Cozy up to some holiday fun in Connecticut as December 2024 brings a little joy to the Nutmeg State! Photo courtesy of the Mystic Seaport Museum
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Connecticut is full of happiness, joy, and free Christmas and holiday activities, like Santa at Cabela's Wonderland. Photo courtesy of Bass pro Shops
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Raise a hand if you're excited for the best holiday lights drive-thrus and Christmas light shows in Connecticut! Magic of Lights photo courtesy of the XL Center
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Suit up for the top things to do this Christmas Weekend in Connecticut! Shark-Diving Santa photo courtesy of the Maritime Aquarium
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Get into the spirit of the season with holiday activities like Magic of Lights at Pratt & Whitney Stadium. Photo courtesy of XL Center
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Polar Express trains are coming to towns all over New England for Christmas 2024! Essex Steam Train Railroad photo courtesy of Mommy Poppins.
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Grab some friends for some birthday laps around the track. Photo courtesy of RPM Raceway
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Our ultimate family bucket list has all the things to do in Connecticut before kids grow up. Photo courtesy of Lake Compounce
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Don't sweat the weather, because the best indoor water parks in New England are waiting for year-round fun! Photo courtesy of Jay Peak Resort
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Groupon's online marketplace offers tons of discounts on activities for kids and families.
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By land, by sea, by river—however!— families are coming to the best Museums in Connecticut! Connecticut River Museum photo by Ally Noel for Mommy Poppins
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Photo courtesy of Flamig Farm
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Costumed interpreters share stories of colonial life along the historic Mystic seaport. Photo courtesy of the Mystic Seaport Museum
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Find a sweet treat for the whole family at the best places for breakfast in Connecticut with kids! Photo courtesy of Hotcakes
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As classic as the roller rink or modern as a VR experience, these fun indoor places are perfect spots for teens and tweens to hang out! Photo by Ally Noel
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Indoor spots offer plenty of adventure in Connecticut.
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Parents can enjoy some relaxation when their kids spend time at the
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Bike the ground of Fort Trumbull. Photo courtesy Visit CT
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A double slide at Jonathan's Dream. Photo courtesy of O'Brien and Sons Landscape Structures
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Ball pit fun at Chelsea Piers.
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Flat walking trails make Wharton Brook State Park a sure bet for kid hikers. Photo by Mommy Poppins
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Take a step back in time with a visit to Mystic Seaport. Photo courtesy of Ally Noel
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From rolling hills and lakes to scenic views and summits, there's great outdoor adventure for families at Connecticut state parks. Photo courtesy of Visit CT
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Bubbles are a classic free fun activity for Connecticut kids
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Run through the vineyards at Aquila's Nest. Photo courtesy of Aquila's Nest, Facebook
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Practice new skills at Calf's Pasture Beach, photo courtesy of Norwalk Skate Park, Facebook
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Create colorful storm clouds out of shaving cream and food coloring.
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Revel in nature's majesty at Webb Mountain. Photo by Ally Noel
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Find family fare and great deals at these Connecticut restaurants where kids eat free! Photo courtesy of Bigstock
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'Tis the season for holiday fun and more things to do in Connecticut this weekend. Kid's Gingerbread House Decorating Workshop photo courtesy of Lyman Orchards
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Top Summer Day Camps Near Hartford

Try out tennis and more sports at Mandell JCC's summer camp. Photo courtesy the camp
Try out tennis and more sports at Mandell JCC's summer camp. Photo courtesy the camp
4/18/21 - By Clementina Verge

Summer camps in the Hartford area offer kids outdoor and indoor options, time in nature, plenty of science, and summer memories of having fun with peers. Whether you sign up for a single week or the whole summer, you can trust your child is in good hands at these time-tested, parent-approved Hartford summer day camps

Our Connecticut Camp Guide is also a great resource for finding just the right summer activity for your Connecticut kid or check out our upcoming Online Camp Fair to explore options. Got an older child? Consider these sleepaway camps right here in Connecticut.

 

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Explore the woods at the Roaring Brook Nature Center's camp. Photo courtesy the camp
Explore the woods at the Roaring Brook Nature Center's camp. Photo courtesy the camp

Hartford Day Camps for Connecticut Kids

The Summer Place at University of Hartford

Hartford
Campers create a daily schedule of enrichment and athletic activities that reflects personal interests and talents, including courses in art, computers, cooking, science, theater, and outdoor adventure. More than 20 athletic activities range from archery to swimming. READ MORE

Renbrook Summer Adventure Day Camp

West Hartford
Whether your child is passionate about writing or science, or looking to up athletic prowess, specialty camps at Renbrook take a deeper dive into themed areas while being sure to balance the camp day with a variety of other activities. READ MORE

Avon Old Farms Summer Camp Program

Avon
Expand your child's baseball or basketball skills in a fun environment where each player learns new techniques for better performance. A typical daily schedule includes morning training and afternoon games. READ MORE

Flamig Farm Summer Adventure Camp

Simsbury
Little farmers ages 5-14 will enjoy feeding and caring for animals, organic gardening, gathering eggs, tractor/horse drawn hay rides, pony and horse rides, making a famous "EGGS" tie-dye shirt, and hikes. READ MORE

Mandell JCC Camps

West Hartford
The Mandell JCC offers 10 weeks of summer camp options, including baseball, basketball, soccer, golf, karate, swimming, cooking, theater, and so much more. Campers are active and engaged all day in a fun week of sport development under the guidance of experienced and talented instructors. READ MORE

Winding Trails Summer Day Camp

Farmington
Designed to nurture a love for the outdoors, the camp features many themed days and activities - including boating, music and drama, swimming, and sports - focused on the environment and giving campers the knowledge they need to help preserve their space on the planet.  READ MORE

Central Rock Gym Glastonbury

Glastonbury
Central Rock Gym Glastonbury is excited to offer week-long programming during summer break for kids ages 6 to 12. Your child will develop basic climbing skills, techniques, and kinesthetic training, through bouldering, top rope climbing, belaying, obstacle course challenges, team building games, and so much more.  READ MORE

Noah Webster House & West Hartford Historical Society

West Hartford
Spend the day exploring life in the 1700s as a Colonial child. Activities include chores, such as cooking lunch over an open hearth, caring for barnyard animals, tending a vegetable garden, playing games, and getting creative with arts & crafts.  READ MORE

High Meadow Day Camp

North Granby
Campers ages 4-13 at High Meadow enjoy a structured and supervised daily schedule that includes sports, free swim, arts and crafts, time in nature, making friends, and getting silly for Talent Show. READ MORE

Summer Camp at Talcott Mountain Science Center

Avon
STEM learning has been the basis of this mountaintop academy since before the term STEM was a thing, really. Kids from kindergarten to 8th grade explore cool science, nature and technology adventures, participate in weekly contests and enjoy special events and activities.    READ MORE

The Auer Farm Summer Camp

Bloomfield
A farm-based camp for children ages 3-15. Camp runs from 8:45am to 3:30pm, Monday through Friday, starting June 28. Kids will love the outdoor education, nature walks, arts and crafts, animals, sports, and garden time. Auer Farm is a great place to learn and to truly experience summer. READ MORE

Roaring Brook Nature Center Camp

Canton
There is so much variety at this nature-based, half-day summer camp. Kids are divided into age groups and each one offers exciting themed-weeks from which to choose. Camps run from 9am to noon.    READ MORE

Wethersfield EBW Nature Center Camp

Wethersfield
Eleanor Buck Wolf Camp will bring children closer to both animals and nature. This full-day nature camp with extended day options includes morning lessons and activities and afternoons filled with swimming, games, and outdoor exploration.     READ MORE

Lutz Museum Summer Camp

Manchester
The Lutz Museum offers a fun camp for kids in elementary school from June to August. Campers will spend their days at the Oak Grove Nature Center surrounded by 52 acres of nature-fun. Children will do something different every day including performing arts, nature-based inquiry, playtime and field trips too.   READ MORE

Children's Museum Summer Camp

West Hartford
Campers at The Children's Museum's full-day science camp will learn all about animals, including dinos, mammals, and reptiles with the rotating camp themes. Other weeks they'll explore chemistry, engineering, space, and more big STEM subjects. All instructors are staff educators with the museum.    READ MORE

Camp Thundermoon YMCA New Britain - Berlin

Berlin
The YMCA offers several thunder and lightning-themed camps for kids ages pre-K through teens. These traditional, full-day summer camps let kids enjoy outdoor sports, arts and crafts, and more. Campers are given opportunities to build friendships, gain independence, and grow their confidence. READ MORE

Camp Foxfire

Windsor
Camp Foxfire, hosted by Northwest Park Camp, is a good old-fashioned outdoor nature camp offering a full day of hiking, shelter building, games, field trips to state parks, and exploration of various waterways. There are six themed weeks to choose from for children in grades pre-K through 8. The pre-K and kindergarten option is a half-day.   READ MORE

Farmington YMCA Day Camp

Farmington
The Farmington YMCA offers a traditional day camp that runs daily from 9am to 4pm with extended day options. The YMCA camp will focus on skill-building and increasing children's self-confidence as well as teamwork and creativity. Discover the outdoors, swim, make crafts, and more at the Y. Camp is held at the YMCA in Granby. There are also several specialty camps to choose from here. READ MORE

Suffield Day Camp

Suffield
Suffield is offering three camps for the summer of 2021: Kid’s Korner/Morning Munchkins is for children ages 3 to second grade; second grade to fifth-graders have Sunrise Day Camp; and the sixth to eighth graders can join Adventure Camp. All of these outdoor camps from the Parks and Recreation department offer water play or swimming, plenty of outdoor games, and arts and crafts. READ MORE

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