Summer Adventures Await: Camps and Programs for Kids Around San Antonio

Summer in the San Antonio area brings long days and the annual challenge for parents: how to keep children active, engaged, and safe once school is out. For single parents and working families especially, finding the right summer programs is key. Fortunately, communities from downtown San Antonio to New Braunfels, Schertz, and points south offer a wide variety of camps, workshops, and activities for school-aged kids. Options range from free library programs and Vacation Bible Schools to sports camps, science workshops, arts academies, and even paid internships for teens. Below, we highlight the many ways to keep your children learning and having fun all summer long.

Vacation Bible Schools and Faith-Based Camps

One of the most accessible summer options are Vacation Bible Schools (VBS), offered by churches throughout the region. These are typically week-long, half-day camps focusing on faith lessons, music, crafts, and games in a fun setting. Many VBS programs are either free or very low-cost, making them popular with budget-conscious families. For example, Northern Hills United Methodist Church in northeast San Antonio is hosting a morning VBS starting June 16, and Trinity Baptist Church (near downtown) offers VBS June 23–26 from 9 a.m. to noon. At First Presbyterian Church downtown, the “True North” VBS invites children age 4 through 5th grade for a week of Alaskan-themed adventures for just $20, with a registration deadline of June 11. Vacation Bible Schools are generally aimed at elementary-age kids, while older youth can often volunteer as helpers. Check with local churches (in San Antonio, New Braunfels, Schertz, etc.) for their VBS dates—registration usually opens in spring and spots can fill fast.

Faith-based overnight camps are another option. Slumber Falls Camp in New Braunfels, for example, is a Christian camp that offers both overnight and day camp sessions for kids from first grade up to high school. Sessions at Slumber Falls run from early June through late July. Costs range roughly from $325 for shorter sessions up to around $650 for week-long overnight stays, with camp activities centered on outdoor fun, spiritual growth, and friendship-building. Many churches also organize retreats or “family camps” that parents and children can attend together. Whether it’s a neighborhood VBS or a sleep-away camp by the river, faith-based programs provide a safe, values-driven environment for kids to make summer memories.

City and Community Day Camps

Campers enjoy outdoor activities along the river at a New Braunfels summer camp. Keeping kids active all day long is easier with the many community day camps available in our area. The City of San Antonio’s Parks and Recreation Department, for instance, runs an eight-week Summer Youth Program for children ages 6–14 at community centers and school sites across the city. This program runs Monday through Friday (approximately 7:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.) to cover the full workday, and includes activities like arts and crafts, sports, reading, science projects and more. Enrollment is affordable (on a sliding scale based on income), and reduced fees are available for qualifying families. Registration for San Antonio’s city camps typically opens in April (this year it opened April 26) and spots are first-come, first-served. If you’re in the city, this is one of the best budget-friendly ways to ensure your 6–14 year-olds have a safe, enriching place to spend each day.

Surrounding communities offer similar programs. New Braunfels Parks & Recreation runs Camp Minnehaha, a weekly day camp for ages 5–12 held at Landa Park. It operates from late May through mid-August, and costs about $135 per week for residents ($185 for non-residents). In Schertz, the Parks & Rec department’s “FUN Guide” lists a range of summer activities and camps – from sports clinics to special events – and their summer day camp program also fills up quickly. The Schertz Police Department even hosts a free Junior Police Academy (for kids around 5th–6th grade) and a Teen Police Academy for older youth, giving participants a behind-the-scenes look at law enforcement with hands-on activities. The Jr. Police Academy runs June 23–27 (mornings), and the Teen Academy runs July 14–18, and applications were open through May 30. These unique community programs are a great way for kids to learn and build confidence – and they don’t cost a dime.

Families in smaller towns south of San Antonio will also find options. For example, the city of Floresville offers a full-day Summer Day Camp for ages 5–13, which in past years has run 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. with breakfast, lunch, and snacks included for about $125 per week. Similarly, Pleasanton’s parks department and local museum organize weekly kids’ activities in the summer, and local youth centers or 4-H clubs may have day programs. Wherever you live, be sure to check with your city’s parks and recreation department, community centers, and public libraries for summer youth programs – many are low-cost or free and provide structured fun close to home.

Another major resource is the Boys & Girls Clubs of San Antonio. BGCSA operates several clubhouses around the city and offers an inexpensive summer program for members ages 6–18. For a modest membership and weekly fee (around $50 per week in some cases), kids can attend the clubhouse daily, enjoying sports, arts, field trips and mentorship in a supervised setting. Hours often extend into the early evening, which is helpful for working parents. For teens 13–18, the Boys & Girls Clubs even provide a Teen Center with free membership and specialized programming. These clubs focus on academic success, healthy lifestyles and character development for youth in a fun, safe environment. They are a lifeline for many families who need affordable all-day care with positive role models.

Finally, YMCA summer camps are a popular choice throughout the metro area. The YMCA of Greater San Antonio runs weekly day camps at various Y branches and even in partnership with local colleges. In summer 2025, all five Alamo Colleges campuses (San Antonio College, St. Philip’s, Palo Alto, Northeast Lakeview, and Northwest Vista) will host Y day camps, expanding access across the city. Y camps typically serve ages 5–13, with extended hours (7 a.m. to 6 p.m.) to accommodate work schedules. Campers get to try a bit of everything – from creative arts and STEM projects to sports, swimming, and weekly field trips. The cost is around $180 per week in San Antonio, and financial assistance is available for families who need help with fees. In the Schertz area, the Schertz Family YMCA offers a similar summer camp running from early June to early August. Also worth noting: the YMCA offers free summer memberships for teens in some programs, allowing teenagers to use the gym facilities and participate in teen activities at no charge. Whether at the Y, a city rec center, or a local club, community day camps ensure that children have a place to learn and play all summer – giving parents peace of mind.

Sports and Outdoor Camps

Summer is a great time for kids to burn off energy and build skills through sports. The San Antonio area boasts a wide array of sports camps, from multi-sport day camps to specialized clinics for particular sports or age groups. The YMCA and city parks programs (mentioned above) offer general sports and outdoor games as part of their day camps. In addition, many local sports organizations and school districts host focused camps. For example, Schertz-Cibolo-Universal City (SCUC) ISD high schools hold athletic camps for various sports (like basketball, volleyball, football) during the summer for students in elementary up through high school. Middle and high school athletes in SCUC ISD can register online for summer training camps at Clemens or Steele High, with most camps requiring a simple fee and a sports physical for 7th–12th graders. Nearby, Comal ISD (serving New Braunfels and surrounding areas) also offers summer camp programs in sports, arts, and STEM for students in grades 6–12, with weekly camp fees typically ranging from about $95 to $273 depending on the camp.

Local sports facilities and clubs run their own programs as well. In New Braunfels, the Das Rec center is introducing kids to the trendy game of pickleball with beginner and intermediate pickleball camps for ages 8–14, offered in one-week sessions for just $50. Youth sports associations often have summer clinics: for instance, United Volleyball Association in New Braunfels has skills camps in June and August for grades 3–8 (costing $70–$225 depending on the program). Don’t overlook minor league and college sports teams either – while San Antonio’s pro teams (like the Spurs) sometimes hold basketball camps, local colleges such as UTSA frequently host youth sports camps in everything from soccer to track. These camps usually take place on campus and give kids a chance to learn from college coaches and athletes.

For a more traditional summer camp experience, consider outdoor adventure camps. Many are offered just outside the metro area. The San Antonio Zoo runs a popular week-long Zoo Camp throughout the summer for elementary and middle-school students, featuring up-close animal encounters, zoo tours, and nature games. Camps at the zoo typically run 8 a.m. to 3 p.m., with extended care available, and cost around $390 per week. The San Antonio Botanical Garden offers Nature Camps that engage kids in gardening, science experiments, and outdoor exploration (weekly fees are roughly $200–$235). And for something different, check out local golf courses or recreational businesses – for example, Floresville’s River Bend Golf Club has hosted the Sneaks ’n’ Cleats camp, a multi-sport summer camp that includes golf and other fitness activities for kids in Wilson County.

From swimming to horseback riding to martial arts, if your child has an interest, there is likely a camp for it. Gymnastics and dance academies are plentiful and often hold themed camps as well. One New Braunfels gymnastics gym offers weekly summer sessions for ages 5–13 that run from May through mid-August. Dance studios and cheer gyms host camps with fun themes – like a “Princess and Unicorns” dance camp or hip-hop workshops. These typically last a week and cost anywhere from $200 to $350, depending on the length of day. When choosing sports camps, keep in mind factors like the skill level of your child (beginners vs. advanced), the Texas heat (outdoor camps should have water breaks and indoor options), and of course logistics. Many sports camps run for only a few hours a day, so you might need to coordinate multiple activities or arrange midday transportation if you’re balancing work.

🏀 Spurs Summer Basketball Camps

The San Antonio Spurs Sports Academy is hosting 16 summer basketball camps across San Antonio and Austin, open to kids ages 6–18. Camp types include:

• Coyote Camp: For beginners (ages 6–12), focusing on fun and fundamentals.
• Spurs Player Camp: For ages 6–13, emphasizing skill development.
• All Girls Camp: For ages 9–18, providing a positive environment with skills training and small-sided games.
• Overnight Camps: Held at the University of the Incarnate Word, offering immersive experiences with accommodations, meals, and guest appearances by Spurs players and coaches. Spurs Sports Academy

🐺 Kick Start Sports: Texas Red Wolves ABA Camps

Kick Start Sports, affiliated with the Texas Red Wolves ABA team, offers summer programs focusing on basketball skills and character development. These camps provide opportunities for youth to engage in sports while learning valuable life skills.

Educational and Enrichment Programs (STEM, Arts, and More)

Not all summer learning happens in a classroom – but plenty of camps make education fun through hands-on activities. If you’re looking to keep those young minds engaged, consider the numerous STEM and academic camps around San Antonio. A good starting point is the San Antonio Public Library’s summer program, which is free and open to all ages. From June 1 to July 31, city libraries encourage kids to log reading hours (often with prize incentives) and host special events ranging from science demonstrations to craft workshops. Every participant in the library’s Summer Reading Program earns a free book upon completion. Libraries also offer teen-only activities like gaming meetups, coding clubs, and even virtual programs – a great free resource for older kids and teens looking for enrichment.

For science-loving kids, science museums and tech centers have you covered. The DoSeum (San Antonio’s children’s museum) offers summer camps that immerse kids in STEM and the arts, with themes like robotics, animation, or chemistry disguised as messy fun. These camps are extremely popular – in fact, DoSeum camps for 2025 reached capacity well before summer – so families usually need to register early in the spring. A week at the DoSeum typically costs on the order of $250 for a half-day camp, or around $350 for a full day with extended care, for non-members. The Witte Museum and San Antonio Museum of Science and Technology (SAMSAT) have also offered summer programs blending science, history, and technology in interactive ways. And in New Braunfels, the Headwaters at the Comal nature center runs a Summer Nature Camp (one-week sessions for ages 8–11, about $100 each) that gets kids outdoors learning about wildlife and conservation.

If your child is more into coding or building, look at tech-specific camps like Code Ninjas or Snapology, which have locations in our area. Code Ninjas in New Braunfels, for example, runs weekly coding and game-building camps for kids as young as 5, with full-day options (prices ranging roughly $180 for half days to $375 for full days). Snapology offers LEGO robotics and STEM camps with flexible schedules and moderate fees (often under $200). Many of these companies allow registration by the week and have themes like “Minecraft coding” or “Amusement Park Engineering” to make learning engaging.

Summer is also prime time for budding artists and performers. Arts and creative camps abound in the San Antonio metro. For kids with theatrical flair, the Magik Theatre in San Antonio and venues like the Brauntex Theatre in New Braunfels hold drama camps and workshops. The Brauntex’s youth theater camp (for ages 10–14) is a bargain at about $79 per week, where kids can learn stage basics and put on a show. There are also independent theater groups and even dinner theaters (such as Sylver Spoon in New Braunfels) offering one-week musical theater intensives for kids and teens.

Young artist enjoying a painting project at a summer art camp. Visual arts are well represented too. Studios like Alla Prima Art Studio in New Braunfels host weekly art camps for elementary ages, where students explore painting, sculpture, and more under the guidance of professional artists. Alla Prima’s camps run June through August and cost roughly $275–$325 per week. For older or more advanced art students, the Southwest School of Art in San Antonio (recently integrated into UTSA) often has summer teen studios in various media. Don’t forget about dance and music camps: whether it’s a ballet academy’s princess camp for preschoolers or a rock band camp for teens at School of Rock, there’s something for every interest. One example is Dance by Design Studios in New Braunfels, which offers themed dance camps for ages 3–10 (like a “Moana” musical workshop or a “Bluey Dance Mode” camp) throughout the summer. These run about $225–$350 per week, with each camp focusing on a fun theme that keeps little ones moving and creative.

A tip for parents: look for camps at local colleges and universities. In addition to hosting YMCA camps, many colleges run youth programs of their own. For instance, Palo Alto College and St. Philip’s College (on San Antonio’s South Side and East Side, respectively) have youth summer camps that emphasize hands-on learning in topics like science experiments, robotics, or cultural arts. Enrollment, ages and themes vary by campus, but these programs often leverage the college’s facilities (labs, kitchens, etc.) to give kids unique experiences. Similarly, UTSA offers summer enrichment programs not only in sports but in academics – such as engineering bootcamps for high schoolers, writing camps, and language programs. These can be fantastic opportunities for older students to dive deeper into subjects they love (and sometimes to get a taste of college life).

Teen Internships and Leadership Opportunities

As children grow into teens, their summer needs and interests change. Many high schoolers are looking for more than just camps – they want job experience, mentorship, or volunteer hours. San Antonio caters to this age group with several internship and leadership programs to keep teens productive during the summer months. One flagship initiative is the Youth Summer Internship Program run by Family Service, a local nonprofit. This program provides paid, part-time internships for students 14 to 17 years old, matching them with employers across various industries. Interns commit to about six or seven weeks in the summer and gain real-world work experience (totaling roughly 120 hours) alongside professional development training. It’s a competitive opportunity – in 2025 the program capped applications at 125 spots citywide, with an application deadline of April 4, 2025. Those who are selected get paid directly through Family Service and work at partner organizations ranging from businesses to nonprofits. For teens who meet the age requirement, this internship can be a valuable stepping stone into the working world (and it doesn’t hurt to earn a paycheck too!).

San Antonio has also collaborated to expand options for older students. Family Service notes that if a teen is too old or misses the cutoff for their 14–17 internship, they can consider programs like SA Works (geared toward students 16–20) or the City of San Antonio’s Ambassador Summer Internship Program (for college students 18–22). SA Works, coordinated by the greater San Antonio economic partnership, typically connects high school upperclassmen with internships in high-demand fields; and the Ambassador program places college students in various city departments for summer work and networking. Together, these initiatives are cultivating young talent and giving teenagers exposure to professional environments.

Not every teen will land an internship – but there are plenty of other ways for adolescents to stay engaged. Many local organizations offer volunteer programs for teens, which can be just as enriching. The San Antonio Zoo, for example, has a “Volunteen” program where teens 14+ assist with summer camps and zoo duties. Similarly, the San Antonio Public Library recruits teen volunteers to help with children’s programming during the summer, earning service hours in the process. Even Vacation Bible Schools and youth camps often welcome teen volunteers as camp counselors or helpers (as we saw with First Presbyterian’s VBS, which invites middle and high schoolers to assist after a brief training). These opportunities allow teenagers to develop leadership skills and a sense of responsibility while giving back to the community.

For those seeking a taste of military or civic leadership, look out for special camps like the San Antonio Police Department’s High School Summer Camp, open to ages 14–18 interested in law enforcement. This free camp runs in two sessions (one starting June 12 and another July 10) and gives teens a chance to experience police training scenarios and meet officers. Schertz, as mentioned earlier, has its Junior and Teen Police Academies, and other municipalities may have Fire or EMS “explorer” camps as well. Leadership camps such as Boys State/Girls State (for rising high school seniors in government education) or JROTC summer leadership courses are also worth noting for the teen demographic, though those are typically arranged through schools or organizations during the school year.

Lastly, an important option for teens is summer employment. With many businesses facing summertime staffing needs, teenagers (generally 16 and up for most jobs) can find part-time work that not only keeps them busy but also teaches financial literacy. The City of San Antonio Parks Department, for example, hires teens as lifeguards at city pools (starting at $17.50/hour) and even provides the Red Cross certification training for free to get them qualified. The city also hires 18+ youth as seasonal camp counselors for the Summer Youth Program. Retail stores, restaurants, and movie theaters are classic options for teen jobs, but don’t forget entrepreneurial pursuits like lawn care or tutoring younger students. These experiences, while not “programs” per se, are crucial summer activities for many high-schoolers and can be balanced alongside more structured camps or classes.

No matter your child’s age or interests, the San Antonio metro area delivers when it comes to summer enrichment. From the banks of the Comal River in New Braunfels to the historic missions south of downtown, communities large and small are offering programs to keep kids active, engaged, and learning all summer long. Be sure to take note of registration deadlines (many camps fill up by late spring) and any requirements like immunization records or waivers. With a bit of planning, you can piece together a summer schedule that works for your family’s needs – whether that’s securing all-day care during work hours or finding special experiences that your child will never forget. Here’s to a summer of growth, exploration, and fun in San Antonio!

Sources:

• City of San Antonio Parks & Recreation – Summer Youth Program details sanantonio.gov
• San Antonio Report – “City offers summer programs for children and teens” sanantonioreport.org
• Alamo Colleges District & YMCA of Greater SA – Summer camp partnership announcement alamo.edualamo.edu
• Community Impact – “50 summer camps in New Braunfels” (program listings for New Braunfels area) communityimpact.com
• Community Impact – New Braunfels camp images (courtesy Slumber Falls Camp and Alla Prima Art Studio)communityimpact.com
• Family Service – Youth Summer Internship Program information family-service.org
• San Antonio Police Department – Teen summer camp info
• San Antonio Public Library – Summer reading program overview
• YMCA of Greater San Antonio – Summer Day Camp overview and costs alamo.edu ymcasatx.org
• Boys & Girls Clubs of San Antonio – Program information begreatsa.org sacrd.org
• Trinity Baptist Church & Northern Hills UMC – Vacation Bible School events trinitybaptist.org nhumc.org
• First Presbyterian Church San Antonio – VBS details fpcsanantonio.org and volunteer info fpcsanantonio.org.