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Best Summer Camps for Teens and Tweens in Connecticut

Horse lovers will appreciate equestrian camp. Photo courtesy of the SJ Riding Camp in Ellington
Horse lovers will appreciate equestrian camp. Photo courtesy of the SJ Riding Camp in Ellington
2/28/22 - By Ally Noel

Keeping tweens and teens entertained in the summer may feel like a daunting task. Planning a rotation of activities for the seemingly endless weeks of summer vacation can be extremely stressful. Thankfully, there's a wide range of summer camps for tweens and teens in Connecticut. These sports summer camps, nature summer camps, and everything in between are all geared towards kids aged 10 and up and their specific social-emotional needs. Read on for the best tween and teen summer camps in Fairfield County, Hartford County, and Eastern Connecticut.

For more summer camps in Connecticut, including picks for preschool summer camps in Fairfield County and the best summer sleepover camps around Connecticut, be sure to bookmark our Connecticut Summer Camp Guide and our Camp Directory where you can search for summer camps by type, age, and town.

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Kids can get up close and personal with nature at the Stamford Museum and Nature Center. Photo courtesy of the center
Kids can get up close and personal with nature at the Stamford Museum and Nature Center. Photo courtesy of the center

Fun Summer Camps for Teens and Tweens in Fairfield County

Tim Morehouse Fencing Club - Connecticut

Stamford
Tim Morehouse Fencing Youth Champions Summer Camps are for great for beginner, intermediate, and competitive students alike in the 6-12-year-old age range. The staff of Olympians and champions has a great track record of providing students with a memorable and exciting summer experience. READ MORE

Chelsea Piers Connecticut Summer Camps

Stamford
Chelsea Piers is home to some of the area’s best summer sports, gymnastics, tennis and ice hockey camps for kids ages 3-13 . Little Athletes learn the basics of sports with no pressure. Choose from half day or full day camps. Campers can pick one sport to focus on or register for the ultimate Camp Chelsea which provides a mix of athletics and traditional camp activities.  READ MORE

Two Coyotes Wilderness School

Newtown
Two Coyotes Wilderness School offers 8 weeklong day camp sessions. Days begin with a morning game and gratitude circle and focus on wilderness projects and outdoor skills. Campers may learn anything from how to craft handmade tools and art projects from natural materials, track animals, identify bird language, make friction fires, build forts and shelters, and forage for safe wild edibles.  Campers aged 12-15 years old also have the opportunity to register for the Advanced Survival, Scout Tracker, and Wildwood Rangers programs  READ MORE

The Maritime Aquarium

Norwalk
Learn all about the wonders of water at the Maritime Aquarium's Summer Camps.  The program integrates science, art, music, and literature throughout each session.  Additionally, older kids will focus on technology and engineering through the Eco Explorers, Jr. Marine Biologist, and Teen Apprentice programs.  READ MORE

New Canaan Nature Center

New Canaan
Explore nature at New Canaan Nature Center's summer camp. Children will enjoy 40 acres of fields, forests, and ponds with highly trained counselors. Daily fun with art, music, and play. Campers aged 11-13 can enroll in a full-day Adventure Camp. This program includes daily off-site trips that explore local hideaways, trails, and waterways by foot and canoe.  READ MORE

Stamford Nature Center Summer Camp

Stamford
So many kinds of nature camps to choose from! Children age 18 m to 7th grade will enjoy summers at the Stamford Nature Center. Each weekly session features a different theme. The campus has a farm, nature trails, natural playground and more.  Older kids have the opportunity to enroll in BioDiscovery Science Camp as well as Animal Care Training.  READ MORE

Ben Young All-Sports Camp

New Canaan
The Ben Young All-Sports Camp aims to foster an inclusive, welcoming, and positive environment for kids to have fun and learn a variety of sports. Children in grades K-8th Grade will enjoy instruction in a variety of sports including football, volleyball, tennis, and so much more.  READ MORE
Endless adventures await at Winding Trails Summer Day Camp. Photo courtesy of Winding Trails Summer Day Camp
Endless adventures await at Winding Trails Summer Day Camp. Photo courtesy of Winding Trails Summer Day Camp

Cool Summer Camps for Teens and Tweens in Hartford County

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

Flamig Farm Summer Adventure Camp

West 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

SJ Riding Camp

Ellington
SJ Riding Camp's summer program is geared toward campers with a wide range of interests and experiences.  Campers are placed in groups according to age and experience.  Each day, campers learn the ropes of horse grooming, barn safety, and other elements of horse care.  Each day includes two riding periods where students can gain experience.  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
Make a new discovery at Mystic Aquarium camp. Photo courtesy of the Mystic Aquarium
Make a new discovery at Mystic Aquarium camp. Photo courtesy of the Mystic Aquarium

Awesome Summer Camps for Tweens and Teens in Eastern Connecticut

Camp Bushy Hill

Deep River
Bushy Hill Day Camp is located on over 700 acres filled with beautiful forests, active wetlands, and miles of hiking trails.  Daily camp activities include team building, hiking, tracking, swimming, identification, and exploring the vast natural surroundings that Bushy Hill has to offer. In addition to Day Camp, Bushy Hill Day Camp offers Scout Survival and Mountain Teen Camp for more experienced campers.  READ MORE

Mystic Seaport Museum

Mystic
Mystic Seaport Museum offers a number of summer camp programs that provide a unique learning adventure. The wide selection of summer day camps offers boys and girls ages 4 to 16 a kids-eye view of maritime history as they explore the museum. READ MORE

New Haven Academy of Performing Arts

East Haven
New Haven Academy of Performing Arts and Broadway Dance offer one of Connecticut's top summer musical theater camps. Fun-filled performance classes include dance, acting, singing, improv, team building, and theater games. Classes are led by award-winning industry professionals, and each session ends with a Broadway-style stage production.  READ MORE

Mystic Aquarium

Mystic
A local leader in ocean conservation through education, Mystic Aquarium provides a wonderful environment to enjoy and explore animals while having outdoor adventures in nature. Children entering grades PK- 10 can pick from a variety of themes and programs. Older campers can dive right into Marine Biologist Camp and learn what it takes to become a Marine Biologist.   READ MORE

Project Oceanology

Groton
Project Oceanology offers a wide variety of hands-on learning options all summer long.  All themed weeks consist of time aboard one of the research vessels and a fleet of Carolina skiffs. Teens and Tweens can pick from Undersea Technology or Ocean Explorer Academy where they can learn all about the technology of icean exploration.  READ MORE

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