (or overseas) adventures.

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Today, “service” and “immersion” are buzz words among parents and kids alike. In our area, musically inclined campers can study with members of the Philadelphia Orchestra at the Philadelphia International Music Festival, where students come from 25 countries. “Musicians are a different breed— many don’t live with people who are like them,” says Jacob Heil, a violinist who’s in his sixth year as PIMF’s operations director. “We challenge kids to double their practice time after camp. It’s a really unique thing.”

Travel for Teens offers students a different sort of summer experience, organizing 15–20 service trips in conjunction with various nonprofits. The type of service varies by region. In Costa Rica, campers may help repaint a school. In Hawaii and Alaska, more environmentally focused efforts have involved sea turtles and tidal pools. The smaller groups on these trips foster close relationships and allow for more flexible accommodations. “Kids can get hands on and give back,” says Seth Graham, director of operations at Travel for Teens’ Wayne headquarters.

For Graham, it was a trip to the Dominican Republic with his family that most impacted him. He’d never seen poverty on that scale. “We were staying at a resort, but we explored a little bit,” Graham says. “It changes your worldview.”

That’s the goal at Travel for Teens. “We immerse them in the local community,” says Graham. “We hit the big items like major museums or historic sites. But we also teach them how to use public transportation and visit local restaurants— other than the Hard Rock Cafe.”

SUMMER CAMPS DIRECTORY

AGNES IRWIN SCHOOL

Rosemont, (610) 672-1272, summeratais.org Day • grades pre-K to 12 • academics, arts, athletics, STEAM

AIM ACADEMY

Conshocken, (215) 483-2461, aimpa.org/academics/summer-enrichment-program Day • grades 1-12 • academics, ACT prep, arts, STEAM

THE BALDWIN SCHOOL

Bryn Mawr, (610) 525-2700, baldwinschool.org Day • ages 3–12 • art, music, nature exploration, sports, swimming, theater

BENCHMARK SCHOOL

Media, (610) 565-3741, benchmarkschool.org/summercamp/summer Day • grades 1–6 • academics, arts, sports

BRANDYWINE SCHOOL OF WIZARDRY

Arcadia, Chester Springs, Horsham, Plymouth, Radnor, Upper Dublin, Westtown, (610) 827-5678, brandywineschoolofwizardry.com/summer-camps Day • ages 6–15 • academics, arts

CAMP KEF

Wynnewood, (610) 896-7770, phillyjcc.com/camp Day • infant to age 15 • arts, sports, technology, theater

CAMP KWEEBEC

Schwenksville, (610) 287-8117, kweebec.com Overnight • ages 6–16 • arts, athletics, aquatics

CAMP PEGASUS

Ardmore, (610) 649-1080, camppegasus.com Day • ages 6–16 • art therapy, computer gaming, digital photography, games, music therapy, sports

CAMP SAGINAW

Oxford, (888) 477-2267, campsaginaw.com Day • ages 6–16 • arts and crafts, ceramics, culinary arts, media, sports, theater, watersports

CCEDC STEM INNOVATION PROGRAMS

Various locations, (610) 321-8212, steminnovationpa.org Day • ages 10–18 • academics, STEM

CEO ACADEMY FOR YOUTH KIDS CAREER CAMPS

Various locations, (610) 977-2405, www.ceoacademyeducationusa.com Day • grades 4–12 • journalism, law, medicine, STEM, creative writing, science

CHESTER COUNTY ART ASSOCIATION

West Chester, (610) 696-5600, chestercountyarts.org Day • ages 4–18 • art, ceramics, fine art, STEM

COMMUNITY ARTS CENTER’S SUMMER SPREE VISUAL ARTS CAMP

Wallingford, (610) 566-1713, communityartscenter.org Day • ages 5–17 • art, music, nature, photography

CORINTHIAN YACHT CLUB

Essington, (610) 521-4705 Day • ages 8–17 • sailing

DARLINGTON ARTS CENTER

Garnet Valley, (610) 358-3632, darlingtonarts.org Day • ages 3–14 • music, art, dance, drama

DELAWARE VALLEY TENNIS ACADEMY

Villanova, (610) 527-2387, dvta.com Day • ages 4–18 • tennis

ELMWOOD PARK ZOO

Norristown, (800) 652-4143, elmwoodparkzoo.org Day • Ages 6–13 • adventure, animals, conservation

EMAGINATION COMPUTER CAMPS

Rosemont, (877) 248-0206, emaginationtechcamps.com Day and overnight • ages 8–17 • computers, technology

ENGAGE ART STUDIO

Schwenksville, (484) 968-3101, engagearts.com Day • ages 5–18 • art, drawing, pottery, sculpture, mixed media

ESF CAMPS & EXPERIENCES

Chester Springs, Chestnut Hill, Haverford, Newtown Square, (800) 529-2267, esfcamps.com Day • ages 3–18 • academics, arts, science, sports, technology

EPISCOPAL ACADEMY’S CENTER FOR GROWTH & INNOVATION

Newtown Square, (610) 688-3298, easummer.com Day • grades pre-K-7 • arts, academics, leadership, music, photography, science, theater

FRIENDS’ CENTRAL SCHOOL

Wynnewood, (610) 645-5132, fcsprograms.org Day • ages 3–18 • arts, academics, nature exploration, sports, technology, theater

FRIENDS’ SCHOOL HAVERFORD

Haverford, (610) 642-2334, friendshaverford.org Day • ages 3–8 • academics, arts, cooking, sports, water activities

FUTURE AVIATORS

Toughkenamon, (610) 268-2619, newgardenflyingfield.com/future-aviators Day • ages 7–15 • aviation

GERMANTOWN ACADEMY DAY CAMP

Fort Washington, (267) 405-7321, germantownacademy.net/summer Day • grades pre-K to 10 • academics, art, science, sports

THE GRAVITY VAULT

Radnor, (610) 756-2529, gravityvault.com Day • ages 7–14 • rock climbing

GWYNEDD MERCY ACADEMY HIGH SCHOOL – CAMP INSPIRE

Gwynedd, (215) 646-8815, gmahs.org, Day, girls in grades 6-8, STEAM, confidence, leadership, chemistry, drone rescue, engineering, arts, and music.

THE HANDWORK STUDIO

Various locations, (610) 660-9600, thehandworkstudio.com Day • ages 5–15 • cooking, fashion, machine sewing, needle arts, woodworking

HEDGEROW THEATRE

Rose Valley, (610) 565-4211, hedgerowtheatre.org Day • ages 3–14 • theater

HOLY CHILD ACADEMY SUMMER CAMP

Drexel Hill, (610) 259-2712, holychildacademy.com Day • ages 2–14 • arts, cooking, robotics, science, sports, swimming

ICORE FITNESS

West Chester, (484) 887-8607, icore.ninja Day • ages 6–14 • ninja training, parkour, sports

KITCHEN WIZARDS

Various locations, (610) 348-5284, kitchenwizards.info Day • ages 5–14 • baking and cooking

LAVNER CAMPS

Various locations, (888) 854-2267, lavnercampsandprograms.com Day • ages 6-14 • arts, education, sports, technology

MAIN LINE ART CENTER

Haverford, (610) 525-0272, mainlineart.org Day • ages 5-16 • arts

MEDIA THEATRE FOR THE PERFORMING ARTS

Media, (610) 891-0100, mediatheatre.org Day • ages 5-18 • theater

MERION MERCY ACADEMY

Merion Station, (610) 664-6655, merion-mercy.com Day • grades 4-12 • academics, sports

MISSION 5&2

Various locations, (484) 486-4089, mission5and2.org Day • grades 3-8 • sports

MUSIC TRAINING CENTER

Various locations, musictrainingcenter.com Day • ages 7-17 • bands, music, musical theater

PARADISE FARMS

Downingtown, (610) 269-3646, paradisefarmcamps.org Day and overnight • ages 5-15 • outdoor activities, team building

PENN MUSEUM’S ANTHROPOLOGISTS IN THE MAKING SUMMER CAMP

Philadelphia, (215) 898-4000, penn.museum Day • ages 7-13 • anthropology

PHILADELPHIA ROCK GYM

Various locations, (877) 822-7673, philarockgym.com/camp-programs Day • ages 4-14 • climbing

PHILADELPHIA INTERNATIONAL MUSIC FESTIVAL

Wayne, (856) 875-6816, philadelphiamusicfestival.org Day and overnight • ages 8-25 • orchestra, solo, chamber, college prep

PHILADELPHIA SCHOOL OF CIRCUS ARTS

Philadelphia, (215) 849-1991, phillycircus.com/camp Day • ages 5-18 • circus arts

PLAY BY PLAY SPORTS BROADCASTING

Villanova, (800) 319-0884, playbyplaycamps.com Day and overnight • ages 10-18 • journalism

RIVERBEND ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION CENTER

Gladwyne, (610) 527-5234, riverbendeec.org Day • ages 4-11 • adventure, exploration

SHIPLEY ENRICHMENT CAMP

Bryn Mawr, (610) 525-4300, shipleyschool.org/student-life/camps Day • ages 5-12 • art, science, sports

SIXERS BASKETBALL CAMPS

Various locations, (610) 668-7676, jr76erscamps.com Day and overnight • ages 5-17 • basketball

SUMMER FRIENDS AT MEDIA-PROVIDENCE FRIENDS SCHOOL

Media, (610) 565-1960, mpfs.org/camp Day • ages 3-10 • art, education

TRAVEL FOR TEENS

Wayne, (888) 457-4534, travelforteens.com Overnight • grades 6-12 • language, photography, service, travel

VALLEY FORGE SUMMER CAMP

Wayne, (610) 989-1253 Day and overnight • ages 6-17 • academics, fitness, leadership skills, nature exploration, sports, STEAM

VILLANOVA UNIVERSITY

Villanova, (610) 519-7580, camp.villanova.edu Day and overnight • grades 2-12 • college prep, football, lacrosse, leadership, soccer, swimming, tennis, volleyball

WAYNE ART CENTER

Wayne, (610) 688-3553, wayneart.org Day • ages 3-17 • ceramics, cooking, drama, drawing, jewelry, music, painting, photography

WC STUDIO FOR THE PERFORMING ARTS

West Chester, (484) 995-2915, westchesterstudio.com Day • ages 4-17 • theater

WESTTOWN SCHOOL

West Chester, (610) 399-7569, summer-westtown.com Day • grades pre-K-9 • academics, arts, leadership, science, sports, swimming

WOLF PERFORMING ARTS CENTER

Bryn Mawr, (610) 642-0233, wolfperformingartscenter.com Day • grades K-12 • theater

WOODLYNDE SCHOOL

Stafford, (610) 687-9660, woodlynde.org Day • grades K-10 • academics, art, sports

YMCA

Various locations, ymcagbwv.org/camp Day • ages 3-18 • art, sports, technology, theater

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