Guide to Summer Camps 2026

Summer camp in Wake Forest isn't just childcare. It's how your kid spends 10 weeks of their year. The right camp builds confidence, friendships, and skills. The wrong one? That's a $300 week of "I don't want to go."

We've researched 80+ camps near Wake Forest, from $50/week town programs to $700 tennis intensives, so you can compare them all in one place instead of drowning in tabs and Facebook threads.

The four we'd start with

If you told us you had four weeks of summer to fill and no idea where to start, these are what we'd send you to first. Everything else — 80+ camps sorted by price, age, category, and full-day availability — is on the main camps directory.

Below is what else is worth knowing, organized by what your kid actually wants to do this summer.

The Best Budget-Friendly Options

If you're filling 8 to 10 weeks of summer, cost matters. These are the best values near Wake Forest:

Town of Wake Forest: Camp Nahele & Summer Camps (ages 6 to 11) The town's camps through Parks, Rec & Cultural Resources are the most affordable option in Wake Forest, but most weeks are already full for 2026. Registration opened in February and filled quickly. You can check for waitlist openings on RecDesk, but don't count on it.

For next year: Town camp registration typically opens in February, with residents getting early access. Set a reminder for January 2027 and register the day it opens. These are the first camps to fill every year.

Town of Rolesville Day Camps (ages 6 to 11) $105/week for residents, $125 non-residents. 7:30 AM to 6:00 PM. That's a full workday covered for the price of a nice dinner out. Register here.

Xplore at Hope Lutheran (Wake Forest, ages 5 to 11) Full day (8 AM to 5 PM) for $220/week, or half day for $150/week. Before and after care available for $25/week each. One of the best deals for a full-coverage camp in Wake Forest proper. Details

Separation Team Basketball Camp (Raleigh, ages 5 to 14) $60/day or $260/week, 8:30 AM to 5:30 PM. If your kid loves basketball, this is a steal for a full-day sports camp. Details

See all camps sorted by price on the directory

If Your Kid Lives in a Gym

Wake Forest has a surprising number of gymnastics, ninja, and active play camps.

Wake Forest Ninja Academy (ages 5 to 12). 9 AM to 4 PM, $275/week for summer. Before care from 8 AM ($5/day), after care to 6 PM ($10/day). Sibling discounts available. Obstacle courses, ninja training, and guaranteed exhaustion by pickup. Register

eNeRGy Kidz. Five different camp options: gymnastics, cheerleading, tumbling, dance, and karate. Regular camp (ages 6 to 12) runs until 3:30 PM, $284/week. Preschool camp (ages 3 to 5) runs 9 AM to 12:30 PM, $248/week. Details

Wake Cheer & Tumble (ages 5 to 18). Half-day cheer and stunt camps at $200/week, full-day option at $300/week. Multiple session dates through the summer. Details

Young's Gym: Kids in Motion (ages 5 to 12). Half-day gymnastics camp, 8 AM to 12 PM, $195/week. Themed weeks all summer. $75 deposit to register. Details

U Academy (Knightdale, ages 4 to 11). Gymnastics, tumbling, and cheer camps with themed weeks all summer. 9 AM to 4 PM, $250/week (class students) or $300/week (non-class students) if you register before April 15. Prices go up to $290/$340 after that. Early drop-off at 8 AM and late pickup at 5 PM available for $10/day each. Max 16 kids per week, so these fill fast. Register

House of Sports (ages 5 to 12). Multi-sport camp, $260/week ($65/day for single days). Themed weeks from basketball to color wars. Details

Also worth checking: Warrior TechNC (ninja/OCR in Raleigh, $350/week), The Little Gym, and Take Charge Gymnastics in Youngsville.

See all gymnastics & active camps on the directory

For the Artist, Actor, or Musician

Carolina Theater Company (Downtown Wake Forest). Full theater camps for grades 3 to 10. 9 AM to 3 PM, $300/week. Precare from 8 AM ($20/week) and aftercare to 6 PM ($30/week). They do a full production. Your kid is on stage by Friday. Register

NorRAct (North Raleigh Arts & Creative Theatre, ages 6 to 18). One-week and two-week theater camps. 9 AM to 4 PM, $275 if you register before May 1 ($300 after). The two-week musical theater intensive is $400. Some sessions are already sold out. Details

Wake Forest Renaissance Centre (ages 5 to 14). Arts and theater camps at the Arts Annex. 9 AM to 3 PM. Register via RecDesk.

NC Museum of Art (Raleigh, ages 6 to 14). 9 AM to 4:30 PM, $350/week (members) or $375 (non-members). Drawing, painting, sculpture, taught by working artists. Early drop-off and late pickup available for $50 each. Register

Artspace (Raleigh). Half-day art workshops for grades 1 to 12. $160 members / $182 non-members per session. One of the most affordable arts camps in the Triangle. Details

Cheers N Paint Art Studio (Cary, ages 6+). Full day 9 AM to 4:30 PM, $420/week. Half day $240/week. Nut-free facility. Details

Raleigh Little Theatre (ages 4 to 15). Two-week full-day camp $600. One-week full day $335, half day $200. Extended care available. Payment plans offered. Register

The Dancery (Wake Forest). Themed weekly dance camps covering ballet, jazz, hip hop, and more. Monday through Thursday, 9 AM to 3 PM. Kids learn a creative routine and perform on the last day (Thursday at 1:30 PM). All ages and skill levels. Details

Other options: School of Rock Wake Forest (music camps), Wake Forest Academy of Fine Arts (dance intensives), Hello Yellow Art Studio, and Creating My Art in Raleigh.

See all arts & performance camps on the directory

Nature, Farm, and Outdoor Camps

YMCA Camp Kanata (Wake Forest). The classic. 150 acres right here in Wake Forest. Day camp ($372 member / $393 participant per week) plus overnight options for ages 6 to 16. No-tech policy, archery, canoeing, ropes courses. Details

HuckleBug Farm (Wake Forest, ages 5 to 14). Small farm camp, 8 AM to 2 PM, $450/week. Horseback riding, animals, nature. Limited spots. $75 deposit to hold your spot. Register via Google Form

Wild and Cultivated at Puckett Acres (Wake Forest). Outdoor/nature camp for ages 4 to 10. Check their registration form for current session availability.

Piedmont Wildlife Center (ages 4 to 14). Nature camps at Triangle parks. Drop-off 8:30 to 9 AM, pickup 2:45 to 3 PM. $385/week (youth), $400 (teens). Aftercare to 5:30 PM for $80. Scholarships available. Details

NC Museum of Natural Sciences (Raleigh). Science day camps for Pre-K through 12th grade. 9 AM to 4 PM, from $360/week ($30 off for members). Aftercare to 5 PM. Register

Schoolhouse of Wonder (Raleigh, ages 4 to 14). Outdoor education camps in Raleigh parks.

Xtreme Park Adventures (Durham, ages 7 to 16). Full outdoor adventure camp with laser tag, rock climbing, airsoft, team sports, and more. Full day 9 AM to 4 PM, half day 9 AM to noon. Early drop-off at 8:30 AM. Nine weekly sessions from June 15 through August 14. 15:1 camper-to-counselor ratio. Add-ons available including Reptile & Science Center ($99/week) and ATV adventure ($149/week). About 15 minutes from Wake Forest. Details

See all nature & outdoor camps on the directory

STEM, Robotics, and Learning Camps

Kramden Institute Technology Camps (Durham). Hands-on STEAM: computer building, coding, game design, drones. Grades 3 to 12, 9 AM to 4 PM, $275/week. Scholarships available (as low as $10/day). Use code SPRING26 before April 1 for 10% off. Register

Camp Invention: Spark. National STEM program hosted at local schools. Ages 5 to 12. Starting at $285/session. $25 discount if you register by March 31. Details

Triangle Chess (Wake Forest, ages 6 to 14). Chess camps for the strategically minded kid.

PathForge Learning (Wake Forest, ages 8 to 14). Hands-on STEAM camps at the Triangle Chess location on Ligon Mill Rd. Robotics, 3D printing, electronics & engineering, and Minecraft modding. Full day (9 AM to 4 PM) $349/week, half day (9 AM to 12:30 PM or 12:30 to 4 PM) $199/week. Extended care available 8 to 9 AM and 4 to 5 PM for $35/week each. Four weekly sessions from July 13 through August 7. Details

Zebra Robotics (Cary, ages 6 to 18). Robotics and coding camps.

See all STEM camps on the directory

Sports Camps

NCFC Youth Soccer Camps (Raleigh). Ages 4 to 16 at WRAL Soccer Park. Full day (9 AM to 4 PM Mon through Thu, half day Fri) $275/week. Half day $175/week. Register

Carolina Soccer Factory (Cary). Professional coaching, ages 5 to 14. Full day $225/week, half day $125/week, single day $75. Free early drop-off and late pickup. Details

Wilson Collegiate Tennis at NC State (ages 7 to 18). Full day 9 AM to 3:30 PM, $695/session. Half day $450 to $495. Premium tennis instruction at university facilities. Register

RDU Tennis at Heritage (Wake Forest, ages 4 to 14). Local tennis clinics. 8-week kids sessions $130 (members) / $150 (non-members). Details

i9 Sports (North Wake County, ages 3 to 14). Low-commitment recreational leagues: flag football, soccer, basketball, baseball. Saturday games, 6 to 8 week seasons. Every kid plays. Details

SixFour3 (Wake Forest). Softball camp for all skill levels, grouped by ability. June 22 to 26, 9 AM to 3 PM, $329. Only 28 slots. Bring lunch Mon through Thu (pizza party Friday). Athletic shoes only, no cleats. Details

Sutton Basketball Academy at Mt. Vernon Middle School (Raleigh, grades 3 to 8). Half-day basketball camp, 9 AM to noon. Three summer sessions: June 22 to 26, July 13 to 17, and July 27 to 31. Also running a spring break camp March 31 to April 1 for $79 if you need something soon. Register via Mindbody. Details

Also see: Wake Forest Youth Sports Signups for leagues, registration deadlines, and what's still open.

See all sports camps on the directory

Full-Day Coverage for Working Parents

Need camp to cover your workday? These are the ones with the longest hours:

Filter by full-day camps on the directory

Sleepaway & Overnight Camps

Ready for the big step? These overnight camps are all within a few hours of Wake Forest.

• YMCA Camp Kanata (Wake Forest). The closest option. 150 acres, traditional camp experience. Ages 6 to 16. campkanata.org
• New Life Camp (Raleigh). 20 minutes away. Day ($395/week) and overnight ($650 to $850/week). Ages 4 to 18. newlifecamp.com
• Camp Agape (Fuquay-Varina). 624 acres, 45 min from WF. $200 to $850/week. agapekurebeach.org
• Camp Oak Hill (Oxford). 1 hour north. $550 to $1,400/week. Details
• YMCA Camp Cheerio (Blue Ridge Mountains). 2.5 hours. Classic mountain camp. campcheerio.org
• Camp Sea Gull & Camp Seafarer (Arapahoe). Premier waterfront camps. 2-week session $4,073. seagull-seafarer.org
• 1870 Farm Camp (Chapel Hill). Farm camp with day, half-day, and overnight options. 45 min from WF. $275 to $525/week.

How to Choose (Without Overthinking It)

1. Start with your schedule. Which weeks do you need covered? Full day or half day?
2. Match the kid, not the parent. Your kid who hates sitting still doesn't need art camp. Your quiet reader doesn't need ninja warrior training.
3. Budget for the whole summer. Town programs ($50 to $125/week) are great base layers. Sprinkle in a specialty camp or two ($250 to $450/week) for variety.
4. Register NOW. Popular camps sell out by March and April. If you're reading this and haven't signed up, check waitlists.
5. Ask about lunch. Most camps don't include meals. That's 10 weeks of packed lunches.
6. Plan for heat. NC summers are brutal. Good camps have shade, water breaks, and indoor backup plans.

Know a camp we missed? Send us a tip and we'll add it to the guide.

Last updated: March 2026

Last updated: March 15, 2026