30 Pittsburgh summer camps for a super 2021 season
Photo courtesy of Carnegie Museum of Natural History.
After last year’s disappointing summer, kids and their grownups are thrilled to see the return of many day camps throughout Pittsburgh. Most plan on in-person sessions with all the Covid safety precautions — masks, temperature checks and social distancing — we’ve come to know so well. Class sizes tend to be smaller, which means camps are expecting to fill up faster than usual. But camp activities remain supersized for kids who deserve a break from routine pastimes. Many offer tuition assistance, too. Check out these incredible opportunities for kids this summer.
Note: Some photos were shot pre-pandemic without masks.
1. Carnegie Science Center
Carnegie Science Center offers more than 75 camps, fully immersing kids in all the STEM subjects: science, technology, engineering and math. Kids ages 6-17 can return to comfortable favorites from past years or jump into some of the 20 new themes coming this summer. Sports Maker Camp, held in the BNY Mellon Fab Lab, looks at ways to redesign sports equipment to make a better hockey stick or baseball mitt. Robots of the Round Table offers a medieval twist for kids to program robot knights to joust or batter down castle walls. Kids can learn wizard skills in Spellbound Science by making objects glow, fizz and disappear. Two sessions of sensory camps are offered as well. Download the complete brochure here.
The Science Center offers a limited number of need-based scholarships. Email or call 412-237-3400 for details.
2. Pittsburgh Cultural Trust
The Trust Arts Education Camps for Creatives series returns this summer with in-person camps for grades 3-12. The 5-day sessions concentrate on developing creative skills. Science of Visual Art camp emphasizes the laws of physics, chemical reactions and other scientific principles to create art. Sewing for the Stage looks at designing costumes for the theater. And kids will collaborate to put on a show in Theatre Production Camp. Register here.
3. Assemble Pittsburgh
Campers choose between virtual and in-person sessions at Assemble Pittsburgh this year. STEAM camps for ages 6-16 are based on hands-on learning through shared experiences. Expect lots of individual attention, with a maximum of 10 kids at in-person classes and no more than 20 for virtual classes. Virtual campers will receive material kits to follow along at home. In Superheroes Assemble!, first and second graders explore superpowers found in nature as they design costumes and gadgets. Galaxy Girls in grades 4-9 will build a spaceship and consider what it takes to develop new habitats on other planets. Cool stuff! Check out other camps and register here.
Call 412-661-6111 to learn about scholarships. Garfield residents attend for free.
4. Pittsburgh Parks Conservancy
Kids ages 4-14 are the focus of Pittsburgh Parks Conservancy’s summer camps at 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. See the complete lineup here.
Campership scholarships are available for income-eligible families.
5. Dragon’s Den
Dragon’s Den is a newcomer to the summer camp lineup. The transformative educational environment has reinvented the former St. Mary Magdalene Church as a two-level rope course and zipline. Kids ages 7-18 will find exciting camps that range from Circus in the Sky and Myths and Magic to Dragon’s Laboratory. Choose from half-day or full-day camps, all of which include outdoor fun in the sun with the help of Venture Outdoors. Browse camps and register here.
6. PMT Conservatory
Summer Musical Theater Camp at the PMT Conservatory shines the spotlight on kids ages 4-18. The four-week camps train kids in acting, voice and dance. They rehearse for a full-scale performance offered under the canopy at the West End school as a grand finale. Depending on age, kids can take part in “Jukebox Time Machine,” “Footloose the Musical” and “Grease.” Teens can choose the Technical Theater and Design track to learn about set design and construction, lighting and costumes.
Registration opens on April 12. Financial aid and payment plans are available.
7. Shady Side Academy
Summer camps at Shady Side Academy, designed with working parents in mind, include before-care and free lunch. Kids from pre-K through high school will find a range of weekly camps on four campuses in Fox Chapel and Point Breeze. Sports-minded kids can focus skills on hockey, golf or tennis. Maker kids can choose Fabricating in the Fab Lab. And gamers will be challenged with Programming in Minecraft. High school kids can take for-credit classes in art, math and science, as well as courses in essay writing and SAT/ACT prep. Find the complete lineup here and start your summer dreaming!
8. Jewish Community Center
JCC Day Camps organize kids ages 2-15 in three locations — Squirrel Hill, Monroeville and the South Hills. Miscellaneous Adventures includes a magic and balloon workshop with Weird Eric. Lights, Camera, Action employs the experts from Steeltown for a lesson in filmmaking. Kids learn to use hand tools in the Carving Out the Fun woodworking course. Download the complete brochure here.
Financial assistance is available for members, but eligible families can also receive assistance for membership. Call 412-339-5398.
9. National Aviary
The National Aviary offers both in-person and virtual camps this year. At Safari Camp, kids ages 6-12 explore free-flight habitats where they’ll find species of birds from around the world. Guided sessions demonstrate how Aviary staff care for more than 500 birds and animals. Teens ages 13-16 can opt for the Career Camp Teen Week, where they can learn what it takes to pursue a future as a zookeeper, ornithologist or veterinarian. Register here.
10. Carnegie Museums of Art and Natural History
Summer camps for ages 6 through teens are back with in-person and virtual sessions at Carnegie Museums of Art and Natural History. High schoolers can explore high-tech architecture, vacation with an artist or design a neighborhood. Junior scientists concentrate on Egyptian life on the Nile, backyard biology and the world of dinosaurs. You’ll find camps with an art emphasis, too, from ceramics to giant drawings. And be sure to check out the programming at Powdermill Nature Reserve, too. Browse classes and register here.
Financial aid is available for eligible families.
11. Aspinwall Riverfront Park
Aspinwall Riverfront Park teamed up with Winchester Thurston School to offer summer camps that focus on connections to nature and community. Kids in grades 1-6 will love outdoor programming that includes flying kites, scavenger hunts and 3-D art installations. Each of the four weeks will concentrate on a different theme, such as Fire & Water, Earth & Air and Plants & Animals. Kids can sign up for a single week or all four, with the opportunity to earn badges along the way. Learn more and register here.
A limited number of need-based scholarships are available. For consideration, email or call 412-916-4342.
12. 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 July 19-23. High school kids will be immersed in a range of technical skills and digital literacy with a focus on cyberethics and systems security. Sign up to be notified about registration deadlines.
13. Venture Outdoors
Venture Outdoors’ summer camps for kids in grades 3-8 take place at North Park and on the North Shore. 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 Outdoor Adventure Camp, Cycling Through Summer or one of the two Survival Skills camps. Check out the lineup and register here.
14. Sweetwater Center for the Arts
Kids ages 4-16 can find their muse through a wide variety of mediums at Sweetwater Center for the Arts’ summer camps. From ceramics and watercolor to animation and graffiti, kids will find exciting ways to express their creativity. Cooking classes, STEM circuitry and acting are included, too. Most classes are in-person, but some virtual sessions are available as well. Browse the 80-plus options and register here.
Scholarships are available.
15. Gemini Children’s Theater
Five-day summer camps at Gemini Children’s Theater channel energy and talent toward the theater arts. Kids as young as 4 learn to write, rehearse and perform a play that they help develop from their imagination. Scene building, collaborating and character development apply across all age groups (up to 17 years). Register by May 31 for an early bird discount. Scholarships, tuition assistance and payment plans are available, too.
16. Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre
Dancers in all sizes, from toddlers to teens, will find a place at Pittsburgh Ballet’s summer sessions. Kids will develop progressive dance fundamentals through barre and floor exercises, French terminology and ballet concepts. The most advanced Junior Intensive covers skills in pointe, pas de deux, jazz and repertoire. At every level, kids can expect to find plenty of joy in their movements and training.
17. The Ellis School
Summer camps at The Ellis School spark imagination and develop problem-solving skills. Coed Kids Camps for ages 3-10 follow weekly themes like Real-World Careers, Collaborative Story Telling and Super Leaders. Older kids ages 10-17 in Changemakers Lab focus on sessions like Engineer the Future, Urban Ecology and Digital Citizenship. Choose your week or register for the full summer here.
18. Cello Fury Rock Camp
Violinists, cellists, bassists and violists are invited to bring it to Cello Fury Rock Camp for Strings, offered in hybrid, in-person and online sessions this year. Cello Fury’s camp gives young musicians an alternative to traditional classical training to play in a high-energy string rock orchestra. Workshops include subjects like music composition, fitness for musicians, improvisation and music promotion. The camp concludes with an outdoor concert for friends and family. All skill levels are welcome from ages 7-17. Register here.
19. Ascend Pittsburgh
At Ascend Pittsburgh summer camps, kids’ strength and dexterity will be tested through activities like rope climbing and bouldering. Balance is another skill to master when walking a slackline. Are your kids new to climbing? No problem. These classes are designed to be accessible for all levels and for ages 6-16. Register here.
Summer camp financial assistance is available.
20. The Wheel Mill
Both more experienced and wannabe shredders can find a session at The Wheel Mill’s BMX and Mountain Bikes Camps. Kids will be thrilled to experience the 80,000-square-foot park filled with all kinds of trails and ramps with varying terrain and levels of difficulty. Beginners learn general bike safety and skills along with cycling, mountain bike and BMX vocabulary. Once kids master the basics, they can move onto learning intermediate skills. Details on the summer camp lineup will be available soon.
21. Mad Science
With titles like Fizz Bang Boom, Red Hot Robots and Secret Agent Lab, Mad Science summer camp sessions have us intrigued. Workshops, held at 15 area locations, are geared to kids from kindergarten through 6th grade, giving them the chance to be junior scientists for the summer. Register here for your choice of location and camp.
22. Fern Hollow Nature Center
This summer, the Fern Hollow Nature Center returns to in-person nature-themed camps. Kids ages 3-11 will enjoy fresh air learning and challenges. The youngest campers might pick berries and vegetables, dig for fossils and build fairy houses. Older kids can practice archery, learn to be eco-warriors or master outdoor survival skills. Find the camp lineup here.
Full and partial scholarships are offered through the Union Aid Society. Call 412-742-3166 or email for information.
23. Luminari’s Camp Delicious
Aspiring teen chefs will find culinary confidence at this five-day Luminari camp. Teens will participate in tastings and learn about food sourcing and preparation under the guidance of some of Pittsburgh’s most prominent chefs and nutritionists. By the end of camp, kids should have the ability to create scrumptious meals at home.
24. Camp Invention
Camp Invention offers in-person and at-home options for an inspiring, action-packed experience. The STEM summer program helps kids in grades K-6 to develop innovative thinking and problem-solving skills and encourages collaboration. In-person camps are held in schools around Pittsburgh. Find a program location and register here.
25. University of Pittsburgh Gene Team
Science-minded teens from urban high schools with an interest in biology are invited to apply for a position in the Gene Team program. Pitt Biology Outreach will provide training and scientific background to collect data for ongoing research. This year, the four-week program will be held virtually at home. Projects include at-home molecular, microbiology and ecological studies that will be carried out in your own yard and neighborhood.
The Gene Team program is free and all supplies are provided. The application deadline is April 16.
26. Switch and Signal Skatepark
Skate Camp returns to Switch and Signal Skatepark this year with full-day camps running from June 13 to Aug. 19. Choose a week or sign up for the entire summer. Kids from ages 5-13 in all skill levels are welcome to get started or develop more advanced expertise. Learn about skate components, make skate art and work on a group skate video to take home at the end of the week. Register here.
27. 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 or 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. Register here.
28. Glade Run Lutheran Services
Glade Run’s Specialized Adventures Camp is a two-week social skills development course specifically designed for kids with moderate to high-functioning autism spectrum disorders, but any kids ages 8-18 who need help with social skill development will be considered. Activities include horseback riding, trail and stream exploration and gardening. View the brochure for details.
Check these grant resources and information on waiver funding.
29. Little Lake Theatre
Budding theater stars ages 6-18 will take the stage during in-person summer camps at Little Lake Theatre. Kids with a flair for the dramatic will study improv character movement and audition skills in Acting Camp. Musical Theater campers will rehearse and perform roles in “Shrek the Musical Jr.” Be A Star Camp is offered in two sessions — Heroes and Villains — to explore which might be more fun to portray. Learn more and register here.
30. Horses Unlimited Stables
Kids who are giddy with pony love will be positively smitten with the two Pony Camps at Horses Unlimited Stables. Beginners receive an introduction to Western and English riding in the weeklong sessions. 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. Find more information here or call 412-835-7726.
Bonus: Looking for more? Check out these summer camps.
Boys & Girls Clubs of Western Pennsylvania
Westinghouse Arts Academy Broadway Takeover Camp
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