15+ Free National Summer Programs For Kids
Met Opera Global Camp
An incredible opportunity from the Met Opera, this free, eight-week online summer camp offers music learning and exploration and includes a featured opera each week from the Met's digital library. Each opera comes with hands-on creative projects, instruction from teaching artists and music educators and even a chance to speak with Met artists. The camp runs from Jun. 15-Aug 7.
There are two age groups: 3rd-6th graders and 7th-12th graders, it's five days a week and many of the events happen live. Among the iconic operas to be featured are Humperdinck’s Hansel and Gretel, Dvořák’s Rusalka, and Mozart’s Così fan tutte.
Cost: Free
Online: metopera.org/GlobalSummerCamp
Raddish Kids
If your kiddo is interested in cooking, you’ve got to check out Raddish Kids’ virtual cooking camp. Each week covers a different theme, from Around the World to Bake Shop. The camps are designed for kids ages 8 to 13 and run daily for one week each. Follow their page on Outschool to be notified when you can sign up; you can also check out their recorded one-time classes in the meantime.
Cost: $15/one-time class
Online: raddishkids.com/pages/summer
Varsity Tutors
Get learning time in this summer with Varsity Tutors’ weeklong, totally free virtual summer camps. Running June through August, kids can sign up to make their own LEGO movie, crack detective cases and create their own worlds in Minecraft. Space is limited, so grab your spot soon.
Cost: Free
Online: varsitytutors.com/virtual-summer-camps
Family Maker Camp
Get your whole crew involved with Family Maker Camp—it’s a great way to flex your imagination and create something new. Join in on one of their live streams or pick something that sounds interesting out of their project library. Before you know it, you’ll have built a hovercraft or a musical instrument.
Cost: Free
Online: makercamp.com
MarcoPolo World School
Keep the summer boredom away with this fun digital learning platform. Kids ages three to seven can learn STEAM concepts while watching videos and participating in interactive online activities. You can try it out with a 30-day free trial; after that, it’s $9.99 a month.
Cost: $9.99/month
Online: marcopololearning.com
MOCA Art Camp
Numerade
If you’re worried about getting your middle or high school kids up to speed in the new school year, Numerade has a fabulous (and free) solution. They’re offering free STEM summer camps covering SAT test prep, precalculus, physics and more.
Cost: Free
Online: numerade.com/summer-camp
Camp OshKosh
Iconic brand OshKosh will launch a virtual summer program kids can access from home. They'll be your camp director and guide activities that'll keep kids occupied and bring up classic camp memories for parents, too. Ideal for kids seven and up, Camp OshKosh will keep them active, inspired and having fun this summer. This fun program will launch on June 15th, and you'll be able to find more details here on that date.
Walk & Talk from Marathon Kids
Research shows that kids connect when they're participating in an activity with you whether it's cooking, playing outside or being creative. Non-profit organization Marathon Kids, which works to ignite the joy of physical activity in kids, is launching a free summer program in hopes of making this easier for parents. Simply walk a mile and talk while doing it. Each day you'll receive a new prompt, there's a special mileage tracker, and by the end, you'll have walked the length of a marathon (26 miles) while getting to know your child better.
Cost: Free
Get registered and get your daily prompts here.
Barnes & Noble Summer Reading Program
If you need an incentive to get the kids to go screen-free every once in a while, check out the Barnes & Noble Summer Reading Program. Download a reading journal from the Barnes & Noble website, then have your little bookworm log each book as it’s completed. Once they’ve read eight books, bring the completed journal to your local Barnes & Noble between July 1 and Aug. 31 to get a free book.*** Score!
Cost: Free
Online: barnesandnoble.com/b/summer-reading/_/N-rs9
***Due to COVID-19, Check with your local store for updates on in-store activities.
LEGO Mini Builds & Magazine
Every month this summer, download the free instructions to a new LEGO mini build. In addition, your master builder can receive a free magazine as part of the LEGO life program. There are stories, activities and news updates for kids ages 5-9.
Cost: Free
Online: shop.lego.com/minibuilds
Microsoft Kids Camp
Microsoft normally offers free kids camp at their stores during the summer, but they've moved online for now. Kids can sign up for free online workshops to tour the Smithsonian, plan a virtual road trip, put their Minecraft skills to the test and more. Ages range from 6-14, and while the camps are free, advance registration is required.
Cost: Free
Online: microsoft.com/store/eventsforkids
Brain Chase
Give your kids an exciting and engaging adventure this summer by joining forces with Mae Merriweather from the Grayson Academy of Antiquities. Starting on Jun. 1, 2020, your tiny treasure hunter can join other participants from all over the world to work hard, have fun and decode the clues that will lead one lucky winner to the mysterious Sunstone of Cortes.
How does it work? Kids will choose three electives out of 15 (depending on which package you select), including math, engineering, cooking, typing and even yoga, to solve each weekly challenge. Once solved, an original webisode containing the next hidden clue will be unlocked. The first treasure hunter to solve the mystery will jet off to unearth the real buried treasure—$1,000 in gold!
Cost: $99 and up. Click here for more information.
Online: brainchase.com
Scholastic's Read-a-Palooza
Your avid reader can help underprivileged kids gain access to books by keeping track of his total minutes read this summer. Sign up on Scholastic's new Home Base to get started. As kids track their reading streaks, they’ll unlock fun videos, book excerpts and other exclusive summer content. For every two days in a row kids track their reading streaks, Scholastic, with the help of other sponsors, will donate a book (totaling up to 100,000 books) to underserved kids across the country. You can register here, and check out the info for parents here.
Cost: Free
Online: scholastic.com/summer
Ranger Rick Photo Contest
If you’ve got a budding Ansel Adams at home, the Ranger Rick photo contest is a great way to keep her busy over the summer. First, head for the great outdoors (or your own backyard) and have her take nature photos. Then, select her favorite one and send it in with proper sizing (2 MB or smaller, JPG format, at least 600 pixels wide or 600 pixels tall). If your kid doesn’t have a digital camera, no worries! Phone images are also accepted. Recent winners (this is an ongoing contest) are entered into the running for Ranger Rick’s "Your Best Shots" Magazine Award and are selected three times a year. Each winner receives a certificate of achievement and copies of the magazine featuring the winning image!
Cost: Free
Online: rangerrick.org/photo-contest
Kids That Do Good Volunteer Program
It's never too early to instill the habit of giving to others. Have your little philanthropists sign up with Kids That Do Good this summer in order to spend time giving back to their local community. The online (kid-founded!) resource allows kids to get involved with a cause or charity of their choosing—or, if you’ve got real go-getters at home—create their own! Once you’ve created an account and found an organization, kids can track their service hours via social profiles and certificates. During Covid-19, they're highlighting ways that you can volunteer safely from home, including sewing masks, transcribing historic documents and more.
Cost: Free
Online: kidsthatdogood.com
Apple Camp
The very popular Apple Camp returns for the summer. Designed to help spark the imaginations of kiddos ages 8-12, this three-day workshop allows kids to explore and expand on their digital creativity. They’ll choose one of three tracks, and spend 90 minutes of each day working on their project. Be sure to sign up here to get an email announcing open registration—spots fill up quickly!
Cost: Free
Covid-19 update: Apple has paused all of its events for the time being. You can check back on their website for updates and sign up to be notified if/when registration opens.
Online: apple.com/retail/camp
Home Depot Maker Classes
The Home Depot offers workshops that are perfect for mini-makers. Simply pre-register online, and then show up on the selected Saturday to build fun projects like a putting green. At the end of the two-hour workshop, kids receive a certificate of achievement, a workshop apron, and a commemorative pin while supplies last.
Cost: Free
Covid-19 update: These classes aren't currently running; check back later in the summer for updates.
Online: homedepot.com/workshops
Camp Creativity at Michael's
Does your artist dream of paint, paper, glitter and glue? If so, Michael’s Camp Creativity is the perfect way to beat summer brain drain. Kids come in on Mon., Wed. and Fri. from 10:00 am-12:00 pm to work on projects that have fun themes like Zoo Adventures, World Explorers and Sea Treasures. There are new crafts each day, Friday is a slime-themed project, and kids get stickers and coloring pages to collect for each session they attend.
Cost: $3 for a 30-minute session
Covid-19 update: Since gatherings are off-limits, for now, Michael's has taken their kids club online! Visit their website and sign up to take a live class on Tuesdays and Thursdays at 3 pm central time. All the classes are also saved in video form so you can get crafting whenever you want.
Online: michaels.com/camp-creativity
Kids Bowl Free
Budding bowlers can perfect their technique all summer long thanks to Kids Bowl Free, which allows them to play up to two games a day free of charge. All that's missing is a pair of those sweet bowling shoes. To find a participating bowling alley near you, click here.
Cost: Free
Covid-19 update: With bowling alleys largely closed across the country, Kids Bowl Free is pausing their program until June 1. As bowling alleys reopen, the program will start back up again—and may extend past the summer months as well.
Online: kidsbowlfree.com
Summer Movie Programs
Sometimes a dark and cool movie theater is the only way to beat the heat. Your kids can sign up for a punch card or show up at participating Cinemark (movies shown on Tues. and Thurs.) and Regal theaters (movies shown on Tues. and Wed.) to catch a fun, kid-friendly flick for just $1. Even better, most movies show before noon, making it easy to catch a flick and head home for nap time.
Insider Tip: You can skip the concession lines at Cinemark with a speed pack!
Cost: $1 per movie at both locations, or $5 for 10 punch card from Cinemark.
Covid-19 update: Movie theaters are a no-go at the moment, but you can still do an outdoor movie night in the backyard or have a Disney+ marathon.
Online: cinemark.com/summer-movie-clubhouse and regmovies.com/movies/summer-movie-express
Kids Skate Free
Xanadu your heart out and head for the local roller rink this summer. Whether your kids like to skate or rollerblade, a few laps will get their blood pumping, and the cool, A/C-induced temps are a total bonus. The Kids Skate Free program allows families to take advantage of this offer once a week (during summer months). Click here to find out if it’s happening at your local rink.
Cost: Free
Covid-19 update: Most roller rinks are currently closed. As your area opens up, check the Kids Skate Free website to see if your local rink is still participating.
Online: kidsskatefree.com