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
Tell us your child's age, interests, and location — our AI finds the best matches in seconds.
Learn to design characters and create digital masterpieces using Tux Paint software.
Designed for grades K-2, this camp sparks curiosity through themed STEM exploration, hands-on problem-solving, and daily sports sessions to build social and physical skills.
50 Embarcadero Road
For grades 6-8, this camp focuses on advanced robotics, AI coding with CodeCombat, and engineering challenges to hone critical thinking and innovative design skills.
50 Embarcadero Road
A hands-on food science program where young chefs explore culinary concepts and big ideas.
A hands-on program where students design, build, and create using various materials and tools.
A beginner's course focused on discovering music and learning the basics of rhythm and melody.
Yoga, fitness, and fun designed to help children build strength, flexibility, and mindfulness.
Combines physical movement, music, and introductory coding concepts for grades K-2.
Introduction to tennis skills including racket handling, footwork, and basic strokes.
Coding, game design, robotics, maker projects, creative arts, and team sports with daily outdoor play
50 Embarcadero Road, Palo Alto, CA, 94301
Building and programming LEGO robots, Technic models, stop‑motion films, simple machines, plus crafts and hands‑on STEM challenges
4000 Middlefield Rd #D5, Palo Alto, CA, 94303
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.
3450 Louis Rd.
A musical theater camp for older dancers featuring hits from Hamilton and Wicked with costume and prop making.
4000 Middlefield Rd
Young stars learn dances from Matilda, Frozen, and Mamma Mia while making their own props and costumes.
4000 Middlefield Rd
Woodworking and model building teaches kids how to use tools and create from scratch.
2729 Middlefield Road
Summer camps, cooking parties, and classes offered by Le Toque de Cindy focus on hands-on culinary experiences.
Chef Kitchen
Instrument technique, ensemble rehearsals, chamber music coaching, music history and theory, daily practice skills
21840 McClellan Rd, Cupertino, CA, 95014
Rediscover ancient technologies and famous inventions while exploring physics, chemistry, and astronomy.
1451 Middlefield Road
STEAM Summer Camp
4050 Middlefield Road
STEAM Summer Camp
4050 Middlefield Road
An all-around summer adventure featuring weekly themes including world cultures, culinary arts, outdoor exploration, and science experiments.
3450 Louis Road
Camp Galileo combines traditional summer camp excitement with a lasting innovative curriculum based in art, STEM & STEAM. For K – 10th graders at locations in the SF Bay Area, Southern California, Chicago, Seattle and Denver.
50 Embarcadero Rd
At Camp Imagineerz, we build "i-can" attitudes. Our goal is to help children become positive and confident makers. Children use their imagination to solve challenges, perform fun skits, and build exciting creations. Grades: Entering 1st to 3rd graders
445 E Charleston Rd
Explore physics and chemistry by building, breaking, and floating contraptions and concoctions.
1120 Hopkins Ave
A Paly Journalism Summer Camp. Camp MAC is run by staff members of Paly’s nationally recognized journalism program and introduces rising eighth and ninth graders to the journalistic skills the counselors have grown to love.
50 Embarcadero Rd.
Investigate mysteries of the deep sea, including underwater volcanoes, mountains, and ocean creatures.
1451 Middlefield Road
City of Palo Alto Camp Palo Alto for ages 3-4 at Mitchell Park Community Center. Preschool summer camp with age-appropriate activities, games, and creative play. Part of the Enjoy! summer camps program. Contact: 650.463.4904.
3700 Middlefield Rd, Palo Alto, CA 94303
Preschoolers enjoy camp crafts, silly songs, non-contact games, and water play at the Mitchell Park Splash Pad.
3700 Middlefield Road
Backpacking, hiking, swimming in alpine lakes, boating, rock climbing, crafts, and campfires
3921 E Bayshore Rd, Palo Alto, CA, 94303
Camp Unalayee wilderness summer camp for ages 10-17. Since 1949, a nonprofit camp in Northern California's Trinity Alps. Jump Into Summer (8 days, $1,750), Base Camp sessions (2 weeks, $3,100) with multi-day backpacking trips. Teaches confidence, compassion, community, and conservation. Camperships (financial aid) available.
3921 E Bayshore Rd, Palo Alto, CA 94303
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.
Browse all Palo Alto camps, filter by age and category, add to your calendar, and compare side-by-side on KidPlanr.
Search Palo Alto Camps on KidPlanr →Explore camps across all Bay Area cities, grouped by region.
Browse All Bay Area Summer Camps →Research the full camp market with pricing, category, and availability data.
Bay Area Camp Research →