Portland Camp Planner: How to Build a 10-Week Summer That
Stop the summer camp scramble. This Portland planner helps parents build a realistic 10-week summer schedule, balancing budget, transportation, and child.
Portland schools typically let out around June 16. Most parents don't have the week of August 25 covered until sometime in July. That gap, roughly 10 weeks, is the logistical problem nobody hands you a manual for. You're not shopping for fun. You're solving for coverage, cost, transportation, and two kids with completely different interests, all at the same time.
We track 233 camps across Portland with over 3,500 sessions in our database (ProjectKids camp data, 2026). This guide is built from that data. It names specific camps, specific prices, and specific streets, because "check your local rec center" is not a plan.
Key Takeaways
- Portland Parks & Recreation camps at $155-$275/week are the most cost-effective anchor weeks for working families (Portland Parks & Recreation, 2026)
- A realistic 10-week Portland summer for one child runs $2,400-$3,200, mixing city programs, specialty camps, and gap-filling drop-in options
- Steve and Kate's Camp at All Saints School on NE Cesar E Chavez Blvd charges per-day, making it the city's best tool for partial weeks and last-minute coverage
- Camps like Oregon Gymnastics Academy (14811 NE Airport Way) and Experiment PDX (1421 SE Stark St) book out early, so specialty weeks need to be locked in before May
- OMSI ($275-$425/week) and Saturday Academy ($350-$770/week) are high-value STEM anchors for kids 8 and up
What does a realistic 10-week Portland summer actually cost?
Portland day camp costs range from $84 to over $2,000 per week depending on the program, but the median for a structured full-day option lands closer to $275-$425/week (ProjectKids camp data, 2026). Ten weeks at the median means $2,750-$4,250 before extended care, supplies, or transportation. That number shocks most families the first time they do the math in December.
The good news: nobody pays median for every single week. The parents who keep total summer costs under $3,000 use a tiered strategy. Low-cost anchor weeks from Portland Parks or community programs. One or two specialty weeks at higher-end camps. One or two "bridge" weeks using drop-in options or family coverage. That mix is the framework this guide is built around.
We've analyzed registration timing, price trends, and enrollment status across 233 Portland camps. The families who build this plan in January spend roughly 30% less than families who start in May and take whatever's still open.
Citation Capsule: Portland summer day camp costs range from $84 to $2,000+ per week across 233 tracked programs, with a practical median of $275-$425/week for full-day structured programs. A 10-week summer mixing Portland Parks anchor weeks ($155-$275/week) with two specialty weeks averages $2,400-$3,200 total per child (ProjectKids camp data, 2026).
How do you anchor your summer without breaking the budget?
Portland Parks & Recreation Summer Day Camps, operating across multiple locations, run $155-$275/week and are the highest-value structured option in the city (Portland Parks & Recreation, 2026). Registration opens May 14 at 9:30am for Session 1. These camps are run by the city, cover ages 6-12, and have 40 sessions available. They fill within hours of opening.
North Clackamas Parks & Recreation District (NCPRD), serving the Milwaukie/Happy Valley corridor at $150-$300/week, is the equivalent anchor for families in the southeast metro. Ages 3-18, 341 sessions, coming soon for 2026 registration. If you live near Milwaukie or Oak Grove, NCPRD is your Portland Parks equivalent. Don't overlook it because the name doesn't say "Portland."
SUN Community Schools, operating at school locations across the city, also offers community-priced summer programs for ages 3-17. Cost varies by site. Enrollment is listed as coming soon with 64 sessions, all of which have historically filled quickly. SUN is particularly strong for families in East Portland, where other options are thinner on the ground.
Boys and Girls Clubs of Portland Metropolitan Area runs 60 sessions across multiple locations for ages 6-18. Cost varies. Coming soon for 2026 enrollment. These programs are often the most affordable structured option in their respective neighborhoods. If there's a location within two miles of your house, it should be on your anchor list.
What are the best specialty camps worth paying extra for?
Across our database of 233 Portland camps, specialty programs in STEM and outdoor/nature categories have the highest re-enrollment rates based on session availability patterns. OMSI, Saturday Academy, and Oregon Gymnastics Academy all show near-100% full-session status early in the season.
Oregon Museum of Science and Industry (OMSI) at 1945 SE Water Ave runs STEM camps at $275-$425/week for ages 5-14. Registration opened in February 2026 and spots fill fast. The location on SE Water Ave, right along the Willamette, means easy access from SE, inner NE, and downtown. OMSI camps are genuinely different from a standard day camp. The curriculum is tied to the museum's exhibits and labs. For a kid interested in science, this is a week that sticks.
Saturday Academy at Central Catholic High School, 2401 SE Stark Street, runs STEM and academic enrichment camps at $350-$770/week for ages 5-14 with 24 sessions available. The price is higher, but Saturday Academy's programs skew toward older kids (10+) who want something intellectually rigorous. If your 12-year-old has rolled their eyes at every standard day camp you've suggested, Saturday Academy is worth the cost.
Oregon Gymnastics Academy at 14811 NE Airport Way runs sports camps at $225-$350/week for ages 4-16. All 120 sessions are currently showing as full, which tells you everything about demand. Register the moment their 2026 window opens. The Airport Way location is easier to reach than you'd think from I-205 or the east side of NE Portland.
Sherwood Center for the Arts at 22689 SW Pine Street in Sherwood offers a surprisingly wide range of STEM and creative programs at $132-$479/week for ages 6-16 with 407 sessions available. This is one of the most session-rich programs in our database. Families in the Tigard, Tualatin, Sherwood, or West Linn areas who feel underserved by Portland proper options should put Sherwood Center at the top of their list.
PlayTo Labs in Portland runs STEM-focused camps at $400-$800/week for ages 8-16 with 33 sessions, all currently full. If your kid is serious about coding or robotics, the $800/week ceiling reflects a genuine curriculum depth. This isn't a babysitting STEM camp. It's closer to a pre-professional program.
Citation Capsule: Portland specialty STEM camps including OMSI ($275-$425/week), Saturday Academy ($350-$770/week), and PlayTo Labs ($400-$800/week) average $450/week and book out months before summer. Pairing one or two specialty weeks with lower-cost anchor programs keeps total 10-week costs manageable for most Portland families (ProjectKids camp data, 2026).
How do you fill the gap weeks without overspending?
Gap weeks, the partial weeks around July 4, the week school lets out before any camps start, the last week of August when every structured program has ended, account for roughly 20% of the summer calendar. These are the weeks that blow up budgets when families haven't planned for them.
Steve and Kate's Camp at All Saints School, 601 NE Cesar E Chavez Blvd, charges on a per-day basis with a range of $84-$3,420 for ages 4-15 across 18 sessions. The low daily rate makes it the most useful gap-filler in Portland. Need three days of coverage for the July 4 short week? Steve and Kate's. Did a camp fall through and you need something starting Monday? Steve and Kate's. The self-directed, drop-in model also works well for kids who are "camped out" by mid-July and need lower-pressure days.
Experiment PDX STEM Camps at 1421 SE Stark St runs $160-$200/week for ages 6-11 with 20 sessions, all currently full. The $200/week ceiling makes this one of the best-value STEM options in the city. It's the rare camp that's both affordable and content-rich. If you can get in, this is a strong anchor week for early elementary kids. If you can't, get on the waitlist in February, not June.
Kidokinetics of Southeast Portland, operating at Wilsonville Memorial Park, runs multi-sport camps at $135-$235/week for ages 3-10 with 23 open sessions. The lower price point and younger age range make this a solid option for families with preschool and early elementary kids who aren't ready for more intensive specialty programs. The Wilsonville location requires a drive for Portland proper families but is convenient for the Tualatin and Lake Oswego corridor.
Mt. Hood Aquatics at 6405 SE Belmont St runs swim lessons at $85-$195/week for ages 3-17 with 36 open sessions. Swim instruction isn't a full-day camp, but at $195/week it pairs well with a half-day or afternoon program. If your kid needs water confidence before summer, locking in Mt. Hood Aquatics for one early-summer week is smart logistics.
What does a sample 10-week Portland camp schedule look like?
Here's a concrete 10-week plan for one elementary-age child (ages 7-10) built from actual camps in our database. Adjust for your neighborhood, your child's interests, and your budget ceiling.
Week 1 (June 16) - Portland Parks & Recreation: $155-$275. Structure matters in the first week. Your kid just got out of school and needs a routine, not a vacation.
Week 2 (June 23) - Portland Parks & Recreation: $155-$275. Same logic. Two weeks of city camps at the start keeps you grounded and saves budget for specialty weeks later.
Week 3 (June 30) - Steve and Kate's Camp (3 days only): ~$252. Short week because of July 4. Day-rate pricing makes Steve and Kate's the natural fit. You take Monday yourself, they cover Tuesday through Thursday.
Week 4 (July 7) - OMSI: $275-$425. First specialty week. The SE Water Ave location is easy to reach from most Portland neighborhoods. This is the week your kid will talk about in September.
Week 5 (July 14) - Family or grandparent coverage: $0. If you have family willing to visit, this is the week to schedule it. Mid-summer, good weather, kids are in their summer rhythm.
Week 6 (July 21) - North Clackamas Parks & Recreation or Portland Parks Session 2: $150-$300. Back to anchor programs. You've already done the specialty week. Keep the next two weeks budget-friendly.
Week 7 (July 28) - Experiment PDX or Kidokinetics: $135-$200. If you got into Experiment PDX, this is your second content-rich week at a fraction of the specialty camp price. If not, Kidokinetics for sport variety.
Week 8 (August 4) - Saturday Academy or Sherwood Center for the Arts: $350-$479. Second specialty week, skewed toward STEM or creative work depending on what your kid needs. Saturday Academy for the intellectually restless older kid. Sherwood Center for the kid who wants variety.
Week 9 (August 11) - Portland Parks or SUN Community Schools: $155-$275. Two weeks left. Return to reliable, affordable coverage.
Week 10 (August 18) - Steve and Kate's or mixed drop-in: $150-$225. Summer is winding down. Don't overplan this week. Steve and Kate's gives you flexibility to take a day off yourself without losing full coverage.
Approximate 10-week total: $1,727-$2,754 for one child. Add $150-$200/week if you need extended care. Subtract $600-$1,100 if you use a Dependent Care FSA.
Which camps offer extended care, and why does it matter?
Extended care is the difference between a camp that works for two-parent working families and one that doesn't. Standard Portland day camps end at 3:00pm or 3:30pm. That's a pickup time that requires either a flexible work schedule or a separate after-camp arrangement. Neither is free.
Of the 233 Portland camps in our database, extended care availability data is missing for roughly 73% of listings. This isn't because camps don't offer it. It's because extended care is often offered informally, priced separately, or listed only in registration portals. You have to ask directly.
Multnomah Athletic Club Summer Camps at 1849 SW Salmon St runs $275-$330/week for ages 3-17. MAC is a private athletic club, which means before-care and after-care are more naturally integrated into the facility's day. For families in inner SW or the west hills, MAC is worth looking at for weeks when extended care logistics are tight.
Bay Club Portland at 18120 SW Lower Boones Ferry Road runs $340-$520/week for ages 3-15 with 36 sessions. The Lower Boones Ferry Road location is convenient for families in Lake Oswego or Tualatin. Like MAC, Bay Club's club-facility model typically includes more extended-hour flexibility than standalone summer programs.
The Children's Gym at 1625 NE Sandy Blvd runs $495-$745/week for ages 5-12 with 20 sessions. The price is higher, but gymnastics-based camps at dedicated gym facilities almost always include more before/after-care flexibility because the facility is staffed all day regardless.
Movement Climbing Gym Portland at 1405 NW 14th Ave runs $290-$305/week for ages 6-12 with 18 open sessions. NW 14th Ave is walkable from the Pearl District and accessible from the Northwest neighborhood. Climbing camps tend to run shorter days, so confirm hours before booking if extended care is non-negotiable.
Portland camp comparison: cost, age, and extended care at a glance
| Camp | Type | Ages | Weekly Cost | Enrollment Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Portland Parks & Recreation Summer Day Camps | Outdoor & Nature | 6-12 | $155-$275 | Open |
| North Clackamas Parks & Recreation (NCPRD) | Community & Culture | 3-18 | $150-$300 | Coming Soon |
| OMSI | STEM & Technology | 5-14 | $275-$425 | Open |
| Steve and Kate's Camp Portland | STEM & Technology | 4-15 | $84-$3,420 | Open |
| Saturday Academy | STEM & Technology | 5-14 | $350-$770 | Open |
| Sherwood Center for the Arts | STEM & Technology | 6-16 | $132-$479 | Open |
| Oregon Gymnastics Academy | Sports & Athletics | 4-16 | $225-$350 | Open (Full) |
| Experiment PDX STEM Camps | STEM & Technology | 6-11 | $160-$200 | Open (Full) |
| Kidokinetics of SE Portland | Sports & Athletics | 3-10 | $135-$235 | Open |
| Multnomah Athletic Club | Sports & Athletics | 3-17 | $275-$330 | Coming Soon |
| PlayTo Labs | STEM & Technology | 8-16 | $400-$800 | Open (Full) |
| Mt. Hood Aquatics | Sports & Athletics | 3-17 | $85-$195 | Open |
| Movement Climbing Gym Portland | Sports & Athletics | 6-12 | $290-$305 | Open |
| Boys & Girls Clubs of Portland | Community & Culture | 6-18 | Varies | Coming Soon |
| SUN Community Schools | Community & Culture | 3-17 | Varies | Coming Soon |
What's the right transportation strategy for a 10-week Portland summer?
Transportation is where 10-week summer plans quietly fall apart. You can build a perfect schedule on paper and then discover that pickup at 3:00pm requires leaving work at 2:30pm every day for 10 weeks. That's not a minor inconvenience. That's a structural problem with your plan.
The camps that minimize transportation friction have three things in common: they're on your commute route, they match your actual pickup window, and they have a reasonable backup plan if you're 15 minutes late. Portland's MAX lines give you a real advantage if you work downtown and live in inner SE, NE, or North Portland. SW Portland and the west hills are less well-served by transit.
The most common transportation mistake in the camp plans we see: choosing a camp in SE Portland when you work in Beaverton. The drive from Washington Square to SE Belmont at 3:00pm takes 30-40 minutes on a good day. Add the return trip and you've added an hour to every workday for a full week.
Camps near MAX or bus lines worth noting: OMSI at 1945 SE Water Ave (near the Orange Line's SE Grand Ave stop), Portland Tennis Center at 324 NE 12th Ave (multiple bus lines), Echo Theater Company at 1515 SE 37th Ave (SE bus corridor), and Cascade School of Music at 2522 NW Thurman St (NW Portland bus lines). For families relying on transit, these locations are meaningfully more accessible than camps out on Airport Way or Lower Boones Ferry Road.
FAQ
How many weeks of camp do Portland kids typically attend?
Most Portland families we track use structured camp programs for 6-8 of the 10 summer weeks, filling the remaining weeks with family travel, grandparent care, or informal arrangements. Full 10-week coverage with paid camps is less common and typically runs $3,000-$5,000 before tax credits. The Dependent Care FSA, available to most W-2 employees, can offset $1,100-$1,500 of that cost if you enrolled during fall open enrollment (IRS, 2026).
When should Portland parents start booking camps for summer 2026?
January is the practical deadline for premium camps. OMSI registration opened February 10, 2026. Oregon Gymnastics Academy's 120 sessions are already showing as full. Portland Parks opens May 14 for Session 1. If you're reading this in May or June, focus on camps with open status in our database: Portland Parks (if windows are still open), Steve and Kate's rolling enrollment, OMSI (check for cancellations), and Sherwood Center for the Arts with 407 sessions still available (Portland Parks & Recreation, 2026).
Is there a meaningful difference between Portland neighborhood camp options?
Yes. The SE corridor (Belmont, Division, Hawthorne) has the densest concentration of specialty and arts camps. NE Portland (Sandy Blvd, Fremont, Cesar E Chavez Blvd) has strong sports and community options. SW Portland and the west hills are lighter on independent specialty programs but have strong private club options like MAC and Bay Club. East Portland (Gresham/Centennial) has the fewest options per square mile. Families in those areas often look to NCPRD in Milwaukie as their primary resource.
What should I do if my first-choice camp is full?
Get on the waitlist immediately. Portland camp waitlists move. Families register for multiple camps and cancel as summer schedules clarify. April and May are when cancellations cluster, because that's when people finalize travel plans. Being on three waitlists is better than waiting for one specific camp. Meanwhile, treat Steve and Kate's Camp at All Saints School on NE Cesar E Chavez Blvd as your confirmed backup. Rolling enrollment means you can book it at any time without committing to a full week.
How do I handle the gap week around July 4?
The July 4 week is a partial week most years, with Monday off. Most full-week camps still charge full price. Steve and Kate's day-rate pricing is the cleanest solution: enroll for the days you need, skip the ones you don't. Alternatively, if you can take one PTO day and your partner can take another, you only need three days of coverage. At Steve and Kate's daily rate that's roughly $250-$300, compared to $275-$425 for a full week of another camp with a Monday you won't use anyway.
How to build your Portland 10-week summer plan starting today
The parents who finish this task before Memorial Day are not more organized than you. They just started earlier and accepted that a 10-week summer is a logistics project, not a summer activity to browse in June.
Here's the practical checklist. Mark your anchor weeks first: Portland Parks Session 1 (May 14 registration) and Session 2 (May 28 registration). Then pick one or two specialty weeks: OMSI, Saturday Academy, or Sherwood Center for the Arts if you want range. Then fill the gap weeks: Steve and Kate's for partial weeks, Kidokinetics or Experiment PDX if spots are still available.
Total cost for this approach: $1,700-$2,800 for 10 weeks, one child, depending on specialty choices. That's before tax credits, which can reduce effective costs by $600-$1,100 for a household with a Dependent Care FSA and one eligible child.
Portland has 233 camps. You don't need to evaluate all of them. You need to pick the right 5-7 for your family's schedule, neighborhood, and budget, and register for them before they fill. Start there.
Sources
Planning your kid's whole summer?
Don't piece it together one camp at a time. Tell us your weeks and kids' ages, and we'll build a week-by-week plan that fills every week — free, no account needed to start.
Related Articles
Gresham and East Portland Kids Programs: The Complete Guide for Outer SE Families
The 4:1 camp disparity between NE Portland and outer SE is real, but the programs that do exist in Gresham fill fast. Here are 20+ named camps with exact addresses, prices, and current enrollment status.
Montrose and Midtown Portland Kids Programs: The Local Parent's Real Guide
Portland's inner neighborhoods have some of the densest camp options in the city, but the good ones fill in February. Here's what's actually available, what it costs, and how to build a summer that doesn't require two hours of daily driving.
Portland Summer Camps Filling Up: What's Still Open in June
Portland summer camps are filling up faster than most years. Here is what our data shows about which programs still have open spots, which are on waitlist, and what actually moves the needle if you are scrambling right now.