Austin Parks and Recreation provides accessible, diverse, and inclusive summer camps, and now offers early registration for community participants who qualify for financial aid. There are camps for youth (ages 5 to 12) and for teens (ages 12 to 15) at select locations.

Summer 2025  |  Registration  |  Therapeutic  |  Cultural & Art  |  Nature  |  Community Recreation  |  Free

Summer 2025

Summer Camp: 2025 Flyer (PDF, 5.9mb)

Registration Dates

Fees

  • $140 per week for Residents
  • $220 per week for Non-Residents
  • $20 Deposit
    *See Fee Exceptions below
Fee Exceptions

Per week-long session at:
Austin Nature Science Center
Camacho Activity Center

  • $225 per week for Residents
  • $300 per week for Non-Residents
  • $40 Deposit
     

Per three-week session at:
Emma S Barrientos Mexican American Cultural Center
George Washington Carver Museum & Cultural Center

  • $420 per 3-week session for Residents
  • $660 per 3-week session for Non-Residents
  • $60 Deposit
Deposits

A non-refundable deposit per participant per session will reserve the spot at the time of registration.

Any remaining balance is due by 5:00pm 21 days prior to the start of the enrolled session. If not received by that date/time, the spot and deposit will be forfeited.

Session Dates

Weekly Camp Sessions
Summer 2025 -- Weekly
Session Start End Skip Days in
Session		 Payment
Due In Full
Week 1 6/9/2025 6/13/2025 None 5 5/19/2025
Week 2 6/16/2025 6/20/2025 6/19/2025 4 5/26/2025
Week 3 6/23/2025 6/27/2025 None 5 6/2/2025
Week 4 6/30/2025 7/3/2025 7/4/2025 4 6/9/2025
Week 5 7/7/2025 7/11/2025 None 5 6/16/2025
Week 6 7/14/2025 7/18/2025 None 5 6/23/2025
Week 7 7/21/2025 7/25/2025 None 5 6/30/2025
Week 8 7/28/2025 8/1/2025 None 5 7/7/2025
Week 9 8/4/2025 8/8/2025 None 5 7/14/2025
Week 10 8/11/2025 8/13/2025 8/14/2025
8/15/2025		 3 7/21/2025
3-Week Camps

For Emma S Barrientos Mexican American Cultural Center ONLY.

ESB MACC Summer 2025 Session Dates
Session Start End Skip Days in
Session		 Payment
Due In Full
Session 1 6/9/2025 6/27/2025 6/19/2025 14 5/19/2025
Session 2 6/30/2025 7/18/2025 7/4/2025 14 6/9/2025
Session 3 7/21/2025 8/8/2025 None 15 6/30/2025
Free Drop in Days 8/11/2025 8/13/2025 --- --- ---

 

For George Washington Carver Museum & Cultural Center ONLY.

Carver Summer 2025 Session Dates
Session Start End Skip Days in
Session		 Payment
Due In Full
Session 1 6/9/2025 6/13/2025 None 5 5/19/2025
No Camp 6/16/2025 6/20/2025 --- --- ---
Session 2 6/23/2025 7/11/2025 7/4/2025 14 6/2/2025
Session 3 7/14/2025 8/1/2025 None 15 6/23/2025
Session 4 8/4/2025 8/8/2025 None 5 7/14/2025
Session 5 8/11/2025 8/13/2025 8/14/2025
8/15/2025		 3 7/21/2025

Camp Types

Therapeutic  |  Cultural & Art  |  Nature  |  Community Recreation  |  Free

Registration

Online Registation

Forms and Documents

Register online at AustinTexas.gov/ParksOnline. You can register in person, over the phone, or online.

Learn how to use our online registration system with accounts, logging in, registering and paying for camps online here: Account Creation, Online Registration & Frequently Asked Questions.

Registration Limits for Specialty Camps

The Austin Parks & Recreation Department wants to ensure all interested participants have an opportunity to participate in specialty camps. We understand these camps are in high demand, capacity is limited, and the process for registering can be quite competitive.

In response to our commitment to ensure equal access to all parks and programs, PARD has adopted a new three (3) week maximum registration limit for all specialty camps, for all participants.

What does this mean?
When registering for specialty camps at sites like the Austin Nature & Science Center, Camacho Activity Center, or the Dougherty Arts Center, you will be limited to three (3) weeks per site, per child. In the event you register for more than three (3) weeks at one site, you will be contacted and dropped from additional weeks.

Sites with Specialty Camps:
- Austin Nature & Science Center
- Camacho Activity Center
- Dougherty Arts Center
- Mexican American Cultural Center (at the Asian American Resource Center)
- Carver Museum

Early Registration

Austin Parks and Recreation offers early registration for Austin residents who qualify for financial aid.

Early Registration Period: February 1 - 7
- Early Registration will open at 10am on Saturday, February 1, 2025.
- In Person Registration times will vary based on location. Evening and weekend times are available.

How do I qualify for Early Registration?

Households who wish to qualify for early registration on the basis of income must first be enrolled in our financial aid program. To learn more about financial aid and to see if you qualify, visit Austin Parks and Recreation Financial Aid.

Inclusion Support Services

For more information and to learn how to apply for inclusion and adaptive support, visit Inclusion Support Services.

Virtual Waiting Room

During the Registration Process, there is a feature called the virtual waiting room. While in the waiting room, you will see a video of a man walking back and forth across the screen. This lets you know you are in the waiting room, awaiting your turn in line. Users should not go “back” or refresh while in the waiting room! Please be patient.

Here is a video that helps explain how it operates: 
Instructions on Waiting Room

Therapeutic Camps

Therapeutic Recreation

Therapeutic summer programs embrace the diversity that defines Austin and works to ensure that all individuals are accepted, included, and welcomed to participate, play, and recreate together with a team of Certified Therapeutic Recreation Specialists (CTRS) and Inclusion Aids.

Cultural & Art Camps

cultural and Art Camps

Visual and performing arts, culture and history summer camp programs preserve and protect the past, celebrate Austin’s diversity, build community, and develop awareness and appreciation for the arts.

Specialty Camps have a three (3) week maximum registration limit per participant, per site.

  • Dougherty Arts Center 
    Summer Art Escape Website 
    Flyer (PDF, 641kb)
    Register
     
  • ESB Mexican American Cultural Center
    Raices Summer Camp at Asian American Resource Center 
    Flier: Flyer (PDF)
    Register
     
  • George Washington Carver Museum & Cultural Center
    Flier: Flyer (PDF, 460kb)
    Register

Nature Camps

Nature Camps

Nature-based summer camp programs provide hands-on educational and recreational activities that increase appreciation for the natural environment and awareness of the conservation ethic.

Specialty Camps have a three (3) week maximum registration limit per participant, per site.

Community Recreation Camps

Community Recreation Camps

Community recreation summer programs at Recreation Centers have a youth development philosophy which focuses on providing youth opportunities to enhance their interests, skills and abilities through intentional programming and quality experiences that help develop social, emotional, ethical, physical and cognitive competencies.

  • Youth & Teen Summer Camps
    Youth ages 5 to 11 / Teens ages 12 to 15
    Various Community Recreation Centers
    Flyer (PDF, 6.5mb)
     
  • View Registration Listings by Community Recreation Site: 
    Sites offering Teen Camps denoted with (+)
    • Delores Duffie Recreation Center (+) Register
    • Dittmar Recreation Center (+) Register
    • Givens Recreation Center (+) Register
    • George Morales Dove Springs Recreation Center (+) Register
    • Gustavo "Gus" L. Garcia Recreation Center (+) Register
    • Hancock Recreation Center Register
    • Montopolis Recreation and Community Center (+) Register
    • Northwest Recreation Center (+) Register
    • Oswaldo A. B. Cantu / Pan American Recreation Center (+) Register
    • Parque Zaragoza Recreation Center Register
    • Pickfair Community Center Register
    • Rodolfo "Rudy" Mendez Recreation Center (+) Register
    • South Austin Recreation Center (+) Register
    • Turner-Roberts Recreation Center (+) Register
    • Virginia L. Brown Recreation Center Register
    • ALL Community Recreation Camp Registration Listings Here
       
  • Map of Recreation Centers
    Flyer (JPG, 123kb)

Free Summer Programs

Playgrounds Program Kids Playing

Boredom Busters

Beat the Summer Boredom with this year’s Boredom Buster FREE summer Drop-In program. Boredom Busters is a free summer drop-in program designed to keep youth engaged and entertained. Here is what makes Boredom Busters the coolest summer hangout:

  • Drop-In Fun: You can choose what days to join according to your schedule. Drop by when convenient for you.  Pre-registration does not guarantee your spot, just ensures you can have a quicker drop off the days that you attend. Slots are limited on a DAILY, first come first serve basis.
     
  • Endless Activities: Unleash creativity with crafts, whip up yummy treats in the kitchen, conquer game challenges, explore nature, and get active with sports! We have something for every interest.
  • Eight Weeks of Adventure: Boredom Busters runs for eight exciting weeks, ensuring a summer full of fun and learning. Each site will provide a lunch/snack daily.

Boredom Busters is the perfect solution for busy families! Let your child experience a summer of exploration, discovery, and laughter. 

Program Details:

  • Ages: 5-12 Years Old
  • Slots are limited on a DAILY first come first served basis.

No camp on June 19 and July 4 due to City of Austin holidays.

Summer Playgrounds

The Summer Playgrounds Program is a FREE Drop-In Program for children 5-12 years of age Monday through Friday 9 AM to 5 PM. Our park locations are equally spread out between North, Central, and South Austin to better serve families. No advanced registration required, but registration is required at the park site the first day of attendance. 

Summer Playgrounds Program Dates: June 9 - August 1, 2025
No program on June 19 and July 4 due to City of Austin holidays.

Park Locations

  • Dick Nichols District Park, 8011 Beckett Road, Austin, 78749
  • Dottie Jordan Neighborhood Park, 2803 Loyola Lane, Austin, 78723
  • James A. Garrison District Park - 6001 Menchaca Rd, Austin, 78745
  • Gillis Neighborhood Park, 2410 Durwood Ave, Austin, 78704
  • Govalle Neighborhood Park, 5200 Bolm Road, Austin, 78721
  • Walnut Creek Metropolitan Park - 12138 N Lamar Blvd, Austin, 78758

For more, visit the Summer Playgrounds Program website.

Related Links
Programs and Activity Registration