Summer camp registration opens early in DFW. Here's the breakdown.
Day camps (budget-friendly):
- YMCA Summer Camp — multiple DFW locations. $150-250/week. Swimming, sports, field trips. Sliding scale available. Source: ymcadallas.org
- City Parks & Rec camps — every major DFW city offers them. $75-200/week.
- Dallas: dallasparks.org/summercamps
- Fort Worth: fortworthtexas.gov/parks
- Plano: plano.gov/camps
- VBS (Vacation Bible School) — free at most DFW churches. Usually one week in June/July. Check your local church.
Specialty camps:
- iD Tech Camps (SMU, UTD, TCU) — coding, game design, robotics. $600-1,200/week. Source: idtech.com
- Camp Gladiator Junior — outdoor fitness for kids. $100-150/week. Source: campgladiator.com
- Dallas Children's Theater camp — acting, improv, stage production. $300-500/week. Source: dct.org
- Perot Museum summer camp — STEM focused. $300-400/week. Source: perotmuseum.org
Overnight camps (send them away):
- Camp Grady Spruce (YMCA, Possum Kingdom Lake) — classic Texas overnight camp. 1-2 week sessions. $600-1,200. Source: campgradyspruce.org
- Camp Texlake (Girl Scouts, Spicewood) — various programs. Source: gsctx.org
- Camp Carter (Fort Worth) — 5 min from downtown FW. Day and overnight options. Source: campcarter.org
Pro tips:
- Register in January/February. Popular camps fill by March.
- Many camps offer sibling discounts (10-20% off second child).
- Ask about early drop-off and late pickup options if you work full-time.
- Check if your employer's dependent care FSA covers summer camp (it usually does).
Sources:
- Camp websites for dates and pricing
- DFW Child Magazine summer camp guide
- Personal experience sending kids to 4 different camps
Where are your kids going this summer?