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18 Best Day Camps in Portland, OR for 2026, Reviewed by YouthCampsBase
18 day camp programs in Portland, OR for 2026, ranked by parent ratings, program depth, and verified listings. Reviewed by Maya Okonkwo.
18 Best Day Camps in Portland, OR for 2026, Reviewed by YouthCampsBase
By Maya Okonkwo, Editorial Lead, Day & Specialty Camps — published 2026-05-24
If you've been a Portland, OR parent for a few summers, the names on this list won't surprise you. If you're new, this is the short version of what your neighbors already know. We picked 18 day camp programs for 2026 that came back strong on the boring measures: parent ratings over time, real program detail published publicly, and signs the camp answers its phone. The full list of day camp options in Portland, OR runs much longer. This is the part of it worth starting with.
How we picked these
We ranked the Portland, OR 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 Portland, OR that met our minimum quality threshold, and we cross-checked names against Oregon 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. Super Pacific USA
Location: Portland, OR · Parent rating: 5.0
Super Pacific USA in Portland surfaced strong on the measures we trust. A parent rating of 5.0 across 204 public reviews, and a workable description of the program's focus.
View full listing on YouthCampsBase
2. Mother Tree Farm
Location: Portland, OR · Parent rating: 5.0
The case for Mother Tree Farm in Portland: a 5.0-star public rating. A clear public description of what the program covers.
View full listing on YouthCampsBase
3. Junior Achievement
Location: Portland, OR · Parent rating: 4.4
Junior Achievement sits on this list because it does the boring things well: a real description of the program, not a marketing slogan, public reviews averaging 4.4 stars, and a public program list that gives parents enough to work with.
View full listing on YouthCampsBase
4. Latino Network
Location: Portland, OR · Parent rating: 4.3
Why Latino Network made the cut: a clear public description of what the program covers, public reviews averaging 4.3 stars in Portland.
View full listing on YouthCampsBase
5. Just Compassion - Tigard
Location: Portland, OR · Parent rating: 4.1
Why Just Compassion - Tigard made the cut: a public summary that lays out what the camp does, a 4.1-star public rating in Portland.
View full listing on YouthCampsBase
6. Nourish Northwest
Location: Portland, OR · Parent rating: 5.0
Nourish Northwest sits on this list because it does the boring things well: a clear public description of what the program covers, a 5.0-star public rating, and a public program list that gives parents enough to work with.
View full listing on YouthCampsBase
7. Irvington Extended Day Inc
Location: Portland, OR · Parent rating: 5.0
Irvington Extended Day Inc in Portland surfaced strong on the measures we trust. Public reviews averaging 5.0 stars, and a public description thorough enough to evaluate before you call.
View full listing on YouthCampsBase
8. Girls Build
Location: Portland, OR · Parent rating: 5.0
Girls Build in Portland surfaced strong on the measures we trust. A 5.0-star public rating, and a clear public description of what the program covers.
View full listing on YouthCampsBase
9. Safety Side Up (CPR/First Aid)
Location: Portland, OR · Parent rating: 5.0
Safety Side Up (CPR/First Aid) in Portland surfaced strong on the measures we trust. A 5.0-star public rating, and a detailed write-up that covers what kids actually do each day.
View full listing on YouthCampsBase
10. Camp Rosenbaum
Location: Portland, OR · Parent rating: 5.0
Camp Rosenbaum is a day camp in Portland that publishes the kind of detail parents actually need. A 5.0-star public rating; a public description thorough enough to evaluate before you call.
View full listing on YouthCampsBase
11. Brainbox Science
Location: Portland, OR · Parent rating: 5.0
Brainbox Science is a day camp in Portland that earned its place on this list through a 5.0-star public rating and a detailed write-up that covers what kids actually do each day.
View full listing on YouthCampsBase
12. CYO/Camp Howard
Location: Portland, OR · Parent rating: 4.2
Why we chose CYO/Camp Howard: public reviews averaging 4.2 stars, plus a detailed write-up that covers what kids actually do each day in Portland.
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13. Portland Adventist Community Services - Food Distribution Center
Location: Portland, OR · Parent rating: 4.5
Portland Adventist Community Services - Food Distribution Center sits on this list because it does the boring things well: a workable description of the program's focus, a steady 4.5 parent rating built on 41 reviews, and a public program list that gives parents enough to work with.
View full listing on YouthCampsBase
14. Porch Light & Street Light Youth Shelters
Location: Portland, OR · Parent rating: 3.7
Porch Light & Street Light Youth Shelters in Portland surfaced strong on the measures we trust. The kind of word-of-mouth that holds up year to year, and a usable public description of the program.
View full listing on YouthCampsBase
15. Native American Youth and Family Center
Location: Portland, OR · Parent rating: 3.6
Why we chose Native American Youth and Family Center: consistent parent feedback over multiple seasons, plus a public summary that lays out what the camp does in Portland.
View full listing on YouthCampsBase
16. Girls Inc. of the Pacific Northwest
Location: Portland, OR · Parent rating: 4.1
We included Girls Inc. Of the Pacific Northwest because the public signal is steady: a 4.1 parent rating, alongside a real description of the program, not a marketing slogan in Portland.
View full listing on YouthCampsBase
17. Portland VA Medical Center
Location: Portland, OR · Parent rating: 3.6
Why we chose Portland VA Medical Center: the kind of word-of-mouth that holds up year to year, plus a public summary that lays out what the camp does in Portland.
View full listing on YouthCampsBase
18. Kamp Grizzly - Portland Creative Agency
Location: Portland, OR · Parent rating: 4.0
We included Kamp Grizzly - Portland Creative Agency because the public signal is steady: a 4.0 parent rating, alongside a workable description of the program's focus in Portland.
View full listing on YouthCampsBase
Frequently Asked Questions
How early should I register for day camps in Portland, OR?
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 Oregon'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.