Apply to the 2025 DHSP Summer Lottery through March 3!


2/3/20251 week ago

a group of elementary school campers on a field trip

The Department of Human Service Programs (DHSP) offers a variety of safe and fun summer programming for Cambridge children and youth currently in Kindergarten through 8th grade: Community Schools Summer Camps, King Open Extended Day Summer Program, and Cambridge Youth Programs (CYP) Pre-Teen / Middle School Summer Programs.

All DHSP Summer Camps and Programs are filled through a lottery system. 

Eligibility 

  • Applicants must be Cambridge residents or City of Cambridge employees
  • Children currently in Kindergarten - 8th grade are eligible to apply

Apply to the 2025 DHSP Summer Lottery!

  • The deadline to apply is Monday, March 3, 2025.
  • Families who apply by March 3 will be notified of their child's placement in a camp/program or in the Waiting Pool by the end of March.
  • Applications received after March 3 will be automatically added to the Waiting Pool. 

In-Person Application Help

Families can get help completing their online application throughout the application period. No appointment is needed; just stop in! 

View in-person application help dates and locations (PDF). 

Summer 2025 Information

  • All DHSP Summer Camps and Programs will run Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. - 5:30 p.m.
  • Cost is based on family size and income. CYP Pre-Teen / Middle School Programs are free for 13-year-olds. 

Applicants can apply to the following sessions:

Session 1 (1 week): June 30 - July 3 (closed July 4)
Session 2 (2 weeks): July 7 - 18
Session 3 (2 weeks): July 21 - August 1
Session 4 (2 weeks): August 4 - 15

Please note: applicants cannot split or combine sessions. 

Summer Camps/Programs for Current Kindergarten - 4th Graders

View Sample Schedule

  • Amigos Community School (15 Upton St.)
  • Cambridgeport Community School (at King Open School, 850 Cambridge St.)
  • Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Community School (102 Putnam Ave.)
  • Fletcher Maynard Academy Community School (225 Windsor St.)
  • Graham and Parks Community School (44 Linnaean St.)
  • Haggerty Community School (110 Cushing St.)
  • Kennedy-Longfellow Community School (158 Spring St.)
  • King Open Extended Day Summer Program (850 Cambridge St.)
  • Morse Community School (40 Granite St.)
  • Peabody Community School (70 Rindge Ave.)

CYP Pre-Teen / Middle School Summer Programs for Current 3rd - 8th graders 

View Sample Schedule

  • Frisoli Summer Program, Frisoli Youth Center (61 Willow St.)
  • Gately Summer Program, Gately Youth Center (70R Rindge Ave.)
  • Russell Summer Program, Russell Youth Center (680 Huron Ave.)
  • Sports Leadership Academy, Moore Youth Center (12 Gilmore St.)

For more information, visit www.cambridgema.gov/SummerCamps