Summer is a time when kids make memories, learn new skills, and spend time outside. While summer camp can be expensive, there are many free summer camp options your child can participate in from home.
We’ve rounded up a list of free virtual summer camps to bring all the fun learning options into your home. Whether your kids are interested in learning more about nature, the arts, or even STEM subjects, there’s truly something here for everyone.
Summer Learning Path
This PreK learning program from Waterford.org is designed to help kids gain valuable skills from home through 20 minutes a day of interactive reading, math, and science activities. Thanks to funding from partners, this program is free for families. Visit the website to check for program availability in your area.
Camp PBS Kids
With PBS Kids’ free summer camp, your children can still have a lot of fun outside! Check out their website for printable summer bucket lists, outdoor activity books, and plenty of other resources.
Metropolitan Opera Global Summer Camp
Every Wednesday, the Met Opera is hosting a virtual summer camp designed to make opera accessible and fun for children. To further engage kids with classical music, the Met Opera is also sharing activity sheets, artist chats, and story times during the rest of the week.
Varsity Tutors Virtual Summer Camps
These summer camps—many of which are free—are held over the course of a week and are formatted like “mini masterclasses” taught by field experts. A few course examples include Recycled Art, Make Your Own Lego Movie, and Theater for Young Performers.
Camp Kinda
Camp Kinda is a summer program designed to help children in kindergarten through eighth grade have fun learning new things from home. Every week, this camp introduces a new theme with age-appropriate learning activities, like Movie-Making Magic, Wild Weather, and Circus at Home.
Sirius XM Camp KPL
Sirius XM has launched a radio program with plenty of upbeat music and summer camp activity ideas to keep kids moving through the summer break. Camp KPL airs on Sirius XM’s KidsPlace Live channel every weekday from 12–3PM EST.
Camp Wonderopolis
If you want to help your kids study reading and STEM over the summer, Camp Wonderopolis is a great way to keep it fun. Children complete self-directed programs designed to teach educational topics in an engaging way.
Camp Tinkergarten
This summer camp is a great option for families with toddlers, preschoolers, or elementary-aged students at home. Each week, you’ll receive tons of fun and age-appropriate outdoor activities to help you teach your children about nature.
Maker Camp
If you’re looking for a way to immerse your kids in hands-on learning over the summer, this summer camp is the perfect opportunity. Each week, Maker Camp holds live events to teach children about new topics and help them make their own educational crafts.
Wide Open School Virtual Summer Camp
This camp, hosted by the makers of Common Sense Media, includes virtual week-long programs that nurture creativity for children in preschool through fifth grade. A few recent activities include learning how animals adapt to their environments, a “secret message” DIY activity, and a read-aloud of Strega Nona by Tomie dePaola.
K12 Destinations Career Academy
This option is perfect for older children who are looking to learn career skills over the summer. If you have any teenagers at home, K12’s summer boot camps can teach them practical skills like coding, business, and information technology.
