Middle Tennessee Summer Camps: The Complete 2026 Guide

There are more summer camp options in Middle Tennessee than most families realize. Free four-week academic programs through Putnam County Schools. Free state-funded residential programs at Tennessee Tech. Three different European soccer academies in Nashville. Overnight camps tucked into the Cumberland Plateau, day camps that run 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. for working parents, robotics intensives where kids build and take home an actual robot, theater programs that put 10-year-olds on the TPAC stage.

The trouble isn't finding camps. It's keeping track of all of them.

This is the most complete summer camp reference for Middle Tennessee families we know how to make. Everything is organized by location first (Cookeville and Putnam County, then within an hour, then the Nashville area), and by category within each section. The Quick Reference table near the bottom gives you registration status and key dates at a glance. Use Ctrl+F or Command+F to find a category, age range, or specific camp name.

A note on timing: this guide was last updated in late May 2026. Several spring deadlines have passed, several sessions have already started, and several camps are still taking late registrations for July sessions. We've flagged status where it's still useful to know. For 2027 planning, the registration windows worth circling are October (Tennessee Governor's Schools), January and February (Vanderbilt, Belmont, most Nashville-area programs), and March (Putnam County 4-H and city programs).

In Your Backyard: Cookeville and Putnam County

You don't have to leave Cookeville to find excellent summer programming for your kids. Between the city's recreation department, the county schools, the YMCA, local churches, and Tennessee Tech, there's more here than most families realize.

City of Cookeville Leisure Services at Cane Creek Recreation Center

The city's camp lineup at Cane Creek (180 CC Camp Road) is one of the best values in Putnam County. Sports camps remain on the calendar through July.

All Sports Camp. Ages 7-12. June 2-6, June 9-13, July 7-11. $90 per session. Five days of multi-sport rotation: football, soccer, volleyball, lacrosse, disc golf, and more. Good for kids who like variety and haven't settled on one sport yet. Register through ActiveNet or call (931) 526-9767.

Beginner Volleyball Camp. Ages 7-15. June 16-20, 8 a.m. to noon. $100. Introduction to volleyball fundamentals. Good for kids who've been curious about the sport but never played organized ball.

Intermediate Volleyball Camp. Ages 7-15. July 14-18, 8 a.m. to noon. $100. For kids who already have the basics down.

Basketball with 1Shot Athletics. Ages 7-15. June 23-27 or July 21-25. $125 per session. Skills-based basketball camp with a faith component.

Recreational Day Camp. Rising grades 1 through age 12. June and July, weekly themed sessions. $90 per week plus $25 registration fee. This is the full summer day camp with weekly themes and lunch through PCSS Nutrition. Affordable, all day, and right in town. Registration is in-person only at Cane Creek and spots go fast every year. Sessions are running now.

Full schedule at cookeville-tn.gov/leisure-services.

Putnam County Family YMCA Day Camp

Ages 5-12, located at 235 Raider Drive in Cookeville. Hours run 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. with extended care from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. The Y day camp is a full-summer option with hours that actually work for working parents. Spots fill before summer arrives. Call (931) 528-1133 or visit pcfymca.org for pricing and current availability.

Putnam County Schools Free Summer Camps

This is one of the most underutilized programs in the county. Putnam County Schools runs two completely free summer camp programs with meals included, and most families have never heard of them.

Summer Learning Camp. Rising grades 1-5. Four weeks in June, 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Free, meals provided. Reading, math, STEAM activities, and outdoor play. Zero cost to families: no registration fee, no meals cost, nothing. Applications are available at your child's elementary school. This isn't remediation. It's structured enrichment for the summer weeks when kids are otherwise at home.

Bridge Camp. Rising grades 6-8. June 2026. Free. A bridge program specifically designed to help incoming middle schoolers get a confident start. The jump from elementary to middle school is real, and this gives kids a chance to navigate it before the school year begins. Applications at school offices.

Putnam County 4-H Summer Camps

UT Extension Putnam County runs five different 4-H camp options, mostly overnight residential, covering a range of grades and interests. Call (931) 526-4561 or visit putnam.tennessee.edu for current registration.

4-H Junior Camp. Grades 4-6. June 1-5. $380. The classic 4-H overnight experience: swimming, fishing, shooting sports, nature hikes, crafts, campfire programming. Five days away from home in a structured, fun environment. Historically fills up.

4-H Junior High Camp. Grades 6-8. May 2026. $385. Overnight for middle schoolers with age-appropriate programming.

4-H Electric Camp (STEM). Grades 6-7. June 2026. $330. STEM-focused overnight with an electricity and technology curriculum. Scholarships are available. Ask when you call. One of the more unique options in the county for STEM-interested middle schoolers.

4-H FCS Behind the Scenes. Grades 9-12. June 2026. $400. For high schoolers interested in Family and Consumer Sciences (think home economics expanded into health, nutrition, and life skills).

4-H Junior High Culinary. Grades 6-8. Dates and pricing through the UT Extension office.

Christ the King Vacation Bible School

Rising PreK-4 through 5th grade (must be 4 by August 15). July 13-17, 9 a.m. to noon. Free.

One of Cookeville's most beloved summer programs for young kids. Crafts, music, storytelling, and community. Registration closes June 25 or when it fills (and it does fill). Sign up at ctk.org/vacation-bible-school.

Tennessee Tech: Cookeville's Summer Camp Hub

This deserves its own section, because most Cookeville families don't realize how much is happening on the TTU campus between May and July. Engineering camps. Music camps. Sports clinics for kindergartners through high schoolers. Two free state-funded residential programs for rising 11th and 12th graders.

Picture the campus on a Tuesday morning in June. A kid in a marching band shirt crosses the quad with a trombone case. A group in matching green shirts heads toward the engineering building. A coach blows a whistle over by the baseball complex. That's TTU in summer, and the prices tend to catch people off guard.

Summer Music Institute (SMI)

Rising HS freshmen through graduated seniors (about 14-18). May 31 to June 4. Residential $475, commuter $375.

Week-long music camp on the Tennessee Tech campus. All instruments and all voices are welcome, no audition required. Residential campers stay in the dorms; commuter option for families within 30 minutes. The week ends with a performance. Register at tntech.edu/summermusicinstitute or email cmorris@tntech.edu.

Explorations in Engineering and Computing Camp (EEC)

Rising 10th-12th graders. June 7-10 or June 14-17. $100 residential, all-inclusive.

Four days, dorms, all meals, and seven engineering and computing disciplines to explore. This is one of the best deals in summer education anywhere in Tennessee. $100 total for a residential engineering experience run by TTU faculty. The 2026 application window closed February 27. Watch tntech.edu/engineering/pre-college-programs/eec.php for 2027 applications, which typically open in fall.

Governor's Schools at Tennessee Tech

Free. Rising 11th-12th graders. Three to four weeks residential. Tennessee's 11 Governor's Schools are completely free, state-funded residential programs, and two of them are hosted right here at Tennessee Tech every summer. Every expense is covered, including housing and meals. Two to three college credits included.

Governor's School for Emerging Technologies. June 6-27 (three weeks). Biotech, nanotech, information technology. Includes field trips to Oak Ridge National Laboratory.

Governor's School for Technological Innovation and Business Leadership. May 31 to June 27 (four weeks). Technology leadership and business development.

Applications typically open each October through your student's school counselor and close in early December. If you have a rising 9th or 10th grader, put a reminder on your phone for October 2026. This is the most underutilized free academic program in Tennessee, and two of them are right here in Cookeville.

TTU Athletics Camps

Multiple TTU athletic programs host youth camps on campus.

Women's Basketball Lil' Eagle Camp. Girls entering K-8. June 4-6, 8 a.m. to noon, Hooper Eblen Center. kimrosamondbasketballcamps.totalcamps.com.

Baseball Summer Youth Camp. Grades K-8. June 8-10, 9 a.m. $100. Avert Express Baseball Complex. playnsports.com/organization/tennessee-tech-baseball-camps.

Softball Camps. techsoftballcamps.com.

Soccer (Springthorpe Soccer Academy). Contact jrushworth@tntech.edu or (931) 372-6218.

Football (Bobby Wilder Football Camps). bobbywilderfootballcamps.totalcamps.com.

Men's Basketball. Contact stefanking@tntech.edu.

FCA Football Camp at TTU. Youth July 7-9, high school teams July 8-10. Contact jlacy@fca.org.

Within One Hour of Cookeville

Photo: Michael Niessl / Unsplash

Skymont Scout Reservation in Altamont (about 45 minutes)

Boy Scouts of America, Cherokee Area Council. At 2,200-plus acres on the Cumberland Plateau, Skymont is the closest major overnight camp to Cookeville and one of the most scenic in the region. Waterfalls, caves, overlooks, all of it within striking distance of home. BSA Scouts can earn merit badges, advance in rank, and experience one of the genuinely beautiful scout reservations in Tennessee. Contact (931) 692-3435 or cherokeeareabsa.com/skymont.

Cedar Lake Camp in Livingston (about 40 minutes)

Weekly Christian overnight sessions, Sunday through Saturday. Swimming, canoeing, hiking, fishing, faith-based programming. Contact (931) 823-5656 or cedarlakecamp.org.

Austin Peay State University in Clarksville (about 1 hour 15 minutes)

APSU runs several summer programs that are genuinely hard to beat on price.

APSU Coding Camps. Grades 1-12. Various sessions. $69-$149, one of the most affordable STEM programs in the state. Junior Coder, coding fundamentals, and advanced sessions. Contact codingcamp@apsu.edu or (931) 221-7840. apsu.edu/csci/camp.

APSU Campus Recreation Camps. Little Peayple (ages 5-8, six weeks of themed activities), AP Adventurers (ages 9-12, includes robotics), and Govs Outdoors Teen Camp (ages 12-15, two weeks of outdoor adventure). apsu.edu/recreation/camp.php.

Austin Peay Athletics Camps. Football (Scotty Walden Football Camps), Basketball (Corey Gipson Basketball Camps), and others at apsuathleticscamps.com.

Camp YI in LaVergne (about 1 hour)

Ages 8-14, on Percy Priest Lake. Operating since 1945. Overnight weekly summer camp with a 40-foot climbing tower, water skiing, tubing, canoeing, horseback riding, and swimming. June and July sessions. One of the more affordable overnight lake camp options in the region, and close enough that a Sunday drop-off is manageable. campyi.org.

Camp Boxwell in Lebanon (about 1 hour 15 minutes)

Boy Scouts of America, Middle Tennessee Council. Nationally accredited Class A camp on 1,100-plus acres at Old Hickory Lake. 60-plus merit badges, including nine Eagle-required badges. Session weeks begin May 26, June 2, June 9, and June 23. One of the premier Scout camps in the South. camping@mtcbsa.org or mtcscouting.org.

CentriKid at Cumberland University in Lebanon (about 1 hour 15 minutes)

Grades 2-6. June 8-12 and June 23-27. $390 per session. Lifeway's well-known Christian summer camp, hosted on the Cumberland University campus. A faith-focused overnight week with games, worship, Bible study, and community. centrikid.lifeway.com/venue/cumberland-university.

Camp Cumberland University F.A.M.E. (Lebanon, about 1 hour 15 minutes)

Day camp focused on Fine Arts, Music, and Entertainment. Theater, fine arts, dance, and band on the Cumberland University campus. A good multi-arts day camp option for creative kids who don't fit neatly into one discipline. cumberland.edu/community-outreach/camps.

Tennessee Robotics Center (TRCamp) in Murfreesboro (about 1 hour)

Located at 2231 NW Broad St. Real engineering: design, build, code, test. Now in its 15th year, TRCamp is a three-week engineering intensive where campers actually build robots and take them home. Not a toy kit camp. Real engineering content taught by engineers. The 2026 theme is "Integrity" with an Artemis II mission thread running through the program. One of the most substantive STEM camps in Middle Tennessee. tennesseeroboticscenter.com or (615) 796-4632.

MTSU Blue Raiders Athletic Camps in Murfreesboro (about 1 hour)

MTSU hosts a full slate of athletic camps through its coaching staff.

Football. Derek Mason Football Camps. coachderekmasonfootballcamps.com.

Soccer. Rhoden Soccer Academy. mtsusoccercamps.com.

Tennis. Wilson Collegiate Tennis Camp, in its 13th year of operation. Three weeks with full-day and half-day options. One of the most established university tennis camps in the state. wilsontenniscamps.com/middle-tennessee-state-university.

Softball and Baseball. Schedules at goblueraiders.com.

MTSU Campus Recreation Camps (Murfreesboro, about 1 hour)

$225 per week or $55 per day drop-in. A day camp option using the full MTSU recreation facility: indoor soccer, basketball, racquetball, indoor and outdoor pools, campus dining. Good for families who want an athletic day camp without committing to a single sport. w1.mtsu.edu/camprec/camps/index.php.

Murfreesboro Parks Outdoor Programs (about 1 hour)

Murfreesboro's parks department runs several outdoor summer programs: kayaking on the Stones River, Lit'l Rangers nature programs for young kids, hiking, and teen kayaking. These fill up. murfreesborotn.gov/2461/Outdoor-Murfreesboro-Summer-Camps.

Cumberland Youth Camp in Woodlawn (about 1 hour 15 minutes)

Overnight residential, Churches of Christ affiliated. On 360-plus acres, with overnight summer sessions, gospel programming, and outdoor activities. Well-established in the region's Church of Christ communities. cumberlandcamp.org.

Nashville Area (1 to 2 Hours)

Nashville and its suburbs host one of the richest summer camp ecosystems in the Southeast: university programs, professional arts organizations, three European soccer academies, a zoo camp, a culinary camp, a film camp, and a lot more. The drive from Cookeville is about an hour and a half. For day camps that's a stretch as a daily commute, but many offer weekly residential options, and it's very reasonable for a drop-off Sunday and pickup Sunday overnight program.

STEM, Technology, and Coding

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Camp Tech Revolution (Lavner Camps) at Vanderbilt. Various ages. Vanderbilt University, Nashville. June 1 to July 17, 40-plus weekly sessions. One of the most comprehensive tech camp programs in the region. Sessions include Robotics (kids build and take home a LEGO robot), AI Fundamentals, Game Design, 3D Printing, Minecraft Modding, Roblox Development, Spy Tech, and YouTube Production. ROBOWARS tournament every Friday. Day camp format on the Vanderbilt campus. lavnercampsandprograms.com.

iD Tech at Vanderbilt. Ages 7-18. Day and overnight residential. From $1,079. One of the largest and most well-known tech camp brands in the country. Coding, game design, VEX Robotics, BattleBots, app development, AI. Multiple session options including residential. idtech.com.

Tennessee State University STEM Camps in Nashville. TSU runs multiple science and engineering programs, including one remarkable free option.

• Free Four-Week Residential Engineering Experience. Rising 9th-12th. June 15 to July 10. State-funded, fully residential, four weeks. This is one of the best deals in summer education in Tennessee, and almost nobody outside Nashville knows about it. tnstate.edu/summer/campsandprograms.aspx.
• Two-Week Engineering Camp. Rising 6th-8th. July 6-17.
• Engineering Exploration Camp. Rising 9th-12th, residential. June 7 to July 3.
• Summer Technology Immersion Camp. Rising 6th-9th. July 1-10. 3D printing, coding, AI.
• TSU Aviation Program. Rising 11th-12th, age 16+ with a 3.0 GPA. Residential, two sessions. One of the only high school aviation residential programs in Tennessee.

Lipscomb BisonBot Robotics Camps in Nashville. Ages 6-12. $200-$500 (includes snacks). Four progressive levels (WeeBots through Advanced BisonBot) that scale with your kid's experience, from a 6-year-old picking up their first robot to a 12-year-old doing advanced builds. lipscomb.edu/events/bisonbot-robotic-summer-camps.

Engineering For Kids, Nashville Metro. Ages 4-14. Locations in Franklin, Nolensville, Fairview, and Brentwood. Multiple summer sessions. Hands-on STEM, robotics, and coding at community locations across the Nashville suburbs. A good option if you're day-tripping to the area. engineeringforkids.com/nashville/programs/camps.

Arts, Theater, and Film

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Nashville Children's Theatre Summer Camps. Grades K-12. Day camp format. Extended care is free before 7:30 a.m. and after to 5:30 p.m. FAM scholarships available. One of the leading children's theater organizations in the country, operating weekly summer sessions during the MNPS summer break. Programs for all grade levels with full theater training including acting, movement, voice, and production. The free extended care makes the logistics considerably easier for families. nashvillechildrenstheatre.org.

Camp TPAC at the Tennessee Performing Arts Center. Ages 8-16. Weekly format, led by TPAC teaching artists, culminating in performances on TPAC stages. There's something genuinely special about a 10-year-old performing on the same stage where Broadway touring productions play. The "From Page to Stage" format takes kids through the full arc of musical theater production in a week. tpac.org/inclusive-arts/classes-and-camps/summer-camp.

Metro Parks Centennial Theater Academy at Looby Theater in Nashville. June 8-12, July 6-10, July 20-24. Public parks pricing. Acting, singing, dancing. (615) 880-2787 ext. 0.

Belmont Performing Arts Camps. Two options for older performers: Theatre Camp (grades 6-8) June 1-5, around $325. Theatre Camp (grades 9-12) June 8-12, around $325. belmont.edu/cmpa/summer-camps.

Belmont Watkins R.O.Y.G.B.I.V. Multi-Arts Camp. Two separate sessions: ages 6-8 and 9-11. 2D and 3D visual art with weekly themes, culminating in a family art show. A visual arts camp that doesn't pick a lane: drawing, painting, sculpture, mixed media, all in one week. The family art show at the end is a nice touch. belmont.edu/watkins/community-education/multiarts-camp.html.

Cheekwood Summer Camp. Ages 5-14. Half-day and full-day options. Drawing, painting, clay, garden art. Studio Sampler (general exploration), Artist Exploration (focused curriculum), and Garden Sprouts (ages 5-7, garden-based art projects). Set on the Cheekwood estate and botanical garden, which makes the environment itself part of the experience. Note: cooking camps are suspended in 2026 due to construction. cheekwood.org/learn/childrens-programs/summer-camp.

Frist Art Museum Teen Programs. Two competitive programs for high schoolers.

• Teen Film Camp. Rising 10th-12th only. July 13-17, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Around $475. Create a short film alongside Nashville Film Festival professionals. Genuinely competitive with real industry mentors. fristartmuseum.org/teen-summer-film-camp.
• Teen Fashion Design Camp. Rising 10th-12th. Immersive fashion design week.

Nashville Film Institute Summer Camp. July 6-10, 13-17, 20-24, 27-31. $265. Hands-on filmmaking, four-week run. nfi.edu/summer-film-camp.

University School of Nashville (USN) Summer Camps. June 1 to July 10, plus Dog Days July 20-31. 150-plus camps. Half-day from $250 per week, full-day from $500. One of Nashville's most comprehensive summer camp programs: science, sports, visual and performing arts, academic enrichment. Something for almost every kid. usn.org/summer or jshuster@usn.org or (615) 477-4929.

Music

Blair Academy at Vanderbilt Blair School of Music. Several summer programs, including the only Nashville Suzuki Institute in Tennessee.

• VYO-COSI (Chamber and Orchestral Intensive). Rising grades 8-12 (strings); 9-12 (winds and brass). June 1-5, non-residential. Serious chamber and orchestral training for advanced student musicians. Not for beginners. This is for kids who are already committed to their instrument.
• Nashville Suzuki Institute. Ages 4-17. Violin, viola, cello. Five hours per day. The only Suzuki intensive of its kind in Tennessee. If your child does Suzuki instruction, this is the state's premier program. Contact Elm Stephenson at (615) 322-7655.
• Nashville Summer Orchestral Institute. May 28 to June 1. Grades 8-12 and adults.
• MusicTech Camp. Teens. Video game music plus game design. Unique intersection of music production and game development.

blair.vanderbilt.edu/blair-academy/summer.php.

Belmont Summer Music Camps. Belmont's music programs span genres and instruments.

• Exploring Music Camp. Ages 6-10. June 1-5. Entry-level, multi-instrument exploration.
• Piano Invitational. Grades 9-12. June 14-19.
• Guitar Camp. Grades 9-12. June 1-5.
• Winds Band Camp. Grades 7-12. June 7-13.
• String Crossings Camp. Grades 9-12. June 14-19.
• Vocal Arts Intensive. Grades 9-12. June 21-27.

belmont.edu/summer-camps.

Sports

Photo: Alliance Football Club / Unsplash

Vanderbilt Athletics Camps. Vanderbilt's athletic programs host youth camps across nearly every sport.

• Football Youth Camp. Rising K-8, half-day. vanderbiltfootballcamps.com.
• Clark Lea Prospect Camp. Rising 9th-12th.
• Men's Basketball Day Camp. 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. vucommodores.com.
• Tennis. Ages 7-17, four week-long sessions.
• Volleyball. Rising grades 3-12.
• Golf. Ages 10-17, weekend format.
• Soccer Youth Day Camps. All ages. vandysoccercamps.com.

European Soccer Academies in Nashville. Three in one city is a genuine rarity. If your kid plays soccer, this is worth the drive.

• FC Barcelona Barça Academy. Bethesda Soccer Complex, Nashville. June 22-26, 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Ages 6-17, boys and girls. Official Barça coaches. fcbarcelona.us/locations/nashville.
• Real Madrid Foundation Camp. Nashville. July 3-7. Ages 5-17, boys and girls including goalkeepers. rmfclinicsusa.com.
• Atlético de Madrid Camp. Richard Siegel Soccer Complex, Nashville. July 20-24, 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. U6 to U18, boys and girls. fs.campusatleticodemadrid.com/camps/nashville-soccer-camp.

Nashville SC Summer Youth Soccer Camps in Franklin and Nashville. Official camps from Nashville's MLS club.

• Half-Day at Currey Ingram Academy. June 24-27, July 8-11, July 15-18, July 22-25. Monday-Thursday, 9 a.m. to noon.
• Full-Day at TOCA Nashville (Franklin). Monday-Friday, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Multiple sessions.

nashvillesc.com/camps.

Nashville's United Soccer Academy (NUSA). 2026 camps for NUSA and non-NUSA players. nusasoccer.org/camps.

MTSU Rhoden Soccer Academy in Murfreesboro (about 1 hour). University soccer camp with MTSU coaching staff. mtsusoccercamps.com.

Tennis.

• Centennial Sportsplex Tennis Camp in Nashville. $300 per week. nashville.gov.
• Wilson Collegiate Tennis Camp at MTSU in Murfreesboro. 13th year. Full-day and half-day options. wilsontenniscamps.com/middle-tennessee-state-university.
• Nike Tennis at Lipscomb in Nashville. Ages 4-17. Multiple sessions. ussportscamps.com.

Gymnastics. Nashville Gymnastics Training Center (NGTC). Ages 3-12. Gymnastics, Ninja and Parkour, and Minis camps. 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., $70-$80 per day. nashvillegtc.com.

Lacrosse. Xcelerate Lacrosse Camps at Bethesda Sports Park, Nashville. Ages 7-18. 15 sessions, from $395. First sessions start June 1. xceleratelacrosse.com.

Lipscomb Sports Camps. Men's Basketball, Men's Soccer, Baseball, and Nike Tennis (ages 4-17). lipscombsportscamps.com.

Overnight and Residential Camps (Nashville Area)

YMCA Camp Widjiwagan in Antioch. Percy Priest Lake, 320 acres, about an hour and a half. Ages 4 and up. Day, overnight, and ranch camp options. Themed weeks include Harry Potter, Percy Jackson, Star Wars, and more. One of the most family-friendly overnight camps in Middle Tennessee. The themed weeks make it easy to find something your kid is excited about. Voyager Village (ages 6-8) is a good intro to overnight camp for kids who've never been away from home. Pioneer Village for teens. (615) 360-2267 or campwidji.org.

Girl Scouts Camp Sycamore Hills in Ashland City (about an hour and a half). Girls ages 5-17. 742 acres. Archery, rappelling, canoeing, high ropes, horses, tree climbing. One of the best-equipped overnight camps for girls in Middle Tennessee. The activity list is legitimately impressive. This isn't a crafts-and-campfire camp, it's an adventure camp. gsmidtn.org/camp-sycamore-hills.

NaCoMe Camp in Pleasantville (about an hour and a half). Rising 2nd-12th. 600-plus acres. Presbyterian, 80-plus year tradition. Canoeing, archery, campfires, outdoor cooking, nature. (931) 729-9723 or nacome.org/summer-camps.

Horton Haven Christian Camp in Lewisburg (about an hour and a half). 350 acres. Day and overnight. Archery, air rifles, climbing wall, horseback riding, canoeing. Session options include Osprey Day Camp (July 17), Ranger Camp 1 (July 10), and Ranger Camp 2 (July 24). info@hortonhaven.org or (931) 364-7656 or hortonhaven.org.

Deer Run Camps, Middle Tennessee (about an hour and a half). Ages 5-16. 150 acres. Day and overnight options June and July. Faith-based. deerrun.camp.

Doe River Gorge in Elizabethton (about 2 hours). Grades 2-12. One to four weeks. Christian. Triple zipline, white-water tubing, rock climbing, rappelling, caving, high ropes. Worth the two-hour drive for the right kid. Doe River Gorge is one of the most activity-packed Christian overnight camps in the Southeast. The adventure programming alone (caving, white-water tubing, rappelling) is hard to find at this level anywhere closer. doerivergorge.com.

Academic and Enrichment

Vanderbilt Programs for Talented Youth (PTY) in Nashville. Vanderbilt's academically focused programs are among the most respected in the Southeast.

• SAVY (Saturday Academy for Verbally and Visually Talented Youth). Rising 1st-8th. 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m., weekly sessions June and July. $625 per week plus $50 application fee. TCAP scores accepted for eligibility. Rolling admissions. Academically advanced programming for gifted students, led by Vanderbilt faculty. pty.vanderbilt.edu/for-students/savy.
• Vanderbilt Summer Academy (VSA). Rising 7th-12th. June 7-12 or June 14-19. $2,150-$2,750. Residential. One-week interdisciplinary residential courses with Vanderbilt faculty. One of the top pre-college experiences in Tennessee. pty.vanderbilt.edu/for-students/vsa.
• Vanderbilt Summer Institutes (VSI). Rising 11th-12th. Two-week residential begins June 7. $5,750. Faculty-led advanced academic study for high school upperclassmen. pty.vanderbilt.edu/vsi.

Montgomery Bell Academy Summer Camps in Nashville. 100-plus camps across sports, enrichment (LEGO, robotics, video game design), and academic preparation. montgomerybell.edu/summer-camps.

Brentwood Academy Camps in Brentwood. May 26 to July 24. Athletic, academic, and creative. brentwoodacademy.com/camps.

Faith-Based Camps

The faith-based camps in this guide are listed in their location sections above. Quick links to each:

• Skymont Scout Reservation in Altamont (about 45 minutes from Cookeville)
• Cedar Lake Camp in Livingston (about 40 minutes)
• Camp Boxwell in Lebanon (about 1 hour 15 minutes)
• CentriKid at Cumberland University in Lebanon (about 1 hour 15 minutes)
• Cumberland Youth Camp in Woodlawn (about 1 hour 15 minutes)
• NaCoMe Camp in Pleasantville (about an hour and a half)
• Horton Haven Christian Camp in Lewisburg (about an hour and a half)
• Deer Run Camps (about an hour and a half)
• Doe River Gorge in Elizabethton (about 2 hours)

Upper Cumberland FCA Camp at Maryville College in Maryville (about an hour and a half). 2026 dates posted at uppercumberlandfca.org/camp.

Special Needs and Inclusive Programs

Metro Parks Nashville disABILITIES Programs. Summer day camps for high school youth and adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Peer partner model. SailNashville partnership. nashville.gov/departments/parks/centennial-sportsplex/disabilities-program.

Camp Conquest in Millington (near Memphis, about 2.5 hours). Christian camp for kids and adults with special needs. One-to-one volunteer ratio. One of the most intentionally welcoming special needs camps in Tennessee. campconquest.com.

Specialty and Unique Experiences

Nashville Zoo Summer Camps. Grades K-12 (ages 4-18). 10 weeks. $300 and up per week. 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Before and after care available. One of Nashville's most popular summer camp programs, and for good reason. Kids spend the week with zoo educators learning about animals, ecosystems, and conservation, and actually spend time near the animals in ways that regular zoo visits don't offer. Themes rotate weekly. Don't sleep on registration for this one. zoocamp@nashvillezoo.org or nashvillezoo.org/camp.

The Curious Kitchen Culinary Camps in the Nashville and Murfreesboro area. Cooking and baking. Daily hands-on cooking plus a group lunch. Themes include candy making, breakfast cooking, baking, and more. Two-hour themed sessions for kids who like being in the kitchen. thecuriouskitchen.net/kids-cooking-camp.

Camp Davis at the Gordon Jewish Community Center in Nashville. Features the only Olympic-sized outdoor pool in Nashville. Instructional swim plus specialty programs in STEM, culinary, sports, and arts. Grades K and up. campdavisnashville.com.

Nashville Shores Aquatics Camp in Hermitage. Grades 3-8. Behind-the-scenes waterpark experience plus CPR training, water rescue basics, and lifeguarding introduction. A unique behind-the-curtain look at how a major waterpark operates, and a good intro to aquatics safety. nashvilleshores.com.

Lighthouse Creative Writing Camps in Nashville. Ages 8-18. Half-day and full-day options. June through August. All levels, from reluctant writers to experienced young novelists. One of the few dedicated writing camps in the region.

Vanderbilt Dyer Observatory Space Camp. Rising 5th-6th (academically advanced) via the Vanderbilt PTY program. The observatory has been closed for renovation through July 1, 2026. Check dyer.vanderbilt.edu for the current 2026 status before registering.

Free and Low-Cost: The Complete List

For families looking to minimize cost, here's every free or very low-cost program in this guide consolidated in one place.

Completely free:

• PCSS Summer Learning Camp (Cookeville). Grades 1-5, four weeks in June, meals included.
• PCSS Bridge Camp (Cookeville). Grades 6-8, June.
• CTK Vacation Bible School (Cookeville). Rising PreK through 5th grade, July 13-17.
• Tennessee Governor's Schools (all 11, two at TTU in Cookeville). Rising 11th-12th, three to four weeks residential, housing and meals included. Watch October 2026 for 2027 applications.
• TSU Free Four-Week Residential Engineering Experience (Nashville). Rising 9th-12th, June 15 to July 10.
• Tennessee State Parks Junior Ranger Programs. Various parks, free or minimal cost.

Under $150:

• APSU Coding Camps (Clarksville, about 1 hour 15 minutes). $69-$149, grades 1-12.

Under $300:

• MTSU Campus Recreation Camps (Murfreesboro, about 1 hour). $225 per week or $55 per day drop-in.

Scholarships available:

• Nashville Children's Theatre. FAM scholarship program. Full summer camp coverage available.
• Belmont Watkins Multi-Arts Camp.
• Girl Scouts Camp Sycamore Hills.
• 4-H Electric Camp (STEM). Ask about scholarships when you call (931) 526-4561.

Quick Reference: Registration Status

Last updated late May 2026. Confirm directly with camps before registering.

| Camp | Location | Ages | Cost | Notes | |------|----------|------|------|-------| | TTU Summer Music Institute | Cookeville | 14-18 | $375-$475 | Sessions begin May 31 | | 4-H Junior Camp | Cookeville | Gr. 4-6 | $380 | June 1-5 | | CTK VBS | Cookeville | PreK-5th | Free | Closes June 25 or when full | | PCSS Summer Learning Camp | Cookeville | Gr. 1-5 | Free | Apply at school | | PCSS Bridge Camp | Cookeville | Gr. 6-8 | Free | Apply at school | | City Leisure Sports Camps | Cookeville | 7-15 | $90-$125 | Multiple sessions June and July | | City Leisure Rec Day Camp | Cookeville | Gr. 1-12 | $90/wk | In-person registration at Cane Creek | | YMCA Day Camp | Cookeville | 5-12 | Contact | Late availability possible | | TSU Free Engineering (4-week) | Nashville | Gr. 9-12 | Free | June 15 to July 10 | | TTU EEC Engineering Camp | Cookeville | Gr. 10-12 | $100 | Closed for 2026, watch fall 2026 | | Governor's Schools (all 11) | Statewide | Gr. 11-12 | Free | Watch October 2026 for next cycle | | Nashville Zoo Camp | Nashville | K-12 | $300+/wk | Fills fast | | Nashville Children's Theatre | Nashville | K-12 | Contact | FAM scholarships available | | Camp TPAC | Nashville | 8-16 | Contact | Weekly sessions | | Vanderbilt SAVY | Nashville | Gr. 1-8 | $625/wk | Rolling admissions | | Vanderbilt Summer Academy | Nashville | Gr. 7-12 | $2,150-$2,750 | June 7 or June 14 | | Lavner / Camp Tech Revolution | Nashville | Various | Contact | June 1 to July 17 | | FC Barcelona Camp | Nashville | 6-17 | Contact | June 22-26 | | Real Madrid Camp | Nashville | 5-17 | Contact | July 3-7 | | Atlético de Madrid Camp | Nashville | U6-U18 | Contact | July 20-24 | | Cedar Lake Camp | Livingston (~40 min) | Various | Contact | Weekly sessions | | Skymont Scout Reservation | Altamont (~45 min) | Scouts BSA | Contact | Summer sessions | | Camp Boxwell | Lebanon (~1 hr 15 min) | Scouts BSA | Contact | May 26, June 2, 9, 23 | | YMCA Camp Widjiwagan | Antioch (~1.5 hrs) | 4+ | Contact | Multiple sessions | | Camp YI | LaVergne (~1 hr) | 8-14 | Contact | June and July | | Girl Scouts Camp Sycamore Hills | Ashland City (~1.5 hrs) | Girls 5-17 | Contact | Summer sessions | | CentriKid at Cumberland Univ. | Lebanon (~1 hr 15 min) | Gr. 2-6 | $390 | June 8-12 or June 23-27 | | TRCamp 2026 (Robotics) | Murfreesboro (~1 hr) | Youth | Contact | Three-week program | | APSU Coding Camps | Clarksville (~1 hr 15 min) | Gr. 1-12 | $69-$149 | apsu.edu/csci/camp | | Belmont Multi-Arts Camp | Nashville | 6-11 | Contact | Summer sessions | | Blair School Suzuki Institute | Nashville | 4-17 | Contact | Only one in TN | | Lipscomb BisonBot Robotics | Nashville | 6-12 | $200-$500 | Four progressive levels | | MTSU Wilson Tennis Camp | Murfreesboro (~1 hr) | Various | Contact | 13th year | | Nashville SC Soccer Camps | Nashville / Franklin | All ages | Contact | June and July | | Nashville Gymnastics | Nashville | 3-12 | $70-$80/day | Summer sessions | | Frist Teen Film Camp | Nashville | Gr. 10-12 | ~$475 | July 13-17 | | Cheekwood Summer Camp | Nashville | 5-14 | Contact | Summer sessions | | NaCoMe Camp | Pleasantville (~1.5 hrs) | Gr. 2-12 | Contact | Presbyterian | | Horton Haven | Lewisburg (~1.5 hrs) | Various | Contact | July sessions | | Doe River Gorge | Elizabethton (~2 hrs) | Gr. 2-12 | Contact | One- to four-week options | | TSU Aviation Program | Nashville | Gr. 11-12 | Contact | 3.0 GPA required | | Upper Cumberland FCA Camp | Maryville (~1.5 hrs) | Youth | Contact | uppercumberlandfca.org/camp |

A Note on Keeping This Guide Current

We update this guide as additional dates are announced and as new programs open registration. Some Nashville-area and TTU sports camps still have TBD dates as of the last update. If you know of a Middle Tennessee summer camp worth including, or if you've registered for one and the listing here was wrong, let us know and we'll fix it for the next family that lands on this page.

If this guide was useful, share it with another Middle Tennessee family who's still figuring out summer. The more parents who have it, the better.

Sources and Direct Links

• cookeville-tn.gov/leisure-services
• pcfymca.org
• pcsstn.com
• putnam.tennessee.edu
• tntech.edu/summermusicinstitute
• tntech.edu/engineering/pre-college-programs/eec.php
• tntecheagles.com
• tn.gov/education (Governor's Schools)
• ctk.org/vacation-bible-school
• cedarlakecamp.org
• cherokeeareabsa.com/skymont
• mtcscouting.org (Camp Boxwell)
• gsmidtn.org/camp-sycamore-hills
• campwidji.org (Camp Widjiwagan)
• campyi.org
• nacome.org
• cumberlandcamp.org
• hortonhaven.org
• deerrun.camp
• doerivergorge.com
• centrikid.lifeway.com
• cumberland.edu/community-outreach/camps
• apsu.edu/csci/camp
• apsuathleticscamps.com
• tennesseeroboticscenter.com
• lavnercampsandprograms.com
• idtech.com
• tnstate.edu/summer/campsandprograms.aspx
• lipscomb.edu/events/bisonbot-robotic-summer-camps
• engineeringforkids.com/nashville
• nashvillechildrenstheatre.org
• tpac.org/inclusive-arts/classes-and-camps/summer-camp
• belmont.edu/cmpa/summer-camps
• belmont.edu/watkins/community-education/multiarts-camp.html
• cheekwood.org/learn/childrens-programs/summer-camp
• fristartmuseum.org/teen-summer-film-camp
• nfi.edu/summer-film-camp
• usn.org/summer
• blair.vanderbilt.edu/blair-academy/summer.php
• belmont.edu/summer-camps
• vanderbiltfootballcamps.com
• vucommodores.com
• vandysoccercamps.com
• fcbarcelona.us/locations/nashville
• rmfclinicsusa.com
• fs.campusatleticodemadrid.com/camps/nashville-soccer-camp
• nashvillesc.com/camps
• nusasoccer.org/camps
• mtsusoccercamps.com
• nashvillegtc.com
• xceleratelacrosse.com
• wilsontenniscamps.com/middle-tennessee-state-university
• lipscombsportscamps.com
• pty.vanderbilt.edu
• montgomerybell.edu/summer-camps
• brentwoodacademy.com/camps
• nashvillezoo.org/camp
• thecuriouskitchen.net/kids-cooking-camp
• campdavisnashville.com
• nashvilleshores.com
• nashville.gov/departments/parks/centennial-sportsplex/disabilities-program
• campconquest.com
• dyer.vanderbilt.edu/entertainment-summer-camps
• murfreesborotn.gov/2461/Outdoor-Murfreesboro-Summer-Camps
• tnstateparks.com/get-involved/special-summer-programs
• w1.mtsu.edu/camprec/camps/index.php