Summer Camp Guide 2017

Summer Camps in Sacramento

If you’re searching for summer camps, you’ve come to the right place!  Here you can explore a vast variety of half-day, full-day and overnight camps offered in the greater Sacramento area.

Choosing a camp for your child

As you are planning out your summer and trying to make decisions on camps for your kids, here are some tips to make the process easier:

1.    Print blank calendars for each month of the summer
2.    List your kids’ interests
3.    Ask local friends for recommendations
4.    Go online and start checking out what the various summer camps have to offer (based on your kids’ interests, friend recommendations and your favorite venues)
5.    Look at logistics to start weeding out – full day vs. half day, location, price
6.    Fill in your blank calendars with those contenders on the weeks they are offered
7.    Decide and register ASAP – some camps offer early bird specials and many popular camps fill up fast!

Summer Camp Guide Categories

Arts and Crafts Camps – Drawing, painting, crafting, cooking, writing, & more
Nature Camps – Outdoors, Animals
Science/Technology/Space/Engineering Camps
Performing Arts Camps – Music, Dance, Theatre
Sports Camps – Gymnastics, Water Sports, Martial Arts, Team Sports
Variety Camps
Overnight Camps
Family Camps

FEATURED

Galactic Adventure Art Camp by Dream Enrichment Classes

Ages: 5 – 12
Price: $249; early bird special $234
Dates: June – August; see website for session dates
Phone number: (916) 419-7644
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Description: Join us, young Padawan, as we paint, draw, and sculpt our way outta the galaxy! Along the way, we’ll draw friends like R2-D2 and BB-8, paint our own starship, and create a light saber to dodge foes! If you love paint, pastels, and outer space, you won’t want to miss out on this Galactic Adventure Art Camp!

FunCamp by Fairytale Town
Ages: 4-6
Price: $145/week
Dates: June – August
Phone Number: 916-808-7462
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Description: Fairytale Town offers exciting and educational weeklong summer camps for children! Art FunCamps for ages 4-6 feature unique themes including: Camp Kaleidoscope and Art in Nature. Artists will be crafting, drawing, cutting, pasting, painting, and more.

FunCamp by Fairytale Town
Ages: 7-9
Price: $145/week
Dates: June – August
Phone Number: 916-808-7462
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Description: Fairytale Town offers exciting and educational weeklong summer camps for children! Art FunCamps for ages 7-9 feature unique themes including: Food, Fun & Fairytales, Farm-to-Fork Fun, Comic Connections and Culture Craft Club. Artists will be cooking, crafting, drawing, writing, and more.

Camp Beast by ArtBeast
Ages: 4-7
Price: $180/week; sibling discount
Dates: June – August
Phone Number: 916-441-1233
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Description: We create a space that honors children by offering activities and environments suited to their age range. Each session fills at 16 children and is led by two teachers, promising a group that can grow close. The camps offer a blend of structured arts exploration in the classroom and free play within the building, always under close supervision by the camp teachers. Our camps are about exploring art and self-expression. Children dig into an array of mediums and arts in their own way. No matter the theme, we promise arts integration with movement, song, story, and art.

Create & Bounce Art Camp by BounceU
Ages: 4-11
Price: $149/week, $139 sibling; $10 DISCOUNT for Sidetracks readers
Dates: June – August; see website for session dates
Phone Number: Roseville 916-783-4386 Rancho Cordova 916-859-0559
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Description: BounceU’s Create and Bounce Art camp is a program that gives children a daily balance of playtime and artistic expression. Our carefully developed curriculum includes them-based lessons in drawing, painting and sculpting.

Art Studio Camp
Ages: 5-11
Price: $125/week or $30/day
Dates: June 19 – 23
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Description: This camp will introduce children to different art materials and techniques! A wide range of art styles will be covered, from clay sculpting to Jackson Pollock-inspired drip painting.

Culinary Camp by Jr. Chef Central
Ages: 10-15
Price: $225
Dates: July 5-7
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Description: The 3 Day Basic Camp is where students learn the basics: knife safety, kitchen sanitation, menu reading and preparation, nutrition facts & fiction, label reading, shopping on a budget, table settings, dining etiquette and more!

Cooking Around the World Camp
Ages: 5-11
Price: $125/week or $30/day
Dates: June 5 – 9
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Description: This camp will give children the opportunity to prepare and sample foods from around the world! Each day will focus on a different country with additional activities relating to the history, geography, and culture of that country.

FEATURED

Under the Oaks by Effie Yeaw Nature Center

Ages: 5-15
Price: $125-$270 per week/two weeks; member discounts
Dates: June – August; see website for session dates
Phone Number: 916-489-4918
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Description: From hiking nature preserve trails to meeting live animals to rafting the American River – Under the Oaks Summer Camps have it all! Combining outdoor activities with science education, the Nature Center’s camp programs provide a healthy balance of fun and learning. Different themes and activities each week keeps the camps interesting and kids coming back for more. Your child will meet new friends who share an interest in science and nature, participate in crafts and games, and enjoy plenty of time in the great outdoors. It’s summer camp – just like it should be!

FunCamp by Fairytale Town
Ages: 4-9
Price: $145
Dates: June  – August
Phone Number: 916-808-7462
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Description: Fairytale Town offers exciting and educational weeklong summer camps for children! Nature FunCamps feature unique themes including: Little Ranchers, Gardens Galore and Dino Detective, and Buggin’ Out.

Zoo Camp by Sacramento Zoo
Ages: K-9th grade, 7th-8th grade
Price: $160 1/2 day camp, $270 full day camp
Dates: June-August; see website for sessions
Phone Number: 916-808-5888
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Description: Each class will focus on a different theme and is packed with fun crafts, games, music, special visits with our animal ambassadors, keeper talks and animal enrichment opportunities.

Summer Day Camp by Soil Born Farms
Ages: 1st – 12th grades
Price: $225-275
Dates: June – August; see website for session dates
Phone Number: 916-363-9685
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Description: Our Summer Day Camps, which take place at the 55-acre American River Ranch along the American River Parkway, are a great way for young people to make the connection between their food, health, and the environment. Youth will learn about farming, nature, healthy cooking, and what it takes to bring food from the farm to the table.

Summer Camp by Placer Nature Center
Ages: 3-18
Price: $125
Dates: June – August; see website for session dates
Phone Number: 530-878-6053
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Description: Placer Nature Center camp themes include Dinosaur Discoveries, Geology Rocks, Water Wizards, Earth Explorers, Train to be a Leader, and more.

Own A Horse for a Week Camp by Hillside Training Stables
Ages: 9-18
Price: $350/week
Dates: June – August
Phone Number: 916-987-1667
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Description: Discover the joys of owning a horse! This 5 Day Camp close to Sacramento offers horse lovers ages 9 to 18 the opportunity to groom, ride and care for a horse especially chosen for them.

Horse Camp by Shadow Glen Stables
Ages: 7-16
Price: $365/week
Dates:  June – August
Phone Number: 916-959-1826
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Description: Campers learn basic care and custody of horses over the week and receive instruction in western trail riding. They will learn terminology, riding skills, and general horse care.

FEATURED

Super Hero Workshop Building Camp by Dream Enrichment Classes

Ages: 5 – 12
Price: $249; early bird discount $234
Dates: June – August; see website for session dates
Phone Number: (916) 419-7644
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Description: Where would Batman be without the Batmobile?
Or Iron Man without his suit? Every good superhero needs a set of spectacular gadgets! Join us as we create our own superhero and deck him out with super-special gear. Use LEGOs to create a robotic arm, or cardboard to create a Jet Pack you can wear around town. This camp is minute-to-minute, non-stop building and creating. If you love LEGOs and you can’t wait to design your own secret headquarters, you’ve just got to join us this summer!

Meet the Ozobots Coding Camp by Dream Enrichment Classes

Ages: 6-12
Price: $359; early bird special $334
Dates: June – August; see website for session dates
Phone Number: (916) 419-7644
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Description: Come meet the Ozobots: a family of tiny, smart robots! Ozobot Jr. (ages 6-7) These right brain-left brain integrating bots build both creativity and coding skills in young learners. Campers will also strengthen their block coding skills by using Kodable, Tynker, and playing unplugged coding games and activities. They even get to design and program their own Ozobot Challenge!

Ozobot Intermediate (ages 8-12) These right brain-left brain integrating bots build both creativity and coding skills in young learners. Students will program the Ozobot Bits by drawing codable pathways and then continue on to program the robots using block-coding on tablets. In addition to the Bots, students will program using Scratch, a block-based programming language created by the MIT media lab. Throughout the week students will develop skills in problem solving, sequencing, logic, teamwork and engineering. They even get to design and program their own Ozobot Challenge!

Junior Robotics Camp by Dream Enrichment Classes

Ages: 7 – 12
Price: $359; early bird special $334
Dates: June – August; see website for session dates
Phone Number: (916) 419-7644
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Description: Campers will build and program LEGO robots to think, move, and react through a series of automation challenges. Campers use dedicated laptops and LEGO WEDO robotics kits to learn several aspects of engineering: automation, problem-solving, and programming. While LEGO robots remain at camp, photos of all robots and LEGO creations are presented at the end of the week, and project photos are sent home after camp.

Stop Motion Animation Camp by Dream Enrichment Classes

Ages: 8 – 12
Price: $359; early bird special $334
Dates: June – August; see website for session dates
Phone Number: (916) 419-7644
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Description: Produce a LEGO stop-motion animation movie with us this summer! Use LEGO bricks, LEGO minifigures, and iKITMovie or Dragonframe video-capture software to bring your LEGO dreams to life. Campers will express their creativity by developing stories with different characters, backgrounds, and sounds! Here we’re learn how to make characters move naturally on screen, how to add artificial sounds, as well as overlay explosions! Movies produced in camp will be saved on a complimentary USB drive, to share with friends and family after camp!

Storybook Science FunCamp by Fairytale Town
Ages: 4-6
Price: $145
Dates:  July 31 – August 4
Phone Number: 916-808-7462
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Description: Discover the science behind our favorite stories! Gravity had a lot to do with Humpty Dumpty’s great fall. Was Merlin the Magician really magical? Or maybe he was a scientist? One of the Three Little Pigs knew that a brick house would withstand all that huffing and puffing. Campers will dive into stories and conduct their own hands-on experiments to test the science behind their favorite stories.

Science Camp by Powerhouse Science Center
Ages: 7-12
Price: $300; $270 with membership
Dates:  June – August
Phone Number: 916-808-3942
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Description: Powerhouse camps combine innovative science projects, creativity challenges, outdoor games and, of course, FUN! Curriculum revolves around central themes such as space, nature, and general science. All of our science activities are taught by experienced, professional staff educators.

Create & Bounce Tech Camp by BounceU
Ages: 7-13
Price: $149/week, $139 sibling; $10 DISCOUNT for Sidetracks readers
Dates: June – August
Phone Number: Roseville 916-783-4386, Rancho Cordova 916-859-0559
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Description: BounceU’s unique Tech Camp features Robotics with LEGO Mindstorm and LEGO Stop-motion animation! Learn to design, build and program robots! This camp gives kids a daily balance of playtime and exploration. Campers work both individually and in small teams.

FunCamp by Fairytale Town
Ages: 4-6
Price: $145
Dates: June – August
Phone Number: 916-808-7462
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Description: Fairytale Town offers exciting and educational weeklong summer camps for children! Art FunCamps for ages 4-6 feature unique themes including: Music Makers and Storybook Stage. Campers will explore music, tell stories and develop performance skills.

Drama-Rama FunCamp by Fairytale Town
Ages: 7-9
Price: $145
Dates: June 19-23
Phone Number: 916-808-7462
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Description: Fairytale Town presents a Theatre Arts FunCamp that emphasizes creative playmaking onstage and off. Drama-Rama! Includes all aspects of theatre, from acting and script-writing to costume design and set/prop construction. Campers will write, design, produce and perform short plays and skits in this fast-paced, fun-filled week.

Dance Camp by Fancy Feet Dance Academy
Ages: 3+
Price: $130/week or $35/day
Dates: June – July
Phone Number: 916-451-4900
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Description: Themes include: Trolls “Can’t Stop the Feeling!”, Frozen, and Princess “Cinderella, Elsa, Jasmine, Belle”.

Hollywood Star Dance Camp by Fancy Feet Dance Academy
Ages: 5-10
Price: $180/week or $45/day
Dates: July 17-21
Phone Number: 916-451-4900
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Description: Ballet, Tap, Lyrical, Jazz, Musical Theater, Hip Hop.

Theatre Camp by Sacramento Theatre Company School of the Arts
Ages: K – 8th grade
Price: $180 – $600
Dates: June – August; see website for session dates
Phone Number: 916-446-7501
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Description: Join the STC School of the Arts all summer long in a fun, supportive and encouraging theatre environment! Learn acting, dance  and singing fundamentals while making new friends and having fun! Camps include daily acting, dancing and singing Master classes with theatre professionals, with additional classes in scenic arts, Improv, stage combat, costuming and more!

The Addams Family Musical by Young Actors Stage
Ages: 7-18
Price: $450
Dates: July 17 – August 6
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Description: ​This magnificently macabre new musical comedy is the story of a lovable family of creepy kooks is alive and well and living in their super-spooky mansion in Central Park. Everyone registered will be cast in the ensemble.  Auditions will determine specific roles. Performances at the 24th Street Theater.

Soccer Camp by Sacramento United
Ages: Kids born 2001-2009
Price: $150/week
Dates: June – August
Phone Number: 916-955-2105
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Description: The camp consists of a full week of training, games, and fun challenges. The  camp provides a fun and competitive environment for players of all ability levels. Players are grouped by age and ability into teams that are under the supervision of our professional staff.  In addition to the daily technical training, campers also participate in scrimmages each day to integrate their newly learned skills into real game situations. All culminating in a World Cup final day of games.

Sunshine Summer Camp by Sunshine Swim & Fitness Center
Ages: 5-12
Price: $239/week
Dates: June – August
Phone Number: 916-685-7462
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Description: Start each day perfecting your swim skills in our small group classes.  Then, out of the pool and ready for some fun out on the trail; hiking in the nature preserve, playing kickball at the park or shooting hoops on the blacktop. After lunch we dive back into the pool for a few hours of open swim; hanging out with friends, diving for toys and having noodle races. When that’s over we’ll head inside for a few activities before our day is through like building rockets, making hot air balloons, painting and more.

Youth Camp by Sacramento State Aquatic Center
Ages: 7-17 (camp is broken down into age categories)
Price: $180/week & up
Dates: June – August; see website for sessions
Phone Number: 916-278-1105
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Description: The Youth Camps provide instruction in:  Sailing, Windsurfing, Canoeing, Kayaking, Wakeboarding, Water Skiing, Jet Skiing, Rowing, Stand-up Paddling, White Water Rafting, and motorboat safety.  For every week of summer camp we offer a Parents night on the water on the Thursday of each week of camp.

Basketball Camp by Hardwood Palace
Ages: Boys K – 8th
Price: $95
Dates:  June 26-29
Phone Number: 916-543-4433
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Description: Outstanding instruction from high school coaches, college and high school players. Instruction will be broken down into the following areas: 1) Offensive Fundamentals: footwork, shooting, passing, dribbling. 2) Offensive Skills: free throw shooting, individual moves off the dribble, 3 pt shooting 3) Offensive Concepts: spacing, moving without the ball, cutting, setting/receiving screens. 4) Man to Man Defensive Concepts: on ball, away from ball, post, team.

Sports Camp by YMCA
Ages: 5-13
Price: $115/week & up
Dates: June – August
Phone Number: 916-452-9622
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Description: YMCA Sports Camp is an opportunity for youth to develop skills while learning sportsmanship, fair play and teamwork, in an environment where everyone plays and everyone wins.

Summer Time Fun Club by City of Woodland
Ages: Grades 1st-6th
Price: $275/session or $475 entire summer
Dates: June – August; see website for session dates
Phone Number: 530-661-2000
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Description: The SummerTime Fun Club provides school-aged children a place to be over the summer offering games, sports, arts & Crafts, and trips to the pool to swim. Choose from one of three parks to attend; Ferns
Park, Pioneer Park or Woodside Park.

Vacation Zone by City of Folsom
Ages: 5-10 years-old
Price:  $108 & up
Dates: June – August; see website for session dates
Phone Number: 916-351-3509
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Description: Vacation Zone provides age-appropriate games and activities to keep your child entertained all summer long! In addition to days packed with games, outdoor activities and crafts, your child’s trip to the Vacation Zone includes two visits to the Folsom Aquatic Center and a field trip each week. Weekly fees include one camp shirt per summer, transportation to and from field trip destination, entrance fees for the Aquatic Center and the field trip fees.

Arts, Science, Robotics, Legos, Animals & more by Folsom Parks & Rec
Ages: 3+
Price: $84 & up
Dates: June – August; see website for session dates
Phone Number: 916-355-7285
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Description: Folsom Parks & Recreation summer day camps are a great way for kids and teens to keep their minds engaged and bodies active while they’re out of school. Camp topics include arts, science, robotics, Legos, animals, theatre, sports and more.

Camp Fair Oaks by Fair Oaks Recreation & Park District
Ages: 5-12 years-old, (13+ Counselor in Training program)
Price: $160 – 185/week, sibling discount
Dates: June – August; see website for session dates
Phone Number: 916-966-1036
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Description: Our fully inclusive camp offers a wide variety of activities, extended programming, special events, field trips, arts and crafts, games, camp shirt and snacks at no extra cost. Our summer camp provides children with the opportunity to make friends, experience different activities, and discover new interests. Campers will have an opportunity to enjoy activities such as: fun and fitness, indoor and outdoor games, team sports, nature, crafts, storytelling, talent shows and supervised play sessions. Let us make this a summer they will remember!

Youth Summer Camp by Cameron Park Community Services District
Ages: 5-12 years-old
Price: $165 per week
Dates: June – August; see website for session dates
Phone Number: 530-677-2231
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Description: Summer Kidz Kamp is the place to be for summertime fun! Enjoy games, activities, swimming at the Cameron Park Lake and Pool, weekly themes, and weekly field trips!  Our camp runs for 10 weeks starting May 31st.

Summer Teen Pack by City of Woodland
Ages: Grades 6th-9th
Price: $80/week
Dates: June 13-July 29; see website for session dates
Phone Number: 530-661-2000
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Description: Summer Teen Pack is a daily program that keeps pre-teens busy during the summer with activities and field trips spring the summer. Participants explore Yolo and Sacramento counties via public transportation, and learn cool new things.

Summer CAVE Camp by City of Folsom
Ages: 10 1/2 – 14
Price: $40 & up
Dates: June – August; see website for session dates
Phone Number: 916-351-3505
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Description: We have planned another great summer and we are excited to share it with all of you. Summer CAVE will bring fun experiences and new friendships. The staff is excited to see familiar faces and meet new ones. Get ready for a summer packed full of games, field trips, swimming, arts and crafts, and above all FUN!

Bear Valley Traditional Summer Camp by YMCA
Ages: 8-14
Price: TBA
Dates: TBA
Phone Number: 916-452-9622
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Description: Traditional Camp at Bear Valley is a week-long session packed full of adventure. Activities incude swimming, hiking, wilderness art, archery, gold panning, bike riding, pioneer cooking and much more. Evenings are spent playing games, star hikes, campfires, and s’mores!

Bear Valley Explorers Camp by YMCA
Ages: 7-8
Price: $175
Dates: July 20-22
Phone Number: 916-452-9622
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Description: For the parent looking for that first resident camp experience for their child, try the two night Explorers camp! All of the fun of traditional camp, with a 6:1 camper to staff ratio. This half-week program allows young campers to discover the magic of camp and all that Bear Valley has to offer.

Outdoor Adventures Yosemite Trip by City of Woodland
Ages: Grades 6th-9th
Price: $199
Dates: July 31 – August 4
Phone Number: 530-661-2000
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Description: The Outdoor Adventure trip is a 5 day and 4 night camping trip to Yosemite National Park. Participants stay in rustic cabins. Campers have an opportunity to hike through dramatic landscapes of Yosemite National Park, complete team-building challenges, explore lessons on leadership, and challenges.

Leadership Camp for Teens by National Teen Leadership Program
Ages: Grades 8th-12th
Price: $539
Dates: three-day weekend at CSUS, July 28 – 30
Phone Number: 916-932-2338
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Description: The NTLP includes three motivational speakers, interesting interactive workshops, and fun small group sessions. Students will experience lots of team-building and life-building skills, plus make new friends from all over the US.  AND, we open it up with an amazing hypnotist show, let you dance the night away on Saturday and close it all with an exciting Awards and Recognition Ceremony where students can earn Recognition Awards and Presidential Volunteer Service Awards. Scholarships are available!

Family Camp by Camp Concord
Ages: all ages
Price: Price is per person per night
Dates: June 23 – July 15 and July 31 – August 11
Phone Number: 925-671-3006
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Description: Camp Concord is a Family Camp located in one of California’s most beautiful locations – South Lake Tahoe! From programming and activities to meals and accommodations, camp is all inclusive and fun for the whole family.  Be ready to make memories that will last a lifetime. You choose the time and length.

Family Camp by Camp Sacramento
Ages: all
Price: $109-$599/per person – varying rates based on age and length of stay
Dates: June – September; see website for session dates
Phone Number: 916-808-6098
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Description: Camp Sacramento is situated in  the Eldorado National Forest Approximately 89 miles from Sacramento, CA. It sits on a 14-acre property owned by the U.S. Forest Service and leased by the City of Sacramento.  Camp Sacramento offers eight Mini Camp (4 days/3 nights) and four Week-long (6 days/5 nights) vacation sessions during its 2015 Family Camp season. We provide guests with 3 meals a day and a vacation full of recreation activities. This is all included in the camp fees. . The last two weeks of the season at Camp Sacramento are Senior Camps, open only to adults age 50 and older. Camp Sacramento also rents the facilities to Groups for weekend retreats.

Big thanks to our sponsor: Dream Enrichment

Dream Enrichment is a local small business bringing the most exciting themes, passionate teachers, and engaging camp curriculum to our Sacramento community. They specialize in STEAM camps that line up perfectly with your child’s passions, to keep them creating, inventing, and discovering – all summer long!

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