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.
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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