We’ve rounded up some of the best summer day camp programs north of Boston, no matter what your child’s needs or interests.

Spring is finally here and parents are starting to think about summer! More precisely, what is
available for their children in terms of camps and programming.

Check out our round-up of some of the best day camps on the North Shore to find out which camp is best for your child(ren). From theater to water sports to science, each camp has different specialties to suit your needs.

Looking for free extended hours? An engineering focus? An all-girls program? Find what you are looking for here.

coastal discoveries

Aboard the 48-foot Erica Lee II, children have the opportunity to explore and engage with the local marine ecosystem in an educational setting. During the week-long session, with days running from 8:30am to 4:00pm, children spend their days on the water learning how to fish for local species such as cod, flounder and striped bass, and they can also participate in hikes, kayaking adventures, swim, Explore tidal flats, catch lobsters and much more. As activities change weekly with seasonal ecosystem changes, kids who sign up for more than a week can expect new adventures every day. Be sure to pack plenty of water and sunscreen!

54R Merrimac Street, Newburyport, 978-462-2017, coastdiscoveries.com

Yellow Jacket Gymnastics

Yellow Jackets Gymnastics, owned and directed by Olympic medalist and two-time Olympic coach Peter Kormann, has been recognized as a leader in youth athletic programs on Boston’s North Shore for over thirty years. Our programs offer healthy physical education classes for children and adults of all ages. With two convenient locations in Danvers and Middleton, we proudly serve the North Shore. Programs include gymnastics for boys and girls, preschool gymnastics, cheer tumble, an in-house recreation team, USAG Boys & Girls Junior Olympic Teams, Xcel competition teams, YJ Ninja Warrior, Back Handspring Clinics and summer camps.

Middleton & Danvers, 978-304-1762, yellowjacketsgym.com

camp evergreen

What began as a converted farm deep in the Harold Parker State Forest in Andover has grown into a permanent North Shore summer camp, family owned and operated since 1964 when it was founded by former Celtic Master Jim Loscutoff. The forest setting provides the perfect backdrop for kids to unwind, develop confidence and creativity, and learn new skills. Campers are grouped by age and gender and take part in assigned activities with their groups in the mornings, like swimming lessons, and free choice activities in the afternoons, where they can choose from things like drama, timber shop, canoeing, track and field or horseback riding, to name just a few to call. Look out for special activities like field trips, fishing derbies, late nights and crazy dress-up days, as well as simple summertime fun like popsicles every afternoon.

Good for: unique, fun special activities

166 Jenkins Road, Andover, 978-475-2505, campevergreen.com

GSEMA Summer Camp

Your camper doesn’t have to be a Girl Scout to attend Girl Scouts of Eastern Massachusetts (GSEMA) Summer Camp, which provides girls ages 5-15 with a fun and supportive environment to spend their summers meeting new people and new activities. GSEMA has two North Shore locations: Camp Maude Eaton in Andover and Camp Rice Moody in Reading. Maude Eaton has bus transportation, while Rice Moody offers free extended daytime hours from 8am to 5pm. Each week and age group has a different theme: Stupid Scientists, Broadway Bound, Myths and Magic, Camp Picasso, and Outdoor Adventures, to name a few. In their brochure you will find a full list of weekly themes to find the best match for your camper.

Good for: All-Girl Environment

141 Abbot Street, Andover, 617-350-8335; 29 Rice Street, Reading, 617-350-8335; gsema.org/en/camp/our-camps

Spark fitness and tennis club

Spark Fitness and Tennis Club is not your typical gym. We offer an amazing variety of services under one roof. Our goal is to build communities and individuals in healthy and sustainable ways. We want to pick everyone up where they are and help them to achieve their goals. This is how we ensure that growth is sustainable and fulfilling for everyone. We look at serving our members through a lens of longevity and trust so that we become an integral part of their lives.

We offer programs and services for all ages and travel, on and off the court!

307 Lowell Street, Andover, MA 01810, 978-409-2228, sparkfitnessandtennis.com

Camp Leslie

Set on 14 acres on the edge of scenic Pentucket Pond in Georgetown, 4-H Camp Leslie has been a staple of the North Shore since 1939. Camp Leslie is primarily an overnight camp and offers day camps during the weeks of July 5-12. Overnight camps run from July 5 to August 14. Campers aged seven to fourteen choose four daily activities from the core Waterfront, Creative Arts and Challenge Activities (archery, nature studies, etc.) area. The weekly team competitions, which divide the camp into two teams, follow each week’s theme and the days end with evening programs of skits and carnivals.

Good for: sleeping camp

139 West Main Street, Georgetown, 978-352-8060, campleslie.org

Cedardale/Groveland Summer Day Camp

Cedardale/Groveland is a 30+, co-educational 8 week camp for children ages 3 years 9 months to 13 years. The day camp strives to develop campers’ confidence and compassion while providing them with an environment in which to make friends and grow. For this reason, campers are required to attend at least two consecutive camp weeks to begin with, to allow them to acclimatize and have the best possible experience. Cedardale/Groveland wants campers to learn skills like performing arts, swimming, tennis, kickball and more through their camp activities, but just as importantly to create memories.

Good for: find friends

20 Barehill Road, Groveland, 978-372-2622, cedar.Network

She Summits Co.

She Summits Co. is an ACA-accredited, Maine-based travel camp focused on building confidence through bold outdoor adventures. Activities include backpacking, sea kayaking, rock climbing and hiking.

1144 Main Road, Bradford, ME, 04410, 207-956-0605, shesummitsco.com

Waldorf School at Moraine Farm Summer Camp

The Beverly School offers two summer camp programs: the Kindergarten Summer Program for children ages three and a half to six years and the Theater Camp for children ages seven to twelve. The Nursery Camp offers nature-focused programs for young children aimed at social and emotional development, with four sessions on gardening, hiking, water activities and homework. Children can register for one or more weeks. The Theater Camp for Older Children, which runs two week-long sessions in August, features theater crafts, games, singing and mindful movement.

Good for: Children of pre-school and kindergarten age, focus on nature

701 Cabot Street, Beverly, 978-927-8811, waldorfmoraine.org

codeverse

With sessions lasting from early June through late August, Codeverse teaches kids how to code, develop games and apps, and collaborate with new friends. Children can participate in one or more weeks and learn how to program gadgets, build robots, 3D print and much more. The weekly cost of $499 includes healthy snacks and lunch, complimentary early drop-off and late pickup, and an iPad for the week.

Good for: computer science

75 Middlesex Turnpike, #3040, Burlington, 844-644-2633, codeverse.com

Eagles/Edge at St. John’s Prep

There is something for every child in Eagles/Edge summer programs. Their traditional day camp for kids ages four to 12 runs most of the summer and includes one to eight week options that include swimming, sports, games, arts, new friends and more. Sports camps for children aged six to eighteen allow students to improve their skills in sports such as basketball, soccer or volleyball. Special camps cater to smaller groups of kids with specific interests, with sessions like 3D Architectural Design, Edible Art, Musical Theater, Extreme Minecraft, and more. Older children can also take an academic course in subjects such as algebra, writing resumes, or writing essays for college applications. Visit their website for more details on Eagles/Edge’s many offerings.

Good for: specific interest camp programs

72 Spring Street, Danvers, 978-774-1427, eaglesedgeprograms.org

Brooks School Day Camp

Kids ages three to fourteen can experience a traditional summer camp at Brooks School this summer, complete with archery, boating, music and more. The camp runs in four two-week sessions, directly from June 26th to August 18th. A daily activity schedule is created for all ages and includes activities such as tennis, swimming lessons, arts and crafts, sports and more group time. And the program is designed to be as convenient as possible for parents – Brooks School offers extended daytime hours from 7am to 6pm and school buses with routes in Andover, Lawrence, Lynnfield, Methuen, Reading and Wakefield.

Good for: traditional full day summer camp

1160 Great Pond Road, North Andover, 978-725-6253, summer.brooksschool.org

Ipswich River Nature Day Camp

Mass Audubon presents a nature-focused day camp in Topsfield and Marblehead. The 2,200-acre Ipswich River Wildlife Sanctuary Camp in Topsfield offers all-day, week-long sessions throughout the summer, and every camper receives a discount if they attend two or more sessions. These sessions have weekly themes like Survival of the Fittest and Animal Art. They also offer trekking, canoeing, and leadership training camp options. At the Church of Saint Andrew in Marblehead, campers will have sessions such as Predator Prowl and Nature & Art. See the Mass Audubon summer camp flyer for pricing, dates and other details.

Good for: nature lover

87 Perkins Row, Topsfield, 978-887-9264, massaudubon.org/ipswichrivercamp

Summer Shore Day Camp

With full-day and half-day options, Shore School’s summer program encourages exploration and curiosity through a variety of traditional and not-so-traditional camp activities. Campers can expect water days on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday mornings, as well as other camp activities like arts and sports. But they can also expect to explore subjects such as science, writing, drama, engineering, and leadership. Summer Shore also offers half-day specialty sports camps for soccer, basketball, field hockey and lacrosse.

Good for: an academic focus

545 Cabot Street, Beverly, 978-927-1700, shoreschool.org/summer-shore