YouthCampsBase
18 Best Day Camps in Pennsylvania for 2026, Reviewed by YouthCampsBase
18 day camp programs in Pennsylvania for 2026, ranked by parent ratings, program depth, and verified listings. Reviewed by Maya Okonkwo.
18 Best Day Camps in Pennsylvania for 2026, Reviewed by YouthCampsBase
By Maya Okonkwo, Editorial Lead, Day & Specialty Camps — published 2026-05-24
This is a working list, not a ranking. We picked 18 day camp programs in Pennsylvania for 2026 that score well across the measures we trust most: parent ratings, completeness of public information, depth of programming, and whether the camp has bothered to claim and maintain its profile. That last one matters more than parents realize. A camp that doesn't keep its hours and program list up to date in public is a camp that probably doesn't respond to email either.
How we picked these
We ranked the Pennsylvania 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 Pennsylvania that met our minimum quality threshold, and we cross-checked names against Pennsylvania state licensing records where available. Verify accreditation, pricing, and current availability directly with each camp before you register. Camp programs change between years.
The 18 picks
1. Arrowhead Day Camp
Location: West Chester, PA · Parent rating: 4.9
Arrowhead Day Camp sits on this list because it does the boring things well: a substantive public description that tells parents what the camp actually does, 4.9 stars from 53 reviewing parents, and a public program list that gives parents enough to work with.
View full listing on YouthCampsBase
2. Lancaster Science Factory
Location: Lancaster, PA · Parent rating: 4.7
We included Lancaster Science Factory because the public signal is steady: a parent rating of 4.7 across 1214 public reviews, alongside a usable public description of the program in Lancaster.
View full listing on YouthCampsBase
3. Riverbend Environmental Education Center
Location: Gladwyne, PA · Parent rating: 4.7
We included Riverbend Environmental Education Center because the public signal is steady: a parent rating of 4.7 across 119 public reviews, alongside a public description thorough enough to evaluate before you call in Gladwyne.
View full listing on YouthCampsBase
4. Camp Lohikan
Location: Lake Como, PA · Parent rating: 4.6
We included Camp Lohikan because the public signal is steady: 4.6 stars from 283 reviewing parents, alongside a public summary that lays out what the camp does in Lake Como.
View full listing on YouthCampsBase
5. Camp Guyasuta - Scouting America
Location: Sharpsburg, PA · Parent rating: 4.6
Why Camp Guyasuta - Scouting America made the cut: a detailed write-up that covers what kids actually do each day, 236 public parent reviews averaging 4.6 in Sharpsburg.
View full listing on YouthCampsBase
6. Camp Raninu
Location: Honesdale, PA · Parent rating: 4.6
We included Camp Raninu because the public signal is steady: a parent rating of 4.6 across 59 public reviews, alongside a real description of the program, not a marketing slogan in Honesdale.
View full listing on YouthCampsBase
7. Camp Lee Mar
Location: Lackawaxen, PA · Parent rating: 4.6
Why Camp Lee Mar made the cut: a detailed write-up that covers what kids actually do each day, 4.6 stars from 61 reviewing parents in Lackawaxen.
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8. Camp Blue Diamond
Location: Petersburg, PA · Parent rating: 5.0
Why we chose Camp Blue Diamond: a steady 5.0 parent rating built on 34 reviews, plus a public description thorough enough to evaluate before you call in Petersburg.
View full listing on YouthCampsBase
9. Thousand Trails Hershey
Location: Lebanon, PA · Parent rating: 4.4
Thousand Trails Hershey is a day camp in Lebanon that publishes the kind of detail parents actually need. A 4.4-star public rating; a workable description of the program's focus.
View full listing on YouthCampsBase
10. Burn Brae Day Camp Of Creative Arts
Location: Dresher, PA · Parent rating: 4.9
Why we chose Burn Brae Day Camp Of Creative Arts: a parent rating of 4.9 across 27 public reviews, plus a public description thorough enough to evaluate before you call in Dresher.
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11. Golden Slipper Camp
Location: Bala Cynwyd, PA · Parent rating: 4.9
Why we chose Golden Slipper Camp: a 4.9 parent rating, plus a workable description of the program's focus in Bala Cynwyd.
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12. Big Oak Day Camp (Camp Concepts)
Location: Yardley, PA · Parent rating: 4.9
Why we chose Big Oak Day Camp (Camp Concepts): a 4.9-star public rating, plus a detailed write-up that covers what kids actually do each day in Yardley.
View full listing on YouthCampsBase
13. Camp Timber Tops
Location: Greeley, PA · Parent rating: 4.6
Camp Timber Tops is a day camp in Greeley that earned its place on this list through a parent rating of 4.6 across 67 public reviews and a real description of the program, not a marketing slogan.
View full listing on YouthCampsBase
14. Jasmine Nyree Campus Pittsburgh
Location: Pittsburgh, PA · Parent rating: 5.0
The case for Jasmine Nyree Campus Pittsburgh in Pittsburgh: a steady parent rating of 5.0. A public description thorough enough to evaluate before you call.
View full listing on YouthCampsBase
15. Bournelyf Special Camp
Location: West Chester, PA · Parent rating: 5.0
Why we chose Bournelyf Special Camp: a steady parent rating of 5.0, plus a detailed write-up that covers what kids actually do each day in West Chester.
View full listing on YouthCampsBase
16. Phillies Phantasy Camp
Location: Bryn Mawr, PA · Parent rating: 5.0
The case for Phillies Phantasy Camp in Bryn Mawr: a steady parent rating of 5.0. A clear public description of what the program covers.
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17. Wilkes Barre Township Settlement Camp
Location: Wilkes-Barre Township, PA · Parent rating: 4.5
Why Wilkes Barre Township Settlement Camp made the cut: a substantive public description that tells parents what the camp actually does, public reviews averaging 4.5 stars in Wilkes-Barre Township.
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18. Camp RAD
Location: Warminster, PA · Parent rating: 5.0
Why Camp RAD made the cut: a clear public description of what the program covers, a 5.0 parent rating in Warminster.
View full listing on YouthCampsBase
Frequently Asked Questions
How early should I register for day camps in Pennsylvania?
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 Pennsylvania'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 18 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.