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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I Don't Wanna Grow Up Kids Camp is all about kids being free to play in the outdoors. We will take kids to some of the most beautiful locations and let them enjoy nature. If we're doing our job your children will come home happy, tired and dirty.
600 E Meadow Dr
Designed to motivate and inspire kids to learn the fast-growing sport of pickleball, this camp focuses on agility, coordination, and stroke drills in a fun, supportive environment.
Palo Alto, CA 94301
Designed to motivate and inspire kids to learn the fast-growing sport of pickleball, this camp focuses on agility, coordination, and stroke drills in a fun, supportive environment.
Palo Alto, CA 94301
After-camp extension providing arts, play, and swimming at Rinconada Park until 6:00 p.m.
1120 Hopkins Ave
Entertaining and enriching LEGO® summer, spring & school break camps and LEGO® birthday parties for children ages 4 to 12 years old in the San Francisco Bay Area.
4000 Middlefield Rd #D6
A puppy-themed camp featuring dances and crafts inspired by Bluey and PAW Patrol.
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 healthy mix of project-based coding, digital art, and design -- plus teamwork-building activities, outdoor games, and activities in the park. CodeREV Kids Tech Camps provide a one-of-a kind camp experience for campers ages 6-17.
4050 Middlefield Rd
A healthy mix of project-based coding, digital art, and design -- plus teamwork-building activities, outdoor games, and activities in the park. CodeREV Kids Tech Camps provide a one-of-a kind camp experience for campers ages 6-17.
4050 Middlefield Rd
A healthy mix of project-based coding, digital art, and design -- plus teamwork-building activities, outdoor games, and activities in the park. CodeREV Kids Tech Camps provide a one-of-a kind camp experience for campers ages 6-17.
4050 Middlefield Rd
A healthy mix of project-based coding, digital art, and design -- plus teamwork-building activities, outdoor games, and activities in the park. CodeREV Kids Tech Camps provide a one-of-a kind camp experience for campers ages 6-17.
4050 Middlefield Rd
Learn to design 3D worlds and code custom game mechanics using Roblox Studio and the Lua programming language.
50 Embarcadero Road
Hands-on robotics camp featuring LEGO, VEX, and Arduino platforms where kids build, code, and compete in battles.
50 Embarcadero Road
An advanced camp for older children focused on building complex robots and learning the fundamentals of game design.
4161 Alma Street
For over a decade, Rose Debate has brought the world of speech and debate to students grades 1-12.
750 N California Ave
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
Woodworking and model building teaches kids how to use tools and create from scratch.
2729 Middlefield Road
A 5-day intensive where students analyze classic compositions and learn chord progressions and arrangements to write and perform their own original songs.
2645 Middlefield Road
Designed for beginners ages 8-12, this nurturing camp allows students to explore instruments through musical games and activities, culminating in a live concert for family and friends.
2645 Middlefield Road
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
Hands-on introduction to chemistry, physics, botany, architecture, and zoology for kindergarteners.
1305 Middlefield Rd
A fun introduction to science exploration and age-appropriate science play for preschoolers.
1305 Middlefield Rd
Code for fun envisions a future where all students grades K-12, develop creative skills through access to innovative computer science education.
4000 Middlefield Rd
Students work in teams using LEGO Mindstorms and other elements to build, program, and test autonomous robots to solve real-world challenges and missions.
Hands-on experimentation where students explore chemistry, physics, biology, and the scientific method through engaging experiments and LEGO-based activities.
A playful introduction to STEAM concepts for young children, focusing on colors, shapes, counting, and basic engineering using DUPLO bricks and Kid K'NEX.
This program uses LEGO bricks as a mechanism to help children develop social skills, display caring attitudes, and improve listening and teamwork abilities.
Adaptive Play provides a private, supportive, and nonjudgmental environment for children with special needs to play freely and work on specific developmental goals.
Highly engaging STEAM programs where children explore physics, engineering, and storytelling through popular themes like Pokemon, Minecraft, and Superheroes.
Showing 30 of 338 camps
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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