It’s time to book summer camps, and the BEST recommendations are always the ones you get from other parents.
Check out the winners of our annual readers’ poll in the Classes and Camps Category below. Then download our Free Summer Camp Planner to get organized. Can’t get enough camp content? Find even more camps listed in our Summer Camps Directory, learn about Featured Camps, or pick up a copy of our print Summer Camps Issue.
Congratulations to these fabulous winners!
Outdoor Adventure Classes/Camps
WINNER: Trackers Earth Portland
Trackers Earth really takes full advantage of all the beauty Mother Nature has to offer in the Pacific Northwest. The award-winning camp fosters a love and appreciation for all things outdoors with its fun, educational classes, like hiking, kayaking, canoeing, climbing and more.
TOP 5
Arts & Crafts Classes/Camps
WINNER: Children’s Healing Art Project (CHAP)
CHAP’s virtual Art Club, held each Wednesday at 4 pm, is still going strong! (The organization continues to pause in-person art visits to children in the hospital.) Even better, the Art Club projects are designed to use already-in-your-house items, so each class is fun, creative and accessible. And everyone can support CHAP’s wonderful mission by donating, including art supplies or volunteering in the studio. Pro tip: Follow CHAP on Facebook for fun art ideas your kiddos can do at home.
TOP 5
Grace Institute Home of Grace Art Camps
Climbing/Obstacle Classes/Camps
WINNER: The Circuit Bouldering Gym
Who says you have to be an adult to climb? The folks at The Circuit Bouldering Gym teach an array of indoor bouldering classes geared to kids from ages 5 to 14. Budding boulderers not only learn technique and gain strength, but also problem solving in the gym’s safe, fun environment. And with three locations — Southwest, Northeast and Tigard — in the Portland area, there’s a gym for everyone.
TOP 5
Dance Classes/Camps
WINNER: Oregon Ballet Theatre School
For children who live in their tutus and dream of jeté-ing across center stage, the Oregon Ballet Theatre School is the place for them. OBT offers a variety of classes, for toddlers to dedicated students learning pointe, and many are taught by professionals. Youth dancers are also all encouraged to audition to perform, including for OBT’s fabled Nutcracker.
TOP 5
Westside Dance & Gymnastics Academy
General Day Camps
WINNER: Trackers Earth
One of the best parts of sending your kids to camp at Trackers Earth Portland is that there is so much for them to do and learn! Sporty kids will love paintball and climbing, outdoor adventurers will enjoy kayaking and hiking, and your little art lover will delight in ceramics, photography or even blacksmithing! With locations all over (and outside of) the city, Trackers is a convenient choice for parents, too.
TOP 5
Mittleman Jewish Community Center
North Clackamas Parks & Recreation Department
Portland Parks & Recreation
Tualatin Hills Parks & Recreation District
Gymnastics Classes/Camps
WINNER: The Children’s Gym
At The Children’s Gym, the instructors channel your kiddo’s energy into cartwheels, handstands, flips and more. Even better, all classes are noncompetitive, co-ed, and of course, fun! And since each child learns at their own pace, The Children’s Gym separates students by age and skill level (new students are automatically placed into the introductory level class for their age). The Children’s Gym offers in-person classes and camps with strict COVID protocols, including proof of vaccination.
TOP 5
Westside Dance & Gymnastics Academy
Horse/Animal Classes/Camps
WINNER: Oregon Zoo
With COVID-19 still circulating, the Oregon Zoo has once again canceled their animal-centered summer camps for 2022. In the meantime, visit the zoo’s Facebook page for live videos of all their animals and critters in action: Facebook.com/oregonzoo.
TOP 5
Inclusive Camps
WINNER: Camp Yakety Yak
Located in Lake Oswego, this enriching camp is designed especially for children with special needs and physical disabilities. Yakety Yak staffers prepare an individualized day camp experience for kids in inclusive and educational group activities, including games, classroom skills and hands-on projects. Neurotypical siblings of campers are also encouraged to join.
TOP 5
Overnight Camps
WINNER: Camp Namanu
Hiking and boating and cooking, oh, my! The storied Camp Namanu, along the shores of the Sandy River, provides the quintessential overnight camp experience — fireside stories and sleeping in rustic cabins included. While Ranch Camp is still sadly paused, half-week camp sessions are back for Blue Wings (campers in grades two to three) as well as for kids in grades four through 12.
TOP 5
Performing Arts Classes/Camps
WINNER: Northwest Children’s Theater and School
In-person summer camps are back at Northwest Children’s Theater! Budding thespians, grouped by age from 4 to 14, can partake in a variety of performing arts classes at NWCT’s Northwest theater (as well as upcoming, additional locations on the east and west sides of Portland). Campers learn everything from character and world creation to acting to improv musical theater.
TOP 5
Science/Math Classes/Camps
WINNER: OMSI – Oregon Museum of Science & Industry
Sure, OMSI has everything your science-loving kid dreams of for summer camp: robotics, food chemistry, astronomy, even forensic science! But there’s plenty of opportunities for children who don’t necessarily want to become the next Bill Nye, including animation, flying drones and caring for exotic pets. Camps are grouped by grade with options for kindergarteners to eighth graders. Pro tip: This camp is super helpful for parents who are looking to do just one drop-off for siblings of different ages.
TOP 5
Mad Science of Portland and Vancouver
PJA Summer Discovery Program
Saturday Academy
Sports Classes/Camps
WINNER: Portland Parks & Recreation
Parents love the convenience, wide range of choices and affordability — particularly the “pay what you can” pricing model — of PP&R’s summer camps. Kids love it, too, including the songs, puppet shows, hiking, crafts and more. Camps are geared to kids ages 5 to 12.
TOP 5
North Clackamas Parks and Recreation District
Tualatin Hills Parks & Recreation District
After-School Classes/Camps
WINNER: Trackers Earth Portland
Trackers Earth Portland makes sure that afternoons (and more importantly, after school for all us busy parents) are the best part of your child’s day. During the weekly, approximately two-hour sessions, the expert staff at Trackers teaches kids woodworking, ceramics — even blacksmithing!
TOP 5
Mad Science of Portland and Vancouver
Northwest Children’s Theater and School
Portland Early Learning Project
Swim Instruction
WINNER: Portland Parks & Recreation
Swimming lessons are a quintessential youth experience. And PP&R is known for helping kids, from as early as babies blowing bubbles to tweens perfecting their backstroke, become confident in the water. Even better — it’s only $6.75 per class. Pro tip: Class spots are limited, but PP&R offers a wait list.
TOP 5
Children of the Sea Swim School
Music Classes/Camps
WINNER: Music Together of Portland
Music Together of Portland believes that all children are born with musical talent. Foster your child’s love of singing and dancing with their variety of weekly classes, grouped from babies to age 8. One of the best parts of Music Together’s classes are the options! Choose between totally indoor, completely outdoor, a hybrid of both, or join in from the comfort of your home with online classes.
TOP 5
Spring & Winter Camps
WINNER: Trackers Earth Portland
Trackers Earth Portland is always a solid choice for parents looking for fun, safe and educational camp experiences for their kids. There’s the variety of classes — hiking to blacksmithing — the multiple locations and the number of times and days camps are held. It’s no wonder that Trackers Earth Portland is a repeat multi- winner for PDX Parent Picks!
TOP 5
Northwest Children’s Theater and School
Tualatin Hills Parks & Recreation
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