Best Summer Camps in Marin County for Kids in 2026

Marin County is one of the Bay Area's best-kept secrets for summer camps. Nestled between the Pacific coastline and Mount Tamalpais, the county's camps draw from the same redwood forests, tidal marshes, and open spaces that make it one of the most desirable places to live in Northern California. And unlike the hyper-competitive camp scenes in San Francisco or Palo Alto, Marin's programs tend to be smaller, more community-rooted, and deeply connected to the natural landscape.

This guide covers the top summer camp options across Marin's key cities — Mill Valley, San Rafael, Novato, Sausalito, Fairfax, and Corte Madera — with real pricing, age ranges, and what sets each program apart.

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Mill Valley: Where Nature Meets Summer Camp

Mill Valley's camps benefit from the town's proximity to Muir Woods and Mount Tamalpais, making outdoor programming a natural strength.

Wildwood YMCA Camp

Ages: 5-15 | Price: $425/week | Financial aid: Yes

The YMCA's Wildwood Camp is one of Marin's most established outdoor programs. Kids spend their days hiking, swimming, and doing group activities in the redwood-shaded grounds near Mill Valley. The Y's sliding-scale financial aid makes this one of the most accessible options in the county.

Mill Valley Recreation Summer Day Camp

Ages: 4-15 | Price: $350/week

Run by the city's recreation department, this camp offers a solid mix of sports, arts, and nature activities at a price point well below private programs. Extended care is available for working parents who need before- and after-camp coverage.

Camp Funderblast Mill Valley

Ages: 5-12 | Price: $420/week

A multi-activity day camp combining sports, arts, and nature exploration. Camp Funderblast is popular with families looking for a well-rounded program that keeps kids active and engaged without over-specializing.

Mill Valley Recreation Art Camp

Ages: 5-12 | Price: $380/week

For creative kids, this dedicated art camp focuses on hands-on projects — painting, sculpture, mixed media — in a supportive, low-pressure environment. Smaller group sizes mean more individual attention.

Marin Horizon School Summer Camp

Ages: 5-6 | Price: $400/week

This school-based program is specifically designed for the youngest campers transitioning from preschool to kindergarten. The curriculum blends nature exploration, arts, and early social skills in a nurturing campus setting.

Legends Baseball Mill Valley

Ages: 7-13 | Price: $550/week | Financial aid: Yes

A specialized sports camp for baseball and softball enthusiasts. Legends Baseball offers professional-level coaching adapted for kids, with programs that accommodate different skill levels including players with special needs.

San Rafael: Marin's Hub for Camp Variety

As the county seat, San Rafael has the broadest selection of camps spanning everything from STEM to Shakespeare.

City of San Rafael Summer Kids Camp

Ages: 5-11 | Price: $280/week | Financial aid: Yes

One of the most affordable options in all of Marin County. The city-run program covers sports, arts, and nature activities, and the financial aid program makes it genuinely accessible. If you're watching your budget, this is the place to start.

San Rafael STEM & Engineering Camp

Ages: 6-12 | Price: $350/week

A focused STEM program covering robotics, engineering challenges, and hands-on science. At $350/week, it hits a sweet spot between affordability and specialized instruction. For a broader look at STEM options across the Bay Area, see our guide to STEM summer camps.

Marin Shakespeare Summer Camp

Ages: 8-18 | Price: $500/week

One of Marin's most distinctive programs. Campers rehearse and perform Shakespeare plays in an outdoor amphitheater setting. This is a serious theater camp — kids walk away with performance experience, not just craft projects. Great for creative, verbal kids who thrive on stage.

Marin YMCA Traditional Summer Camp

Ages: 5-14 | Price: $420/week | Financial aid: Yes

A classic multi-activity camp with swimming, sports, arts, and nature programming. The YMCA's financial aid program is one of the most generous in Marin, making this a strong option for families across income levels.

Marinwood Summer Day Camp

Ages: 3-12 | Price: $322/week

One of the few Marin programs accepting children as young as 3. Marinwood's camp includes swimming, sports, arts, and nature in a community-center setting that feels safe and manageable for younger kids.

Osher Marin JCC Camp Kehillah

Ages: 4-15 | Price: $550/week | Financial aid: Yes

A comprehensive community camp with an inclusive philosophy. Camp Kehillah offers swimming, sports, arts, nature activities, and optional specialty tracks. The financial aid program ensures the camp serves families across the economic spectrum.

Novato, Fairfax, and Beyond

Novato Parks & Rec: Camp Ton-of-Fun

Ages: 6-12 | Price: $300/week | Financial aid: Yes

The name says it all. Novato's city-run camp combines arts, sports, and nature at one of the lowest price points in the county. Financial aid is available, and there's a dedicated program for younger campers (ages 5-7) at $250/week called Camp Ton-of-Fun Minis.

Love2Dance Summer Dance Camp (Novato)

Ages: 4-16 | Price: $350/week

A dance-focused camp offering instruction across multiple styles. Good for kids who want to spend their summer moving — without the competitive pressure of a year-round dance studio.

Mt Tam Bikes Summer Camp (Fairfax)

Ages: 8-16 | Price: $650/week

Fairfax's Mt Tam Bikes runs one of the only dedicated mountain biking camps in the Bay Area. Campers ride the trails around Mount Tamalpais with experienced guides. This is a specialty camp for kids who are comfortable on two wheels and ready for real trail riding.

Marin GreenPlay Camp (Corte Madera)

Ages: 5-8 | Price: $345/week (half day)

A nature and science-focused half-day program ideal for younger kids who aren't ready for a full camp day. GreenPlay emphasizes outdoor exploration, nature journaling, and hands-on science in Corte Madera's parks and open spaces.

Bay Area Discovery Museum Summer Discovery Camp (Sausalito)

Ages: 3-10 | Price: $475/week

Located at the foot of the Golden Gate Bridge, the Discovery Museum's camp combines arts, science, and nature exploration in one of the most spectacular settings in the Bay Area. The museum's exhibits become the classroom, and Sausalito's waterfront provides the backdrop.

Marin County Camp Planning Tips

Registration timing. Marin camps generally open registration in January and February. City-run programs (San Rafael, Novato, Mill Valley) tend to fill more slowly than private programs, but the most popular weeks still go fast. For a detailed registration timeline, see our Bay Area registration guide.

Budget planning. Marin camp prices range from $250/week (Novato Minis) to $650/week (Mt Tam Bikes), with a median around $400/week. City-run programs are consistently the most affordable, and four programs in this guide offer financial aid: Wildwood YMCA, City of San Rafael, Novato Parks & Rec, Marin YMCA, and Osher Marin JCC. For more on financial aid options, see our Bay Area camp financial aid guide.

Transportation. Marin's towns are spread out, and public transit options are limited compared to San Francisco or Oakland. Most families drive. If you're commuting from the East Bay or San Francisco, factor in Golden Gate Bridge traffic during drop-off and pickup times.

Multi-week planning. Many Marin families piece together different camps across the summer — a nature camp one week, a sports camp the next, an arts camp after that. This mix-and-match approach works well but requires planning. KidPlanr's calendar tool helps you see all your camps in one visual timeline.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the average cost of summer camps in Marin County?

Summer camp prices in Marin County range from $250 to $650 per week for day camps. City recreation programs (San Rafael at $280/week, Novato at $300/week) offer the most affordable options. The county median is approximately $400/week, with financial aid available at several YMCA and community programs.

What age can kids start summer camp in Marin?

Several Marin camps accept children as young as 3 years old, including Marinwood Summer Day Camp ($322/week) and Bay Area Discovery Museum Summer Discovery Camp in Sausalito ($475/week). Most programs start at age 5, and a few specialized programs like Mt Tam Bikes begin at age 8.

Are there financial aid options for Marin County summer camps?

Yes. At least five programs in Marin County offer financial aid or sliding-scale pricing: Wildwood YMCA Camp, City of San Rafael Summer Kids Camp, Novato Parks & Rec Camp Ton-of-Fun, Marin YMCA Traditional Summer Camp, and Osher Marin JCC Camp Kehillah. The YMCA programs are particularly well-known for generous aid.

What are the best outdoor camps in Marin County?

Marin County excels at outdoor programming. Top nature and outdoor camps include Wildwood YMCA Camp (Mill Valley), Marin GreenPlay Camp (Corte Madera), Mt Tam Bikes Summer Camp (Fairfax), and Bay Area Discovery Museum Summer Discovery Camp (Sausalito). Many of these programs take advantage of Mount Tamalpais trails and Marin's extensive open space preserves.

Prices and availability are current as of March 2026. Registration deadlines and program details may change — verify directly with each camp.

Ready to plan your Marin County summer? Start building your family's camp schedule on KidPlanr — it's free.