Summer Program Listings

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.

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.

https://uwc.211ct.org/hartfordglrsummer/

Greater Hartford Summer Programs for Youth

Summer is a wonderful time for students to participate in a program that can provide new experiences and reinforce skills learned during the school year to support year-round learning. This helps to prevent “summer learning loss” and keeps kids engaged in positive ways.

The directory lists a variety of camp, tutorial and other summer programs that are available throughout Hartford and the surrounding area, as well as a park and pool schedules, free lunch programs, and other activities. Youth programs offer a combination of activities to promote learning and youth development. Options for both youth and adults with disabilities, as well as for senior citizens, are included.

• To download the directory in English, click here. Para descargar la guía en español, haga clic aquí.
• Hartford Public Library and Mega Education present a Summer of Fitness, reading & weekly learning celebrations. Click here for list of activities.

YMCA | Y-BELL Power Scholars Academy 

 What it is: Every summer, Hartford-area students become Power Scholars—gaining skills, confidence, and experiences that set them up for success in school and beyond.

YMCA | Wilson Gray Youth & Family Center

Activity Finder https://www.ghymca.org/locations/wilson-gray-ymca-youth-family-center

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.