Summer Camps

Update: 2/3/26 at 12:25pm

This summer, we will not be offering a CIT program. As we rebuild and redesign our summer camp experience, our full focus needs to be on strengthening the foundation of our camps — including staffing, daily structure, and the overall camper experience. Taking this intentional pause allows us to focus our time and energy where it is most needed to ensure a safe, supportive, and high-quality summer for all campers.

This decision was not made lightly. Our goal is to do this work thoughtfully and intentionally so we can reintroduce leadership pathways, like CIT, in a stronger and more meaningful way in the future.

We truly appreciate your understanding and continued support as we take this important step in rebuilding our summer camp programs. Please don’t hesitate to reach out if you have additional questions.

Update 1/14/26 at 10:33am

Dear Families,

We hope you and your families are having a great start to the new year. We’re excited to begin sharing details for Summer Camp 2026 and appreciate your patience as we finalize plans for the upcoming season.

We are planning to open summer camp registration for Wellesley residents during the first week of February. We are still finalizing camp dates and program details and will continue to update families as we get closer to registration opening. As a reminder, we are reducing our enrollment numbers for Summer 2026, so there will be limited spaces available. 

New this year, at the time of registration, a $25 deposit per week, per child will be required to secure your child’s spot. This deposit allows us to plan responsibly for staffing, supplies, and program logistics, and helps ensure that registered spots are being held for families who intend to attend to go to camp. In past summers, late cancellations and unpaid balances have limited our ability to offer available spaces to other families. Requiring a deposit helps us manage capacity fairly and provide the best possible camp experience for all participants.

After the deposit is applied, families will have two payment options:

• Pay the remaining balance in full at the time of registration, or

• Choose the installment billing option, which divides the remaining balance into four monthly payments, minus the deposit already paid.

We strongly encourage families to register as soon as their summer schedules are known. With reduced enrollment numbers this year, we anticipate that spots will fill quickly.

Thank you for your continued support of our programs. If you have any questions, please contact the Recreation Office. We look forward to another great summer.

Updated 1/6/26 at 2:40pm

Dear Camp Families,

As we prepare for the upcoming summer, we want to share important updates to our summer camp programs and explain the thinking behind these changes.

Across the country, youth-serving organizations — including schools, recreation programs, and summer camps — are experiencing increased behavioral challenges among children. This is a well-documented trend, and while summer camps are not immune to it, we take our responsibility to provide a safe, supportive, and positive environment very seriously.

Over the past several years, we have used a variety of approaches to respond to these challenges while also managing significant program growth. While we are grateful for the trust families place in us, our camp program has grown to a size that no longer allows us to consistently provide the level of supervision, structure, and individualized support we believe campers and staff need to be successful.

After careful reflection and planning — including input from both current and past camp staff as well as members of the Recreation Commission — we have made the difficult but necessary decision to “tear camp down to the studs” and intentionally rebuild it. A key part of this restructuring means serving fewer children this summer. Reducing enrollment allows us to strengthen staff training, increase supervision, reset expectations, and rebuild camp culture with greater intention and consistency. This shift also allows us to offer more engaging and developmentally appropriate activities while maintaining safety and positive group dynamics. Our goal is to thoughtfully rebuild and, over time, gradually increase enrollment each year as the program and culture strengthen.

It is important to be clear: summer camp should be fun, engaging, and joyful — but it must also be safe, respectful, and well-structured. These changes will allow us to better support positive behavior, respond more effectively when challenges arise, and ensure that all campers have the opportunity to succeed.

As part of this rebuild, we are also adjusting camp structure, age groupings, names, and schedules to better align with child development needs:

• Kindercamp will serve children ENTERING Preschool and Kindergarten and will run 8:45 AM – 1:15 PM. Kindercamp focuses on developmentally appropriate routines, social skill building, and a supportive introduction to the camp experience.

• Camp Joey will serve children ENTERING Grades 1–2, offering a structured full-day experience with engaging activities and clear expectations.

• Camp Nova will serve children ENTERING Grades 3–4. Camp Nova is designed for campers who are ready for greater independence, expanded activities, and continued structure and support.

• Camp Apex will serve children ENTERING Grades 5–6. Camp Apex provides an experience for older campers that emphasizes responsibility, engagement, and readiness for the next stage of their youth development journey.

These updates allow us to be more intentional about programming, staffing, and daily structure, ensuring that each age group receives the level of support, challenge, and engagement that best meets their needs.

More detailed information will be shared shortly for each individual camp, including specific hours, pricing, and program details. We wanted to provide this update now so families can begin planning their summers, knowing that additional information will be available as we prepare to open registration in February.

We know that change can be challenging, and we appreciate your understanding and partnership as we make these updates. Our goal is to build a stronger, safer, and more positive camp experience — not just for this summer, but for years to come. Thank you for your continued trust in our programs.