Guide to Albuquerque Area Summer Camps

The countdown to summer break is on! We know finding camps to keep the kids busy and cared for is at the top of many families’ to-do lists.

Give them a summer to remember. Bosque Summer offers flexible, weeklong programs with half-day and full-day options for students entering grades K–8, making it easy for families to design a summer that fits their child’s interests—and their schedule.

With a wide range of thoughtfully designed courses, students are invited to explore, create, move, and grow. From academic enrichment and hands-on creative projects to skill-building, athletics, and just-for-fun experiences, Bosque Summer keeps children engaged, active, and excited about learning all summer long.

Trusted by families across Albuquerque and recognized over the years as one of the city’s best summer camps by readers of the Albuquerque Journal and Albuquerque The Magazine, Bosque Summer is known for its enriching programs, outstanding instructors, and joyful community—where kids feel supported, challenged, and inspired.

For more information about Bosque Summer, visit their website!

At Think Summer, learning is designed to feel as exciting and engaging as play. Students are given the tools to build bright, promising futures, with curiosity guiding every step of their journey. The program strengthens academic and developmental skills while inspiring discovery and encouraging personal growth.

Led by exceptional teachers and dedicated staff, students experience enriching educational opportunities alongside dynamic recreational activities that keep minds sharp, bodies active, spirits inquisitive, and hearts full. Think Summer offers flexible options to fit every family’s schedule, featuring hundreds of unique combinations of individual classes and camps for students entering kindergarten through 12th grade. Whether families choose full-day programs, half-day sessions, or individual classes, there is a wide range of opportunities to explore.

Think Summer at Albuquerque Academy
6-Week Program: June 8–July 17, 2026
3-Week Sessions: June 8–June 26, 2026 and June 29–July 17, 2026

Rock 101 Music Academy is Albuquerque’s community-driven music school for aspiring musicians of all ages and experience levels.

They offer year-round one-on-one lessons, group classes, and their popular Band League program, where students learn to collaborate, rehearse, and perform like real bands.

Each summer, Rock 101 shines through their award-winning Summer Sessions, designed for ages 3–6, 7–11, and 12–19, with age-appropriate instruction that blends creativity, confidence-building, and pure fun.

They also offer engaging adult classes because it is never too late to make music. There is truly something for everyone at Rock 101. Learn more at rock101nm.com.

More than a camp . . . Ready. Set. Violin! is about more than music. It’s about joy, connection, and beauty.

This week of song, movement, and play gives your child a commitment-free introduction to violin. Enjoy growth in all areas of life using the gift of music.

For kids 3-9 and their grown-ups. Located in midtown Albuquerque, June 22nd-27th for 1 hour/day for 6 days with AM and PM options. You’ll love that everything is thoughtfully included: age-appropriate violin, 5 fun classes, bag, t-shirt, 1:1 time, and a celebration concert! Class sizes are limited to ensure quality and connection.

Register soon!

Cottonwood Gulch Expeditions – Summer Treks

If you’re looking for a summer experience that builds confidence, responsibility, and real-world skills, Cottonwood Gulch Expeditions delivers.

Designed for youth ages 8–18, these guided Summer Treks take campers into the stunning landscapes of the American Southwest for meaningful outdoor exploration. Led by experienced, trained instructors, each trek emphasizes safety, preparation, and age-appropriate challenge.

Campers learn backcountry skills, teamwork, and leadership in a structured environment that prioritizes communication, group support, and thoughtful supervision. From hiking canyon trails to sharing campfire stories, participants unplug from screens and connect with nature, peers, and themselves. Programs are tailored by age group to ensure a developmentally appropriate experience that encourages growth without overwhelm.

Why Parents Love It: • Experienced, safety-focused leadership • Strong communication and supportive group culture • Age-appropriate programs for real growth • Confidence-building experiences that last far beyond summer

Cottonwood Gulch offers more than camp — it’s a safe, transformative adventure that helps kids return home stronger, more capable, and proud of what they’ve accomplished.

Transform a child’s school break into a season of wonder.

Designed for grades K–6, these Spring and Summer Break camps turn the museum into a living laboratory where “Why?” becomes “Wow!” through hands-on exploration.

From uncovering desert survival secrets and exploring the biology of cacti to launching rockets and discovering the tasty chemistry of food science, each experience creates a playground for naturally curious minds.

Led by expert educators, the camps encourage children to engineer, experiment, and explore in a supportive, engaging environment. Every session transforms a day off into a meaningful day of discovery.

Rio Grande Learning Solutions offers transformative summer programs for children ages 6 and up who struggle with reading, attention, executive functioning, or learning differences such as ADHD and dyslexia.

Using the internationally recognized Davis Methods, our programs are delivered in a supportive one-on-one setting that allows instruction to be fully individualized. Children build strong foundations in reading, comprehension, focus, self-regulation, and confidence through hands-on, strengths-based learning.

Families value their warm, encouraging environment and practical strategies that carry over into school and daily life. Summer sessions provide an ideal opportunity for growth without academic pressure, helping children return to school more confident, capable, and empowered.

Join us this summer for six incredible weeks of learning, discovery, and fun, as we explore the world around us through the lens of different literary genres.

Each week at Panther camp, students will dive into adventures, art, flavors, games, and fun, all connected to literary genres (fantasy, sci-fi, mystery, folklore, historical fiction and non-fiction).

Through hands-on experiences:

• cook and taste genre inspired foods
• give back to the community through service projects
• play games and stay active
• go on exciting off-Campos genre-inspired adventures.

Designed for ages 5–12, Nike Kids Camp is a fun, supportive multi-sport experience that helps kids build confidence while developing essential athletic skills.

Campers learn running, jumping, throwing, catching, kicking, balance, and coordination through age-appropriate games and positive coaching.

Flag Football, Soccer, and Basketball keep kids active, engaged, and excited to return each day. Camps run June 15–19 at La Cueva High School and June 22–25 at Valley High School, 9:00am–12:00pm.

Coaching methods are based on Nike’s How to Coach Kids and How to Coach Girls programs, focusing on encouragement, teamwork, and helping every child succeed—on and off the field.

$10 Off Use Code: NIKE10

Join your favorite coaches on Soccer Island this summer where learning meets fun!

Soccer Shots offers seasonal programs for children 18 months to 8 years old, with curriculum designed to each stage of development. Their approach is to develop the whole child through play and age-appropriate activities, introducing the foundational soccer skills needed for the game in a positive and encouraging environment.

Led by trained, caring coaches, Soccer Shots emphasizes character development and positive experiences both on and off the field.

RGEC provides summer care and enrichment for elementary students in Albuquerque and surrounding areas.

Programs vary by site, with some locations offering full-day programming and others offering before/after care in partnership with schools running summer learning and reading programs, helping cover the hours outside the school day for working families.

Students participate in supervised recreation, themed enrichment, creative activities, and outdoor play in a structured, supportive environment led by trained staff. Financial assistance may be available, and meals and snacks are included at no additional cost. Registration opens April 16; availability and offerings differ by location.

Hummingbird Music Camp is a week-long overnight summer camp for ages 8–14, tucked along the Jemez River in the beautiful pine forests near Jemez Springs, New Mexico.

Alongside classic camp fun like hikes, games, and riverside fun, campers spend their days maturing in music, art, or chess through inspiring lessons, ensemble rehearsals, and practice time.

Evenings bring glowing campfires, silly camp songs, stars overhead, and unforgettable moments with new friends that feel like family. By week’s end, campers shine in a culminating concert and carry home confidence, laughter, and memories they’ll never forget.

Located in the picturesque Jemez Mountains, YMCA Camp Shaver provides a beautiful setting offering youth the summer of a lifetime!

Camp Shaver offers meaningful activities such as hiking, fishing, archery, high ropes challenges, arts & crafts, campfires, drama and much more! This year there are multiple options for overnight camps which run for one-week sessions from Sunday to Friday.

At Camp Shaver, they believe all children should leave camp feeling a sense of accomplishment and belonging and feeling confident in their character. Don’t wait! Become a Camp Shaver camper this summer!

Embark on an exciting summer adventure at YMCA Day Camp! Weekly field trips, swimming trips, and themes are implemented to ensure an exciting and engaging summer!

The curriculum ignites curiosity by introducing kids to a variety of educational topics and fostering character development in a safe and fun environment. Join YMCA for a season of growth, respect, and memorable moments in 2026! Camp runs from June 1st until July 31st.

Day camp serves incoming 1st grade to age 12 at 9 different locations across Albuquerque. Go online to find the closest location to you! Pricing: $135 per week for YMCA Members, $270 for non-members, ECECD contracts accepted!

Give your child a summer they’ll never forget with Opera Unlimited’s Summer Opera Day Camp—an enriching, hands-on experience where music, theater, and creativity come to life. Designed for school-aged children, this unique program introduces students to the world of opera through singing, acting, and stage production, all culminating in a fully staged public performance.

New Mexico’s Summer Reading Program is an innovative free program set to empower 10,000 students from incoming kindergarteners to outgoing eighth graders with focused reading instruction in small groups with trained literacy instructors. This program is being offered free to New Mexico families because reading interventions work. Students who receive focused instruction can get caught up in important reading skills and gain the confidence they need to be successful in all school subjects. Our goals are simple: enhance literacy, track reading progress, and boost confidence and skills in literacy.