Due to COVID-19 safety concerns, many summer camps are canceling the 2020 season. Please check with each camp directly.
School’s out for summer! While the excitement of summer break is felt by kids and parents alike, some structured activity helps kids stay engaged in learning, exploring and making new friendships. Plus, many parents work and rely on summer camps for child care throughout the summer. Day camps are offered in full or half days, depending on age and needs of parents.
These camps aren’t just for little kids. There are a variety of summer camps for teens in the Asheville area that will keep your teenagers from sleeping all day. Many of these camps include app development workshops, programing, wilderness adventures, rock climbing, mountain biking, bouldering and more.
Plan ahead! Camps fill up quickly. Many day summer camps begin registration in January. Below, you’ll find our top summer camps for kids in and around Asheville, broken down into types of summer camps.
- Outdoor Summer Camps: A perk of sending your child to an outdoor summer camp near Asheville is the accessibility to many forms of outdoor activities for kids. Many outdoor camps are hosted on family friendly campgrounds with onsite access to hiking, swimming, rafting, climbing and more. It allows kids to be in nature and disconnect from screens.
- Sports Summer Camps: Many sports camps in Asheville include volleyball, basketball, baseball, soccer, swimming and more. Whether you have a camper looking to learn the basics of a sport or have a camper who wants to develop their skills within a sport, there are options for all skill sets.
- STEAM Summer Camps: In case you didn’t know, STEAM is an acronym for Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Mathematics. Asheville has a nice variety of STEAM camps in the area for kids and teens to develop their natural interests outside of sports and the outdoors.
Looking for overnight summer camps? See our 2020 Overnight Summer Camp Guide for big kids and teens.
Outdoor Summer Camps
Camp Cedar Cliff, Asheville
This Christian day camp includes themed weeks, games, splash days, archery, bb ranges, swimming and more. 2nd-5th graders will get to experience hour long trail rides with horses, as well as practice riding skills. Lunch and snacks included. Weekly sessions run from June-Aug, 8 AM-5 PM. Grades K-5th. $300/week.
Adventure Camp, Adventure Center of Asheville
Campers will experience a variety of outdoor adventures at this camp, including ziplines, rafting, treetop course, bike park and daily swimming. Campers will participate in daily team building games, fun activities, creative learning, and educational programs from local area partners like Chimney Rock Park. Weekly sessions run June-Aug, 8:30 AM-4 PM. Ages 8-15. $369/week.
WNC Nature Center, Asheville
This camp creates fun, educational experiences to show campers the wonders of the natural worlds with themes focusing on reptiles, amphibians, birds, bugs, butterflies and more. All sessions include animal encounters, outdoor recreation, crafts, and group activities on the Nature Center grounds. June/July, 8:30 AM-3 PM (After care: 3 PM-5PM), Grades K-4. $200/week
Gwynn Valley Camp, Brevard
This camp aims to create a fun learning atmosphere on a working farm where campers will participate in a variety of activities ranging from nature exploration, crafts, drama, and music to swimming, sports, and group games. 5 Day sessions run from June-July, 8:30 AM-5:15 PM. Grades K-4. $475/week
YMCA Summer Day Camps
Choose from a variety of summer day camps throughout the region with focuses on science, sports, arts, and adventure. Campers will grow in self-confidence and experience activities including archery, high and low ropes, gardening, wilderness adventure, forestry, field trips, and more. Weekly sessions run June-Aug, 7 AM-6 PM, Ages 4-14. Cost varies with the program.
Discovery Camp, NC Arboretum
The North Carolina Arboretum offers a variety of camps for varying ages and interests including outdoor exploration, hiking, arts & crafts, local ecology, geocaching, disc golf, biking and more. Weekly sessions run June-Aug, 9 AM-4 PM, Grades K-8. $155-$270/week
JCC Camp Ruach, Asheville
Open to all, this Jewish community center offers a variety of day camps, including a camp for children with autism called Camp Tikvah. Activities include swimming, sports, arts & crafts, gardening, dance, music and off-site field trips for campers to explore Asheville’s surrounding natural landscape. Weekly sessions run June-Aug, 8:30 AM-5:30 PM, Grades 1-8. $280-$400/week
Sunny Truth Farm, Mars Hill
This camp allows kids to learn and play in an outdoor setting where they interact with nature through games, art, science and farm animals. It’s held on 150 acres of land comprised of meadows, forest, springs and trails to explore. Themed weekly sessions run June-July, 8:30 AM-3 PM, ages 5-10. $100/week
Kidventure Camp, Asheville Parks & Recreation
This four-day camp focuses on outdoor activities including hiking, geocaching, shelter and fire building, raft making, fishing, swimming, archery, climbing wall and an inflatable kayak trip. July 7-10, 9 AM-5 PM, ages 9-11. $180/session.
Adventure Camp, Asheville Parks & Recreation
This five day camp includes activities like hiking, swimming, rafting, tubing, games, environmental education and camping. Camp session will break into two groups for age based activities. June 8-12 & July 27-31, 9 AM-5 PM, Mon-Wed, with overnight camp out Thurs night. Ages 8-12, $220/week
Teen Water Adventure Camp, Asheville Parks & Recreation
This three-day camp is perfect for campers who like to spend their summer splashing around. Activities may include tubing, snorkeling, paddling, hiking to waterfalls and whitewater rafting on a river. July 20-22, 9 AM-5 PM, ages 11-14. $180/session
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Sports Summer Camps
ABYSA Soccer Camps
This summer soccer camp offers three camp options for varying skill sets, from beginner to experienced players. Campers will learn foundational skills like dribbling, passing, receiving, shielding, and shooting. Full day campers will have afternoon pool time. Weekly sessions run June-Aug with full and half-day options, age 7-14. $133-$230/week
Kolo Bike Camp, Adventure Center of Asheville
Kolo Bike Park at the Adventure Center of Asheville hosts 3 bike camps: Kolo Kiddie Camp, Kolo Flow, and Advanced Summer Shred Sessions. Campers will explore bike trails and pump tracks, learning new skills and jumps. Daily swimming also included. See the website for camp details and skill levels. Weekly sessions run June-Aug, 8:30 AM-3:30, ages 8-17. $250-$325/week
UNCA Girls Basketball Camp
This camp focuses on developing skills and learning the fundamentals of basketball. Campers will learn ball handling, defense, passing, shooting, rules of the game and teamwork. One 2020 session: June 29-July 2, 9 AM-4:30 PM, ages 6-14. $140-$280/week.
UNCA Boys Basketball Camp
Campers will learn fundamental skills like shooting, passing, ball handling, rebounding, individual and team offense and defense, as well as increase their understanding of the game. Full and half-day options. Two 2020 sessions: June 15-18 & June 22-25, 8:30 AM-5 PM, ages 6-12. $200-$300/week.
Osega Gymnastics, Fletcher
This active camp (available in full and half-day options) is fun for kids of all skill levels with a once a week visit to the pool for full-day campers. Activities include daily ninja & gymnastics lessons, games, arts & crafts, and free play in the gym. Weekly sessions run June-Aug, 8:30 AM-5:30 PM, ages 3-14. $95-$160/week
UNCA Youth Baseball Camp, Asheville
Hosted on the UNCA campus, this baseball camp teached fundamentals with instruction from coaches and players in the program. Coaching will cover pitching, fielding, hitting, throwing, and base running through drills and games throughout the camp. Campers will receive a baseball camp t-shirt and lunch each day. Weekly session July 27-30, ages 6-12. $325/week
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STEAM Summer Camps
French Broad RiverCamp
This day camp by RiverLink offers a week of river and watershed exploration for campers through hand-on environmental education, service learning projects, and river recreation like rafting, tubing and swimming. 5-Day sessions run June-July, 9 AM-4 PM. Grades 3-8. Cost: $250/week.
Eco Explorer Camp, Asheville Parks & Recreation
A three day camp focused on exploration and fun outdoors! Activities include hiking, stream investigation, animal visits, climbing wall and a mountain field trip. Offered in two sessions: June 15-17 & June 22-24, 9 AM-5 PM, ages 6-8. $120/session
All About Aerospace, Asheville Parks & Recreation
Campers will learn about the forces of flight, how rockets blast off, and the design of aircrafts through hands-on STEM activities. July 20-24, 8:30 AM-5:30 PM, ages 8-12. $50/session
ACT: Tanglewood, Asheville
This program offers two sessions for kids and teens interested in acting, music, movement, film, and design. The camp, held at Asheville Community Theatre, is open to beginners through advanced performing arts campers. Each session ends with a showcase for family and friends! Session 1: June 15-25, 9 AM-4PM. Session 2: July 13-24, 9 AM-4 PM. Ages 7-15. $400/week.
Asheville Art Museum
Offering to rising K–12th students, all classes are age appropriate. Sessions may include drawing, painting, sculpture, printmaking, and more. Materials included. Half-day (9 AM-12 PM and 1-4 PM) for $105 members/$115 non members, and all-day (9 AM-4 PM) sessions for $180/$195.
Zaniac Summer Camps, Asheville
Kids learn to code, build robots, design & print in 3D, fly drones, compose music, go to space in Minecraft & More! Beginner and Advanced Weekly Camps available. Full and half-day camps available. June-Aug, Grades K-8. $279-$449/week
Girls Rock Asheville
This rocking camp is for youth who identify as female, trans and/or gender nonconforming. There’s no experience required as campers form bands, write original music, and perform with in a showcase at the end of the week! Instruments/gear are provided. Weekly sessions June-July, ages 8-16. $150/week (scholarships available)
Bricks 4 Kidz, Asheville
These half-day enrichment camps give campers motorized building challenges each day, along with crafts, games and time for creative building. June-Aug, 9 AM-12 PM and 1-4 PM, Ages 5+ $135
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See more pages from our Family Guide:
Kid-Friendly Hikes | Waterfalls for Kids | Biltmore for Kids | Family-Friendly Hotels & Lodging | Top 20 Indoor Activities for Kids | Hands-On Learning & Children's Musuems | Kids in Parks | 20 Family Dates in WNC | Places for Kid's Birthday Parties| Overnight Summer Camps in WNC | Day & Half-Day Summer Camps in WNC | Kid-Friendly Restaurants
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