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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Explore choreography for jazz, contemporary, musical theater, and hip-hop, and create your own pieces.
4000 Middlefield Rd
A little bit of everything dance! Dancers will learn high-energy choreography in jazz, contemporary, musical theater, hip-hop, and more.
4000 Middlefield Rd
Dance Connection Palo Alto summer camps for ages 4-14. K-Pop, Musical Theatre, Hip Hop, ballet, and more. Daily dance classes with technique, choreography, and style exploration. Creative themed crafts each week, camp t-shirts, and Friday showcases.
4000 Middlefield Rd, Palo Alto, CA 94303
A self-directed summer camp where kids choose from activities like coding, sewing, baking, and robotics. Offers flexible scheduling with daily passes and inclusive meals and snacks.
450 San Antonio Rd
Make media with us in our camps, classes, workshops and after school programs! Programs in Filmmaking, Acting and Digital Animation.
900 San Antonio 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
Campers explore 3D modeling with Blender, edit photos with Adobe, and learn about 3D printing. The curriculum focuses on digital creation and modern artistic design.
50 Embarcadero Rd, Palo Alto, CA 94301
A foundation course where young campers learn to type, use computer programs, and begin basic coding logic with Scratch.
50 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
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
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
Summer camps, cooking parties, and classes offered by Le Toque de Cindy focus on hands-on culinary experiences.
Chef Kitchen
A Frozen-themed dance camp featuring arts & crafts, character-inspired play, and a Friday showcase.
4000 Middlefield Rd
Expository and creative writing workshops, paragraph and essay practice, and presentation skills with experienced teachers
2800 W Bayshore Rd, Palo Alto, CA, 94303
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
A magical week of dancing, sparkly dress-up, and fairy-themed arts and crafts projects.
4000 Middlefield Rd
A creative arts camp where students prepare and rehearse an original play or film, covering stage craft, acting, improv, dance, and set design.
445 E Charleston 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
Make media with us in our camps, classes, workshops and after school programs! Programs in Filmmaking, Acting and Digital Animation.
900 San Antonio Road
Developed specifically for middle schoolers, featuring longer hikes, sophisticated games, and weekly challenges.
3300 Page Mill Rd
Outdoor games, nature hikes, and cool crafts for older elementary students at Foothills Nature Preserve.
3300 Page Mill Rd
Features age-appropriate activities such as non-contact outdoor games, nature hikes, and cool crafts at Foothills Nature Preserve.
3300 Page Mill Rd
Middle schoolers in grades 6-8 learn professional coding skills and game design using popular platforms like Minecraft and CodeCombat.
Sacred Heart School
Middle schoolers in grades 6-8 learn professional coding skills and game design using popular platforms like Minecraft and CodeCombat.
Sacred Heart School
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
A structured girls lacrosse program for high school and advanced 14U players, focusing on game play and variety in competition through a pickup team format.
2700 El Camino Real
Greenmeadow Community Association in Palo Alto offers a variety of activities and programs for both kids & adults. For information about winter & spring swimming lessons, please check our website: www.greenmeadow.org or contact Anna: anna@greenme
303 Parkside Drive
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
Group vocal training focused on healthy singing techniques, diction, enunciation, and building song repertoire in a supportive NYU Tisch-style ensemble setting.
50 Embarcadero Rd
Learn different hip hop styles, fun tricks, and create superstar crafts in this high-energy camp.
4000 Middlefield Rd
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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