There’s no shortage of memorable summer camp opportunities in the Rocky Mountains. Your little campers can enjoy the vibrant natural scenery or engage in activities built around their special interests throughout the state of Colorado—although there’s a spectacular concentration of Colorado summer camps in and around the communities of Denver, Boulder, and Colorado Springs.
It’s never too early to start planning ahead for next year. Here are some of our favorite summer camps in Colorado that have a reputation for excellence:
Check Out 5 of the Best Summer Camps in Colorado!
1. Rocky Mountain Day Camp
No parent can skip over a camp that’s been voted the Best Summer Day Camp in Boulder County for thirteen years (and counting!). The Rocky Mountain Day Camp is family-run, locally owned, and serves kids from 4 to 15 at three great locations—in Erie, Boulder, and Superior, Colorado.
Heading into their 15th year in 2021, your kids can jump into the action for team sports, water activities, performing arts, rock climbing, archery, camp games, and much more! Rocky Mountain is beloved locally for boosting self-esteem in kids at a camp that was “built for FUN!”
2. Colorado Mountain Ranch
Colorado mountain camps are a popular category for campers who want to escape into the mountains for summer family fun. But no scenic mountain summer camp can compare with Colorado Mountain Ranch for outdoor adventure.
Boulder's original summer day camp for children and teenagers offers Adventure Day Camps for 2nd to 8th graders are jam-packed with outdoor activities led by highly qualified instructors. For new and returning campers who already know what activities they love the most, the ranch’s Focus Day Camps provide half days in targeted curricula, and the other half on the teambuilding Challenge Course (or other activities picked out by the group).
Campers in 2nd to 8th grade can enroll in the Water Focus, but the majority of Focus Camps are for 5th to 11th grade. Counselors-in-Training will get their own Focus Camp for 8th to 12th grade.
3. Renaissance Adventures
Do your kids love fantastical adventure, magic, heroes, and quests? Look no further than Renaissance Adventures in Denver. This camp is unique among overnight summer camps in Colorado as it unites girls and boys aged 6-17 to roleplay fantasy heroes on mythic quests in outdoor groups a half-dozen strong.
Their Adventure Quest is an award-winning experiential education summer camp in which each day is filled with exciting new mysteries, riddles, maps, monsters, and safe foam sword battles. Send your kids to practice leadership skills and grow their confidence while exploring nature and engaging in imaginative outdoor live-action role play.
4. Pikes Peak Artist Collective
This is one of the finest art-focused summer camps in Colorado Springs, where each week of their summer art camps involves a new theme to suit broad camper interests. Past focuses have included magical drawing techniques, clay pottery, watercolor and acrylic painting, and more!
You can sign your kids up for a full summer of art either in person or through online interactive art classes. Their dynamic and creative offerings are sure to have a fit for every young artist.
5. Youth Symphony Summer Camp
Every camp session ends with a stunning performance that demonstrates the musical progress from the last few exciting days of rehearsal, games, meals, campfires, and musical training. No other summer camps in Colorado Springs have the same depth of opportunity for aspiring musicians.
Youth Symphony Summer Camp currently includes three different camps—Orchestra Camp (for the Ovation Youth Orchestra and Youth Symphony), Band Camp (for the Pikes Peak Winds and Bravo Winds), and Strings Camp (for Vivace, Allegro, Amadeus, Wolfgang and Mozart Strings). The young musicians unite for 3 days of overnight summer camps in Colorado’s Rocky Mountains each year.
If you’re interested in even more options for summer camps in Colorado, check us out at Camps With Friends! We make it simple for parents to find the perfect camp for their kids, right in the area you live in.
