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Free & Affordable Summer Camps in Pittsburgh & Philadelphia
Although it’s only March, many parents are already searching for great summer camps! So we’re excited to bring you this year’s guide for summer camps in Pittsburgh and Philadelphia that offer summer fun, exercise and enrichment.
Pittsburgh
1. Carnegie Science Center
Carnegie Science Center offers a wide range of camps for ages 4-14. Kids can step into the shoes of a space scientist to search the universe for habitable planets. They can learn about the Viking Age with a modern-era twist or take a scientific voyage through the Magic School Bus and dive into video game design. Explore the summer camps brochure for the complete details. Registration is now open. A limited number of need-based scholarships are available.
2. Pittsburgh Cultural Trust
The Pittsburgh Cultural Trust’s Camps for Creatives offers some of the most creative summer camps around Pittsburgh. The sessions return this June with camps for everyone from 3-year-olds to high school seniors. The five-day camps concentrate on developing creative skills in topics like theater production, sewing and design, storytelling and science. Registration is now open for everything from SmARTy Pants Science & Art camp to STEAM Challenge camp.
3. Pittsburgh Opera
Pittsburgh Opera launches its inaugural summer camp that runs from July 10-21. Bravo Academy is designed for high school students who are interested in opera and other performing arts. Kids will receive hands-on experience with industry professionals and performers during classes, workshops with Pittsburgh Opera staff and master classes. Bravo Academy ends with a professional showcase performance by the participants. Register here. Payment plans and financial aid are available.
4. Pittsburgh Parks Conservancy
Kids ages 4-14 are the focus of Pittsburgh Parks Conservancy’s summer camps based out of the Frick Environmental Center. Camps are geared to specific ages, so kids get the most from the experience. In Kinder Camp, for example, 4- and 5-year-olds dig for worms, plant seeds and sing songs. Fifth and sixth graders in Outdoor Expedition Camp take part in hands-on projects and skill-building activities while exploring the beautiful spaces in Frick Park. Registration opens at 8 a.m. on Feb. 22. Camperships are available.
5. Dragon’s Den
Dragon’s Den returns for the 2023 summer camp season with a cool lineup. The transformative educational environment reinvented the former St. Mary Magdalene Church as a two-level rope course and zipline. Kids ages 7-13 will find exciting camps that range from Fantasy Week and Outdoor Explorers to Dragon’s Lab. Camps include field trips and outdoor fun in the sun. Browse camps and register here. Partial and full scholarships are available.
Philadelphia
1. Briar Bush Nature Center
Briar Bush Nature Center provides immersive outdoor environmental education designed to connect children with nature through active, hands-on learning. Serving toddlers through pre-teens, the center offers flexible formats including half-day sessions, full-day camps, and specialized nature expeditions. Campers spend their days catching critters along forested trails, exploring live animal exhibits, engaging in sensory outdoor games, and learning foundational wilderness survival skills. Half-day programs provide an especially budget-friendly entry point for younger children, and household membership discounts are offered alongside need-based camp scholarships through the Friends of Briar Bush Fund to keep sessions accessible to all families.
2. Morris Arboretum Camp
Set across 92 acres of gardens, streams, and woodland canopies in Chestnut Hill, Morris Arboretum invites children ages 4 to 10 to learn as citizen scientists. The camp divides campers into developmental age brackets to keep activities engaging and age-appropriate. Weekly itineraries combine science experimentation, creek stomping, insect investigations, and plant biology with outdoor art projects and cooling water games. Early-bird savings, member discounts, and partial assistance opportunities help families manage costs for this premier outdoor experience.
3. Newlin Grist Mill
Newlin Grist Mill offers an active summer retreat nestled across 160 acres of parkland and stream habitats. Campers ages 4 to 12 embark on self-directed adventures that range from wading in streams for macro-invertebrates and building eco-sculptures from recycled materials to baking authentic 18th-century recipes inside historic stone structures. Each week revolves around unique investigative themes that weave together nature hikes, sensory scavenger hunts, and STEM exploration, giving children an educational experience at reasonable community registration rates.
4. Nest
Nest provides an energetic, air-conditioned urban oasis for children ages 3 to 10. Designed with working families in mind, each week features dynamic, multi-disciplinary themes encompassing youth tumbling, sports skills, collaborative art, hands-on science lab challenges, and live music play. Campers alternate between developmental classroom studios and dedicated indoor gym play spaces that keep kids active regardless of summer heatwaves. Flexible single-week sign-ups, sibling discounts, and half-day or extended-day options give caregivers customizable scheduling that balances affordability with convenience.
Looking for summer camps or caregiver support?
Check out our summer camp articles or explore our Kinship Resource Library to get the tools and answers your family needs.
