As Frederick County Public School enter the last marking period of the school year, summer will be here before we know it and finding summer activities for kids is top of mind for many parents who want to send their kids to one of the many Frederick summer camps available for kids.
From outdoor adventure camps to intensive educational enrichment programs, Frederick is filled with opportunities for kids looking to have fun, learn new things, and make new friends this year at one of the many Frederick summer camps.
The Frederick County Chamber of Commerce has countless members who provide full-day, half-day, and even overnight Frederick summer camps for kids and we’ve rounded up the top picks from kids and parents in the county.
The Best Frederick Summer Camps for Kids
Multi-Disciplinary Camps
Frederick County Parks and Rec
Frederick County Parks and Rec offers over 350 summer camps for kids. With offerings in a variety of areas including nature, history, day camps, sports, arts & crafts, chess, chorus, cooking, dance, outdoor and science & discovery, kids will have countless opportunities to fill the summer with whatever they’re interested in exploring.
You can learn more and register for the Frederick County Parks and Rec Camps here: Parks and Rec Summer Camps
Frederick County YMCA
This summer, the YMCA of Frederick County will offer 40 camps including sports, art, humanities, outdoor adventure camps and more. Many camps will offer swimming, field trips, games, crafts, and character development activities. Campers make friends while learning the values of diversity and cooperation. Best of all, you can be assured your kids are having fun in a friendly, caring, and safe environment.
Camp locations include a number of different sites including local public schools, the Downtown Frederick YMCA, the Green Valley YMCA, New Spire Arts, and Camp West Mar which offers and overnight camp opportunity.
You can learn more and register for the YMCA Camps here: YMCA Summer Camps
“YMCA Summer Camps. He loves it, this will be his 4th year and he is looking forward to being a CIT because of how he is treated by the counselors. So many different activities to choose from to help him not get bored too easily… also as affordable as other camps and they have a scholarship to help with costs if needed.” -Becky B.
The Banner School
Banner School Discovery Camp offers children from preschool through 8th grade fun and educational theme-based experiences. Camps are run by experienced staff and kept to a small scale to ensure each camper is having fun while they stay in a safe environment. We are delighted to offer many new programs as well as annual favorites. Camp offerings vary from week to week and include hands on indoor as well as adventurous outdoor experiences.
Camp offerings will keep your child entertained and engaged. Camps vary from adventure hikes to creative arts to STEM exploration. Campers can hike, splash, and jump their way through the summer. Weekly adventures await your child at Banner School Discovery Camp.
You can learn more and register for The Banner School summer camps here: Discovery Camp
Holly Hills Camp
Holly Hills will host KE Camps to offer an array of activities such as Arts & Crafts, Swimming, Group Golf Instruction, Group Tennis Instruction, Fun with Foods, Martial Arts, Super Science Projects, Team Building, Camp Traditions, Thankful Thursdays, Group Games and much more. Each week’s activities will vary so returning campers will arrive on Monday morning feeling refreshed and ready for the new week of excitement ahead. Camp is open to children ages 5 to 12.
You can learn more and register for KE Camp at Holly Hills here: KE Camp
Adventure Park USA Summer Camp
A day camp near New Market with field trips and wild and crazy weekly themes. Parents will enjoy the peace of mind that comes along with knowing your child is having fun and being taken care of by an attentive and enthusiastic staff.
You can learn more and register for Adventure Park USA’s Summer Camp here: Adventure Park Camp
Outdoor Adventure Camps
Bar-T Camp
The Bar-T Ranch is a spacious 12-acre farm located on Olney-Laytonsville Road in Montgomery County, Maryland. Campers will have the opportunity to play on our manicured sports fields, ride the slide into our newly renovated pool, develop their singing in music and drama, make projects in arts and crafts, learn to use a bow and arrow in archery, and so much more.
Bar-T also offers various specialty camps that focus on some of your child’s favorite activities, such as horseback riding, baseball, dance, climbing, soccer, and basketball.
You can learn more and register for Bar-T Camp here: Bar-T Camp
Claggett Center
The Claggett Center offers week-long, residential, camp programs for youth from completed 2nd grade to recently-graduated high school seniors. Whether climbing high on the ropes course, or diving deep at the pool, there’s something for everyone at Claggett. From adventures on the Monocacy River and Sugarloaf Mountain, to swimming, games, campfires and classic skits, campers are sure to create new friendships and renew old ones year after year.
Summer Camps at Claggett are Christian formation ministries of the Episcopal Diocese of Maryland. Camp is grounded in Scripture and tradition, and encourages campers and staff to use their whole selves as ways to explore the Christian Story. Each week a chaplain participates in all camp activities, and supports the ministry of camp through prayer, participation and spiritual direction.
You can learn more and register for the Claggett Summer camps here:Claggett Camps
Photo credit: The Delaplaine
Theater, Music, and Arts Camps
The Delaplaine Arts Center
Housed in the 100-year-old Mountain City Mill on the banks of Carroll Creek in historic downtown Frederick, The Delaplaine Arts Center has been serving the community since 1986. They offer a variety of arts related kamps for kids in eight one-week sessions over the summer.
You can learn more and register for the Delaplaine Arts Center Summer Camps here: Delaplaine Camps
Frederick Children’s Chorus
Frederick Children’s Chorus was founded by Judith L. DuBose in 1985 and has been offering Frederick area children the opportunity to explore music through singing in the summer for several years. They’ll offer two camps during 2019: Tales, Myths, and Legends, a folk songs and storytelling based camp for rising K through 2nd graders, and Let’s Go Camping, a program for 8-12 year olds eager to work with the highly-acclaimed staff of The Frederick Children’s Chorus and senior level chorus members to sing and make music.
You can learn more and register for the Frederick Children’s Chorus Camps here: Chorus Camp
Maryland Ensemble Theatre
MET strives to create a positive environment where artists and audience share an exciting, emotional, thought provoking theatre experience for our times and our community. They offer a four session youth summer camp option for kids ages 7-16 interested in exploring musical theater, performance, theater tech and design, and more. They also offer a Tiny Stages program for youth ages 3-6 to explore theater through creative play.
You can learn more and register for the Maryland Ensemble Theatre Camp here: MET Camp
Photo Credit: United Way
Leadership and Learning Camps
United Way
Summer Serve is a United Way program that provides local youth ages 12-17 with the opportunity to spend their summer volunteering, developing leadership skills, and making friendships that last a lifetime.
This six-week program, divided into three separate two-week sessions, is designed to help young people awaken their inner leader, build their teamwork skills, and meet like-minded peers while creating positive change in their community. Summer Serve participants learn about different areas of need in Frederick County through hands-on experience while working on service projects at various local nonprofits. They will experience a team-based environment that will present them with challenges and opportunities to gain a valuable combination of knowledge, skills, values, and motivation to make a difference in the lives of our neighbors.
Leadership Week takes place at the end of the summer, and all registered Summer Serve participants are eligible to apply. This optional week gives participants an opportunity to further expand upon their ability to work well with others and learn how they can serve as a catalyst for positive change in our community.
You can learn more and register for United Way’s Summer Serve Camp here:Summer Serve
Frederick Community College
During the summer, FCC offers young learners week-long morning and afternoon learning programs in their Kids on Campus program. These take place from mid-June to early August with topics focusing on science, technology, creative & culinary arts, literature & cultures, health & wellness and more.
You can learn more and register for FCC’s Summer Camps here: Summer Kids on Campus
ESSL Camps with FCPS
The Earth and Space Science Laboratory (ESSL) has been a unique part of the Frederick County Public Schools, and the community, since 1962. TheAusherman Planetarium is located at the ESSL. The ESSL offers various science related summer camps for children in grades 2 through 8. Programs include Shark Week at the ESSL and Lego Mindstorm Robotics camp, among several others.
You can learn more and register for the ESSL Summer Camps here: ESSL Camp
Photo Credit: Gemnastics
Sports Camps
Gemnastics Academy
GemNastics Academy is committed to providing a safe and friendly gymnastics experience for all athletes regardless of level by retaining the best qualified coaching staff, implementing progressive skills programs and utilizing the best training equipment available. Each week long summer session begins with a solid foundation in gymnastics and will work on all events/skills: bars, beam, tumbling and vault. Each session is set up to teach introductory gymnastics skills, body awareness and improved mobility, and improving sensory skills. Each day will include structured gymnastics classes, supervised free/open gym time, crafts and team building activities.
You can learn more and register for the Gemnastics Summer Camps here: Gemnastics Camps
Tuscarora Tennis Camp
Tuscarora Tennis Club is an indoor /outdoor tennis facility that offers the “best in tennis” featuring outstanding playing conditions and a top notch teaching staff. Tuscarora offers tennis camps annually in their beautiful facility. Their goal is to keep kids active and encourage tennis as a lifetime sport of fun and great exercise. Players will enjoy working with our Pros on a variety of tennis skills, fun games, drills and match play.
You can learn more and register for the Tuscarora Tennis Club Summer Camps here: Tennis Camp
LOUYAA Speed & Agility
Speed and quickness training can improve your game no matter what game you play! LOUYAA’s Speed and Agility clinic is the best value of any summer camp or clinic in the area. Our Junior and Varsity clinics are offered to girls and boys in grades 2-9. LOUYAA Speed & Agility is open to all athletes in the area regardless of program or school affiliation. Girls and Boys – all sport disciplines benefit.
This summer, LOUYAA will host a SPEED & AGILITY clinic during the weekday evenings at Linganore High School Stadium Field with LHS Head Football Coach Rick Connor. The clinic starts in June, after schools let out.
You can learn more and register for LOUYAA Speed & Agility Camp here:Speed & Agility
FCPS Sports Camps
Various Frederick County high schools offer athletic camps for area students. Here are a few your child may be interested in:
Linganore Championship Basketball Camp, Boys, Grades 2-8
Frederick County Basketball Camp, Boys and girls, Grades 1-9
South County Basketball Camp, Boys and girls, Grades 1-9
Summer Hoops Basketball Camp, Boys and girls, Grades 1-4
Champion Football Camp, Boys, Grades 2-8
Oakdale Football Camp, Boys, Grades 1-9
Titan Basketball, Lacrosse, Baseball, Soccer, and Volleyball Camps, Boys and girls, Grades 1-9
Blazer Basketball Camp at Hood College
The primary objective of the Blazer Basketball Camp is to teach young players the correct way to master the fundamentals. The camper will be exposed to the same drills and techniques that many successful high school players have used to develop their skills. With the knowledge gained at the camp, the young player can practice intelligently and with a purpose.
You can learn more and register for Blazer Basketball Camp here: Blazer Camp
FC Frederick All Games Soccer Camp
Photo Credit: FC Frederick
FC Frederick is excited to announce the return of … the “All Games Soccer Camp”! This unique camp format is designed to help players “get their game on” after a vacation-filled summer! Coaches have long known that “The Game is the Best Teacher,” and each day of the AGSC, campers will play games in a variety of formats, including indoor futsal, outdoor futsal, 4v4, 5v5, and 7v7! A technical warm-up will precede each set of games so that players are introduced to skills helpful to each game environment.
You can learn more and register for FC Frederick All Games Soccer Camp here: All Games Camp
Frederick Keys Baseball Camp
Learn from the future stars of the Baltimore Orioles! Enjoy three days of instruction from Keys coaches and players at Nymeo Field at Harry Grove Stadium.
You can learn more and register for the Frederick Keys Baseball Camp here: Keys Camp
Frederick Chamber Insights is a news outlet of the Frederick County Chamber of Commerce. For more information about membership, programs and initiatives, please visit our website.