Are you looking for safe, affordable and fun options for your child this summer? We’ve compiled our annual list of the best summer camps in Thurston County – from theatre, to science, to horseback riding, to overnight camps – kids with all types of interests and energy levels can find something to get excited about besides the well-deserved break from school.
But camps tend to fill up quickly, so don’t delay signing up to give your child the most memorable summer yet!
Outdoor Adventures Summer Camp at Sequoia’s Treehouse
Explore acres of wetlands, learn outdoor survival skills and take part in activities such as jam making, building fires, clamming and oyster gathering, beachcombing, camp cooking and more. Outdoor Adventures Summer Camp at Sequoia’s Treehouse provides a balance of structured activities and free play that will encourage your child’s curiosity with nature while building social and emotional skills in team building, critical thinking and communication.
Camp is open Monday to Friday from 8:00 a.m.-4:00 p.m. with extended care from 4:00 p.m.-6:00 p.m. For children ages 5-9 only.
Summer Camp is $200 per week, extended care $50 per week. Sign-ups are for the full week, we do not have daily options. Register online or by phone, 360-742-3651.
ACORNS NW Summer Camp
ACORNS NW is a nature and earth-based experiential learning program. Their summer camp seeks to help nurture and restore connection to the natural world through exploration, play, observation and community. This summer, ACORNS NW will be one of the six outdoor preschools participating in the state licensing pilot program, working toward creating licensing safety and standards for outdoor preschools. Summer camps are available Monday through Friday, from 9:00 a.m. – 1:30 p.m. for preschool, and until 3:00 p.m. for school-aged children.
Their pricing is on a self selecting three-tiered rate scale. Financial assistance is available. You can sign up by filling out the registration form online or by contacting Heather at acornsnw@gmail.com.
Saint Martin’s University
Athletic Camps
Athletic camps, including basketball, baseball, soccer, softball, volleyball and track & field. All time and registration links can be found online.
Game Development Summer Camp
Saint Martin’s University is excited to offer a Game Development Summer Camp for students (ages 11-18) on their Lacey campus. This week-long, half-day camp will introduce and familiarize students with the processes and applications of game development, while also affording students the opportunity to experience the facilities and instructors of the university. There will be two levels of classes, with the camp running from 8:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m.
Register now online or by calling 360-491-4700.
South Sound YMCA
Summer camp at the Y is all about learning skills, developing character and making friends. YMCA camps help build campers’ achievements, sense of belonging, and relationships through a mix of fun and educational activities in a safe and supportive environment.
The South Sound YMCA’s full-day options run all summer for children ages 6-13. They offer seven locations, operating hours from 7:00 a.m.-6:00 p.m. and topics ranging from sports, art, science, cooking and superhero training.
View the entire catalog online or view the 2018 Summer Camp Guide for more information. Parents can register online or at the Downtown and Briggs YMCA branches.
For program information, contact Joey Velazquez at 360-918-0406 or VelazquezJ@ssymca.net. The cost for a full week of camp is $150 for faculty members and $160 for program members. Read about membership details, financial assistance options and employer-based discounts on their website.
Hands On Children’s Museum
An Olympia favorite, the Hands On Children’s Museum will provide multiple summer camps for ages 3-kindergarteners and grades 1-4. All full- and half-day options include museum play time and feature topics ranging from gardening, music, circus science, toy design, outdoor skills and more. Full-day camps are $330 a week for members and $370 a week for non-members, plus material fees that vary by camp.
You can register online, at the museum or by calling 360-956-0818.
Olympia Family Theater
Budding thespians from ages 5-18 can learn about acting, directing, musical theatre, sketch comedy, improv and more at Olympia Family Theater this summer. Weekly half-day camps run from 9:30 a.m.-noon and full-day from 9:00 a.m.-3:00 p.m. Most camp and workshop weeks end with a performance for friends and family.
Register online or call 360-570-1638 for more information.
Lacey Parks and Recreation
The Lacey Parks and Recreation department will be putting on two summer camps this year, their Summer Day Camp for ages 6-12, and their Teen Adventure Camp for ages 12-15. Hours run from 7:30 a.m.-5:30 p.m. and include day trips to Wild Waves, barbecuing, swimming, hiking, movies, crafts and more.
Camp fees vary by week but range from $135 to $189. Payments may be made online, over the phone by calling 360-491-0857 or in person at Lacey City Hall.
Olympia Parks and Recreation
Experience summer with Olympia Parks and Recreation at one of their varied camp options, sure to satisfy every interest and age level. Children can join for a half day, full day or overnight, with various camps for ages 3-18. Art, technology, STEM, sports, leadership and media are all subjects to be explored this summer.
More detailed information can be found by downloading the PDF camp brochure.
Registration is on a first come, first serve basis and can be done online or by calling 360-753-8380.
90TEN Training Academy
90TEN Training Academy in Olympia has two basketball camps this summer from July 16-19 and August 13-16. Boys and girls are separated by age groups: grades K-2 and grades 3-8. Led by Robin Johnson, a well-respected coach and former collegiate-level player, kids will learn valuable skills, such as fundamental development, shooting, defense, building confidence and sports fitness.
Camps cost $65 for the one-hour K-2 grade level, and $150 for the full-day 3-8 grade level. Register online or direct any questions to Courtney Eiswald.
Bayview School of Cooking
The Bayview School of Cooking’s kids summer camps provide a fun and safe environment where children can learn age-appropriate cooking skills as well as an appreciation for new and different foods. This summer, BSC will be hosting two camps for age specific groups. Farmhouse Kitchen Adventure camp teaches kids ages 5-8 how to make fun food inspired by lovable barn animals, such as deviled eggs, grasshopper pie and pigs in a blanket. For ages 9-13, there is the Animals of the World Culinary Trek, where little chefs will track down animals from four different continents and create dishes inspired by those regions, including yakisoba, garlic cheese bread, cabbage slaw and chocolate-coconut upside-down cake.
The two options are $90 and $180 respectively. To register, call 360-754-1448 or visit the Bayview School of Cooking website.
Nature Nurtures Farm
Nature Nurtures Farm offers an exciting and fun farm day camp experience for children ages 7-12. Outdoor exploration paired with farm and animal activities make this summer program fun for kids who love animals and the outdoors. Camps combine structured educational activities with hands-on activities, games and free time.
Weekly day camps cost $275 and take place from June through August, 9:00 a.m.-4:00 p.m. Online registration is preferred, but any additional questions can be handled by contacting alyssa@naturenurturesfarm.org.
Wolf Camp and the Conservation College
Wolf Camp and the Conservation College ran its first summer camp in 1997 and now has a range of camps for kids, youth, adults and family.
Summer day camps are designed for ages 5-13 and run July 16-20 at Millersylvania State Park from 9:30 a.m.-3:30 p.m. with complimentary extended care before and after camp. There are four unique theme choices this year, including Wilderness Survival Craft and Wild Cooking & Herbology.
Register online via PayPal or by calling 425-248-0253.
BK Musical Productions
BK Musical Productions aims to bring musical theater to the community through family-friendly live performance. Children ages 8-18 can discover the magic of live theatre by performing in Disney’s Mary Poppins Jr. this summer. The four-week theatre program will run from June 25-July 21 with final performances taking place July 12-21 at Timberline High School Theatre.
Tuition is $250 until June 1 then will raise to $275 after that. Register online or visit their website to find more information regarding rehearsal schedules and financial aid options.
SOGO Summer Music
No matter what level of musical talent your child has, the Student Orchestra of Greater Olympia summer program has something for everyone. Beginners can take beginning band. Those with at least a year or two of experience through 9th grade can take one of 13 class offerings, including fiddling, steel drumming, swap band, world drumming, jazz band, and traditional orchestra and band classes.
Classes are $75 each. Check out the catalog and register today.
Wa-Ya Outdoor School
Wa-Ya Outdoor School’s 2018 summer camp gives your child the opportunity to weave together outdoor survival, science and new perspectives. Younger campers get to enjoy art, dancing, storytelling, Native American lore and adventure. For older campers, classes include conservation practices, climate change education, journal writing, ecology and earth sciences.
Programs are designed for first grade through high school with day-to-day activities tailored to class size and participants. Camps run for either one or two weeks and all programs run from 9:00 a.m.-3:30 p.m. Week-long sessions run $200 and registration can be done online.
Photo courtesy: Empowerment 4 Girls
Zine Camp for Kids
Zine Camp offers kids ages 6-12 the opportunity to expand on their creativity, art, writing and social skills in a fun environment. gCampers will spend five days creating zines on any topic they’d like then bringing that idea to fruition via paper, pens, markers, paint, typewriters, stickers and mixed media art. At the end of the week, each child’s zine will get printed on a photocopy machine to take home.
Zine camp will focus on zines, but also friendship, communication and documenting the world around us. Kids will enjoy creative writing, learning about mail art, and making art with items in nature! Each day, campers will also explore the homestead’s garden and resident hens and rabbits.
Camp #1 from July 9-13 is already full, but Camp #2 will run from July 23-27 and is still available. The fee for zine camp is $125 without lunch and $150 with lunch. Visit the camp website to register or reach out via email at sweetcandydistro@gmail.com.
Empowerment 4 Girls Camps
Empowerment 4 Girls aims to educate, inspire and empower girls and women to cultivate confidence and develop core life skills. Founder, Kristen Rubis, will host two weeks of Empowerment Camps for girls 9-16 years old during July 9-13 and August 20-24. Camps include art projects, yoga, meditation, breathing exercises, dance, sound healing, guest speakers and outdoor activities, creating sisterhood through fun and self-expression. Snacks and lunch are included.
Register online or reach out to Kristen directly with any questions at 248-345-4303.
Camp Speedy
Camp Speedy, hosted by The Evergreen State College, is a yearly sports camp that focuses on basketball, soccer and volleyball. For ages 8-18, camps include daily skill building, swimming in the campus pool, guest speakers and daily awards.
The five-day camps run from approximately 8:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m. and cost $295. Direct questions to campspeedy@evergreen.edu, 360-867-6778 or their online registration page. Register via phone or online.
Olympia Area Rowing
Novice or experienced rowers are invited to join Olympia Area Rowing to learn basic rowing skills and develop an understanding and appreciation of the sport. The Middle School Novice Summer Sculling Camp gives rising 7th and 8th graders the opportunity to try sculling in boats appropriate for their physical development and in a social setting appropriate for their age group. The High School Novice Summer Learn to Row Camp is for all new novice rowers and coxswains entering 9th through 12th grade in fall 2018 and returning athletes who participated in summer programs last year.
Register online or email Gretchen Van Dusen, OAR Junior Program Coordinator, at oargirlsteam@gmail.com or 360-951-8423 with questions.
Girls Without Limits
Girl Scouts
The Strong Center
Olympia Community School
