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15 Best Summer Camps in Boston

Choosing among summer camps in Boston starts with the child’s age, interests, and the kind of summer routine your family needs. The local options include day-camp programs and a specialist opportunity for children and teens interested in coding.

Look beyond the activity list: ask about supervision, daily structure, cleanliness, communication, and enrollment availability. Families should also confirm dates, age groups, transport arrangements, and what children need to bring.

How this guide is ordered

The guide weighs program relevance, age and interest fit, day-camp suitability, and practical family questions such as supervision, schedules, cleanliness, and enrollment. Coding stands out as a useful specialist preference for some children and teens. Some eligible businesses may purchase enhanced visibility, which can influence their placement.

Top 3 Ranking Map How to choose

Explore 15 summer camps in Boston

Running Brook Camps #1

Running Brook Camps

4.853 reviews
785 Beaver St, Waltham, MA 02452, United States

Running Brook Camps offers day-camp programming for children ages 3.5 to 16 at Chapel Hill-Chauncy Hall School in Waltham. Its broad schedule of indoor and outdoor activities includes swimming, music, art, team activities, themed weeks, and adventure options, giving campers room to explore different interests throughout the summer.

The camp pairs that variety with a structured, welcoming environment. Counselors are described as engaging and caring, and the program includes support for children who benefit from additional encouragement. Older campers can progress into the Leadership Training Program.

Edge on Science #2
What stands out
  • Programs for ages 8 to 17

Edge on Science

521 reviews
Lasell University Science & Technology Center, 12 Central St, Auburndale, MA 02466, United States

Edge on Science delivers project-based STEM summer programs for ages 8 to 17 in and around Boston. Campers learn through hands-on challenges such as bridge building, drone and coding projects, rockets, space science, Viking-themed engineering, and 3D printing. The emphasis is on applied science rather than passive instruction.

Programs are designed for young people who enjoy building, testing, and solving problems. Experienced instructors keep the work engaging while maintaining enough rigor to satisfy strong interests in engineering and science.

Everwood Day Camp #3

Everwood Day Camp

4.546 reviews
125 Lakeview St, Sharon, MA 02067, United States

Everwood Day Camp is a 70-acre summer day camp in Sharon for children ages 4 to 15, set beside Lake Massapoag. Campers move between sports, outdoor activities, arts, and STEAM projects, with options such as ceramics, painting, drama, dance, music, cooking, and gymnastics creating a balanced day.

Its program places equal weight on active participation, creativity, teamwork, and confidence-building. Canoe races, ropes activities, assemblies, camp songs, and group projects encourage cooperation, while experienced leadership and attentive counselors help children feel supported. Everwood is especially appealing to families looking for a full, varied day in a nature-rich setting with a strong community feel.

Camp Resolute #4

Camp Resolute

4.6101 reviews
75 Hudson Rd, Bolton, MA 01740, United States

Camp Resolute is a children’s camp set within the Mayflower Council’s E. Paul Robsham, Jr. Scout Reservation in Bolton, Massachusetts, serving as a wooded base for outdoor programs and scouting activities. The 325-acre reservation includes forest, wilderness, and Little Pond, creating room for camping, hiking, swimming, boating, fishing, rappelling, rock climbing, and ropes courses.

Day-camp and Scouts BSA programs share the reservation, with activity areas, open space, tent platforms, and sites suitable for overnight stays. Its manageable layout keeps the setting practical for group activities, while the natural surroundings provide a quieter outdoor atmosphere within reach of the Boston area.

Camp Sewataro #5

Camp Sewataro

4.725 reviews
1 Liberty Ledge, Sudbury, MA 01776, United States

Camp Sewataro is a traditional summer day camp near Boston for children from pre-K through eighth grade, set on 44 acres of woodland. Its outdoor program includes swimming, fishing, boating, archery, ropes challenges, a climbing wall, a zip line, arts, music, gardening, drama, and sports.

The camp puts community, teamwork, tradition, and outdoor play at the center of the day. A large activity mix and devoted counselors create the lively, technology-free atmosphere families seek from a classic day-camp experience.

Beaver Summer Camp #6

Beaver Summer Camp

4.526 reviews
791 Hammond St, Chestnut Hill, MA 02467, United States

Beaver Summer Camp is a Chestnut Hill day camp for children ages 3 to 15, designed around active play, friendships, and age-appropriate growth. Campers can choose from sports, cooking, arts, design, trips, swimming instruction, and specialty programs, including inquiry-based science activities.

The program uses nurturing staff and strengths-based guidance to help children build confidence while staying engaged throughout the day. Specialty camps offer a deeper focus for campers who want to explore a particular interest, with options ranging from creative work to sports and science.

Nobles Day Camp #7

Nobles Day Camp

4.750 reviews
10 Campus Dr, Dedham, MA 02026, United States

Nobles Day Camp brings a broad, well-organized summer program for children in Boston, with activity choices designed for different ages and interests. Younger campers can begin in Owl’s Nest, while older participants move through age-based camp groups and counselor-in-training opportunities.

The program emphasizes a safe, supportive setting, creativity, independence, teamwork, and non-competitive fun. Families can expect welcome and orientation activities for newcomers, special events such as cookouts, talent shows, dance parties, and themed Fridays, plus careful attention to daily details including menu or ingredient updates for children with food allergies.

Summer Fenn Day Camp #8

Summer Fenn Day Camp

4.814 reviews
516 Monument St, Concord, MA 01742, United States

Summer Fenn Day Camp gives children a lively Boston setting to unplug, stay active outdoors, try new interests, and build friendships. Its program places clear emphasis on belonging, kindness, self-expression, and growing independence, with familiar staff and carefully maintained surroundings helping create a reassuring daily rhythm.

The camp’s activity mix extends from everyday play to specialty options such as chef, pottery, video, STEAM, and soccer. Patient, attentive care and thoughtful organization make it particularly appealing to families seeking a full-summer program for elementary-age children, with an environment designed to help each camper participate at their own level.

Camp Harbor View #9

Camp Harbor View

4.838 reviews
135 Morrissey Blvd Suite S110A, Boston, MA 02125, United States

Camp Harbor View offers Boston children a distinctive summer setting on Long Island in Boston Harbor, where swimming, a rock wall, friendships, and outdoor discovery shape the daily program. Its focus extends beyond seasonal recreation: the camp forms part of a year-round community for young people and their families.

Programs support youth development through connection, leadership, and practical encouragement. Campers can progress into leadership-in-training opportunities, while family services provide broader support around wellness, food, housing, income, and resource coordination. That combination gives the organization a community-centered character that reaches well beyond a conventional summer camp.

Ivy Seed Academy #10

Ivy Seed Academy

510 reviews
552 Massachusetts Ave #213, Cambridge, MA 02139, United States
Best for
Children and teens interested in coding

Ivy Seed Academy brings a technology-focused approach to summer camp in Boston, with coding and STEM programs for children and teens ages 6 to 18. Python instruction introduces core programming concepts such as variables, loops, and methods, while more advanced options extend into robotics, app development, design, and digital creation.

The curriculum is supported by instructors drawn from leading universities and by a program-development team associated with MIT and Stanford. Campers can move from beginner concepts toward tangible projects, including building an app in a day. Professional, responsive staff add structure and make the program approachable for students discovering coding for the first time.

Fessenden Summer Camps #11

Fessenden Summer Camps

4.418 reviews
250 Waltham St, Newton, MA 02465, United States

Fessenden Summer Camps serves children from age 3.5 through grade 10 with a broad day-camp program built around activity, skill development, and discovery. The range includes swimming, sports, arts, theater, science, coding, tennis, and other specialty choices, so children can follow established interests or try something new.

Its campus supports both active and creative programming, with athletic facilities, outdoor swimming, playing fields, courts, a theater, ceramics, photography, and art studios. Extended-day options and a well-supported staff structure add flexibility for families seeking a substantial summer program in the Boston area.

JCC Camp Grossman #12

JCC Camp Grossman

4.640 reviews
294 Powissett St, Dover, MA 02030, United States

JCC Camp Grossman gives Boston-area families a highly varied day-camp program, with sports, arts, swimming, boating, fishing, and lake activities alongside two rock-climbing towers, zip lines, a ropes course, and other outdoor challenges. The range is a strong fit for children who want to try something different each day rather than follow a single specialty track.

Jewish culture is woven into the camp experience alongside traditional and contemporary activities. A long-serving leadership team and many returning alumni staff help create a welcoming atmosphere, while transportation reaches more than 30 communities across Greater Boston. The camp also offers a counselor-in-training pathway, and its medical team includes registered nurses experienced with allergies, asthma, and other health needs.

YMCA Camp Chickami #13

YMCA Camp Chickami

4.732 reviews
139 Boston Post Rd, Wayland, MA 01778, United States

YMCA Camp Chickami is a traditional children’s day camp serving families in the Boston area, with a strong emphasis on outdoor play, creativity, and personal challenge. Campers can take part in classic arts and crafts, archery, nature-based activities, and age-appropriate overnights for older children.

Its 13-element Challenge Course, including eight high and five low elements, is designed to build confidence, teamwork, communication, and skills progressively as campers grow. The setting also includes a swimming pool and newer camp buildings, giving the program a lively mix of active pursuits and familiar camp traditions.

LINX Camps #14

LINX Camps

4.122 reviews
One Hollis St #423, Wellesley, MA 02482, United States

LINX Camps gives Boston-area families a wide menu of summer programs, with varied sessions and flexible choices designed to keep children engaged across the season. Activities span general and specialty camp formats, allowing campers to explore different interests while returning to a familiar, energetic setting.

A notably low counselor-to-camper ratio supports close supervision and helps staff know campers individually. LINX also places meaningful attention on emotional growth and well-being through its Camper Care program, which includes social-work support for children facing challenges. Friendly counselors, helpful nurses, organized operations, and clean surroundings reinforce the camp’s family-oriented feel.

MIT All Sports Summer Day Camp #15

MIT All Sports Summer Day Camp

55 reviews
120 Vassar St Building W35-297, Cambridge, MA 02139, United States

MIT All Sports Summer Day Camp offers an active Boston summer program for children ages 6 to 13, with a strong focus on sports, movement, and social development. The camp has operated since 1960 and maintains a longstanding tradition of welcoming young campers into a structured day of recreation.

Its purpose extends beyond keeping children busy: programming is designed to support diversity, physical skills, personal growth, and life skills. Families looking for an energetic, sports-centered camp with an established educational and recreational setting will find a clear match here.

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Map of summer camps in Boston

The camps listed for Boston represent different program profiles, and several may be outside the city center. Use the map to see which options fit your family's daily route and whether a camp works with home, work, or childcare plans.

Distance matters most for day camps, where repeated drop-off and pickup can shape the whole week. Confirm the exact site, transport options, session dates, and arrival procedures before enrolling.

Summer camp programs to consider

  • Day camp programsCompare children's day-camp options for families seeking structured daytime activities during the summer.
  • Coding campsChildren and teens interested in coding can look for a specialist program that places technology and programming at the center.
  • Children's campsReview children's camp options with attention to age groups, daily routines, supervision, and the activities offered.
  • Teen programmingOlder children and teens should confirm whether the program offers age-appropriate projects, independence, and supervision.
  • Structured summer activitiesFamilies can compare organized schedules, activity blocks, communication practices, and the level of staff support.
  • Clean, well-managed settingsAsk how the camp handles cleaning, shared equipment, arrivals, meals, and everyday safety routines.

How to choose a Boston summer camp

  1. Match the camp's age group and activities to your child's interests.
  2. Ask for a sample daily schedule, including transitions, meals, breaks, and pickup.
  3. Confirm supervision arrangements, staff communication, and procedures for illness or emergencies.
  4. Check session dates, enrollment availability, transport options, and the exact site.
  5. For coding programs, ask what children build, which ages are supported, and what experience is expected.
  6. Clarify what equipment, clothing, food, and documents the child must bring.

Frequently asked questions

Which Boston summer camps suit children interested in coding?

Edge on Science is relevant to children and teens interested in coding, making it a useful specialist option to investigate. Families should confirm the current coding curriculum, age range, session dates, and whether beginners are welcome.

Ask what projects children complete and how much of the day is dedicated to technology compared with other activities.

What should I ask a summer camp about supervision?

Ask how groups are divided by age, how many staff members supervise each group, and who handles drop-off, pickup, illness, and emergencies. Request a clear explanation of daily transitions and communication with families.

It is also sensible to confirm whether the camp has procedures for allergies, medication, dietary needs, and late pickup.

How important is location when choosing a day camp?

Location can determine whether daily drop-off and pickup remain manageable throughout the session. Compare the camp's exact site with your normal route and check transport, parking instructions, arrival windows, and pickup procedures.

A slightly farther camp may still work if its schedule and transport arrangements fit your family's routine.

How can families compare camp programs fairly?

Compare the age fit, activity mix, daily structure, supervision, communication, session dates, and practical requirements. Cleanliness and organized routines are also useful points to ask about when visiting or speaking with staff.

For specialist programs, such as coding, compare the actual projects and teaching approach rather than relying only on the program title.

Should I reserve a summer camp early?

Early planning is helpful because preferred sessions, age groups, and schedules may not remain available. Before enrolling, confirm the dates, cancellation terms, required forms, transport, and whether the program can meet your child's needs.

If you are deciding close to summer, contact the camp directly about current spaces and waitlist arrangements.

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