Summer Camps
Summer camps in our area are plentiful and popular, so sign up quickly because spaces tend fill fast. Camps tend to run for 1-week session, but will vary depending on the vendor. They are usually day-camps meaning that kids go for a few hours during the day and come home at night. We've noted any camps that are sleep-away camps.
Summer 2026
Crafts, Cooking, Outdoor Play
Ages: 5-12
Notes and Knots is a music and fiber arts program located in Oroville. They offer a variety of week long camps for kids ages 5-12. They are a vendor for all the local homeschool charters. Fiber arts includes knitting, crochet, macrame, and sewing.
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Programs run from 10-2 Monday - Friday. The cost is $200 per child with a sibling discount available.
Theater
Ages: 5-15
Community Regional Theater in Chico offers dynamic summer camps that ignite creativity and inspire young performers. From acting and singing to dancing and stagecraft, these camps provide a holistic theater experience for children of all ages and skill levels. With experienced instructors and a focus on teamwork and self-expression, CRT's summer camps promise an unforgettable journey into the world of performing arts. These camps fill up quickly, so register early.
Various
Ages: various
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The Chico Area Recreation and Park Districts (affectionately known by locals as the CARD Center) hosts a variety of summer camps. They have sports, cooking, dance, music, legos, and much more. Classes fill up fast so register early.
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Water Sports
Ages: 8-14
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This camp is fun for anyone who loves being on the water. Kids spend the day learning how to use different types of water crafts (such as canoes, kayaks, paddle boards, etc), playing in the water, team building games, and learning about nature around the forebay.
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- 1 week sessions / half or full day sessions
- Outdoor day-camp
- Oroville Forebay
- Kayaking, Paddle-boarding, etc.
Play / Activities / Flexible
Ages: 5-11
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Camp Wild Heart is the camp offered by Thrive during school breaks. This camp preserves Thrive's child-led, self-directed approach to education. It gives kids lots of freedom to explore and experiment within a safe, supportive space. Kids are invited to choose which activities they participate in each day and are given lots of time to play. Parents love the flexible-scheduling option. This is the only camp in the area that lets you buy a punch-card and use your days whenever works best for your family.
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- Flexible scheduling
- Play, exploration, indoor/outdoor
- Available M-TH 9:30-4:30
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Indoor Rock Climbing
Ages: 7-13
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Terrain Park Climbing Gym offers kids a chance to learn how to rock climb. They provide lots of practice on the wall improving climbing techniques. Kids are given conditioning exercises to build their strength. They also get a chance to play foosball and ping-pong in their loft area while making friendships.
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- Indoor rock climbing
- Week-long camps run M-Th 9:00-12:00
- Ages 7-13
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Art / Trampolines / Nerf
Ages: 5-12
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If your kiddo loves trampolines, then this is a good camp for them. The Fly Camp Dream Team will lead your kids in an interactive camp that will include team building games, arts and crafts, science projects, pizza parties, fun in the sun, rock wall climbing, ninja warrior relay races and variations of multiple trampoline games.
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- Mostly Indoor Camp
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Outdoor / Traditional Camp Activities
Ages: Various
Camp Chi-Da-Ca is day-camp run by CARD every summer. This long standing Chico tradition starts out at Hooker Oak Park. Kids spend their day doing activities run by a camp leader. Activities include hiking, playing in the creek, arts & crafts, organized games, singing, etc.
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Leadership
Ages: 7th-10th grade
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Paused for Summer 2026
7th-10th graders can gain valuable work experience and leadership training by signing up to be Youth Leader with CARD. Under the supervision of experienced staff members, Youth Leaders assist in activities, interacting with campers, and general camp duties.
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Dance / Movement
Ages 4-16
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Kinetics Academy of Dance is offering a new dance theme every week this summer. Themes include cheer, princesses, gymnastics, arial arts, and more. Most camps run Monday-Thursdays for about 2.5 hours a day.
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- Indoor
- Most day camps run M-Th for 2.5 hours
- Dance and Movement
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Nature Camp
Ages 5-14
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Earthbound Skills (EBS) summer camp takes everything that's great about EBS and bundles up into a week of adventures in Bidwell Park. Kids spend time in the water, learn about nature and survival skills, play engaging games, and make long-lasting friendships. This popular camp often fills up months before summer, so register quickly.
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- 1-week sessions M-F from 9:00 am -3:00 pm
- Outdoor, nature-based, games
Dance
Ages: 2-10
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Hype Dance Studio offers week-long (M-Th) dance camps. Each week has a new theme including Encanto, hip hop, fairies and dance gymnastics. Classes run in the morning from 9-12 with an early 8:30 am drop off available.
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- Indoor
- Day camps run M-Th for 3 hours
- Dance
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Sleep-away Camp / Unschooling
Ages: 13-18
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Held for 2-weeks at the end of every summer, this sleep-away camp is great for self-directed teen learners. Workshops and activities are co-created by staff and campers. Teens are encouraged to practice making their own decisions and are given lots of freedom to explore what works for them. The west-coast camp is held at Camp Myrtlewood in south-west Oregon (about 6 hours north-west of Chico).
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- Indoor / Outdoor
- 2 week sleep-away camp
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Sleep-away Camp / Waldorf
Ages: 6-16
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Camp Augusta is a sleep-away camp located in Nevada City (about 79 miles from Chico). Parents describe it as "a Waldorf inspired camp full of magic and wonder." This camp prides itself on keeping its numbers small in order to provide lots of individual attention. Campers spend time outside exploring the natural beauty of the Sierra Nevadas while engaging in classic camp activities. Campers are encouraged to make decisions about which activities they want to do for the day. The camp strives to create an environment full of wonder, community, innocence, and beauty while helping kids maximize their potential. Mini-camps are available for younger kids 7-8 years old and last 2-days. They also offer a family camp for families who want to go together.
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- Indoor / Outdoor
- 1 or 2 week options available
- Sleep-away camp
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More Ideas?
Do you have a summer camp you love that's not listed here? We'd love to hear from you so we can share it with others.