summer camp

noun

plural summer camps

1

: a camp (see camp entry 1 sense 1d) for children or adolescents that operates during the summer and that often provides lodging for stays of days or weeks

… traditional summer camps—where your child rides a horse, paddles a canoe, reads a compass, and roasts s'mores around a campfire …

—David Lansing

… summer camp is about campfires, trail hikes and goofy skits. It's a chance to meet kids from different cities and to learn to sleep through the snores of cabin mates.

—Emily Seftel

also : such a camp that provides instruction of a specified kind

went to an arts summer camp

compare day camp

2

: an online usually educational program for children or adolescents offered during the summer

… a virtual summer camp offering free classes in everything from slime-making to dinosaurs to make-your-own Lego movies. Kids aged five through 18 can create their own schedule, with hour-long classes five days a week for each session.

—Lisa Milbrand

Examples of summer camp in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

In Allentown, in a minor-league ballpark patrolled by the Pork Racers and populated by children from summer camps screaming their lungs out, the external noise quieted. — Charlotte Varnes, New York Times, 31 July 2026

Last day of summer camp for young people The decision to move out of the space comes as a summer camp on business skills and financial literacy is wrapping up. — Kaicey Baylor, CBS News, 31 July 2026

For decades, young Israelis have traveled to Jewish summer camps across North America, and non-Israeli Jews get free trips to Israel. — Giovanna Dell'orto, Fortune, 31 July 2026

Levine programming continues to include the Catalyst Fellowship Program for college students and summer camps. — Claire Harutunian, Charlotte Observer, 30 July 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1882, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for summer camp

• firedamp
• amp
• champ
• clamp
• cramp
• damp
• gamp
• lamp
• ramp
• samp
• scamp
• stamp