Issuu

GUIDE TO SUMMEr CAMPS

Publisher/Editor:

Advertising

Contributor:

Graphic

LETTER FROM The EDITOR

Dear Readers,

Welcome to Baltimore Fishbowl’s second Guide to Summer Camps, an annual print and digital publication designed to provide parents and caregivers with a trusted resource as they navigate the summer camp selection process.

Our first Guide to Summer Camps was so well received – by both our advertising partners and our readers – that we are excited to be back with a second edition, featuring more than 35 area summer camps and programs.

Last year, we explored counselor-in-training programs and offered tips for choosing the summer camp that best suits each family. This year, we focus on some of our market’s most creative camp offerings, including cooking and baking camps, performing arts camps, and camps for aspiring visual artists. We also highlight some of the area’s most “outdoorsy” camps, camps that encourage kids to spend the whole day outside, even sometimes in the rain.

In addition to our main feature stories, this year’s Guide to Summer Camps features a helpful day camp checklist, Summer Program Profiles, advertisements from local camps and businesses, and a comprehensive directory that includes all participating camps and summer programs.

With options ranging from one week to the whole summer and locations spanning Baltimore City and the surrounding counties, your family is sure to find the perfect fit for this summer.

Enjoy!

Nicole Allen

Photo Credits: top - Summer at Garrison Forest School middle - Irvine’s Summer Nature Camp, bottom - J Camps

Offerings for boys and girls ages 3 and up!

GRIZZLY DAY CAMPS

SPECIALTY CAMPS

RESIDENTIAL EXPERIENCES

SUMMER PROGRAM PROFILES

Irivine’s Summer Nature Camp A

camp for curious kids!

Do you have a child who asks why? Is eager to discover and explore? Enjoys animals, games, crafting, running around, and doesn’t mind a little mud? Irvine Nature Center’s SUMMER NATURE CAMP is designed for them!

Summer Nature Camp offers curious children an immersive outdoor experience by engaging in the natural world through hiking, exploration, and endless summer fun. Taking place throughout Irvine’s 211 acres of forests, meadows, and wetlands, campers’ days are filled with adventures learning about animals, habitats, and conservation issues. During daily excursions in nature, they are surrounded by sights, sounds, textures, and smells of the natural world, making child-led discoveries at every turn.

Each weeklong camp session – taking place almost entirely outdoors – features a unique, creative theme, making it fun to return week after week. Led by professional educators

Continued on page 10

McDonogh Summer Camps

Get ready for fun, friendship, discovery, and adventure this summer! McDonogh offers a wide range of traditional day camps, arts and educational programs, and sports clinics for children ages 4-17. The camps are conducted on the school’s stunning 800-acre campus with impressive indoor and outdoor facilities. Transportation, lunch, before and after care, and sibling discounts are available for many camps. Check out the full lineup at mcdonogh.org/ summer, and see why families have been choosing McDonogh Summer Camps for more than 80 years!

8600 McDonogh Road, Owings Mills, MD 21117 | mcdonogh.org/summer

Stages Music Arts Summer Music Camps

Has your child ever dreamed of rocking out on stage with friends? Is your creative kid still searching for their passion? Do you want your child to put down the screens and pick up an instrument? If so, Stages Music Arts in Cockeysville offers an exciting lineup of summer camps for kids ages 4-18. No musical experience necessary!

Young music lovers will learn new skills, gain confidence and make lifelong friends and incredible memories while having the time of their lives in camps such as our insanely popular Taylor Swift camp, iconic decades of music (60s/70s, 80s, 90s), technology-based music camps and more!

Our highly skilled instructors will help kids of all ages and experience levels learn favorite songs, pick up a new instrument or advance existing skill sets, write original music or learn the basics of composition and recording. Beginners are welcome!

Each week closes out with a pizza party and a live concert for family and friends in our stateof-the-art Performance Hall. Come see why we are Baltimore’s Premier Music School!

10 Stenersen Lane, Cockeysville, MD 21030 stagesmusicarts.com

Summer

Looking for an unforgettable summer adventure? Join us for Summer at Garrison Forest, where fun meets discovery on our stunning 110-acre campus in Owings Mills, Maryland! Designed for kids aged 3 and up, our co-ed camps offer something for everyone with flexible scheduling and three exciting options: Grizzly Day Camps, Specialty Camps, and Residential Experiences.

Grizzly Day Camps run from June 16 to August 8, 2025, and are packed with themed weeks, water play, swimming, barn visits, STEAM projects, cooking, Gaga ball, mystery guests, sports, and more! Sign up for one week or all eight—it’s your summer, your way!

Our Specialty Camps cater to budding athletes, artists, equestrians, and curious minds, offering unique opportunities to explore new skills and passions. Ready for a deeper dive? Girls aged 11-17 can immerse themselves in two-week Residential Experiences in riding, polo, or performing arts, staying in our on-campus dorms and advancing their expertise in what they love most.

Visit gfs.org/summer to explore all our camp options and secure your spot today. Let’s make this summer extraordinary!

300 Garrison Forest Road, Owings Mills, MD 21117 | gfs.org/summer

at Garrison Forest! Dive into Summer Fun at Garrison Forest

Irvine’s Summer Nature Camp

Continued from page 8

and naturalists, campers engage in creative arts, on-trail investigations, animal encounters, and child-led play. Plus, Irvine’s 50+ resident Animal Ambassadors serve as the most popular teaching assistants.

Full-day camps for ages 5 through 12 run from 9:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. For campers ages 3-4, we offer a half-day “Saplings Camp.” Returning this year is “Little Birds Summer Camp” – a unique introductory experience for children under 3 and their caregivers. Optional before and after care is available.

Is your nature-loving preteen too old for camp? Young teens, ages 13-16, can apply for our Counselor-in-Training program and continue enjoying the summer fun of camp while developing valuable leadership skills.

Located in Owings Mills, just minutes from I-695, I-795 and I-83, Irvine’s Summer Nature Camp 2025 will run from June 16-August 22, 2025. Learn more at ExploreNature.org.

11201 Garrison Forest Road, Owings Mills, MD 21117 explorenature.org/summercamp

Schoolhouse

• Learn drama skills, make crafts and explore your talents.

• Showcase what you’ve learned with a final performance.

• Join the crew in Set It Up if you’re looking for creating the “behind the scenes” magic.

All this fun for only a small materials fee on the first day of each camp.

At These Summer Camps, the Party is Arty

Summer Camps, the Party is Arty

The Baltimore region is blessed with abundant summer camp options for children and teens who want to immerse themselves in artistic endeavors like music, theater, painting or cooking.

Many of these camps are taught by professional artists or by local art, music and drama teachers. Many are just a week long, good options for campers interested in trying new activities or deepening an already strong skill set. Others are longer, giving participants additional time to develop their skills and to collaborate on more ambitious projects.

Most of the camps end with a product to show off and share – a play or a song, a sculpture or a cake.

The famed Peabody Institute, part of Johns Hopkins University, offers a variety of camps for musicians and dancers, all guided by world-class artists, and all geared toward improving skills while instilling a love for performance.

The institute’s Innovation and Music Academy, for musicians aged 6 to 17, provides week-long deep dives that focus on both composition and technical mastery of brass, string, guitar, voice and percussion, each with a culminating performance.

For dancers, full-day summer programs, for ages 7 to 18, inspire campers with new styles and techniques.

Ailey Camp Baltimore, free for students in public Baltimore middle schools, is a six-week program that’s part of the national Alvin Ailey camp program. The week-long Baltimore Beat Lab taps industry experts and uses Digital Audio Workstations (DAWs) to teach campers how to create and perform contemporary music.

Summer at Garrison Forest, held at the all-girls’ K-12 day and boarding Garrison Forest School in Owings Mills, offers lots of full-day, half-day and

residential camps, including ones specifically for aspiring artists, like the All-Stars residential camp. The popular two-week program, for girls 12-17 who already have some stage experience and want to advance their skills, culminates in a final performance that is open to the public.

Younger actors, ages 6-12, can participate in a co-ed day camp version held in June. Garrison Forest also offers camps that teach baking, ceramics, fiber arts, animation and more, usually taught by its own art teachers.

Photo Credits: previous page and above - Roland Park Country School, below right - Summer at Garrison Forest

“Our camps give students an opportunitY

The Jewish Community Center (JCC) of Greater Baltimore also offers creative and art-forward camps as part of its summer programming. Its Children’s Theatre Production Camp (CTPC), led by Adrienne Bergeron, has two fourweek sessions: CTPC Kids, for grades 1 and 2, which puts on a smaller show and includes introductions to skills like lighting, blocking and basic choreography; and CTPC Jr. for grades 3 to 8, supported by teaching artists in the Baltimore region, as well as professional set and costume designers, which

culminates in a full-length musical in the campus’s Gordon Center.

“We really set them up for success,” says Bergeron. “They fall in love with theater.”

The JCC also has two-week Habimah arts camps for grades 1 through 6, guided by professional artists and culminating in a showcase and Gallery at the Gordon Center.

Roland Park Country School’s summer programs “really focus on visual and performing arts,

especially performing arts,” says Melissa Tully, senior communications associate for the K-12 independent school for girls. Two-week musical theater camps, led by Charm City Players, take campers from audition to performance, teaching them how to work together so that everybody’s talents shine.

Dance and music camps held in partnership with the Charm City Music School include a popular Taylor Swift-themed dance camp, for ages 5-11, that introduces campers to ballet, jazz and modern dance as they dance to Swift’s music and play

to try things and express themselves”

Swift-themed games; and a similar camp for musicians that uses Swift songs to inspire song-writing and singing, and teaches campers to play the ukulele.

Roland Park’s dozens of Red Hot Summer Camp offerings include ones focused on comic book design, fiber arts, baking, scrapbooking and sewing.

St. Paul’s Schools also have robust summer offerings, including a week-long musical theater intensive for ages 9 to 17 that teaches singing, dancing, acting and performance skills.

Camp Jam, for grades 5 through 8, encourages beginner and more advanced musicians to learn, create and perform together while learning stage etiquette and collaboration techniques.

A new offering, Rock and Roll Club, invites kindergarteners through second graders to learn songs and perform them on homemade instruments.

Also available at St. Paul’s: culinary camps, a camp that teaches magic, and even a camp for grades 4-8 that dives into the business of entertainment, including

marketing, intellectual property and distribution.

“Our camps give students an opportunity to try things and express themselves without having to worry about grades,” says Stacie Gottlieb, who runs Summer at The St. Paul’s Schools. “They can learn different techniques in a fun, supportive environment. Maybe they thought they were interested in something like cooking. They can dip a toe in and try it and maybe spark a new interest.”

Photo Credit: J Camps

Awaits at These Summer Camps Outdoor Adventure

When kids spend unstructured time in nature, wonderful things can happen.

They lift their eyes from computer and phone screens and experience the world around them: dapples of sunlight through leaves, the shimmering music of cicadas singing, tadpoles darting in unison in a cool stream.

Without the distractions of the modern world, children seize opportunities to get creative and collaborative. They might make up games, build forts or act out stories. They breathe in fresh air and exercise by climbing trees and splashing through puddles.

And, when the weather doesn’t cooperate, they stay outside and get comfortable being uncomfortable.

“We give kids space,” said James Frank, founder of the Lure of the Wild camp in Patapsco Valley State Park and at Roland Park Country School. “They’re outdoors, screen-free, technology-free, with minimal adult intervention because kids need to figure things out for themselves. We hear from them that this is their favorite camp.”

Lure of the Wild is “entirely outdoors,” rain or shine, though they take shelter during thunderstorms, says Frank, who created the camp in 2021, originally in partnership with the Friends of Patapsco Valley State Park, and now expanding to new locations.

And yes, that includes outdoor bathroom breaks.

Camps are a week at a time, with activities “entirely up to the kids,” says Frank. “The sky’s the limit and no two days are the same.” One of his favorite memories is of a young camper, maybe four or five years old, showing him a worm that she had found and saying she was going to catch a fish.

“She finds a stick, puts the worm on it, dangles it in front of a tiny fish, and comes up to me not even 10 seconds later holding the fish. It shows how naturally creative and resourceful children can be when left to their own devices.”

Campers are 4 to 13, with opportunities to become a counselor in training or counselor after that. Camp staff are typically young professionals with academic experience in education, psychology, or a related field.

All counselors are trained and certified in wilderness first aid, and help campers to take “small challenges, not big risks,” says Frank. For example, they encourage their young charges to climb trees, but not to go higher than a counselor’s shoulder.

Irvine Nature Center, in Owings Mills, offers summer camps for children up to age 12. The camps take place outside unless the weather is dangerous.

“The sky’s the limit and no two days are the same”

For newborns to age 3, Irvine recently introduced weeklong Little Birds Summer Camp. Similar to the Little Birds programs offered throughout the year, it runs from 9:30 to 11 each weekday and gives caregivers and their children opportunities to explore the property, meet animals and take part in songs and art projects.

For older children, Irvine offers half-day and full-day camps grouped by age, with activities each week built around a theme such as nature detectives (looking for tracks, scat and other clues to wildlife behavior) and sensational sense (using all five senses to explore outdoors).

Photo Credits: previous page and top - Lure of the Wild, opposite page and bottom - Irvine's Summer Nature Camp

“We believe in our core that being outdoors is a great way for kids to not only have physical benefits, but also the developmental benefits in terms of caring for others, caring for animals and caring for the natural world,” says Kristen Cooper, director of marketing and communications for the nonprofit, which has 211 acres of woodlands, meadows and wetlands, along with animal ambassadors in an exhibit hall, a preschool and year-round nature-based programming for children and adults.

“being outdoors is a great way for kids to not only have physical beneFIts, but also developmental beneFIts”

Here are a few other summer camps with a particular emphasis on exploring and appreciating the natural world.

Masonville Cove

Environmental Education Center: Billed as the nation’s first Urban Wildlife Refuge Partnership, Masonville Cove, in South Baltimore, has several week-long summer programs for campers in grades one through five.

Cylburn Arboretum Friends’

Nature Camp: The 200-plus acre Baltimore arboretum has summer camps that encourage youngsters to learn about and respect nature, with camps for ages 4 through 13. Campers spend most of the day outside, hiking, doing nature-themed arts and crafts projects, and learning about nature from certified teachers and naturalists.

Park Camps: Park School’s summer programming provides dynamic experiences for ages 3.5-15 on a 100-acre wooded campus. In addition to Park’s traditional Day Camps, Adventure Camps focuses on immersive outdoor experiences for ages 8 to 14. The core of Adventure Camps is Park’s challenge course, with a rock wall, high ropes course, a zip line, and giant swing. Weekly full-day excursions for hiking, mountain biking, and river tubing further enhance the experience.

Photo Credits: top - Park Camps, middle - Irvine's Summer Nature Camp, bottom - Lure of the Wild

GUIDE TO Summer Camps DIRECTORY

Photo credits: Summer at Garrison Forest and Irvine's Summer Nature Camp

DIRECTORY

Camp Heritage

ADDRESS: 800 S. Rolling Road, Catonsville, MD 21228

WEBSITE: ccbcmd.edu/Campus-Lifeand-Activities/Athletics/Youth-Campsand-Training/Camp-Heritage.aspx

PHONE: 443-840-4197

HOURS: Full Day, 8:45 a.m.-4:00 p.m., with morning and afternoon extended care options

SESSION LENGTH: 4-week sessions, with 6-week, 7-week, and 8-week options

PRICE PER SESSION: $950-$1,800

CAMP TYPE: Co-ed

AGES: Grades K-5; CIT program for grades 6 and 7

CATEGORIES: Traditional Day Camp, Counselor-in-Training Program

TRANSPORTATION PROVIDED: No

OVERVIEW: Camp Heritage is operated by CCBC Catonsville and licensed by the Maryland State Department of Health and Mental Hygiene. It is designed for children who will have completed kindergarten through fifth grade. Children who have completed sixth grade and seventh grade are eligible to be selected for the counselor-in-training program. Children are grouped according to the grade completed by June 2025 and with daily group sizes of 24-32 campers.

The curriculum is created to involve campers in a wide variety of programs that provide an enriching and memorable camp experience. The programs include swimming, art, performing and creating, nature and the environment, sports and games, discovery time, table games, and special events. Each program focuses on activities that encourage children to explore their potential, build relationships, and develop self-confidence. Facilities offered include an indoor swimming pool, air-conditioned activity rooms and classrooms, a spacious multi-purpose gymnasium, and outdoor playing fields.

Camp Rock

ADDRESS: 1605 Cromwell Bridge Road, Baltimore, MD 21234

WEBSITE: camprockmd.com

PHONE: 410-665-7461

HOURS: Full Day, 8:00 a.m.-6:00 p.m.; Extended Day, 7:00 a.m.-6:00 p.m.

SESSION LENGTH: Up to 11 weeks with 2-week minimum

PRICE PER SESSION: Starting at $276 per week

CAMP TYPE: Co-ed

AGES: 4-12

CATEGORY: Traditional Day Camp

TRANSPORTATION PROVIDED: No

OVERVIEW: Camp Rock offers 11 weeks of summer fun for children ages 4-12 in a safe, nurturing, supportive environment. Camp Rock summer camp activities include nature trails, a high ropes course and zip line, water activities, swimming, games, crafts, performing arts, sports, team building, academic enrichment, special guests, field trips, delicious meals, friendships, and so much more! Activities are age-appropriate and led by a caring staff. Camp Rock also offers specialty classes featuring swimming lessons, culinary arts, horsemanship, martial arts, gymnastics, and art. Come see why they are the best day camp in Baltimore!

Coppermine Summer Camps

ADDRESS: 1400 Coppermine Terrace, Baltimore, MD 21209

(MULTIPLE LOCATIONS)

WEBSITE: gocoppermine.com

PHONE: 410-337-7781

HOURS: Full Day with Extended Care Options, 7:30 a.m.-5:30 p.m.

SESSION LENGTH: 13 weeks

PRICE PER SESSION: $250-$495

CAMP TYPE: Co-ed AGES: 4-12+

CATEGORIES: Traditional Day Camp, Sports Camp, Counselor-in-Training Program, Off-site Teen Camps, Musical Theatre, Racquet Camps, Lacrosse, STEM Camps & More!

TRANSPORTATION PROVIDED: No

OVERVIEW: Coppermine is excited for another summer of FUN in 2025! Each day brings new adventures, new friends, and new experiences! Coppermine offers a variety of camps in Mt. Washington, Baltimore, Canton, Hampstead, and Bel Air! At Coppermine, they LOVE making an impact on kids through positive reinforcement and encouragement while filling their days with FUN! Their high energy counselors, coaches, teachers, and instructors are the key to their success. They can’t wait to coach, mentor, and teach your children this summer! Adventure Awaits!

Photo Credit: Coppermine Summer Camps

Goucher College Young Writers’ Camp

ADDRESS: 1021 Dulaney Valley Road, Baltimore, MD 21204

WEBSITE: goucher.edu/gogoucher/ summer-camps/writing-workshop

HOURS: Full Day, 9:00 a.m.-3:30 p.m.

SESSION LENGTH: 1 week

PRICE PER SESSION: $600-$650

CAMP TYPE: Co-ed

AGES: High school

CATEGORY: Literary Arts Camp

TRANSPORTATION PROVIDED: No

OVERVIEW: The Goucher Young Writers’ Camp is a oneweek intensive creative writing workshop for high schoolers who love to write! Spend five days exploring fiction, poetry, and creative nonfiction with award-winning writers and editors. Goucher’s seventh annual creative writing camp will take place on Goucher College’s beautiful 287-acre campus from June 23 to 27, 2025. Campers at the GYWC work with experienced author-instructors at the college’s renowned Kratz Center for Creative Writing to study multiple genres of creative writing in author-led workshops, participate in interactive writing activities and games, attend in-person seminars with visiting authors, start thinking about personal essays for college applications, learn about college life and the admissions process from college counselors and current Goucher students, and work with professional literary editors to create an anthology of camp writing at the end of the week. For more information and to register, please visit their website.

Irvine’s Summer Nature Camp – A camp for curious kids!

ADDRESS: 11201 Garrison Forest Road, Owings Mills, MD 21117

WEBSITE: explorenature.org/summercamp

PHONE: 443-738-9200

HOURS:

Full Day for campers ages 5-12: 9:00 a.m.-4:00 p.m.

Half Day for campers ages 3-4: 9:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m.

Partial Day for caregiver + child (under 3): 9:30 a.m.-11:00 a.m.

Optional before and after care for an additional fee

SESSION LENGTH: 1 week – each weeklong camp focuses on a unique, creative theme with a variety of activities

PRICE PER SESSION: $260-$545

CAMP TYPE: Co-ed

AGES: 3-12, with a special caregiver + child camp for children under 3; counselor-in-training for 13-16

CATEGORIES: Nature Camp, STEAM Camp, Animals, Counselor-in-Training Program

TRANSPORTATION PROVIDED: No

OVERVIEW: Summer Nature Camp at Irvine offers curious children an immersive outdoor experience by engaging with the natural world through hiking, exploration, and endless summer fun. At Nature Camp, days are filled with adventures throughout Irvine’s stunning 211 acres of forests, meadows, and wetlands. During daily excursions, campers are surrounded by sights, sounds, textures, and smells of nature. Each weeklong camp session – taking place almost entirely outdoors – focuses on a unique, creative theme, making it fun for children to return week after week.

Do you have a child who asks why? Is eager to discover and explore? Enjoys animals, games, crafting, experimenting, and doesn’t mind a little mud? Campers will make discoveries, memories, and friendships – all while learning about the diverse ecosystems and conservation issues in the Maryland Piedmont. Check out Irvine’s Nature Camp – a camp for curious kids!

J Camps

ADDRESS: 3506 Gwynnbrook Avenue, Owings Mills, MD 21117

WEBSITE: jcampsbaltimore.org

PHONE: 410-559-3500

HOURS: Half Day, Full Day, Extended Day

SESSION LENGTH: 1-8 week options

PRICE PER SESSION: $250-$580

CAMP TYPE: Co-ed

AGES: 2-15

CATEGORIES: Day Camp, Sports Camp, Tennis Camp, Theatre and Performing Arts Camp, Pickleball Camp, Teen Camp

TRANSPORTATION PROVIDED: Express Bus service available from multiple locations

OVERVIEW: Watch children discover their potential at J Camps, offering a wide spectrum of programmatic options for everyone. Sports, swimming, science, arts, theater, nature, or a little bit of everything – J Camps has it. An outdoor camp with plenty of air-conditioned indoor space to beat the heat or stay dry in the rain, J Camps features Shapiro Aquatics Park, Gordon Center for Performing Arts, J Camps Adventure Park, two gyms, tennis courts, nature trails, athletic fields, art studios and so much more. Each day, campers will come home happy, exhausted – and with the boost of confidence that comes with the joy of self-discovery. J Camps offers various camp options for grades pre-K through 10, with optional extended care and Express Bus service available from multiple locations. ACA accredited on the Owings Mills campus. Indoor and outdoor facilities. Swimming.

Kids @ CCBC

DIRECTORY DIRECTORY

ADDRESS: CCBC Essex (BESS-115), 7201 Rossville Boulevard, Baltimore, MD 21237

WEBSITE: ccbcmd.edu/summer-fun

PHONE: 443-840-2222

HOURS: Full Day, Monday-Friday, 8:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m.; Half-Day classes at Essex and Owings Mills

SESSION LENGTH: 1 week, 2 weeks

PRICE PER SESSION: $119-$295

CAMP TYPE: Co-ed

AGES: 7-17

CATEGORIES: Academic Camp, Cooking Camp, STEM Camp (Engineering and Electronics), Visual and Performing Arts Camp, Career Pathways

TRANSPORTATION PROVIDED: No

OVERVIEW: Kids@CCBC strives to create positive and fun learning experiences for students ages 7-17 with quality instruction, small class sizes, and individualized attention. They offer what parents have come to expect in summer learning. Whether it’s drawing, academic writing, dancing, baking, building, Pre-Algebra, Algebra 1, SAT Test Prep, sculpting, or engineering, Kids@CCBC has a class for that! Don’t just take their word for it. Here’s a testimonial from Yuka Lasher, a parent in Sculpting for Character Design who wrote, “The teacher was fantastic! I wish the class was longer.” Register now. Call 443-840-2222 or check them out at ccbcmd.edu/summer-fun.

Photo Credit: J Camps

A Magical Summer at Mercy

ADDRESS: 1300 East Northern Parkway, Baltimore, MD 21239

WEBSITE: mercyhighschool.com

PHONE: 410-433-8880

HOURS: Mercy will offer several partial day camps throughout the summer.

SESSION LENGTH: Typically, each session will run 1 week.

PRICE PER SESSION: $200-$215

CAMP TYPE: Single-sex, girls

AGES: Entering grades 6-9 in Fall 2025

CATEGORIES: Performing Arts Camp, Sports Camp, Academic & Technology Camp

TRANSPORTATION PROVIDED: No

OVERVIEW: Get ready for an energetic and creative summer at Mercy! Mercy High School is pleased to offer summer opportunities in basketball, cheerleading, cyber security, dance, field hockey, lacrosse, soccer, and volleyball!

Designed for girls entering grades 6-9 in fall 2025, A Magical Summer at Mercy provides the perfect opportunity for your daughter to discover her passion or dive deeper into an activity she already loves! Mercy High School looks forward to welcoming your daughter to the Magic of Mercy!

Maryland Zoo Summer Camp

ADDRESS: 1 Safari Place, Baltimore, MD 21217

WEBSITE: marylandzoo.org/learn/summer-camp

PHONE: 410-396-7102

HOURS: Full Day, 9:00 a.m.-3:00 p.m. (aftercare available 3:00 p.m.-4:00 p.m.)

SESSION LENGTH: 3-day and 5-day options

PRICE PER SESSION: $500 per session; $450 Zoo member price per session

CAMP TYPE: Co-ed

AGES: Grades 2-12

CATEGORY: Zoo Day Camp

TRANSPORTATION PROVIDED: No

OVERVIEW: Five-Day Zoo Camp (grades 2-8) – The Maryland Zoo in Baltimore offers a fun-filled and educational Zoo Camp for children entering grades 2-8 in the fall of 2025. Campers experience a unique, five-day camp that allows them to explore the world of animals here at the Zoo!

Three-Day Keeper-In-Training (grades 6-12) – Keeper-inTraining gives the ultimate insider perspective as campers learn firsthand what it takes to meet the needs of the Zoo’s animals. Campers will experience the ins and outs of the daily life of a zookeeper through unique behind-the-scenes experiences, special animal care workshops, and visits from the Zoo’s team of ambassador animals.

Maryvale Summer Camps

ADDRESS: 11300 Falls Road, Lutherville, MD 21093

WEBSITE: maryvale.com/ about-maryvale/events/camps

PHONE: 410-252-3366

HOURS: Full Day

SESSION LENGTH: 4-5 days each

PRICE PER SESSION: $200-$475

CAMP TYPE: Co-ed and single-sex, girls

AGES: K-12

CATEGORIES: Sports Camp, Camp Invention

TRANSPORTATION PROVIDED: No

OVERVIEW: Summer at Maryvale! Maryvale is excited to offer a handful of camps this summer. Camp Invention, for K-6 graders, is returning for the second year. Brand new this year, Maryvale is hosting a badminton and pickleball camp for 5th8th graders!

Two elite Maryvale athletic programs, soccer (IAAM B Conference Champions) and volleyball (IAAM A Conference Champions), are having camps this June. Baltimore Sun’s Coach of the Year Colin Devin is hosting three soccer camps:

DIRECTORY DIRECTORY

two for high schoolers and one for middle schoolers. Missy Little, who made history leading the Varsity Volleyball team to an A Conference victory for the last FOUR years, is putting on three camps: two for middle schoolers and one for high schoolers. Maryvale can’t wait for you to join them this summer!

McDonogh

Summer Camps

ADDRESS: 8600

McDonogh Road, Owings Mills, MD 21117

WEBSITE: mcdonogh.org/summer

PHONE: 443-544-7100

HOURS: Full Day, Extended Day

SESSION LENGTH: Full summer (6-week) and single-week sessions available

CAMP TYPE: Co-ed

AGES: 4-17

CATEGORIES: Traditional Day Camp, Academic & Technology Camp, Sports Camp, Counselor-in-Training Program, Performing Arts Camp, Visual Arts Camp

TRANSPORTATION PROVIDED: Bus service available for an additional fee

OVERVIEW: Get ready for fun, friendship, discovery, and adventure this summer! McDonogh offers a wide range of traditional day camps, arts and educational programs, and sports clinics for children ages 4-17. The camps are conducted on the school’s stunning 800-acre campus with impressive indoor and outdoor facilities. Transportation, lunch, before and after care, and sibling discounts are available for many camps. Check out the full lineup at mcdonogh.org/summer, and see why families have been choosing McDonogh Summer Camps for more than 80 years!

PADONIA Summer Camps

ADDRESS: 12006 Jenifer Road, Cockeysville, MD 21030

WEBSITE: padonia.com

PHONE: 410-908-6187

HOURS: Full Day, Extended Day

SESSION LENGTH: 1 week to 10 weeks

PRICE RANGE PER SESSION: $315-$395 Traditional Camp; $395-$495 Adventure Camp

CAMP TYPE: Co-ed

AGES: 5-13

CATEGORIES: Traditional Day Camp, Adventure Camp

TRANSPORTATION PROVIDED: No

OVERVIEW: PADONIA Summer Camps: Traditional Camp for ages 5-13 includes creative arts, swimming, dance, sports and other activities celebrating fun weekly themes. Adventure Camp for ages 8-13 includes zipline, low ropes adventure course, archery, indoor rock climbing, river tubing and more. Maryland’s Largest Swim Club. Presented by Padonia Park Child Centers.

Pete Caringi’s All-Maryland Soccer Camp

ADDRESS: CCBC Essex, 1000 Hilltop Circle, Baltimore, MD 21237

WEBSITE: all-maryland.org

PHONE: 410-292-5927

HOURS: Partial Day, 10:00 a.m.-1:00 p.m.

SESSION LENGTH: 1 week

PRICE PER SESSION: $190

CAMP TYPE: Co-ed

AGES: 6-14

CATEGORY: Sports Camp

TRANSPORTATION PROVIDED: No

OVERVIEW: As they look forward to the summer of 2025, the goal of All-Maryland Soccer Camps has always been to create a fun learning environment, regardless of the level of the player. The staff will place campers in a surrounding, based on their abilities, that will allow them to EXCEL. After a week at All-Maryland Soccer Camps, campers will have improved their technical and tactical games, but more importantly, they will come away with a greater PASSION for the game. This will all occur in a fun and enjoyable atmosphere.

Red Hot Summer Camps

ADDRESS: 5204 Roland Avenue, Baltimore, MD 21210

WEBSITE: rpcs.org/summer

PHONE: 410-323-5500

HOURS: Partial Day, Full Day; before and after care available

SESSION LENGTH: 1-8 week sessions based on camp

PRICE PER SESSION: Varies

CAMP TYPE: Co-ed and single-sex, girls

AGES: 5-16 (with an additional camp for ages 1-4)

CATEGORIES: Traditional Day Camp, Academic & Technology Camp, Performing Arts Camp, Sports Camp, Visual Arts Camp

TRANSPORTATION PROVIDED: No

OVERVIEW: No matter what your child’s interest, Red Hot Summer Camps at Roland Park Country School will provide experiential, hands-on experiences led by talented and expert teachers. From cake decorating to coding, from lacrosse and soccer to acting and painting, Red Hot Summer Camps has something for every camper! Looking for a camp that combines your child’s interests while inspiring them to be kind, confident, smart, positive thinkers? Look no further than Red Hot Summer Camps’ variety of HeroCamps that offer programs focusing on STEM, sports, community service, and even a camp just for those getting ready for kindergarten! No matter if you choose a camp taught by an RPCS teacher or by one of their outstanding community partners, your camper will experience wonder, excitement, fun, learning, and a counselor who is invested in their personal development.

River Valley Ranch (RVR)

ADDRESS: 4443 Grave Run Road, Manchester, MD 21102

WEBSITE: rivervalleyranch.com

PHONE: 443-712-1010

HOURS: Overnight, Full Day, Extended Day

SESSION LENGTH: 1 week

PRICE PER SESSION: $350-$1,060

CAMP TYPE: Co-ed

AGES: 4-17

CATEGORIES: Overnight Camp, Traditional Day Camp, FaithBased Camp

TRANSPORTATION PROVIDED: No

OVERVIEW: Quality Caring Staff, Unique Challenging Experiences, and Meaningful Life Impact – that’s RVR’s philosophy and promise in a nutshell! Since 1952, RVR has been doing just that on its beautiful 500-acre property in northern central Maryland.

Offering week-long Overnight Camps for ages 7-17, as well as Day Camps for ages 4-10, some of RVR’s many renowned activities include a 1,500-foot triple zip line, horseback trail rides, high and low ropes challenge courses, paintball, archery tag, bubble ball, climbing towers, giant swing, ninja barn with warped wall – not to mention engaging nightly services, small group discussions, and traditional unplugged camp experiences like a swimming pool, campfires, team challenges, arts & crafts, and a gymnasium. Camp season is mid-June to mid-August. Come experience RVR – the adventure starts here!

Schoolhouse Theater Arts, Inc.

ADDRESS: P.O. Box 8076, Elkridge, MD 21075

WEBSITE: schoolhousetheaterarts.com

PHONE: 443-936-8484 or 410-379-6991

HOURS: Full Day, Extended Day (before and after care available)

DIRECTORY DIRECTORY

SESSION LENGTH: 1 week & 2 week sessions

PRICE PER SESSION: $125-$550

CAMP TYPE: Co-ed

AGES: 3-15

CATEGORIES: Performing Arts Camp, Traditional Day Camp

TRANSPORTATION PROVIDED: No

OVERVIEW: Lights, Camera, Action! Join STA to make friends, play games, create crafts, learn drama skills, and put on a theatrical production for family and friends on the last day. Did you ever wonder what happens behind the scenes in a production? In the Set It Up Camp, participants will design and build sets for summer camp productions and then work as the tech crew during performances. Staff includes certified teachers and experienced counselors. STA looks forward to seeing you on the stage! Registration is now open. To register, visit howardcountymd.gov/rap or call 410-313PARK (410-313-7275).

Stages Music Arts

Summer Music Camps

Music Camps for Kids, including Taylor Swift Camp, Iconic Decades in Music (60s/70s, 80s, 90s), Electronic Music, Modern Pop Icons, Metal Camp, Audio Engineering, Guitar Camps (Intro to Guitar, Lead Guitar, Acoustic Guitar) and camps for Mini Music Makers! No experience required.

ADDRESS: 10 Stenersen Lane, Cockeysville, MD 21030

WEBSITE: stagesmusicarts.com

PHONE: 443-353-5300

HOURS: Full Day, Partial Day. All camps 9:00 a.m.-3:00 p.m. except Mini Music Markers (4-5 years: 9:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m.; 6-8 years: 1:00 p.m.-4:00 p.m.)

SESSION LENGTH: 1 week

PRICE PER SESSION: $550 for full day camps; $420 for Mini Music Makers

CAMP TYPE: Co-ed

AGES: Mini Music Makers: sessions for 3-5 year olds and 6-8 year olds; Kids Camps: 8-12; Teen Camps: 13-18

CATEGORY: Performing Arts Day Camp

TRANSPORTATION PROVIDED: No

OVERVIEW: Summer camps at Stages hold the promise of endless fun, friends and memories! Your rock star will experience the exhilaration of mastering an instrument, singing their heart out, performing their favorite songs with a band or composing their own original digital music using cutting-edge software. Beginners are welcome.

Stages Music Arts is Baltimore’s premier music school and recording studio whose mission is to inspire students of all ages to experience the joy of making music while gaining confidence, making friends and thriving within a fun and supportive community.

Steve & Kate’s Camp

ADDRESS: 4501 N. Charles Steet, Baltimore, MD 21210

WEBSITE: steveandkatescamp.com/ baltimore

PHONE: 410-712-4928

HOURS: Full Day, 8:00 a.m.-6:00 p.m

SESSION LENGTH: June 16-August 15 (9 weeks)

PRICE PER SESSION: $120 per day; $3,600 summer pass

CAMP TYPE: Co-ed

AGES: 4-12

CATEGORY: Traditional Day Camp TRANSPORTATION PROVIDED: No

OVERVIEW: When you trust kids, they trust themselves Since 1980, Steve & Kate’s Camp has trusted kids to choose their own activities and plan their own days in real time. Whether campers are designing, building, coding, creating, baking, dancing, playing, eating, sewing, skipping – it’s all on their own schedule. Because when you empower children to make their own choices and be their own bosses, the children discover new reserves of confidence, resiliency, and creativity – all the while learning to make course corrections and trust themselves as they go.

Families can buy as many days as they’d like and use them at any time. No weekly reservations or commitments required – just show up! If for any reason your plans change, they’ll automatically refund any unused passes in full at summer’s end. Ages: 4-12 | Lunch, snacks, and all hours (8:00 a.m. –6:00 p.m.) included.

Summer at BL: Sports Camps

ADDRESS: Boys’ Latin, 822 West Lake Avenue, Baltimore, MD 21210

WEBSITE: boyslatinmd.com/athletics/ summer-at-bl

PHONE: 410-377-5192

HOURS: Partial Day, Full Day

SESSION LENGTH: 1 week

PRICE PER SESSION: $150-$300

CAMP TYPE: Single-sex, boys

AGES: 5-16 (varies by camp)

CATEGORY: Sports Camp

TRANSPORTATION PROVIDED: No

OVERVIEW: Boys’ Latin summer sports camps offer boys the chance to learn, grow, and compete in a supportive and engaging environment. Join BL for lacrosse, football, basketball, or baseball camps, all led by experienced BL varsity coaches. These camps promise a top-notch athletic experience.

Summer at Bryn Mawr

ADDRESS: 109 West Melrose Avenue, Baltimore, MD 21210

WEBSITE: brynmawrschool.org/ summer

PHONE: 410-323-8800

HOURS: Partial or Full Day with morning and afternoon extended hours available

SESSION LENGTH: 1-2 week options

PRICE PER SESSION: Starting at $300+ per week

CAMP TYPE: Co-ed AGES: 5 and up

CATEGORIES: Day Camp, Academic & Technology Camp, Performing Arts Camp, Creative Arts Camp, Sports Camp, Science Camp, STEM Camp

TRANSPORTATION PROVIDED: No

OVERVIEW: Summer at Bryn Mawr offers a huge range of camps including sports, arts & crafts, science, drama, dance (or all of the above!). Enjoy long-running favorites like Creative Workshop or find something new to explore! Extended care is available, and lunch is included for full-day campers!

Photo Credit: Summer at Bryn Mawr

Summer at Friends

ADDRESS: 5114 N. Charles Street, Baltimore, MD 21210

WEBSITE: fscamp.org

PHONE: 410-649-3218

HOURS: Full Day, 8:30 a.m.-3:30/5:00 p.m.

SESSION LENGTH: 2 weeks, 4 weeks, 8 weeks

PRICE PER SESSION: $980-$4,240

CAMP TYPE: Co-ed

AGES: 4-13

CATEGORIES: Traditional Day Camp, Counselor-in-Training Program, Performing Arts Camp, Sports Camp, Visual Arts Camp

TRANSPORTATION PROVIDED: No

OVERVIEW: Summer at Friends offers a variety of exciting day camps for children ages 4-13 on Friends School of Baltimore’s beautiful 35-acre campus. There are traditional day camps, featuring a mix of activities ranging from art to swimming, as well as specialty camps focusing on drama, visual arts, robotics, makerspaces, technology, and sports! Camp groups are intentionally kept small, allowing for lots of personal attention from terrific counselors and teachers. All of the camps include lunch, snack, and daily on-site swimming! Summer at Friends has been creating amazing camp experiences for over 60 years! Come see what Summer Fun looks like! Programs fill quickly; we encourage you to register early.

Summer at Garrison Forest

ADDRESS: 300 Garrison Forest Road, Owings Mills, MD 21117

WEBSITE: gfs.org/summer

PHONE: 410-559-3433

HOURS: Partial Day, Full Day, Extended Day, Overnight

SESSION LENGTH: 1 week

PRICE PER SESSION: Varies

CAMP TYPE: Co-ed

AGES: 3 and up

CATEGORIES: Traditional Day Camp, Overnight Camp

TRANSPORTATION PROVIDED: No

OVERVIEW:

Fun happens here! Summer at Garrison Forest is conveniently located just off of 695 in Owings Mills in a gated community on a beautiful 110-acre campus. With traditional day, specialty, equestrian and overnight offerings, there are plenty of opportunities for campers to follow their dreams and explore their passions. Summer at Garrison invites children to discover new skills, dive deep into their creativity, play what they love and take their talents for a joy ride!

Summer at Highlands

ADDRESS: 2409 Creswell Road, Bel Air, MD 21015

WEBSITE: hsmd.org

PHONE: 410-836-1415

HOURS: Partial Day, Full Day

SESSION LENGTH: 6 weeks

Summer Camp at The Odyssey School

ADDRESS: 3257 Bridle Ridge Lane, Lutherville, MD 21093

WEBSITE: theodysseyschool.org/ summer-camp-at-the-odyssey-school

PHONE: 410-580-5551

HOURS: Full Day and Partial Day options available

SESSION LENGTH: 5 weeks

PRICE PER SESSION: $2,600-$3,700

CAMP TYPE: Co-ed

AGES: Grades K-5

CATEGORIES: Academic Camp, Camp for Learning Differences

DIRECTORY DIRECTORY

TRANSPORTATION PROVIDED: No

OVERVIEW: Summer Camp at The Odyssey School is an enriching and creative program offering instruction in writing, math, and reading in the morning, and games, sports, and outdoor discovery in the afternoon. Odyssey’s summer camp teachers are highly trained and experienced in developing children’s reading, writing, and math skills to ensure success in the coming school year.

The morning session includes

• Writers and Creators Workshop: Two-hour creative writing and art session that helps children discover new and exciting ways to view the writing process

• Reading & Writing Tutoring: Daily instruction tailored to meet the individual needs of each student

• Math Workshop: Small group, 45-minute sessions to develop math fact fluency, math vocabulary, and comprehension of word problems

The afternoon includes games and activities offered by Coppermine of Baltimore.

Summer Learn to Row

ADDRESS: 3301 Waterview Avenue, Baltimore, MD 21230

WEBSITE: baltimorerowing.org/ summerlearntorow

HOURS: Partial Day

SESSION LENGTH: 1 week

PRICE PER SESSION: $350

CAMP TYPE: Co-ed

AGES: 12-18

CATEGORY: Sports Camp

TRANSPORTATION PROVIDED: No

OVERVIEW: Spend a week on the water with Baltimore Community Rowing this summer! Learn the Olympic sport of rowing with a skilled staff of USRowing-certified youth coaches. Participants will learn boat handling skills, mechanics of the rowing stroke, and will progress to rowing as a team. Practices are designed to build on campers’ current fitness and will include land and water workouts. Onwater instruction will take place in team boats. Participants will row alongside current high school athletes and collegiate rowers with opportunities to learn more about BCR’s high school rowing program and collegiate rowing opportunities. Each week will end with a spectator-friendly intra-squad race. Open to athletes in grades 6-12. Scholarships are available for residents of the Baltimore metro area based on financial need.

Gear Up

for a Great Day at Camp!

Make sure your camper is ready for every adventure with these essentials:

• Sunscreen: Apply before drop-off and pack extra for reapplication.

• Water Bottle: Keep hydration handy with a reusable bottle labeled with your child’s name.

• Hat or Visor: Stay cool and protect against the sun during outdoor activities.

• Comfortable Shoes: Sneakers are perfect for running, climbing, and exploring.

• Lunch and Snacks: Pack easy-to-eat, camp-friendly meals in a lunchbox with an ice pack.

• Extra Clothes: Send a backup outfit for spills, splashes, or messy art projects.

• Camp Schedule: Check for special themed days or activities that might need extra gear!

BONUS TIP: Keep a “Camp Command Center” at home—a designated spot for unpacking, and repacking their camp gear each day.

BaltimoreFishbowl2025GuidetoSummerCamps

GUIDE TO SUMMEr CAMPS

LETTER FROM The EDITOR

SUMMER PROGRAM PROFILES

Irivine’s Summer Nature Camp A

McDonogh Summer Camps

Stages Music Arts Summer Music Camps

Summer

Irvine’s Summer Nature Camp

At These Summer Camps, the Party is Arty

Summer Camps, the Party is Arty

Awaits at These Summer Camps Outdoor Adventure

Cylburn Arboretum Friends’

GUIDE TO Summer Camps DIRECTORY

DIRECTORY

Adventures in Camp – Teacher Run Summer Fun

BFunk Summer Dance Camps

CA Camps

Camp BCS

DIRECTORY

Camp Rock

Coppermine Summer Camps

DIRECTORY

Goucher College Young Writers’ Camp

J Camps

Kids @ CCBC

DIRECTORY DIRECTORY

DIRECTORY

A Magical Summer at Mercy

Maryvale Summer Camps

DIRECTORY DIRECTORY

McDonogh

Summer Camps

PADONIA Summer Camps

DIRECTORY

Pete Caringi’s All-Maryland Soccer Camp

Red Hot Summer Camps

DIRECTORY DIRECTORY

DIRECTORY

Steve & Kate’s Camp

Summer at Bryn Mawr

DIRECTORY

DIRECTORY

Summer Camp at The Odyssey School

DIRECTORY DIRECTORY

Gear Up

for a Great Day at Camp!