Online Summer Camps for Kids
Summer! Usually in our house summer means months of fun camps, outdoor adventures, and getting really, really dirty. But with the COVID-19 pandemic, that just isn’t possible this year. Because my husband and I still need to work, we need some fun options to keep Bambino occupied each day. I set out to find some online camps and classes that would be both fun and educational. There are some really great options!
One of our favorite places to do summer camp has always been at museums. And museums often rely on summer camp admissions to fund their education and outreach programs for the year. So I’m delighted to be able to support some of our favorite museums this summer!
And a bonus: you can do camps at museums all over the country! Just make sure the times work for your family. I almost registered Bambino for a camp on the East Coast before realizing that it would start at 6 am our time — that would never work for our family, but it might be perfect for yours!
This list isn’t comprehensive, but if you are looking for online camps for your kids, this is a great place to start. Check with the museums in your area (or farther away) to see what they may be offering as well as your favorite:
Universities and colleges
Private schools
Public schools
Arts organizations
Museum Camps Online
Charles M. Schulz Museum | California
Last week Bambino took one of the drawing classes at the Charles M. Schulz museum, and it was FABULOUS! He was enthralled and active for two full hours, giggling and producing super-fun artwork! His class was taught by cartoonist Joe Wos who was both entertaining and instructive. This is the only class we have done so far, but I was so impressed! The Charles M. Schulz Museum has several offerings online for the summer including collage and drawing classes. Just remember: they are in California, so adjust the times as necessary for your timezone!
Dallas Museum of Art | Texas
This is a bargain if you have multiple kids! The DMA is offering a bunch of programs online this summer. All are about 2 hrs long, and after paying for one registration, you can also pay $30 for a sibling kit, so multiple kids can participate. The camps will use the collection at the museum as inspiration for the art they make, and they will mail the art materials to you. They say the projects are designed to be independent, though younger children might need some help. But an older child could possibly be that help.
Met Opera Global Summer Camp | New York
So the Met Opera isn’t technically a museum… but they are offering a FREE camp all summer! Each week focuses on a different opera starting with Hansel and Gretel. There are discussion sessions, a craft session led online, and then opportunities to watch the opera. For the budding musician in your home, this is an amazing opportunity! There are two meeting times for different ages, and some of the Met’s stars are coming as guest artists, too.
I want to do this summer camp!!
Cummer Museum | Florida
I was about to sign Bambino up for several of the classes at the Cummer Museum. They sound amazing! But then I realized that the time zone differences would have meant that the classes started at 6 am for us! That doesn’t work for our family, but if you are closer to the East Coast or have early risers, that might be just perfect for you! Their week-long camps are affordable and last most of the day with work time and a lunch break in the middle as well as time to meet with the instructor. It might be worth getting up early!
Joslyn Art Museum | Nebraska
From their website: “Campers will meet daily - via Zoom - from the comfort of home, to explore themes inspired by works from Joslyn’s galleries. Museum studio staff will guide students through art-making challenges and projects ideas related to the weekly camp themes. These 75-minute studio classes will provide students with techniques, tools, and vocabulary that can be utilized for continued, independent learning all summer long. Students are encouraged to work independently while in camp, but adults are asked to remain available to provide art-making or technological assistance.”
Sounds fantastic! And they have some amazing offerings including Drawing What You See, Painting with Texture, Oil Pastels, Fun with Fiber, and more!
The Bass | Florida
These week-long camps sound FABULOUS! From their website: “Each day, our trained teachers guide 90-minute tutorials featuring painting, drawing and 3D design projects that explore the weekly theme with two art-filled, virtual camps: Little Ones Art Camp (ages 4-6) and Kids Art Camp (ages 7-12). At the end of each week, family and friends are invited to attend the virtual student exhibition. Each week features a carefully crafted art package containing all needed materials for that week’s virtual camp. Art materials can be picked-up from the museum, shipped or sent via courier service!”
And the cost: $60 per week.
Cranbrook Art Museum | Michigan
A team of Teaching Artists are helping Cranbrook offer some amazing camps this summer. Camp registration includes an Art Kit, and they say, “Our Art Kits come with NEW art making materials for each day of the camp. Unlike traditional camps, our Art Kits mean that campers have the supplies to make more art when class (and camp!) is over. Materials for each day are clearly labeled and ready for campers. Art Kits are different each week! Curbside pick-up in the Art Museum parking lot, Thursdays from 5-7 pm or Saturdays from 12-2 pm, prior to the start of camp each week. Zooming in from afar? We can ship Art Kits if necessary.”
Extra art supplies for summer? Yes, please!
San Jose Museum of Art | California
From their website: “For children ages 6–14 (camps are divided into age groups 6–9 and 10–14). Please note, each camper will receive individual artistic support, encouragement, and creative challenges unique to their learning style and skill level. With this in mind, parents/caregivers have the flexibility to register their child into the camp of their choosing including siblings of varied ages into the same camp.”
Thank you for recognizing the challenges of families with multiple kids at home! Every week has a different theme, and they have guest artists as well as a STEM consultant who provides an art + science lesson each week. Awesome!
The Bronx Zoo | New York
Seriously, people. This sounds amazing! From the website: “Our Wildlife Camp Online is full of fun and learning about the world of animals, nature, and science. During the week of camp, campers will engage in counselor-led engagement and self-directed activities including up-close animal encounters, virtual exhibit and behind the scenes visits from all of our WCS zoos and aquarium, chats with our staff, hands-on science projects, crafts, and songs. Some of the activities will be scheduled at specific times and others will allow your child to engage in them at the pace that works for your child.”
California Science Center | California
The California Science Center is a fabulous museum, and their online camps sound really fun. All classes are led by trained educators and include “Interactive virtual tours of exhibits, live demonstrations, and exclusive question and answer sessions with our on-site scientists and animal care staff!”
Sounds amazeballs!
The Library Foundation of Austin | Texas
Writing is such an important skill for kids, and summer is a fabulous time for some intensive creative writing work! The Library Foundation offers some incredible writing camps for kids all the way through high school. They are affordable, too! Offerings include a poetry and film workshop, Screenwriting 101, Mythology, Slam Poetry, and the famed Badgerdog Creative Writing Summer Camp.
If only parents could sign up…
Cleveland Museum of Natural History | Ohio
From their website: “Check out our brand-new virtual camps! These online experiences reflect the research of our Museum scientists, keeping campers connected with current discoveries, amazing collections, and all the awesome that is the Cleveland Museum of Natural History!”
Offerings include Backyard Biologists, Medical Camp, Science Explorers Camp, and Astronomy 101. Sounds amazing!
More Online Summer Camps
Avid 4 Adventure: we have done some of their in-person camps in past years, and they have been really fun!
Renaissance Adventures: another camp we have done in-person. Their online camps are gaming/role-playing camps.
Frankly, I hope that even when the pandemic is over, and we are settled into our new normal, some of these museums will continue to offer online camps in the summer. Being able to participate in programs across the country with campers from all parts of the country — or the world — may be an incredible experience!
This is by no means an exhaustive list. If your local school or museum or university is sponsoring programs that are amazing, leave a link in the comments! Let’s all help each other and help our kids have a wonderful summer — safe at home!
And share this link with anyone you know who has kids at home this summer!
