Abington Friends School offers numerous summer enrichment programs for various age groups including Summer Day Camp for kids ages six to 13. Daily activities are directed by adult professional teachers and coaches. Participants are grouped according to age and attend a different set of activities each day. Sports, tennis, archery, outdoor education, drama, music, dance, and art are all a part of the schedule. Each day, campers receive an instructional swim lesson from a Red Cross certified Water Safety Instructor in one of two swimming pools. Weekly clubs are offered to allow them ample time for campers to participate in the activities they enjoy most.

A Junior Camp, for children ages four to five, groups children by age in a self-contained setting for a sampler of activities including art, music, games, free play, storytelling, creative movement, and drama. Junior Camp is designed to promote socialization, independence, creativity and problem solving in the very young while emphasizing fun, allowing children to learn through play. Junior campers receive an instructional swim lesson each day with a Red Cross certified Water Safety Instructors, and each week, teachers follow weekly themes that capture the interest of youngsters; Fridays feature an exciting culminating activity. Half-day Junior Camp options are available.

For children ages two to four,Abington offers an eight-week Preschool program designed to continue many of the experiences preschoolers have during the academic year. Activities are specific to individuals' developmental levels, and the focus is on fun. The goal is to allow children to make discoveries, experience enriching activities, and have social interactions with the other campers by working individually and in small groups. The program is staffed by Abington Friends Preschool teachers, with assistants from college or recent graduates with experience working with children.

Counselor in Training is offered to kids ages 14 and up with special interests and talents who are entering into high school. CITs further develop their leadership skills and sense of responsibility through daily interaction with parents, campers, and staff.

Abington's Youth Theater Program, for kids ages 10-16, focuses on workshop classes that are tailored to build acting skills. Each camper gains the necessary skills and confidence to perform in a final production through movement, voice, and improvisational classes. Workshop classes concentrate on lighting, costume and set design. Campers spend afternoons in intensive rehearsals for the end-of-program performance, working on scenes as well as with music and dance teachers to create a fully realized theatrical production. Campers must enroll for the entire six weeks of the Youth Theater Program.

Snacks and hot and cold lunches are served daily to all day campers and are included in the camp payment. Extended day services and transporation are available for an additional fees that is determined by distance.

Abington also offers a wide variety of Academic and Specialty Camps that run from one to three weeks. Activities include sports, chess, robotics, Dungeons & Dragons, writing workshops, and much more.

Al-Bustan Camp is an initiative of Al-Bustan Seeds of Culture, a non-profit arts organization dedicated to exposing youth to the language and culture of the Arab world while promoting understanding and respect among children of diverse ethnic, religious, and socio-economic backgrounds.

Al-Bustan Camp is an Arabic language and cultural day program that provides youth with an opportunity to develop new language skills and appreciate Arabic culture, while making new friendships and exploring the wonders of a natural environment. The program is open to children and youth of various religious and ethnic backgrounds. Al-Bustan (Arabic for "The Garden") encourages dialogue, respect, understanding, and a celebration of diversity.

Camp sessions are held in July at the Springside School. Extended hours are available for an additional fee. Sibling discounts and
scholarships based on financial need are also available.

The Brandywine Learning Center offers a selection of classes and summer day camp programs for kids ages seven and up, as well tutoring (in any subject) and SAT prep.

A variety of Harry Potter "edu-tainment" classes are available throughout the year, and Harry Potter Magical University Summer Camp, for kids ages seven to 12, provides an entertaining, literary-based environment that's packed with wizarding fun.

The Barley Sheaf Players theater company offers one-week Creative Drama Camps for kids ages seven to 12. Activities include improvisation, theater games, character inventions, stories, and much more. Three one-week sessions area offered in August.

The Learning Center also offers Summer Academic Academies, including Math Academy to empower math students, Summer Reading Book Clubs for kids in Kindergarten through grade five, and SAT Academy.

Bucks County Community College (BCCC) offers a wide range of post-secondary academic programs and services, as well as PSAT/SAT prep classes for high school students and summer camp programs for kids ages eight and up.

The BCCC also occasionally serves as a venue for community events that open to the public.

The Enterprise Center offers ninth, tenth, and eleventh graders from Philadelphia a five-day summer camp program featuring intensive training in business and entrepreneurship.

The camp includes financial literacy workshops, business speakers, business games and simulations, networking, technology, contests, and discussions, all designed to provide students with the information, inspiration, and tools needed to become successful in business and entrepreneurship.

Harcum College offers Camp Can-Be, a unique summer study experience where students can learn about top professional careers and decide what interests them the most.

Camp Can-Be programs include Mini Law School, Mini Medical and Nursing School, Mini Dental School, Mini Veterinary School, and Mini Business School. Each camp session is divided over four, three-hour classes; lunch and beverages are included for students enrolling in both morning and afternoon sessions. Details and registration are available by phone.

Inspire a passion for science in your children at Camp Invention, a weeklong day camp offered in elementary schools across the country.

Students entering grades one through six participate in five hands-on classes every day - which are presented by local teachers - to learn the basic concepts of engineering, physics, and creative problem-solving. Kids work on projects both individually and in small groups.

The program was created by the National Inventors Hall of Fame Foundation in partnership with the US Patent and Trademark Office. Visit the website for the nearest site; there are more than 40 locations in Pennsylvania and Delaware.

Camp Philly: Authentic Reading and Writing Experiences for Students with Learning Differences is an academic summer program - with an emphasis on reading and writing - for students in grades three through six.

The Camp Philly program focuses on students who may be struggling with language arts skills and strategies, or who may be identified as having learning disabilities. Instructors are certified, experienced special education teachers, willing to work with parents to develop an individual summer learning plan based on a parent/child interview, report cards, assessments, student work, and/or a child's IEP.

Camp Philly sessions are held at the Free Library of Philadelphia and various cultural institutions throughout Philadelphia. Program costs include instruction, all field trip fees, supplies, a snack and drink during each session, and a one-hour parent/student consultation.

Camp Science, Math, Art, Reading, and Technology (S.M.A.R.T.) is a unique summer enrichment program for kids ages five to 12.

The camp offers academic support to those wishing to increase their skills in reading, writing, and mathematics, as well as a variety of fun, recreational activities and field trips. The $80 weekly camp tuition includes all course materials, breakfast, snacks, lunch, tennis lessons, weekly field trips, a t-shirt, backpack, and more. A $50 registration is also required.

Week-long camp sessions are held Monday through Friday from 8am to 3pm; before care (starting at 7am) and after care (until 6pm) are available for a minimal fee.

The Da Vinci Science Center provides young people with fun, hands-on educational opportunities through classroom outreach initiatives, professional development programs for teachers, and a facility in Allentown that's open to the public daily.

The Da Vinci Science Center offers several permanent, hands-on exhibits that are designed specifically for kids. What's Alive? compares the characteristics of living things versus those of non-living things. Watts Up? allows guests to experiment with energy, enjoy images from deep space, and dance in the Shadow Room. What's the Matter? examines the tiny particles that interact with each other to make all the varied stuff of our world. What Works? investigates scientific forces to help explain how machines make work easier. (Can you lift 1,000 pounds?) Kids can become doctors diagnosing virtual patients in What Hurts? The What on Earth? exhibit, lets visitors become weather forecasters after learning how the Earth works, and touch real ocean creatures in the La Laguna ocean touch tank.

Parties: Da Vinci Science Center offers a Basic Party Package that includes an hour in a reserved party space, free access to the exhibit floor, grab bags, food, and paper products for up to 10 children and two adults. The Center's Deluxe Package also includes pizza, drinks, admission to a feature exhibit, a performance of the "Super Coolness" show, invitations, and thank you notes.

Camps: The Da Vinci Science Center also offers week-long Discovery Science Camps. Campers become scientists as they engage in exciting, hands-on learning experiences that stimulate their curiosity and interest. Camps are open to children entering first grade through sixth grade.

Henry Mercer (1856-1930) built Fonthill as his home between 1908 and 1912. The concrete castle boasts 44 rooms, 18 fireplaces and more than 200 windows of varying size and shape. The interior walls, floors and ceilings are elaborately adorned with an incredible array of Mercer's original handcrafted tiles. The castle has been featured on A&E's America's Castles.

Climbing the numerous stairs, gazing out the many windows, and pretending to be royalty within the castle walls brings out a sense of wonder in kids and adults alike.

Guided tours are given, and reservations are advised to ensure a spot. The museum offers many educational programs and family workshops throughout the year.

Architecture Camp is offered in July and August for children in grades four through six. Register in advance.

The French Communication Institute (Petite Ecole Bilingue) provides a bilingual (English and French) preschool curriculum that aims to nourish each student's individual ability and encourage academic success, physical health, moral stability, and imaginative alertness. The school provides a setting in which children can learn, grow, and develop into responsible and responsive self-starters.

An afterschool enrichment program for kids ages five to 14 offers classes, sports, and private tutoring. Transport from school to the French Communication Institute is offered; homework help and free extended care is available until 6pm.

Camp Voyages at the French Communication Institute offer kids ages four to 14 interesting and exciting educational programs and recreational activities in and around Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and Maryland.

Details about the French Communication Institute preschool program are available by calling 215.568.1158; call 215.568.7765 for more information about afterschool enrichment and summer camp programs.

The French International School of Philadelphia offers a dual curriculum in French and English for students in pre-Kindergarten through eighth grade.

Language arts, social studies, and math are taught in both French and English. Science and math are taught in English, while physical education and art are taught in French.

The time devoted to English and French instruction changes from pre-Kindergarten to eighth grade. Younger students receive most of their instruction in French; English instruction time increases through the grades from 13% in pre-Kindergarten to 50% in eighth grade.

During French instruction, the national curriculum of France is followed. Careful attention is made to ensure that important subjects are being covered and there isn't any repetition of subjects.

French for Fun Summer Camp is designed to teach young children (ages four to nine) French language skills in a fun environment. No prior knowlege of French is required. Call 610.667.1284 for additional details about camp programs at the French International School of Philadelphia.

iD Tech Camps are week-long day and overnight summer programs for kids ages seven to 17, held at 50 prestigious universities nationwide, including the University of California at San Diego. Kids can build robots, create video games, design websites with Flash, film digital movies, learn programming, and more. The program includes one computer per student and an average of six students per staff, and students take home a project at the end of the course.

Teen programs include iD Gaming Academy, iD Film Academy, and a Study Abroad program in Spain.

Mad Science is on a mission to stimulate scientific learning through hands-on fun and activities that will get kids excited about science.

Mad Science offers birthday parties for groups of any size, ideal for children ages five to 12. A Mad Scientist comes to your house and presents a 45-minute show, adapted to the ages of the kids in your group, combining high-energy, interactive fun with entertaining science experiments that appeal to kids' penchant for goo, pop, and fizz. A variety of 15-minute "finales" are available for an extra charge, featuring dry ice, a laser show, a sound machine, or a rocket launch.

Other options, for an additional charge, include a cotton candy machine, goody bags, party favors, t-shirts, invitations, and decorations.

Mad Science also offers summer camps in the Delaware Valley area. Camps run weekly from Jun through Aug, including full-day camps for children ages six to 12, and half-day camps for ages three to five. Registration and other information are available online.

A towering seven-story castle, the Mercer Museum houses dramatic displays of the implements, folk art, and furnishings of early America before mechanization. It is surrounded by large open fields with plenty of room to picnic or just rest and enjoy the view of the majestic house.

Walk into the Central Court and see a Conestoga wagon, whaling boat, carriages, and an antique fire engine suspended overhead. 50,000 tools, relating to more than 60 early American crafts and trades, are on display as well.

The small gift shop features toys and books on colonial times geared towards children.

The museum holds a variety of summer camp programs for kids in grades one through eight, including a Lego Robotics Camp in which kids can work with Legos to create simple machines powered by computer technology, and Explorers Camp. Call or check the website for details.

Membership is available and is shared with nearby Fonthill Museum. Benefits include free museum passes for guests, gift shop discounts, unlimited free admission to the Mercer and Fonthill museums, a free newsletter, and invitations to special events and exhibits.
Membership is $55 annually for families; individual membership $35.

History gets the full multi-media treatment at the National Constitution Center. Kids may enter feeling like they know it all, but they leave with a whole new appreciation for this country's lofty goals.

The exhibit experience is designed to take visitors through important events in our nation's history and explain how the United States Constitution is as important today as it was when it was first signed in 1787.

The tour begins with a multi-media presentation, Freedom Rising, featuring a live actor, film, and video projection. From the theater, the audience is released into the DeVos Hall's American Experience, which hosts interactive family-oriented exhibits that show the significant role the Constitution has played throughout history. Interactive opportunities include voting for your all-time favorite President, taking the Presidential Oath-of-Office, taking the seat of a Supreme Court Justice, and honoring the service people who have fought for and defended the Constitution. Children and their families can also visit Signers' Hall and touch 42 life-size - and lifelike - bronze statues of the signers and dissenters of the Constitution.

Kids with a bone to pick (who made ketchup a vegetable?) are encouraged to take an active role as a citizen by emailing elected officials and watching up-to-the-minute constitutional issues unfold.

The Constitution Center offers a variety of field trip experiences for school groups that incorporate original artifacts, documents, and interactive multimedia experiences, and are designed to increase students' understanding of America's past and enhance their ability to shape its future. Field trip topics include Pass the Citizenship Test, Headed for the White House, and We, the Jury.

The center also offers Adventure Summer Camp, a hands-on, camp for six- to 13-year-olds who want to engage with award-winning art and civic education teachers at the National Constitution Center. The camp is designed to encourage creativity and citizenship using the arts as a medium of expression.

Birthday parties at the Constitution Center are available in six different themes: Colonial Kids, Pirates of the Constitution, History Detectives, Patriot Party, Presidential Party, or First Ladies Tea Party. The events, held on Saturdays or Sundays, include museum admission for guests, tours of the main exhibition, scavenger hunts, themed activities, and more. Details about parties and reservations are available by calling 215.409.6730.

The Neighbor to Neighbor Community Development Corporation, Inc., offers a variety of educational and enrichment programs for children of low-income families.

The Learning Activities Through Community Help (LATCH-On) program, held Monday through Friday from 3pm-6pm, provides quality out-of-school care and enrichment for kids ages six to 15. LATCH-On offers a wide range of instructional, exploratory, cultural, arts, social, creative, recreational, developmental, and interpersonal programs and activities, designed to promote well-rounded development, resourcefulness, and healthy attitudes.

Camp Joy Summer Day Camp, for ages five and 15, is a six-week summer program featuring academic instruction, as well as aerobic activities, roller skating, amusements/arcade games, swimming, arts and crafts, guest authors, reading clubs, library visits, theater shows, and field trips to sites such as The African American Museum, The Franklin Institute Science Museum, the Philadelphia Zoo, Adventure Aquarium, Sesame Place, and The Academy of Natural Sciences. Before and after care services are available; breakfast and lunch are provided to all camp participants.

Details about Neighbor to Neighbor programs and initiatives are available by phone and on the organization's website.

The New Jersey Academy for Aquatic Sciences promotes the understanding, appreciation, and protection of aquatic life and habitats through research, education, and youth development programs.

The Academy conducts educational community outreach, and offers summer Summer Sea Camp SeaFari, weeklong summer programs in which kids ages seven to 14 can explore and discover the amazing habitats and animals that inhabit our planet, from the majestic whales of the oceans, to the great lions of the Serengeti, to the colorful coral reefs, and the diverse tropical rainforests. Each camp session includes field trips, crafts, games, a 4D theatre show, up-close animal encounters, hands-on activities, and behind-the-scenes and exhibit tours at Adventure Aquarium. Details and registration are available online, by phone at 856.361.1023, or via email to programs@njaas.org.

The New Jersey Academy for Aquatic Sciences also offers traveling birthday parties with games, live animals, and more. Call 856.361.1023 for details and reservations.

Philadelphia City Sail is a nonprofit maritime training organization with a focus on serving economically disadvantaged youth in the Delaware Valley region.

City Sail offers charters and public sails aboard the 75-foot schooner, North Wind. Trips down the Delaware River depart from Penn's Landing every Friday and Saturday evening (weather permitting) May 1 through October 31. Advance ticket purchase is available by phone or online. All proceeds benefit Philadelphia City Sail educational programs.

Each summer, City Sail offers one-week beginner and advanced Summer Sail Training Camp for Philadelphia area youth. Beginner courses focus on line handling, elementary navigation, and teamwork. Participants in the advanced courses head to the Chesapeake Bay on a five-day journey; students are responsible for voyage planning, navigation calculations, anchor watches, meal preparation, and daily logistics.

Scholarships are available. Check the website or call Philadelphia City Sail for more information.

The Schuylkill Center for Environmental Education offers a variety of outdoor and indoor natural history and environmental science programs for all ages.

The center owns 360 acres of land (the largest privately owned open-space area within the city limits of Philadelphia), featuring a variety of habitats, including fields, forests, teaching ponds, and wetlands.

The indoor Education Building houses laboratories, classrooms, a children's interactive Discovery Center, Green Woods Charter School (Kindergarten through grade eight), laboratories and classrooms, a book store, and staff offices.

The center is home to the Wildlife Rehabilitation Clinic, which is in operation to care for injured, sick, and orphaned wildlife native to southeastern Pennsylvania and release them back into their natural habitat. The clinic's staff offers educational programs for all ages.

Hiking enthusiasts (even neophytes - the trails are mostly friendly to little legs) will find four miles of hiking trails of varying difficulty. Upper Fields Trail (1/4 mile, 10 minutes) passes through fields and woods before it joins the Ravine Loop, where you'll happen on a spectacular view. Down at the bottom of the hill, you can see Polliwog Pond, a fun detour to observe aquatic organisms in action! Widener Trail (1/4 mile, 15 minutes), is a flat, gentle trail and leads through fields and forest to the Widener Bird Blind. Feeders are filled year-round so you can stop and observe resident and migratory birds. Midway along the trail is Shadow Pond with a wooden deck and seats. This trail is plowed in the winter.

Birthdays at the Schuylkill Center include two-hour science, nature, and wildlife themed activities for children ages four and older. During the first hour, an environmental educator leads kids on a nature discovery walk. The second hour is spent in the birthday room enjoying activities provided by the parent, such as snack, birthday cake, party games, etc. The birthday child receives a Schuylkill Center t-shirt, and all guests are given a grab bag filled with toys from the center's bookstore. Party prices begin at $175 for up to 10 children and $10 for each additional child up to a maximum of 20 children. A $100 deposit fee is required when booking, to reserve the date. Call for reservations and more information.

The Schuylkill Center also hosts Nature Ramblers Summer Camps, which are open to kids ages four to 15 years old.

Family Memberships at the Schuylkill Center are $60 and include invitations to members-only events, program discounts, and more.

The Schuylkill Center for Environmental Education offers a variety of outdoor and indoor natural history and environmental science programs for all ages.

The center owns 360 acres of land (the largest privately owned open-space area within the city limits of Philadelphia), featuring a variety of habitats, including fields, forests, teaching ponds, and wetlands.

The indoor Education Building houses laboratories, classrooms, a children's interactive Discovery Center, Green Woods Charter School (Kindergarten through grade eight), laboratories and classrooms, a book store, and staff offices.

The center is home to the Wildlife Rehabilitation Clinic, which is in operation to care for injured, sick, and orphaned wildlife native to southeastern Pennsylvania and release them back into their natural habitat. The clinic's staff offers educational programs for all ages.

Hiking enthusiasts (even neophytes - the trails are mostly friendly to little legs) will find four miles of hiking trails of varying difficulty. Upper Fields Trail (1/4 mile, 10 minutes) passes through fields and woods before it joins the Ravine Loop, where you'll happen on a spectacular view. Down at the bottom of the hill, you can see Polliwog Pond, a fun detour to observe aquatic organisms in action! Widener Trail (1/4 mile, 15 minutes), is a flat, gentle trail and leads through fields and forest to the Widener Bird Blind. Feeders are filled year-round so you can stop and observe resident and migratory birds. Midway along the trail is Shadow Pond with a wooden deck and seats. This trail is plowed in the winter.

Birthdays at the Schuylkill Center include two-hour science, nature, and wildlife themed activities for children ages four and older. During the first hour, an environmental educator leads kids on a nature discovery walk. The second hour is spent in the birthday room enjoying activities provided by the parent, such as snack, birthday cake, party games, etc. The birthday child receives a Schuylkill Center t-shirt, and all guests are given a grab bag filled with toys from the center's bookstore. Party prices begin at $175 for up to 10 children and $10 for each additional child up to a maximum of 20 children. A $100 deposit fee is required when booking, to reserve the date. Call for reservations and more information.

The Schuylkill Center also hosts Nature Ramblers Summer Camps, which are open to kids ages four to 15 years old.

Family Memberships at the Schuylkill Center are $60 and include invitations to members-only events, program discounts, and more.

The Schuylkill Center for Environmental Education offers a variety of outdoor and indoor natural history and environmental science programs for all ages.

The center owns 360 acres of land (the largest privately owned open-space area within the city limits of Philadelphia), featuring a variety of habitats, including fields, forests, teaching ponds, and wetlands.

The indoor Education Building houses laboratories, classrooms, a children's interactive Discovery Center, Green Woods Charter School (Kindergarten through grade eight), laboratories and classrooms, a book store, and staff offices.

The center is home to the Wildlife Rehabilitation Clinic, which is in operation to care for injured, sick, and orphaned wildlife native to southeastern Pennsylvania and release them back into their natural habitat. The clinic's staff offers educational programs for all ages.

Hiking enthusiasts (even neophytes - the trails are mostly friendly to little legs) will find four miles of hiking trails of varying difficulty. Upper Fields Trail (1/4 mile, 10 minutes) passes through fields and woods before it joins the Ravine Loop, where you'll happen on a spectacular view. Down at the bottom of the hill, you can see Polliwog Pond, a fun detour to observe aquatic organisms in action! Widener Trail (1/4 mile, 15 minutes), is a flat, gentle trail and leads through fields and forest to the Widener Bird Blind. Feeders are filled year-round so you can stop and observe resident and migratory birds. Midway along the trail is Shadow Pond with a wooden deck and seats. This trail is plowed in the winter.

Birthdays at the Schuylkill Center include two-hour science, nature, and wildlife themed activities for children ages four and older. During the first hour, an environmental educator leads kids on a nature discovery walk. The second hour is spent in the birthday room enjoying activities provided by the parent, such as snack, birthday cake, party games, etc. The birthday child receives a Schuylkill Center t-shirt, and all guests are given a grab bag filled with toys from the center's bookstore. Party prices begin at $175 for up to 10 children and $10 for each additional child up to a maximum of 20 children. A $100 deposit fee is required when booking, to reserve the date. Call for reservations and more information.

The Schuylkill Center also hosts Nature Ramblers Summer Camps, which are open to kids ages four to 15 years old.

Family Memberships at the Schuylkill Center are $60 and include invitations to members-only events, program discounts, and more.

The Teen Writers Academy is open to teens ages 13 to 17 who enjoy writing and want to improve their creative writing skills. The acclaimed program has been successfully encouraging young writers in the Philly area since 2004.

The program offers a supportive, relaxed, yet structured creative environment where participants can discover their writing voices in poetry, fiction, first-person narrative, playwriting, and non-fiction essay. The Teen Writers Academy is ideal for teens currently participating in pre-college academics. Enrollment requires an interview and a writing sample.

Two 10-day summer sessions of the Teen Writers Academy are offered in July and August. Call 215.747.4675 for details or to schedule an interview.

The Franklin Institute's summer Discovery Camp offers children (ages six to 13) the opportunity to experience up to 10 weeks of hands-on science adventures! Campers make scientific discoveries through workshops, science presentations, field trips, and exploring the interactive exhibits at the Institute.

Summer sessions begin with a week of Discovery Days. Then kids explore four new themes for two weeks each and end the summer with another week of Discovery Days. Each session's theme is independent of the others, so campers need not attend sessions consecutively, allowing flexibility to work around family vacation schedules.

Extended day programs are availiable and a limited number of scholarships are offered. Applications are available on the website only.

The Egyptian Galleries of the University of Pennsylvania Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology, on the second and third floors, offer an impressive collection of monumental sculpture, royal architecture, and mysterious mummies. Here you'll encounter the third largest Sphinx in the world, meet mummies face to face, and stand inside a Royal Palace, the world's best preserved and the only one in the US.

Artifacts that originated closer to home include the Native American and Alaskan collections.

The Museum also offers a summer day camp, Anthropologists in the Making, for children ages seven to 13, which runs from June 25 through August 17. Each week highlights a different theme, offering campers the opportunity to enjoy one week or all eight. For more information, email summercamp@museum.upenn.edu, or call 215.898.4066.

Household membership, at $75 a year, includes free Museum admission for 2 adults and all minor children in a household, two complimentary passes to the Museum, and discounts on children's programs.

Founded in 1799, the Westtown School<