Summer Camps in Central Massachusetts, MA

Ages 5–14

Day camps on the 34-acre lakeside Bancroft School campus in north Worcester for campers entering kindergarten through grade 8, open to families outside the school. Programs include general day camp, academic camps in reading, writing, math and leadership, specialty camps such as robotics, musical theater and coding, athletic camps and a Counselor-in-Training program. Campers swim at the Greendale YMCA across the street.

Ages 5–12

A full-day summer program run as part of the club's school-aged child care, open 7:30 am to 6:00 pm, at its Worcester clubhouses. In August 2026 Harrington Club kids spent a camp week with kayaking, fishing, swimming and hiking at a Girl Scouts rural camp.

As published: $49.69/day or $248.45/week per child (summer and vacation weeks)

Ages 5–16

Nature day camp at Mass Audubon's Broad Meadow Brook Wildlife Sanctuary in Worcester for children from about 4.5 to 16 years old. Campers spend most days outdoors investigating habitats, ecosystems and wildlife at the sanctuary and beyond, with noncompetitive games, songs and stories. Tuition is set on a sliding scale based on annual household income.

As published: Not published on the camp page (see Programs and Pricing); families register at a tuition rate based on annual gross income

Ages 8–15

Camp Atwater is a residential youth camp owned and operated by the Urban League of Springfield, which describes it as the oldest African American-owned and operated residential youth camp in the nation. Campers ages 8-15 do swimming, archery, sports, STEM, nature exploration, arts, and leadership and cultural enrichment programming.

As published: 2027: $3,200 per session plus $175 registration fee and a required $125 per-session fee (hut picture, one field trip, camp T-shirt). 2027 sessions: boys' season July 4-17, girls' season July 26-August 7. 2026 rates not listed on the page.

Ages 8–17 · $1,900–$3,700/session

Overnight live-action role-playing camps run by The Story School, where campers complete STEAM lessons to earn abilities and then battle monsters in an ongoing story. Camp Fable serves ages 8 to 16 in two-week sessions and Camp Grimoire is a teen week for ages 14 to 17. The camp states it is fully inclusive of LGBTQIA+ and neurodiverse campers, and the organization has operated since 2013.

As published: 2027 pre-registration prices: Camp Fable $3,700 per two-week session (three sessions), Camp Grimoire $1,900 for one week; pre-registration saves up to $300 per session; camp page states prices range from $1,800 to $3,800 depending on length and type

Ages 6–16 · $360–$770/week

Day and overnight camp run by the Worcester County 4-H Center at 92 McCormick Road in Spencer, with a traditional program for ages 6 to 16 and horse camp programs for ages 8 and up. Overnight campers stay in rustic cabins without electricity, and every day includes at least one water activity. The site states the camp was established in 1952 and displays an ACA accreditation logo (ACA-accredited).

As published: 2026 weekly rates: traditional day camp $470, horse day camp $770, traditional overnight (Sunday to Friday) $700, mini overnight $360; extended day adds $75 per week; archery and paintball target shooting $25 per week each; CIT $825 per two-week session

Ages 5–11

Camp WCC at 2 Rice Street in Worcester is a KE Camps day camp for ages 5-11 built around golf and tennis sessions, daily swimming for full-day campers, arts and crafts, group games and STEM challenges. Full-day hours are 9:00am-3:30pm, half-day 9:00am-12:30pm.

As published: 2027 rates not yet posted ("coming soon"); fees listed: $45 one-time registration, $26 weekly mandatory lunch charge

Ages 6–13

The YWCA Central Massachusetts runs this weekly day camp at Stiles Reservoir in Leicester for ages 6-13, 7:30am to 5:30pm, with swim lessons, arts and crafts, sports, literacy and weekly themes. Boating is for ages 8 and up, and Worcester drop-off and pick-up is available for a fee.

As published: $250 tuition per weekly session plus $60 per session for Worcester drop-off and pick-up; $30 non-refundable deposit per session

Ages 6–16

A specialized overnight camp for children with type 1 diabetes, dedicated at its North Oxford site in 1932 and grown from 8 girls that first year to a cumulative reach of 2,000+ children and families served over its history. Runs four 2-week sessions per summer with a dedicated Counselor Training Program; current single-summer capacity and tuition were not published.

As published: Not published on pages accessed — site references a separate "Rates & Financial Aid" page not captured directly. 2026 session dates: June 22–Aug 14, four 2-week sessions (per search-indexed site content); $250 non-refundable deposit required. bartoncenter.org (https://www.bartoncenter.org/clara-barton-camp-north-oxford-ma/)

Ages 6–17

Week-long summer day programs at Old Sturbridge Village where kids step back into 1830s life, with themed weeks such as hearth cooking, independence-week celebrations and arts. Programs run 9 to 3 with hands-on crafts and an afternoon snack, grouped Abecedarians (6-7), Peddlers (8-10), Apprentices (11-14) and Journeymen (14-17).

As published: 2026 per week: ages 6-10 $315 member / $340 non-member before April 19, $365 / $390 after; ages 11-17 $340 / $365 before April 19, $390 / $415 after; optional lunch $43/week; 10% sibling discount

Ages 5–12 · $375–$425/week

Weekly themed science and nature day camp at the EcoTarium museum and zoo in Worcester for children ages 5 to 12, grouped by age. Weeks cover topics such as outdoor adventures, creature features, space, engineering and forensic science, with animal ambassador visits and a Counselor in Training program for ages 13 to 15. The camp states it is licensed by the local Board of Health under Massachusetts DPH regulations.

As published: 2026 weekly sessions: $375 for returning campers (until Dec 31), $395 general registration (Jan 1 to June 1), $425 late registration; $75 deposit; Counselor in Training $760 for a four-week session

Ages 6–12

A girls' summer day camp run by Girls Inc. of Worcester, based at 125 Providence St with a lakefront campground, Camp Kinneywood, in Holden. 2026 ran June 29 to Aug 14 for girls ages 6 to 12.

As published: 2026 per week: $250 (Mon-Fri, pickup at 125 Providence St); $225 (Mon-Thu, pickup at Camp Kinneywood); $30 weekly deposit per girl. 2027 not listed

Ages 5–14

Girls Inc. of Worcester runs summer programming June 29 to August 14, 2026: InnovateHer (ages 5-14) at 125 Providence Street in Worcester and Camp Kinneywood (ages 6-12) at 50 Stonehouse Road in Holden. Activities include swimming, kayaking, crafts, hiking and STEM, for girls and participants who identify as girls.

As published: Weekly price not published; $30 non-refundable weekly deposit applied to that week's payment; financial assistance available

A family-run horse farm at 15 Stowe Road in Millbury offering a weekly Equestrian and Animal Lover Camp, 9am-3pm Monday-Friday, with horse grooming, riding instruction, farm-animal care, chick hatching and bird handling. Extended stay until 4:30pm is $20 per day.

As published: $575 per week; $100 deposit

Ages 7–18

One-week sports camps on the WPI campus in Worcester in baseball, softball, girls basketball, volleyball and wrestling, run 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. with expert coaching and lunch included. Each camp is a separate registration for ages 7-18.

As published: 2026: $375 per camp (baseball, softball, volleyball, wrestling), girls basketball $385; includes lunch and T-shirt; 10% sibling discount

A Mass Audubon day camp at Wachusett Meadow Wildlife Sanctuary in Princeton (Worcester County), with half-day preschool and full-day nature camp, specialty camps and leadership programs. Campers hike trails and learn Massachusetts natural history.

As published: 2026 sliding scale by family income: full-day weekly $94-$470; specialty weeks $105-$525; half-day preschool sessions $42-$210; CIT fee $200; 2027 pricing not yet published

Ages 6–15

Day camps on the Worcester Academy campus in academic, arts and athletic tracks, including Maker, Science, Robotics, Coding, Filmmaking, Video Game Design, Clay Arts, Musical Theater, and sports, basketball, soccer and volleyball camps. Camps run 9:00 to 3:00 and are led by Worcester Academy faculty and coaches.

As published: 2026 examples: Sports Camp $400/week or $1,400 for four weeks; Maker and Science $485/week; Musical Theater $910 for two weeks

Ages 7–13 · $252–$450/week

Weeklong art and craft day camps for ages 7 to 13 at the Worcester Center for Crafts, split into groups of 7 to 9 and 10 to 13. Classes cover stained glass, metalsmithing and jewelry, polymer clay, fiber arts, game making, animation and movie making, taught by listed instructors, with materials provided and no experience needed.

As published: 2026 single-week classes $252 to $450 per week for either age group; two-week Creative Movie Making $780

The Worcester JCC at 633 Salisbury Street offers a Preschool Summer Program, a Day Camp and a Sports Camp, on a campus with indoor and outdoor pools, a full-size gym, fields, tennis courts and an art studio. Its camp page is the 2026 season and notes that 2027 is "already on our minds."

As published: Not published (a 2026 program guide is linked but was not read)

Ages 7–16 · $634–$2,527/session

Co-ed traditional overnight camp on Lake Quacumquasit in East Brookfield, owned and run by the West Suburban YMCA since 1916, for ages 7 to 16 with Leader-In-Training roles for 16-year-olds. Campers live in cabins grouped by age unit and choose among waterfront, sports and enrichment activities. The camp is device-free and offers one-week, two-week and four-day mini sessions.

As published: 2026: $1,336 for the one-week session, $2,527 for each two-week session, $634 for four-day mini camps; Leader-In-Training from $2,266 (three weeks) to $4,362 (seven weeks); 25 percent registration fee per session