From free swim lessons to overnight adventures, here are 2025 summer camps in Fort Worth

The final bell of the school year is about to ring — or already has — and summer is just around the corner.

If you’re still scrambling to find a summer camp for your child, you’re in luck. From science experiments to swim lessons, outdoor adventures to creative coding, Fort Worth families have a wide range of camps to choose from this year. 

Here’s a roundup of summer camps happening in Fort Worth in 2025, including options that are low-cost or even free.

Camp Fort Worth 

School may be out, but learning doesn’t have to stop. 

Enroll your child in Camp Fort Worth to let them explore new skills and build friendships during a summer of hands-on activities and literacy-based enrichment.

Camp Fort Worth is a paid summer program for children ages 5 to 12. It runs from 7:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday, starting June 9 and ending Aug. 1. 

Register here or at a Fort Worth community center.

The fees are:

$65 per week, which includes registration and one camp T-shirt

$455 for the Molly Deal: 8 weeks of camp for the price of 7

Discounts are available for children of city employees and families enrolling multiple children. Scholarships are offered to those who qualify. A down payment of $65 is required; payment plans are available and must be completed by May 31.

This year — for the first time — each camper also participates in 45 minutes of daily literacy instruction led by a trained literacy support specialist.

Need something for your teen? Learn more about the Rec Leader in Training, or RLIT, program for ages 13 to 17.

Mobile Rec Summer Day Camp

The city of Fort Worth is offering a free summer day camp for children ages 5 to 12 through its Mobile Rec program. Designed to bring summer fun directly into neighborhoods, this camp combines hands-on learning with daily recreation.

Campers will participate in science, technology, arts, literacy, sports and outdoor activities. Each week includes swim lessons, STEAM projects and a summer-ending talent show. A certified reading specialist also provides 45 minutes of literacy instruction every day.

The camp runs Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. There will be no camp on June 19 or July 4. 

Sites include Fort Worth ISD’s Paschal High School, Sagamore Hill Elementary School, Hubbard Heights Elementary School and Eastern Hills High School. Libraries, gyms and classrooms will be open and available at each location, and are staffed by trained recreation leaders.

This program is free for Fort Worth residents. Nonresidents can attend for $35. Breakfast and lunch are provided daily through the city’s summer food program. Swim lessons take place off-site at city pools, with transportation included.

Register here for Mobile Rec Summer Day Camp.

Tarrant County College’s youth programs

Tarrant County College offers a wide range of summer camps and enrichment programs for students entering first grade to senior year of high school. Programs are designed to spark creativity, build skills and expose students to exciting careers — from digital art and artificial intelligence to nursing, forensic science and more.

Programs are held across TCC’s five campuses. Each location offers different dates, deadlines and course options. 

Find the program that fits your child best here. 

Some camps may require a minimum grade average or good standing in conduct. Check specific camp listings for details.

Camp topics include:

College for Kids: Academics, arts, science, tech and health

Digital Art Camp: Use AI to create and showcase art

Nursing Camp: Learn CPR and emergency response

Forensic Science Camp: Investigate mock crime scenes

Generative Artificial Intelligence: Learn about AI concepts and technologies

3D Printing: Produce your own 3D art pieces

STEM Fellowship: Hands-on learning in STEM fields

Choir Workshop: Develop vocal and performance skills

Costs vary by camp. While some are free, others range from $200 to $400.

Camp Fire First Texas

Camp Fire First Texas has a wide variety of summer camps for children as young as 4 and up to rising high school seniors. 

Fort Worth students entering sixth to 12th grades may qualify for a free summer program. The Teens in Action Camp runs from 7:30 a.m. to 4 p.m., June 9 to July 24, at the Camp Fire Resource Center, 2700 Meacham Blvd., Fort Worth. Learn more and register here.

Camp Fire also offers an overnight experience at Camp El Tesoro, where students unplug and enjoy nature-based activities. 

Sessions are available in four-, six- or 13-day blocks. The camp is open to students ages 5 to 16 and costs range from $610 to $1,545. Register here.

A day camp version of Camp El Tesoro is also available for students ages 5 to 11. The camp runs 7:30 a.m. to 5:45 p.m., June 9 to Aug. 1. Weekly tuition is $235. You can register here.

The Camp Fire Day Camps program also includes science, technology, art and math projects, weekly field trips, swimming and more. 

It’s open to children ages 5 to 13 and runs June 9 to July 25 in west Fort Worth. The rate is $206 per week.

Additionally, Camp Fire offers a special overnight grief camp for students ages 7 to 17 who have lost a loved one. 

The El Tesoro de la Vida Grief Camp takes place July 27 to Aug. 2 and costs $850. Scholarships are available. Apply here for the grief camp.

YMCA day camps and Camp Carter

The YMCA of Metropolitan Fort Worth is hosting summer camps across the city, including weekly day camps and overnight options.

Day Camp Adventures are offered at multiple YMCA branches for children ages 5 to 12. Weekly tuition ranges from $75 to $200, depending on the camp, though scholarships are available for qualifying families.

Find the camp that best suits your student — and register — here.

The organization’s Camp Carter offers both overnight and day camp sessions. 

Overnight camps include seven-day experiences with archery, hiking, canoeing and leadership programs. 

Day camp sessions are held Monday through Friday and include lunch. 

Here’s where you can find more info and register for Camp Carter. 

Fortress Summer Camp

Located in Fort Worth’s Historic Southside, Fortress Summer Camp offers a safe, full-day summer program focused on academics, enrichment and character-building for children ages 6 to 11. The camp costs $228 per week.

Campers receive daily reading and math instruction, explore science and art, and participate in Bible lessons and life-skills sessions. Days are filled with outdoor play, engaging projects and weekly field trips around Fort Worth.

Two sessions are available: June 2 to 27 and July 7 to Aug. 1. 

Camp is held Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. at the Fortress Youth Development Center, 1007 E. Terrell Ave., Fort Worth.

Breakfast, lunch and an afternoon snack are provided every day. Campers ages 8 and older may also attend an overnight camp later in the summer.

Space is limited and registration is required. Enroll here.

Matthew Sgroi is an education reporter for the Fort Worth Report. Contact him at [email protected] or @matthewsgroi1. 

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