Richland County Summer Camps

This summer, have a blast learning at Sylvan Summer Camps! Learning and fun are an all-in-one package with Sylvan’s Academic and STEM camps! Our camps engage the mind with the best teaching methods, make learning exciting, and provide social interaction with collaborative learning. There’s something for everyone! 

Our centers in Columbia and Irmo provide a variety of camps that include:

Academic Camps:  Kindergarten Kickstart, Writing Rhythms, and Study Skills Superheroes

STEM Camps:  Mastering Math Facts, Mad Science, and Super Structures

Summer Camps are Buy 1 Get 1 Free until March 31, 2023, and 25% off in April and May! Check your local Sylvan Learning Center’s website (Irmo and Columbia) for details.

Want to help your child make greater gains this summer?  Consider a personalized learning program that helps students grow their skills up to 3 times faster than traditional learning. Our proven instructional methods and reward system motivate students to strengthen their skills, overcome learning loss, jump to higher levels, and gain confidence for academic and career success. Make the most of summer learning with Sylvan. Prevent summer learning loss at Sylvan! Flexible schedules and payment options meet your family’s needs.

Sylvan is the BEST for summer learning!

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

2023 Registrations opens January 19th, 2023.

Heathwood Hall offers a wide variety of summer camps for kids and teens including early childhood options, camps for teens, science, art, sports, and sailing camps.

Richland County Recreation Commission offers a full-day Summer Mania camp at multiple locations for ages 5-12 that is designed to meet the physical, creative and social needs of kids. A variety of activities are offered including recreational activities, games, arts and crafts, and conservation activities.

Classes: Recreational youth sports available include track, basketball, tennis, flag football, soccer, and more. Youth programs begin at age 3.

7 week summer program with hands-on music video production including singing, acting, dance, creating flyers and props, and video production. Camp is for ages 8 to 17.

Summer Camp: Full-day summer camp for children ages 4 to 12. Camp includes mini karate class, bully awareness, character building and self-confidence, pizza Fridays and more

Classes: Elite Martial Arts offers a Little Ninja program for ages 3 – 6 years old.

The SC State Museum has four floors of changing and permanent exhibits, a planetarium, a 4D interactive theater, and plenty of places for kids to play and explore indoors. The museum offers year-round programming and events to suit every learner.

Summer Camp: Week-long summer camps with natural history, astronomy, art, STEAM and more.

• Ages 6 to 12
• 8:30 am to 3:30 pm with extended day options to 5:30 pm

YMCA of Columbia offers youth sports, summer camps, and more. Youth sports include basketball, soccer, volleyball, football, and tennis.

There are sports, games, crafts, swimming and lots more fun to be found at summer camps at the YMCA of Columbia.

• Jeep Rogers Family YMCA, 900 Lake Carolina Drive, Columbia (Includes camps for preschoolers, traditional camp, teen camps and specialty camps)
• Northwest Family YMCA, 1501 Kennerly Road, Irmo, SC (Offers traditional camps)
• Downtown YMCA, 1447 Hampton Street, Columbia (Offers traditional camps)

Summer Camps: Open to students 11 and older, the SC Summer Dance Conservatory is a 3-week intensive program for serious students. Entrance is by audition.

First Baptist Columbia has several summer camps for kids ages 4-18. Activities and camps revolve around sports, arts, music, and dance to make sure all interests are accounted for.

Classes: Classes for kids beginning at 3 years-old through adults.

• Ballet
• Hip/hop
• Modern
• Acting and Improv
• Stretching/Strength
• Homeschool Performing Arts

Summer Camps: Aletheia Dance Inc. offers a 1-week Summer Camp Intensive for ages 3+. Campers are able to choose from one of 3 intensive tracks, and camp will also include 1-2 enrichment classes.

All Star Gymnastics offers a Gymnastics classes for a range of ages along with Summer Camp. Please call the gym for more information.

Challenger Learning Center has several different camp options for children ages 7-18. Camps include Aviation Academy, Robot Camp, Astronaut Academy, Intro to Drone, Artemis Rocket Intro/Advanced, Intro to Aviation, and more! Camps run various lengths.

Chesterbrook Academy’s Summer Camp has many activities to keep your child excited and engaged, including field trips, sports, STEM projects, arts and crafts, music, dance, and drama. Full Day Camp is available for children ages 5-12. There’s also a Kindergarten Enrichment program for children 4-5 years old.

Classes: Ballet classes are offered for beginning through advanced students, or age 3 through adult.

Summer Camps: Columbia Ballet School offers two separate Summer Camps: Royal Academy (3-6 year olds) and Superpowers: Simply Marvelous (5-7 year olds). Camp is open to both boys and girls and no dance experience is required.

Children’s museum with multiple floors of hands-on fun and learning for children and their families. Cafe on-site and regular events. See our full review of EdVenture.

Birthday Parties: Birthday packages include all-day admission for guests and 90 minutes in a private party room.

Summer Camp: Summer Camps exist to ignite curiosity, discovery, and adventure in children ages 4-10. Camps are open to the public, and there are a variety of camps to choose from. Space is limited, and all campers must be potty-trained.

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.

University of South Carolina Youth and Teen Summer Camps offer camps for kids and teens in sports, music, dance, and academics including SAT/ACT prep, soccer, chorus, opera, drums, color guard, engineering and lots more.

Summer camps for kids 8 to 12 who love history. This year’s camp is How Stuff Works: History Edition. Campers will learn about plant science and inventions, art, and more.

2023 Camp Dates are TBA

Animal care camps for kids ages 6 to 8 and 9 to 12. Kids will learn how to treat pets, how to care for animals, and lots more about the roles animals have.

2023 Summer Camps dates are:

June 13-16

June 20-23

July 11-14

July 18-21

Girls Rock Columbia is a week-long day camp where campers learn to play an instrument, form a band, write an original song, and at the end of the week, perform at a concert in a live music venue for the community. Camp is open to ages 8-17.

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. If you want to email your form, call the park for an email address.

Crooked Creek Park @ 803-345-6181

Seven Oaks Park @ 803-772-3336

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.

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.

Parent’s Night Out: Ages 4 and up on Friday nights from 6:30 pm to 10 pm. Register in advance.

Classes: Legacy Martial Arts offers classes for young children beginning at age 4, all the way through teens and adults.

Birthday Parties: Legacy Martial Arts birthday parties are fun for all kids, whether they have marital arts experience or not. Parties include some basic instruction as well as activities and all set-up and clean-up.

Summer Camp: Legacy Martial Arts offers a Summer Camp for kids with fun and active educational activities of all kinds.

After School Program: Legacy Martial Arts offers an after school program that provides a positive place for kids to spend time after school.

Three locations: 

579 St. Andrews Road, Irmo, SC
494-4 Town Center Place, Columbia, SC
2627-B Millwood Avenue, Columbia, SC

Pong Gang offers equestrian classes year-round. Classes offered include Western riding, English/Hunter, Equestrian Vaulting, and a Tiny Tots class.

Summer Camp: Pony Gang is a private residential and day camp for girls ages 7-15 years old. The camp is focused on helping girls build self-confidence, self-awareness, and self-acceptance. Campers will spend lots of time outside. No horse experience is necessary. There are limited spots available so be sure to register quickly. There’s also an overnight option.

Saint Joseph Catholic School offers a summer camp to current Saint Joseph students (rising 5K through 6th grade). Campers will take part in field trips, water play, music, arts and crafts, games, exercise and sports, and imaginative play.

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.

2023 Camp sessions run June 2 through June 23, 2023.

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 cabaret skills to tap dancing to musical theatre and more… there are plenty of options to satisfy the kid who loves performing.

Weekly cooking classes for preschool age through teens. Master Chef advanced classes are available for teens.

Birthday Parties: Flour Power has several birthday options that include treats and cooking instructions. They offer parties for a variety of ages, including one, especially for tweens and teens.

Summer Camps (and school breaks): Cooking camps when school is out for kids. Learn new skills through cooking. 2023 Camps are out. Register by January 31st for free early drop off and pick up! Camps are available for kids ages 5 to 8, and kids ages 9 to 12.

Kids Night Out: Cooking classes and activities for kids on Friday nights, perfect for parents to plan a date night.

DIY projects, classes for adults, kids, and families to complete projects together.

Birthday Parties: Parties for ages 6 and up that include all materials, prep, and clean-up. There are a wide variety of crafts t choose from and everyone goes home with the project they have made.

Summer Camp: 4 day summer camps for kids 7 to 14 from 9:30 am to 12 pm. Each week is a different project and crafting focus. Complete projects like tie-dye, string art, pillows, dream catchers, and more.

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

Summer Camps: Mad Platter offers camps for young kids ages 3-6, older kids age 7 and up, as well as clay camps for kids ages 9 and up.

Fine Art and Pottery studio

Classes: Art classes for kids and teens, adult classes, family events, and private art lessons.

Camps: Offers summer art camp, both half-day and full-day, pottery wheel camp, and teen camps.

After School: After-school program with pickup for all District 5 schools. After school helps with homework assistance and math tutoring.

Art Smart offers open studios by reservation.

Classes: Palmetto Performing Arts offers performing teams, Hip Hop, Jazz, Ballet, Lyrical, Contemporary, Tap, and Acro. Classes are available for all ages and skill levels.

Birthday Parties: You can host your next birthday party with Palmetto Performing Arts. Contact the center for more information regarding pricing and details.

Summer Camp: Summer camps are available, and are based on themes. Camp ages range from 3- 18, and are grouped by age range.

Classes: Offers group classes for Level 1 – Level 5 in Ballet, Pointe, Tap, Lyrical/Jazz, Adult Intermediate/Advanced Ballet, and Variation. They also offer private lessons.

Summer Camp/ Summer Intensives: Summer Intensive camps are offered based on age and skill for ages 3 and older. There are multiple dates to choose from.

Classes: Sawyer Equestrian offers riding lessons all year for all ages and skills. Lesson ages begin at age 2 with private lessons for 3o minutes per week. Additional packages are available for hour-long lessons for older riders.

Summer/Winter Camps: Day camps are offered and involve grooming, tacking, riding, and horse education. Art projects are made and team-building games are played. Camps are available for ages 5 – 15.

• Full-Day preschool and childcare for infants through 4K
• After-school program for 5K-8th grade (year-round or school year only)
• Full-Day Summer Camp for 5K-8th grade

Summer Discover Camp: Program is a full day from 7 am until 6:30 pm. Kids are divided by grade level and participate in extra mini camps (with no additional charge) like Art, Soccer Shots, Literacy Legends, Sports Superstars, and Clay Sculpting.

Barron Academy offers Camp XCEL, a full-day summer camp at various locations in Richland County.