Charlotte Summer Camps for 2023

Looking for a summer camp in Charlotte for your child? We get a lot of requests from parents for summer camps, so we’ve put together a list of resources for you to explore.

It’s important to know that registration for some of the camps happens early–as early as January–and spots can fill up quickly. So, research in advance so you know what you want to sign your child up for when the time comes.

We’re including information about some of the most popular summer camps, but it’s not a comprehensive list by any means! Scroll down for the Charlotte Parent’s Summer Camp Database. You’ll find many more camps there, including at schools and churches.

The church camps are usually the least expensive. Although we’re not including information on the many, many church camps and Vacation Bible Schools, just because of the sheer number of them, you should be able to find many of them in Charlotte Parent’s Database, and they are a great choice for the budget-conscious parent!

New to Charlotte on the Cheap? You might also be interested in:

Filmmaking Camp with VisArt Video

VisArt Video is hosting a 2-week course for aspiring filmmakers ages 11-18. The first week, June 12-16, will teach campers the ABCs of filmmaking, and they’ll get an authentic hands-on creative experience. Week two, June 19-23, will have them making a monster movie! In order to attend week 2, they have to attend week 1. 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. $150/week per child, including an afternoon snack. To register, email Chris.Pittman.Visart@gmail.com, call 704-343-3031, or stop by VisArt at 3104 Eastway Drive. More info.

UNC Charlotte Summer Camps

UNC Charlotte offers some really interesting camps for kids in grades 1 through 12. The camps are designed to keep kids’ brains engaged and to be a lot of fun. Camps take place both on the main campus and at the Dubois Center at UNC Charlotte’s Center City campus.

The camps are broken up by age:

Cool School: Rising grades 1-4
49er Minors: Rising grades 5-8
Niner Academy: Rising grades 9-12

These are just some of the camp topics and activities to choose from, although they’re not all available for all age groups.

Digital Music Creating
The World of Encanto
Jedi Training Camp
Musical Theater
YouTube Content Creators
Esports
Digging for Dinos
Robotics
The Human Body
Python Programming
CSI
Much more

Prices of the week-long camps vary, but most are $275 and up.

Registration opens January 23th, 2023, for returning families, and January 24th, 2023, for the general public.

Summer Camps at St. John’s Academy of the Arts

St. John’s Academy of the Arts is offering week-long camps for kids ages 2-18 on music, instruments, Broadway, acting and more. The camps range from $120/week (half-day camps for younger kids) to $300/week (full-day camps for older kids.) The camps are held at St. John’s Baptist Church, 300 Hawthorne Lane, Charlotte, NC. Learn more and register.

Mecklenburg County Park and Recreation Summer Camps

Mecklenburg County Park and Recreation Department offers a wide selection of camp for kids of all ages, including camps that focus on nature, sports, the outdoors, and more.

They normally offer both half-day and full-day programs. The camps take place at recreation centers, parks and nature preserves. Prices vary, but typically start at $75/week.

Check for updates on Mecklenburg County Park and Recreation Center’s website for information on the camps.

Queen City Sports Camp

This is a free sports camp for kids ages 6-14. It takes place June 25 to 29, 2023, from 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. each day. Kids will play basketball, football, soccer, kickball, and more. It takes place at Marie G. Davis K-8 School, 3351 Griffith Street, Charlotte, NC. More info.

Champ’s Camps at NASCAR Hall of Fame

NASCAR Hall of Fame offers multiple camp options for rising K-9 graders. Campers will discover the race cars, tracks, music and art that drive the sport of NASCAR. They’ll participate in interactive STEM learning, crafts, experiments and physical challenges. June 19th to 28th. (5 weeks available.) Full-day, with extended care available. $300/week. Registration is open now. More info.

Whitewater Center

The Whitewater Center has a variety of camps for kids ages 8-18. Some topics include kayaking, adventure camp, STEAM camp, survival camp, and more. The cost ranges from $300 to $500 a week. More info.

Arts Delivered in Matthews

At Arts Delivered Camps, kids learn ceramics, pottery, painting and more. they’ll also play games and organize a Friday exhibit. Camps are 12:30 to 4 p.m. Camps range from $190/week to $220/week. Register by April 1st for a discount. More info.

Young Icons

Young Icons Summer Camp offers two sessions in 2023 for ages 11-17 to learn music recording, film, and photography skills while collaborating with other aspiring and professional artists. The camp is founded by Jason Jet, owner of Grindhaus Studios, and Will White, Season 12 American Idol Alum. The first camp session is from June 12 – 23 for recording artists. The second camp session is for film and photography from July 10 – 21. Campers enjoy breakfast, lunch, workshops, and fun activities with their peers and mentors. Transportation services and scholarships are available. Registration is now open. The two-week long summer camps cost $550 plus a $25 registration fee. More info.

Bricks 4 Kidz

The Town of Harrisburg offers Bricks 4 Kidz Summer Camp for kids ages 6-11. These half-day LEGO-inspired camps cost $150 a week and is held in the Municipal Complex Room at Harrisburg Town Hall. Registration is open now. More info.

UNC Charlotte Writing Project Summer Camp

This year’s summer writing camp will be STEAMsational as students will explore the power of intertwining intentional writing experiences with STEAM activities. Campers attending Young Writers Camp will have the opportunity to transfer their writing to real life practicing civic engagement through urban gardening, building body positivity and healthy practices, creating graphic novels, and access to city wide field trips to experience the power of living art. Campers will also select their favorite pieces to be featured in a published anthology. Each family will receive one copy and additional copies will be available for purchase online. Grade 2-5 and Grade 6-8. One week (essay writing) high school students are welcome. $275/week (with a discount for family members of UNC Charlotte faculty and staff.) More info.

Jesonda Young Actors Summer Program

This free program features acting workshops, games and performances. It takes place at Ophelia Garmon-Brown Community Center, 2647 Freedom Drive, Charlotte, NC, from July 5 to 28, 2023. More info.

Creation Acre

New to Mint Hill, Creation Acre is hosting exciting and unique summer camps for ages 4-13. Some of their camps include Stop-Motion Movie Making, Cooking Around the World in Five Days, Public Speaking for Shy Kids, Super Hero STEM, and Ready, Set, Kindergarten. The camps take place weekly, Monday to Friday, from July 17 to August 11, 2023. $200/half day camp, per week, $370/full day camp per week. More info.

Aerial and Circus Summer Camp

Aerial Concepts, Inc., is holding a camp at Mountain Island Charter School,13440 Lucia Riverbend Hwy, Mount Holly. Kids will learn the basics of a variety of aerial and circus skills. Open to kids ages 7-17. $295/week. More info.

Discovery Place Camps

Discovery Place summer camps are very popular. At the time of publication, 2023 details haven’t been announced, but they are typically available for Pre-K through Grade 8, with both full-day and half-day camps.

The camps take place at Discovery Place Science, Discovery Place Nature, and Discovery Place Kids.

Camp Corvian

Corvian Community School, at 4041 Johnston Oehler Road, Charlotte, offers an affordable half-day and full-day day camp. Each week has a different theme, like “Space Week,” or “Christmas in July.”

Registration for 2023 summer camp opens February 1st.

Children’s Theatre of Charlotte

Children’s Theatre of Charlotte offers summer camps for age 3 to 18. Camps take place at ImaginOn, and CPCC’s Levine Campus in Matthews.

Tuition for a week-long half-day program for kids 3-5 starts at $185.

A full-day week-long camp is available for rising kindergarten students and older, and starts at $325 a week.

Central Piedmont Community College

CPCC’s summer camps offer experiences in art, cosmetology, culinary skills, engineering, forensics, law, and technology. They’re held on various CPCC campuses.

Price varies, and registration is open now.

Youth Fashion Design Camp

Woven Fashion Incubator is offering Youth Fashion Design Camp from July 10 to August 11, 2023, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. The camp is for ages 8-14 and takes place at 1911-F Associates Lane, Charlotte, NC. The cost is $297 per week.

Aerial CLT

Week-long aerial and circus camp for kids age 7-14 who want to learn circus and aerial arts. $350/week. 801 N Tryon Street, Charlotte.

Providence Equestrian Center

Week-long half-day equestrian camps for kids age 5 1/2 to 14, at $375/week. Registration began January 1st, 2023. 424 Waxhaw Indian Trail Rd. Waxhaw, NC

Rock University

Rock University Charlotte offers a summer camp where kids learn to play songs in a group setting. Camps are one or two weeks long and include performing, making a music video, and recording (separate camps.) Prices are $200-$250 for a one-week camp and $395-$450 for a two-week camp.

Anne Springs Close Greenway

Anne Springs Close Greenway, in Fort Mill, offers outdoor camps on their 2,100 acres of preserved land. Kids can hike, bike, fish, kayak and more. Registration has opened.

Town of Cornelius Parks & Recreation

The Town of Cornelius offers more than 60 summer camp options for kids and tweens. Details will be posted in February. Please follow above link. Registration will start March 1st, 2023.

YMCA Camps

The YMCA of Greater Charlotte offers over 500 varieties of traditional, sports and themed day camps across their 14 branches. Prices vary. Registration has opened.

Lotus Arts Summer Intensive

LOTUS Arts Summer Intensive is a nurturing, high energy, inclusive camp, in which artists can develop skills in the performing and visual arts while building confidence, empathy, resilience, and communication skills.

Spend summer days exploring the performing and visual arts and collaborating with other young artists. Act, sing, dance, draw, paint, write, and enjoy activities in improvisation, characterization, playwriting, and creative movement. Artists will work together and individually to write, create, and design content for a showcase performance on the final day of each session.

Each session will have a theme and all art for that session will align with the theme. Artists can participate in one, two, or all three sessions, and they will have a new and different experience each time!

There are three three-week sessions, in June, July, and August. The camps are Monday to Friday, from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., with after-care available until 6 p.m. Rising K to 8th grade. The cost for a three-week session is $1,200, with a discount for multiple sessions.

Levine JCC Camp Mindy

Levine JCC offers traditional summer camps, performance camps, and sports camps on its 54-acre campus in South Charlotte. There are half day and full day options. Prices vary. Sessions range from 2 to 7 weeks. Registration has opened for returning campers. Registration opens for new campers January 9th, 2023.

Charlotte Parent

Charlotte Parent has put together a list of summer camps. You can search by type of camp, geographic area or name of camp.