Summer camp isn’t just for little kids! Although many camps that you’ll find in our big 2026 Summer Camp Guide welcome all ages, there are some especially good options for older kids and teens. Please do explore the big list, but for your convenience we’ve also curated this shorter list of camps that might be perfect for your older camper.
Check out the possibilities:
1. Pittsburgh Parks Conservancy: Teens can apply here for the popular Young Naturalists summer internship program, a paid opportunity for high school students to work, learn, and explore in Pittsburgh’s parks. Students accepted into this award-winning program take on meaningful conservation work, including controlling erosion, managing and monitoring invasive species, repairing trails, and caring for trees, while also diving deep into environmental STEM topics such as mycology, entomology, botany, forest ecology, ornithology, aquatic ecosystems, watershed health, climate science, and land conservation. Separately, younger teens are welcome at the Parks Conservancy’s summer camps based out of the Frick Environmental Center, which run various dates between June 15 and Aug. 14. Find details about those camps here.
Photo courtesy of Pittsburgh Parks Conservancy.
2. Readiness Institute Summer Program: This five-week paid experience for rising high school seniors helps them become community and future-ready.The program runs from June 29 through July 30, with applications accepted now through March 31. A maximum of 40 campers will be accepted and each will receive a stipend of $1,500 and use of a laptop while enrolled. The program is open to rising high school seniors attending high school in Allegheny County.
3. Point Park University Summer Camps and Intensives: Is your teenager ready to spend the summer in the city? Point Park University’s 2026 Summer Camps and Intensives include courses in the arts and sciences, athletics, business, cinema arts, communications, performing arts and more. Get more info here.
4. SLB Radio Summer Camps: SLB Radio Summer Camps offer middle and high school students one-of-a-kind experiences at the Youth Media Center (co-located within the Children’s Museum on the North Side), including opportunities to learn new skills, make new friends, and be heard. Camp themes include podcasting, songwriting, and the launch of a new, audio-first literary magazine. Scholarship information and application materials are available here.
Photo courtesy of SLB Radio.
5. Western Pennsylvania Writing Project’s Young Writers Institute: This inspiring summer camp invites students up through rising 11th-graders to explore writing in an engaging and exciting environment. The Institute will help young writers develop their skills through a broad range of learning experiences led by certified classroom teachers, esteemed writers and advanced writing students from regional colleges and universities. Scroll down right here and click on the Themes dropdown to learn more about the grade-level themes. Camp runs weekdays, June 22-30, with an evening showcase on July 1, and takes places on the University of Pittsburgh campus at Posvar Hall, with possible outings throughout the Oakland neighborhood. YWI will accept a total of 75 students. Click here for more information and registration. Parents can email wpwp@pitt.edu with any questions.
6. Luminari’s Camp Delicious: Aspiring teen chefs will find culinary confidence at the five-day Camp Delicious. Teens will participate in tastings and learn about food sourcing and preparation under the guidance of some of Pittsburgh’s most prominent chefs and nutritionists. By the end of camp, kids should have the ability to create scrumptious meals at home. Camp runs from June 22-26. Register here.
Photo courtesy of Venture Outdoors.
7. Venture Outdoors: Registration is open for Venture Outdoors’ summer camps for kids of all ages, all the way up through high schoolers going into 12th grade. Camps will be hosted this year at North Park and South Park between June 22 and Aug. 14. Outdoor-loving kids will enjoy active recreation like kayaking, fishing, biking, geocaching and more. Science experiments, crafts and leadership development will help kids gain self-confidence and a greater appreciation for nature. Check out the lineup and register here. (Limited scholarships are available. Questions? Contact Jody Rutten.)
8. Sarah Heinz House Registration is open for day camp at Sarah Heinz House (which welcomes campers through 10th grade) and for Heinz House Resident Camp along the Slippery Rock Creek in Ellwood City (which goes through grade 12). Kids can have a great summer at the House or go away to a camp experience designed to entertain and educate them about the importance of teamwork, effective communication and also valuable wilderness skills. Pre-care and post-care are available, as is limited financial assistance.
9. Ascend Pittsburgh: Ascend Pittsburgh’s summer camps are designed to grow strong minds and bodies. Caring, experienced counselors guide kids through fun and developmentally appropriate activities, including bouldering, top-rope climbing, yoga and slacklining. Kids develop strength, dexterity and balance while they’re having fun and making friends. These classes are designed to be accessible for all levels for kids ages 6-16, with full day and half-day camps. Registration is open for camps at the Point Breeze and South Side locations. Financial assistance is available.
Summer music camp photo courtesy of the AWAACC.
10. August Wilson African American Cultural Center’s Hip-Hop Camp: AWAACC’s dance/music camps are an immersive creative experience for young aspiring hip-hop artists and DJs. Students have the opportunity to learn from experienced industry professionals, hone their skills in music production and performance, and collaborate with other talented young artists during this four-day workshop. This year’s camp will run June 22-26 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., with a showcase on the final day for family and friends. Learn about last year’s camp here and stay tuned here for more info about this year’s educators and curriculum. We’ll update this listing with this year’s registration link as soon as it’s available.
11. Pittsburgh Center for Arts & Media: Each summer, Pittsburgh Center for Arts & Media welcomes young artists (aged 6-17) to their Shadyside campus for ten weeks of outstanding, art-focused camps. Taught by talented, experienced teachers, summer art camps are a perfect place for budding artists to explore their creativity and create new masterpieces! Pre-Camp & Post-Camp care options are available, as well as tuition assistance. Camps run June 16 through Aug. 22. Registration will begin March 3 at this link.
12. Glade Run Lutheran Services Specialized Adventure Camp: Looking for summer camps around Pittsburgh that focus on social-emotional skills? Glade Run’s Specialized Adventures Camp is a social skills development course specifically designed for kids with moderate to high-functioning autism spectrum disorders, but any kids ages 8-18 who need help with social skill development will be considered. Activities include horseback riding, animals, trail and stream exploration, gardening and more. Information and application forms are available right here. A limited number of partial scholarships are available through the Glade Run Foundation.
13. iD Tech Camps held at CMU: Students ages 7-17 can get a taste of collegiate life this summer at Carnegie Mellon University during these day camps and overnight camps, running from June 15 through July 31 this year. These camps mix STEM skill development and summer fun, allowing kids and teens from beginner to advanced to work alongside new friends and learn from expert tech mentors. Kids will learn coding, game dev, robotics, 3D printing and more in next-gen labs as energetic music plays and STEM pros recruited from elite universities share their knowledge, inspiring campers to bring their visions to life, from apps and games to AI bots and viral videos. Campers will also enjoy CMU’s outdoor playing fields for ultimate frisbee, capture the flag, kickball, board games and other activities, along with campus exploration and traditions like dress-up days, raffles and gaming tournaments. Register here.
14. Audubon Society of Western Pennsylvania’s Outdoor Discovery Camps: These summer day camps are for students up to age 18. They balance exploration, nature play and learning with games, crafts, science activities — and time to be a kid. Camps take place at Beechwood Farms Nature Reserve (Fox Chapel), Succop Nature Park (Butler), and Buffalo Creek Nature Park (Sarver). See a full list and registration details here.
Photo courtesy of Steel City Rowing.
15. Steel City Rowing Club: The Steel City Rowing Club offers camps for kids ages 8-18. At River Camp (choose from one-week sessions during June and July), kids ages 8-12 explore the Allegheny River in kayaks and canoes, while enjoying swimming and paddle boarding or just relaxing on the docks. An excursion to Sycamore Island to explore the environment on and around the island is part of the adventure. Rise & Row Camp is offered (one-week sessions in June and July) for youth ages 12-15, while Youth Summer Rowing (great for everyone from beginners to experienced rowers) is offered for ages 11-18 during later June and July. Registration is now open at the links above.
16. Golf Summer Camp at Diamond Run Golf Club: Kids will experience action-packed half-day or full-day camps, which include hands-on instruction led by certified PGA of America Golf Professionals and/or LPGA Teaching Professionals. The PGA camp curriculum focuses on developing golf skills (full swing, short game, rules and etiquette) while keeping the experience fun and engaging (games and activities), with a low student-to-teacher ratio. Details here.
17. University of Pittsburgh Gene Team: Science-minded teens from Pittsburgh Public Schools and other urban high schools who have an interest in biology are invited to apply for the five-week Gene Team program. Pitt Biology Outreach will provide state-of-the-art laboratory training to collect data for a current research project. Bus passes will be supplied, and participants will receive a stipend at the end of the program. Sessions will include a focus on strategies and skills that will help with college applications. To be eligible, kids must have completed one year of high school biology. Gene Team runs from June 22 to July 17. Applications will be available later in February and accepted through April. Students will be selected for the program and notified in May. If you have any questions about the program or would like to be added to the notification list, please email Jess Robertson at jah99@pitt.edu.
18. Shady Side Academy: Summer camps at Shady Side Academy welcome kids as young as pre-K, but they have plenty of options for middle schoolers and high schoolers, as well. A range of weekly camps are held on four campuses in Fox Chapel and Point Breeze. High school kids can even take for-credit classes in art, math and science, as well as courses in essay writing and SAT/ACT prep. Registration begins Feb. 2 at 9 a.m. Details and registration here.
Photo courtesy of Pittsburgh Musical Theater.
19. Pittsburgh Musical Theater Conservatory: Summer Musical Theater Camp will be happening again this year at the PMT Conservatory, shining the spotlight on kids ages 4-18. Details are coming soon about this year’s four-week camps that train kids in acting, voice and dance, while also helping kids build confidence, make new friendships and learn collaboration. Teens can choose from a performance, dance or technical theater/design track. Campers rehearse for a full-scale performance as a grand finale. Registration details will be announced later in February. Financial aid and payment plans are available.
20. Pittsburgh Public Theater Summer Camps: Pittsburgh Public Theater camp, kicking off the week of June 16, welcomes campers through age 17. Whether it’s your superstar’s first time on stage or you’ve got a stage veteran looking to develop new skills, everyone can learn to act with Pittsburgh’s most talented artists at the O’Reilly Theater. Half-day and full-day summer camp options are available, plus optional aftercare. Click here to see Summer Session info and book your camp or class.
21. Winchester Thurston: Winchester Thurston offers summer camp programs for everyone, all the way up through high school seniors. This year, camp runs June 8 through Aug. 14. Sessions will be held at three locations: Winchester Thurston’s Shadyside campus, The Kingsley Center in East Liberty and Allegheny RiverTrail Front Park in Aspinwall. Explore the catalog here. Campers will find sports and physical fitness, creative arts and academics. Learn more and register here.
Photo courtesy of the Pittsburgh Glass Center.
22. Pittsburgh Glass Center: Summer intensives and teen boot camp sessions are planned this summer for grades 6–12 at Pittsburgh Glass Center. Sessions include glassblowing, flameworking, kilnforming and coldworking. Scholarships are available for Glass Center programs, including a new scholarship for the summer intensive.
23. Evolve’s Future Camp: Evolve‘s annual two-week summer arts camp hosts neurodiverse and neurotypical learners ages 12 and up for a series of classes including writing, visual arts, animation, music and more. In addition to classes led by teaching artists, Future Camp wraps with a celebration called “Future Fest” which features local arts programming vendors, college resource booths, and more. Camp happens this year July 27-Aug. 7. Get details and register here.
24. Air Force Association CyberCamp: Each year, Pitt Cyber, in partnership with Pitt Digital, hosts the Air Force Association CyberCamp. This week-long camp (June 22-26) is free and open to high school students and teaches cybersecurity principles, skills, and future career opportunities. The camp is designed for a range of technical skill levels, including introductory digital literacy, and is focused on systems security and cyber ethics. Taught by cybersecurity professionals from the University of Pittsburgh and elsewhere, students learn in-demand skills like cyber hygiene, Windows and Ubuntu system administration, and more. The camp concludes with students competing to find and fix vulnerabilities in a virtual machine environment. Sign up to be notified about registration or contact Sarah Barca at afacamp@pitt.edu.
25. Little Lake Theatre: Budding theater stars ages 6-16 will take the stage during in-person summer camps at Little Lake Theatre. Kids with a flair for the dramatic will study improv, character movement and audition skills in Acting Camp. Musical Theater campers will rehearse and perform roles in a production that’s been adapted for kids. Various camps run July 6 through Aug. 14. Learn more and register here.