2021 Guide to Summer Camps in Greater Boston and Beyond

As busy moms ourselves, we know that finding summer camps in and around Boston is often high on your to-do list! We are so fortunate to live in an area where camp options abound. But how do you decide which one is the right fit? Are there camps you haven’t thought of or discovered yet? When are the registration dates, and how do you find one that fits the interests of each one of your children?

While we long for the lazy days of summer, we also know there are childcare and entertainment needs week after week. We hope this guide to summer camps in and around Greater Boston, brought to you by LINX Camps and Dexter Southfield Summer Camp, provides the insight you need to plan a fun and stress-free summer.

We are grateful to each of the camps that elected to sponsor this guide for a featured listing, and we encourage you to scroll to the bottom to see a COMPREHENSIVE list of more than 100 local summer camp options!

What will summer 2021 look like? We know at LINX Camps it will include at least three things: safety, SPIRIT, and smiles!

LINX Camps followed the best health advice in 2020 while maintaining a rich, magical experience. And they are 100% ready to do the same in 2021! LINX Camps’ expert staff recognizes each camper’s strengths to support the growth of younger campers while building character in older ones. The flexible sessions and extensive services provided make for an all-encompassing experience that creates an inclusive community in which everyone thrives. Register for as little as one week.

Ages: 3–15 years old
Hours: 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Dates: June 21 to September 3
Additional Services: Lunch, Early Drop-Off (8–9 a.m.)

Enjoy growing savings when registering for two or more weeks; 2.5% discount guaranteed for ACH payments.

Dexter Southfield believes that all children should be campers, because the power of a summer camp experience is life changing. Summer camp builds character and self-esteem, and it’s a great way to meet friends and, of course, have fun!

The key to a successful summer camp experience is exposure to a variety of camps and programs that inspire creativity, happiness, and excitement. With 13 different program offerings available to children 3.5–14 years old, Dexter Southfield has a camp for every child. When you enroll in Dexter Southfield Summer Camp, you will receive exceptional customer service and enjoy the benefits of faculty-driven school buses, best-in-class facilities, and a highly trained staff. Above all else, your child will laugh, learn, and grow.

The Trustees takes pride in offering amazing outdoor camp experiences, at seven Trustees world-class properties on the North Shore, Metro West, and South Shore. Read more about each camp below!

Whether your campers like farms or fields, woods or waves, art-making or culinary creations, the Trustees has an exciting — and safe — summer lined up for them. Farm, coast, art, and forest adventures cultivate a sense of wonder and develop connections with the natural world and new friends.

The Trustees offers weeklong sessions from June 21 to August 27, with full-day options for ages 4–14, plus CITs and teens at select camps. Registration is now open. Find more information, become a member, and register at thetrustees.org/camps. 

Appleton Farm Camp, Ipswich (ages 4-13, plus CITs)

With rolling grasslands, grazing livestock, vegetable gardens, an active barnyard, and historic buildings, Appleton Farms — the oldest continuously operating farm in the country — introduces campers to a working farm through exciting and educational activities like feeding animals, collecting eggs, working in the garden, farm-based science experiments, and lots of outdoor hiking.

SummerQuest at the Crane Estate, Ipswich (ages 4-14)

Campers start their day with songs and games in morning circle then break into small groups to dive into theme-based activities. Every afternoon, campers enjoy swim time on a private beach, engage in creative craft projects, and play active games on the 2,100-acre Crane Estate, making this the ultimate summer adventure.

Weir River Farm Camp, Hingham (ages 5-13, plus CITs)

Campers who are animal lovers will never want to leave this 75-acre working farm!

World’s End Camp, Hingham (ages 5-13, plus CITs)

The World’s End Trackers camp lets younger campers explore the shoreline, fields, and forests of this iconic Hingham property learning how to find deer tracks in the mud, build a home for a hermit crab, or create “binoculars” to spot birds and butterflies. The World’s End Adventurers program for older campers builds understanding of the connections between the natural world and themselves while exploring the importance of protecting special places for people, plants, and animals.

The hive at deCordova Sculpture Park and Museum, Lincoln (ages 5-16, plus CITs)

At deCordova Sculpture Park and Museum, the hive provides an ideal atmosphere for young explorers to make connections to contemporary art, artists, nature, and ideas as well as to each other. Campers venture through the museum galleries, 30-acre sculpture park, and natural landscape to discover how artists use artistic, scientific, and social tools to explore ideas about self, community, and the environment. NEW! Summer Studio for Teens weekly sessions offer older creative campers the space to refine and expand their artistic skills alongside accomplished teachers and artists.

Farmer, Forester, Chef! at Powisset Farm & Noanet Woodlands, Dover (ages 6-12)

Campers focus on the three things that make Powisset Farm unique — the farm, the forest, and the kitchen. At the 109-acre working farm, campers care for animals and vegetables, learn their way around the kitchen discovering how to prepare healthy recipes, and then explore the natural world at neighboring Noanet Woodlands.

Rocky Woods Nature Explorers, Medfield (ages 5-10)

NEW! Outdoor adventures abound at historic 491-acre Rocky Woods Reservation — in the forest and by the ponds. Learn about flora and fauna, identify trees and discover animal habitats, go ponding, and explore the trails. Discover life in the woods — from the famous beaver construction sites to songbirds, bullfrogs, and underwater creatures — and learn to build a fire and cook yummy treats, try fun nature crafts projects, and meet lots of new friends who all share your delight in the outdoors!

Summer at BC High is located on the beautiful BC High School campus on Morrisey Blvd. in Boston, a five-minute walk from the Red Line and Commuter Rail train stops at JFK/UMass. Campers entering grades 5–11 will experience a wide variety of sports camps, academic courses, and specialty camps instructed by highly educated teachers and state champion coaches. Join for an enriching summer — from June 21–August 13, 2021 — for camps focusing on SAT test prep, college essay and the common app, baseball, basketball, football, Lacrosse Academy, Minecraft, movie making, and coding, and so much more! Visit BC High’s summer pages on their website for more information and to register. Some programs will have an option of virtual or in-person depending on the academic course or specialty camp.

This summer, the French Cultural Center is staying safe and moving all their programs online; but rest assured, their mission and curriculum are as exciting as ever! What to expect from an online adventure? A mix of French lessons, exercises, and fun interactive games managed via the video conferencing app Zoom, as well as daily hands-on projects to do at home. All will offer an immersive and interactive approach to learning French.

The summer program will run on a weekly basis over the course of 10 weeks. Children can enroll in 45-minute, 60-minute, or 90-minute classes depending on their age level.

Ages: 5-12
Dates: June 21 to August 27
Hours + Pricing Vary by Age

Pedalheads is a learn-to-ride bike camp best known for getting kids as young as 3, off training wheels and riding on their own.

We combine a fun group setting with specialized equipment, tailored cycling lessons, and incredible instructors to build confidence and get some of the most tentative kids biking on their own. We also offer advanced bike lessons that focus on road safety.
This Summer we are excited to be brining our popular week-long day camps to the Boston area.

For kids ages 3 and up.

Camp Dates:  Week-long Bike camps

Locations: North Cambridge – Reservoir Church & Newtonville – Cabot Elementary School

April 6^th, 2021 – Summer registration open date

[email protected]  // 1.888.886.6464

Leaders 4SC is a virtual summer workshop for middle school (rising 5th to 9th grade) students on leadership, communication, decision-making, and advocacy. Leaders 4SC aims to train the next generation of civic leaders — members of a community who actively participate in society. By the end of each week, students will have completed one writing or speaking project defending their position on a major issue, participated in daily discussions on current events and issues, and participated in daily task-force activities role playing as key decision makers.

Leaders 4SC will run for six weeks from July 5 to August 13, 2021, and students can join for any combination of weeks. Registration is now open; applications are accepted on a rolling basis. Students must be registered by the Friday prior to their intended start date.

Acera’s Summer STEAM Camp is a creativity-based arts and sciences day camp where children can nurture their natural desire to inquire, create, and innovate! Acera’s staff consists of professionals with significant experience in the classroom and in their own fields of expertise, including award winners, active research scientists, and working artists. This summer, Acera will offer both small group in-person camps as well as virtual programming for kids ages 4-17.

Registration opens on February 15, 2021.

On more than 1,000 acres of adventure in Dover and Westwood, Hale Day Camp, Hale Mountain Biking Camp, and Hale Adventure Camp offer everything from swimming lessons to camping trips to a private skills park. Tuition even includes perks like bus service for campers and year-round membership for camp families.

Maine Camp Experience (MCE) is a group of 30+ premier overnight summer camps and a comprehensive camp-planning resource. MCE has coed, all girls, and all boys camps for kids ages 7-17 located throughout the state of Maine. Maine Camps ran successfully in 2020 — mitigating any COVID outbreak — and will do so again in 2021! Each MCE camp is situated on a beautiful lake, features vast fields, and offers top-notch activities, instruction, facilities, directors, staff, and supervision. Campers enjoy land and water sports, arts, nature, and active adventures. Kids unplug, have fun, make lifelong friendships, learn new skills, and gain confidence and independence.

Full-summer, half, and short sessions are available. MCE’s Campcierge™ provides free, expert guidance. These camps are the “gold standard” — many have been operating for more than 100 years. Each summer, more than 20,000 campers enjoy camp in Maine. Research and enroll today at www.mainecampexperience.com or 877-92-MAINE.

At the Pine Village Summer Camp, campers will jump into Spanish immersion on their adventure through Spanish-speaking countries and regions! Pine Village offers two four-week summer sessions for children from 15 months to 5 years old. If you are interested, please fill out the Pine Village Summer Camp inquiry form to receive more information.

2021 Dates (Toddlers/Preschoolers)
Summer Session I: July 5 – July 29, 2021
Summer Session II: August 1 – August 26, 2021

As with the school year, families can choose anywhere from two- to five-day schedules. Each day, children and teachers will embark on a magnificent imaginary journey to explore Spanish-speaking countries and experience life as a child in a different country. Activities include dancing and crafts, cooking, and games.

Kidstock! Creative Theater summer programs provide a variety of options, fun, and flexibility for kids ages 4–12 and pre-teens and teens ages 12–15 to explore creative theater, develop acting skills in a low-pressure environment, and work together to create a fully staged show at the end of each session. The Kidstock! summer schedule is flexible for all families and calendars with individual day sessions at the beginning and end of the summer and one-week sessions throughout the heart of the season. There are also morning and afternoon extended-day options for busy families. Each week, programs will explore a different theme. Summer programs are divided by age group to participate in unique and age-appropriate lesson plans, combining drama with art, movement, and music to help students create their own original presentation. Check the website for specific descriptions on each age-appropriate program, example schedules of the day, and information on schoolyear opportunities and custom birthday parties.

PRE-REGISTRATION is available until April 1 — save your spot in any program and decide after April 1 to complete your registration by making payment by 4/15.