Best Summer Camps in Sacramento for Kids 2026
If you’re looking for the best summer camps in Sacramento for kids, you’re in the right place! It can be overwhelming to research and find the right summer camp for your kids, but I’ve done the work for you. This guide provides all the necessary summer camp details, including registration dates, ages, and grade levels, as well as camp costs.
Registering for summer camps is now the equivalent of trying to get concert tickets to your favorite band coming to town. Set calendar reminders when popular camps become available for registration, as summer camps fill up fast! Hopefully, this article will help get your kids registered for the summer camp they want to attend.
Kids will have so many great memories of camp traditions while making lifelong friends at summer camp. Whether they are thespians at heart and want to attend musical theater camp, love the outdoors and prefer nature camp, or aim to hone their athletic skills at sports summer camps, these are the best summer camps in Sacramento for kids.
Looking for a free summer camp? 6th and 7th graders in the Sacramento won’t want to miss this one!
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Ages & Grade Levels for Summer Camps
Each summer camp on this list specifies ages or grade levels for eligible kids. If grades are listed, campers must be entering that grade in Fall 2026.
Parks & Recreation Summer Camps
From Elk Grove to Folsom, and plenty of Sacramento areas in between, there are tons of Parks & Recreation summer camps. However, you won’t find Parks & Recreation summer camps on this specific list, as there are just too many to list.
Summer camps through Parks & Recreation Departments tend to have a variety of summer camp themes and specialities for a wide age range. They are also affordable summer camps. So, while not included in this specific list, these programs are still excellent summer camp choices for families in Sacramento.
STEM Summer Camps in Sacramento
1. Camp Curiosity — SMUD Museum of Science and Curiosity
General Registration: March 25-27, 2026 at 9am PST
Ages/Grades: Kindergarten, 1st/2nd Grade, 3rd/4th Grade, 5th-8th Grade
Cost: $275-545
Kids entering K-8th grade in the fall can attend week-long Camp Curiosity at SMUD Museum of Science and Curiosity. Eight weeks of camp run in the summer months, each with different science and space themes, where campers test out being engineers, astronomers, and other science-themed roles.
Note that the kindergarten camp runs for three weeks and is a half-day program.
➡️ Camp Curiosity at SMUD MOSAC Registration
2. Placer Robotics Summer Camp — Roseville
Registration: Late February 2026
Ages/Grades: 2nd-4th grade, 4th-7th grade, 7th-10th grade
Cost: Not shown yet for 2026
If your kids love to tinker and are interested in engineering, Placer Robotics has various summer camps for children in grades 2-10. Camps start at the beginner introductory level of robotics, progressing to intermediate robotics. From introduction to robotics, competition team fundamentals, and coding for robots, these summer camps are fun ways for kids to engage in STEM programs in Placer County.
Most camps are for grades 4-10, but students in grades 2-4 who are already expressing an interest in robotics can participate in an Introduction to VEX IQ Robotics summer camp.
➡️ Placer Robotics Summer Camp Registration
Nature Summer Camps Near Sacramento
3. Youth Environmental Leadership Camp (YELC) — Sacramento Splash (Rancho Cordova)
Registration: 2026 Applications Open Now
Ages/Grades: 6th & 7th grade
Cost: FREE
The Youth Environmental Leadership Camp (YELC) is a one-of-a-kind summer camp for 6th and 7th-graders in the Sacramento area. Part of this reason is that it’s a free summer camp! This week-long camp includes daily guided field trips, starting and ending at Sacramento Splash, where campers learn about the environment while connecting with nature. Along the way, they will discover various impactful career opportunities.
In addition to applying for YELC, campers are required to participate in two volunteer events with partner organizations, such as creek cleanups or tree plantings, and raise a minimum of $40 for an organization. Lastly, campers will need to make brief presentations to their fellow campers and parents in early December about their experience. This program is more than just a week-long summer camp. Volunteering and presentation requirements engage students all year in learning and making an environmental impact.
➡️ YELC at Sacramento Splash Registration
4. Little Sprouts & Farm Camp — Soil Born Farms (Rancho Cordova)
Registration: 2026 Open Now
Ages/Grades: Ages 4-12
Cost: $175 & $300 (Scholarships Available)
The main summer camp at Soil Born Farms in Rancho Cordova is Farm Camp. Children ages 6-12 can participate in a half-day summer camp from 8:30am to 12:30pm. Campers will get to learn about the connection between their food and the environment through gardening, cooking, and exploring the American River.
Little Sprouts Summer Camp is for younger campers ages 4 and 5, taking place from 9am to 11:30am. Campers will sing songs, do crafts, play games, hear stories, and explore Soil Born Farms.
➡️ Soil Born Farms Summer Camp Registration
5. Under the Oaks Nature Summer Camps — Effie Yeaw Nature Center (Carmichael)
Registration: 2026 Open Now
Ages/Grades: Ages 5-14
Cost: $190-615
Effie Yeaw Nature Center summer camps offer a wide range of themes for different age groups. Outdoor Adventures is their most popular summer camp for 8-11-year-olds, where kids go hiking, fishing, river rafting, and enjoy tons of fun outdoor adventures on the American River. Some other summer camp themes include Wildlife Caretakers, Nature Olympians, and Wildlife Investigators, among many additional themes.
5-year-olds can participate in the Planet Protectors summer camp, and will uncover how to be superheroes for Planet Earth.
➡️ Effie Yeaw Nature Center Summer Camp Registration
6. Peak Adventures Summer Camp — Sacramento State
Registration: 2026 Open Now
Ages/Grades: Ages 8-15
Cost: $629-829
Kids ages 8-11 can participate in Junior Explorer Camp at Sac State, which includes outdoor activities such as climbing at the Challenge Center, a high ropes course at Sacramento State, water activities, games, arts and crafts, campus tours, and more. Explorer Camp is for older kids, ages 12-15 and includes more thrilling adventures like outdoor rock climbing, water cave exploration, whitewater rafting, paddleboarding, and hiking.
Looking for an overnight summer camp for kids? Peak Adventures summer camp at Sac State has a week-long overnight camp option for high schoolers, ages 13-16. The camp takes place near Yosemite National Park and the Sierra Nevada mountains for an exciting summer camp adventure.
➡️ Peak Adventures Summer Camp at Sacramento State Registration
Animal Summer Camps Near Sacramento
7. Zoo Summer Camp — Sacramento Zoo (Land Park)
General Registration: March 18, 2026 at 12pm PST
Ages/Grades: K-8th grade
Cost: $325-500
The Sacramento Zoo is one of the most popular summer camps in Sacramento, and it fills up very quickly. Campers will turn into wildlife explorers, trekking to various “base camps” throughout the Sacramento Zoo. Expect animal encounters, interactions with zookeepers, riding the Zoo Train, singing songs, crafts, games, and more.
Kindergarten summer camp is a half-day program, whereas the other summer camps at the Sacramento Zoo are full-day programs with aftercare options.
➡️ Sacramento Zoo Summer Camp Registration
8. Barn Camp — Hagan Community Barn (Rancho Cordova)
General Registration: March 24, 2026 at 12am PST
Ages/Grades: Ages 6-12
Cost: $155
A lesser-known gem in Rancho Cordova is the Hagan Community Barn, where kids can feed and interact with farm animals in Hagan Community Park, typically on Saturdays. Barn Camp takes place at Hagan Community Barn in the summer. Campers will take care of the farm animals while participating in hands-on activities, crafts, games, and taking nature walks.
➡️ Barn Camp at Hagan Community Barn Registration
9. Folsom City Zoo Sanctuary Summer Camp
2026 Details Not Yet Announced
The Folsom City Zoo Sanctuary typically offers summer camp; however, no details are available at this time for the 2026 summer camp registration. I will add the information for this summer camp as it becomes available. Check back soon for updates!
Sports Summer Camps in Sacramento
10. Hornet Baseball Camps — Sacramento State
Registration: 2026 Open Now
Ages/Grades: K-8th grade
Cost: $225
Children in grades kindergarten to 8th grade can participate in coed Hornet baseball camps at Sacramento State Athletics summer camps. These camps will teach the fundamentals of baseball and are for all skill levels. Camps will also conclude with scrimmage games, where kids can practice newly taught skills.
➡️ Hornet Baseball Summer Camp at Sacramento State Registration
11. Summer Ride Camps — Clipped In for Life (Folsom)
Registration: 2026 Open Now
Ages/Grades: 2nd-8th grade
Cost: $395-445 (Scholarships Available)
Clipped In for Life offers summer bike riding camps in the Folsom area. Campers get to ride bikes while going on outdoor adventures around the Folsom area. In addition to bike riding, a water play activity takes place each afternoon of camp, such as kayaking, water balloons, paddleboarding, or other fun water activities for kids to cool off after an adventurous day of exploring on wheels.
➡️ Summer Ride Camps at Clipped In for Life Registration
12. Sacramento Republic All-Girls Summer Camp — Land Park & Roseville
Registration: 2026 Open Now
Ages/Grades: Ages 6-16
Cost: $215 (price raises to $265 after April 1, 2026)
The Sacramento Republic FC hosts an all-girls summer camp for girls ages 6-16, strengthening soccer skills while empowering young female athletes to build foundational skills on and off the soccer field. The Sacramento Republic All-Girls Summer Camp takes place in Land Park and Roseville. Sacramento Republic FC professional coaches lead these camps. Each camper also receives a Sacramento Republic FC t-shirt and a ticket to a Sacramento Republic FC home match.
➡️ Sacramento Republic All-Girls Summer Camp Registration
13. Youth Boating Camps — Sacramento State
Registration: February 11, 2026
Ages/Grades: Ages 7-17
Cost: $240-495
The Sac State Aquatic Center is already one of the quintessential summer activities in Sacramento, where families can rent water vessels and get out on the water to enjoy Lake Natoma. Each summer, the Sacramento State Aquatic Center also offers youth boating camps. Boating camps span a wide age range of 7-17 years old. Boating summer camps include kayaking, sailing, adventure, basic boating, paddle camp, water ski & wakeboard camp, and more on-the-water summer camps.
➡️ Youth Boating Camps at Sac State Registration
14. Nike Baseball Camp — Sacramento Athletic Center (Carmichael)
Registration: 2026 Open Now
Ages/Grades: Ages 6-16
Cost: $349
This co-ed baseball camp will hone players’ fundamental skills while preparing them for the upcoming baseball season. Hitting, throwing, fielding, drills, and more skills will be reinforced.
➡️ Nike Baseball Camp at Sacramento Athletic Center Registration
Arts & Theater Summer Camps in Sacramento
15. Children’s Summer Dance Camps — Sacramento Ballet (Midtown & Davis)
Registration: 2026 Open Now
Ages/Grades: Ages 4-6
Cost: $250
Children ages 4-6 can twirl into Sacramento Ballet Children’s Summer Dance Camps. These are half-day ballet camps with different themes each week. Campers can expect ballet fundamentals combined with storytelling, culminating in a performance for family and friends. Auditions are not necessary for these dance camps. Sacramento Ballet Children’s Summer Dance Camps take place in Midtown Sacramento and Davis.
➡️ Sacramento Ballet Children’s Summer Dance Camps Registration
16. Performing Arts Summer Camp — CLARA (Midtown)
Registration: 2026 Open Now
Ages/Grades: Ages 6-13
Cost: $450 (Financial Aid Available)
CLARA’s performing arts camp fills up quickly! In fact, most of the 2026 Performing Arts Summer Camp at CLARA are already full at the time of this article’s publication. CLARA’s summer camp will cover dance, theater, music, and visual art. Campers will gain the tools to empower them on and off the stage. Each session ends with a performance for family and friends.
➡️ CLARA Performing Arts Summer Camp Registration
17. Summer Clay and Throwing Camps — ACAI Studios (Fair Oaks)
Registration: 2026 Open Now
Ages/Grades: Ages 7+
Cost: $159-169
Kids who love art may want to test out creative pottery summer camps. The ACAI Studios in Fair Oaks has clay camps and throwing camps. Summer campers will learn all about clay and the creative process. Throwing camps for older kids will involve the potter’s wheel.
➡️ Summer Clay and Throwing Camps at ACAI Studios Registration
18. Mini Camp & Teen Camp — G.I.R.L.S. Rock Sacramento (Midtown)
Registration: 2026 Applications Open Now
Ages/Grades: 8-17
Cost: $350-450 (Scholarships Available)
G.I.R.L.S. Rock youth summer camps are inclusive, one-of-a-kind music camps for anyone identifying as girls, trans, non-binary, or gender-expansive. Campers get to test new musical instruments, rehearse in a band, write an original song, and then perform in their bands at a live music weekend showcase. To participate in G.I.R.L.S. Rock summer camps, applications must be submitted, and mandatory attendance for all dates and times during the camps is required.
➡️ Youth Summer Camps at G.I.R.L.S. Rock Sacramento Registration
19. Crocker Art Camp — Downtown Sacramento
Registration: March 2026 (Crocker members get priority registration on March 2, 2026)
Ages/Grades: Ages 6-8
Cost: $580-650
Crocker Art Camp is a popular summer camp option for kids in Sacramento. Each week of summer camp is a different theme. Kids will visit the art galleries, get behind-the-scenes access to the museum, and participate in various art projects during summer camp. Extended day care is available at Crocker Art Camp for an additional fee.
➡️ Crocker Art Summer Camp Registration
20. NorCal Arts Summer Camp — Land Park
Registration: 2026 Open Now
Ages/Grades: Ages 4-13
Cost: $250-350
All aspects of performing arts, including singing, dancing, improv, creative writing, acting, costumes, and more, will be explored during NorCal Arts Summer Camp. Each week will have a different theme where campers learn and perform various songs and scripts.
➡️ NorCal Arts Summer Camp Registration
21. Musical Mayhem Productions Summer Camp — Elk Grove
Registration: 2026 Open Now
Ages/Grades: Ages 4-16
Cost: $250-375 (Use code EARLYBIRD2026 for 10% by February 15, 2026)
All the world’s a stage at Musical Mayhem Productions Summer Camp in Elk Grove. Kids will learn a song and dance from a popular animated movie from the camp theme that week. Art projects will also be crafted, inspired by the music of the camp theme week. Campers will then perform dances on stage for friends and family.
Older kids will participate in an interactive Performance Summer Camp where they’ll bring a full-scale Broadway Jr. musical to life in just five days, from music to choreography and the entire production process.
➡️ Musical Mayhem Productions Summer Camp Registration
22. Tutu Camp & Petite Day Camp — Tutu School Elk Grove
Registration: 2026 Open Now
Ages/Grades: Ages 3-8
Cost: $70-475 (Prices increase after March 16, 2026)
Tiny dancers can dip their toes into summer camp. Children as young as 3 can participate in weekly three-hour petite day camps for kids ages 3-5. Dancers aged 4-8 can attend Tutu Camp, a ballet day camp with a Cinderella theme.
➡️ Tutu School Elk Grove Summer Camp Registration
23. Summer Studio Camp — Verge Center for the Arts
2026 Details Not Yet Announced
Ages/Grades: Ages 6-13
Verge Center for the Arts typically offers summer studio camp; however, details are not yet available for the 2026 summer camp registration. As information becomes available, I’ll add it to this article. Stay tuned!
Beloved Sacramento Summer Camps & Local Favorites
24. Summer FunCamps — Fairytale Town (Land Park)
General Registration: March 2, 2026 at 12am PST
Ages/Grades: Ages 4-12
Cost: $195-395
The iconic Land Park Fairytale Town offers summer camps for children in Sacramento. Each camp week will have a unique theme. and will include animals, puppetry, visual art, literature, theatre arts, and more. There are morning and afternoon sessions. Both sessions can be combined to create a full-day camp. An early camp drop-off option is available for an extra fee.
➡️ Fairytale Town Summer FunCamp Registration
25. Adventure Summer Camps — Sacramento Adventure Playground
Registration: 2026 Open Now
Ages/Grades: Ages 6-15
Cost: $105-200
Don’t be fooled by what you see at Sacramento Adventure Playground. It might look like a junkyard, but the rustic play area puts real tools into the hands of kids, giving them freedom to create and tinker. Summer camps at Sacramento Adventure Playground revolve around the “adventure play concept”, and is also called “risky play.” Summer camp activities include enrichment, art, group play, and free play. STEAM learning is incorporated using materials kids are familiar with, such as glue and cardboard.
The Play Camp theme differs from the other themed summer camps as it is solely a free play camp with optional craft and group activities.
➡️ Sacramento Adventure Playground Summer Camp Registration
26. Quarry Summer Camp — Quarry Park Adventures (Rocklin)
Registration: 2026 Open Now
Ages/Grades: Ages 5-15
Cost: $275 & $295
Adventure seekers will love Quarry Summer Camp in Rocklin. There are two summer camps: Climb Camp and Play Camp. Climb camp has a 45lb minimum weight requirement, and campers have unlimited access to Quarry Park activities, from zip lining to rock climbing, and other exciting outdoor challenges.
Campers remain in the Kidz Kove and Miner’s Maze areas during Camp Play. They will participate in group activities, arts and crafts, and games. Campers attending Camp Play do not have access to the Quarry activities.
➡️ Quarry Park Adventures Summer Camp Registration
27. UC Davis Youth Programs Summer Camps
General Registration: March 18, 2026
Ages/Grades: 1st-12th grade
Cost: $308-654
UC Davis Youth Programs has summer camps with a wide range of grade levels, ages, and programs. The UC Davis summer camp programs have an abundance of summer camps to choose from. Aggie Camp is the most traditional summer camp where campers participate in a variety of indoor and outdoor activities that involve teamwork and field trips. tons
The youngest grades can participate in swim camp, crafts camp, or dance camps. Children as young as 4th grade can apply for Vet Med Camp. There’s even an Animals Specialty Camp to learn about the different animals across the UC Davis campus. A variety of music and sports camps are available for some grade levels. Teens can participate in outdoor adventure, survival skills, and more.
➡️ UC Davis Youth Programs Summer Camps Registration
28. “Adventure” Camp Shalom — Shalom School
Registration: 2026 Open Now
Ages/Grades: 1st-6th grade
Cost: $445
Campers will participate in a variety of engaging activities, including mad science, STEAM, water play, art, organized sports, drama, and more. Each week ends with a Shabbat celebration and involves braiding, decorating, and baking challah. While “Adventure” Camp Shalom is hosted by Shalom School, the summer camp is open to everyone; campers do not need to be students at Shalom School to register for summer camp.
➡️ “Adventure” Camp Shalom Registration
29. Time Traveler Camp — California Museum
Registration: 2026 Open Now
Ages/Grades: Ages 6-11
Cost: $325 (plus processing fees)
Time Traveler Camp is a popular summer camp at the California Museum in Sacramento. Kids travel back in time through California’s history through activities, tours, arts, culture, and nearby historical sites.
➡️ Time Traveler Camp at California Museum Registration
Summer Camp FAQs
At what age do summer camps in Sacramento typically start?
The ages for summer camps in Sacramento vary by camp. However, many do have programs for kids, age 5 or entering kindergarten in the fall. Some Sacramento summer camps even have camps available for 4-year-olds. Summer camps for younger children are usually half-day programs.
When is the best time to register for summer camps in Sacramento?
As soon as possible! Summer camps fill up quickly, especially ones at notable attractions like the Sacramento Zoo, the Crocker Art Museum, or the California Museum, to name a few. To ensure a spot at summer camp, set notifications in your calendar and register quickly before spaces fill up. Summer camps aim to keep low camper-to-counselor ratios and therefore have limited spots available.
Are there any free summer camps in Sacramento?
Yes! The Youth Environmental Leadership Camp (YELC) at Sacramento Splash has a free summer camp program for students entering 6th & 7th grade. Prospective campers have to fill out an application to attend this nature-based, free summer camp.
What does “Rising Grades” mean?
Many summer camps use the terminology of “rising grades.” This means students who are entering that grade in the fall. For example, a “rising first grader” would be a camper entering first grade in the fall following summer camp.
Are lunches provided at summer camps?
Most summer camps do ask that you pack a lunch for campers to bring with them. It’s always best to check the registration details for specific camps to see what they ask campers to bring.
