Although summer may be months away, it’s time to start thinking about camps for your kids. If your child is a budding artist, performer, chef, or other creative type, then you’re probably looking for a creative summer camp.

These camps offers an immersive arts-focused program and nurturing environment, where your child can tap their creativity and refine their talents. Kids are encouraged to express themselves and experiment with new materials, techniques, and styles in a nurturing and supportive environment. Better yet, they’re likely to find their group among a community of other kids who share their passion for the arts.

What Are Creative Summer Camps?

Around the Main Line and beyond, we found creative summer camps for kids of all ages. These feature a wide range of art disciplines, from visual and performing arts to food craft and technology, as well as a inclusive and accessible arts camp. Read on to find out some of our favorite creative summer camps and learn how they might provide a fun and enriching summer for your creative kid.

Summer Camps for Artists & Designers

Summer camp and the arts go hand-in-hand, and around the Main Line, you’ll certainly find lots of options your artsy kid. In fact, many camps offer a program where young artists can work in multiple mediums, and work with a variety materials.

Wayne Art Center

For 40+ years, Wayne Art Center hosts Summer Art Camp, an exploratory format offering a variety of mediums for children 4-17. Check their website for their 2026 schedule.

Media Arts Council

At the Media Arts Council’s Summer Arts Camp, young artists 7–18 focus on a different medium each week. At the end of each week, campers have a gallery showing of their work for family and friends. Check their website in late winter/early spring 2026 for registration.

Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts Summer Art Camp

The Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts Summer Art Camp in Philadelphia offers weekly artistic adventures for kids 5–14. Activities include painting, drawing, printmaking, sculpture, comics, or mixed-media projects — all within the esteemed studios of the oldest art school and museum in the US.

Young Rembrandts Summer Camps

Doodlers, sketchers, and kids who love to draw can hone their drawing skills in one of Young Rembrandts Summer Camps. Find drawing camps in the Bryn Mawr, Malvern, King of Prussia, Downingtown, Exton, Chadds Ford, and Phoenixville areas. Contact Cristina Hartley for information about 2026 summer camps.

Made Institute

Got a budding fashionista? The Made Institute in Philly offers a Fashion Summer Camp, especially for young designers. In each two-week session, students learn aspects of the exciting fashion world, including inspiration boards, sketches, and beginner to high-level sewing techniques. Offered for two age groups: kids ages 7–12 and teens ages 13–17

All the World is A Stage: Music Theatre Camps

Let your kid be a star this summer! Whether your child is a natural on stage or taking their first steps into the limelight, a performing arts camp is an wonderful growth opportunity. Kids build social skills, confidence, character, self-awareness, presentation, and so much more.

Uptown Studio

For an immersive summer of theatrical exploration, enroll your creative child in one of Uptown Studio’s theatre camps. Located in West Chester, Uptown empowers kids, ages 4–18 with programs that cultivate creativity and self-expression. From a cappella singing to improvisation, students work in small groups and enjoy a 10:1 student-teacher ratio for personalized attention.

Music Theatre Philly

Located in Center City, Music Theatre Philly offers a weekly music theatre summer camp for K–6th grade kids. Campers start the day with a full voice and body warm up then learn new songs and original choreography. Each week (Monday through Friday) has a theme and campers work toward a performance on the final day.

Plymouth Performing Arts Center

The Plymouth Performing Arts Center, located in the Plymouth Meeting Mall, hosts musical theatre camps for kids ages 6–11 and 11–16. Camps are one-week in length, with performances on Friday. All campers participate in the show with lead roles, supporting roles, cameo roles, and ensemble roles. Highlights in this year’s summer roster of shows, includes Willy Wonka, Jungle Book, Aristocats, and The Lion King.

Dance Through the Summer

What better way to offset the desk-bound school year and screens, than with creative summer camps focused on movement? Summer dance camp can also give your little kid, tween, or teen an opportunity to take a leap forward as a dancer.

Ballet 180

Ballet 180 offers camps for dancers of all ages and is accessible to Main Line families, as well as those in the Western Suburbs. Founder Kelly Murray Farrell strives to make make dance accessible, engaging, and inspirational for every student who walks through the studio door. Contact Ballet 180 for 2026 summer camp info.

Twirl

Newtown Square dance studio, Twirl, offers an array of highly-themed half-day camps that allow kids to run, jump, dance, and cartwheel the day away. Contact Twirl for information about 2026 summer camp programs.

Next Level Chefs: Food Craft Camp

How about a camp that teaches your child how to get creative in the most yummy way?

The Candy Lab

The Candy Lab in Ardmore is dedicated to making “edible art” in a relaxed and creative laboratory. Let your kids craft delectable creations this summer. Day camps for kids run two hours per day, with AM and PM sessions available, by age. 

Makers, STEM, & Creative Tech

Learning is fun at creative summer camps where kids immerse themselves in hands-on experiences and activities.

Dean Adventure Camps

The mission of Dean Adventure Camps is to help kids pre-K to 15, embrace a “just try it” attitude. Located on the Haverford College campus, the camp features a host of activities like skateboarding, woodworking, sewing, and much more. Contact Dean Adventure Camps for 2026 summer camp information.

Snapology of Newtown Square

If you believe kids learn best through play, consider one of the summer camps at Snapology of Newtown Square. Their STEAM educational enrichment program is woven into their half-day and full-day camps. With a wide variety of themes to explore and different STEAM skills to explore, Snapology camps are perfect for one week or spread out throughout the entire summer. Contact Snapology Newtown Square for 2026 summer camp information. You can also find Snapology in King of Prussia.

Uplink Studios

Got a gamer kid? Uplink Studios, with locations in Wayne and Glenmoore, offer structured, STEM-accredited summer programs. They leverage video games as educational tools, while also maintaining a balanced approach to summer activity.

Camp Level Up

If you want to send your gamer kid to an overnight camp, give them a chance to mix it up with outdoorsy and virtual adventures at Camp Level Up in the Poconos. Geared for kids entering 6th to 10th grade, it’s a hybrid summer schedule that parents can feel good about. Part of the day, campers immerse themselves in creative digital projects and play their favorite video games. For the rest of the day, campers participate in traditional sleepaway camp activities, like swimming, hiking, camp craft, games and more.

Inclusive & Affirming

For parents of LGBTQ+ and non-binary kids, finding a camp with a supportive environment, similar-minded youth, and staff advocates is especially important. If your child is seeking inclusivity and diversity, help them find their community at an inclusive camp.

Appel Farm Arts Camp

Nestled in the woods of southern New Jersey, Appel Farm Arts Camp is a gender-affirming, overnight summer arts camp for kids ages 8–16. Campers will find connection and learning through an arts-based curriculum and outdoor fun. Activities include theatre, visual arts, music, dance, and environmental arts, plus sports, swimming, and more.

Find the Perfect Creative Camp for Your Child

The Main Line area offers creative summer camps for every interest and talent. Your child can explore art, theatre, dance, food craft, or STEM in a supportive community. Start planning now to secure your child’s spot at camp.

Lead photo courtesy of Appel Farm Arts Camp.