Summer Sizzle
Whether they focus on academics or athletics, the creative and performing arts or overall enrichment, local summer camps and programs cook up a memorable experience.
by Bill Donahue

Winter is an ideal time for introspection. As adults reflect on the times of their lives that had the most impact on them, many recall memories from their childhood: slopping through creeks, learning new skills, and whiling away the hours with the best friends they’ve ever had. Many did all of the above at the same location: summer camp.

 
Naturally, adults want to offer their children the same kind of excitement and enrichment—and they have plenty of opportunities to do so considering the monolithic number of schools, camps, and museums, among other institutions, that have created brilliant programs designed to help children have the best summer of their young lives.
 
As the directory spread across the following pages suggests, there’s a lot to choose from. The websites listed herein will provide more detail about camp dates, availability, and registration. Our best advice, based on experience from years past, is to make plans sooner rather than later, because space tends to fill up quickly. Summer is still half a year away, but to quote the immortal Ferris Bueller—someone who knew something about making the most of summer—“Life moves pretty fast; if you don’t stop and look around once in a while, you could miss it.”
 
ACADEMICS +
Academy of Notre Dame de Namur Summer Enrichment and Sports Camps
Villanova
ndapa.org
 
Archmere Academy Summer Sports Camps
Claymont, Delaware
archmereacademy.com
 
The Crefeld School
Philadelphia (Chestnut Hill)
crefeld.org
 
Friends’ Central Summer Camps
Wynnewood
fcsprograms.org
 
Friends School Haverford Summer Camp
Haverford
friendshaverford.org
 
Germantown Academy Summer Camps
Fort Washington
germantownacademy.net/summer
 
The Meadowbrook School – Camp Meadowbrook
Meadowbrook
themeadowbrookschool.org
 
Notre Dame High School – Summer at Notre Dame
Lawrenceville, New Jersey
ndnj.org/summer-experience
 
Perkiomen School
Pennsburg
perkiomen.org
 
Salesianum School Summer Edge
Wilmington, Delaware
salesianum.org
 
St. Joseph’s Preparatory School Summer Programs
Philadelphia
sjprep.org
 
Tatnall School Summer Camps
Wilmington, Delaware
atatnallsummer.org
 
Ursuline Academy
Wilmington, Delaware
ursuline.org/discovery-cove
 
Villa Joseph Marie High School Summer@Villa
Holland
vjmhs.org/summer

ATHLETICS
CAL Sports Academy Summer Camps
Hatfield
calsportsacademy.com
 
Game Breaker Lacrosse Camps
Multiple locations
laxcamps.com
 
The Gymnastics & Cheerleading Academy Summer Camp
Cherry Hill, New Jersey
thegcacademy.com
 
Hatfield Ice Summer Camps
Hatfield
hatfieldice.com/youth-hockey/summer-camps
 
High Performance Tennis Academy 2024 Summer Camp
Haverford College, the Cynwyd Club, Radnor Valley Country Club
hpta-riverside.com
 
Phillies Baseball Academy Summer Camps
Multiple dates and locations
philliesacademy.com
 
Philadelphia NFL Alumni Youth Football Camps
Multiple dates and locations
prosportsexperience.com
 
School’s Out Day Camp and Sports-Specialty Camps
Hatfield
xlhatfield.com/camps
 
CREATIVE AND PERFORMING ARTS
Burn Brae Day Camp of Creative Arts
Dresher
burnbraedaycamp.com
 
HomeCooked Kids Cooking & Baking Camp
Paoli
homecooked.net
 
Main Line Art Center Summer Art Camp
Haverford
mainlineart.org
 
Michener Art Museum Summer Camps
Doylestown
michenerartmuseum.org
 
Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts Summer Art Camp for Kids
Philadelphia
pafa.org
 
Rockdale Art Center Summer Art Weeks
Aston
rockdaleartcenter.com
 
Rockdale Music Summer Camps
Aston and Media
rockdalemusic.com
 
School of Rock Doylestown Summer Camps
Doylestown
schoolofrock.com/locations/doylestown

DISCOVERY, SCIENCE, AND TECH
Awbury Adventures Camp at Awbury Arboretum
Philadelphia
awbury.org/summer-camp
 
Briar Bush Nature Center
Abington
briarbush.org
 
Bucks County Audubon Society Summer at Honey Hollow
New Hope
bcas.org/education/camps/summer-camp-2024
 
Bucks County Community College – Kids on Campus at Bucks
Newtown
bucks.edu/kidsoncampus
 
Churchville Nature Center
Churchville
churchvillenaturecenter.org
 
Delaware County Community College – Summer Kids Camps
Media
dccc.edu
 
Delaware Valley University Kids U! and Inspire U! Summer Programs
Doylestown
delval.edu/programs
 
Elmwood Park Zoo – Summer Zoo Camps
Norristown
elmwoodparkzoo.org
 
Morris Arboretum of the University of Pennsylvania Summer Camp
Chestnut Hill
morrisarboretum.org
 
Philadelphia Zoo – Zoo Camp Trips
Philadelphia
philadelphiazoo.org/camps
 
Riverbend Environmental Education Center Summer Camp
Gladwyne
riverbendeec.org
 
Science Explorers STEM Summer Camps
Multiple area locations
scienceexplorers.com
 
WHYY Summer
Philadelphia
whyy.org/education

LEARNING DIFFERENCES
AIM Academy Summer Enrichment
Conshohocken
aimpa.org
 
Benchmark School – Summer Benchmark Camp
Media
benchmarkschool.org
 
Center School Summer Learning and Enrichment Program
Abington
centerschoolpa.org
 
Summer at Delaware Valley Friends School
Paoli
dvfs.org
 
Woodlynde School Summer Camp
Strafford
woodlynde.org

SOMETHING FOR EVERYONE
Briarwood Day Camp
Furlong
briarwooddaycamp.com
 
Camp America
Chalfont
camp-america.com
 
Camp Curiosity
Doylestown
campcuriosity.com
 
Camp Kweebec
Schwenksville
kweebec.com
 
Camp Sequoia
Pennsburg
camp-sequoia.com
 
Future Stars Day Camps
Multiple locations
futurestarscamps.com
 
Habonim Dror Camp Galil
Ottsville
campgalil.org
 
Hideaway Day Camp
Collegeville
hideawaydaycamp.org
 
Independent Lake Camp
Thompson (Susquehanna County)
independentlake.com
 
Liberty Lake Day Camp
Mansfield Township, New Jersey
libertylakedaycamp.com
 
Malvern Day Camp
Glen Mills
malverndaycamp.com
 
Perkiomen Pines Day Camp
Schwenksville
perkiomenpines.com
 
Pinemere Camp
Stroudsburg
pinemere.com
 
Rainbow Academy Summer Camp
Ivyland
rainbowacademypreschool.com
 
The School in Rose Valley Summer Camp
Rose Valley
srvcamp.org
 
Valley Forge Military Academy Summer Camps
Wayne
vfmac.edu/summercamp
 
Published (and copyrighted) in Suburban Life magazine, January 2024.