Summer Camp Search
Discover the Best San Diego Summer Camps for Kids of All Ages
Looking for the perfect way to keep your kids engaged, learning, making new friends, and having fun this summer? Fortunately, you’ve come to the right place! Our 2026 San Diego Summer Camp Guide, presented by Ride Krew is your go-to resource for the best summer programs across San Diego County—from La Jolla and Encinitas to Chula Vista and everywhere in between.
We’ve also rounded up top-rated San Diego Summer Camps in every category, including STEM, overnight adventures, sports, outdoor exploration, creative arts, and more. Whether your child dreams of meeting marine animals, building robots, performing on stage, or exploring tide pools, this guide makes it easy to find a camp they’ll love.
Interested in adding your camp to this guide? Click here
🔍 How to Use This Camp Guide
To make your search seamless, we’ve organized our listings in two simple ways:
- By Camp Type: Browse categories like Arts, Sports, STEM, Outdoor, Overnight, and more.
- By Region: Narrow your search using buttons for North County, South Bay, Central San Diego, or East County.
As a result, this guide helps you quickly find local San Diego summer camps that match your child’s age, schedule, and interests. You’ll discover everything from full-day programs and half-day options to flexible drop-in care and specialty camps.
Each listing includes details on sessions, age ranges, financial aid, and sibling discounts. You’ll also find FAQs and direct contact info for any questions you have.
In short, finding the right camp has never been easier!
💡 Not quite summer yet?
Bookmark this page and check out our Spring & Holiday Camp Guide for year-round options.
💡 Not ready for summer yet?
Bookmark this page and check out our Spring & Holiday Camp Guide for year-round camp options, including winter break, fall, and spring sessions.
Sort by Region
Use the regional buttons below to find camps near you—this will open that specific region in a new tab.
Camp Categories
Searching for a specific type of camp? Click on a camp category button below to go straight to that section of the page.
2026 Summer Camp Guide is Presented by RideKrew
Ride Krew offers an action-packed week of mountain biking at one of its Summer Camps. This Monday-to-Friday adventure is perfect for kids eager to learn fundamental bike-handling skills and gain confidence on the trails. In addition to biking, the week is filled with exciting games and activities to keep riders engaged and having a blast. Expert instructors guide campers through essential skills such as trail safety, proper bike and body positioning, braking, gear shifting, turning, cornering, climbing, and descending. The program also includes supervised trail rides, allowing campers to practice their new skills on nearby trails.
The program is open to children ages 7 and up who can comfortably ride a geared mountain bike with 20″ wheels or larger on dirt trails. To ensure a great experience, each rider should bring a bike in good working condition, a properly fitted helmet, closed-toe sneakers, athletic clothing, a packed lunch, light snacks, and a water bottle. Bike rentals are available for an additional $79 for the week, with more details provided in the bike rental agreement during registration.
For questions, families can contact info@theridekrew.com. Campers can look forward to an Epic Week on Wheels, where they’ll build essential biking skills and enjoy an unforgettable week of mountain biking fun.
Arts, Theater & Music Camps
🎨 Unleash Creativity with Visual & Performing Arts Camps
Let your child explore their artistic side! San Diego summer camps focused on visual and performing arts offer hands-on fun with painting, ceramics, improv, acting, and music. These programs help build confidence, encourage speaking skills, and teach new talents in a positive setting.
Campers might stage a play, learn stage makeup, create stop-motion videos, or try new instruments. Many camps even host end-of-session shows for families.
Title Sponsor: Seaside Arts Center
Spend the summer creating with friends at Seaside Arts Center! In our Multi-Arts Camp, students entering grades K-6 will act, sing, dance, and make art in one exciting, all-day experience. Each week features a new musical theater-inspired theme blending visual and performing arts, giving campers the chance to explore new skills in a supportive, confidence-building environment.
Camps run Monday to Friday, 9:00 AM – 3:30 PM. Every week wraps up with a final performance for families on Friday at 3:00 PM at Seaside.
Premier Listings: Arts, Theater & Music Camps
Gold Listings: Arts, Theater & Music Camps
Gymnastics, Ninja and Martial Arts Camps
🤸 Active & Adventure Camps
If your child loves action, check out San Diego’s gymnastics, martial arts, and ninja camps. These programs focus on strength, agility, and discipline through exciting obstacle courses and challenges.
Kids learn tumbling, self-defense, coordination, and focus in a supportive setting led by skilled coaches. These camps are especially great for younger children and energetic learners.
Title Sponsor: Gyminny Kids
Gyminny Kids Summer Camps offer a high-energy, fun-filled experience where kids can socialize, stay active, and try new things in a safe, state-of-the-art environment. Campers rotate through gymnastics, bounce and play in the popular Bungee Bouncer system, get creative with themed crafts, and enjoy snack time provided by the gym.
For families choosing a full-day camp option, campers should bring a packed lunch. Gyminny Kids is a nut-free facility, making it a comfortable choice for many families.
With multiple locations across San Diego County, Gyminny Kids makes it easy for families to find a camp close to home.
Locations
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4S Ranch: 17022 Camino San Bernardo, San Diego, CA 92127
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Poway: 12850 Brookprinter Pl, Poway, CA 92064
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Carlsbad: 6100 Avenida Encinas, Carlsbad, CA 92011
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La Costa: 3239 Camino De Los Coches #102, Carlsbad, CA 92009
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La Jolla (UTC): 4313 La Jolla Village Dr Suite 3270, San Diego, CA 92122
👉 Families can learn more about why Gyminny Kids is a favorite among San Diego parents by visiting their website.
Traditional Camps
🏕️ Traditional Day Camps
Traditional day camps provide a mix of indoor and outdoor fun, often held at local parks, rec centers, and schools. They’re perfect for elementary-aged kids who want a summer full of variety.
Activities include nature walks, games, crafts, science projects, and themed days. These San Diego summer camps help kids try new things and make friends in a safe, structured place. They’re also ideal for parents who need full-day or half-day care.
Title Sponsor: Steve & Kate's
All year long, kids find themselves encased in rigid structure. When summer comes, we give them what they desperately need — freedom to expand and evolve. At Steve & Kate’s, campers choose which activities they do, whom they do it with and for how long. For kids, this experience is pure joy. It’s also a kind of training ground for life, where they’ll need to be empowered and independent and resilient and responsible for their own decisions. Happy human-ing starts here.
Grown-ups adore freedom, too.
We’ve described the magical gift you give your kids when you empower them to make their own decisions. Now let’s talk hardcore convenience for you:
- Buy a any number of days and send your kid to camp any day you want? Check.
- Drop the kiddos off and pick them up whenever you want? Yup.
- Long camp hours, all included? Totally.
- Tasty meals and snacks, also included? You bet.
- Get an automatic refund for unused days at summer’s end? For sure.
- Do you deserve this kind of freedom? Yes, you do.
Steve & Kate’s – Encinitas
The Grauer School
1500 S El Camino Real Encinitas, CA 92024
(442) 204-0991
encinitas@steveandkate.com
Ages: 4–12 | Lunch, snacks & all hours (8am–6pm) included.
Premier Listings: Traditional Camps
Gold Listings: Traditional Camps
Overnight Camp
⛺ Overnight & Sleepaway Camps
Ready for a bigger adventure? Sleepaway camps let kids build independence while trying activities like kayaking, archery, rock climbing, and campfires. Many of these camps are located in the beautiful backcountry or mountains near San Diego County.
With stays from three nights to several weeks, overnight camps create lasting memories and support social growth. Your child will unplug, enjoy nature, and come home with new skills and friends.
Premier Listings: Overnight Camps
Academic, STEM & Technology Camps
🔬 Academic & STEM Camps
Inspire curiosity with hands-on STEM camps! San Diego offers programs in robotics, game design, animation, marine biology, and environmental science. These camps make learning fun and age-appropriate.
Your child might build a robot, code a game, learn from zoo experts, or try VR design. Many STEM camps are taught by pros from universities, labs, or tech companies, giving kids a peek into real-world careers.
These are some of the most popular San Diego summer camps for middle schoolers and teens who want to boost their tech skills while having a great time.
Title Sponsor: Elementary Institute of Science
Embark on a weeklong journey of science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) at the Elementary Institute of Science. Youth ages 7-13 can explore sky-high science, ocean science, basic video game development, and renewable ways to save our planet.
EIS offers camps on a weekly basis with a different theme each week. We invite you to sign up for one or all four weeks!
Week 1: Voyagers of Flight
This week introduces students to the concept of flight from wildlife, which in turn inspires our own human voyage through the friendly skies.
Week 2: Guardians of Our Oceans
This week is centered on ocean wildlife study, marine life, and the effects of climate change and pollution.
Week 3: Beyond Video Game Development
This week introduces students to beginner-level concepts of video game development.
Week 4: Saving Our Planet
This week is geared towards activities and experiments to preserve our planet for today and tomorrow.
More details about each week are on the camps page of our website. We have been providing affordable STEM camps for 60 years right here in San Diego. If you haven’t been here before, check out our positive reviews on Yelp and Google!
Premier Listings: Academic + Technology Camps
Animals, Nature & Outdoor Camps
🌿 Outdoor & Nature Camps
Perfect for kids who love the outdoors! Nature camps explore animal care, farming, hiking, gardening, and wildlife education through hands-on activities.
Campers may feed farm animals, track wildlife, or learn about ocean life at places like Birch Aquarium or Balboa Park. These programs teach respect for nature and encourage unplugged fun outside.
Premier Listings: Animals, Nature & Outdoor Camps
Gold Listings: Animals, Nature & Outdoor Camps
Sports Camps: Indoors, Outdoors & Water-sports
⚽ Sports Camps
Got an active kid? San Diego sports camps are perfect for burning energy and building teamwork. Choose from classics like soccer, basketball, and baseball, or try something new like surfing, paddleboarding, or ninja training.
These camps help kids improve skills, gain confidence, and learn good sportsmanship—all while having fun. Many programs use San Diego’s great weather and beaches for water-based activities.
Tips for Choosing a Last-Minute Summer Camp
⏳ Last-Minute Camp Tips
Did summer sneak up on you? Don’t worry, many camps offer rolling sign-ups, sibling discounts, or flexible sessions.
Your first step is to check availability at smaller, local programs and be open to new experiences. After that, make a list of your child’s interests, your preferred location, and any special needs. Above all, always prioritize safety, staff experience, and the camp’s daily structure. And remember, don’t hesitate to contact camps directly, you might be surprised by what’s still available!
👉 Pro Tip: Use the regional or category buttons to quickly find camps near you or by type.
Are you a camp director or business offering a summer program for kids in San Diego? Join the 2026 San Diego Summer Camp Guide and reach thousands of families actively planning their summer schedules.
We feature camps of all sizes—day camps, overnight programs, nonprofit youth camps, and specialty workshops. With 66,000+ page-views in 2025, this guide is one of our highest-traffic resources of the year.
👉 Email Niki at Niki@SanDiegoMoms.com or the button below to learn more about advertising your camp.
That is the best summer camp guide I have ever seen for San Diego.
Thanks a lot for this much information.
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