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 2023
Dance Art Science Ages: 11-18
Inspire School of Arts and Sciences is offering summer camps for teens ages 11-18. Classes are led by Inspire staff and alumni and offered through CARD (Chico Area Recreation and Parks Districts). Age range varies by camp.
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Camps include:
- Dance intensives
- Math mindset camp
- Musical theater voice
- Robotics camps
- Video games as art
- Pop and rock camp
- Mixed media journaling
- Cinema production
Art Trampolines Nerf Ages: 5-12
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
- June 5-9 & July 10-14
- 8:00 - 12:00
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Skateboarding Ages - 7-13
Feather River Recreation Center in Oroville is offering this new 2-week summer camp with 10 skate sessions. All skill levels are welcome and encouraged to participate. Classes will be held at Bedrock Skate Park in Oroville.
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Dates: June 5-16
Times: Monday-Friday 8:00 am-12:00 pm
Cost: $125 per week
Location: Oroville
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Farm Outdoors Ages - 4-10
Offered by a local homeschool family, this camp invites kids to spend their day interacting with animals, hiking, swimming, games, and more on their family farm. This camp is sure to filled with homeschoolers, so sign up quickly. Butte Valley is located near Butte College's main campus.
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Dates: June 12-16, 2023
Time: 9:00 am - 3:00 pm
Ages: 4-10 year olds
Cost: $250 per camper
Location: Butte Valley, CA 95965
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Click here to sign up
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Various Ages - various
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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Career Camps (CTE) - Great options for teens
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Art Sewing Ceramics Ages - 5-15
Run by long-time educator and current CORE teacher Cristianne Langford, these art classes are offered in the magic of a home garden surrounded by flowers, fruit trees, and berries. These day camps offer exploration in ceramics, sewing, or art including painting, yarn work and collage. Sibling discounts and discounts for attending multiple camps are available. Camp is a special time for children to work hard, play together, explore, and grow as a creative person in a supportive and safe environment. At the Artist's Garden, children try new techniques, play, and make friends.
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Cost: $245
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- Monday-Thursday (depending on the camp)
- 2-3 hours
- Experienced & credentialed art instructor
- Camps run in June
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Play Activities Flexible Ages: 5-14
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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Play Activities Ages: TBD
The Chico Children's Museum is offering 1 one-week camp over the summer. Camp includes snack and learning through play activities at the museum. It runs from June 19-23 from 10 am-3 pm.
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The Children's Museum is also offering drop-off childcare (separate from camp) during the Thursday Night Markets through the summer between 5:30-7:30 pm.
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- 1 week
- Play, Indoor
- Available M-F 10:00 am - 3:00 pm
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Indoor Rock Climbing Ages 7-13
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 Exploration Ages 4-14
Offering various sessions throughout the summer, this art camp is offered by a local mom and artist. Kids will work in various mediums including painting, sculpture, felting, and other creative projects. These 3 day damps include fee entry to the Chico Children's Museum.
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- Learn from a professional artist
- 3-day camps run M-W 9:30-12:30
- Ages 4-14
Thematic Learning Ages 7-16
Sponsored by Chico State, this camp takes kids through a week of a discovering and exploring various topics including chemistry, photography, graphic design, creative writing, and much more. Each week has a special focus so be sure to click on the class descriptions in the camp classes section. Classes are offered in 4-hour sessions in the morning and afternoon.
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- Thematic learning
- Week-long (M-Th) sessions
- 4 to 8 hour days depending on class selection
Water Sports Ages 7-14
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.
Outdoor Traditional Camp Activities
Camp Chi-Da-Ca (CARD)
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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- 1-week sessions M-F
- Half-day or Full-day options available
- Outdoors
Leadership Ages - 7th-10th grade
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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Registration: $45
Weekly Camp Sessions: $40
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- Applications Due by May 5th
- Participation varies from 2-4 weeks
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Dance Movement Ages 4-16
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
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
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Dance Ages 3-12
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
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
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.