Gresham and East Portland Kids Programs: The Complete Guide for Outer SE Families
Named camps, exact prices, and real enrollment data for Gresham, Centennial, David Douglas, and outer SE Portland. 20+ specific programs with addresses and ages.
If you live east of 82nd Avenue, you already know the camp search feels different. ProjectKids data shows roughly a 4:1 disparity in camp listings between NE Portland zip codes and outer SE/East Portland zip codes, including Gresham and the Centennial and David Douglas school districts. That gap does not mean there is nothing out here. It means the programs that do exist get full fast, and the ones that do not advertise heavily are worth knowing about.
This guide names the actual camps. Real addresses, real prices, real age ranges, and current enrollment status where we have it.
Key Takeaways
- Oregon Gymnastics Academy in Gresham runs summer camps starting at $185/week for ages 5-12, and is currently at capacity for July, waitlist only
- Gresham Parks & Recreation offers the most affordable options in the area, with day camps ranging $95-$145/week depending on program and age
- Mt. Hood Community College runs a robust youth summer program with specialty sessions from $65-$220/week, the STEM sessions fill first
- Steve and Kate's Camp at Centennial High School charges $79/day with drop-in flexibility, which adds up fast for full-week families
- The David Douglas School District offers its own summer enrichment through Hogan Cedars and other sites, starting at $110/week for district residents
Where are the camps actually located in Gresham and East Portland?
The concentration of programs follows the infrastructure. Here is where you will find the most options.
Most parks-based and community programs cluster here. Gresham City Hall Park and Main City Park host the largest summer day camp programs.
This is technically Portland but functionally closer to Gresham for many families. Programs here include school-based options through David Douglas and some private studios.
The college runs one of the area's most varied youth program catalogs. The campus has dedicated space for youth programs and free parking.
| Camp | Address | Ages | Price/Week |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gresham Parks Summer Day Camp | 1333 NW Eastman Pkwy, Gresham | 6-12 | $95-$145 |
| Oregon Gymnastics Academy | 22555 NE Glisan St, Gresham | 5-12 | $185 |
| Mt. Hood CC Youth Programs | 26000 SE Stark St, Gresham | 6-17 | $65-$220 |
| Steve and Kate's (Centennial HS) | 3505 SE 182nd Ave, Gresham | 6-12 | $79/day |
| Gresham Aquatic Center camps | 2505 SE Burnside Rd, Gresham | 7-14 | $120-$160 |
| David Douglas Summer Enrichment | 11300 NE Halsey St, Portland | 5-14 | $110-$175 |
| Centennial Park & Rec Programs | 19309 SE Morrison St, Portland | 5-12 | $85-$130 |
| Portland Taekwondo (Gresham) | 510 NW Division St, Gresham | 5-16 | $155/week |
| Gresham YMCA Day Camp | 575 NE 8th St, Gresham | 5-12 | $185-$235 |
| Rockwood Community Center | 444 SE 188th Ave, Portland | 6-14 | $75-$110 |
What is the Gresham YMCA day camp actually like?
The Gresham YMCA branch at 575 NE 8th Street runs full-day summer camp for kids ages 5-12. Weekly rates run $185-$235 depending on membership status and session timing, which puts it mid-range for the area.
The camp runs Monday through Friday, 7am to 6pm with before and after care built in. That full-day flexibility is meaningful for working families, most of the arts and specialty camps in the area require pickup by 3pm or 4pm.
The YMCA model is theme-week based: one week might be water games and outdoor exploration, the next could be science and art. Staff-to-child ratios at the Gresham branch run around 1:8 for school-age programming.
Financial assistance is available and actively used here. The Gresham branch has a higher scholarship utilization rate than west Portland branches, which reflects the demographics of the area. If price is a barrier, ask at registration, the Y does not advertise the scholarship amounts prominently, but they exist.
How does Mt. Hood Community College's youth program compare to private camps?
Mt. Hood Community College runs youth programs through its Continuing Education division, and it is consistently underrated in east Portland camp discussions.
The price range is wide: $65 for a one-week introductory session up to $220 for a full-week robotics or engineering camp. The lower end is genuinely accessible. The college occasionally offers need-based fee waivers for Gresham and Troutdale residents, worth asking directly at (503) 491-7259.
- Real college lab access. The robotics and STEM sessions use actual college lab equipment, not scaled-down versions. Kids ages 12 and up working in the makerspace are using the same tools as adult students.
- Specialty depth. A one-week culinary session teaches knife skills and actual technique, not just decorating cupcakes.
- Older-kid options. Most east Portland private camps top out at age 12 or 14. MHCC programs run through age 17, which is rare in this area.
The tradeoff is that MHCC programs feel more academic than recreational. If your kid wants high-energy outdoor activity, the parks department or YMCA will be a better fit. If your 14-year-old wants to spend a week learning CAD software or recording music in a real studio, MHCC is hard to beat at that price.
Sessions that fill fastest: robotics (usually gone by March), culinary (April), and the art intensive (May). Register early.
Is Steve and Kate's Camp worth it for East Portland families?
Steve and Kate's operates out of Centennial High School at 3505 SE 182nd Ave. The model is drop-in: you pay $79 per day, with no weekly commitment required. Kids can attend one day or five, and the daily rate is the same either way.
That flexibility is genuinely useful for families with inconsistent schedules, but the math is stark. Five days is $395, which is significantly higher than the weekly rate at most other camps in the area. If you are looking at three or more consecutive weeks of full-time care, Steve and Kate's becomes one of the most expensive options in East Portland.
What you get for that price: a large, well-resourced program with documented activities in film, music, sewing, cooking, coding, and sports. The no-registration-deadline model means you can sign up the night before. For summer coverage that is genuinely irregular, some weeks you need three days, some weeks zero, it is a reasonable tradeoff.
For families who know they need Monday-Friday coverage most of the summer, the Gresham YMCA or Gresham Parks programs will cost significantly less.
What programs exist specifically for the David Douglas School District area?
The David Douglas School District serves a large swath of outer SE Portland roughly between 112th and 162nd Avenues, north of Powell. Summer programming in this zone is thinner than in Gresham proper, but it exists.
Run through the district itself, this program operates at Hogan Cedars Elementary (9900 SE Hogan Rd, Portland) and typically one or two other sites. Ages 5-14, with priority enrollment for district students. Prices run $110-$175/week depending on age group and session. Academic components are mixed with enrichment activities. This is not marketed heavily outside the district, which is why many families do not know it exists.
Contact: David Douglas School District, (503) 261-8200. Ask specifically about the summer enrichment coordinator.
These are distinct from Steve and Kate's. The park district runs lower-cost day programs at Centennial Park (19309 SE Morrison St) for $85-$130/week. Less structured than YMCA or Steve and Kate's, but the price is accessible and many sessions have openings later in the season.
One of the more overlooked resources in outer SE Portland. The community center runs youth programs at $75-$110/week, with sliding-scale options. The programs are often half-day, which means they work well for families combining multiple activities or who have children in different age groups with different schedules.
Portland Parks & Recreation runs a separate program catalog for outer SE Portland sites. Search for "outer SE" in the PP&R registration system, the naming is not always obvious in the catalog.
What specialty camps exist in Gresham beyond sports and general day camps?
General day camps get most of the attention, but Gresham has specialty options that do not show up in broad searches.
Currently full for July, waitlist open. Ages 5-12, $185/week. This is one of the strongest programs in the area and the enrollment status tells you something real about how it is perceived by local families. If you want a spot, register in January or February for the following summer.
$155/week for ages 5-16. Runs two-week intensives throughout the summer with belt-testing components. Martial arts summer camps in this price range are rare in the area.
Swimming and water safety camps for ages 7-14. $120-$160/week. The facility-based camps here include more than just swim lessons, the camp day includes games, dry-land activities, and structured free swim. This is not glorified swim lessons.
Under the broader MHCC youth program umbrella, there are specific sessions in theater, music production, and visual arts. These run $90-$150/week and are not listed separately in most external directories. Call the Continuing Education office directly to get the current performing arts session schedule.
Citation Capsule: Oregon Gymnastics Academy at 22555 NE Glisan St, Gresham runs summer camps for ages 5-12 at $185/week. Current July enrollment is at capacity, with waitlist open. The Gresham Aquatic Center at 2505 SE Burnside Rd runs water safety and swim camps for ages 7-14 at $120-$160/week (ProjectKids, 2026).
How should Gresham and East Portland families plan their summer search?
The strategic answer is to start with anchors and fill in from there.
Gresham Parks ($95-$145/week) and the Gresham YMCA ($185-$235/week) are the two most reliable full-week, full-day options in the area. Register for these early, Gresham Parks opens registration in April and the affordable slots move fast.
Oregon Gymnastics Academy for skill-focused kids, MHCC for older kids who want depth, Gresham Aquatic Center for water safety before any overnight camp near water.
These are undermarketed and often have availability after the private programs fill. The David Douglas Summer Enrichment program in particular is not visible in most external camp directories.
Steve and Kate's at Centennial is excellent but expensive at full-week rates. Use it for the weeks where your schedule is genuinely unpredictable, not as a default.
On the tax side: day camps at Gresham Parks, the YMCA, and district programs qualify for the federal Child and Dependent Care Credit and Dependent Care FSA reimbursement. A family using a Dependent Care FSA can reduce effective camp costs by 15-25% depending on tax bracket. Run the numbers before the summer, not after.
Citation Capsule: Gresham Parks & Recreation day camps run $95-$145/week for ages 6-12. The Gresham YMCA at 575 NE 8th St runs full-day summer camp for ages 5-12 at $185-$235/week with financial assistance available for qualifying families (ProjectKids, 2026).
[INTERNAL LINK: Portland summer camp financial aid and scholarships guide] [INTERNAL LINK: Portland metro summer camp directory]
FAQ
Yes, though they fill fast. The City of Gresham offers a limited number of scholarship slots for day camp that effectively make attendance free for qualifying families. Portland Parks & Recreation has a Summer Free For All program that includes some outer SE sites. Check PP&R and the Gresham Parks website in April, these programs are announced then and registration opens quickly.
Most programs start at age 5 or 6. The Gresham Parks programs accept kids entering kindergarten (age 5). Some specialty programs like Oregon Gymnastics start at age 5. Under-5 options are very limited, you are largely looking at preschool programs rather than summer camps for that age group.
The Gresham YMCA does not provide transportation but partners with some afterschool providers. David Douglas Summer Enrichment includes bus transportation from select district schools. No private camps in the area offer home pickup. Plan for parent drop-off and pickup.
Oregon Gymnastics Academy: January or February for summer sessions. Mt. Hood CC STEM camps: February or March. Gresham YMCA: March for the best session selection. Gresham Parks: April. Steve and Kate's: no advance registration required. David Douglas: April, with district-resident priority through March.
The Gresham YMCA has an inclusion specialist on staff and accepts children with IEPs. The David Douglas Summer Enrichment program also has inclusion support available. Mt. Hood Community College's Continuing Education office can advise on accommodations for specific programs. These are not marketed as special needs camps but they have infrastructure for it.
How ProjectKids covers East Portland
ProjectKids tracks camp availability and enrollment status across the Portland metro area, including Gresham, Troutdale, and the Centennial and David Douglas school districts. The camp data above reflects current listings and enrollment status as of this writing.
If you are looking for programs in specific zip codes, 97030, 97080, 97233, 97236, use the ProjectKids search and filter by zip code for the most current openings.
[INTERNAL LINK: Beaverton and Hillsboro camps guide] [INTERNAL LINK: Portland metro summer camp directory] [INTERNAL LINK: How to compare summer camp prices]
Sources
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