Defense Department Summer Camps

Almost all military installations offer summer camps for different age groups. They may include general camps, interest-based camps or deployment camps. To find a camp or summer activity on your installation, visit your installation youth center.

The camaraderie of a camp experience might be just what your military-connected children need.

• Summer day camps are a natural extension to families using before- and after-school care and activities and provide consistency of programming for military children and youth.
• Military life can be challenging for military-connected youth, and summer camps provide a welcoming space while teaching skills to navigate the ups and downs.
• Attending a local camp can help children transitioning to a new installation acclimate to their new home and make new friends before school starts.
• Your child can build a support network of other military-connected youth who may have similar experiences.

FIND YOUR YOUTH CENTER

Sponsored in conjunction with Purdue University, Military Teen Adventure Camps offer outdoor experiences for military-connected teens ages 13-18. Children of active-duty, National Guard, reserve and retired service members have the opportunity to participate at little cost or for free.

The camps allow teens to build leadership and teamwork skills and self-confidence. Military Teen Adventure Camps also offer assistance with camp and transportation costs. Camp activities include:

• Whitewater rafting
• Hiking
• Rock climbing
• Ropes courses
• Winter camping
• Backpacking

Visit Military Teen Adventure Camps

DOD STARBASE, offered in dozens of locations across the U.S. and Puerto Rico, is designed to engage students through inquiry-based curriculum and “hands-on, minds-on” experiential activities.

Visit DOD STARBASE

For military-connected children and teens, the opportunities abound to engage in a variety of science and technology pursuits through DOD STEM, including exploring robotics, solving real-world problems and working with scientists across DOD laboratories and centers.

Visit DOD STEM

4-H Military Partnership camps, hosted in conjunction with a number of land-grant universities, are designed especially for military-connected youth. Check out the 4-H Military Partnership website to find a camp offered near you.

Visit 4-H Military Partnership

Operation Purple® Camp, from the National Military Family Association, brings together military-connected children from all services and offers a family retreat that provides military families a chance to reconnect and bond.

Visit Operation Purple® Camp

The Armed Services YMCA offers fun and educational day and residential camps that encourage healthy living and recreation. These camps offer opportunities for military-connected children to make meaningful connections with peers who also experience the challenges of military life. Serving over 10,000 children each year, these camps help youth build confidence, improve social skills, and provide tools and resources to better handle the challenges of military life. Learn more about the ASYMCA Operation Camp offerings near you.

Visit ASYMCA Operation Camp