Apply to the 2026 DHSP Summer Lottery through March 9!

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. Through a single application, families can apply to DHSP's Community Schools Summer Camps, the 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. 

2026 Summer Lottery Application

• The last day to apply to the 2026 DHSP Summer Lottery was Monday, March 9. You can still submit an application, but all applications received after Monday, March 9 will be automatically added to the Waiting Pool.

• Families will be notified of their child's placement in a camp or in the Waiting Pool the week of March 30.

Eligibility 

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

Summer 2026 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 (view 2026 tuition chart). CYP Pre-Teen / Middle School Programs are free for 13-year-olds. 

Applicants can apply to the following sessions:

Session 2 (2 weeks): July 6 - 17
Session 3 (2 weeks): July 20 -31
Session 4 (2 weeks): August 3 - 14

Please note: Session 1 (June 29 – July 2) has been cancelled due to this winter’s Snow Days extending the Cambridge Public Schools’ 2025-2026 school year. Sessions 2- 4 will run as scheduled.

Summer Camps/Programs for Current Kindergarten - 4th Graders

View Sample Schedule

• Amigos Community School (15 Upton St.)
• Cambridgeport Community School (89 Elm St.)
• Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Community School (102 Putnam Ave.)
• Fletcher Maynard Academy Community School (Cambridgeport School, 89 Elm St.)
• Graham and Parks Community School (44 Linnaean St.)
• Haggerty Community School (110 Cushing 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.