Exciting Camps and Activities for Summer 2023

Not all sports are team sports, and many teams never touch a ball. There are myriad ways for kids to get physical. These athletic camps may or may not be sporty, but they’ll get your kid off the couch and moving.

Salle Auriol (Seattle) 

Summer camp is the best time for kids with no experience to try out fencing. Salle Auriol offers weekly summer camps that each focus on one of three types of Olympic fencing: épée, foil and saber. Students learn footwork, bladework and other tactics in a variety of fencing activities and games to increase coordination and balance.

Ages: 7–16

Cost: TBA

Seattle Derby Brats (Seattle) 

New Skater Camp is a fun way for girls and gender-expansive kids to learn basic roller-skating skills and safety. It’s also the way to become qualified to join a competitive roller derby youth league. There is no minimum skill requirement to participate, but it’s recommended that skaters be able to skate forward without assistance for at least one lap of a standard skating rink before attending camp.

Ages: 7–17

Cost: $300  (check their website for summer 2023 info)

All Together Skatepark (Seattle)

All Together Skatepark provides weeklong half- and full-day summer camps in its indoor Wallingford skate park. Focused on creating a fun and positive environment, camps facilitate individual growth through group lessons and daily showcases during which kids get to display their growing skills.

Ages: 5–12

Cost: $350–$550

Skate Like a Girl (Seattle)

Skate Like a Girl skateboarding instructors get kids rolling with the basics of pushing and cruising, or help them take existing skills to new heights in both half-day and full-day camps. Camps are open to all genders, with specific weeks for girls and/or trans and nonbinary youths, as well as one week (date TBA) specifically for queer and trans youths.

Ages: 6–16

Cost: $300–$450, sliding scale

Edgeworks (Bellevue, Seattle, Tacoma) 

Edgeworks offers climbing camps for all skill levels; there’s a four-day indoor-only camp called New Rockers, as well as five-day Adventure Rock camps that spend a portion of the week outside. Whether you’re looking for a camp to introduce your child to rock climbing or your camper wants to climb to the next level, this is a great place to try.

Ages: 6–17

Cost: TBA  (check their website for summer 2023 info)

Seattle Bouldering Project (Seattle) 

Seattle Bouldering Project has two locations in Seattle. Each location offers Monday–Thursday climbing camps for younger kids that combine climbing, games and crafts. Camps for tweens and teens focus more on building skills and fitness.

Ages: 6–15

Cost: $450–$475

Moss Bay (Seattle) 

The Moss Bay summer camp is a weeklong day camp that combines kayaking, stand-up paddleboarding and sailing on Lake Union, with safe instruction included in each lesson. Moss Bay’s low-key approach to skill development allows kids to gravitate to the activities they most enjoy.

Ages: 7–12

Cost: $495

High Trek Adventures (Everett) 

Day camps at High Trek Adventures fit the bill when you want outdoor adventure that’s more action than nature-focused. Three-day camps include a high ropes course and zip lines, a climbing wall, laser tag, mini golf, a bouncy obstacle course and other exciting outdoor games.

Ages: 7–15

Cost: $300–$325

Seattle Yacht Club (Seattle) 

Weeklong day camps launch from Portage Bay to teach kids of all skill levels how to sail safely on boats of different sizes. A camp focused on sailboat racing will be held July 17–21 for alumni of at least one SYC sailing camp.

Ages: 7–17

Cost: $490

Alki Adventure Camps (Seattle)

Alki Adventure Camps are weeklong, full-day stand-up paddleboarding (SUP) camps on Puget Sound, Elliott Bay, Lake Washington and other locations. SUP lessons are supplemented with daily off-site adventures.

Ages: 9–16

Cost: $340–$350

Seattle Rhythmic Gymnastics (Seattle) 

Multilingual coaches teach rhythmic gymnastics in half-day or full-day camps. Campers will learn ballet, ribbon, hoops and tumbling, and participate in other fun camp activities. Each camp concludes with a showcase performance for parents.

Ages: 6–9

Cost: $450

Circus Camp (Seattle, Auburn) 

Campers of all skill levels are introduced to age-appropriate circus and acrobatic skills, from juggling to aerial and tightwire. Circus camps help young people develop physical skills, build confidence and self-esteem, and get physically fit. Full-day camps are offered at both the Seattle school and the Auburn Synapse location, which also offers half-day camps.

Ages: 6+

Cost: $199–$535

Seattle Shaolin Kungfu Academy (Bellevue) 

Nearly every martial arts school that teaches kids’ classes offers a summer camp program. But if you’re not sure where to start, why not try the original? At Seattle Shaolin Kungfu Academy’s half- and full-day weekly camps, new students learn the basics and fundamentals of Shaolin kung fu stances, traditional fist forms, weaponry, basic tumbling and sparring. The full-day camps also incorporate other elements of Chinese culture, from the Mandarin language to tea.

Ages: 4–15

Cost: $250–$450

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