Given the frigid and snow-socked start to 2014, it’s tough for most of us to envision the green grass, flowering trees and warm temperatures that signal the beginning of summer.
Even so, we can all take solace in the fact that, in just a few short months, we will have shed our winter coats and stashed away our snow shovels in favor of board shorts and sunscreen. Summer is fleeting by its very nature, so what are you doing to ensure that this June, July and August are like no other for you and your family?
On the following pages are our picks for the region’s top summer programs offered by the region’s elite schools, museums and organizations—from perfecting a fastball to learning how to play a favorite AC/DC song on the guitar, or from brushing up on your French as a second language to learning how to become a professional journalist—all crafted to make this summer the best one yet.
Our suggestion: If you haven’t already, start making plans now and get in touch with these organizations. Space can fill up quickly, and no one wants to be “left out in the cold” once the fairer weather has returned—especially after a winter like this one.
Suburban Life/Philadelphia Life has made its best efforts to compile the most accurate and comprehensive list possible. We suggest you contact the organization in which you are interested or consult its websites for regular updates on summer programs.
ACADEMICS
The Agnes Irwin School
Rosemont
610-525-8400 | agnesirwin.org/summersession
Summer Session: June 16 to July 25
i2 Camp (boys and girls): June 16 to July 25
The Real Deal - The Leadership Academy for Girls: July 14 to July 18
AIM Academy
Conshohocken
215-483-2461 | aimpa.org
Summer Enrichment Program: June 30 to July 25
The Benchmark School
Media
610-565-3741 | benchmarkschool.org
Benchmark Summer Camp: June 30 to August 1
Delaware Valley Friends School
Paoli
610-640-4150 | dvfs.org
Summer Day Program: June 30 to August 1
Devon Preparatory School
Devon
610-688-7337 | devonprep.com
Summer Enrichment Program (boys and girls): Session 1, June 16 to June 27; Session 2, July 8 to July 18
Freshman Summer Sports Camps: Basketball, June 24 to June 28; Baseball, July 8 to July 11
Malik Allen Basketball Academy: July 8 to July 12
French International School of Philadelphia
Bala Cynwyd
610-667-1284 | efiponline.com
French for Fun Summer Camp: July 7 to July 25
Friends’ Central School
Wynnewood
610-649-7440/610-642-7575 | fcsprograms.org
Basketball, Reading and Math Clinic: June 30 to August 1
Early Start: June 9 to June 20
Tenderfoot Camp: June 23 to August 8
Trailblazer Camp: June 23 to August 8
Trailblazer Enrichment Camp: June 23 to August 8
George School
Newtown
215-579-6500 | georgeschool.org
George School Day Camp: June 23 to August 8
Horizons USA: July 13 to August 10
Summer Blast: August 11 to August 15
The Haverford School
Haverford
610-642-3020 | haverford.org
Visit esfcamps.com/haverford for a full listing of summer camps and events.
Holy Ghost Preparatory School
Bensalem
215-639-0811 | holyghostprep.org
Summer Enrichment: June 23 to July 25
Baseball: June 23 to July 27
Music/Rock Band: June 23 to June 27
Track: July 7 to July 11
Basketball: July 14 to July 18
Lacrosse: July 21 to July 25
Soccer: July 28 to August 1
Speech and Debate: August 24 to August 8
Ice Hockey: August 11 to August 15
The Hun School of Princeton
Princeton, N.J.
609-921-7600 | hunschool.org
Academic Session: June 30 to August 1
American Culture and Language Institute: June 30 to August 1
Hun Camp (coed, ages 5 to 13): June 30 to August 1
Baseball Camp (boys, ages 8 to 15): July 28 to August 1
Basketball Camp (co-ed, ages 8 to 15): August 4 to August 8; August 11 to August 15
The Lewis School of Princeton
Princeton, N.J.
609-924-8120 | lewisschool.org
Summer Study: June 14 to July 18
Notre Dame High School
Lawrenceville, N.J.
609-882-7900 | ndnj.org
Freshmen Jump Start to Success: June 23 to July 2
Princeton Day School
Princeton, N.J.
609-279-2700 | pds.org/summerprograms
Session 1: June 9 to June 20
Session 2: June 23 to July 3
Session 3: July 7 to July 18
Session 4: July 21 to August 1
Valley Forge Military Academy & College
Wayne
610-989-1262 | camp.vfmac.edu
Day Camp: June 23 to August 1
ATHLETICS
All-Star Baseball Academy
Visit allstarbaseballacademy.com for details on summer programs at locations in Broomall, Downingtown, Warminster and West Chester.
Big Leagues Academy
Newtown
215-968-3089 | bigleaguesacademy.com
Baseball Ages 8 to 12: June 23 to June 27; July 7 to July 11; July 14 to July 18
Baseball Ages 4 to 6: June 30 to July 3; August 4 to August 8
Baseball Ages 7 to 9: July 21 to July 25; July 28 to August 1
Softball Ages 4 to 12: July 7 to July 11
Quick Start Lacrosse Ages 6 to 13: July 14 to July 18; August 18 to August 22
Baseball Age 13 (Transition Camp): August 11 to August 15
Dom DiJulia School of Golf
New Hope
215-862-9045 | dijuliagolf.com
Junior Camp Dates: June 17 to June 19; June 24 to June 26; July 8 to July 10; July 15 to July 17; July 22 to July 24; July 29 to July 3; August 5 to August 7; August 12 to August 14
Julian Krinsky Camps & Programs
King of Prussia
610-265-9401 | jkcp.com
School of Tennis, ages 10 to 13: June 9 to August 29 (Haverford College)
School of Tennis, ages 14 to 17: June 9 to August 29 (Villanova University)
School of Golf, ages 10 to 13: June 15 to June 29 (Haverford College)
School of Golf, ages 14 to 17: June 15 to June 29 (Villanova University)
Philadelphia Union Soccer Camps
Bryn Mawr
Call 610-581-7600 or visit unionsoccerschools.com for details on dates and locations.
Phillies Baseball Academy
Bryn Mawr
Call 610-520-3400 or visit philliescamps.com for details on dates and locations.
Philadelphia Eagles Youth Football Camps
Philadelphia
prosportsexperience.com/eagles
Country Day School of the Sacred Heart (Bryn Mawr): June 16 to June 20
The Phelps School (Malvern): June 23 to June 27
Chesterbrook Academy (West Chester): July 7 to July 11
Newtown Friends School (Newtown): July 14 to July 18
Philadelphia Rock Gym
Philadelphia
Visit philarockgym.com/camp.php for details on summer camps in Philadelphia, Oaks and Valley Township.
Sixers Basketball Camp
Philadelphia
610-668-7676 | sixerscamp.com
One-Week Session Overnight Camp (Valley Forge Military Academy & College): July 6 to July 22; July 13 to July 18; July 20 to July 25; July 27 to August 1
Sixers Skills Academy (Community College of Philadelphia): August 11 to August 14
Sixers Dance Camp (Valley Forge Military Academy & College): August 3 to August 6
THE CREATIVE ARTS
The Center on Central
Paoli
610-710-1487 | thecenteroncentral.com
Creative Arts Summer Day Camp: June 9 to August 29
The Clay Studio
Philadelphia
215-925-3453 | theclaystudio.org
Summer Clay Camps: July 7 to August 29
Digital Media Academy
Bryn Mawr, Philadelphia
digitalmediaacademy.org
Kid and Teen Summer Tech Camp at Drexel University: July 7 to July 25
Kid and Teen Summer Tech Camp at Bryn Mawr College: July 28 to August 8
Doylestown School of Rock
Doylestown
215-230-3406 | doylestown.schoolofrock.com
Indie Rock Camp: June 23 to June 27
Led Zeppelin Camp: July 7 to July 11
AC/DC Camp: July 14 to July 18
Grunge Camp: July 21 to July 25
Woodstock Camp: July 28 to August 1
White Stripes vs. Black Keys Camp: August 4 to August 8
Beatles Camp: August 11 to August 15
The Beatles vs. The Rolling Stones Camp: August 18 to August 22
Fairmount Art Center/Queen Village Art Center
Philadelphia
215-765-2787 | phillyartcenter.com
By-the-Week Summer Camp: June 16 to August 29
Tween Summer Studio: July 14 to August 15
Girls Rock Philly
Philadelphia
Call 215-776-5246 or visit girlsrockphilly.org for details on dates and locations.
James A. Michener Museum
Doylestown
215-340-9800 | michenerartmuseum.org
Summer Art Camp: Mondays, from June 23 to August 18
Main Line Art Center
Haverford
610-525-0272 | mainlineart.org
Ancient Entertainment: June 16 to June 20
Toys & Games - Ready, Set, Play: June 23 to June 27
Transportation - All Aboard: June 30 to July 3
Clothing & Adornment - All Dressed Up and Many Places to Go: July 7 to July 11
Tools - Can You Dig It?: July 14 to July 18
Dwellings, Architecture & Shelter - Home Sweet Home: July 21 to July 25
Utensils & Food - Everything and the Kitchen Sink: July 28 to August 1
Technology - Stone Tablets to Tech Tablets: August 4 to August 8
Written & Spoken Language - Writing on the Wall: August 11 to August 15
Archaeology & Anthropology - Art Detectives: August 18 to August 22
Future Artifacts - Back to the Future: August 25 to August 29
Media Theatre for the Performing Arts
Media
610-891-0100 | mediatheatre.org
Camp Media Theatre (ages 8 and older): June 16 to August 22
Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts
Philadelphia
215-972-2054 | pafa.org
Summer Camp: June 30 to August 15
Pennsylvania School of the Performing Arts
Newtown
215-598-8513 | pspadancer.com
Ballet Pointe Workshop: July 7 to July 18
Broadway Summer Dance/Musical Theater Workshop: July 7 to July 18
Half-Day Song and Dance Angelina Ballerina Musical Theater Camp and Disney Style Camps (boys and girls): July 7 to July 11, July 14 to July 18
Ballet/Contemporary Workshop: August 18 to August 21
Philadelphia School of Rock
Philadelphia
267-639-4007 | philadelphia.schoolofrock.com
The Music of U2: July 7 to July 11
The Music of Jimi Hendrix: July 14 to July 18
The Music of KISS: July 18 to August 1
Punk!: August 4 to August 8
WHYY
Philadelphia
215-351-1200 | whyy.org/camps
WHYY Young Journalists Summer Camp: June 30 to July 11; August 11 to August 22
WHYY Film Academy: July 14 to August 1
DAY CAMPS AND MISCELLANEOUS
Briarwood Day Camp
Furlong
215-598-7143 | briarwood-camp.com
Day Camp: June 23 to August 15
The Franklin Institute
Philadelphia
215-448-1200 | fi.edu
Summer Camp (pre-K to 8): June 16 to August 29
Future Stars
Warminster
Call 215-674-0494 or visit futurestarscamps.com for details on dates and locations.
Great Valley Nature Center
Devault
610-935-9777 | gvnc.org
Trailrompers Camp: June 9 to August 29
Elementary Explorers Camp: June 16 to August 29
Habonim Dror Camp Galil
Ottsville
215-968-2013 | campgalil.org
Summer Camp: June 22 to August 10
iD Tech
Philadelphia, Villanova
iD Tech Camps (University of Pennsylvania): July 7 to August 8
iD Tech Camps (Villanova University): June 16 to August 1
iD Game Design & Development Academy: June 22 to August 1
Kids on 12th Philadelphia Kids Club
Philadelphia
215-545-2930 | kidson12th.com
Summer Camp in the City: June 23 to August 29
Lavner Fashion Design Camp
Locations throughout the region
Visit lavnercampsandprograms.com/filmmaking-camp for details on fashion design camps in Philadelphia and the suburbs.
Lavner Robotics & Technology Camp
Locations throughout the region
Visit lavnercampsandprograms.com/robotics-camp for details on robotics camps in Philadelphia and the suburbs.
The Malvern School
Glen Mills
610-558-3200 | malverndaycamp.com
Malvern Day Camp: June 16 to August 22
Penn Museum
Philadelphia
215-898-4000 | penn.museum/camp
Anthropologists in the Making Summer Camp: June 23 to August 22
Philadelphia Zoo
Philadelphia
philadelphiazoo.org
Discovery Detectives (ages 4 to 5): June 16 to August 29
Eco-Explorers (ages 5 to 7): June 23 to August 22
Animal Advocates (ages 8 to 10): June 23 to August 22
Planet Protectors (ages 11 to 13): June 23 to August 8
Riverbend Environmental Education Center
Gladwyne
610-527-5234 | riverbendeec.org
Exploration Camp (ages 3 to 11): June 9 to August 29
Adventurer Camps (ages 10 to 14): June 23 to August 15
Summer Matters
Paoli
610-296-6725 | summermatters.org
Virginia Mountain Adventure Travel Excursion: June 21 to June 28
Delaware Beach Week Travel Excursion: July 19 to July 26
Summer L.I.F.E. Day Camp: August 11 to August 15; August 18 to 22
Summer L.I.F.E. Overnight Camp: August 10 to August 22
Tall Pines Day Camp
Williamstown, N.J.
856-262-3900 | tallpinesdaycamp.com
Summer Day Camp: June 23 to August 15
Tyler Arboretum
Media
610-566-9134 | tylerarboretum.org
Tiny Trackers (ages 4 to 5): June 23 to August 15
Young Explorers (ages 5 to 11): June 23 to August 15
Young Naturalists (ages 11 to 14): July 7 to August 15
Whispering Pines Family Farm
Perkasie
215-350-1223 | whisperingpinesfamilyfarm.com
First Session: July 7 to July 11
Second Session: July 14 to July 18
“Little Seeds” Session: July 21 to July 24
Third Session: July 28 to August 1
Fourth Session: August 4 to August 8
