Summer Camps for Kids Near Harrisonburg, VA

The few spring-like days recently have perhaps reminded you that summer is just around the corner! Have you considered finding some summer camps in Harrisonburg, VA and the surrounding areas to keep your kids active and engaged? There are many benefits in attending a summer camp: making new friends, having time to pursue a specific interest or hobby, being exposed to new activities, spending time in nature, and getting exercise!  Also, many of these camps are focused on teaching children a new skill like horseback riding or dance!  Whether your children like crafts, sports, dancing or horses, here are some summer camps in or near Harrisonburg, VA for you to consider.

Summer Camps in/near Harrisonburg, VA

Explore More Discovery Museum in Harrisonburg offers a wide variety of summer camps for ages 3-½ to 5 and 6 to 14. Since registration opened earlier this week, many of their camps are already full; if you are interested, you’ll need to act fast! You can also be asked to be put on a wait-list in case a spot opens up.  Half-day camps cost $155 ($125 for members) for 5 days and full-day camps run $310 ($250 for members) for 5 days.

JMU has many summer camp options exploring topics such as robotics, 3-D printing, and science. If you’re looking for a summer camp that will provide tons of time outdoors, look no further than their Arboretum Explorer Camps! Their camps are for rising kindergartners up to high school seniors.

Camp UREC is a day-camp at James Madison University centered around various themes such as space, animals, Disney, etc.  No matter the theme, all camps will involve exercise, play and lots of fun!  The hours are 8:30am to 4:30pm and it costs $195/week.  There are two different sections based on age but, overall, the camp serves ages 5-12 (rising kindergartners through rising eighth graders).

Blue Ridge Community College’s “Learning Creates Brighter Futures” programs are for rising 2nd through 12th graders and are Monday-Friday from 9am – noon unless otherwise stated.  Morning camps cost $195 while all-day outdoor Adventure camps cost $450 per child.  They offer a wide variety of topics such as sports, robotics, dance, theater, ceramics, building computers, pre-veterinary technology, water adventure and learning drone technology.  All camps are held at the Weyers Cave campus.

Netta Day Camp at Massanetta Springs is a weekly day-camp for children ages 6 – 12.  The regular hours are Monday – Friday from 8:15am – 5:15pm but early drop off and extended care are also available.  Daily activities include swimming, canoeing, arts and crafts, Bible study, and playing.

Blue Ridge Christian School offers tons of options for rising kindergartners through rising 8th graders.  Camps are either from 9-noon or 1-4pm.  Options include a wide range of topics such as art, music, sports, cooking, dance, stem-based programs, and more!

River Mountain Farm (aka “Art By Janine Aberg”) offers a variety of options for kids ages 4-13.  This Keezletown farm not only has Pony camps, but they also offer Art and Dance/gymnastics.   Children in the art camps will learn from drawing lessons, painting, art history, and more while the Dance/gymnastics classes are focused on choreography, movement, theatrical games and dance history.  Pony camp includes horsemanship, riding lessons, crafts and learning farm chores.

The Frontier Culture Museum in Staunton, VA offers week-long full-day (8:00am – 4:00pm) summer camps for children ages 5 to 12.  Children are split into groups by age: 5–8-year-olds and 9-12 year olds.  These camps are focused on living history and children will learn by participating in “activities such as feeding the livestock, fishing, singing and dancing, playing historic games, crafts, a lesson in the schoolhouse, and more.”   The cost is $165 per child for the week.

Snapology of Harrisonburg offers summer camps every week of the summer from 9:00 – 4:00 with locations in Mt. Crawford, Harrisonburg, and McGaheysville. Snapology camps include Robotics with LEGO® robotic sets & Coding, Technology, and Motorized programs with LEGO® motors, plus Themed Camps with LEGO® bricks (including Minecraft, Pokemon, Star Wars, Harry Potter, LEGO® Brick City, Mini-Figures, and more!). Each camp includes 15 hours of STEAM instruction and activities with 3 hours per day, Monday – Friday. Camps are offered from 9:00 am – 12:00 and 1:00 – 4:00 pm with the option to stay all day.

Little Roots Gardening Camp is hosting 8 weeks of camp options for children 4-6 or 7-11.  “We are providing a garden themed, week-long experience with hands on learning, projects and gardening play. Our theme for the week is Grow in the garden, Learn in the garden, Help in the garden, Play in the garden. We will be creating four projects that each camper will be able to take home at the end of the week! ”

First Tee is offering four week-long summer camps for children over the age of 10 that cost $250 per week.  These weekly camps alternate between Heritage Oaks Golf Course, Ironwood Golf Course, Lakeview Gold Course, and Shenvalee Golf Course. 

Rockin’ River Adventure Camp offers week-long camps for children ages 4-6 and/or 7-10.  Camps meet from 9am-noon or 1pm to 4pm.  Registration opens on February 3, 2024.

EMU’s Summer Musical Theatre Program hosts two three-week musical theatre intensives which each culminate in multiple public performances of a major musical production. Under the instruction of seasoned professionals, rising 4th-8th grade participants will write and perform a musical review in the Junior Program, and in the Senior Program, rising 9th through high school graduates will perform a feature contemporary musical–this summer’s will be Seussical the Musical! The Junior Program runs from June 24-July 13, Monday to Friday, 9:00AM-3:00PM, with final shows on Friday, July 12 and Saturday, July 13 at 7:00PM. The Senior Program runs from July 22-August 11, Monday to Friday, 9:00AM-5:00PM, with final shows Friday, August 9 at 7:00PM, Saturday, August 10 at 2:00PM and 7:00PM, and Sunday, August 11 at 2:00PM. 

Spanish Summer Camp  The Spanish Lab and Learning Center in Harrisonburg is offering three weeks of summer camp. Children will engage in language learning activities through games, stories, arts and crafts and cooking. We explore cultures from different Spanish speaking countries around the world. Dates: Week 1: 6/10 -6/14 Week 2: 6/16 – 6/21 Week 3: 6/24 – 6/28 Half Day: 8:30 – 3:30 Full Day: 8:30 – 3:30 Prices are $150/week for a half days and $300/week for full days. 

Friendly City Clay & Art Center offers camps for kids and teens, ages 7 through 19 years old!  They offer fun options such as making clay food and learning to use the pottery wheel.  You can read about the dates and times on their website.

Daytime & Overnight Summer Camps near Harrisonburg

Brethren Woods, in Keezletown, offers day camps and overnight camps throughout the summer for kindergarten all the way up to 12th grade! Do you have a child who is comfortable with day camp, but on the fence about staying overnight? Then try their 4-day day camp and pay an extra $30 to stay overnight after day camp ends to test out the overnight camp experience! A parent or grandparent can stay and go through the evening and morning routine along with the camper.

Camp Horizons is a “sleep-away” summer camp in Harrisonburg, so while you won’t find any day camp options here, they offer an amazing array of activities (over 50, according to their website!) for campers as young as 6 and as old as high school seniors. Click here for dates and rates.

Camp Overlook offers a variety of options for children!  Their “Jr Day Trekkers” camp is a full-week camp for grades Kindergarten – 2nd from 9am – 4:30pm.  They also offer full-week overnight camps that run from Sunday evening to Friday evening for grades 3-5 and revolve around different themes such as soccer, adventure, pioneering, etc.  Half-week overnight camps (Sunday-Tuesday or Wednesday-Friday) are also available for 2nd through 5th graders.  Their theme for 2022 is “Summer Prayer Olympics” – “Just as athletes train for the Olympics we will learn about and practice prayer as we train for our life in faith!  We will play games, spend time at the lake, create arts and crafts, and participate in camp Olympic games.  We will have a blast.  We may even get a little muddy in our mud pit before rinsing off in the lake.” (quote from their site)

Highland Retreat in Bergton, VA also offers a range of options for children ages 5 to 16.  They have day camp from 8am-5pm as well as half-week (Sunday-Tuesday) and full-week (Sunday-Friday) overnight options.  All camps involve activities such as nature studies, challenge course activities, swimming, worship and Bible study.  To figure out which camp theme to choose, see this helpful chart based on activities.

Horse/Riding Camps

Simmons Sport Horses LLC Summer Camp offers full day (8:30am – 3:00pm) one-week horse camp for various skill levels.  The minimum age for participating is 6 years old.  The price is $350 per camper with a $25 sibling discount.  For more information, you can find them on Facebook or or contact simmonssporthorses@gmail.com

River Mountain Farm (aka “Art By Janine Aberg”) offers a variety of options for kids ages 4-13.  This Keezletown farm not only has Pony camps, but they also offer Art and Dance/gymnastics.  Pony camp includes horsemanship, riding lessons, crafts and learning farm chores.

Memory Hill Stables in Waynesboro, VA will be offering two one-week Horseback Riding camps open to children ages 5-17.  The dates are June 24-28 and July 5-9.  Each day of camp, children will enjoy riding, arts and crafts, and basic horsemanship.  Participants are split into groups based on ability, from those who have no experience with horses to those who are experienced riders.  It’s a fun, educational week that is jam-packed with activities.

Kemper Knoll Stables & Top Notch Farm are partnering to offer Pony and Critter Camp for children ages 5 – 13. Morning sessions feature riding instruction with experienced Kemper Knoll instructors and school ponies. In addition to riding, campers will learn horsemanship and how to harness and drive miniature ponies. Campers will spend their afternoon sessions with Top Notch Farm staff learning about all types of farm critters – alpacas, pigs, goats and more! Their goal is to curate a one-of-a-kind learning experience for their campers. The 2022 camp dates are July 5-7 ($350) and July 25-28 ($450). Camps are from 9am to 5pm. Campers are placed in age appropriate groups and riding sessions are matched to each child’s current riding level.

VM Equestrian: more info coming soon

Farm Experience at Norsk Mountain Farm in Elkton, Virginia is offering one-week Horseback Riding camps open to children ages 7-17.  The camp is limited to 4 campers with two experienced teachers. Each camper will have their own horse or pony for the week to love, care for and ride. The full day camp runs 8:30am – 3:30pm, Monday – Thursday.  Each session offers an immersive horse and farm experience. Come for one week or spend the summer on the farm. Each day of camp, children will enjoy riding, caring for and feeding their special equine and a variety of farm animals including bottle feeding the farm animal babies,arts and crafts, games and horsemanship. The price is $400 per camper. Email us at: FarmExperienceNMF@gmail.com for more details and an application. We also offer home schooler experiences during the school year.

Farm/Nature-Based Camps

Emerald Hill Farm LLC in McGaheysville, VA offers week-long morning camps (8:30am-12:30pm) for children ages 3-6 and 7-10.  Children will get hands-on experience caring for animals and lessons about working on the farm.  Other activities include story time, arts and crafts, and free play.

App Forest School – Little Explorers Club is “a summer experiential education program for children ages three to five, with an emphasis on play and discovery.”  Camp options are Monday/Wednesday or Tuesday/Thursday from 9am – 3pm beginning June 6 through August 4th.  It looks like the camps are full already but there is a waitlist you can sign up to be on for 2022-2025.

Fern Hollow Forest School Summer Camp is for children ages 3 to 12 and revolve around nature-based education.  Camps are Monday through Friday, 9am to 4pm. The rates are $285 per week per child.

Cambium Nature School offers weekly, full day (9 am – 3 pm) camp options for children ages 5-12. Registration begins in early March. Camps will be 100% outdoors and themes will include herbalism, wild cooking, fiber arts, natural dyeing and more! Each week will focus on a fun skill with projects for children to work on and take home at the end of the week!

Riprap Adventure Camp in Harrisonburg offers outdoor adventure and environmental education-focused summer day camps for ages 6-8 and ages 9-11. The camp is a travel program that explores the public lands all over the valley to hike, climb, tube, and cave. The program runs Monday through Friday from 8:45 am – 4:15 pm starting at $395 a week.

I hope this list is helpful!  I will continue to add more camps to it as I find them so please send any missing my way!  No matter which summer camp in Harrisonburg, VA or Rockingham County you choose, I hope that you and your kids have a fabulous summer!

Get ready for summer by checking out this blog about local swim lessons.