2024 San Diego Summer Camp Guide

We have rounded up the best summer camps in San Diego so you can choose one that’s right for you! Whether you are looking for a summer camp close to home or a specific type of camp, we have you covered with our summer camp guide. 

Not ready for summer? Check out our Spring & Holiday Break Camp Guide.

Do you want to add your camp to this guide? Email Niki@sandiegomoms.com/.

Summer camps are a great way for kids to learn, grow, and have fun during their break. But finding the right summer camp can be tough as a parent. This is especially true when you’re searching for last-minute openings after the summer has already started, but you can still get your kid into a camp that fits their interests and provides a safe and fun environment with the right approach and a little persistence.

To make your summer camp search easier, we have broken it down by category and location. Searches via the location buttons will open a new window, and searches by category will jump to that section of the page.

Whether you are raising an artist, a mathematician or an athlete, an arts-based camp may be just what your child needs to balance out, or further enrich, his or her developing brain.

Included in our Arts / Theater / Music category are all camps focused around (but not limited to) art-focused projects, theater, drama and music. Give your child the opportunity to take the stage and wow the crowd. Arts-based camps foster public speaking skills, inner confidence and a sense of self-worth, mastery of the written language, science, math, and so much more.

Art camps broaden horizons and invite new perspectives to come to play for growing young minds. Dance and music invigorate and inspire daily movement. Crafting and creating will give you plenty of new stuff to put up on your refrigerator; and make you proud.

A Sleep Away or overnight camp is a residential summer program where children and teenagers stay for a designated period, typically ranging from a few days to several weeks. At sleepaway camps, campers live in cabins or dormitories and participate in various activities, including outdoor adventures, sports, arts and crafts, team-building exercises, and special events.

When school’s out, camp’s in! Keep your child active and engaged during school breaks in the spring, summer, fall, and winter. Sports camps provide fun ways for kids to strengthen their bodies and minds through physical activities, critical thinking exercises, and creative projects.

Give your child the gift of movement that entertains and keeps them occupied on long, hot summer days. Some of our camps welcome students of virtually all ages and preferences; others are tailored to a specific sport or a specific age group for more focused training. Whatever your child is ready for and whichever level they are currently at, you can find the right resource below.

Included in our Sports category is all traditional sports, indoor / outdoor fitness-focused venues and activities, water sports and swimming.

Animals, Nature & Outdoor Camps are a great way to combine learning, fun and fresh air! Your children can spend time in the woods or on the water learning about plants and animals, go on a hike or develop their riding skills at a Horsemanship Camp.

Included in our Outdoors Camps category are anything that has a specific focus on the outdoors, animals, farming, nature, and/or wildlife. Unlike traditional camps, these camps take place 90% outdoors, and are focused on the wondrous outdoors with less traditional options throughout the day. 

Having spent months in the classroom, are your children ready for a breath of fresh air?  When you think of the “traditional” summer camp for kids, what comes to mind? Perhaps a setting in the woods with hiking, canoeing, and s’mores around the campfire?

There are a lot of different types of summer camps, and traditional camps are by far the most common. Camps in our Traditional Camp Category spend a lot of time outdoors, but also offer indoor and outdoor activities. Therefore, your camper may enjoy animals, arts, wild life, sports, as there are plenty of activities to choose from. With hands-on experiences at a traditional camp, your child will blossom.

They will cherish these memories for the rest of their lives.

When school is out, camp is in! Keep your child’s mind active and engaged during school breaks this spring and summer and check out some of the technology-based camps available and enrolling now.

Included in our Technology category are camps focused around (but not limited to) coding, game developers, robotics engineers, STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math), video and media. Give your child the opportunity to enter the science and tech fields and gain hands-on experience with trained professionals.

Inspiration for STEM careers begins in the lab, the classroom, behind the camera, and behind the microscope. Has your child expressed an interest in topics including astrology and biology? This is the right place to begin your search for the perfect break activity.

When your child is in school, you want him or her to focus and concentrate on the task at hand. What can you do to help them practice focusing and concentrating? In martial arts, gymnastics, or ninja training, kids face obstacle courses and must be extremely focused, and we think that’s a great way to start!

As your child attempts gymnastics routines, ninja-kid warrior courses, or martial arts moves, they are forced to focus on the obstacle in front of them. To avoid distractions around you that could lead to a slip, you’ll need to be “in the zone.” Being focused on what you’re doing, not what others are doing, is essential to success.

Included in this category are all things Gymnastics, Ninja and Martial Arts!

If you are looking for an alternative to Summer Camps or just want an option to supplement your busy summer schedule. With June Care’s community-based approach to childcare, you’ll be matched with local families who share your values and can offer the flexibility you need for a stress-free summer.

Interested in adding your summer camp program to this guide? Email Niki at Niki@SanDiegoMoms.com or click the button below to learn more!