Upper Arlington, Ohio · Summer 2026
22+ camps across city day programs, STEM robotics, filmmaking, arts, preschool, adaptive, and youth sports. UA Parks registration fills fast — here's everything you need.
Browse All Ohio Camps →Upper Arlington is a classic Columbus suburb — tight-knit, high-income, and deeply invested in kids' programming. The city's Parks & Recreation department runs one of the most comprehensive municipal summer camp lineups in the Columbus metro, and it's backed by a robust schedule of specialty camps from STEM providers, arts programs, and youth sports leagues.
The headlines: The 10-week city day camp ($2,300 resident) and 9-week option ($2,070 resident) run Mon–Fri from 7:15 AM to 6:00 PM — long enough to actually cover a full workday. There's a Therapeutic Recreation Day Camp for kids with special needs. And on the STEM side, Robot Academy's two robotics programs ($415 each) stand out as some of the most substantive offerings in the Columbus area. Below is the full breakdown.
All UA Parks & Rec camps register through the WebTrac portal. Resident registration opens before non-resident — set a reminder.
UA Parks & Recreation summer camps open to residents first. The 10-week and 9-week day camps are the most-enrolled programs in Upper Arlington — they fill in the first days. Log into WebTrac before registration opens and have your household account ready.
UA Parks & Recreation runs Upper Arlington's core day camp programming — long hours, good infrastructure, and an adaptive/inclusive track that most suburbs don't offer. These are the programs working parents rely on for full-summer coverage.
Upper Arlington's full-summer day camp runs 10 consecutive weeks at two sites — Thompson Park North Shelter and Reed Road Park Shelter. Hours are 7:15 AM–6:00 PM Monday through Friday, genuinely covering a working parent's day. Activities rotate through recreation, field trips, arts and crafts, quiet recreation, movies, library visits, and swimming. The $2,300 resident price breaks down to $230/week — competitive for Columbus metro day camps with these hours.
Register via WebTrac →The 9-week option runs through end of July at Tremont Elementary and Barrington Elementary — same hours (7:15 AM–6 PM), same programming structure, slightly shorter season. Good fit for families with August travel plans or kids transitioning to other activities in August. Saves $230 versus the 10-week program.
Register via WebTrac →One of Upper Arlington's standout programs — a dedicated summer day camp for youth with special needs that intentionally integrates with the traditional day camp for inclusive programming. Based at Tremont Elementary. Includes recreation, pool swims, field trips, and therapeutic options. The inclusive design means kids participate alongside typical peers in appropriate activities, not in a fully separate track. Pricing is on request from the parks department.
Contact UA Parks →UA Parks has two solid preschool and early-childhood options — including the classic Safety Town program and a summer enrichment camp specifically for ages 3–6.
UA's dedicated summer camp for preschool and kindergarten-age kids. Structured play, sensory activities, age-appropriate enrichment. At $358 resident, this is accessible pricing for a city-run program. Good option for families who want structured summer programming for younger kids before they age into the full day camp. Register through WebTrac.
Register via WebTrac →Upper Arlington's long-running Safety Town program teaches kids how to make wise decisions in dangerous situations — pedestrian safety, bicycle safety, fire, water, and personal safety. Week-long, half-day format at Greensview Elementary. Four separate session dates give families flexibility. At $125 resident for a week, it's one of the best value programs in UA's lineup. A natural add-on to a longer summer schedule.
Register via WebTrac →Upper Arlington's arts camp lineup is genuinely strong — a full filmmaking production camp and an acting for stage and screen program, both run by UA Parks at the Amelita Mirolo Barn at Sunny 95 Park. Not your average municipal arts programming.
An entry-level, hands-on narrative motion picture production camp. Kids go through the full filmmaking process — scripting, shooting, and editing — at the Amelita Mirolo Barn at Sunny 95 Park. $495 for a week of genuine production training is a solid value compared to private filmmaking workshops. One session only — register early. A standout offering for creative kids who want more than art projects.
Register via WebTrac →Acting technique for both stage and camera — a thoughtful pairing with the filmmaking camp for kids interested in performance. Run at Amelita Mirolo Barn at Sunny 95 Park, same venue as the filmmaking program. If your child is interested in both performance and production, these two camps together build a genuine creative skillset over two summer weeks. Check WebTrac for exact session dates.
Register via WebTrac →UA Parks partners with Jones Chess Academy to offer a structured chess camp for a wide age range. Good cognitive development option — strategic thinking, pattern recognition, concentration. $215 resident for the week is reasonable. Works well as a short-week add-on alongside a longer multi-week day camp program.
Register via WebTrac →Upper Arlington's STEM camp lineup punches above its weight — Robot Academy's two offerings are among the most substantive robotics programs in the Columbus metro, and Camp Invention brings the National Inventors Hall of Fame curriculum to two separate UA sessions.
Robot Academy's flagship camp combines LEGO robotics programming with hands-on 3D printing — a combination you don't find in most youth STEM programs. Kids build and program robots, then design and print physical objects. At ages 5–11, the curriculum bridges early elementary through upper elementary with age-appropriate challenges. At $415 resident, this is substantive programming with real equipment, not a glorified Lego play session.
Register via WebTrac →Robot Academy's second camp takes the robotics curriculum into competitive territory — kids design, build, and program LEGO robots to compete in a BattleBot-style challenge. The competition format drives engagement for kids who like a challenge. Same pricing and age range as the LEGO Robotics + 3D Printing camp. If your kid is into robots and competition, this is the one. Held at Sunny 95 Park.
Register via WebTrac →Camp Invention runs two separate Spark sessions in Upper Arlington — a real advantage if one week conflicts with family plans. The curriculum is developed with National Inventors Hall of Fame inductees: hands-on invention challenges, engineering design, and teamwork through a problem-solving lens. $310 per week for a well-structured national STEM program. Two sessions = two chances to fit it into a busy summer schedule.
Register at Camp Invention →Challenge Island's Slimetopia camp brings STEAM concepts through hands-on slime science, chemistry experiments, and engineering challenges. Not purely slime — it's a STEAM enrichment program with slime as the hook that keeps kids engaged. At $250 resident, it's one of the more accessible STEAM options in UA's lineup. Good add-on week for kids who've already done a longer day camp block.
Register via WebTrac →An enrichment camp for younger kids with a medical and science lens — anatomy basics, how the body works, doctor/nurse role exploration. Good fit for the Upper Arlington demographic where health-profession parents are common and kids are curious about it. At $207 resident, it's one of the more affordable specialty options. Check WebTrac for specific session dates.
Register via WebTrac →Upper Arlington has strong sports infrastructure — the Bob Crane Community Center hosts multiple camp programs, and UA's parks run competitive soccer, volleyball, and basketball through affiliated providers. The UA Swim Club is a competitive institution in the Columbus area.
Multi-sport camp for young kids — rotating through age-appropriate sports with a JumpBunch instructor. The half-day option at $142 resident is one of the most accessible sports camp prices in UA's lineup. Aftercare availability makes the full-day structure workable for working parents. Good fit for kids ages 3–6 who aren't quite ready for a single-sport focus but love being active.
Register via WebTrac →A unique combination — soccer skills combined with a sports medicine introduction. Kids learn basic injury prevention, warmup protocols, and body care alongside actual soccer technique. The sports medicine angle is rare in youth camp programming and fits the UA community well. Full-day with aftercare option. Good single-week add-on for soccer-focused families.
Register via WebTrac →Soccer Shots Premier is the advanced tier — for kids with prior soccer experience. Focuses on individual skill, fitness, and sportsmanship with competitive game play in a developmentally appropriate way. $200 for 8 sessions across Fancyburg, Thompson, and Miller Parks. Spring series already underway; summer sessions start June 9. Good bridge between camp weeks and competitive league play.
Register via WebTrac →UA United's twice-weekly training program at Thompson Park — 16 sessions per block, covering all ages 4–18 in age-appropriate groups. Session B (Jun 2–Jul 23) runs through the heart of summer and pairs well with a multi-week day camp. Coach Matar's player development focus is well-regarded in UA. At $225 resident for 16 sessions, cost per session is among the best in the Columbus metro.
UA United Info →Three separate volleyball program options through summer: the spring developmental league, a Beach Volleyball League in June, and an All-Skills camp in July. All run through UA Parks in partnership with EXCEL Volleyball. At $115 resident for 4 sessions, the price is right for families wanting to add volleyball to a summer schedule without a major commitment. Bob Crane Community Center gym for indoor sessions.
Register via WebTrac →Bally Sports Group runs two separate Shooting Stars basketball sessions at Bob Crane Community Center's main gym. $120 resident for a week of basketball skills — dribbling, shooting, passing, and game play. Two session dates give flexibility. Half-day format (3 hours) works as an add-on to morning or afternoon coverage. Same venue and format as the volleyball and pickleball camps below.
Register via WebTrac →Pickleball is exploding in suburban communities and UA is bringing it to kids. Fundamentals-focused camp covering serving, rallying, scoring, and game play at Bob Crane Community Center. Good add-on week for athletic kids who want to try something new. $120 resident is accessible. Check WebTrac for exact session dates.
Register via WebTrac →Volleyball fundamentals — serving, passing, setting, and game play — at Bob Crane Community Center's main gym. One week, afternoon session only (1–4 PM). Good as a standalone add-on week. At $120 resident, it's the same price point as the pickleball and basketball camps. A natural complement to the EXCEL volleyball league if your child wants more court time.
Register via WebTrac →UA Softball Association's Bear Cub program covers youth softball from PreK through 6th grade. League-format play through the summer — good for developing competitive sports experience without the intensity of a travel program. Pricing is set by the association; contact UASA or check uayouthsoftball.org for registration dates and fees.
UASA Info →UASC is one of the Columbus area's established competitive swim programs. Three age tiers: Grade 3 and younger, Grade 4 through 8, and high school. The competitive season runs through summer with meets against other clubs. If your child is interested in competitive swimming, UASC is the program in Upper Arlington — it's been developing UA swimmers for decades.
UASC Info →Browse camps across Dublin, Mason, Montgomery, Loveland, and the rest of the Columbus and Cincinnati metro on Living Lini.
Find Ohio Camps →UA Parks & Recreation opens summer camp registration in the spring through their WebTrac portal at ohupperarlingtonweb.myvscloud.com. Resident registration opens before non-resident. The 10-week and 9-week day camps fill fastest — have your household account ready before the registration date is announced.
UA Parks runs two day camp options: the 10-week season at $2,300 (resident) / $2,760 (non-resident), and the 9-week season at $2,070 (resident) / $2,484 (non-resident). Both run Mon–Fri, 7:15 AM–6:00 PM — hours that genuinely cover a working parent's day. Closed June 19 (Juneteenth) and July 3.
Yes. UA Parks & Recreation offers a Therapeutic Recreation Day Camp specifically for youth with special needs, running June 1–July 31, 2026 (Mon–Fri, 8 AM–4 PM) at Tremont Elementary. The program intentionally integrates with the traditional day camp for inclusive programming. Contact the parks department for pricing.
UA Parks offers The Play Spot Summer Sensation Camp for ages 3–6 at $358 resident / $430 non-resident. Safety Town (ages 5–7) at $125 resident / $150 non-resident runs across four separate week-long sessions in June and July — half-day format, focused on safety skills. Both register through WebTrac.
All UA Parks & Recreation camps register through the WebTrac portal at ohupperarlingtonweb.myvscloud.com. Log in or create a household account. Resident registration opens before non-resident — watch for the announcement date.