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18 Best Day Camps in Tempe, AZ for 2026, Reviewed by YouthCampsBase
18 day camp programs in Tempe, AZ for 2026, ranked by parent ratings, program depth, and verified listings. Reviewed by Maya Okonkwo.
18 Best Day Camps in Tempe, AZ for 2026, Reviewed by YouthCampsBase
By Maya Okonkwo, Editorial Lead, Day & Specialty Camps — published 2026-05-24
Picking a day camp in Tempe, AZ is a four-question decision: age, type, budget, and how far you're willing to drive. Tempe, AZ has more options than most parents realize. This list narrows it to 18 programs that consistently come back well in parent reviews and that have enough public information on file to evaluate without picking up the phone.
This is our 2026 working list. We refresh it each spring. If your kid is a returning camper at one of these, you probably already know they belong here. If you're new to Tempe, AZ camp season, treat this as the short list, not the only list. Verify every detail directly with the camp before you register.
How we picked these
We ranked the Tempe, AZ 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 Tempe, AZ that met our minimum quality threshold, and we cross-checked names against Arizona 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. Unitek EMT
Location: Tempe, AZ · Parent rating: 5.0
Why we chose Unitek EMT: 5.0 stars from 172 reviewing parents, plus a workable description of the program's focus in Tempe.
View full listing on YouthCampsBase
2. Unitek EMT
Location: Tempe, AZ · Parent rating: 5.0
Why we chose Unitek EMT: 5.0 stars from 172 reviewing parents, plus a workable description of the program's focus in Tempe.
View full listing on YouthCampsBase
3. Boys & Girls Clubs of the Valley - North Tempe Branch
Location: Tempe, AZ · Parent rating: 4.3
Boys & Girls Clubs of the Valley - North Tempe Branch is a day camp in Tempe that publishes the kind of detail parents actually need. A steady parent rating of 4.3; a workable description of the program's focus.
View full listing on YouthCampsBase
4. Future for KIDS
Location: Tempe, AZ · Parent rating: 4.8
The case for Future for KIDS in Tempe: public reviews averaging 4.8 stars. A public description thorough enough to evaluate before you call.
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5. Boys & Girls Clubs of the Valley - North Tempe Branch
Location: Tempe, AZ · Parent rating: 4.3
Boys & Girls Clubs of the Valley - North Tempe Branch is a day camp in Tempe that publishes the kind of detail parents actually need. A steady parent rating of 4.3; a workable description of the program's focus.
View full listing on YouthCampsBase
6. Future for KIDS
Location: Tempe, AZ · Parent rating: 4.8
The case for Future for KIDS in Tempe: public reviews averaging 4.8 stars. A public description thorough enough to evaluate before you call.
View full listing on YouthCampsBase
7. The Salvation Army Thrift Store & Donation Center
Location: Tempe, AZ · Parent rating: 4.2
We included The Salvation Army Thrift Store & Donation Center because the public signal is steady: a 4.2-star public rating, alongside a clear public description of what the program covers in Tempe.
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8. Rave Camp
Location: Tempe, AZ · Parent rating: 4.6
Rave Camp sits on this list because it does the boring things well: a real description of the program, not a marketing slogan, a steady 4.6 parent rating built on 20 reviews, and a public program list that gives parents enough to work with.
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9. Rave Camp
Location: Tempe, AZ · Parent rating: 4.6
Rave Camp sits on this list because it does the boring things well: a real description of the program, not a marketing slogan, a steady 4.6 parent rating built on 20 reviews, and a public program list that gives parents enough to work with.
View full listing on YouthCampsBase
10. AZ School Meals
Location: Tempe, AZ · Parent rating: 4.0
AZ School Meals is a day camp in Tempe that publishes the kind of detail parents actually need. A 4.0 parent rating; a clear public description of what the program covers.
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11. AZ School Meals
Location: Tempe, AZ · Parent rating: 4.0
AZ School Meals is a day camp in Tempe that publishes the kind of detail parents actually need. A 4.0 parent rating; a clear public description of what the program covers.
View full listing on YouthCampsBase
12. Education at Work
Location: Tempe, AZ · Parent rating: 3.4
Education at Work is a day camp in Tempe that publishes the kind of detail parents actually need. Consistent parent feedback over multiple seasons; a real description of the program, not a marketing slogan.
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13. Education at Work
Location: Tempe, AZ · Parent rating: 3.4
Education at Work is a day camp in Tempe that publishes the kind of detail parents actually need. Consistent parent feedback over multiple seasons; a real description of the program, not a marketing slogan.
View full listing on YouthCampsBase
14. Arizona State University Foundation
Location: Tempe, AZ · Parent rating: 3.0
Arizona State University Foundation is a day camp in Tempe that publishes the kind of detail parents actually need. Consistent parent feedback over multiple seasons; a public summary that lays out what the camp does.
View full listing on YouthCampsBase
15. Arizona State University Foundation
Location: Tempe, AZ · Parent rating: 3.0
Arizona State University Foundation is a day camp in Tempe that publishes the kind of detail parents actually need. Consistent parent feedback over multiple seasons; a public summary that lays out what the camp does.
View full listing on YouthCampsBase
16. Arizona State Cross Country
Location: Tempe, AZ
Arizona State Cross Country is a day camp in Tempe that publishes the kind of detail parents actually need. A profile that has held up against parent scrutiny over time; a workable description of the program's focus.
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17. Sun Devil Camps
Location: Tempe, AZ
Why Sun Devil Camps made the cut: a clear public description of what the program covers, consistent parent feedback over multiple seasons in Tempe.
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18. Believe I Can Academy
Location: Tempe, AZ
Believe I Can Academy sits on this list because it does the boring things well: a public description thorough enough to evaluate before you call, a track record of parents recommending it, and a public program list that gives parents enough to work with.
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Frequently Asked Questions
How early should I register for day camps in Tempe, AZ?
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 Arizona'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.