Children from schools and the community at large use crayons to color in the worlds largest coloring page at Camp North End in 2022.
Arthur H. Trickett-Wile
atrickett-wile@charlotteobserver
Swing into Summer
There's plenty of options around Charlotte for kids to learn, let loose and have fun at summer camp.
Summer camps offer various activities for kids to enjoy during break from school – but they can fill up fast.
Specialty camps in Charlotte include athletic, artistic and STEM activities for kids to enjoy, like playing soccer, creating sculptures and learning how to act like their favorite Disney stars. But parents shouldn’t wait until the last minute to register their kids for sports camps, as spots can fill up pretty quickly, according to summer camp expert Greg Wood.
Wood, who works with SummerCampDirectories, a Winston-Salem based website with more than 130 lists of summer camps around the country, it’s best to register your kids for camp as soon as possible to secure their spots.
“Some of the camps I work with are already full for the summer,” Wood told The Charlotte Observer last March. “It’s partly a factor of the size of the camp, how many campers they can accommodate, and the popularity of the type of camp.”
Here are some top camps in the Charlotte area that still have openings, and what they cost.
Kids collectively throw water balloons at the Superintendent for Catholic Schools for the Diocese of Charlotte, Dr. Gregory Monroe, during recess at summer camp at St. Matthew Catholic School in 2022. Melissa Melvin-Rodriguez mrodriguez@charlotteobserver.com
Academics
CPCC STEM Summer Experience: This camp includes programming, eSports and digital music activities. Price: $235 per week.
iD Tech: Virtual tech camps with an emphasis on 3D design, web design, programming and more. Price: from $849.
CodeWizardsHQ: A virtual coding camp with training on Scratch, Python and Java. Price: $399-$447 per course.
Camp Corvian: Includes weeklong courses that focus on test prep, babysitter training, beginners auto maintenance and more. Price: $150-$199 per week.
Discovery Place: Discovery Place offers a variety of themed camps to get kids excited about science, technology, engineering and art. Price: $175-$350 for members, $200-$390 for non-members.
Devin Naseman, 5, enjoys solo time in a towel hammock during summer camp at St. Matthew Catholic School in 2022. Melissa Melvin-Rodriguez mrodriguez@charlotteobserver.com
Arts
Clayworks Pottery Camp: A chance for kids to create colorful pottery on a potter’s wheel. Price: $190 per week.
School of Rock Music Camps: School of Rock Charlotte offers a variety of camps to learn how to play in a band or write songs. Price: $185-$499 per week.
Arts+ Summer Camps: A camp designed to give students a chance to immerse themselves in visual arts and music training. Price: $160-$350 per week.
Small Hands Big Art: Kids can create different forms of art paper mache, batik painting, sculpture and printmaking. Price: $285-$535 per week.
Flour Power Studios: At Flour Power, kids can learn cooking skills and how to make their own snacks. Price: varies based on the number of days a camp is held.
Miller Street Dance Academy: This camp offers dance, cheer, tumbling and more for all skill levels. Price: $175 per week.
Acting Out Studio: Themed camps include Hogwarts, Nickelodeon and Disney, Among Us and Hamilton. Price: $300 per week.
All-inclusive
Summer at Providence Day: Offers camps on Pokemon, Pirates, 3D Printing and various sports. Price: $216-$1,100 per week.
Covenant Day School Camps: Camps focus on sports, theater, science and engineering activities. Price: $100-$320 per week.
Charlotte Latin School Camps: Kids can participate in sports, arts and STEM projects. Price: $200-$585 per week.
Trinity Episcopal School Wildcat Camp: Themed camps include gross science, aerospace engineering, world of wizards and karate. Price: $190-$495 per week.
In this July 2015 photo, Jamir Easter smiles as he paddles his kayak during a session with the Urban Outdoor Connection Camp at McDowell Nature Preserve in Charlotte. David T. Foster, III dtfoster@charlotteobserver.com
Sports
Leadership Martial Arts: This 11-week camp features themed weeks with games, activities, field trips and martial arts. Price: $220 per week, or $195 per week for siblings.
Dream Big Basketball: This camp offers young basketball players a chance to improve their skills. Price: $199 per player for a week of full-day camp, and $129 per player for a week of half-day camp.
Ninja Nation: The ultimate week of fun with ninja activities, classes, team building, competitions and games. Price: $385 per week.
Charlotte Soccer Academy: Kids can work on speed, agility, position-specific skills in soccer. Price: $130 for four-day camps, $190 for five-day camps.
U.S. National Whitewater Center: This camp offers instruction on how to paddle on the water, rock climb and explore nature. Price: $300-$500 per week.
Champ’s Camps: Discover the race cars and tracks with hands-on activities at the NASCAR Hall of Fame. Price: $275 per week for members, $300 per week for non-members.
Charlotte City Tennis: This camp focuses on skill development, point play and games tailored for age and skill level. Price: $300 per week.
Puddle and Pond Camp: A weeklong hockey day camp designed to teach kids skating skills, stretching, stick handling, shooting and passing. Price: $400 per week.
This story was originally published February 23, 2023 at 6:00 AM.
Evan Moore is a service journalism reporter for the Charlotte Observer. He grew up in Denver, North Carolina, where he previously worked as a reporter for the Denver Citizen, and is a UNC Charlotte graduate.
