Partial-Day Summer Camps in Columbia, SC

Does your child LOVE animals? Fur Friends Camp at Pawmetto Lifeline is the perfect day camp for kids ages 7 to 12 who love furry friends! Campers will interact with adoptable pets, participate in fun games and crafts, win paw-some prizes, meet community members who help animals and learn how we can all be great animal advocates!

2026 Camp Sessions:

• June 15 – 18
• June 22 – 25
• July 13 – 16
• July 20 – July 23

$300 per session (Includes Camp T-Shirt and Daily Snacks!) Note: Each session will follow the same curriculum with varying guest speakers and animal interactions.

Questions? Contact Heidi Tolles at heidi@pawmettolifeline.org

REGISTRATION for FARM CAMP 2026 at Horse Crossing Farm is now OPEN!

Session 1: June 1-4
Session 2: June 8-11
Session 3: June 15-18
Session 4:  June 22-26

Each camp session is 4 days long from 8:00 AM-12:00 PM. The Friday of each week is reserved as a make-up day in case one of the 4 scheduled days gets rained out. Each session includes instruction on complete horse care, horse riding and farm animal care. Animals included are horses, mini horse, mini mule, pony, mini cow, goats, sheep, pig, chickens, ducks, peacocks, turkeys, guinea fowl, emu, rhea, rabbits, guinea pigs, hedgehogs, alpaca, llama, cats and a dog. Water games, yard games, crafts, and photography with animals included each day. (Children ages 6-12, select 5 year olds accepted).

$275 per child per session – Click Here to Register
It’s going to be our best camp year yet!

Farm based summer camps for ages preschool and older. The camps are a week long, and include:

2026 info TBA
Dates: May – July
Ages: 3 years old – 5th grade
Price: $250 – $350
Full and Half day available

Offers a wide variety of summer camps for kids and teens, including early childhood options, camps for teens, science, art, sports, and chess camps.

Dates: June – July
Ages: 3 – 18 
Price: $130 – $675
Full and Half day available

Riverbanks Zoo Camps bring kids and nature face-to-face with animal interactions and more through themed and age-appropriate camps. Camps are for K5 through 6th grade. There is also an option for 3 and 4-year-old camps with an adult.

Dates: May – July
Ages: 3 years old – 6th grade
Price: $285 – $680
Full and Half day available

What: Summer camp designed to give children the opportunity to interact with nature and animals on a meaningful level. Hands-on experiences give campers a sense of responsibility and connection.

Who: Rising kindergartners – 7th grade

When: Half Day and Full Day options available

Cost: $355/week

Shelley Smith’s South Carolina Soccer School offers girls soccer skills training camps in June and July.

Day Camp:
Ages 6 – 13 (half-day and full-day options)
June 8th – 12th, 2026 or July 20th – 24th, 2026

Elite Mini Residential Overnight Camp:
Ages 10 – 14
June 5th – 7 th, 2026 or July 17th – 19th, 2026

Classes: Join in for the Parent and tot dance classes. At Rising Star Performing Arts Studio, they’re dedicated to nurturing young dancers in a safe, joyful, and supportive environment.

Summer Camp: This summer, let your child’s imagination soar at our Creative Arts Summer Camp! Packed with dance, music, art, and theater activities.

2026 info TBA
Full and Half day available

Exciting hands-on experiences that allow children to explore different careers. They include things like activities, workshops, and more! Children will also be able to hear from guest speakers to gain an understanding about different types of jobs.

SC Career Kids

Dates: Announcing Soon 
Ages: Rising 3rd – Rising 6th graders
Price: $125 per camper per session 
Half day available

The Columbia Children’s Theatre Summer Camp is a week-long experience to get your child moving, learning, and having fun. Activities will include acting, set design, playwriting, and more. There are a variety of camp offerings for different age groups.

2026 info TBA
Dates: June – July 
Ages: k–12 
Price: $150–$560 
Full and Half day available

Classes: Mud Club, art classes for kids after school.

Summer Camps: Mad Platter offers camps for young kids ages 3-6 and older kids age 7 and up.

A variety of horseback riding camps focused on horsemanship, riding skills, and farm activities. Camps blend daily riding lessons, horse care, grooming, stable routines, and fun activities in a supportive equestrian environment.

Ages: 3– 12
Half Day, Full Day, and Overnight options available
Dates: June – July 2026
Price: Tiny Tot camp – $395
Summer Day Camp – $495
Overnight Girl Camp – $999

The University of South Carolina offers football camps for kids to learn new techniques and become overall better football players. Campers will be able to learn from current assistant football coaches and current student-athletes at USC.

Camps for youth, high school, and coaches

2026 Camp dates, times, and cost vary based on the chosen camp week

Camp P.A.L.S. is a summer camp for children with social skills deficits (including but not limited to Asperger’s, high-functioning autism, ADHD, and learning disabilities). Camp Staff incorporate physical activity and social skills support using a variety of theory driven practices.

Dates: Tuesdays & Thursdays, June 24 – August 7, 2026 
Ages: 8 – 17 years old 
Price:
Half day available

Classes: Lake Murray Gymnastics offers gymnastics classes for all ages of children, from just walking through the 12th grade. Classes are offered during the school year and summer. They also offer Ninja, Cheer, and a parent’s night out program.

Birthday Parties: Lake Murray Gymnastics offers birthday parties that include one hour of time in the gym with balance, foam pits, trampolines, and more, plus 30 minutes in the party area.

• Party packages start at $225 for up to 20 participants
• Party times available Saturday and Sunday

Parent’s Night Out: Ages 4 and up on Friday nights from 6:30 pm to 9:30 pm. Register in advance.

Summer Camps: Lake Murray Gymnastics offers summer camps for preschoolers to school-age where campers will train in small groups and practice gymnastic skills. Kids will also participate in arts & crafts, games, and strength training.

Dates: June – July 
Ages: 3 – 12
Price: $80 – $110
Half Day Available 

Palmetto Athletic Center (PAC) offers year-round gymnastics classes, ninja classes, swim lessons, Summer Sports Camp, and Kids Care Camp.

Kids Care Camp is full day camp.
Summer Sports Camp is tailored to a camp themed for gymnastics, kinder camp, ninja, cheer, and more.

Dates: May – July  
Ages: 5 – 11 years
Price: $152 – $175
Full Day

Kids ages 5 – 17 can enjoy painting, drawing, pottery, and more with the City of Columbia Kids Art Camps at the Columbia Art Center. They have themed weeks such as Farm Fun, Magical Creature Fun, Swimming in Your Brain, and so much more! Check out their website for more information!

Dates: June 9 – August 1, 2026  
Ages: 5 – 17 years old  
Price: $85 – $125
Full and Half day available

Classes: Offers gymnastics classes for preschoolers as well as school-aged children. In addition to gymnastics, they also offer Ninja and tumbling classes.

Birthday Parties: 1 1/2 hour long party with instructional gym time, foam pit, trampoline, and lots more. Option to add cake service.

Summer Camps: Carolina Gymnastics has a partial-day Summer Camp for children ages 3-12. Activities include gymnastics, crafts, a foam pit, games, snack, and trampoline. There are also themed dress-up days to make the experience even more fun and memorable for kids.

2026 info TBA
Dates: June – July 
Ages: 3 – 12 years old
Price: $160 – $185
Half day available

Ben Lippen offers day camps for grade school kids, including sports, arts, STEM, music, and theater (vary by age range)
Most camps run Monday-Thursday.
Summer QUEST runs most weeks, June 1-July 23.

Dates: June 1 – July 23, 2026 
Ages: Rising K – Rising 9th grade 
Price: $125 – $275 per session 
Full and Half day available

The Challenger Learning Center is an aerospace-themed educational program designed to provide interactive learning field-study experiences and summer camp programs.

Challenger STEM Summer Camps (Columbia, SC)

Offers: Ages 7–18; Astronaut Academy, Rockets – Artemis, Rockets – Mercury, Robotics Camp, Intro to Aviation, Advanced Aviation, Intro to Drone, Advanced Drone, and Coding Drone camps

Months: June through July each summer, with multi-day sessions scheduled throughout the season

Pricing: Pricing varies by camp and duration, ranging from $50–$200 per session at the Columbia, SC campus

The Sunshine House offers childcare, after school care, before school care, and a summer camp for kids. Themes vary and there’s limited space.

Multiple locations in Columbia, SC

Dates: June – August 
Ages: 5 – 12 years old 
Price: Varies by location; contact your local Sunshine House for current tuition details
Full-day day camp

Youth sports, family/community events, child fun days, summer camp, football training camp

Kids Garden offers ultra-flexible summer camps—choose weeks, days, or hours. Weekly themed activities include LEGO, science, space, and adventure.

Dates: May – August 2026 
Ages: 2 – 12 years old
Price: $180 – $260 per week 
Full and Half day available

Town Theatre offers a youth theatre program with a variety of classes and production experiences for youth and teens.

Summer Camp: Town Theatre offers various summer camps for rising kindergartners through rising 12th graders. From improv to tap dancing to musical theatre and more . . . there are plenty of options to satisfy the kid who loves performing.

Dates: June – July 
Ages: 5 – 17 
Price: ~$150 – $180 per session/workshop
Full and Half day available

Classes: H. Haney Golf Academy offers lessons for juniors (kids 6 to 16), groups, and adults. Lessons are offered during the week and on Satrudays.

Summer Camps: H. Haney Golf Academy offers one-week camps for ages 6-16. Campers learn to improve their golfing skills through assessments, drills, and training.

Farm Camp: Hands-on farm camp experience with daily instruction in complete horse care, horseback riding, and farm animal care. Campers will interact with a wide variety of animals, including horses, ponies, mini animals, livestock, birds, and small animals.

• Ages: 6–12
• Half-day available
• Price: $275 per child, per session

Birthday Parties: Parties include up to 8 children, with additional guests added for $10 each. The total cost is $350 with a $50 deposit required.

Photography Sessions: These are farm-themed photography sessions with farm or seasonal decor and live animals. Sessions cost $75, with a 50% deposit required upon booking

Check out Kidding Around’s Review of Horse Crossing Farm

Shandon Weekday’s Summer Discovery Program has full and part day options, one-week camps or all summer long.

2026 info TBA
Dates: June – August 
Ages: 5 – 14 years
Price: 
Full and Half day available

Children aged 8 – 16 can enjoy Kayak Camp with the City of Columbia park rangers at Riverfront Park.

2026 info TBA
Dates: June – August 
Ages: 8 – 16
Price: $125
Full day available:

Call 803.315.9275 for additional information

Dance studio offering classes in tap, jazz, ballet, hip hop, lyrical, contemporary, acro, musical theater, pointe, pom and creative movement for ages 12 months to adult!

Summer Camps: Summer dance camps for kids ages 2 to 12. Partial day camps are available at a wide variety of times, including evenings. Styles of dance include ballet, jazz, tumbling, hip-hop, and creative movement.

Dates: May – July
Ages: 2 – 12 years old 
Price: $85
Half day available

Kids ages 8 -16 can learn new golf skills or improve on their already-known skills at Golf Camp with the City of Columbia at the James E. Clyburn Golf Center.

2026 camp dates TBD

The City of Columbia Tennis Camp is for ages 5 – 14 and will focus on tennis skills improvement and practice.
Camp Dates: Check website for date options.
Cost: $85/week

Animal-themed day camp where kids learn about pet care, and interact with animals through fun games, lessons, crafts, and activities centered on responsible pet ownership and animal welfare.

Dates: Mid June through July 2026
Price: ~$300 per child per session
Ages: 7–12
Half Day available

Gymnastics Classes:  Classes are offered at multiple locations for kids ages 3 to 12.

BL Gym Monday 4-4:45 pm
Lexington Leisure Center: Thursday 6-7 pm

Summer Camps: Summer sports camps for kids ages 4 to 9. Camps occur at multiple locations near Columbia, SC. Camp options are available for ninja, nerf and more.

Dates: May – August 
Ages: 4 – 9 
Price: $120 
Half day available

Saxe Gotha Church: Lexington, SC
Lexington Leisure Center: Lexington, SC
Crooked Creek Park: Irmo, SC
Saluda Shoals Park: Irmo, SC

Summer Camps: Irmo Chapin Recreation Commission offers a variety of summer camps offered for all ages and interest at the parks. Check the camp guide for fees, dates, times, and detailed information.  Registration forms should be returned to Crooked Creek Park or Seven Oaks Park. Forms may NOT be emailed

2026 information TBA
Dates: May – August
Ages: 4-12
Price: $70–$145+
Full and Half day

After School Program: They also offer an after school program called Safari After School. To find a list of schools that offer this program visit their website above.

Crooked Creek Park @ 803-345-6181

Seven Oaks Park @ 803-772-3336

Sawyer Equestrian’s Horse Camps focus on horse education and fun learning. Campers participate in grooming, tacking, riding, daily horse care, team-building games, and horse-themed art projects in a supportive environment.

Ages: 5–15
Half Day & Full Day Options available
Dates: Weekly through June 2026
Price: $450 per week per rider

Full-day and partial-day camps on a variety of topics, including arts, sports, STEM, engineering, and academics.

Dates: June – July 
Ages: 3 – 18
Full and half-day available
2026 Registration is open