Whether your kids are looking for short term adventure or wanting to spend all summer away from home, you are sure to find something that will be right for you and them in this list of select adventure summer camps.
Mountains
Smoky Mountain Adventure Camp: This adventure summer camp is located in Cosby, Tennessee and includes over ten different types of activities for the campers. Their packages range from 1 to 4 weeks long and the activities will vary depending on your child’s age and skill level. A one week stay for kids 8-11 years old is $645 and includes hiking, rock climbing, horseback riding, and whitewater rafting. A two week session is $1295, three weeks is $1795, and four weeks is $2295. The two and three week sessions have two different skill level groups.
Windsor Mountain International Summer Camp: Located in the mountains of New Hampshire, this camp has an international flair as it has campers and recruits counselors from around the globe. The camp has special sessions for teaching American Sign Language and English as a Second Language. The activities that campers can expect include wilderness adventures trips (three day trip to canoe, mountain bike, hike, and spelunk), horseback riding, hiking, rock climbing, and water sports. Two week session for grades 2-4 have a price tag of $2595 and 4 week sessions for grades 2-8 cost $4195.
Cheley Colorado Camps: The Estes Park Valley in Colorado is home to this beautiful summer camp. There are three main locations with smaller sites split by age (9-11, 12-13, 14-17 years old) and gender although each site has the same activities. Rock climbing, hiking, horseback riding, river rafting, fishing, and crafts are some of the fun things to do at the camp. A full season (4 weeks) costs $8350, and a half season (first or second part) costs $4250.
Water
SeaWorld/Busch Gardens Adventure Camps: Overnight adventures with SeaWorld can be found at any of their locations (Orlando, San Antonio, San Diego, Tampa Bay-Busch Gardens). At each location your children will get to spend time taking care of the marine animals, spend a night sleeping next to creatures from penguins to beluga whales. The camps are split into different age groups from 5th (explorer) to 12th grade (career camps). There are an amazing amount of opportunities to work with the animals and ask questions of the animal experts, in addition to enjoying the parks’ rides and other attractions. Each camp is five days long and runs from $900 in San Antonio, $1025 in San Diego, and $1350 in Orlando.
Ranches
Devil’s Gulch Ranch: This amazing adventure summer camp, located Nicasio, California, focuses on teaching children about the real life of ranch work and farm animals. Kids get hands on experience caring for the animals on the ranch and learning about natural resources as well as crafts and skills with animal products, such as feathers, horns, and hides. One week overnight at the camp costs only $1035. Recreational activities include swimming, fishing, archery, hiking, and nature studies.
Orme Ranch Camp: This camp is a horseback riding intensive camp for children ages 7-16, located in Orme, Arizona. Two week sessions are priced at $2129 for each camper. Each session is different so you can combine more than one session at a reduced rate (save $275 for two sessions, $400 for three sessions, and $600 for all four sessions). The first session is a trip to the Grand Canyon, followed by a pack trip, parade, and rodeo. The third session is a gymkhana, and the fourth is either an extensive horsemanship training class or a caravan travel time. The campers will have a very structured day with many opportunities for activities as well as free time. Activities include target sports, survival skills, arts and crafts, pool time, and lots of time on and around horses.
Local Universities
You may also want to check with colleges and universities in your area. Many universities have great summer day programs for kids in the town and surrounding communities such as the University of Chicago and Columbus State University and the University of Maryland, to name a few.
