Ready, Set, Camp! Northern Michigan's 2026 Summer Camps

Summer camp registrations are off to the races

Yes, it’s January, but many summer camp registrations are now open or will soon be available. Below, we’ll share dates and details for more than 25 Up North camps, but first, let’s learn a bit more about what goes into creating these summer experiences for kids.

Camp Spotlight: Grand Traverse Bay YMCA, Traverse City

Ninety seconds: That’s approximately how long it took the Grand Traverse Bay YMCA to sell out 10 weeks of summer camp programming in 2025. Such is the state of summer camp demand in northern Michigan.

Last year marked the first time the local YMCA offered online sign-ups for its summer camps, rather than in-person registration. YMCA will keep the online application system in place for the 2026 summer camp season, with sign-ups set to go live at 7am on Monday, Feb. 16. As in the past, the application window will prioritize parents with active YMCA family memberships.

The YMCA has also been working to prepare members for the sign-up process, sharing the layout of this year’s application and a (currently inactive) registration URL, so that parents are ready to go the moment the clock strikes seven on sign-up day.

That promptness will be vital for parents hoping to score slots, as the YMCA system is designed to filter submissions based on timestamp, which means the quickest parents will be the ones to get spots.

The good news? This year, the YMCA has (slightly) expanded its numbers, going from 240 campers per week to 250.

YMCA camps are among the most in-demand in northern Michigan thanks to their near-comprehensive schedules, which run from 7:30am to 5:30pm, five days per week, for 10 weeks of summer, from June 15 through August 21. Camp experiences include a traditional day camp, a “K-Camp” for kindergartners, a leaders club, and camps themed around sports, art, and science with options for kids in grades K-9.

Camp Spotlight: Little Big Adventures, Harbor Springs

Last year, Little Big Adventures (LBA; pictured) kicked off their first summer of day camps in Emmet County.

Run by “The Sarahs”—aka Sarah Koetje and Sarah Mayhew—the camp is billed as a nature and adventure-based learning program for youth. The Sarahs describe themselves as “passionate outdoor educators” with “20 years of experience teaching outdoor education across various sectors including government and non-profit organizations.”

Mayhew jokes that their program is old-school, not just because they’re disconnecting from tech but because their home base is the Five Mile Creek Schoolhouse along the Tunnel of Trees.

Per the LBA website, here’s what families can expect during summer camp: “Mornings are packed with exciting learning and hands-on experiences that bring history and nature to life, and afternoons balance creative expression, practical skills, and invigorating outdoor activities.”

Camps run Monday-Friday from 10am-3pm June 15 to Aug. 14. Registration is now open online at little-big-adventures.com.

Camp Dates to Know

The list below is not exhaustive, but we selected a smattering from our 13-county coverage area!

ARTS & EDUCATION CAMPS

Camp Invention: A nationally-recognized STEM-focused camp developed by the National Inventors Hall of Fame will be offered at multiple local schools this summer, including Old Mission (June 15-18), Cherry Knoll (June 15-18), and Westwoods (June 22-25). Programs can be searched at invent.org/program-search. Registration is now open.

Crooked Tree Arts Center: Explore a slate of youth art camps for K-12 students. Traverse City registration opens in late January, while Petoskey registration opens in late February.

Interlochen’s Arts Discovery Day Camp: Sessions are one week in length and will be offered for seven weeks this summer, starting Monday, June 22 and ending Friday, Aug. 7. All camps are for ages 7-12 and are held at the Interlochen Community School building. Registration is now open.

Northwestern Michigan College’s College for Kids: The community college offers a broad range of immersive programs across disciplines like culinary, art, recreation, music, STEM, and writing for littles ages 3-4 and youth grades K-12. Registration opens Feb. 2.

Old Town Playhouse’s Young Company: Half-day (ages 5-8) and full-day (ages 8-16) camps are available for a four-week summer program that culminates in end-of-summer performances. Registration typically opens in March.

Ramsdell Creativity Art Camp: Held at the historic Ramsdell Regional Center for the Arts in Manistee, this camp offers two sessions: July 6-10 (ages 6-10) and July 13-17 (ages 11-15). Check back on their website for 2026 registration.

DAY & OVERNIGHT CAMPS

Camp Carvela: Discover summer 2026 sessions geared toward kids aged 7-13 that run weekly from June 15 to Aug. 21. The overnight camp on the shores of Bass Lake in Traverse City has 1-, 2-, and 3-week options beginning June 14. Registration is now open.

Camp Daggett: This camp in Petoskey offers both day (age 5-12) and overnight (ages 7-14) camp options. They also offer “Adventure Camp” for teens 13-15 to go on four-day expeditions. Registration is now open for new local campers.

Camp Lookout: Registration is currently open for this overnight camp in Frankfort focused on experiential learning and camper-led experiences starting June 14.

Camp Tanuga: This camp in Kalkaska offers a variety of sessions—mini-mini (four; grades K-1), mini (11 nights; grades K-6), partial (32 nights), and full summer (45 nights)—of overnight camping for children. Registration is now open for new campers.

Camp Torenta: Cadillac YMCA’s annual camp opens registration on Feb. 15. This day camp’s activities include swimming, boating, hiking, archery, sports, games, arts & crafts, and special events.

City of Petoskey Kids Camp: This camp for local Petoskey children offers recreational fun, nature and creative exploration, plus field trips! Currently accepting limited full-time enrollment.

Elk Rapids Schools Summer Kids’ Club: Registration packets for this program have historically been sent in April. Open to school-age students, entering kindergarten through 5th grade, running June, July, and August.

Northern Blooms Montessori: The school’s summer camp will be back for a third season this year, running June 9 to Aug. 22. Applications open in the spring.

Old Mission Peninsula School: The charter school’s camps all take place in July and are open to students heading into grades 1-6 (Camp Island View) or kiddos age 3-6 (Preschool Camp). Contact the school for registration.

Otsego County Sportsplex: This Gaylord spot has been offering a summer day camp since 2008 with a variety of activities for campers ages 5-12. Registration typically opens in March.

Pathfinder: This camp offers programs for four age ranges—Explorers (going into preK and kindergarten), Discovery (going into first and second grade), Voyagers (going into third and fourth grade), and Adventure (going into fifth through seventh grade)—for eight week-long sessions running from June 15 to Aug. 7.

Shady Trails Camp: Northport's day camp serves children aged 5-14 and allows campers and counselors to co-create their programming and schedule. Check back for 2026 dates and registration.

TCAPS Summer Explorers Club: This camp is for TCAPS students in grades K-5 and runs June 22 to Aug. 21. The camp has two sites with approximately 70 TCAPS students per site. Registration opens Feb. 5.

YMCA’s Hayo-Went-Ha Camps: Hayo-Went-Ha Camps serve youth from third through eleventh grade with overnight sessions that run two to four weeks for a variety of outdoor adventures. (Some campers will even travel to Canada!) Their Sparks Day Camp is curated for ages 5-10. Registration is now open.

SPORTS & OUTDOORSY CAMPS

ELEV8 Summer Program: The Traverse City climbing gym offers “climbing, outdoor time, arts and crafts, and games” during 2-, 3-, and 5-day camps, with separate instruction for 6-9 year-olds and 9-14 year-olds. Registration is now open.

Grand Traverse Conservation District’s Nature Day Camp: Geared toward kids 6-11, the camp will run for 10 weeks, from June 15 to Aug. 21, with each week following a different theme. Registration opens Feb. 2 at 8am.

Grand Traverse Tennis Camps: Offered by long-time Traverse City Central High School tennis coach Larry Nykerk, this camp will run throughout the summer and include programming opportunities for all ages, including adults. Registration is now open.

Grass River Natural Area: The Bellaire-area nonprofit will offer four non-consecutive weeks of summer camps this year (June 22-25, July 6-7, July 20-23, Aug. 3-6), with openings for ages 6-11. Registration opens in March.

Human Nature School: Get outdoors with their programs for ages 5-12. Camp meets Monday through Friday from 9am-3pm, and sessions run June 22 to Aug. 21. Registration opens Feb. 2.

Norte Youth Cycling: Get cycling around Traverse City with Norte, whose Summer Program registration is now open for first through eighth graders who meet Monday through Thursday for 3.5-hour or 6-hour sessions in June, July, and August.

Traverse Area Community Sailing: Summer 2025 camps have programs available for ages 8-17. Check back on their website for dates and registration.

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