As summer approaches, parents across Salem are looking for fun, enriching, and engaging ways to keep their kids active and learning. Luckily, Salem offers an amazing variety of summer camps for kids of all ages, interests, and abilities. Whether your child loves theater, sports, art, science, outdoor adventures, or music, there’s a camp in town that’s perfect for them!
Benefits of Summer Camp Participation
Summer camps aren’t just a way to keep kids busy when they’re out of school. They’re also an opportunity for growth, discovery, and making positive lifelong memories. Camps provide a supportive environment where children can build confidence, develop new skills, and make new friendships.
How to Choose the Right Summer Camp
When choosing a summer camp, you’ll want to consider your child’s interests, age, and learning style. Look for programs that align with their interests and passions while providing a balance of education and fun! With options for day camps, specialty programs, and overnight experiences, there’s something for every child to learn, grow, and thrive this summer.
Jump to a specific camp:
Boys & Girls Club Summer Programs
Salem Family YMCA Summer Camps
AMP Performing Arts Summer Camp
River City Rock Star Academy Summer Camps
City of Salem Summer Programs
Athletic Edge Learning Center 2025 Summer Camps
Salem Gymnastics Center Summer Camp 2025
Children’s Educational Theatre (CET) 2025 Season
4-H Summer Camps
Salem Art Association 2025 Summer Art Camps
Red Alder Group 2025 Summer Camps
USA Prime Willamette Valley Vacation Baseball School
Boys & Girls Club Summer Programs
The Boys & Girls Club Summer Programs offer an exciting and affordable summer experience for kids filled with adventure, creativity, and hands-on learning. The 2025 theme, “Fantasy Adventure: A Journey Through the Lands,” takes campers through mythical kingdoms, enchanted forests, and imaginative worlds, with new activities each week to spark curiosity and fun. Alongside themed adventures, campers will enjoy games, artistic expression, and interactive learning in a supportive environment.
Open to all families with affordable rates and scholarships available!
Learn more at Boys & Girls Club Summer Programs.
Salem Family YMCA Summer Camps
The Family YMCA of Marion and Polk Counties has a variety of summer camp experiences for kids of all ages! No matter the program, kids will build friendships, gain confidence, and make lifelong memories in a safe and supportive environment. (Financial assistance available).
Day Camps (Learn More)
Perfect for families looking for a structured summer experience close to home, YMCA Day Camps provide themed activities, field trips, arts & crafts, STEM projects, and outdoor fun. Camps run weekly with flexible scheduling options.
Camp Greider (Learn More)
Day Camp at Camp Greider lets kids experience outdoor summer camp adventures without the overnight stays! This camp offers activities like canoeing, hiking, archery, team-building games, and nature exploration in a classic summer camp setting.
Camp Silver Creek (Learn More)
Overnight Camp at Camp Silver Creek is a traditional sleepaway camp in Silver Falls State Park, where kids can unplug and enjoy a full week of campfires, swimming, hiking, and outdoor adventure. This program is designed to build confidence, independence, and lifelong friendships.
Learn more at Salem Family YMCA Camps.
AMP Performing Arts Summer Camp
AMP Performing Arts Summer Camp offers kids ages 7–14 a fun and supportive space to explore singing, dancing, and acting. Hosted by Amplify Music Project, the camp includes daily performing arts training, creative activities, and outdoor fun.
Campers can join the Group Performance Program or the Solo Spotlight Program, with a final performance every Friday. Discounts are available for siblings, multi-week enrollments, and children of veterans, plus limited scholarships. This camp welcomes all experience levels and aims to help young performers build confidence, develop new skills, and create lasting memories.
Learn more at Amplify Music Project.
River City Rock Star Academy Summer Camps
Aspiring young musicians can rock out, create, and perform at River City Rock Star Academy’s summer camps in Salem! With programs for both kids (ages 6–12) and teens (ages 13–18), these camps provide a fun, engaging way to explore music—no prior experience required.
Kids Rock Camps (Learn More)
Week-long day camps (9 AM – 4 PM) where kids explore instruments, learn songs, and perform in a live rock show! Camps run in June, July, and August for all skill levels.
Teen Music Workshops (Learn More)
Two specialized half-day workshops (1 PM – 4 PM).
- July Songwriting Workshop (July 9–11) – Learn to write and create original music.
- August Mixtape Band Workshop (August 6–8) – Explore and play different music genres in a band setting.
Each session ends with a live performance for family and friends, so get ready to take the stage!
Learn more at River City Rock Star Academy.
City of Salem Summer Programs
The City of Salem hosts exciting summer camps for kids ages 5–12, with a focus on outdoor fun, exploration, and hands-on learning. 2025 registration opens soon! Stay tuned for updates in the upcoming Recreation Guide coming April 2025.
Summer Parks Program (Day Camps) (Learn More)
Weekly theme-based outdoor camps (Spirit Week, Wild Animals, Science Week & more) held at Englewood and Sunnyslope Parks.
Nature Camps (Learn More)
Hands-on outdoor adventures, including Junior Ranger Camp and Wilderness Survival Camps for different skill levels.
Learn more at City of Salem Summer Programs.
Athletic Edge Learning Center 2025 Summer Camps
Storybook S.T.E.A.M. – Where Stories Come to Life!
Designed for curious little minds (ages 3–5), this half-day camp blends the magic of classic children’s stories with hands-on Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, and Math (S.T.E.A.M.) activities. Each week, campers bring beloved books to life through creative projects, experiments, and interactive play, like building bridges for The Three Billy Goats Gruff or exploring the science behind The Very Hungry Caterpillar.
Learn more at Athletic Edge Learning Center.
Salem Gymnastics Center Summer Camp 2025
At Salem Gymnastics Center, kids ages 3–12 can enjoy an action-packed summer filled with gymnastics, zip line fun, Nerf & Ninja games, arts & crafts, and supervised open play. Each week features an exciting new theme, including Island Vibes, Galactic Adventure, Jurassic Dino Days, Swiftie Squad, and Ninja Warrior! Every camper also gets a SGC T-shirt as a keepsake. Flexible pricing options available!
Learn more at Salem Gymnastics Center.
Children’s Educational Theatre (CET) 2025 Season
Children’s Educational Theatre (CET) offers a fun, hands-on theatre experience where students take three daily classes in acting, dance, music, stage combat, improv & more! Students can choose between the Performance Program, where every student is cast in a production, or the Technical Arts Program, where they can learn behind-the-scenes skills like lighting, prop-making, and stage management. Affordable tuition & financial assistance available through the Q Scholarship Fund.
Learn more at CET Salem.
4-H Summer Camps
At 4-H Summer Camps, kids and teens can experience hands-on learning through canoeing, horseback riding, outdoor skills, science, technology, and creative arts. With a mix of themed camps and multi-activity programs, campers can find their spark and enjoy an unforgettable summer!
Most camps are 5 days long and include lodging, meals, activities, and a camp shirt. Financial aid is available through “campership” scholarships.
Learn more at 4-H Summer Camps.
Salem Art Association 2025 Summer Art Camps
At Salem Art Association’s Summer Art Camps, kids will explore the connection between art and nature through drawing, painting, sculpting, printmaking, photography, and more. Each week-long session is inspired by a different Oregon environment, from the Pacific Ocean to the Cascade Mountains! Kids will build self-confidence, develop artistic skills, and create 3–5 projects each week in a fun and nurturing environment. Each week has two sessions; mornings for youth ages 8-10 and afternoons for youth ages 11-13.
Learn more and register at Salem Art Association.
Red Alder Group 2025 Summer Camps
Continuing the legacy of Straub Outdoors, Red Alder Group offers immersive science, history, culture, and arts-based summer camps for ages 6-12, featuring daily field trips and interactive learning. Specialty camps include Veterinary Science Camp and Working Animals Camp, which both feature visits to the Oregon State Fair.
Learn more at Red Alder Group.
USA Prime Willamette Valley Vacation Baseball School
Get ready to hit the field with USA Prime Willamette Valley! From August 11–15, young baseball and softball players ages 8–16 are invited to join a fun, skills-focused day camp in Keizer, Oregon. Camp runs 10 AM to 2 PM daily and provides a great opportunity to improve technique, build confidence, and connect with fellow athletes. Register before May 1st to take advantage of early bird pricing!
Learn more at USA Prime Willamette Valley.
No matter what your child is passionate about—music, art, theater, outdoor adventures, science, or sports—there’s a Salem summer camp that will inspire, engage, and create lifelong memories. Spots fill up fast, so be sure to register early to secure a spot for your child!
