Houston Children’s Summer Camps

Families have dozens of options to keep kids engaged during Houston’s sweltering summer months. Many programs that offer classes during the school year have created summer camps.

For children interested in athletics and creative movement, also see:
PARENTS’ PICKS – GYMNASTICS.
PARENTS’ PICKS – BALLET CLASSES AND GROUP DANCE LESSONS

Families searching for artistic outlets can also check:
PARENTS’ PICKS – ART AND CRAFTS
PARENTS’ PICKS – CHILDREN’S THEATER CLASSES
PARENTS’ PICKS – MUSEUMS

The following list is compiled from a ParentsPost Survey. They are recommendations made by other Houston area moms and dads. They represent a wide array of summer camps.

VIVALDI MUSIC ACADEMY

Two locations: West University and Bellaire, 713-858-9617
WEST UNIVERSITY: 3914 Gramercy Street, Suite B & BELLAIRE: 5305 Bissonnet Street.
Summer is the perfect time to explore musical instruments. Vivaldi Music Academy allows children and families to commit to lessons on a monthly basis.
They offer instruction for piano, guitar, voice, violin, viola, cello, flute and drums.
CLICK HERE for REGISTRATION INFORMATION

EAT THIS! SUMMER CAMP with RECIPE FOR SUCCESS

Recipe House, 4400 Yupon Street, 713-520-0443
Children ages 8-11 can experience week-long culinary adventures that may help them become more savvy food consumers. Campers learn how to maintain a summer garden, cook the fresh produce, and create healthy recipes.
CLICK HERE for REGISTRATION INFORMATION & DATES

INDOOR JUNIOR TENNIS ACADEMY, HOUSTON CITY CLUB

One City Club Drive, CONTACT: Zeze de Moura 713-724-8503
Club members AND Non-members are welcome to register! Children ages 5 and up can sign up for half-day or full-day sessions from June 1 to August 21.

HOUSTON SPCA CRITTER CAMP

900 Portway Drive, 713-869-7722
Week-long camps are offered for young animal lovers who have just completed 2nd grade to 8th grade. Children learn about characteristics and care of dogs and cats. They visit shelter animals and farm animals daily. Older children learn about careers involving animals, as well as endangered species.
CLICK HERE for REGISTRATION INFORMATION & DATES

LANGUAGE KIDS

Six locations including West U, Katy, Bellaire & The Woodlands, 888-247-3311, info@language-kids.com
Give your child the gift of another language with Language Kids’ Spanish, Mandarin Chinese and French immersion camps. The play-based program uses music, interactive games and hands-on activities customized to help each child develop language skills and maximize summer fun. Language Kids also offers Parents & Tots classes for children 5 years old and under and their parents or adult caregiver.
CLICK HERE for more information and to register for a FREE CLASS

EXPLORE ASIA: CULTURE CAMP FOR KIDS
Asia Society Texas, 1370 Southmore Boulevard, 713-496-9901
Kids can take a trip through Asia without leaving Houston. Each day, children ages 6-12 learn about different countries through music, dance, history, geography, even math. Countries covered include China, India, Japan and Korea. The program involves some of Houston’s best artists and cultural professionals.
CLICK HERE for REGISTRATION INFORMATION & DATES

COACH RHOADES RICE BASKETBALL CAMPS

Rice University, 713-348-4075
Boys and girls ages 4-7 can sign up for Biddie Ball, a half-day camp covering fun, skills and drills. Boys and girls grades 2-12 are grouped in leagues by age and ability.
CLICK HERE for REGISTRATION INFORMATION & DATES

SOCCER SHOTS SUMMER CAMP

Various locations, 281-995-7208
For children ages 3-6, coaches teach a curriculum that combines soccer skills, fun and character development.
CLICK HERE for REGISTRATION INFORMATION & DATES

AMERICAN ROBOTICS ACADEMY, Various locations

281-599-7626, americanroboticsacademy@gmail.com
Ready to kick ‘bot? Children can sign up for morning sessions, afternoon classes or a full-day camp. Working in small teams, children build and test remote-controlled miniature robots while learning basic engineering and design concepts. The curriculum encourages imagination, creativity and problem solving as kids learn “how things work” through hands-on activities using LEGO Technic building blocks.

WEST UNIVERSITY UNITED METHODIST CHURCH

3611 University Boulevard, 713-664-8111
Children from Kindergarten through 5th grade can attend weekly sessions. Activities include tennis, swimming gymnastics, bowling and art and crafts.

J CAMPS

Evelyn Rubenstein Jewish Community Center, 713-551-7208
Day camp for children ages 2-14. Activities include indoor tennis, gymnastics, art, dance and theater. The ERJCC also offers camps on Cooking, Equestrian, Golf and Water Skiing.

SUMMER YOUTH ACTIVITY PROGRAM

Rice University Recreation Center, 713-348-4058
Children ages 6-11 can try various sports including basketball, tennis, soccer, lacrosse, fencing and baseball.

HOUSTON ZOO’S CAMP ZOOFARI

Children ages 4-12 can attend week-long camps. Half-day sessions are available for children 4-5 years old. Campers learn about the animals, nature and wildlife conservation. The hands-on activities include feeding the giraffes, brushing the goats and petting snakes and lizards. Artistic kids can sign up for Wildlife Photography or Wild Art, a camp devoted to sculpting, drawing and sketching animals and nature.

MAIN STREET THEATER

2540 Times Boulevard, 713-524-6706
This year’s theme is “Creative Carnival: A Stupendous Summer.” Kids are split into age groups. The members of each group collaborate to create original theater and dance pieces. They invent the characters, write the story, design costumes and set, and perform what they’ve created on the final day.
CLICK HERE for REGISTRATION INFORMATION & DATES

ARTLAB

Independence Art Studios, 419 Janisch Road, 646-269-4132
Mitch Pengra and Thedra Cullar-Ledford, both nationally recognized art teachers, created this camp for tween girls. Their focus is individual expression through customized experiences for each camper.

GIRLS ROCK CAMP

MECA, 713-518-7365
Girls ages 8 through 18 form bands and create their own songs at this one-week day camp focused on musical instruction and self-empowerment.

MATT SWANSON’S SCHOOL OF GOLF

Two locations:
Wildcat Golf Club, 713-413-4484
Swanson Golf Center, 281-440-1308
Junior Camps designed to make golf fun for kids age 6 through 16. Golf fundamentals including swings, putts, rules and etiquette are covered.

CAMP NOTTINGHAM

Nottingham Forest Club, 325 Kickerrillo Drive, 281-497-0550
Activities include swimming, tennis and basketball for kids ages 5 through 11.

HOUSTON AUDUBON NATURE CAMPS

Sims Bayou Urban Nature Center, 3997 River Drive, 713-640-2407
For campers ages 5 through 12, weekly educational themes include birds, nature art, Texas landscape and habitats.

HOUSTON ARBORETUM AND NATURE CENTER

4501 Woodway Drive, 713-681-8433
Naturalist teachers guide the weeklong programs for children ages 5 through 12. Campers have indoor and outdoor adventures at the 155-acre nature sanctuary. Each week focuses on different educational topics that include bugs, mammals, and water.

MAD SCIENCE OF HOUSTON

Various locations, 713-663-7623
Week-long programs are designed to challenge the imagination of campers through hands-on activities and demonstrations. Children 3 to 5 years old can sign up for preschool camps. Kids 6 years old through 12 can select from educational themes including robots, outer space and chemistry mystery.

IMAGINATIONS AT WORK

5311 Kirby Drive, 281-250-0733
Children are encouraged to share stories and experiences, and act out plays, poetry and songs. Activities improve campers’ literacy and narrative skills. Kids are grouped into two age groups: 3-5 and 5-8. A Creative Minds Writing Camp is available for the older group.

KIDVENTURE

Various locations, 713-960-8989
2014 Summer Day Camp themes and activities change weekly to keep children ages 3 though 15 engaged. Kidventure also offers Overnight Camps.

POWER CAMP

Bellaire United Methodist Church, 713-666-2167
Activities include swimming, puppets, sports, music and worship. Children must be around 3 years old up to around 11 years old.