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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In this special 5-day songwriting camp, students will analyze some of the greatest compositions of the last 60 years and learn how to write their own songs, culminating in a live performance.
2645 Middlefield Road
In this special 5-day songwriting camp, students will analyze some of the greatest compositions of the last 60 years and learn how to write their own songs, culminating in a live performance.
2645 Middlefield Road
A sparkly week of dancing, magical arts and crafts, and dress-up for unicorn-loving campers.
4000 Middlefield Rd
Summer camps, cooking parties, and classes offered by Le Toque de Cindy focus on hands-on culinary experiences.
Chef Kitchen
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 Road #D5
A cutting-edge program for aspiring doctors and scientists focusing on medical STEM topics and hands-on learning.
Palo Alto High School
A cutting-edge program for aspiring doctors and scientists focusing on medical STEM topics and hands-on learning.
Palo Alto High School
The world leader in STEM education offering 60+ weekly tech camps in Robotics, Coding, Game Design, and more at Palo Alto High School.
50 Embarcadero Rd
The world leader in STEM education offering 60+ weekly tech camps in Robotics, Coding, Game Design, and more at Palo Alto High School.
50 Embarcadero Rd
A highly flexible, self-directed camp where children choose their own activities including coding, sewing, baking, sports, and stop-motion animation. Lunch and snacks are included in the daily fee.
450 San Antonio Rd
Whatever your child’s passion, they can push their limits at our camp. Stop-motion animation, fashion, coding, baking, sports, music, dance, and so much more.
450 San Antonio Road
Steve & Kate's Camp in Palo Alto at Gideon Hausner Jewish Day School. Self-directed summer day camp where kids choose their own activities: film making, sewing, cooking, coding, sports, music, and art. Ages 4-13. June 15 - August 14, 2026. Lunch, snacks, and all hours 8am-6pm included. 15-day rate $99/day.
Gideon Hausner Jewish Day School, 450 San Antonio Rd, Palo Alto, CA 94306
A leadership development program for teens to gain experience as junior counselors while participating in self-directed camp activities.
450 San Antonio Rd
A self-directed summer camp where kids choose from activities like stop-motion animation, coding, sewing, baking, and sports. Lunch and snacks are included in the flexible daily or summer pass options.
450 San Antonio Rd
Kids explore logic, critical thinking, and social skills through a variety of engaging board and strategy games beyond just chess.
505 E Charleston Rd
Offering a variety of camps in several convenient locations -- including cooking, adventures, sports, fine arts, and more.
3450 Louis Rd.
Enjoy the benefits of playing tennis with Euro School of Tennis, located in the beautiful San Francisco Bay Area. We offer a full array of tennis programs for children and adults, including after school sports programs, Tennis, Soccer and Floor Hockey.
NA
Inclusive summer day camp for children and teens with and without developmental disabilities. Peer-model pairing, field trips, arts and crafts, cooperative games, and social skill development in a sensory-friendly environment.
525 East Charleston Road, Palo Alto, CA 94306
Trū is an independent, progressive elementary school near downtown Palo Alto serving students K – 5 that makes learning a transformative experience—a program designed to develop a growth mindset, leading children to richer and more meaningful lives.
625 Hamilton Ave
Learn special acrobatic tricks and hip hop moves inspired by your favorite superhero movies.
4000 Middlefield Rd
Designed for kids ages 7-12, this camp includes daily professional swim instruction, field activities like relays and crafts, and supervised open swim time.
777 Embarcadero Road
Taste Buds Kitchen summer cooking camps in Palo Alto for ages 4-17. Half-day camps teaching baking and cooking foundational skills with different weekly themes and recipes from around the world. Build confidence in the kitchen and make new friends. Drop-off program at 2775 Middlefield Rd.
2775 Middlefield Rd, Palo Alto, CA 94306
Take Minecraft skills to the next level with advanced building techniques and redstone mechanisms.
4161 Alma Street
Explore engineering and physics concepts by building moving LEGO projects that demonstrate kinetic energy.
4161 Alma Street
A creative LEGO building and technology camp inspired by the world of Super Mario.
4161 Alma Street
Younger builders collaborate in Minecraft to create massive structures and explore engineering concepts.
4161 Alma Street
Combines hands-on robotics building with computer game design for older campers.
4161 Alma Street
Build and program LEGO EV3 robots for tasks like jousting and racing, then spend afternoons designing games in Scratch.
4161 Alma Street
A rigorous, pre-college 2-week experience for teens providing industry insights and portfolio building in machine learning, VR, and game dev.
50 Embarcadero Rd
TheatreWorks Silicon Valley PlayMakers summer camp at Duveneck Elementary School in Palo Alto for grades K-5. Campers create a play each session, writing, rehearsing, and presenting original stories on stage. Practice acting, playwriting, music, movement, and stagecraft. 9am-3pm weekdays. Need-based scholarships and extended care available.
705 Alester Ave, Palo Alto, CA 94303
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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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