Summer 2026 will be here before we know it! If you’ve already started looking for summer camp ideas for kids in St. Louis, AWESOME! You’re right on target for finding some great options. If you haven’t started looking yet, don’t worry, but don’t delay either. Now is the perfect time to start planning for a fun-filled summer.
If you’ve started looking at camps, you might’ve had a small moment of panic seeing the prices. Some programs cost as much as a vacation. But the good news is that not all incredible summer experiences have to come with a huge price tag. There are tons of fun options that will work for your family, you might just need a little help finding them.
With a little strategy and early planning, you can find affordable and sometimes completely free summer camps your kids will love!
The Early Bird Advantage
If there’s one big secret to affordable summer camps in 2026, it’s this: start early. Early planning gives you access to the best pricing, scholarship deadlines and the widest range of options that work with your budget, schedule and location. Registration for the most popular programs have been open since early January or February. But there are still spots available for many camps. For more tips and timelines on early summer camp searching, check out our February blog post.
Need some help getting started? Of course, you can always search on blueprint4.com. Here are some other great affordable and free camps in all different categories:
STEM Camps
UMSL Bridge Program offers a dynamic 4-day experience that introduces high school students to geospatial technology through hands-on learning, real-world applications, and how to create change in their communities. (Free!)
Girls Who Code is a virtual program for current sophomores and juniors who identify as female and non-binary and are inexperienced in computer science. Participants are introduced to many different areas of computer science, and complete a final project in which they build their own product.
Color Coded Kids is an interactive, educational and fun organization designed to teach kids as early as 5 years old all things artificial intelligence, including how to code! (Price $50/week)
Arts Summer Programs
Grand Center Arts Academy’s summer arts camp is a one-of-a-kind opportunity for students to explore their creativity with interactive courses in instrumental and vocal music, theater, dance and visual arts. ($40 for one week)
Opera Explorers at the St. Louis Public Library invites campers to explore the basics of stagecraft, including singing, writing, composing, costuming, stage makeup and set design. Campers will use their new skills to create and stage their own original opera! (Free!)
St. Louis ArtWorks Summer Apprenticeship Program gives youth apprentices hands-on job training in a specific artistic discipline, supplemented by life skills presentations, guest artist visits, professional development workshops and art therapy. If accepted, youth will earn a stipend for the time they clock during the program. (Free!)
Academic & Character-Building Out-of-School Opportunities
Gene Slay’s Girls and Boys Club offers six core competencies in athletics, academic support, character building, health living, college & career readiness, and visual & performing arts to let kids self-select experiences that suit their talents and interests. ($360 for eight weeks)
Beyond Housing CDF Freedom Schools is a free six-week summer program serving scholars in grades K-5 that focuses on building strong readers, confident leaders, and joyful learners through culturally responsive education and meaningful community connections. (Free!)
St. Louis’ Holla Back STL Group hosts Y-ChatNow II, a FREE program that equips teens with positive decision making and goal planning skills, provides substance misuse prevention education, and promotes mental health well-being. (Free!)
St. Louis Public Library offers free week-long summer camps for kids and teens, from robotics to ukelele camp to learning circus skills to earn-your-own-computer camps! (Free!)
Sports & Nature Summer Camps
Sherwood Forest Summer Camp consists of traditional camp activities like canoeing and tie-dye as well as reading, ecology, and social & emotional learning. They have almost 500 acres of woodland property that includes a pool, lake, hiking trails, a library, STEM lab, outdoor theatre, low ropes course, basketball court and a climbing tower. ($35 – $75 depending on age)
Greater St. Louis Area Scouting gives young people the opportunity and freedom to explore a world beyond the boundaries of everyday life with chances to try new things, provide service to others, build self-confidence and develop leadership skills. ($90 day camps or $75 twilight camps)
Camps for Youth with Special Needs
Dream Big Career Camp empowers students with disabilities to explore careers in a variety of fields, including STEM. Includes instruction in self- advocacy, independence, goal-setting, college prep and more. (Free!)
Variety St. Louis Adventure Day Camp empowers kids to try new thins! Campers are split into groups based on age to enjoy a variety of activities – swimming, ice skating, fishing, playing games, and more. (Free!)
Scholarships Make Camp Affordable
Every family wants to provide the best opportunities for their kids, but sometimes the price point makes those options seem out of reach. If you have searched for camps and haven’t found any free or low-cost ones available, a summer program that offers scholarships may be the best option for you.
Search on our database at stl.blueprint4.com and make sure to select the “Scholarships Available” checkbox when searching. Or check out below for some options:
Camp Ondessonk has a traditional approach to summer camping that allows participants to experience their surroundings in a fun, adventurous, supportive environment that has been rated as one of the most scenic summer camps in the United States.
Traditional YMCA Summer Camps are designed for a wide variety of activities including arts & crafts, group games, nature exploration, swimming, field trips and more.
Wonderland Camp gives children, teenagers and adults with disabilities the opportunity to experience camp. All activities are adapted so that everyone can participate.
Summer at SLU is a dynamic summer program experience that offers youth and families an opportunity to engage students in STEM based programming.
Laumeier Sculpture Park Art Camp offers a range of programs taught by local, experienced Artist-Instructors and are designed to encourage artistic development and self-expression.
St. Louis Zoo offers campers hands-on projects, outdoor challenges and behind-the-scenes tours. They are a great way for campers to explore their interests related to animals and zoo-keeping!
Summer Memories Don’t Have to Be Expensive
In our 2025 survey of St. Louis families, many families cited cost and lack of awareness of affordable options as reasons why their kids weren’t enrolled in summer camp. This is exactly the reason Blueprint4 exists. Our mission is to help kids and families find summer camps and out of school programs that work for them. You can read all about the survey findings and the rest of our 2025 annual report here.
All kids deserve access to summer camps no matter their zip code. There are so many benefits to going to summer camp that no one should miss out on. Summer camp experiences encourage socialization with peers, help kids learn new skills, and aid emotional development. Even teens benefit from summer camp experiences—you can read more about it here.
Blueprint4 is dedicated to providing resources to ensure that cost is not a factor in preventing more St. Louis kids from experiencing camp this year. Outside of our search database, we also offer a full page of resources for families, like free and low-cost activities for families all year round.
There is a summer camp out there that fits your family’s needs—happy searching!