18 summer camps perfect for older kids and teens, from rowing and theater to cyber security and more

Photo above courtesy of Pittsburgh Musical Theater.

Many Pittsburgh area summer camps that you’ll find in our big summer 2025 guide are for kids of all ages. But some are particularly geared toward older kids and especially teens. Below you’ll find a range of great camps that might be perfect for your older camper. Check out the possibilities:

1. Venture Outdoors

Registration is open for Venture Outdoors’ summer camps, which have plenty of programming for high schoolers up to 12th grade. Camps will be hosted this year at North Park and South Park between June 23 and Aug. 15, and include 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. Check out the lineup and register here. (Limited scholarships are available. Questions? Contact Jody Rutten.)

2. SLB Radio Summer Camp

SLB Radio Summer Camps offer middle and high school students one-of-a-kind experiences at the Youth Media Center (co-located within the Children’s Museum on the North Side), including opportunities to learn new skills, get creative, make new friends, and have their voices be heard. More details, including camp themes and scholarship information, will be released soon. To stay up-to-date, fill out the SLB Summer Camp Interest Form.

3. Evolve’s Future Camp 

Evolve‘s annual two-week summer arts camp hosts neurodiverse and neurotypical learners ages 12 and up for a series of classes including writing, visual arts, animation, music and more. In addition to classes led by teaching artists, Future Camp wraps with a celebration called “Future Fest” which features local arts programming vendors, college resource booths, and more. Get details and register here.

4. Point Park University Summer Camps and Intensives

Is your teenager ready to spend the summer in the city? Point Park University’s 2025 Summer Camps and Intensives include courses in the arts and sciences, athletics, business, cinema arts, communications, performing arts and more. Get more info here and click here to register today.

5. University of Pittsburgh Gene Team

Science-minded teens from Pittsburgh Public Schools and other urban high schools who have an interest in biology are invited to apply for the five-week Gene Team program. Pitt Biology Outreach will provide state-of-the-art laboratory training to collect data for a current research project. Bus passes will be supplied, and participants will receive a stipend at the end of the program. Sessions will include a focus on strategies and skills that will help with college applications. To be eligible, kids must have completed one year of high school biology. Gene Team runs from June 23 to July 18. Applications will be available in March and accepted through April. Students will be selected for the program and notified in May. If you have any questions about the program or would like to be added to the notification list, please email Jess Robertson at jah99@pitt.edu.

6. WQED Film Academy

WQED Film Academy is a youth education program in digital media arts and filmmaking. The Academy is open to all high schoolers, from rising ninth-graders up through recent high school grads. Teaching artists and professional mentors will offer a curriculum covering all aspects of digital media production, including storytelling, camera, audio, lighting and editing. Summer session dates and details should be announced soon.

7. Air Force Association CyberCamp

The annual Air Force Association CyberCamp is presented via a partnership between the University of Pittsburgh Institute for Cyber Law, Policy and Security and Pitt Information Technology. This year, the free, weeklong camp is scheduled from June 23-27. High school kids will be immersed in a range of technical skills and digital literacy with a focus on cyber ethics and systems security. Sign up to be notified about registration, which opens March 24.

8. Pittsburgh Musical Theater Conservatory

Although younger campers are welcome, the Summer Musical Theater Camp at the PMT Conservatory is a great place for older students up to age 18. The four-week camps train kids in acting, voice and dance, but also help kids build confidence, make new friendships and learn collaboration. Teens can choose from a performance, dance or technical theater/design track. Campers rehearse for a full-scale performance as a grand finale. Registration is now open. Financial aid and payment plans are available.

9. Bravo Academy at the Pittsburgh Opera

If your child is an aspiring singer or opera aficionado, or loves the magic of backstage, this program is for them. Focusing on musical theater, opera and art song favorites, Bravo Academy is designed for students who are 11 to 15 years old and ready to shine in the limelight at Pittsburgh Opera’s headquarters and professional performance space, the Bitz Opera Factory. During two one-week programs (9:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.) filled with hands-on experiences with leading industry professionals and performers, campers will learn costume design, improvisation, voice, opera storytelling, movement, special effects/lighting design, and use their skills in a showcase performance. Details are here and early-bird, discounted registration is now open as of Feb. 3. For more information and registration, contact Rebekah Diaz via email or at 412-281-0912 x256.

10. U.S. Golf Camps at Kiski School

The folks at US Golf Camps offer the Ultimate Junior Golf Camp Experience for boys and girls 9-18 years old, kicking off on June 15. The overnight camp at the Kiski School in Saltsburg includes a private golf course and practice range exclusively for campers. Three programs are designed for different skill levels: a fundamental program for relative beginners, an advanced program for high school golfers and an elite program for players who want to play competitive college golf. Get details here.

11. Gemini Children’s Theater

Five-day Summer Acting Workshops with Gemini Children’s Theater channel energy and talent toward the theater arts. Students up to age 17 write, rehearse and perform a play that they help develop from their imagination, learning scene building, collaborating and character development. Camps this year run from June 9 to July 4. Early bird discounts, scholarships, tuition assistance and payment plans are available — learn more here.

12. 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.

13. The Ellis School’s Changemakers Lab Camps

Summer camps at The Ellis School are all about sparking imagination, developing problem-solving skills and helping campers make meaningful connections through collaboration, friendship and community. Click here to get all the details about Changemakers Lab, designed for girls entering grades 5-9.

14. Girls Who Code

Girls Who Code summer programs teach high school girls and non-binary students the computer science skills they need to drive community impact and prepare for a tech career. Participants will get exposure to tech jobs, meet women in tech careers and join a supportive sisterhood of girls in tech. The program is available as a 2-week intensive immersion or a 6-week self-paced program and offers a $300 needs-based stipend for eligible students. Apply here.

15. TYE (TiE Young Entrepreneurs) Summer Program

TiE Pittsburgh‘s entrepreneurship-focused program mixes in-person gatherings and independent, virtual experiences (via Google Classroom) to equip aspiring young minds with essential skills, foster innovation, and amplify their future potential. Get details here and apply here.

16. Pittsburgh Glass Center

Summer intensives and teen boot camp sessions are planned this summer for grades 6–12 at Pittsburgh Glass Center. The SiO2 Teen Boot Camp, happening July 14-18, introduces the science and art of glass, offering hands-on experience with glassmaking. Sessions include glassblowing, flameworking, kilnforming and coldworking. Scholarships are available — apply by March 15.

17. Camp Kesem at Carnegie Mellon University

Camp Kesem at CMU is the local chapter of the national organization Kesem, which is dedicated to supporting children whose families have been impacted by cancer. This work includes year-round fundraisers and the flagship summer camp every August. This year, Kesem at CMU will offer its annual camp from Aug. 10 through Aug. 15 free of charge for any student ages 6-18 years old who has, or has had, a parent or primary caregiver with cancer at any stage. Campers will enjoy a week full of fun activities and a chance to build connections with each other and counselors who understand and are trained to support their needs. Get details here.

18. Glade Run Lutheran Services

Looking for summer camps around Pittsburgh that focus on social-emotional skills? Glade Run’s Specialized Adventures Camp is a social skills development course specifically designed for kids with moderate to high-functioning autism spectrum disorders. The camp welcomes students up to age 18. Activities include horseback riding, trail and stream exploration, and gardening. View the brochure for details. A limited number of partial scholarships are available through the Glade Run Foundation.

(Still looking? Along with our Big Summer Camp 2025 guide, we’ve also got mini-guides that specifically list the arts-focused camps and science & tech-focused camps and camps that prioritize outdoor fun.)