The Houston area is home to some of the country’s best summer camps for kids of all ages. From educational STEM camps to traditional summer camps packed with classic activities like canoeing and archery, there are summer camps in Houston across a wide range of categories.
Ready for the best part? Many of these camps offer exclusive discounts to our loyal HoustonOnTheCheap readers! Plus, there are several other cheap and even free Houston summer camps worth checking out.
With that in mind, our 2018 Houston summer camp guide gives a complete rundown of the top discounted, cheap, and free options to keep your kids engaged and you less stressed.
For your convenience, we’ve divided the guide into a few sections:
- Camp Discounts for HoustonOnTheCheap Readers
- Cheap Houston Summer Camps (around $100 or so weekly day camps)
- Free Summer Camps in Houston
Houston Summer Camp Discount Deals
Language Kids World
Type: Educational, Language Immersion
Description: When you give your kids the gift of learning a new language, you open up an entire world of possibilities to them. Language Kids World’s immersion summer camp helps children from the ages of 3 to 10 learn Spanish, Mandarin Chinese, French, or English. All of the courses are custom designed and taught by native-speaker language teaching experts in a fun and engaging format to keep kids excited and interested.
Of course, kids should have fun at summer camp, and that’s why Language Kids World offers a play-based and innovative format in a fun and nurturing environment that helps children make new friends and introduces them to new cultures! All courses maintain low teacher-student ratios so that every kid gets the personal attention he or she needs to succeed. Week-long camps, early and extended immersion available. Ages 3-5 & 6-10.
Locations: Houston, Bellaire, Sugar Land, Kingwood, Spring Branch, Katy and Pearland. Camps also provided at the Houston Museum of Natural Science (both Museum District and Sugar Land).
Contact: 281-565-1388; LanguageKids.com
Dates: June 4th – August 24th, 2018
Cost: $219/week and up
Exclusive Discount: HoustonOnTheCheap readers can get $25 OFF their registration by using coupon code HOTC2018
Mo-Ranch
Type: Christian
Description: Mo-Ranch Summer Camp is a Christian camp for boys and girls—ages 8-15—that’s located in the spacious, gorgeous Texas Hill Country. Sessions are action packed with a wide variety of camp activities including canoeing, archery, high ropes, swimming, zip line, stand-up paddle boarding, camp games and outdoor sports, critter classes, nature hikes, arts and crafts and so much more!
Mo-Ranch’s philosophy is that small staff-to-camper ratios are better for bonding and building community in each session—this also ensures a safer experience for campers and ample one-on-one attention. Their average staff-to-camper ratio is very low—it’s currently 1 to 3!
Campers will have counselors who are great role models leading them all through the week. They’ll build friendships that will last a lifetime, and important foundational life skills like creativity, collaboration, critical thinking, and communication.
Location: Hunt, TX
Contact: SummerCamp.MoRanch.org
Dates: One and two-week sessions between June 3 – July 21, 2018
Cost: $805/week
Exclusive Discount: 5% sibling discount with promo code MOSIBLING2018
Club SciKidz
Type: Educational, STEM
Description: Club SciKidz Houston (CSKH) is an authentic, immersive summer day camp with locations in Katy and Sugar Land, Texas. With over 40 weeklong offerings in summer 2017, CSKH provides children with loads of fun and hands-on science (S), technology (T), engineering (E), art (A), and mathematics (M) experiences. Club SciKidz Houston has two components: camps for grades Pre K-5 and grades 6-8. Both camp categories allow students to tinker, build, create and learn cool STEAM facts.
Club SciKidz Houston now has a few new additions for this summer! We offer early programming opportunities with our Introduction to Java, Little coder, and Dash and Dot camps. We also offer tech machines, veterinary, JR. meteorology, chemistry, LEGO Robotics, physicians, engineering, quad copter (or drone), mobile game design and Water robotics camps. There are so many offerings, we’re sure there is a camp for your little scientist or engineer!
Locations: Sugar Land, Katy
Contact: (713) 589-8958; Houston.ClubSciKidz.com
Dates: June 4 – August 3, 2018
Cost: $285 – $375 (9 am – 4 pm) Monday through Friday. Pre-camp is available for an additional $25 (8 am – 9 am) and post-camp is an additional $35 (4 pm – 5:30 pm)
Exclusive Discount: Use code CLUBHOU2516 at registration for discount
Study Dorm
Type: Educational
Description: Study Dorm’s educational summer camp instills essential foundational skills into students for their future academic success in the upcoming school year and for years to come. Not only will your kids learn, but they’ll also have a blast while they do it! Whether a student struggled in the previous school year or excelled and wants to get a jump start on next school year, Study Dorm’s summer camp will help them achieve their academic goals.
This summer camp is best suited for students in 2nd thru 12th grade. Courses include math, reading, and writing sessions. SAT test prep camps are also offered for high school students.
Flexible Schedule: Pick from any 10 camps. Half day and full day camps available.
Location : 609 Dulles Ave Suite# 500 Stafford TX 77477
Contact: Registration form; MyStudyDorm.com
Dates: June 4 – August 10, 2018
Cost: Half Day Camps (5 days: 9am -12pm, $200/ week; 3 days: 9am -12pm,$120/week); Full Day Camps (5 days: 9am -3pm, $360/ week; 3 days: 9am -3pm, $216/week); Extended Day (8am -6:30pm, +$80/week)
Exclusive Discount: No registration fee
iD Tech
Type: Educational, STEM
Description: iD Tech is the ultimate STEM camp for kids, teaching students from the ages of 7 to 18 a wide range of skills, including coding, video game design, robot engineering, 3D printing, laptop building, cybersecurity, AI, and a whole lot more. Kids can even learn how to mod Minecraft!
With over 150 locations nationwide, including Rice, University of Houston, the Village School, Stanford, Princeton, MIT, Caltech, Harvard, and others, iD Tech is one of the country’s top STEM summer camps.
This summer, your child can explore a prestigious campus, make friends as they master new tech skills, and join a community of 350,000 alumni. iD Tech’s elite instructors and customized learning combine to help kids develop in-demand skills for a brighter future.
Locations: Rice University, University of Houston, The Village School
Contact: iDTech.com or call (888) 709-8324 for personalized course recommendations
Dates: Offered Weekly, June 11 – July 27
Cost: Starting at $799 per week
Exclusive Discount: Take $75 off when you register with code CHEAP75 before 5/31/18!
Fusion Academy
Type: Educational
Description: If you thought Fusion Houston Galleria was simply an accredited private middle and high school, think again! This one of a kind, innovative learning community offers one-on-one classrooms, allowing students to develop positive relationships and unleash their full academic potential. Students also grow socially and emotionally to become well-rounded individuals.
Fusion takes the stress out of summer education, making it easier for students to manage heavy course loads, prepare for important tests, and balance academics and free time. Customized scheduling allows everyone to still enjoy their summer, making room for family vacations, sleeping in, and preparing for the upcoming Fall semester. From reading and writing to math and music lessons, Fusion Houston Galleria truly offers everything your child needs to excel.
Their Summer Exploratory is a great way for students to experience the unique vibe and style of learning at Fusion in just 4-6 weeks. One-to-one classes give students the luxury of learning at their own pace, in a fully personalized environment.
Class for Credit: Students take one semester of a class of their choice and receive credit for it.
Homework Café®: Sessions are included for every class for credit taken.
Tutoring & Mentoring Session: With 30 sessions of tutoring and mentoring, your student can decide which electives to try. Here is just a sample; Spanish, French, guitar, art, photography, film, creative writing and much more.
Location: 5065 Westheimer Rd. Suite 840, Houston, TX 77056
Contact: FusionAcademy.com
Dates: May 28 – August 24
Cost: Regularly $6,800
Exclusive Discount: HOTC readers take $2,700 off the cost of registration
3Hues
Type: Arts & Crafts
Description: With weekly themed sessions, ranging from “It’s a Slumber Party!” to “Comics & Pop Art,” 3Hues allowers campers to unleash their creativity through a variety of arts and crafts. Campers get to paint on canvases, make their own crafts, build, paint ceramics, play fun games, make new friends, and a whole lot more.
With an experienced, friendly staff, 3Hues provides campers with their most positive engaging artistic education experience yet.
Be sure to ask about their public and private painting parties for both kids and adults!
Location: 17702 W. Little York Rd, Ste. 300, Houston, TX 77084 (West Houston/Katy/Cy-Fair area)
Contact: 3HuesHouston.com, 281-224-1205
Cost: $109-$139 for half-day sessions
Dates: June 4 – July 27
Exclusive Discount: $30 off your first week with code CHEAP
Idea Lab Kids
Type: Educational, STEM
Description: Summer camp is calling! Grab your superhero cape or your lab coat because IDEA Lab Kids has 104 new summer camps for kids to enjoy!
Camps take place at a variety of locations in the Woodlands, Central Houston, Downtown, Sugar Land, Austin, Missouri City, and Energy Corridor. Registration is available at www.idealabkids.com/camps.
Students in 1st-8th grades are able to experience camps centered on STEAM (science, technology, engineering, art, and math). A combination of STEM skills and art allows kids to learn and create during an exciting series of activities.
Engineering and Math: Build a drone and learn to fly it during Drone Building and Aviation Design camp or build a functioning robot at LEGO Robotics: 3.2.1 Blast Off camp.
Coding and Technology: Check out hands-on technology camp to learn about bio-engineering, Dash robots, prosthetic design, game design, or something completely different!
Science: Aspiring doctors can go to Medical Sciences camp for Future Doctors or if you want something filled with adventure, Mission Pawssible: A Pet and a Vet Spy Mission is available.
Art: Spend some time in a 3D art lab, learn storybook cooking, or creating a film or music video in any one of these camps.
Location: Woodlands, Spring, Humble, Bellaire/Central Houston, Heights/Downtown, Spring Branch, Sugar Land, Energy Corridor, Missouri City, Pearland
Contact: IdeaLabKids.com
Cost: $165-$250
Dates: Weeklong camps all summer long
Exclusive Discount: Free T-shirt when you use the code Summer2018 at registration
Coder Kids
Type: Educational, STEM
Description: Coder Kids will ready your child for the future of summer camp! Throughout the Houston area, you can choose from half or full-day camps lasting for five days. Kids from grades K-12 are eligible to attend and will learn to code in a variety of languages and platforms including iOS, Unity, Scratch, Python, and using Arduino and/or Raspberry Pi. Throughout the course of the week, students will learn the coding fundamentals and have a chance to complete projects in their chosen area. Projects are gone through step-by-step, which ensures that kids have all the help they need to solve any coding problems. No coding experience is required to attend!
Locations: Bellaire, Memorial, Kingwood, The Woodlands, Cypress, Katy, Sugarland, Friendswood
Contact: (832) 640-9568; CoderKidsTX.com
Cost: Half day, week-long camps are $175 – $225; Full day, week-long camps are $350 – $450, depending on location
Dates: All weeks of summer
Exclusive Discount: Take $25 off your order with code HOTC2018
Ice at the Galleria
Type: Sports & Recreation
Description: Are the kids looking for something to do over the Holidays?
Come join our Great skate Camp from June 4 – August 24, 2018. Have fun ice skating as well as many other on-ice and off-ice activities. There is nothing else like it! We offer full day and half day options as well as offering full week registration. Lessons daily. Camp shirt included as well as hot lunches for all day campers. Most suited to 3yrs to 12yrs but will accommodate older children.
Location: Located in the food court area of the Galleria mall – 5015 Westheimer Rd. #1260. Houston. TX. 77056
Contact: IceattheGalleria.com
Cost: Half day, full week. 9am-noon or noon-3pm Daily rate: $75. Full week: $320. Full day, full week. 9am -3pm. Daily rate: $95. Full week: $190
Dates: June 4 – August 24, 2018
Exclusive Discount: 10% off full week registration. 20% of extra weeks registration
Houston Sudbury School
Type: Educational
Description: Give your kids a summer of fun, friends, and play! Free-play campers spend their days free to pursue their interests, play all day, plan outings, make friends and enjoy all the benefits of freedom+responsibility in a mixed-age, Sudbury model community. The HSS Free-Play Summer Camp is open to all Houston area children, ages 5-13.
Location: 1936 Dolly Wright, Houston, TX 77088 (Oak Forest/Acres Homes)
Contact: (281) 847-4244; HoustonSudburySchool.org
Cost: $300 per two-week session
Dates: June 4-15, June 18-29
Exclusive Discount: Additional $50 discount on second session when registering for both sessions (mention HOTC at registration). Sibling discount available.
Lutheran South
Type: Various
Description: Lutheran South Academy Pioneer Summer Camps are heating up! Each summer LSA offers a variety of camps available for your students! Anyone is welcome and encouraged to join the Pioneers as they take on the summer heat with camps that vary from athletics to robotics. Different camp options provide week long activities for students from 1st grade through 12th grade. Get a free T-shirt with your registration and sign up for as many camps as you can fit into your summer schedule!
Listed below are the camps available each week. Check out the website below to find out more information for your students!
June 4-7: Power, Pride, PE, Lunch Bunch, Summer Fun, Girls Volleyball, Boys Volleyball, Pottery, Book Creator Piano, Brenden Keyes Soccer
June 11-14: Power, Pride, Photo, soccer, baseball, tennis, boys basketball, lunch bunch, handcraft, robotics, piano
June 18-21: Power, Pride, softball, football, tennis, girls basketball, lunch bunch, art, robotics, piano
June 25-28: Power, Pride, Summer Basketball, piano
July 9-12: Power, Pride, Camp College, robotics, sewing
July 16-19: Power, Pride, Trevino Soccer Camp
Location: 12555 Ryewater Dr. Houston, TX 77089
Contact: Website
Cost: $75-$250
Dates: June 4- July 19
Exclusive Discount: HOTC readers get 5% off! Use code: HOTC5 to receive your camp discount!
Character Camp
Character Camp imparts leadership skills and creates character while teaching the fundamentals music, physical fitness, robotics, math, and aviation! The tuition covers the necessary round-trip transport from Houston to Palacios, as well as all activities, and room and board. Kids will experience a week filled with creativity, companionship, intellectual stimulation, and positive peer interactions. Sign up early for special discounts!
Character Camp is native to the Houston area, and is a nationally acclaimed premier youth organization. We’ve been around for 30+ years. Every year, our Leadership Retreat offers a unique opportunity to provide campers with a fun and wholesome experience with new friends and fellow campers.
Location: Port Palacios Summer Camp, Palacios, Tx. Transportation from Houston provided.
Dates:July 15, 2018 – July 20, 2018
Phone: 1-844-OUR-CAMP
Website: www.charactercamp.net
Cost: $450
Exclusive Discount: $75 off with code EB415 if registered before April 15th; $50 off with code EB515 if registered by May 15th
Alley Play Makers
Play Makers participants join their peers for a full rotation of group activities designed to help even the most timid child find the confidence to step onto the stage. Alley Master Teaching Artists guide fun and informative lessons that teach theatre skills in improvisation, dance and movement, visual story-telling, and character development. Your young creative masterminds will learn performance skills here that they will use their whole lives.
Location: Gregory-Lincoln Education Center, 1101 Taft St., Houston, TX 77019
Dates: June 4-15 (Session A), June 18-29 (Session B), July 9-20 (Session C), July 23-August 3 (Session D)
Phone: (713) 315-5424
Website: www.AlleyTheatre.org/PlayMakers
Cost: $575 for two-week session (additional fees for AM and PM extended care)
Exclusive Discount: $50 off Session A and/or B with code PMCHEAP18
Cheap Houston Summer Camps
Bellaire Parks & Recreation Department
Children ages 5-12 are eligible to take part in Fast Forwards Kids camp through the Bellaire Parks & Recreation Department. Topics ranging from Young builders and Drone junior flight camp to things like Junior engineers. Part time day or evening and full day camp options are available. Along with Fast Forward, Bellaire Parks and Rec hosts a variety of other camps including American Robotics Academy, Houston Sports Adventures, and Mad Science Secret Agent Lab. You can find the full list here for camps ranging in price from $125 to $380. Camps are available from June 4-8 to August 20-24.
Cost: $125
Date: July 30-August 3 (8 am – Noon, 11:30 am – 1:30 pm, 1 pm – 4 pm, 2 pm – 4 pm, 8 am – 3 pm, 9am – 4 pm)
Location: Bellaire Recreation Center, 7008 5th Street, Bellaire. (713) 662-8280. Sign up at location.
City Church Houston: Musical Theater Camp
City Church Houston offers a fun week filled with acting, art, music, and Bible lessons. The week will work towards the creation of a musical that concludes the camp. Campers meet at MATCH theater in Midtown each day from 9 am to Noon. On Friday, a performance will be held at 11:30 am at MATCH. Campers need to be anywhere from rising Kindergarten to 5th grade to attend. Register online here. A 50% discount is available if parent’s volunteer at the camp.
Cost: $75 for one child ($65 for each additional child)
Dates: July 16-20, 9 am – noon
Location: Midtown Arts & Theater Center Houston (MATCH), 3400 Main St. Houston, TX 77002
The Foundry: Preschool Camps
There are three summer camp options open to preschoolers at either the Fry Rd or Jones Rd campuses of The Foundry. Camp dates and locations are below and run from 9 am to noon for $85.
- Preschool Art Camp (July 9-13) at Fry Rd. campus
- Jr! Science Camp (July 16-20) at Jones Rd. campus
- Preschool Under the Sea Camp (July 23-27) at Jones Rd. campus
The Foundry: Upward Basketball & Cheerleading Summer Skills Camp
Children who love sports and physical activity can partake in either Basketball or Cheerleading camps! The Foundry offers Cheerleading camp for Kindergarten to 6th graders. Kids receive t-shirts, pompoms, and a water bottle. They will perform for parents on the final day of camp. All cheerleaders have camp from 9 am – 12 pm. Basketball is split up by ages with a group of Kindergarten to 2nd grade and another session for 3rd to 5th graders.
Cost: $100
Dates: July 23-27, 9 am – noon (ages K-2nd grade) or 1 pm – 4 pm (3rd to 5th grade)
Location: 8350 Jones Road
The Foundry: Shipwrecked: Vacation Bible School
Kids will have the chance to venture to an uncharted island where they will be able to thrive and survive using a variety of fun and thought-provoking daily activities. Dates at the Fry Road Campus are also available from June 18 to 22 at the same time.
Cost: $20 (discounts for siblings are available online)
Dates: June 11-15, 9 am – Noon for students K – 6th grade
Location: 8350 Jones Road
Houston Parks & Rec Department: Summer Enrichment Program
Kids age 6-13 are eligible to enjoy plenty of summer fun during a variety of full-day summer camp programs. Activities will include nutrition, crafts, fun fitness, nature exploration, junior golf, soccer, computer literacy, bird watching, track and field, swimming, hiking, and much more! Registration is available online at www.houstonparks.org
Cost: $30/week
Dates: various dates from June to August; full days 8 am – 5 pm or 6 pm (Dependent on camp dates)
Location: 54 Houston-area HPRD community centers
Lone Star College Discovery Kids
Lone Star College offers a variety of summer half-day camps and programs for children ages 6 to 14. Prices are reasonable, starting at $115 per week with either Morning (7:30 am to 12:30 pm) or Afternoon (12:30 pm to 4:50 pm) sessions available. A variety of camps/classes are available such as robotics, food science, computer animation, backyard detectives, space, old-school games, and much more! Camps and classes are available at one of six campus locations.
Cost: $115/wk Monday – Friday; 7:30 am – 12:30 pm or 12:30 pm – 4:50 pm
Dates: Sessions available starting June 11 and ending July 12. Sessions last for 5 days.
Contact: www.lonestar.edu/DiscoveryCollege
Locations: LCS-CyFair, LCS-Montgomery, LCS-North Harris, LCS-University Park, LCS-Tomball, LSC-Creekside Center
Messiah Lutheran Church: Camp Hope Day Camp
The theme for Camp Hope’s summer day camp is The Great Adventure. The day will be filled with bible stories, crafts, games, songs, and on some days splash play. Kids from 5 years old through 6th grade are eligible to sign up and will be paired into groups of children based on age. Make sure to register by June 1 to ensure your children get a camp t-shirt! Scholarships are available. Find more details here.
Cost: $85 (for the first child), $80 (each additional); Before Care is $20/week (7:30 am – 9:30 am) and After Care is available for $20/week (3:30 pm – 6 pm).
Dates: July 9-13, July 16-20, July 23-27; 9:30 am – 3:30 pm
Location: Messiah Lutheran Church, 11522 Telge Road, Cypress
Mark Kistler’s Summer Art Camp
Mark Kistler is known for his work on PBS, “Mark Kistler’s Imagination Station” or “The Secret City” in the 1980s. Now this Emmy-award winning artist is available to teach kids age 6 to 16 3D art and drawing in a four-day summer day camp. Mark explores a new theme daily that will teach your children different techniques from drawing to more advanced art techniques. Sign up starts with a one-hour, 4-day art camp, but more sessions are available and can allow your kids to stay part of the day! Get full details here!
Cost: Prices start at $99 for 4 one-hour sessions, one per day. Session times will be divided by age group.
Dates: June 12-15 morning (Trinity Lutheran/Spring, TX) or afternoon (Woodlands Art League/Spring) June 25-28 (Sugar Land Art Center, Sugar Land), July 16-20 (Trinity Lutheran), July 23-27 (Sugar Land Art Center)
FREE Summer Camps in Houston
Destiny Sports Camp
StoneBridge Church offers a sports came which is a free 4-day camp. Kids from 1st grade to 6th grade are eligible to attend. The camp is run by local professional coaches and/or college athletes. All skill levels are welcome to attend and will learn and be included. A variety of sports options are available. Camp wraps up with a Victory Celebration Party offering activities for kids of every age, live music, food, and an awards presentation from the coaches. Sports options range from dance and football to golf, baseball, and numerous other sports. Registration starts April 23 at noon. A $20 registration fee is required this year, though the actual camp is free.
Date: June 4-7, 8:45 am to noon
Location: One StoneBridge Church Drive, The Woodlands
Camp Spike ‘N’ Wave®
Camp Spike ‘n’ Wave® gives kids age 8 to 14 with epilepsy the chance to explore a fun, residential, fully accessible camping experience. This summer camp is completely free to children with epilepsy courtesy of The Epilepsy Foundation Texas.
At Camp Spike ‘n’ Wave® campers have the chance to create lasting friendships, build self-esteem, and participate in traditional camp activities like swimming, boating, nature hikes, group sports, and arts and crafts.
Download an application here. Registration is now open and needs to be complete by June 3.
Date: June 10-16
Location: Camp For All, Burton, TX
Camp Neuron
Kids from 8 to 14 that also have epilepsy can attend Camp Neuron absolutely free. The Epilepsy Foundation Texas provides this opportunity for families of children with epilepsy to provide them with a unique and amazing residential camping experience.
Camp Neuron gives kids a chance to make friends for life, to build their self-esteem, and to enjoy all the best parts of camp from craft projects to boating activities!
Applications are available here. Registration is currently open and needs to be submitted by June 24.
Date: July 8-14
Location: Texas Lions Camp, Kerville, TX
Kamp Kaleidoscope®
Kamp Kaleidoscope® is a residential camp for teenagers (ages 15-19) who are also living with epilepsy. This worthwhile camping experience is provided by free by The Epilepsy Foundation Texas.
Kamp Kaleidoscope® provides campers with a true camp experience. Teens will make friends, experience different social situations, and do all the fun things campers do from group sports to swimming.
Get your application here. Registration can be completed online. You’ll need to submit your registration by June 23.
Date: July 1-7
Location: YMCA Collin County Adventure Camp, Anna, TX
How can I add a camp in the Houston area to this website?
Thanks for sharing this.
Sure, I hope it’s helpful!
Vicki