Houston Summer Camps Guide: STEM, Sports, Arts and Overnight

Houston is one of the best cities in the country to send a kid to summer camp, and most families don't realize how many options sit inside the city limits. The Houston Zoo, the Houston Arboretum, and the Houston Museum of Natural Science all run week-long day camps on their own grounds. Space Center Houston runs Space Center U, an overnight program at a Sam Houston National Forest camp that includes a day at NASA Johnson Space Center. And the city's own Parks and Recreation department runs a licensed program at 33 community centers for $30 a week.

This guide covers twelve verified camps — each confirmed open via its official website — organized by type so you can match the right camp to your kid's interests.

How we chose

Every camp in this guide had to meet three criteria: an active official website with registration information, a verified Houston-area location, and a program designed for school-age children. We checked each site in October 2026. Prices, dates, and availability change each year — treat all numbers below as a starting point and confirm directly with each camp before registering.

The insider fact most Houston parents miss

The Houston Arboretum's summer camp runs on 155 acres of forest inside Loop 610, in Memorial Park. Most Houstonians drive past that land on the way to the park without knowing there's a certified naturalist teaching kids about soil ecosystems a few hundred feet from the road. For a city-within-the-city nature experience that doesn't require a 90-minute drive, it's the most underused camp on this list.

STEM and science camps

Space Center Houston — Explorer Camps

NASA Parkway, Clear Lake · ages 4–11 · day and multi-day sessions

Space Center Houston runs Explorer Camps for younger kids at its facility on NASA Parkway in Clear Lake. Sessions are organized by age bracket (4–5, 6–7, 8–9, 10–11) and themed around real NASA missions: Mars Explorers, Robotic Explorers, and Training for Space. Kids build rockets, design rovers, and run astronaut training simulations at the same complex that hosts the original Mission Control for the Apollo program. Single-day and three-day sessions are available. Check the Space Center Houston visitor guide if you want to combine camp drop-off with a family visit.

Space Center Houston — Space Center U Odyssey

Camp Strake, Coldspring · ages 11–17 · 6-day, 5-night overnight

Space Center U Odyssey is the overnight version: a six-day, five-night session at Camp Strake in Coldspring, roughly 90 minutes north of Houston, with a day trip to NASA Johnson Space Center included. Kids launch rockets, do lunar navigation exercises, and build and drop capsules, alongside traditional camp activities — swimming, canoeing, and a zip line. Two sessions typically run in late June and mid-July. Check the official site for financial aid options.

Insider tip: Camp Strake is a 2,816-acre Sam Houston Area Council Boy Scout camp. Space Center U is the only way a non-Scout kid gets onto that property during summer.

Houston Museum of Natural Science — Summer Camp

Hermann Park, Houston · also HMNS Sugar Land · ages 4–14 · week-long

Houston Museum of Natural Science (HMNS) runs week-long day camps in the museum itself — kids do science experiments surrounded by actual dinosaur skeletons and the Morian Hall of Paleontology. Age brackets run from Little Learners (4–5) through The Lab (13–14), with weekly themes including Junior Paleontologist, Crazy for Coding, Star Warriors Academy, and Mummies & Mysteries. Registration opens in January and the most popular weeks sell out within 48 hours. Check the HMNS visitor guide for the museum layout before camp orientation day.

Save this: Set a calendar reminder for mid-January — the HMNS registration window is narrow and the good weeks go fast.

Nature and animal camps

Houston Zoo — Camp Zoofari

Hermann Park, 6200 Hermann Park Drive · ages 6–12 · day camp by week

Camp Zoofari puts kids inside the Houston Zoo for week-long sessions with themes like Epic Animal Excursions and Wild Winter Weather. Age groups (6–7, 8–9, 10–12) tour different sections, attend animal presentations, and do a giraffe feeding. Trained teen mentors assist the professional educators. Scholarships are available. Because the camp uses zoo facilities, spaces are limited and book early. Pair a visit with our Houston Zoo guide.

Houston Arboretum & Nature Center — Summer Camp

4501 Woodway Drive, Memorial Park · ages 4–12 · June 1–August 7

This is the one that surprises people. The Houston Arboretum operates 155 acres of urban wilderness inside Memorial Park — loop 610 is visible from some trails — and certified naturalists run week-long day camps all summer. Half-day sessions for age 4; full-day for ages 5–12. Weekly themes include Arboretum Underground (soil ecosystems), Planet Defenders (conservation), and Happenin' Herps (reptiles and amphibians). The arboretum is free to visit year-round; camps are priced around $255–$470 per week depending on age and membership. See Memorial Park visitor guide for the surrounding park.

Sports camps

Houston Dynamo & Dash — Youth Soccer Camps

Houston Sports Park and Greater Houston area · ages 6–16

The Houston Dynamo and Dash run youth development camps through the club's official coaching staff at multiple sites around Greater Houston, including Houston Sports Park and Deer Park Soccer Complex. Camp types include Development Camps (half-day, skill fundamentals for younger kids) and a Fantasy Camp (full-day, ages 8–16). The Pro Player Series lets kids train alongside an active Dynamo or Dash player and includes a camp shirt and soccer ball. Season ticket member and sibling discounts apply.

Houston Rockets Youth Skills Camp

Multiple Greater Houston area venues · ages 8–16

The Houston Rockets run an official NBA skills camp at multiple venues around Greater Houston. The curriculum was created by Rockets legend Matt Bullard and covers shooting mechanics, ball-handling, footwork, and agility. Multi-day sessions include a Clutch the Bear appearance, a visit from a Rockets player or legend, a camp t-shirt, a branded basketball, and a ticket voucher to a Rockets home game. Check the Toyota Center guide if you're combining a camp session with a fall game.

Houston Astros — Youth Academy Camps and Daikin Park Enrichment Camp

Acres Homes and Daikin Park · ages 7–19

The Astros run two distinct programs. The Urban Youth Academy camps at Sylvester Turner Park (2801 South Victory Drive, Acres Homes, north Houston) offer free baseball and softball instruction for underserved youth — the MLB-funded program is year-round, not just summer, and is genuinely free. The separate Daikin Park Enrichment Camp combines baseball instruction with hands-on STEM education inside the actual Astros ballpark, with lunch included; it's a premium paid program for ages 7–12. If you're already planning a game, our Daikin Park guide covers everything about the ballpark.

Overnight camps outside the city

YMCA Camp Cullen

460 Cullen Loop, Trinity, TX · 530 acres on Lake Livingston · ages 7–17

YMCA Camp Cullen is the flagship overnight camp run by YMCA of Greater Houston, and it operates on 530 acres of East Texas pine forest on Lake Livingston, about 90 minutes north of the city. Activities include horseback riding, water sports, high ropes and zip lines, shooting sports, a climbing tower, drama, and science. Week-long sessions run Sunday through Friday. Teen specialty tracks include Leaders In Training (LIT) for ages 15–16. The YMCA of Greater Houston also manages multiple in-city day camp locations if the drive isn't practical.

Camp Agnes Arnold — Girl Scouts San Jacinto Council

Near Conroe, TX · girls, grades K–8 · overnight

Camp Agnes Arnold is the Girl Scouts San Jacinto Council's overnight camp, offering traditional scouting experience on 35-acre Shadow Lake near Conroe. Activities include canoeing, kayaking, archery, a high ropes course, zip-lining, tree houses, arts and crafts, and campfire programming. All-girl environment; campers do not need to be registered Girl Scouts to attend, though scouts get a discounted rate. Camperships (financial aid) are available.

Camp Strake — Sam Houston Area Council (Scouts BSA)

Coldspring, TX · 2,816 acres · ages 11–17 · Scouts BSA

Camp Strake covers 2,816 acres with a 28-acre lake in the Sam Houston National Forest, 90 minutes north of Houston. Week-long merit badge sessions run in June and cover rifle, shotgun, and archery shooting sports; canoeing, kayaking, and paddleboarding; climbing and rappelling; and a STEM center. The facility also hosts Space Center U Odyssey (see above) when Scout programs are not in session. Requires BSA membership.

Arts and specialty camps

TUTS Humphreys School of Musical Theatre — Summer Camp

Hobby Center for the Performing Arts, 800 Bagby St., Houston · ages 4–18+

Theatre Under the Stars (TUTS) is Houston's premier Broadway presenter, and its Humphreys School education arm runs one- and two-week musical theatre day camps each summer from June through July at the Hobby Center. Sessions include pop music and dance programs and a Broadway-style intensive that ends in a fully produced show. The River Program serves campers with disabilities across all age groups — an inclusive offering that TUTS describes as an integrated experience rather than a separate program. No prior theatre experience required.

Houston Parks & Recreation — Summer Enrichment Program

33 community centers, city-wide · ages 6–13 · June through August

The most accessible summer camp in Houston is run by the city itself. The Summer Enrichment Program (SEP) operates nine weeks at 33 community centers across every part of Houston for $30 per child per week, with fee waivers for qualifying families. Activities include arts and crafts, STEM projects, nutrition education, nature exploration, fitness games, and recycling awareness. The program operates under Texas Standards of Care with unannounced state inspections. If you're new to Houston and want a low-risk, affordable starting point, start here and use the map on the Parks Department site to find your closest center.

Save this checklist: before you register

• Ages: Confirm your child falls in the stated age bracket for the specific week you want, not just the general program range.
• Registration timing: HMNS and Houston Zoo weeks sell out in days; Space Center Houston and sports camps have more rolling availability. January is the critical month.
• Transportation: Most day camps do not provide transportation. Factor driving distance into your choice — the Arboretum and HMNS are inside the loop; Space Center Houston is 30 minutes south on I-45.
• Deposit and cancellation: Most programs require a deposit to hold a spot. Check the refund policy before you pay.
• Financial aid: HMNS, Houston Zoo, Girl Scouts, YMCA Camp Cullen, and Space Center U Odyssey all publish scholarship or campership options. Ask if you don't see them listed.
• What to pack: Check each camp's packing list — arboretum camps often need closed-toe shoes and bug spray; overnight camps have gear lists that can run long.
• Medical forms: Almost every camp requires a health form and emergency contact. Most won't let a child start without one.

More things to do with kids in Houston

For family days that don't require a week of commitment, see our family activities guide, free kids activities, and indoor playgrounds guide. For school-year enrichment, the best schools in Houston guide covers districts, magnets, and private options.

Last verified: October 2026.

Frequently asked questions

What is the best summer camp in Houston for kids who love science?

Houston Museum of Natural Science (HMNS) summer camp in Hermann Park runs week-long sessions in the museum itself, with themes like Junior Paleontologist and Crazy for Coding. Space Center Houston's Explorer Camps (ages 4–11) and Space Center U Odyssey overnight program (ages 11–17) are also top science options, using the NASA Johnson Space Center complex in Clear Lake.

Are there free summer camps in Houston?

Yes. The Houston Astros Urban Youth Academy offers free baseball and softball instruction at community parks in Third Ward and South Post Oak, year-round. Houston Parks and Recreation's Summer Enrichment Program charges $30 per child per week at 33 city centers, with fee waivers for qualifying families — it is the city's most affordable structured day camp option.

What overnight summer camps are near Houston?

Three verified overnight camps serve Houston families. YMCA Camp Cullen (Trinity, TX) operates on 530 acres on Lake Livingston, about 90 minutes north, for ages 7–17. Camp Agnes Arnold (near Conroe) is the Girl Scouts San Jacinto Council overnight camp for girls in grades K–8. Camp Strake (Coldspring, TX) is the Sam Houston Area Council's 2,816-acre BSA camp for Scouts ages 11–17. Space Center U Odyssey also uses Camp Strake for a STEM-focused overnight program open to non-Scouts ages 11–17.

When do Houston summer camp registrations open?

Houston Museum of Natural Science opens registration in January, and popular weeks sell out within 48 hours. Houston Zoo's Camp Zoofari registration also fills quickly in early spring. Sports camps run by the Dynamo, Rockets, and Astros typically open registration in February or March. Houston Parks and Recreation's Summer Enrichment Program accepts enrollment closer to June.

Is there a summer camp at the Houston Zoo?

Yes. Camp Zoofari runs week-long day camp sessions for ages 6–12 inside the Houston Zoo at Hermann Park. Age groups are split into 6–7, 8–9, and 10–12, with different themed weeks including animal encounters, giraffe feedings, and conservation activities. Scholarships are available.

What summer camps in Houston serve kids with disabilities?

TUTS Humphreys School of Musical Theatre runs the River Program, an integrated musical theatre camp for participants with disabilities ages 4 through adult, held at the Hobby Center for the Performing Arts. The Houston Parks and Recreation Summer Enrichment Program at city community centers is also an accessible option.