338 camps found • Ages 1–22 • Prices from $21/week
Palo Alto's summer camp market is shaped by two forces: Stanford University and a highly engaged parent community that researches and registers early. The result is a camp ecosystem that emphasizes academic enrichment and STEM, but also has genuine depth in arts, sports, and outdoor programming — particularly for families willing to look beyond the headline names.
Stanford's campus is the defining feature of Palo Alto's camp landscape. The university hosts a range of summer programs through its schools and departments — from the Stanford Pre-Collegiate Studies academic intensives to the Bing Nursery School's summer sessions for young children. Stanford's sports facilities also host independent sports camps in swimming, tennis, and soccer that draw families from across the Peninsula.
The Palo Alto City Camp system is one of the most organized in the Bay Area. Parks & Recreation runs structured programs at Mitchell Park, Rinconada Park (with its community pool), and Greer Park. These programs are competitively priced compared to private options and serve as a backbone for many Palo Alto families who spread a summer across city camps and one or two private weeks.
In the College Terrace and Barron Park neighborhoods, several independent camp providers run programs from private school and community center facilities. The Palo Alto JCC (Jewish Community Center) operates one of the larger local camps, open to all families and covering arts, sports, and enrichment tracks for ages 3–15.
Technology programs are naturally strong here — iD Tech's presence in the area, robotics programs from providers like iFly Science, and coding camps targeting middle schoolers are all well-represented. Parents of middle schoolers specifically should investigate Stanford's Online High School summer sessions, which run in-person intensives on campus.
One practical note for Palo Alto families: parking and drop-off at Stanford-adjacent programs can be constrained. Many families use the Caltrain Palo Alto station for older kids in camps near University Avenue. Register early — Palo Alto is one of the fastest-selling camp markets in the Bay Area, with popular programs selling out by January for the following summer.
Last updated: 2026-05-03
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A focused week of jazz dance technique combined with acrobatic training and a Friday showcase.
4000 Middlefield Rd
Palo Alto Speech and Debate Camp (PASDC) improves kids’ critical thinking and public speaking skills in a fun, social camp setting. Many campers attend both Speech (AM) and Debate (PM) sessions for a full-day, week-long comprehensive experience.
50 Embarcadero Avenue Road
Palo Alto Speech and Debate Camp (PASDC) improves kids’ critical thinking and public speaking skills in a fun, social camp setting. Many campers attend both Speech (AM) and Debate (PM) sessions for a full-day, week-long comprehensive experience.
50 Embarcadero Avenue Road
A beginner-friendly camp where students explore coding fundamentals by making games and animations using block-based coding in Pencilcode, Scratch, and Kodu.
4050 Middlefield Rd
Extended care for campers ages 5-14 featuring field games at the park, additional open swim time, and supervised recreational activities.
777 Embarcadero Road
Make media with us in our camps, classes, workshops and after school programs! Programs in Filmmaking, Acting and Digital Animation.
900 San Antonio Road
Afternoon care program for students attending PAUSD summer school, held at Camp EPIC (Palo Verde) and Little Campers (Besse Bolton).
3450 Louis Road
One-on-one sessions for competitive swimmers focused on improving specific aspects of stroke technique, starts, turns, or overall race strategy.
Applied Computing Foundation is an exciting place to intrigue and empower students and communities with coding. We encourage participation in science fairs competitions and hackathons to create team solutions.
4000 Middlefield Rd.
We provide engaging and unique learning enrichment activities including camps, classes, events, and pop-up maker spaces on the Peninsula in the San Francisco Bay Area.
303 Parkside Drive
Multi-sensory reading strategies, real-world math, creative writing, and hands-on engineering projects
525 San Antonio Avenue, Palo Alto, CA, 94306
BayAreaChess provides everyone with enjoyable activities that develop intellectual, mathematical, analytical, visual, and personal skills.
505 East Charleston Road
ActivityHero is proud to host local and virtual fairs throughout the year -- featuring summer camps and after-school activities. This year's camp fair will be online so you can attend from home!
50 Embarcadero Road
BayAreaChess provides everyone with enjoyable activities that develop intellectual, mathematical, analytical, visual, and personal skills.
505 East Charleston Road
Advanced training for competitive players aged 7-17 with high ratings, focusing on master-level chess theory and strategy.
Unit. Univ. Church of Palo Alto
An advanced chess camp for players with a USCF rating of 800+ or Chesskid 1400+, featuring professional instruction, daily lectures, and USCF-rated games.
505 East Charleston Road
Drop-in group instruction and play sessions in Palo Alto for beginner and intermediate scholastic chess players.
Engaging chess camp sessions in Palo Alto available in morning and afternoon blocks, suitable for all skill levels.
Unit. Univ. Church of Palo Alto
Casual, in-person weekend chess clubs offering open play and learning opportunities in Palo Alto and Cupertino.
Unit. Univ. Church of Palo Alto
Inclusive day camp pairing participants with teen buddies for crafts, games, outdoor play, and sensory-friendly activities
3921 Fabian Way #A023, Palo Alto, CA, 94303
Spend a week discovering the salt marsh, exploring Byxbee Park, and learning about plants and birds through science and activities.
2775 Embarcadero Way
Nature-led outdoor programs featuring garden investigations, earth science detective work, and environmental science games.
Stevens Creek Park
Monthly service learning field trips focused on social-emotional development and environmental stewardship at locations like Save the Bay.
Palo Alto, CA 94301
Advanced nature programs for tweens and teens focusing on ancestral skills, leadership, and deep connection to the land.
Foothills Park
A perfect introduction to lacrosse for boys and girls with no previous experience, focusing on fundamentals in a positive environment with free loaner equipment.
2700 El Camino Real
Foundational lacrosse training for boys and girls using methodic fundamental teaching with loaner gear available.
2700 El Camino Real
Best in Class students benefit from individual attention, active instruction in small groups, and engaging course material aligned with common standards. Our programs move K-12 students of all abilities towards the top of their class.
490 California Ave. Suite 100
A structured lacrosse program for high school and strong 14U boys featuring pickup-style games in full field or Sixes formats, supervised by area coaches.
2700 El Camino Real
Tailored for grades 3-5, campers engage with LEGO Robotics, Micro:bits, and Scratch coding while participating in creative MakerSpace challenges and outdoor sports.
50 Embarcadero Road
Master basketball essentials like shooting, dribbling, and defense through engaging drills and games aligned with SHAPE America’s National Standards.
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Stanford hosts multiple summer programs for K-12 students, ranging from sports camps using university facilities to pre-collegiate academic intensives for high schoolers through Stanford Pre-Collegiate Studies. The Bing Nursery School also runs summer sessions for young children. Check Stanford's specific program websites as registration processes vary.
Palo Alto camps run $400–$750/week for full-day private programs, reflecting the area's high cost of living. City parks programs are more affordable at $200–$350/week. Stanford-affiliated academic programs for older kids can run $800–$1,500/week. Financial aid is available at the JCC and several other providers.
Register by January for the most competitive Palo Alto programs — this is one of the earliest-selling camp markets in the Bay Area. City parks programs open in February. If you missed January registration, waitlists at top programs often move in March as families consolidate their plans.
Yes — Foothills Park (Palo Alto residents only) hosts nature programs. The Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District runs programs in the hills above Palo Alto. Several providers use the Arastradero Preserve for outdoor adventure camps. These programs tend to be smaller and fill quickly.
Ages 6–12 have the widest selection in Palo Alto, with strong options in STEM, arts, and sports. Ages 13–17 have excellent academic and technology programs, particularly through Stanford-affiliated providers. Younger children (ages 3–5) are well served by JCC, city parks, and several preschool-run summer sessions.
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