Richmond area summer camps

It’s never too early to plan for your child’s summer. There’s a wide variety of Richmond-area summer camps around Richmond every summer.

Games, gardening, sports, arts, cooking, river sports, writing, science activities and swimming are some of the programming being offered at area camps in an effort to keep children engaged, busy and safe.

Check out the summer camp options around Richmond from the growing listing below. And send more camp information to include to: news@rvaonthecheap.com 

Richmond-area summer camps

Check websites for availability and prices.

•Henrico Recreation & Parks Is partnering with several community organizations to offer Henrico Police Athletic League (PAL) and Camp Henrico, First Tee Golf Camp and Creative Arts Theater Camp and Studio (Arts) Camp. More information: https://henrico.us/rec/summer-camps/

•Chesterfield Parks & Recreation is offering a variety of camps including Kids on the Move Camp, History Camps, James River Camp, Outdoor Adventure Camp, Henricus Summer Camps, Sail Camps. 

•Goochland Parks & Recreation – Campers can choose from Art, Tennis, Football, Preschool, Basketball, and other favorites! New this year, Goochland County Sheriff’s office will be hosting a Junior Deputy Academy Camp at no cost. Register early as space is limited. Unless otherwise noted, all camps will take place at the Central High Complex (2748 Dogtown Road). More information: https://www.goochlandva.us/236/Parks-Recreation

•Hanover Parks & Recreation. More information at https://www.hanovercounty.gov/149/Parks-Recreation

•Visual Arts Center of Richmond: https://www.visarts.org/classes-camps/adult-classes/

•YMCA of Greater Richmond – includes Camp Thunderbird, Chester Camps, Manchester Camps, Midlothian Camps, Northside Camps, Patrick Henry Camps, Petersburg Camps, Shady Grove Camps and Tuckahoe Camps. More information at https://www.ymcarichmond.org/child-care-camps/summer-camps/

•Weinstein Jewish Community Center (JCC) offers Camp Ganim onsite, Camp Hilbert in Goochland, Specialty Camps, Kids’ Place Camps, Teen Opportunities, instructional swim and Voices Together for children on the autism spectrum.

•SPARC – performing arts camps for pre-K through 12th grade

The VCU Summer Camp in Philosophy is a day camp for high school students interested in asking big questions, learning about new perspectives, and seeing the world in a new way. The camp is organized and led by faculty members from VCU’s Department of Philosophy, and is held in person at VCU’s beautiful Richmond campus.

Many outdoor camps in Richmond teach teens kayaking skills. Photo credit: Riverside Outfitters

Summer camp options around Richmond.

• Art Factory Play Café (4810 Market Square Lane, Midlothian, VA 23112)
• Camp Hanover  (3163 Parsleys Mill Rd, Mechanicsville, VA 23111)
• Camp Thunderbird – YMCA of Richmond keeps campers primarily outside. Other YMCA summer camp locations in Chester, Manchester, Midlothian, Swift Creek, Downtown and Northside
• Club Sci Kids – various STEM-themed camps http://richmond.clubscikidz.com/
• Comfort Zone Camp (6606 W Broad St #401, Richmond, VA 23230) “Comfort Zone Camp is a nonprofit 501(c)3 bereavement organization that transforms the lives of children who have experienced the death of a parent, sibling, or primary caregiver. Our programs are free of charge and include confidence building activities and age-based support groups that break the emotional isolation grief often brings. The camp’s missions is to empower children experiencing grief to fully realize their capacity to heal, grow, and lead more fulfilling lives.”
• Cultural Arts Center at Glen Allen–Visual Arts Camps & Theatre Arts Camps
• Edible Education (13566 Waterford Pl, Midlothian, VA 23112)
• Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden (1800 Lakeside Ave Richmond, VA 23228)  Green Adventure Summer Camp is completely outside focusing on nature – plants, animals and more.
• Passages Adventure Camps – rock, river, mountain biking
• Play’n Away camps with Hanover County Parks and Recreation 

• Riverside Outfitters for outdoorsy, rugged kids
• Romp and Roll is 3 hours every Tuesday and Thursday morning
• Science Museum of Virginia summer camps
• Soccer Shots. summer camps and classes. Various locations
• STEMTREE (10921 W Broad St., Glen Allen, VA) located at the intersection of Cox Road and Broad St behind CVS Pharmacy
• STEM Midlothian
• Swift Creek Mill Theater summer camps. These camps are all theater based and will focus on cultivating a final share for friends and family, from improv to singing.
• Swim RVA 
• Victoria’s Kitchen Cooking Camp (249 Stonebridge Plaza Ave., Richmond, Virginia 23225)
• Sports Center of Richmond SCOR summer camps
• Virginia Outside – adventure fishing, fishing camp, fly fishing, kayaking, mountain biking

• XL Sports (2300 Oak Lake Blvd Midlothian, VA 23112)

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Summer enrichment classes for kids in the Richmond area:

• Richmond Kickers soccer: For boys and girls ages 8 to 14. Location: City Stadium (3201 Maplewood Ave) or Ukrop Park (5300 Ridgedale Pkwy)
• Outschool has online classes for three year olds on Outschool. Anything from art, music, movement, to preschool stuff.
• RVA Paddlesports Youth Kayaking program offers focused coaching sessions up to 3 times a week in the summer. The river is full of life lessons for those willing to listen. Both beginner and intermediate open enrollment.

There may be more summer camps for your children this year. The Richmond Family Magazine Summer Camp Directory shows a number of other options. But don’t wait too long. Many local RVA camp registrations fill up fast.

Related post: Virtual Classes for Teens and Tweens

Be sure to subscribe to email updates, follow @rvacheap on Twitter or like RVA (Richmond) on the Cheap on Facebook to stay in the know about the latest freebies & deals.

More things to do in and around Richmond:

• Richmond’s Museums Highlight History, Art, Science and More
• The Ultimate List of RVA Parks and Playgrounds
• Bicycling routes around Richmond
• Richmond’s Public Pools & Splash Pads
• RVA Dog-Friendly Parks
• 12+ Free Things to do in Colonial Williamsburg
• RVA Historic Sites
• 50+ Things to Do in Richmond
• Orchards and Berry Farms
• Things to Do: RVA
• 50+ Events & Festivals
• Special Resources
• Military Discounts
• FREE for Kids (or really cheap)
• Garage, Moving, Estate Sales and more
• Metro Richmond Zoo
• Richmond boat launches and marinas