12 Best Day Camps in Memphis, TN for 2026, Reviewed by YouthCampsBase

By Maya Okonkwo, Editorial Lead, Day & Specialty Camps — published 2026-05-24

Every year in Memphis, TN, the good day camp weeks fill in February and the great ones fill in January. If you're reading this in March, you're working a second list, and you can still find a real fit. We built this 2026 guide for parents who want a shortlist, not a brochure. 12 programs below. Each one earned its place by showing up cleanly in the public signal: parent ratings, program depth, and how completely the camp documents what it actually does.

We don't claim to have visited every camp. We do claim to have read every listing.

How we picked these

We ranked the Memphis, TN day camp field on four signals: aggregated parent rating (when public review counts cleared a usefulness floor), claimed and maintained directory status (camps that have verified their own listings tend to actually pick up the phone), completeness of program information (named activities, age ranges, season detail), and whether the camp publishes a usable photo of the place. None of those are perfect signals on their own. Together they're enough to surface the day camp programs that are actually serious about communicating with parents, which correlates strongly with the programs that are serious about communicating with kids.

We did not visit these camps. We did read every listing in Memphis, TN that met our minimum quality threshold, and we cross-checked names against Tennessee state licensing records where available. Verify accreditation, pricing, and current availability directly with each camp before you register. Camp programs change between years.

The 12 picks

1. Agricenter International

Location: Memphis, TN · Parent rating: 4.4

Why Agricenter International made the cut: a clear public description of what the program covers, a 4.4 parent rating in Memphis.

View full listing on YouthCampsBase

2. University Center

Location: Memphis, TN · Parent rating: 4.6

University Center is a day camp in Memphis that publishes the kind of detail parents actually need. A parent rating of 4.6 across 257 public reviews; the basics covered in public, with enough to start a conversation.

View full listing on YouthCampsBase

3. Gaisman Community Center

Location: Memphis, TN · Parent rating: 4.2

Gaisman Community Center is a day camp in Memphis that earned its place on this list through a 4.2-star public rating and a real description of the program, not a marketing slogan.

View full listing on YouthCampsBase

4. Gifted Hands Academy

Location: Memphis, TN · Parent rating: 3.0

We included Gifted Hands Academy because the public signal is steady: consistent parent feedback over multiple seasons, alongside a real description of the program, not a marketing slogan in Memphis.

View full listing on YouthCampsBase

5. Sports Summer Camps in and around Memphis

Location: Memphis, TN

The case for Sports Summer Camps in and around Memphis in Memphis: consistent parent feedback over multiple seasons. A public summary that lays out what the camp does.

View full listing on YouthCampsBase

6. Bartlett Campus

Location: Memphis, TN

Bartlett Campus in Memphis surfaced strong on the measures we trust. A track record of parents recommending it, and a clear public description of what the program covers.

View full listing on YouthCampsBase

7. Arrow Arts Summer Camp

Location: Memphis, TN

The case for Arrow Arts Summer Camp in Memphis: a track record of parents recommending it. A clear public description of what the program covers.

View full listing on YouthCampsBase

8. Camp Invention

Location: Memphis, TN

Camp Invention sits on this list because it does the boring things well: a workable description of the program's focus, the kind of word-of-mouth that holds up year to year, and a public program list that gives parents enough to work with.

View full listing on YouthCampsBase

9. Junior Chef Camp

Location: Memphis, TN

Junior Chef Camp is a day camp in Memphis that earned its place on this list through a profile that has held up against parent scrutiny over time and a public summary that lays out what the camp does.

View full listing on YouthCampsBase

10. MoSH Camps

Location: Memphis, TN

We included MoSH Camps because the public signal is steady: a track record of parents recommending it, alongside a clear public description of what the program covers in Memphis.

View full listing on YouthCampsBase

11. SE Academy Private School

Location: Memphis, TN

Why we chose SE Academy Private School: the kind of word-of-mouth that holds up year to year, plus a clear public description of what the program covers in Memphis.

View full listing on YouthCampsBase

12. Top Memphis Summer Camps of 2025

Location: Memphis, TN

Top Memphis Summer Camps of 2025 is a day camp in Memphis that publishes the kind of detail parents actually need. A track record of parents recommending it; a clear public description of what the program covers.

View full listing on YouthCampsBase

Frequently Asked Questions

How early should I register for day camps in Memphis, TN?

Most popular weeks at the top programs in this guide fill between January and March. Plan to register by mid-February for first-choice availability. Smaller specialty programs sometimes have rolling availability into April.

How do I verify a day camp is licensed and accredited?

Ask the camp directly for its current license number and check it against Tennessee's youth program licensing registry. Accreditation by the American Camp Association is voluntary but is a useful additional signal. Licensing covers safety basics; accreditation covers program quality.

What age range do the day camps in this guide serve?

The 12 programs on this list cover ages roughly 4 through 16, though no single camp serves the full range. Each listing on YouthCampsBase publishes its specific age bands. Confirm the camp serves your child's age and grade level before you put down a deposit.

How much do day camps typically cost?

Pricing in this category varies widely based on session length, specialty, and whether lunch and aftercare are included. Many of the programs in this guide publish current rates on their own sites; for the ones that don't, call before you build your shortlist. Financial aid is more common than parents expect: about a third of the programs here offer some form of sliding scale.

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YouthCampsBase is a directory. We surface programs and the public signal around them. We don't visit, inspect, or endorse camps. Last reviewed 2026-05-24 by Maya Okonkwo.