Summer Camp is the perfect time for kids to try something new or improve their skills at a sport or activity they love. We’ve got more than 100 amazing camps here in Lakeland and Polk County listed in our Summer Camp Guide, but the camps featured below stand out to us for offering something unique and fun with a specific theme.
Our Summer Camp articles include both free and paid listings.
Wake Camp at Elite Cable Park
Do your kids love water activities and being outdoors? Elite Cable Park’s Summer Wake Camp might be the perfect fit. Even if your child has never set foot on a wakeboard, they’ll be geared up and shredding in no time. Campers will be taught everything from basic fundamentals to advanced tricks over the course of this week-long camp. Camp is designed for all experience levels, ages 9 – 15. Visit the Elite Cable Park website to learn more.
Karate Beyond Ninja Camp
Karate Beyond’s Ninja Camp is an action-packed half day camp experience in Lakeland. Campers will enjoy a variety of fun activities like Nerf wars, laser tag, light saber battles, ninja warrior courses, and board breaking, plus daily karate lessons. The classes are especially friendly to elementary age students that are new to martial arts. Visit the Karate Beyond Summer Camp Website to learn more.
Art Camp at the Polk Museum of Art
If your son or daughter loves to create or has an interest in art, what better place to learn than at our Smithsonian-affiliated fine art museum – the Polk Museum of Art. This two-week camp will develop their love and appreciation for the arts. Both half day and full day camps are available for ages 7 – 13, you will pick specific art classes including crafts, digital photography, drawing, jewelry making, stop motion animation, and others. Visit the Polk Museum of Art website to learn more.
Big Bass Guide Summer Fishing Camp
With so many lakes here in Polk County, fishing camp is a great summer activity! Big Bass Guide is run by Captain Shea Arnold. He has 20 years of experience running guided fishing tours on the Chain of Lakes in Winter Haven as well as other freshwater lakes across Florida (and 4 kids of his own, ages 5-13). At this summer fishing camp, kids will learn boat safety, knot tying, casting, baits and lures, fishing techniques, and more, plus daily boat riding, swimming, and fishing with a professional captain. Visit the Big Bass Guide website to learn more.
Bricks 4 Kidz
Bricks 4 Kidz will be hosting week-long camps at Dixieland Elementary School in Lakeland this summer! This unique summer camp will keep your child thinking, building, innovating, creating, and learning all summer long. Campers will use LEGO® robotic models that tie into each week’s camp themes, create LEGO® Mosaic Art and 3D Brick Builds, Arts and Crafts Projects, Games, and more. Both half-day and full-day options are available for kids ages K-5th grade. Visit the Bricks 4 Kidz website to learn more.
Snapology
Snapology believes that children are meant to learn through play. Snapology Summer Camps engages children using LEGO® bricks, K’Nex and technology. Snapology offers S.T.E.A.M. camps and workshops year-round, including summer camps, Your kids will love our fun camp topics and themes. Shh, don’t tell them it’s educational! Both half-day and full-day options are available for ages 5-14 plus one week for ages 4-6. Visit the Snapology website to see weekly themes.
No Limits Sports Camps
Looking for a camp where your kids will stay active and get to try a variety of sports? No Limits Sports Camp is a fun way for kids to experience several different sports or focus on their primary sport of choice. Campers get to choose which sport they want to work on each session of the day including basketball, volleyball, soccer, flag football, bocci, and baseball. Campers will be taught the basic fundamentals of each sport and given an opportunity to use those skills in team games. Both half-day and full-day options are available. No Limits also offers volleyball, football, and basketball summer camps. Visit the No Limits website to learn more.
WonderHere Summer Camps
Summer Camp is better at the farm! Enjoy 8 weeks of high-energy, nature-filled, thematic summer camps at WonderHere’s NEW Farmschool location in South Lakeland. Each thematic week, children will experience hands-on fun, exposure to new hobbies and skills, weekly movie day, weekly water day, end of the week assembly. On the farm, campers will get to enjoy the outdoors and interact with small farm animals. Visit the WonderHere website to see weekly camp themes.
Camp Gilead Overnight Camp
Interested in trying sleepaway camp but don’t want to go far? Camp Gilead is located right here in Polk County! This overnight camp is a local favorite that has been providing summer camps, retreats, and Bible Clubs for over 80 years. They offer weeklong sessions based on age groups, from grades 2 – 12. Camp activities include swimming, tubing, crafts, paintball, archery, Bible lessons, and more. Camp Gilead also offers a commuter day camp for grades K – 8. Located in Polk City, just north of I-4. Visit the Camp Gilead website to learn more.
All Saints Academy
With over 20 camps to choose from, All Saints Academy is offering something for everyone. Some of the unique camps that caught our eye include Circus Camp, Musical Theatre Intensive, and camps for both 3-4 year olds and teenagers (two age groups without a lot of camp options). Check out the full list of sports and instructional camps on the All Saints Academy website.
Camp Fire Sunshine Service Learning for Teens
Summer activities for middle and high schoolers are hard to find, but Camp Fire Sunshine has camps to keep them engaged all summer long. Teens in grades 6 – 12 will learn about themselves and the value of giving back to their community. Summer Challenge includes daily service-learning projects that will take students all over central and West Florida, helping out at many different agencies along the way. Nature Quest and CF66 are overnight service-learning “road trips.”
Camp Fire also offers a popular day camp for grades K-5 and 6-7. Visit the Camp Fire website to learn more.
Nova Athletics Supernova Summer Camp
This gymnastics, tumbling, and hip-hop dance summer camp at Nova Athletics will keep your kids busy all summer long! Campers will be trained on all gymnastics apparatuses and tumbling equipment, plus enjoy obstacle courses, climbing walls, games, and more. Visit the Nova Athletics Facebook page to learn more.
Florida Southern Volleyball Camp
Florida Southern Volleyball has a long history of hosting great camps for all ages and skill levels.
– College Exposure Camp for high schoolers is designed for you to feel like a collegiate student-athlete. Training includes advanced skills, concepts & strategies from current college coaches.
– Elite Camp for rising 8th-12th graders provides 1, 2 or 3 days of skills & concepts unique to your position.
– All-Skills Camp for ages 11 & up is for athletes looking to sharpen all their skills. The training will range from beginner to advanced and will be catered to your specific level of experience.
Visit the Florida Southern Volleyball Camps website to learn more.
YMCA Summer Camps
The YMCA is one of the nation’s largest providers of out-of-school programming and has a long, rich history of over 100 years in providing top-notch summer camps to parents across the country. Here in Polk County, the YMCA of Lakeland offers a variety of camp options for ages 3 – 12 that allow your kids to try different activities during the summer all at one location.
• Day Camp (completed K – age 12)
• Pre-K Camp (ages 4-5)
• Aquatics Camps (ages 3-12)
• Co-Ed Sports Camps (completed K – age 11)
• Golf Camps at Par3
Visit the YMCA website to learn more about camp options at the Lakeland Family YMCA (South Lakeland), Fontaine Gills Family YMCA (North Lakeland), Lake Wales Family YMCA, and Par3.
Cooking Camp at What’s Cooking Lakeland
What could be better than kids who can help in the kitchen?? What’s Cooking? offers a summer cooking camp that teaches children about clean eating and cooking from scratch. Campers will develop cooking skills and learn about local foods, restaurants and our natural environment. Camps are open to kids ages 5-13, and each week has a different theme. Visit the What’s Cooking? website to learn more.
Field Trip Camps
Field trips are a highlight of summer camp for many kids! The chance to visit somewhere fun with a group of friends. These featured summer day camps are known for their exciting field trip adventures:
City of Lakeland’s Camp Blast
Camp BLAST is the City of Lakeland’s highly successful summer recreation program for kids entering 1st – 6th Grade. Camp BLAST offers children endless opportunities for enrichment including weekly field trips, onsite games and activities, all for only $400 for 7 weeks. Camp runs June 13 – July 29 from 7:30 am – 5:30 pm and is located at multiple sites around Lakeland. Camp Blast Registration opens April 2, check the City of Lakeland Camp Website for updates.
Family Martial Arts Center
Family Martial Arts Center strives to instill the basic life virtues of discipline, respect, integrity, and confidence. Their Summer Day Camp for ages 4 & up includes TaeKwonDo Classes, field trips, and lots of FUN! Camp runs from 7am-6:30pm, making it ideal for working parents. Visit the Family Martial Arts Center website to learn more.
Minds in Motion
Do you want MORE for your child this summer? Join Minds in Motion summer camp! Camp includes STEAM activities, creative play and imagination rooms, computer stations, video games, outdoor areas, and a new studio for whole-body fitness and theater arts. Weekly field trips may include parks, splash pads, movies, bowling, roller skating, ice skating, Funtasia, and others. Visit the Minds in Motion Website to learn more.
Master Choe’s
Join Master Choe’s for an action-packed summer camp. Camp includes daily martial arts training, special field trips, enrichment classes, along with group games and activities. Local field trips include Skate World, Gandy Pool, Family Fun Center, Local Parks, with “Mega” trips include Fun Spot Kissimmee, Lake Eva Water Park, Dave & Busters. Visit the Choe’s Martial Arts Website to learn more.
Summer Fun Programs
Summer Fun Program is designed for parents to have peace of mind about summer care. Camp includes fun activities, sports, crafts, weekly field trips, chapel, and so much more! At only $50 per week with code LKLDMOMS, this is an inexpensive summer camp option. Located at Polk Christian Preparatory School and 6 other locations across Central Florida. Visit the Summer Fun Program website to learn more.
AGT Athletics
AGT Athletics has an action-packed summer planned! Field trips, games, tumbling, water days, park days, crafts, etc. Open from 6:15 AM – 6:00 PM, this camp is ideal for working parents who need a full day camp. Learn more on the AGT Athletics website.
You can find a full list of day camps that offer field trips in our Summer Camp Guide.