Best Arts Summer Camps in Vermont

Ages 6–17

Visual-arts camps for ages 6-17 at Burlington City Arts studios, taught by professional teaching artists, bookable as half-day sessions or combined morning and afternoon full days. The site points to a 2026 Summer Camps FAQ.

As published: Not published

Kindergarten to grade 12 (about ages 4–17)

Weekly theatre day camps at the Barre Opera House for grades K to 12, from a K-3 "Page to the Stage" camp to a two-week "Legally Blonde, Jr." production camp and an Intro to Theatre Tech week. The 2027 schedule is posted, with summer weeks from June 28 to August 6, 2027.

As published: Not published (scholarships available; page says more information is "to come")

$7,625–$12,465/session

Marking its centennial in 2026, Brown Ledge is a girls' camp (ages 10–17) on Malletts Bay of Lake Champlain in Colchester, built around a distinctive "freedom of choice" philosophy that lets campers help shape their own daily schedule across horsemanship, theater, riflery/archery, water sports, and the arts.

As published: 2027 pricing: 8-week session — Tier 1 $12,465 / Tier 2 $11,465 / MPB Scholarship (need-based); 4-week session — Tier 1 $8,525 / Tier 2 $7,625 / MPB Scholarship. $800 deposit

Ages 8–14 · $3,595–$9,270/session

Camp Betsey Cox is an overnight camp for girls, young women and gender non-binary campers on Burr Pond near Rutland, founded in 1953 and still a family business. Campers completing grades 3-8 choose from activities including riding, a farm, pottery, weaving, performing arts and outdoor skills, and older girls can join a three-year Leadership program. Sessions run from two to eight weeks.

As published: 2027: Session 1 (three weeks, June 27-July 17) $5,047; Sessions 1 and 2 (five weeks) $8,413; Session 2 (two weeks, July 18-31) $3,595; all three sessions (eight weeks, June 27-August 21) $9,270. Early enrollment discount of 3 percent by December 31; tuition discounts and payment plans available case by case.

Ages 6–17 · $2,270–$13,855/session

Founded in 1889 on Halls Lake in Newbury, Camp Farwell bills itself as the longest continuously running all-girls sleepaway camp in the U.S. It offers a traditional girls' program anchored by a strong horseback-riding program alongside team sports, performing arts, and waterfront activities on a 100-acre site, with messaging centered on camper empowerment.

As published: 2026 rates page (via search, 2027 not seen): Rookie Week $2,270; 7 Week $13,855; sessions 1-7 weeks, excludes riding add-ons

Ages 13–17

A one-week residential summer camp run by Outright Vermont for LGBTQ+ and allied teens ages 13 to 17, with hiking, swimming, archery, campfires, arts, theater games and social justice workshops. Summer 2026 sessions ran July 3 to 9 and July 11 to 17.

As published: 2026: $1,400 full tuition per one-week session; partial and full scholarships and installment plans available

Ages 5–18 · $250–$5,500/session

Smirkus Camp is a circus arts camp held under big top tents on a 35-acre hilltop campus in Greensboro in Vermont's Northeast Kingdom. It offers day and overnight options from a one-day Smirkling introduction for ages 5-12 through multi-week placement-based programs for ages 12-18, taught by circus coaches in acrobatics, juggling, aerials and performance. Campers can choose female, male or non-binary housing in two dormitory buildings.

As published: 2027: Smirkling day camp (June 19, ages 5-12) $250; Smirkling Overnight (June 19-20, ages 6-12) $495; All Levels one week $1,825 and two weeks $3,650 (ages 8-16); Intermediate two weeks $3,650 (ages 12-18); Intermediate Skills Intensive $3,850; Advanced Individual Acts three weeks $5,225; Road Show three weeks (July 25-August 14) $5,500. Layover between sessions $350.

Ages 7–17 · $1,450–$2,600/session

Dunkley's is an overnight gymnastics camp on the shores of Lake Champlain that the camp calls Vermont's first and only sleepaway gymnastics camp. It takes about 50 campers per session, from beginners through USAG Level 9, with girls' weeks and two co-ed weeks. Afternoons add waterfront activities, martial arts, dance, art, cooking and woodworking.

As published: 2027: one-week session $1,450; two-week sessions $2,600; non-refundable $300 deposit per session; 5 percent sibling discount. Sessions run Sunday through Friday.

EPIC Music Camp is a one-week classical/traditional string-music camp run by Catamount Arts in its air-conditioned St. Johnsbury arts center, inspired by the global El Sistema music-education movement. It's led by named faculty and offers instruction on violin, viola, cello, and bass along with ensemble performance.

As published: $100/week tuition, with a 20% sibling discount

Ages 4–14

Summer camps from Orchard Valley Waldorf School held at Grace Farm, a 55-acre campus with farm, garden, forest, meadow and river frontage. 2026 offered garden, farm and craft, kitchen and theater camps from July 6 to July 31.

As published: 2026: $425/week (Summer Garden and Farm & Craft, discount for all four weeks); Mountain Thyme Players Theater Camp $450/session; kitchen camp prices not published

Ages 6–13 · $520–$600/session

River Arts is a 501(c)(3) community arts center in Morrisville running a wide slate of summer camps — including Rock Camp, theater, skateboarding arts, and nature-based sessions — for ages roughly 6–16, with tuition assistance available.

As published: Rock Camp (sample session): $325/week (tuition assistance available)

Ages 14–18 · $2,245–$3,145/session

SOCAPA is a pre-college-style teen arts intensive (ages 14–18) held on the Champlain College campus in Burlington, offering film, acting, photography, dance, and music tracks with professional-grade production facilities — a specialized arts program rather than a traditional camp.

As published: 2026 tuition: 2-week sessions $2,145–$3,745 (varies by discipline); 3-week sessions $2,895–$4,495. Room & board (residential): double/triple occupancy $775/week, single room $1,275/week. Day-student meals/activities fee: $55/week. 5% multi-session/sibling discount

The Southern Vermont Arts Center, a pastoral arts campus with galleries, a theater, and sculpture gardens, runs summer camps spanning PreK through grade 12, covering music, dance, and visual-arts themes such as its "Space Camp" and "Hip Hop Dance & Design" sessions.

As published: Not published

Ages 12–17

A residential (with day-student option on past rate sheets) summer arts program on The Putney School campus: multi-week teen workshops for ages 14 to 17 and a one-week middle school exploration for ages 12 to 13, with studio, performing and writing classes taught by working artists. The 2027 Teen Program instructor directory is posted and 2027 applications are listed as coming soon.

As published: 2027 rates not published (the Dates, Rates page still shows 2025: 3-week teen boarding $7,500, day $3,500; 1-week intensive boarding $2,650, day $1,300)