12 summer camps in the Pittsburgh area for kids who love outdoor fun

Photo above courtesy of Discovery School Summer Camp.

Each year, Kidsburgh shares guides to the many summer camps available in the Pittsburgh area. For some kids, the perfect summer is all about performing on stage or making art. Other kids want to deep dive into science and technology at summer camp. But many kids dream of spending their summer days outdoors, doing everything from hiking and swimming to horseback riding. If your child is among that group, we’ve got a list of summer camps below that you’ll want to know about.

And if you don’t find the right camp for your child(ren) among the dozen that are listed below, check out our big guide to more than 70 summer camps in our area.

1. Venture Outdoors

Registration is open for Venture Outdoors’ summer camps for kids going into grades K-12. Camps will be hosted this year at North Park and South Park between June 23 and Aug. 15. Outdoor enthusiasts will enjoy active recreation like kayaking, fishing, biking and geocaching. Science experiments, crafts and leadership development will help kids gain self-confidence and a greater appreciation for nature. Choose from camps like Outdoor Adventure, Creek Stompin’ and Hooked on Fishing. Check out the lineup and register here. (Limited scholarships are available. Questions? Contact Jody Rutten.)

2. Blue Ribbon Farms

Kids get a total fresh air farm experience at Blue Ribbon Farms’ Little Farmers Day Camp. Hands-on experiences include bottle-feeding a newborn calf, caring for goats and piglets and riding a pony. Kids learn about growing food in the expansive garden and collect fresh eggs, then help prepare dishes from food harvested on the farm. Crafts, nature walks and games are part of the fun. The three-day camps are geared to kids ages 4-13. Camp runs June 24 through Aug. 7. Register right here.

3. Sarah Heinz House

Registration is now open for day camp (preschool through tenth graders) at Sarah Heinz House and Heinz House Resident Camp (grades 1-12) along the Slippery Rock Creek in Ellwood City. Kids can have a great summer at the House or go away to a camp experience designed to entertain and educate them about the importance of teamwork, effective communication and also valuable wilderness skills. Day camp at Sarah Heinz House begins June 16. The 11-day overnight camps begin June 15 for boys and July 13 for girls. Pre-care and post-care will be available for day campers. Limited financial assistance is available.

4. Pittsburgh Parks Conservancy

Kids ages 4-14 are the focus of Pittsburgh Parks Conservancy’s summer camps based out of the Frick Environmental Center. Camps are geared to specific ages, so kids get the most from the experience. In Kinder Camp, for example, 4- and 5-year-olds dig for worms, plant seeds and sing songs. Fifth and sixth graders in Outdoor Expedition Camp take part in hands-on projects and skill-building activities while exploring the beautiful spaces in Frick Park. This year, registration opens at 5 p.m. on Feb. 19. Scholarships (called “camperships”) are available — details here.

5. The Discovery School Day Camp

This nature-based camp is located at The Discovery School in Allison Park, offering a full-day camp for children ages 3 to 11. Sessions during June and July will include a mix of outdoor fun on the school’s seven-acre nature campus (such as kayaking on the pond or performing in their outdoor theater) as well as indoor activities (such as art and design in our maker space and full use of their air-conditioned school). Lunch and snacks are included and before-care is available at no cost. Learn more and register here. register here.

6. Fern Hollow Nature Center

Fern Hollow Nature Center, located on 33 acres in Sewickley Heights Borough will offer over 20 summer camps for children ages 3-14. Week-long camps will run from June 9 through Aug. 8, with half-day and full-day sessions emphasizing outdoor exploration and discovery. Kids will learn about everything from archery to sustainability. Some camps will take place at the Ohio Township Nature Center, located near Fern Hollow on Nicholson Road. Members’-only registration begins today. Registration will open to the public on March 1. Click here to learn about getting a Fern Hollow membership.

7.  STEM Adventure Day Camp at Guyasuta

This summer, Camp Guyasuta will offer eight weeks of co-ed day camp beginning on June 2. Early drop-off and late pick-up are available to make scheduling easier for working parents. Activities include archery, ropes courses, creek hiking, swimming and much more, including “human foosball.” This popular camp takes 180 campers per week and can fill up quickly, but a waitlist is available. Learn more and register here.

8. Horses Unlimited Stables

Kids who are giddy with pony love will be positively smitten with the two Pony Camps at Horses Unlimited Stables. Campers ages 5-10 will receive an introduction to Western and English riding in the four-day sessions happening Aug. 4-7 and Aug. 11014. Kids will learn horse care methods, including a hands-on pony bath to safely clean off the mud. Expect horse-themed crafts and games, too. Email unlimitedhorses@aol.com or call 412-835-7726 to register now.

9. Pittsburgh Zoo

You might say Summer Zoo Camps are pretty wild. Each five-day week is packed with animal encounters, guided tours and themed classroom lessons designed to be fun and engaging for specific age groups. Themes this year include Extreme Animals, Go Wild and Conservation Connections. Registration begins Feb. 11.

10. Camp Deer Creek

Day camp season will run June 9 through Aug. 8 this year at Camp Deer Creek in Cheswick, keeping kids busy with everything from swimming and horseback riding to nature trails and a “drama hut.” This camp offers 18 different bus routes, picking up campers each morning in Squirrel Hill, Greenfield, Edgewood, the North Side, Swissvale, Point Breeze, Oakland, Shadyside, Highland Park, Fox Chapel, O’Hara, North Hills, South Hills, Monroeville, Oakmont, Wexford and Cranberry. Learn more and register here.

11. Steel City Rowing Club

The Steel City Rowing Club offers camps for kids ages 8-18. At River Camp (choose from one-week sessions during June and July), kids ages 8-12 explore the Allegheny River in kayaks and canoes, while enjoying swimming and paddle boarding or just relaxing on the docks. An excursion to Sycamore Island to explore the environment on and around the island is part of the adventure. Rise & Row Camp is offered (one-week sessions in July only) for youth ages 12-15, while Youth Summer Rowing (great for everyone from beginners to experienced rowers) is offered for ages 11-18 during later June and July. Registration is now open at the links above.

12. Tree Pittsburgh’s STEAM Outside Camp

For two weeks this summer, the STEAM Outside Camp engages 4th, 5th, or 6th graders in the urban forest, fields, and rivers through a STEAM (science, technology, engineering, art and math) lens. The camp takes full advantage of Tree Pittsburgh’s five‑acre riverfront campus with interactive activities focused on the benefits of trees, nature in an urban environment, exploration of riparian forests and river habitats, and the life of a tree from seed to sapling at the Heritage Nursery. We’ve reached out for details on the plan for summer 2025 and will post here as soon as we hear back.