Discover Atlanta through Summer Camps at the City’s Cultural Attractions

By Lia Picard

Published March 16, 2026

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Think camps are just for neighborhood kids? It’s time to reimagine family travel. As “edutainment” and experiential travel become priorities for families, parents are looking beyond the hotel pool to entertain their kids on trips. Enrolling your child in a local camp isn’t just childcare; it’s a way to immerse him or her in Atlanta’s culture while providing the opportunity to make friends, have fun and maybe learn a thing or two. Whether you’re in town for work or need a few hours of alone time on vacation, there are plenty of camps that provide an unforgettable experience in Atlanta this summer.  

Alliance Theatre  

Though it’s located in Midtown, the Alliance Theatre’s camps sprout up around the metro area, offering Atlanta’s young theater lovers plenty of opportunities to sharpen their skills. There’s something for every type of thespian, including camera acting for third and fourth graders, costume and prop design for first and second graders and improv for high school-aged students. 

In addition to Woodruff Arts Center, certain camps are offered at Oglethorpe University in Brookhaven, the Galloway School in Buckhead and the Museum School in Decatur.  

Atlanta History Center  

Your child doesn’t have to be a history buff to appreciate Atlanta History Center’s camps — and he or she may become a history buff by the end of the session. Located in Buckhead, the Atlanta History Center includes a museum, gardens and historic homes. Camps for kindergarteners through second graders and third through fifth graders are centered on a different topic each week, such as “Pharaohs, Philosophers, and Kings” and “Myths and Magic.” In addition to lessons and hands-on projects, kids explore the grounds, play games and work on crafts. For students in sixth through eighth grades, there are writing camps with different weekly topics, such as screenwriting and reporting.  

Zoo Atlanta 

For kids who love animals and spending time outdoors, there’s Zoo Atlanta’s Safari Camp. The zoo is located in Grant Park and is best known for its impressive ape and gorilla collection. Kids who participate in the Safari Camp get to see the animals up close and so much more. For the youngest campers, activities include exploring the zoo, participating in hands-on activities based on a weekly theme and meeting the zoo’s “ambassador” animals. Older participants have the opportunity to explore animal care spaces and hands-on simulations. All campers learn about the science behind nurturing zoo animals and the research process behind conservation.  

Dad’s Garage 

Dad’s Garage is a nonprofit theater company located in Old Fourth Ward. Operating out of a former church, Dad’s is best known for its adult shows, but in the summer it opens the doors to kids third grade and up. If your child has a funny bone, then this is definitely the right camp — even the wallflowers leave feeling empowered. Each week is dedicated to a different subject, like improv (which helps build communication skills) and comedy boot camp, which explores scene work and creative storytelling. Each week concludes with a Friday showcase for the kids’ adults, friends and families.  

Center for Puppetry Arts 

A true Atlanta gem, the Center for Puppetry Arts, located in Midtown, has delighted children and adults alike with puppets of all kinds since the late ‘70s. You can visit the museum most days of the week, but the summer camps give children a hands-on puppet experience. For the younger kids, that’s learning the basics of puppetry, while older kids make their own puppets. Middle and high schoolers collaborate with counselors to create their own stories that they act out with puppets.  

Museum of Design Atlanta (MODA)

Kids’ imaginations run wild at MODA’s design camps. Held at a couple of outposts around town, like Georgia Tech in Midtown and Legacy Park in Decatur, campers ages 6 through 16 are invited to dive into the world of design in hands-on ways. Younger kids learn through playing with LEGO bricks and LEGO robotics, as well as through crafts like painting. Campers aged 10 through 13 build on those skills through City Lab, which explores different facets of urban planning — like how stadiums and skateparks shape cities. The oldest kids, 14 and up, mirror actual designers by exploring topics such as architecture and graphic design.  

Bitsy Grant Tennis Center  

Atlanta is a tennis hot spot, and if your child is interested in learning the sport or developing his or her skills, Agape Junior Tennis summer camp is a great choice. Held at the Bitsy Grant Tennis Center, located in a residential part of the Buckhead neighborhood, the camp teaches kids of all ages and skill levels, with half- and full-day options. It’s not just about what happens on the court, however. There also are classroom sessions, nature walks, Popsicle parties and games like kickball.  

Find more things to do with the family with our Ultimate Family Fun for All Ages in Atlanta in 2026.

Lia Picard is a lifestyle writer who has called Atlanta home for more than a decade. Her work appears in the New York Times, Garden & Gun, and Atlanta magazine, among other national and regional publications. When she’s not writing she’s exploring Atlanta with her husband and daughter.