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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Swimming, arts and crafts, dance, science and engineering projects, theater, cooking, and diverse sports games
1310 Bryant Street, Palo Alto, CA, 94301
Castilleja School educates motivated young women to become confident thinkers and compassionate leaders with a sense of purpose to effect change in the world.
1310 Bryant Street
In-person chess camps for players of all levels (Level 1-4.5), featuring group instruction, demonstrations, puzzles, and organized games with outdoor lunch breaks at Mitchell Park.
505 East Charleston Road
Chess camps held at the Unitarian Universalist Church of Palo Alto, featuring multiple weekly sessions with both morning and afternoon options.
505 E Charleston Rd
Summer camps, cooking parties, and classes offered by Le Toque de Cindy focus on hands-on culinary experiences.
Chef Kitchen
A leadership opportunity for 7th-12th graders to mentor younger performers while learning technical and artistic aspects of musical theatre.
50 Embarcadero Rd
Formerly known as Cultural Kaleidoscope, this artists-in-the-schools program brings multi-disciplinary art lessons to elementary classrooms, integrating social studies, science, and language arts.
Palo Alto, CA 94301
Discover the art of origami during this recurring Sunday afternoon session at the Mitchell Park Library.
3700 Middlefield Rd.
A multi-session tennis class thoughtfully designed for neurodiverse players of all abilities at the Mitchell Park Tennis Courts.
3800 Middlefield Rd
A recurring hands-on program for youth to learn technical theatre skills, including lighting, sound, and stage management.
1305 Middlefield Road
A monthly theater production program for teens (ages 13 to High School) with rehearsals held after school and performances on weekends from September through May.
1305 Middlefield Road
In-person 3-session series of private coaching with a Children's Theatre Teaching Artist focusing on audition and acting techniques.
1305 Middlefield Road
An advanced 8-session program for grades 3-5 where students study four songs from a musical theatre classic and learn what it is like to rehearse and perform a musical.
Palo Alto, CA 94301
Theatre arts education for children and teens, offering a variety of classes in acting and performance during the spring semester.
1305 Middlefield Road
Virtual 1:1 private coaching sessions in partnership with Real Actors Lab, covering on-camera submissions, monologue work, and college acting applications.
Palo Alto, CA 94301
A free recurring event at the Junior Museum & Zoo exclusively for families with children who have disabilities to meet zoo animals up-close in a non-crowded environment.
Palo Alto, CA 94301
Exploration of combinatorics and advanced counting principles for middle school students.
Greene Middle School
Full school year Algebra I course focusing on foundational algebraic concepts.
Greene Middle School
Advanced Algebra II curriculum including Trigonometry for advanced students.
Greene Middle School
A comprehensive Basic Math II course held in-person at Greene Middle School.
Greene Middle School
Introductory algebra foundations class requiring a full school year commitment.
Greene Middle School
A transitional algebra program designed for students moving into higher-level mathematics.
Greene Middle School
Coach Ken Soccer offers after-school soccer classes, summer camps and school holiday camps.
4000 Nelson Drive
Coach Ken Soccer offers after-school soccer classes, summer camps and school holiday camps.
4000 Nelson Drive
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
Children are surrounded by learning opportunities in a safe and secure Dojo environment where they can unwind and build coding skills.
Palo Alto, CA 94301
Students learn to build 3D models using Blender software, covering modeling and design techniques used in Hollywood blockbuster hits.
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
Progressive coding tracks using Scratch, Python, and AI tools to help campers build intelligent programs and master computational thinking.
50 Embarcadero 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.
50 Embarcadero Rd
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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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