After being stuck inside all winter, we couldn’t be more excited that spring is here! And with warmer weather and the anticipation of our children’s last day of school comes summer vacation. Have you had a moment to sit down and solidify your summer plans to keep the kids busy yet? With sunshine quickly approaching, we couldn’t be more excited to launch our annual Summer Camp Guide! We’re moms that understand the importance of summer camp to many families in + around Detroit. DMB’s goal is to make your life a little easier by sharing a list of summer camps that you may want to learn a little more about. We have some wonderful and enriching programs just waiting for your child this summer! Read below for our 2018 Guide to Detroit Summer Camps!
Cranbrook Schools Summer Camps
For years, Cranbrook Schools Summer Camps have been a tradition of fun and learning for campers of all ages. Hosted across our beautiful, historic campus, our hands-on summer programs offer a true Cranbrook experience through multi-activity traditional camps and specialty camps in art, theatre, robotics, writing, jazz, and STEM. Camps operate up to eight weeks from age three through entering 12th grade. The camps are accredited by the American Camp Association and licensed through the Michigan Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs. Lunches and snacks are included. Bus Service, Extended Care, and Swim Lessons are available as options.
Camp Dates: June 18 through August 10, 2018
YMCA Metro Detroit
Like many programs at the YMCA, day camp focuses on teaching life skills, developing character and making friends. But few environments are as special as camp, where kids become a community as they learn both how to be more independent and how to contribute to a group as they engage in physical, social and educational activities. Every new experience comes with a chance to learn and grow. At the Y, we strive to give every child and teen opportunities to test their own limits and explore their potential. Summer day camp is offered all summer long at various locations throughout Metro Detroit.
- Boll Family YMCA – Detroit
- Birmingham Family YMCA – Birmingham
- Carls Family YMCA – Milford
- Downriver Family YMCA – Southgate
- Farmington Family YMCA – Farmington
- Lakeshore Family YMCA – St. Clair Shores
- Livonia Family YMCA – Livonia
- Macomb Family YMCA – Mt. Clemens
- North Oakland Family YMCA – Auburn Hills
- Plymouth Family YMCA – Plymouth
- Westland YMCA Day Camp – Westland
- South Oakland Family YMCA – Royal Oak
Camp Dates: Monday, June 11 – Friday, August 31
Shine Day Camp
Shine Day Camp: An amazing experience your child will never forget!
Shine day camp is a 9 week Summer experience for kids entering Kindergarten-7th grade in the fall. Each week, kids will experience tons of high energy large group and
cooperative games, creative crafts, interactive technology, and engaging elective classes.
Fun gets crazy at Ultimate Tuesday events such as the Color Wars, Wet N’ Wild water day, and The Amazing Parkour Race. Weekly field trips include a party at Dave and Buster’s, zip lining through the trees at the Adventure Park, and playing unlimited laser tag at Castaway play café.
Shine is a fully licensed day camp through the state of Michigan Licensing and Regulatory Affairs division and has been creating summer experiences for kids for more than 25 years. Our handpicked staff must complete a background check, health screening, and intensive training before joining our team of counselors.
Camp Dates: June 18th-August 24th
Black River Farms & Ranch
For more than 50 years, Black River Farm and Ranch has been a place for girls to escape to the best summer horse camp on earth! A short drive from Detroit, Black River Farm and Ranch is a horse-lover’s paradise! Campers ages 6-14 can enjoy 1-week or 2-week sessions filled with riding lessons, trail rides, vaulting, swimming, arts and crafts, low ropes course, petting zoo, boating, archery and much more!
With over 70 horses to love and care for, Black River is every girl’s dream! Girls come to have fun with friends and horses in a safe, beautiful and peaceful setting and enjoy a variety of summer camp activities. Black River is located in the thumb of Michigan and is the premier summer camp for girls who love horses.
Black River has been family owned and operated for three generations and is licensed by the State, approved by the Health Department and accredited by the American Camping Association.
Camp Dates:
Starter Camp: June 17 -21
One Week Camp: June 24-June 30
Two Week Camp: July 1-14
Two Week Camp: July 15-28
Two Week Camp: July 29-August 11
One Week Camp: August 12-18
**1, 2, 3 or 4 week camper sessions available. Combine sessions for a 3 or 4 week stay. Camper sessions have early registration discounts.
American Camp Association
The American Camp Association is a community of camp professionals who, for over 100 years, have joined together to share our knowledge and experience and to ensure the quality of camp programs. Because of our diverse 11,000 plus membership and our exceptional programs, children and adults have the opportunity to learn powerful lessons in community, character-building, skill development, and healthy living — lessons that can be learned nowhere else.
Registration details and scheduling information can be found online at http://find.acacamps.org.
Camp Dates: May to July
Leslie Science and Nature Center
Leslie Science & Nature Center Camps are week-long camps throughout the summer June 18th – August 30th. Sessions are split by grade level (Prek/young5s, K/1, 2/3, and 4/5). Daily camp runs from 8:30a-3:30p with Camp Cool-Down available to extend the day to 5:30p for grades K and up.
Camp Dates: Monday through Friday from June 18-August 30
Farmington Hills Unplugged Summer Camps
A summer filled with adventure, exploration, and fun! Farmington Hills Unplugged Summer Camps have something for everyone ages 3 to 18 – art, theatre, music, sports, archery, skateboard, nature, STEM and leadership experiences. Or for the generalist in the crowd, give our Day Camps a try. Enjoy a wide variety of activities at Camp Costick including games, crafts, sports and special events. If hiking the trails, cooling off at the Splash Pad, or playing outdoor games are more your style, check out our Heritage Park Camps. We also have Safety Town camps for children ages 4-7, Youth Drop-In program for 6th-8th graders with over 30 trips planned or our TourXplore camp for the 7 to 12-year-old crowd.
Find a complete list of camps in our online brochure. For more information, please call (248) 473-1800.
Camp Dates: June 18 – August 31
Roeper Summer Programs
Camp Dates: Monday, June 25 – Friday, August 17
Schoolcraft Kids on Camps
Kids on Campus at Schoolcraft College offers fun and educational day camps for pre-schoolers (ages 3 – 5) through high school seniors. Campers can choose from activities including science, math, career exploration, computers, art, writing and more. Camps run all day for one week, allowing campers to get involved in several different camps. KOC also offers half-day Academic Skill classes that run for two weeks and allow students to practice or refresh classroom skills in math, English, study skills and more.
Camp Dates: Monday, July 9 – Friday, August 10, 2018
Berkley Parks & Recreation
Summer Day Camps at Berkley Parks and Recreation offer swimming at outdoor local pools, beaches, spray parks, our firehose sprinkler and waterparks, weekly age appropriate field trips, crafts, sports, movies, ice cream, games, out-to-lunch trips, our own inflatable bouncer, 4-H demos, weekly themes and include a free T-shirt for group identification on field trips! Camp is divided into 4 age groups based on Camper’s grade in the Fall:
KIDS KAMP: Kindergarten – 1st grade
JUNIOR KAMP: 2nd – 3rd grade
SENIOR KAMP: 4th – 5th grade
TEEN KAMP: 6th grade and Up
Camp is divided into the above 4 age groups based on Camper’s grade in the fall and camp hours are from 8:45-5p Monday through Friday with extended camp starting at 7:30 am and ending at 6:00 pm available for an additional $15 each per week. Camps will be held at Anderson Middle School and include a camp T-shirt (required for field trips). Berkley Parks and Recreation summer camps cost $160 per week for residents, $175 per week for non-resident. You can register for ALL 10 weeks of Berkley Summer Day Camp 2018 plus Week 0 and Week 11 Vacation Camps for $1600 per resident ($1500 if you early bird register before May 28) or $1750 for non-resident ($1650 early bird). 3 and 4 day prices are available.
Camp Dates: June 18 to August 24
Troy Recreation Department
Troy Recreation Department offers more than 45 camps for ages 3–18! We have camps for all interests: art, science, sports, theater, zombies, and more! Try our always popular Safety Town, where Kindergarteners and 1st graders learn how to stay safe and stay smart. Rainbow Preschool offers weekly camps for ages 3–5, with a 10% discount if you register for all seven camps! Most camps are offered Monday through Friday, with the option of before or after care for our day camps. Registration is available for Troy residents and non-residents.
Additional summer camps in + around Detroit you may want to check out…
Argo River Camps/Gallup Park Canoe Livery
Foreign Language Camps for Kids (Troy/Novi)
Horseback Riding at {Great Escape Stables}
Mosaic Youth Theatre Camps
School of Rock (Farmington Hills)
Schoolhouse Montessori Academy Canton