571 camps found • Ages 1–18 • Prices from $50/week
San Jose is the largest city in the Bay Area and home to one of the most diverse summer camp markets in Northern California. As the heart of Silicon Valley, the city naturally produces an outsized number of STEM and technology programs — but the camp scene extends far beyond coding. From the Guadalupe River Park trails to the lush grounds of Kelley Park, San Jose's geography supports a wide variety of outdoor adventure programs alongside the more structured academic camps.
Families in Willow Glen and Rose Garden gravitate toward arts programs at venues like the San Jose Museum of Art and the Children's Discovery Museum near the SAP Center. Almaden Valley parents often look south toward nature-based camps in the Almaden Quicksilver County Park corridor, while Berryessa and North San Jose families have strong access to YMCA and Parks & Recreation programs at the Alviso Environmental Education Center.
San Jose's Parks, Recreation and Neighborhood Services department runs one of the most extensive city camp systems in the Bay Area, with drop-in day camps at neighborhood recreation centers starting as low as $25/week for qualifying families. These programs are the best-kept secret for parents managing a tight summer budget — many fill up in February, so early registration is critical.
On the private side, Camp Galileo runs multiple San Jose sites with its signature project-based learning model targeting ages 4–10. iD Tech has a strong presence at San Jose State University and several private school campuses throughout the city, offering week-long intensives in coding, game design, and AI. Science camps from providers like Mad Science and California STEM offer half-day and full-day options for younger kids (ages 4–8) who aren't ready for a full week of tech immersion.
For sports-minded families, San Jose has strong youth soccer and basketball programs through organizations like Wolves FC and the YMCA Silicon Valley. Gymnastics-focused families will find several well-regarded programs in the Cambrian Park neighborhood. Baseball and softball camps affiliated with the San Jose Giants minor league system run throughout July at Excite Ballpark.
Transportation note: most San Jose camps do not include bus service, so plan for morning drop-off logistics. The city's VTA light rail serves some camp-dense corridors, but the majority of families drive. Register early — the most popular programs open in January and competitive spots are gone by mid-February.
Last updated: 2026-05-03
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An interactive science camp featuring hands-on experiments, building simple machines, and exploring chemical reactions.
800 Embedded Way
Designed for grades 1-3, this camp combines morning art projects like painting and clay sculpting with an afternoon of energetic sports activities.
800 Embedded Way
Formerly Junior Keepers, this program allows children to practice zookeeping and scientific skills through sleuthing and animal study.
1300 Senter Rd
Campers learn the craft of puppet-making and acting skills in the historic Puppet Castle Theater at Happy Hollow Park & Zoo.
San Jose, CA 95112
A family-oriented program exploring different parts of the park through passport stations and gardening activities.
1300 Senter Rd
Full-day camps during seasonal school breaks featuring interactive educational activities, animal encounters, zoo tours, and nature play.
San Jose, CA 95112
Full-day camps for young animal enthusiasts filled with interactive educational activities, live animal encounters, zoo tours, and nature play.
San Jose, CA 95112
An adult & child combo class covering animal topics, ABCs, counting, and general motor skills in a zoo atmosphere.
1300 Senter Rd
An after-hours animal art class for teens including food, music, and instruction for painting portraits of zoo animals.
1300 Senter Rd
A children’s discovery program exploring zoo life through interactive discussions, inquiry-based activities, and animal ambassador visits.
1300 Senter Rd
Campers experience the behind-the-scenes thrills of zookeeping by learning about animals, cleaning enclosures, creating diets, and discovering animal training during their spring school break.
San Jose, CA 95112
A drop-off program where students use problem-solving and critical thinking to solve zoo mysteries and design animal enrichment.
1300 Senter Rd
Happy Hollow Park & Zoo week-long summer camps in San Jose for ages 5-13. Programs include dinosaur crafts, veterinary classes, and animal mythology themes. Hands-on experience with zoo animals and nature exploration at one of San Jose's most beloved family attractions.
748 Story Rd, San Jose, CA 95112
A dynamic blend of games, themed workshops, and skill-building activities including arts, crafts, and sports skills.
3800 Blackford Ave
Held at the Saratoga campus, these camps cover competitive swimming drills, water safety fitness, and water polo fundamentals.
500 Saratoga Ave
Skill-focused basketball training for all levels, focusing on dribbling, passing, shooting, and team play.
3800 Blackford Ave
Hands-on exploration of molecular biology, DNA, CRISPR techniques, and bioengineering design thinking to solve ecological challenges.
3800 Union Ave
A comprehensive program for grades 1-5 combining morning academics in math and language arts with afternoon activities like STEM, art, music, and swimming.
500 Saratoga Ave, San Jose, CA 95129
Comprehensive programming courses covering Python, Java, Android App development, and Web Design through hands-on projects.
3800 Union Ave
Practical life skill courses including Let's Get Cooking, Money Smarts (personal finance), architectural design, and leadership training.
3800 Blackford Ave
Creative arts programs covering ceramics, manga illustration, fashion design, and graphic design fundamentals.
3800 Blackford Ave
Designed for children entering kindergarten, this program combines academic readiness in math, STEM, and language arts with afternoon activities like swimming, dance, and archery.
500 Saratoga Ave, San Jose, CA 95129
Aspiring chefs learn kitchen safety, essential cooking techniques, and flavor combinations while creating appetizers, main dishes, and desserts.
3800 Union Ave
Self-defense class based on the Inayan System of Eskrima, focusing on situational awareness and practical techniques.
3800 Blackford Ave
Academic math courses including Pre-Algebra, Algebra, Geometry, and Competition Math designed to solidify concepts and prepare students for the fall.
3800 Union Ave
Academic math courses including Pre-Algebra, Algebra, Geometry, and Competition Math designed to build confidence and prepare students for the fall.
3800 Blackford Ave
An immersive mathematical journey integrating adventure with real-world challenges, puzzles, and data analysis.
3800 Union Ave
Introduction to human anatomy, physiology, and medical diagnostics using real-world case studies to identify diseases.
3800 Union Ave
An adventurous, action-packed week of exploration, creativity, and team challenges for campers in grades 1-5.
San Jose, CA 95112
An action-packed adventure week for children entering kindergarten through grade 5, featuring team challenges, creative projects, and outdoor discoveries.
4300 Bucknall Road
Showing 30 of 571 camps
Summer camps in San Jose range from free (city recreation programs for qualifying families) to $900/week for specialized STEM intensives. City Parks & Recreation programs run $25–$150/week. Private day camps average $350–$500/week. Half-day programs for younger kids typically run $150–$250/week.
Most San Jose camps open registration in January or February 2026. City recreation programs and popular providers like Camp Galileo and iD Tech sell out by March. If you missed early registration, check back in April for newly added sessions or waitlist openings.
Yes. San Jose Parks, Recreation and Neighborhood Services offers subsidized programs starting at $25/week for income-qualifying families. Several YMCA branches offer sliding-scale pricing. Many camps also offer financial aid — filter by 'financial aid available' on KidPlanr to find them.
Most San Jose summer camps serve ages 4–18, with the largest concentration of programs for ages 6–14. Half-day programs for ages 4–5 are available through city rec centers and some YMCA branches. High school programs (ages 14–18) are primarily STEM and pre-college academies.
STEM and coding camps are the most numerous, reflecting San Jose's tech industry roots. Sports camps (soccer, basketball, gymnastics) and arts programs are also strongly represented. Outdoor/nature camps operating in the Santa Cruz Mountains or Almaden Quicksilver Park are popular with families in south San Jose.
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