How to Get Your Child Ready for Summer Camp
Going to summer camp can be an exhilarating experience filled with new adventures, making new friends, and unforgettable memories. However, for small children or those going away to camp for the first time, there can also be nervous stomachs and uncertainty. Below are some tips to help your child thrive at summer camp.
First, is your child ready for camp?
According to the American Camp Association, here are some key questions to ponder when deciding if your child is ready for summer camp:
- What is your child’s age? Children under age 7 may not adjust easily to being away from home. Consider the day camp experience to prepare them for future overnight camps.
- How did your child become interested in camp? Does your child talk about camp and camp activities on a sustained basis? How much persuasion is necessary from you?
- Has your child had positive overnight experiences away from home? Visiting relatives or friends? Were these separations easy or difficult?
- What does your child expect to do at camp? Learning about the camp experience ahead of time allows you to create positive expectations.
- Are you able to share consistent and positive messages about camp? Your confidence in a positive experience will be contagious.
Communication is key
OK, so you and your child have decided that it’s the right time to head out to the adventures that await at summer camp.
Throughout the process, an open dialogue between everyone is very important. First, involve your child in the process of choosing a camp. The reasons are two-fold: first, you want to find the right match—sports, outdoors, the arts, etc.—for your child’s interests, and secondly, if they feel involved in the decision-making process, it’s more likely that they will be more excited and comfortable at camp.
Once a camp has been selected, talk to your child about what their expectations are at camp and what types of activities that they will engage in. If they can envision what a typical day at camp is before leaving home, their confidence will rise.
For first-time campers, separation anxiety is natural. Talking up the positives of camp—fun adventures, making new friends, yummy treats—beforehand may ease some of that anxiety at camp. Also, remind them that you will take them to camp and pick them up at the end of camp so that they know you will be there each step of the way.
Preparing for camp
Most camps will provide a list of items to bring—clothes, toiletries, bedding, backpacks, water bottles, etc.—and involving your kids in the packing process may also help ease some nervousness. Maybe your child has a favorite sweatshirt or a hat? Letting them have a say on what they bring can provide an extra dose of confidence. Let them bring a personal item from home, such as a favorite stuffed animal or a family photo. Also, consider writing a letter or note addressed to your camper expressing love and support and slipping it into their suitcase for them to discover when they unpack at camp.
You can also participate in role playing such as how to introduce yourself to a new friend at camp or how to handle disagreements and seek help from counselors when needed.
The American Camp Association suggest the following tips for parents to help their child deal with homesickness at summer camp:
- Encourage your child’s independence throughout the year. Practice separations, such as sleepovers at a friend’s house, can simulate the camp environment.
- Discuss what camp will be like before your child leaves. Consider role-playing anticipated situations, such as using a flashlight to find the bathroom.
- Don’t bribe. Linking a successful stay at camp to a material object sends the wrong message. The reward should be your child’s new found confidence and independence.
Final tips for parents
Kids are not the only ones who may experience some nervousness while away at summer camp. It’s also natural for Moms and Dads to worry and fret about how their little one is doing away from home. Keep in mind that there may be good days and bad days for everyone involved, and kids pick up easily on what you are thinking. It’s important to not put too much pressure on your kid to have the “perfect summer.”
Have an open dialogue with the camp director or counselor to understand what the phone call policies are and whether sending care packages is allowed.
If your child calls wanting to come home early, calmly assess the situation and offer encouragement for them to stay at camp a bit longer, as camp can be an important first step toward independence.
When your child comes home from summer camp, celebrate their accomplishments and talk about their favorite activities and any new friends they have met. It’s never too early to discuss if they want to return to camp next year!
Camp Guide 2025
Below is a sampling of the myriad camps available in the Baltimore metropolitan area sorted by county. Most camps encourage parents to register online, and many camps may not finalize summer dates and some details until late February/early March, so it’s prudent to check each camp’s website for current information.
Anne Arundel County
Annapolis Recreation and Parks
Annapolis, 410-263-7958, www.annapolis.gov/camp
A variety of exciting and well-planned camps for your child to attend throughout the summer for youth ages 4-17. Camps are held at different locations and are grouped in varying age groups. Specialty camps include those focused on sports, dance, LEGO, and STEM.
Anne Arundel County Recreation and Parks
Locations throughout Anne Arundel County, 410-222-7313, www.aacounty.org/RecParks
Camps are offered for every interest, including nature, sports, chess, arts and crafts, music and drama, Teens on the Go, adaptive day camp, cycling, agriculture, dance, and more! Before & After Care is also available at many camp locations.
Eco Adventures
Millersville, 410-987-1300, www.ecoadventures.org
Each specialty camp is themed and designed to get kids excited about the natural world. Whether it’s providing campers with a once in a lifetime experience with an endangered species, learn new skills from an expert, discover newfound confidence from one of the knowledgeable instructors, or simply make new friends in a safe and stimulating environment. New: Optional Friday Field Trips!
Indian Creek School Summer Program
Crownsville, 410-923-3660, www.indiancreekschool.org/summer
The Indian Creek Summer Program offers immersive adventures filled with hands-on activities that keep kids moving and provide exciting challenges that create memorable experiences. The program takes place on Indian Creek’s beautiful 114-acre wooded campus just minutes north of Annapolis, where campers have access to the school’s wooded trails, performing arts spaces, classrooms, labs, and the Eagles Athletics Complex, including turf fields, the dome, courts, gym, and fitness center.
Musical Theatre Summer Camp
The Key School, Annapolis, and Mercy High School, Baltimore, www.MusicalStages.org
Taught by musical theater professionals, the two-week camp has campers assigned to small groups by age, and take classes in singing, dancing, acting, costumes, and stagecraft. Learning age-appropriate songs from great Broadway shows, the campers are taught healthy vocal technique, develop poise and coordination through dance, explore acting skills and improvisational games, rehearse scenes, make their costumes, design and paint the backdrop.
Peabody Preparatory of the Johns Hopkins University
Annapolis Campus at Maryland Hall for the Creative Arts. Additional locations in Baltimore City, Baltimore County, and Howard County, www.Peabody.jhu.edu/prepsummer
Programs focus on early childhood instruction in music, dance, instrumental theory, and voice, plus intensive offerings in strings, piano, harp, woodwinds, brass, and guitar.
St. John’s College Summer Academy
Annapolis, sjc.edu/summer-academy
A college summer program for high school students modeled after St. John’s discussion-based, interdisciplinary method of teaching great books. A genuine introduction to college life, Summer Academy helps students hone their reading, critical thinking, and discussion skills in classes led by St. John’s faculty. Sessions are hosted on both St. John’s campus locations, in Annapolis, and Santa Fe, N.M., and online.
Summer at Summit
Edgewater, 410-798-0005, https://thesummitschool.org/summer-programs/
Academic enrichment programming to mitigate summer learning loss and strengthen skills. Classes include reading, writing, math, and organizational skills. The Summit School offers three summer program options to help your child retain skills and reduce summer learning loss—Camp Summit, Executive Functions, and Empower Writing.
West River Sailing Club
Galesville, www.westriversc.com/summerprogram
Students will not only learn through repetitive drills but also through creative ways such as an Adventure Sail, an inquisitive Treasure Hunt, a game of Jeopardy on a stormy day, and through so many other fun and creative ways. Each session culminates with a special activity that will use all the skills that they have learned—whether it be it a sail to High Island in the Rhode River for lunch or a quiet picnic to Round Bay to observe the horseshoe crabs hatching their young.
Y Camp
Multiple locations in Baltimore City and Anne Arundel, Baltimore, Carroll, Harford, and Howard Counties, https://ymaryland.org/camp
Y Camp is the place to be for summertime fun, friends, and excitement with a great lineup of summer fun to keep kids and teens safe, happy, active, and engaged all summer long, including swimming, archery, hiking, camp rallies, weekly themes, sports, science, and more! Choose from day camps, overnight camps, teen camps, and specialty camps.
Baltimore City
Baltimore Center Stage
Baltimore City, 410-986-4000, www.centerstage.org/learning/camp-bcs/
Young artists will spend two weeks building community and establishing their own expansive creative toolboxes, all of which will help grow their confidence and offer them new and exciting paths to learning and knowing through arts. Emphasis is on the development of a wide variety of skills and offer learning experiences in multiple disciplines of artistic expression so that campers can present what they’ve learned in a showcase format. Students will practice artistic skill building through theater games and exercises, writing, visual arts, movement with music, STEAM workshops, and so much more.
Baltimore Lab School
Baltimore City, 410-261-5500, www.baltimorelabschool.org/admissions/summer.cfm
Summer is the time for fun! It’s also the time when academic skills can slip, making it hard for students to maintain the progress they achieved during the school year. The four-week summer program is brimming with imagination, excitement, and innovative teaching.
Coppermine Fieldhouse Summer Camps
Baltimore, www.copperminefieldhouse.com
Each day brings new adventures, new friends, and new experiences in this fun-filled camp! Check out the variety of camps offered in Baltimore City, Baltimore County, Carroll County, and Harford County.
Downtown Sailing Center
Baltimore, https://downtownsailing.org/camp
The Downtown Sailing Center is a unique sailing school for youth ages 8-16 that teaches the joys of navigating open waters aboard keelboats in the historic port of Baltimore’s Inner Harbor. For every four campers on a boat, there is one designated staff member to instruct them personally. Every program participant gets as much direct instruction as possible from the US Sailing certified staff!
Gilman Summer!
Gilman School, 410-323-3800, www.gilman.edu/gilmansummer
With enrichment and skill-building programs for children grades K-12 designed and taught by Gilman faculty and field experts, your child will have a summer they won’t forget!
Summer at the Maryland Institute College of Art (MICA)
Baltimore City, www.mica.edu/artcamp and www.mica.edu/precollege
Students in K-12 have the opportunity to maximize their summer by engaging in MICA’s week-long art and design classes that promote freedom of expression in a structured way. Visit mica.edu/artcamp to learn more. For teens ages 15-17 who want to earn college credits, MICA’s PreCollege Art & Design Program has both residential and commuter options available. Visit mica.edu/precollege to learn more and register.
NDMU Summer Camps
Notre Dame of Maryland University, 410-532-5732, www.ndm.edu/news-events/auxiliary-conference-services/ndmu-summer-camps
NDMU offers camps for all ages including Camp Notre Dame, Cooking with SAGE, A Child’s Place Summer Camp, High School Pharmacy Camp, and STEM Camp.
Red Hot Summer Camps at Roland Park Country School
Baltimore, 410-323-5501, www.rpcs.org/summer
No matter what your child’s interest, Red Hot Summer Camps at Roland Park Country School will provide experiential, hands-on experiences led by talented and expert teachers in STEAM, arts, sports, cooking, performing arts, and more!
Summer at Friends
Friends School of Baltimore, Baltimore City, 410-649-3218, www.fscamp.org
Offering a full lineup of camps with flexible options with intentionally small group sizes, fun-filled daily schedules, and terrific counselors, campers can look forward to a summer of fun! All programs are open to both Friends School and non-Friends School students.
Baltimore County
Beth Tfiloh Camps
Reisterstown, 410-517-3451, www.bethtfiloh.com/life-bt/summer-programs
Beth Tfiloh has provided a well-organized summer day camp in Baltimore County since 1943. Site includes ball fields, hiking trails, the Sachs Family Challenge Course with two 60-foot towers, creative arts center, Sachs Nature Center, regulation-sized multi-purpose sports court, and an amphitheater for special events. The aquatics area encompasses 3 pools, dual water slides, boating lake, kayaks, water mats, and a splash pad interactive water area.
Summer at Jemicy
Owings Mills, 410-753-8033, www.jemicyschool.org/camps
Summer at Jemicy offers full and half-day programs for students with dyslexia or related language-based learning differences that aim to reinforce/maintain skills and minimize “summer learning loss.” The Lower School Program features small group literacy instruction, language arts, math reinforcement, science-based adventures, and creative recreational activities. The Middle School Program offers themed learning adventures combining academics (language arts, math, and more), arts, and community.
Camp Heritage by CCBC Catonsville
Catonsville, 443-840-5979, www.ccbcmd.edu/Campus-Life-and-Activities/Athletics/Youth-Camps-and-Training/Camp-Heritage.aspx
Camp Heritage, designed for children who will have completed kindergarten through fifth grade, will immerse children in a wide variety of programs that provide an enriching and memorable camp experiences, including swimming, art, nature and the environment, sports and games, discovery time, table games, and special events. Each program focuses on activities that encourage children to explore their potential, build relationships, and develop self-confidence. Children who have completed sixth grade and seventh grade are eligible to be selected to participate in our counselor-in-training program.
Genesee Valley Summer Camp
Parkton, 410-343-0138, www.geneseevalley.org
This summer day camp offers campers the opportunity to explore the outdoors, step outside their comfort zone, and build relationships with others. Highly trained counselors foster a nurturing environment to allow campers to discover their highest potential and be themselves!
Irvine Nature Center
Owings Mills, 443-738-9200, www.explorenature.org/classes-camps-programs/summer-nature-camp/
Summer nature camp at Irvine offers children an immersive experience in the outdoors throughout the 211-acre campus. Campers learn about the animals, habitats, and conservation issues. The vast forests, meadows, and wetlands are the classroom, and the unique collection of Animal Ambassadors serve as teaching assistants.
J Camps
Owings Mills, 410-559-3555, http://jcampsbaltimore.org
At J Camps, you’ll find a place that celebrates your child for exactly who they are. Dive into a world of extraordinary programs that inspire kids to do what they love most with the freedom to be their most authentic, fantastic, energetic selves. J Camps offers a wide variety of different camp options for your child to discover and explore all summer long with over 10 summer camp programs that fit the needs of every child. From preschool to Teen Programming, from arts to sports to STEM, and everything in between, your camper will have a blast exploring all the options.
Mast Tennis Academy
Various locations, 443-739-3655, www.masttennisacademy.com
Come learn the sport of a lifetime tennis with the best coaches in town. See you on the courts. Now offering Pickleball!
McDonogh Summer Camps
Owings Mills, 443-544-7100, www.mcdonogh.org/community/parents/summer-camps
McDonogh has been offering quality summer camps for children ages 4 to 17 for over 80 years. The camps are conducted on the school’s 800-acre campus, complete with outdoor athletic fields, three playgrounds, two fishing ponds, 18 tennis courts, and a new state-of-the-art rock-climbing tower in addition to a high and low ropes course. Indoor facilities include an Olympic-size swimming pool, as well as a 54,000-square-foot field house with seven basketball courts and a wrestling room. Campers also benefit from McDonogh’s fine arts center with a 588-seat theatre, multiple computer labs, and art rooms.
Merritt Clubs Summer Camps
Merritt Clubs in Canton, White Marsh and Towson, 800-NEW-SHAPE, www.merrittclubs.com/programs/camps
Merritt Clubs offers a wide variety of half-day and full-day interactive summer camps. Enjoy multiple camp settings, before & after care, extended hours and more throughout the camp session. Your children will enjoy a variety of activities in a fun safe environment at Merritt Clubs and make memories that will last a lifetime.
PADONIA Summer Camps
Cockeysville/Lutherville/Timonium/Towson, 410-252-2046, www.padonia.com/summer-camp
Two great camps all at one place! The ultimate fun-filled summer experience awaits with the Traditional Camp and Adventure Camp! For over 50 years, Padonia has provided thousands of children with new memories, while making lifetime friends as well as developing social skills, critical thinking, creativity, self-esteem, individuality and fitness. The beautiful 30-acre countryside campus creates a quality atmosphere of imagination and adventure.
Park Camps at The Park School of Baltimore
Baltimore, 410-339-4120 / 410-339-7070, www.parkcamps.com
At Park Camps, our 100-acre wooded campus provides the perfect backdrop for exploration, learning, and growth. In summer 2025, Park offers a full 10 weeks of camp from June 10 to August 15. The season begins with School’s Out Sports Camp, ideal for recreational and competitive athletes to get active and refine their skills. From June 23 to August 1, main offerings include Day Camp (Ages 3.5-10), Specialty Camps (Ages 10-14), and a CIT Program (Ages 12-15). New this year, Adventure Camps (ages 8-14) will feature a challenge course with exciting off-campus trips to inspire outdoor exploration. The summer wraps up with two additional weeks of Adventure Camps (August 4-15), ensuring campers stay engaged till the season’s end.
Puh’tok in the Pines
Monkton, 410-329-6590, www.ymaryland.org/puhtok
Located on 67 acres of pristine woodlands and bordered by the scenic Gunpowder Falls River and State Park, Puh’tok in the Pines in Northern Baltimore County provides the quintessential setting where campers can unplug and return to nature and fun—no batteries or chargers necessary!
Summer at The St. Paul’s Schools
Brooklandville, 443-632-1083, www.stpaulsmd.org/summer
For decades, children ages 4-16 have been building lifelong friendships and skills during the summer at The St. Paul’s Schools. Located on a 120-acre campus just 10 miles north of Baltimore City, campers quickly connect and feel safe in a nurturing environment. With a ropes course, swimming pool, athletics facilities including a state-of-the-art indoor golf training center, as well as facilities for arts, drama, cooking, and scientific exploration, your camper can unplug, try new and exciting activities, make great new friends, and gain self-esteem!
Summer @ Blakefield
Loyola Blakefield, Towson, 443-841-3328, www.loyolablakefield.org/summer-programs
Themed camps include academics, cooking, chess, mountain biking, archery, baseball, basketball, lacrosse, soccer, tennis, and more.
Summer at Garrison Forest
Owings Mills, 410-559-3433, www.gfs.org/summer
Summer at Garrison Forest programs are for boys and girls ages 3 and up. With a variety of offerings, every child has plenty of opportunities to explore, learn, and make new friends. Campers will discover new skills, dive deep into creativity, play with passion, and take talents for a ride.
Summer Camp at The Odyssey School
Lutherville, 410-580-5551, www.theodysseyschool.org/summer
A specialized summer camp for children with dyslexia and other language learning differences, Summer Camp at The Odyssey School is an enriching and creative program offering instruction in writing, math, and reading in the morning, and games, sports, and outdoor discovery in the afternoon!
UMBC Summer Day Camp
Catonsville, 410-455-2638, https://summerdaycamp.umbc.edu
For over 45 years UMBC has built and grown a summer program that emphasizes having fun in a positive, well structured, and exciting environment. Designed for children ages 6-13, the camp curriculum has been created to offer a wide variety of programs to meet the interests, abilities, and needs of campers and aimed at delivering both fun and learning opportunities for children.
Howard County
Camp BY & Terrific Two’s
Bet Yeladim Preschool, Columbia, 410-997-7378, www.betyeladim.org/camp
With the start of summer, Bet Yeladim Preschool transforms into “Camp Bet Yeladim” (AKA Camp “BY”). Half-day “Specialty Camp” style program for 3, 4 & 5-year-old campers not only includes art, water play, music and movement, but special activities such as the Jump Bunch, Paragon Gymnastics, Super Science, Creative Cooking, and more! “Terrific Two’s” program includes water play, cooking, art, music, movement and plenty of time on the playground.
Columbia Association Summer Camps
Multiple locations throughout Columbia/Howard County, 410-715-3165, ColumbiaCamps.org
The CA Summer Camp program offers a safe and fun environment that will help campers build community, cultivate a unique sense of place, and create lifelong memories. With a range of camp options and locations to choose from, your kids will have the summer of a lifetime!
Howard Community College’s Kids on Campus
Columbia, 443-518-4110, www.howardcc.edu/programs-courses/continuing-education/courses/kids-on-campus/
When school’s out, the fun and learning doesn’t stop! HCC’s Kids on Campus program offers summer enrichment education for youth ages 6 to 17 in areas such as STEM, creative arts, test prep, and more! The college campus setting is the perfect location to present engaging programming right here in the heart of Howard County. New this year: A Kids on Campus Spring Break Mini-Session will be offered the week of April 14-18 during HCPSS Spring Break.
Howard County Arts Council’s Visual & Performing Arts Camp
Ellicott City, 410-313-2787, www.hocoarts.org/explore/learn-participate/camp/
Summer will be here before you know it, so get a jump on those summer activities now! Register early and have access to our full range of visual and performing arts adventures for your child. Camps are open to students entering grades K–7. Full- or half-day sessions and morning and afternoon extended care are available.
Howard County Conservancy Nature Camps
Woodstock, 410-465-8877, https://howardnature.org/camp/
Make new friends, play among the trees, learn survival skills and more. Campers will explore habitats, engineer devices to solve environmental challenges, and connect to nature through immersive games, hikes, crafts, and STEM challenges.
Howard County Recreation & Parks Summer Camps
Howard County parks, schools, community centers and local businesses
401-313-7275, www.HowardCountyMD.gov/RAP
A variety of camp offerings, including adventures and outdoors, chess, baking, cooking, crafts and fine arts, dance, personal development, music, theatre, LEGO, magic, and more.
SAC Soccer Training Academy
Ellicott City, 410-203-9590, www.sackick.com/sac-summer-camps/
The structure of the SAC Training Academy is based on a combination of the highest quality soccer instruction with a fun atmosphere that encourages the player’s love of the game. SAC Training Academy is a highly organized and well-supervised camp environment utilizing innovative and challenging training sessions.
St. John’s Summer Camp
St. John’s Parish Day School, Ellicott City, 410-465-7644, https://stjohnspds.org/summer-camp/
Summer at St. John’s Parish Day School provides a safe and enriched environment for children ages 3.5 to entering Kindergarten. Each week explores a unique theme that’s sure to spark curiosity and a love of learning through fun and engaging hands-on explorations. Each activity is developed specifically with young children in mind as St. John’s strives to instill a sense of wonder and creative discovery while also celebrating childhood.
Summer in the Country
Glenelg Country School, Ellicott City, 410-531-8600, www.glenelg.org/summer
Camp options include adventure camps, counselor-in-training, sports, pool and tennis, traditional day camps, and specialty camps such as Harry Potter, chess, superhero, nature explorations, and more.
Terrapin Adventures Summer Camp
Howard County, 301-725-1313, www.terrapinadventures.com/adventure-camps/
Camps provide campers with active and adventurous experiences that help them build confidence in themselves and try new things! Give your child a new experience that they’ll remember for years to come.