Party down at the Noon Year's Eve celebration at the Children's Museum Houston. Photo courtesy of the museum
New Year's Eve Weekend in Houston with Kids: Countdown to 2026
New Year's Eve celebration at CMH! Photo from the 2023 celebration at the Children's Museum of Houston.
Houston New Year’s Eve Guide 2025 for Families: Kid-Friendly Events, Fireworks & More
Inside Just Kidding Play Café, a kid-friendly play space tucked inside a coffee shop. Photo by Author.
The Best New Family-Friendly Openings of 2025 in Houston
Color Factory Houston - Winter Fun Guide for Houston Kids
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Houston Winter Vacation Guide: Best Getaways and Fun for Families
Head to the Houston Zoo for a fun outing this Christmas break. Photo courtesy of the zoo
Houston's Top Things to Do Between Christmas and New Year's with Kids
Don't miss the MLK Grande Parade this January 2026. Photo by 2C2K Photography via Flickr 2.0
Top Free Things To Do with Kids in Houston in January 2026, According to MP Editors
Yes, you can snow tube in Texas! Photo courtesy of Gaylord Resorts.
Best Snow Tubing for Families in Texas
Tomfoolery is packed with toys. Photo by Jessica Stautberg
The Best Toy Stores in Houston: Gifts for Kids of All Ages
With activities for all, Texas Ren Fest is the largest Renaissance-themed attraction in the county.
Texas Renaissance Festival: A Magical Fall Tradition for Houston Families
Buffalo Bayou Park has trails, climbing structures, and skate park, slides, and more. Photo by Jessica Stautberg.
Things To Do in Houston That Everyone Will Love - From Toddlers to Teens (and Parents Too!)
Free alligator education at Brazos Bend State Park. Photo by Sarah Banks.
The 10 Best Free Hidden Gems for Kids in Houston
Visit the Hall of Paleontology at the Museum of Natural Science. Photo courtesy of Visit Sugar Land.
Why HMNS at Sugar Land Is a Must-Visit for Houston Families
Help your Scout rack up the badges at these programs in Houston. Photo courtesy of Canva.
Best Places to Earn Scout Badges in Houston
Unique Birthday Party Venues in Houston for One-of-a-Kind Birthday Parties
Our favorite gymnastics gyms in Houston. Photo courtesy of Canva
Gymnastics Gyms in Houston: Places to Take Gymnastic Classes, Camps, or Open Gym
Palace Social has bowling and a restaurant in addition to arcade games. Photo courtesy of Palace Social
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The Mini classes at Goldfish Swim School are a great bonding experience for parent and child. Photo courtesy of the school
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Ready Go Amusement Arcade photo by author Elizabeth R.
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A crafting party at one of these venues or at home is the perfect celebration for a creative kid. Photo courtesy of Color Me Mine
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Our top picks for your Houston bar/bat mitzvah. Photo by Juliano ASTC, courtesy of Pexels.
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These Houston ice cream shops have the best treats for kids. Photo by Kelly Patino, courtesy of Mommy Poppins.
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Go for a nature walk in on of Houston's huge parks. Photo by Anthony Rathbun, courtesy of the Houston Arboretum.
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Discovery Green hosts free events like Arte en el Parque, where kids learn Spanish while making art. Photo courtesy of Discovery Green
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Levy Park in Houston has one of our favorite playgrounds. Photo courtesy of OJB Landscape Architecture
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NASA's Space Center is one of Houston's best science museums for kids. Photo by Pierce Ingram, courtesy of Travel Texas
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Firetruck Park in West University. Photo by Jessica Stautberg
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See animals up close at some of these farms near Houston. Photo courtesy of Dewberry Farm
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Children's Museum Houston is free every Thursday evening. Photo courtesy of the Children's Museum Houston
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Photo courtesy of Levy Park, Facebook
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City Park Skate Park near Houston. Photo courtesy of the Sugarland Texas Govt.
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Pleasure Pier in Galveston is a top attraction near Houston. Photo courtesy of Visit Galveston
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John P. McGovern's state-of-the art playground is perfect for both younger and older children. Photo courtesy of Discovery Green.
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Stop at Cadillac Ranch near Amarillo for some cool photos on your roadtrip to the Texas Panhandle.
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Baywatch Dolphin Tours are a fun, kid-friendly tour near Houston. Photo courtesy of Visit Galveston
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Make dining out with kids more fun at one of Houston's themed restaurants. Photo courtesy of Rock N Roll Sushi
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Houston's Walking Stick Brewing Company has plenty of outdoor space. Photo courtesy of the Walking Stick Brewing Company
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Urban Air has quite a few trampoline parks near Houston. Photo courtesy of Urban Air Adventure Park
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Batting cage photo courtesy of the Bellaire Bats
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Photo courtesy of Big Air in North Houston
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Plan a magical quinceañera with these dress shops and venues. Photo courtesy of Canva
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Houston has many kid-friendly museums, and not all are children's museums. Photo courtesy of the Children's Museum of Houston
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In winter, visit Luminations at the Ladybird Johnson Wildflower Center. Photo by Ann Alva Weiding Photography, at bigredmuse.com.
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New to fishing? Try a Galveston fishing boat tour.
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The outdoor pool at the Moody Gardens Hotel, photo courtesy of Visit Galveston.
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One of our favorite petting zoos near Houston. Photo courtesy of Dewberry Farm
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Make it an unforgettable family getaway from Houston by hiking Enchanted Rock. Photo courtesy Passport to Texas.
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MKT has great family-friendly restaurants! Photo courtesy of @mendocinofarms and MKT
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Don't miss the Snow Days at Polar Palooza. Photo courtesy of Children's Museum Houston.
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Free and Affordable Summer Camps in Boston 2025

Get kids out exploring their world with the best free and affordable summer camps in Boston. Photo courtesy of Camp Harbor View
Get kids out exploring their world with the best free and affordable summer camps in Boston. Photo courtesy of Camp Harbor View
3/9/25 - By Caitlin Dowling

Free and affordable summer camps in Boston deliver sunny memories and adventures for Massachusetts kids. Summer camp offers engaging experiences and fun activities. But not all enriching programs have to cost a pretty penny. We’ve put together a list of inexpensive camps in the Boston area that can provide your child with everything from performing arts classes to sailing lessons. These affordable Boston summer camp options deliver the fun and engagement that kids crave.

Find more great summer camps in Boston. Be sure to bookmark our complete Boston Summer Camp Guide and our Camp Directory. You can search for summer camps by type, age, and town. Explore our picks for Sleepaway Camps in New England with Short Sessions for First-Timers. And don't miss the Best Sleepaway Summer Camps in the Northeast.

 

Editor's Note: Summer camp information for the 2025 season is changing daily. Please click the links to the individual camps for the most up-to-date information.

 

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These free and affordable summer camps offer all kinds of activities! Photo courtesy of the Tenacity Summer Tennis & Reading Program
These free and affordable summer camps offer all kinds of activities! Photo courtesy of the Tenacity Summer Tennis & Reading Program

Free and Affordable Summer Camps in Boston and Cambridge

Camp Shriver

Newton & Dorchester - Ages 8-12
2025: Applications due by March 31
This unique, inclusive camp accepts campers ages eight to 12 with and without disabilities, with the camp population split half and half, to participate in its summer sports programs at UMass Boston and Mount Ida Campus in Newton. There is a $25 registration fee. READ MORE

Camp Harbor View

Boston - Children entering grades 6-9
2025: Applications open for returning families on February 3 and for new families on February 24
Operated in partnership with the Boys and Girls Club, Camp Harbor View takes place on Boston Harbor's Long Island each summer. Campers must live in Boston and be entering sixth, seventh, eighth, or ninth grade in the fal. Free for Boston families, the camp focuses on fun activities like swimming and sports as well as art, music, and developing leadership skills.   READ MORE

Community Boating Junior Program

Boston - Ages 10-17
Note: Children must be able to swim 50 yards
Kids ages 10 to 17 (who can swim 50 yards) can sign up for a full summer of boating classes and open sailing for as little as $1 at Community Boating, located on the Esplanade near the Longfellow Bridge. Along with sailing, they also offer STEM programs and other activities. This is also not strictly a camp, participants can come and go and use the facilities as much as they like from June-August. Fees are based on a sliding scale that ranges from $1 to $445. READ MORE

Piers Park Sailing Center Summer Camp

2025: Enrollment is open March 1 – East Boston Residents
April 1 – Chelsea, Revere, Winthrop, and all neighborhoods of Boston
May 1 – Any other municipality in Massachusetts
The Harbor Explorers program is a full-day camp that teaches kids, ages 6 to 9, about marine life through hands-on experiences. Campers trap lobsters and crabs, observe jellyfish, take pictures with underwater cameras, fish off the dock, and more. Kids ages 10 to 18 can sign up for the Science of Sailing program. The two-week sessions have multiple levels from beginner to expert, and kids can pick up where they left off the year before as the program tracks their progress.  READ MORE

Tenacity Summer Tennis & Reading Program

Boston - Ages 6-15
2025: Registration for this year's program opens in April
To avoid summer slide, Tenacity serves over 4,000 Boston students with its Summer Tennis & Reading Program, at multiple public parks around the city as well as in Chelsea and Worcester. Students aged six to 15 meet daily for free three-hour sessions split between fitness fun and literacy skills development. READ MORE

Youth Enrichment Services Outdoor Adventure

Boston & Berkshires - Grades 4-8
2025: Applications are open
Serving kids ages seven to 18, Youth Enrichment Services in Boston offers programs to introduce Boston kids and teens to the great outdoors. Kids engage in fun, physical activities like rock climbing and biking. Visit the Youth Enrichment Services website for registration information. READ MORE

Days in the ARTS

Boston & Berkshires - Grades 5-7
2025 : At publishing time, details for camps have not yet been released
This summer residential program near Tanglewood provides Massachusetts fifth, sixth, and seventh graders the opportunity to be immersed in theater, dance, visual arts, and music for one of eight week-long sessions during the summer. There is a fee associated with the program, but scholarships are available and no student is turned away based on an inability to pay. READ MORE
Kids learn, grow, and make friends through summer camp experiences. Summer Camp photo by Jake Belcher for the Trustees of Reservations
Kids learn, grow, and make friends through summer camp experiences. Summer Camp photo by Jake Belcher for the Trustees of Reservations

Free and Affordable Summer Camps Outside Boston

Girl Scouts of Eastern Mass Summer Day Camp

Waltham, Andover, Reading, Plymouth - All Ages
2025: Applications being accepted for all programs at time of publication
With locations in Andover, Reading, Waltham, and Plymouth, the Girl Scouts Day Camps offer classic camp activities, including crafts, games, and campfires that provide opportunities for girls to discover, connect, and take action in ways that build their courage, confidence, and character. Depending on location, girls can swim, try their hands at archery, challenge themselves on a ropes course, and more. Financial assistance is offered for girls living in Girl Scouts of Eastern Massachusetts communities. READ MORE

Trustees of Reservations

Multiple locations - all ages
2025: Registration is open
The Trustees of Reservations operate summer camps and summer programs all over Greater Boston. The camps emphasize outdoor activities, with farm, coast, and forest adventures at nine locations around Massachusetts. Financial assistance is also available, part of the Trustees' commitment to providing a camp experience to all children. Discounts are available for members. READ MORE

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