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.”
Rosemont, (610) 672-1272, summeratais.org Day • grades pre-K to 12 • academics, arts, athletics, STEAM
Conshocken, (215) 483-2461, aimpa.org/academics/summer-enrichment-program Day • grades 1-12 • academics, ACT prep, arts, STEAM
Bryn Mawr, (610) 525-2700, baldwinschool.org Day • ages 3–12 • art, music, nature exploration, sports, swimming, theater
Media, (610) 565-3741, benchmarkschool.org/summercamp/summer Day • grades 1–6 • academics, arts, sports
Arcadia, Chester Springs, Horsham, Plymouth, Radnor, Upper Dublin, Westtown, (610) 827-5678, brandywineschoolofwizardry.com/summer-camps Day • ages 6–15 • academics, arts
Wynnewood, (610) 896-7770, phillyjcc.com/camp Day • infant to age 15 • arts, sports, technology, theater
Schwenksville, (610) 287-8117, kweebec.com Overnight • ages 6–16 • arts, athletics, aquatics
Ardmore, (610) 649-1080, camppegasus.com Day • ages 6–16 • art therapy, computer gaming, digital photography, games, music therapy, sports
Oxford, (888) 477-2267, campsaginaw.com Day • ages 6–16 • arts and crafts, ceramics, culinary arts, media, sports, theater, watersports
Various locations, (610) 321-8212, steminnovationpa.org Day • ages 10–18 • academics, STEM
Various locations, (610) 977-2405, www.ceoacademyeducationusa.com Day • grades 4–12 • journalism, law, medicine, STEM, creative writing, science
West Chester, (610) 696-5600, chestercountyarts.org Day • ages 4–18 • art, ceramics, fine art, STEM
Wallingford, (610) 566-1713, communityartscenter.org Day • ages 5–17 • art, music, nature, photography
Essington, (610) 521-4705 Day • ages 8–17 • sailing
Garnet Valley, (610) 358-3632, darlingtonarts.org Day • ages 3–14 • music, art, dance, drama
Villanova, (610) 527-2387, dvta.com Day • ages 4–18 • tennis
Norristown, (800) 652-4143, elmwoodparkzoo.org Day • Ages 6–13 • adventure, animals, conservation
Rosemont, (877) 248-0206, emaginationtechcamps.com Day and overnight • ages 8–17 • computers, technology
Schwenksville, (484) 968-3101, engagearts.com Day • ages 5–18 • art, drawing, pottery, sculpture, mixed media
Chester Springs, Chestnut Hill, Haverford, Newtown Square, (800) 529-2267, esfcamps.com Day • ages 3–18 • academics, arts, science, sports, technology
Newtown Square, (610) 688-3298, easummer.com Day • grades pre-K-7 • arts, academics, leadership, music, photography, science, theater
Wynnewood, (610) 645-5132, fcsprograms.org Day • ages 3–18 • arts, academics, nature exploration, sports, technology, theater
Haverford, (610) 642-2334, friendshaverford.org Day • ages 3–8 • academics, arts, cooking, sports, water activities
Toughkenamon, (610) 268-2619, newgardenflyingfield.com/future-aviators Day • ages 7–15 • aviation
Fort Washington, (267) 405-7321, germantownacademy.net/summer Day • grades pre-K to 10 • academics, art, science, sports
Radnor, (610) 756-2529, gravityvault.com Day • ages 7–14 • rock climbing
Gwynedd, (215) 646-8815, gmahs.org, Day, girls in grades 6-8, STEAM, confidence, leadership, chemistry, drone rescue, engineering, arts, and music.
Various locations, (610) 660-9600, thehandworkstudio.com Day • ages 5–15 • cooking, fashion, machine sewing, needle arts, woodworking
Rose Valley, (610) 565-4211, hedgerowtheatre.org Day • ages 3–14 • theater
Drexel Hill, (610) 259-2712, holychildacademy.com Day • ages 2–14 • arts, cooking, robotics, science, sports, swimming
West Chester, (484) 887-8607, icore.ninja Day • ages 6–14 • ninja training, parkour, sports
Various locations, (610) 348-5284, kitchenwizards.info Day • ages 5–14 • baking and cooking
Various locations, (888) 854-2267, lavnercampsandprograms.com Day • ages 6-14 • arts, education, sports, technology
Haverford, (610) 525-0272, mainlineart.org Day • ages 5-16 • arts
Media, (610) 891-0100, mediatheatre.org Day • ages 5-18 • theater
Merion Station, (610) 664-6655, merion-mercy.com Day • grades 4-12 • academics, sports
Various locations, (484) 486-4089, mission5and2.org Day • grades 3-8 • sports
Various locations, musictrainingcenter.com Day • ages 7-17 • bands, music, musical theater
Downingtown, (610) 269-3646, paradisefarmcamps.org Day and overnight • ages 5-15 • outdoor activities, team building
Philadelphia, (215) 898-4000, penn.museum Day • ages 7-13 • anthropology
Various locations, (877) 822-7673, philarockgym.com/camp-programs Day • ages 4-14 • climbing
Wayne, (856) 875-6816, philadelphiamusicfestival.org Day and overnight • ages 8-25 • orchestra, solo, chamber, college prep
Philadelphia, (215) 849-1991, phillycircus.com/camp Day • ages 5-18 • circus arts
Villanova, (800) 319-0884, playbyplaycamps.com Day and overnight • ages 10-18 • journalism
Gladwyne, (610) 527-5234, riverbendeec.org Day • ages 4-11 • adventure, exploration
Bryn Mawr, (610) 525-4300, shipleyschool.org/student-life/camps Day • ages 5-12 • art, science, sports
Various locations, (610) 668-7676, jr76erscamps.com Day and overnight • ages 5-17 • basketball
Media, (610) 565-1960, mpfs.org/camp Day • ages 3-10 • art, education
Wayne, (888) 457-4534, travelforteens.com Overnight • grades 6-12 • language, photography, service, travel
Wayne, (610) 989-1253 Day and overnight • ages 6-17 • academics, fitness, leadership skills, nature exploration, sports, STEAM
Villanova, (610) 519-7580, camp.villanova.edu Day and overnight • grades 2-12 • college prep, football, lacrosse, leadership, soccer, swimming, tennis, volleyball
Wayne, (610) 688-3553, wayneart.org Day • ages 3-17 • ceramics, cooking, drama, drawing, jewelry, music, painting, photography
West Chester, (484) 995-2915, westchesterstudio.com Day • ages 4-17 • theater
West Chester, (610) 399-7569, summer-westtown.com Day • grades pre-K-9 • academics, arts, leadership, science, sports, swimming
Bryn Mawr, (610) 642-0233, wolfperformingartscenter.com Day • grades K-12 • theater
Stafford, (610) 687-9660, woodlynde.org Day • grades K-10 • academics, art, sports
Various locations, ymcagbwv.org/camp Day • ages 3-18 • art, sports, technology, theater
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