School is winding down, but you still have time to find a camp or summer activity that is low- or no-cost. Each year Best Starts highlights affordable activities and camps available to King County kids and young people.
We will continually update this list so if you know of an activity or opportunity that should be included, send us a note at best.starts@kingcounty.gov.
Upcoming activities and summer camps
Bridges United Foundation Free Soccer Camp
When: June 30 to July 3.
Where: Georgetown soccer playfield
Ages: 5 to 13
About: Soccer camps are for players of all skill types and the focus of the camp is fun and skill development. Camps are directed by Ballard FC coaches and Salmon Bay FC coaches, with an experienced camp coaching staff of local coaches! Ballard FC and Salmon Bay FC players will be present to interact with the campers each day.
Cost: Free!
Youth Development Summer Program
When: June 30 to August 22
Where: Filipino Community of Seattle (5740 Martin Luther King Jr. Way S, Seattle, WA 98118)
Ages: 5 to 12, or 11 to 18 (6th graders and their guardians can choose which group to sign up for).
About: An eight-week summer program at the Filipino Community of Seattle! Each week has a different theme, like art week, science week, or culture week. Students will have opportunities to engage both with general programming, and Filipino culture-centered activities like learning how to cook Filipino food.
Cost: Free!
Register: Here! Just scroll down and fill in the information fields. You will also see a link to summer field trip registrations. Here you can pick and choose which field trips you would like your youth to attend. Please note some field trips are limited to specific age groups.
iD Tech Camp
When: June 23 to August 15
Where: University of Washington
Ages: 7 to 17
About: Get a taste of collegiate life this summer through STEM camps held at the University of Washington that strike the perfect balance between skill development and summer fun. Children will work alongside new friends and learn from expert tech mentors – in coding, game dev, robotics, 3D printing, and more – while taking breaks in between to enjoy UW’s outdoor playing fields for ultimate frisbee, capture the flag, kickball, board games, and other activities! Camp information here and Scholarships applications here.
Cost: Scholarships available. Without scholarship camp costs $1,149 or more.
Register: Camp information here and Scholarships applications here.
Korean Community Service Center
When: July 7 to July 11
Where: Black Diamond Camp (19830 SE 328th Pl, Auburn, WA 98092)
Ages: Middle- and high-schoolers
About: The Summer Leadership Institute is a unique opportunity for Asian American middle and high school students to develop leadership skills, engage in mentorship, and become changemakers in their communities. Participants will engage in team building activities, presentations and games that will foster confidence, problem-solving, and advocacy skills to create positive change in their schools and communities.
Cost: $200 but scholarships are available
Summer in Skyway Day Camp
When: July 8 to August 15
Where: Bryn Mawr Elementary School
Ages: Available to 1st to 5th grade students
About: Summer in Skyway is a 6-week summer program organized by the Renton Innovation Zone Partnership, Renton School District, and Urban Family. Summer in Skyway offers a variety of summer activities, enrichment opportunities, and field trips for rising 1st-5th grade students. We connect students with 8 community organizations to offer a fun, well-rounded educational experience that fosters social-emotional development and academic growth.
Cost: Free
Public Health Camp
When: 9 am to 3:30 pm, August 4 to 8
Where: King County Chinook building at 401 5th Avenue, Seattle.
Ages: Young people 16 and older
About: Learn about public health and explore STEAM career paths! See highlights from last year’s camp on the Public Health Insider blog.
Cost: Free
City-based camps
Cities in King County offer summer camps and activities for kids and teenagers covering a range of interests, from sports, to science, to culinary arts and more. Many camps include financial aid. Check out these city summer camps:
- City of Auburn Summer Camps
- City of Burien Youth and Teen Day Camps
- City of Federal Way Day Camps
- City of Issaquah Day Camps
- City of Kent Summer Camps
- City of Maple Valley
- City of Seattle
- City of Shoreline
- City of Tukwila Summer Sports Camps, Hiking Club, and Playground Program
Summer Activity Calendars and Organizations with ongoing activities
Check out these organizations and their calendars for drop-in activities, weekly clubs, or other ongoing activities.
The Arc of King County has a list of summer camps that are adaptive and sensory friendly for children and young people. Take a look at their list of camps here!
Ballard FC Foundation offers youth soccer camp July 7 – August 8 with financial aid, in locations around Seattle.
Bridges, a Seattle Alternative Peer Group, offers drop-in hours and supports that focus on recovery support and feature sober activities. Take a look at their website!
Communities of Rooted Brilliance works with young people who are immigrants and refugees to build community supports grounded in celebrating traditional customs. Check out their youth programming and the Refugee and Immigrant Youth Advisory Council here.
DigiPen offers scholarships for their camps and offers free workshops throughout the year. Check out their calendar here!
East African Community Services’ Summer Program operates for six hours a day (11 am to 5 pm), four days a week (Monday – Thursday) for six-weeks in July and August. Summer instruction helps students build academic skills, retain the knowledge they gained during the school year, and cultivate creativity and critical thinking.
Girl Scouts camps welcome campers to the outdoors through a variety of camp activities and experiences. Learn more here!
Girl Scouts Beyond Bars focuses on creating community with girls who have parents who are incarcerated. Learn more here.
Institute For Community Leadership, an organization focused on creating programming and supports to build a more just community with community, has Cultural Leadership Exchanges in the summertime.
J Camp – Stroum Jewish Community Center has about 60 camps to choose from. Learn more about their financial assistance here!
Lambert House, which is an org dedicated to creating supports for LGBTQ+ youth, has ongoing activities, meet-ups, and workshops for young people throughout King County. Take a look at their events calendar!
Launch Learning – Every year, Launch offers 8 to 10 weeks of expanded-learning programming for children ages 3-12 from June to August. Launch’s Summer Program operates from 8am-6pm at select Launch sites across Seattle and Renton. Families may sign up for the number of weeks that meet their needs.
Rain City Rock Camp is open to young people and provides a space to grow and learn through music in day camps and workshops. Learn more here!
Seattle Aquarium Beach Naturalist Program has educators stationed on beaches throughout King County at low tides to help visitors explore the intertidal zone. It’s a great activity for parents, caregivers, and organized programs to bring children of all ages to, and is completely free and no registration is required. Take a look at the map here! Note: It is not a camp, so does not provide child care.
Sea Potential offers multiple programs and camps for young people, particularly BIPOC youth, between the ages of 12 and 18 that focus on marine life, beaches, sailing, and maritime careers.
Skyhawks Sports summer camps on Mercer Island – register here! Camps throughout the summer focusing on basketball, track & field, baseball, soccer, volleyball, Multi-sport, Lacrosse and flag football.
Pierce County Skills Center – 2025 Summer School – Classes for incoming 9th through 12th graders. Earn .5 credits per session! Information and dates here.
Trans Families, which creates supports for gender-diverse families, hosts year-round activities, drop-in groups, and classes. Check out their programs page here!
Treehouse provides resources to connect young people in foster care with enriching experiences! Learn more here!
Urban ArtWorks supports young people in the arts. Check out their website and scroll down to learn about the mural apprentice program, Base Crew, and school-based programs
The Vera Project offers classes and education in the arts for young people throughout the year! See their classes here.
Wilderness Awareness School offers scholarships for their camps that help kids learn about wilderness, animals, plant identification, birds and more. Find more information here!
Young Women Empowered offers a series of no cost camps open to young women, trans, and gender expansive young people ages 13-19. Some camps, as noted, are designed for BIPOC and Black youth. All are free to attend, meals and snacks are provided, and transportation can be arranged! See their camps and programs here!
YMCA of Greater Seattle offers financial assistance for their day camps and overnight destination camps, Camp Colman and Camp Orkila. Learn more about their financial assistance options here!
Other lists to explore
For Native Summer Camps and Programs: check out Seattle Public Schools’ list of Summer Camp Opportunities 2025 – Seattle Public Schools.
If you want to take a deeper dive into possible summer activities, take a look at the Elevate Washington Database before it shuts down May 30, 2025. You can search for activities by zip code, payment options (that include sliding scale, free, flat fee, or activities with scholarships), by interest, and by schedule.
