Camp Courant (The Nation's Oldest Free Summer Day Camp) 

 What it is: A legendary Hartford staple. It provides free recreational, educational, and developmental activities to Hartford youth. They even handle transportation with designated bus stops around the city and provide breakfast and lunch.

• Ages: Youth ages 5–12.

• Dates: Runs from late June through late July.

City of Hartford Department of Sports & Recreation 

The Sports and Recreation Department ensures all Hartford youth have the opportunity to engage in recreational activities. It will lead the coordination, planning, organization and direct operations of sports and fitness programs, arts, activities and services throughout the city to help residents discover, explore, and enjoy life through creative and challenging recreational choices that contribute to their physical, emotional, and social health. Our strategy is to collaborate and partner with community stakeholders that support families and promote and expand recreation opportunities throughout the city so that services and programs (especially those with a focus on exploration, skill building, and leadership) are accessible to all residents.

Connecticut Youth Directory 

Afterschool and Summer are a wonderful time for students to participate in a program that gives them new experiences, develops new friendships, and reinforces skills learned during the school year to support year-round learning.

This website with help from The Hartford Foundation for Public Giving gives families the resources they need to provide their children with the summer experience they deserve.

ConnectiKids Summer Program 

 What it is: A fantastic, theme-based youth development program in Hartford. The 2026 theme focuses on "superpowers" (STEM, arts, literacy, and culinary adventures). The morning features a reading book club to prevent summer learning loss, and the afternoons are packed with enrichment and Friday field trips. 

• Ages: Grades 2–8.

The Hartford Foundation for Public Giving is now Greater Hartford Gives Foundation, because this is where the entire region comes together to give. Throughout our 100-year history as Greater Hartford’s community foundation, we’ve brought together residents with nonprofits to create change from the ground up. And we’re just getting started.

Our Priority Outcomes — Basic Human Needs

We seek to expand who benefits from opportunity in our region. Creating a region where everyone prospers starts with addressing disparities and removing barriers that keep residents from reaching their full potential. We are focused on five long-term outcomes that together guide our grantmaking and partnerships.

Basic Human Needs | Employment Opportunities | Thriving Neighborhoods | Civic & Resident Engagement | Arts & Culture

YMCA Summer Camps promote friendship, teach life skills, and are tons of FUN!

The YMCA of Greater Hartford operates several world-class camps across the Hartford region. Our world-renowned overnight camps include Camp Jewell in Colebrook and Camp Woodstock in Woodstock Valley. These dedicated camp facilities are among the very best in camp programs focusing on friendship making, new skill development, and building self-esteem.

We also have day camp programs in 10 other towns across Connecticut, including: East Hartford, Ellington, Glastonbury, Granby, Hartford, Plainville, Putnam and Wethersfield. 

We offer traditional day camp starting at 5 years old through12 years old, teen leadership and counselor in training programs for high school students, and specialty camps that focus on one skill for those looking for a deep dive! Overnight camp typically runs ages 7 through 16, which includes our teen programming.

View Summer Camp Locations

Contact Summer Camps

Other Activities Finder 

Our Holistic Approach To Early Childhood Development and Care

Early Learning Network consists of 22 community based organizations that support and educate Hartford’s Youngest learners children ages 6 weeks to 5 years old.

All enrolled children receive comprehensive child development services that address the needs of children and their families within the areas of education, health, nutrition, mental health, family well-being and family engagement.

CLICK HERE TO FIND AN EARLY LEARNING CENTER NEAR YOU

The Hartford Opportunity Youth Collaborative (HOYC)was founded in 2013 to support Opportunity Youth—young people ages 16–24 who are disconnected from school and work. What began as a focused initiative has grown into a citywide coalition of community-based organizations, public agencies, schools, funders, and youth leaders committed to transforming outcomes for Hartford’s young people.

In 2022, the City of Hartford, Capital Workforce Partners (CWP), the United Way of Central and Northeastern Connecticut, and other key partners led a strategic review of the city’s youth career and support systems. The findings were clear: Hartford needed stronger coordination, deeper youth voice, and a shared vision for systems change.

By 2025, CWP was formally named the backbone organization for HOYC, reaffirming a unified commitment to connect all Hartford youth ages 14–29 to meaningful pathways in education, training, employment, and holistic support—empowering them to thrive in their careers and communities.

CLICK HERE FOR SUMMER RESOURCES

At Hartford Public Library, you will discover a place like no other.

We serve the people of City of Hartford, our principal funders and customers. We are in and of the community…a place like no other. We are a gateway for immigrants and refugees…an early literacy center for preschoolers…a wifi hot spot and business office for area workers…an exhibit space for artists…a technology resource for residents and visitors…a lender of books and other educational and entertaining materials… a training center for the development of new skills…the repository of Hartford’s history…a gathering place for people to relax, explore, learn, and grow.

Through its mix of enriching resources, you can find a place that provides the spark for your conversation, the power for your passion, the courage for your soul and the food for your mind.

It is more than just pages. It is the window to knowledge and understanding of the world.

Summer Resources 2026

Summer Reading Challenge
Free Summer Meals
Sundays at the Stadium
Summer Health Clinics
Hartford Public Library Summer Programs
HPS Summer Learning

Hundreds of Hartford-area 2026 summer camps in one handy place! KidsOutAndAbout.com's 2026 summer camp guide helps you find camps Week-by-week or subject-by-subject. Plus, we display images for several of the most popular camps in our area: Click on them to get directly to their camp information.

Use whatever method works best for you! You'll find day camps, overnight camps, sports, drama, music, theatre, arts & crafts, technology, robotics, horseback riding, preschool, & more! We also have a calendar of virtual camps that can be attended from anywhere!

xplore these fantastic options to find the perfect summer adventure for your child!

MPACT Mentoring Inc. operates out of the 95,000 sq ft Day Hill Dome in Windsor, Connecticut — delivering high-level sports programming, structured mentorship, and career readiness services to hundreds of youth across the state.

Our programming spans six core pillars: Sports & Recreation, Mentorship, Career Readiness, Membership Programming, Community Events, and Facility Services. From Biddy Academy and basketball leagues to Career Readiness Conferences, from one-on-one mentoring to youth entrepreneurship through our Shark Tank program — MPACT provides a complete ecosystem for youth development.

We're proud to partner with Athletes R Us (Coach Victor Dugue), the State of Connecticut Judicial Branch Violence Prevention Partnership (the leading mentoring agency in the state), Ready CT, Hartford Communities That Care, and Connecticut Children's — organizations that share our commitment to building the next generation of leaders.

Steve & Kate’s Camp (Hartford Location - Watkinson School) 

What it is: A highly flexible, choice-driven camp where kids choose their own adventure daily. Activities include coding, robotics, stop-motion animation, baking, sewing, and a media lab. Parents can buy day passes and use them whenever they want without committing to whole weeks. 

• Ages: 4–12 years old.

• Hours: 8:00 AM – 6:00 PM (Lunch and snacks included)

SYELP (Summer Youth Employment & Learning Program) 

What it is: Facilitated by Capital Workforce Partners, this program is perfect for older youth wanting to explore careers, build résumés, and earn a paycheck. They partner with various Hartford hubs (like the Boys & Girls Clubs of Hartford and the Hartford Public Library) to provide project-based learning and local work experience. 

• Ages: 14–24 years old.