Updated March 2019!!

Summer vacation is the highlight of any teenager’s year.  It’s also an opportunity to do what they love while helping them build their skills.

Your teenager may have already attended many various camps throughout the course of their life. Why not let them have a completely new and exciting experience? Many camps look for teenagers for assistance in running their camps. These camps give teenagers the perfect opportunity to sharpen their skills and prepare for the road ahead of them.

There are various camps that will match your teenager’s needs, whether he or she wants to be a camp assistant or an attendee.

TechKnowHow: This Computer and Lego camp has brand-new curriculum specially designed for teenagers up to 16 years old. Arduino Electronics & Unity 3D Game Design teaches teenagers how to code, build interactive electronics, and even develop a 3D game! This camp requires teenagers to have basic computer skills (typing, using Windows), and be able to work independently.

See TechKnowHow’s camp locations and schedules.

Destination Science has a Leaders in Training (LIT) program that offers extremely valuable leadership experience. Leaders in Training is the perfect program for any teenager that has already attended Destination Science as a child or anybody who wants to strengthen their leadership skills! An ideal candidate must be responsible for his or her actions, be a role model for younger campers, be kind, dedicated, helpful, energetic, and enforce safety precautions. See more about Destination Science LIT program. Or check out their camps for K-5th grade.

Spartans Sports Camp: Keep your teen healthy and in shape by sending them to Spartans Sports Camp’s Strength and Agility Summer Camp! This camp offers various different techniques that will improve overall athletic performance, speed, agility, and injury prevention. Spartans Sports Camp offers a variety of different camps that your teen can enjoy!

Lekha Writing Center: Does your teen love to write? Or does your teen need extra writing coaching?  Lehka Writing Center also offers many camps to fit your teenager’s needs.

Startup Wonder Camp is a unique opportunity Camps are age appropriate and students will be grouped in the appropriate age group. Teen Startup is for grades 9-12 and includes industry speakers who conduct workshops with teens and help them with their startup idea or college major decision.They also have Counselor in Training (CIT) camp where they have very limited Counselor In Training (CIT) spots for Grades 9-11 who will participate in the camp activities while assisting in camp operations. Counselors join the staff training sessions and contribute to (and design) the fun and break activities for younger campers. Successful CITs will be hired as assistant teachers in their senior years.

Teens who love computer games, music, video or photography can learn to make their own digital and computer creations.  There are 1-2 week sessions at Digital Media Academy Summer Computer Camps and iD Tech Camps & Academies.   Both offer a wide variety of camps and they fill up quickly. 

For a spin on science, Celsius and Beyond offers unique camps such as Surgery and Ballistics.

To expand photo skills beyond the cell phone camera consider a photography camp at Digital Photography organized by Community School of Music and Arts or Digital Media Academy Summer Camp .

Musicians have several options for rock camps at SF Rock Project (San Francisco) and School of Rock (San Mateo, Palo Alto, and San Jose).

Thrill seekers can get a great experience surfing or skateboarding. Robinhood Adventures Surf Camp offers 1/2 day or full day surf camps to try out one day or the whole summer. Adventure Kids Summer Camp offers skateboard and scooter summer camps to work on skills and learn from other skateboarders.

There are also overnight camps for teens in the Bay Area and beyond:
Camp Chrysallis – Hiking in Northern CA
Two Rivers Soccer Camp in Graegle, Ca, transport from San Francisco available
Science Camps of America – Explore volcanoes, forests, oceans, skies in Hawaii
Hi – Five Sports Silicon Valley Camp – Baseball, Basketball, Soccer & Multiple Sports.

You can find more camps for teens and other ages on ActivityHero.  Search by age to find the perfect camp!