Summer camp is a great way to get kids (and teens) out of the house and off screens. It nurtures their curiosity and independence, helps them build social relationships in a safe environment and can even help them discover a new passion that they can take with them into high school and beyond.

While there is plenty of free play at camp, there are also structured activities that encourage teamwork. Whether it’s playing capture the flag or working together on an art project, teamwork skills are key for children to develop as they get older. This is especially important for children with ADHD, as it gives them a chance to learn how to interact with other people in a non-threatening setting.

Many of these summer camps are held on college campuses. These schools want to reach out to their local communities and attract future students by offering summer programs that are centered around their academic disciplines. They often offer a wide range of options, such as music lessons, coding, game design, 3D printing and robot building. YMCA summer camps are held throughout the city and cater to all ages.

Some of these summer programs are run by professional teachers or musicians. They give kids the chance to improve their skills in a specific area and create a performance at the end of the week. Music lessons can focus on anything from violin, guitar and vocals to jazz, classical music and musical theater.

This program, designed for 5-7 year olds, allows kids to experiment with the power of real tools and technology in a controlled setting. They can take apart printers, blenders and other devices to learn how they work, then build and create their own inventions using the knowledge gained from disassembling and rebuilding.

At this program, kids can become their own rock stars. They form bands of six or fewer with fellow campers and then learn, rehearse and perform. There are sessions devoted to different genres of music, including rock, pop and a session focused on empowering girls and gender-expansive youth.

At this cooking camp, kids and teens hone their kitchen skills with expert instruction. Younger kids (4-8 years) cook with hands-on food activities, like kneading pizza dough and folding dumplings. Older kids (9-13 years) can learn advanced knife skills and cook with more complex recipes. Kids also have the option to add a private lesson before camp for an additional fee.