Summer Camps and Programs

The Department of Human Service Programs (DHSP) offers safe and engaging summer programming to Cambridge children, youth, and teens. Community Schools Summer Camps are open to current Junior Kindergarten – 4th graders and Cambridge Youth Programs (CYP) Pre-Teen / Middle School Summer Programs are open to current 3-8th graders. Gately ONLY current 5th-8th graders.

During Summer 2023, Community Schools Summer Camps and CYP Pre-Teen / Middle School Summer Programs will run Monday – Friday from 8:30 a.m. – 5:30 p.m. during the following four sessions:

Mini-session: July 5 - 7
Session 1: Week 1 and 2 (July 10-21)
Session 2: Weeks 3 and 4 (July 24 – August 4)
Session 3: Weeks 5 and 6 (August 7 – August 18)

Tuition rates are based on household size and income range (view tuition rates). Tuition is free for 13-year-olds in CYP Summer Programming.

The deadline to apply to the Summer Camps and Programs lottery was Friday, March 10.

Programs will be filled by lottery system. Priority will be given to applicants from low-income households. See below for program-specific details.

Community Schools Summer Camps 2023

DHSP Community Schools Summer Camps offer a range of educational and recreational activities in a safe, nurturing, and inclusive environment. Camp activities are designed to develop children’s social and emotional growth and build healthy relationships. Each Community Schools Camp focuses on a theme and campers participate in a wide range of activities each day.

Eligibility:

Applicants must be Cambridge residents or children of City of Cambridge employees.
Children must be attending JK through 4th grades in the current 2022 - 2023 academic year.

Community Schools Camp Locations:

Amigos (15 Upton St.), Cambridgeport (89 Elm St.), Fletcher-Maynard (225 Windsor St.), Graham and Parks (44 Linnaean St.), Haggerty (110 Cushing St.), Kennedy-Longfellow (158 Spring St.), King Open (850 Cambridge St.), M.L. King (102 Putnam Ave.), Morse (40 Granite St.), Peabody (70 Rindge), Tobin (359 Broadway)

Application and Notification Timeline:

Monday, February 13 – March 10: Application period for Community Schools Summer Camp Lottery

Applications will be submitted online through the City’s Viewpoint platform.
Families who need help with their application can contact askdhsp@cambridgema.gov or 617-349-6200.
DHSP staff will be available to help at 51 Inman St. 3rd floor Monday February 13, February 27, and March 6 from 5 – 7:30 p.m.
DHSP staff will be available at:
- Peabody School 70 Rindge Ave., Wednesday March 1, from 6– 7:30 p.m.
- Moore Youth Center 12 Gilmore St., Thursday March 2, from 6– 7:30 p.m.
- Frisoli Youth Center 61 Willow St., Tuesday March 7, from 6– 7:30 p.m.
- Morse School 40 Granite St., Wednesday March 8 from 6– 7:30 p.m.

Week of March 27 – Families will be notified of their child’s placement in a camp or in the waiting pool.

Notifications will be sent by email through the Viewpoint platform.
(noreply@viewpointcloud.com)
Families can log into their Viewpoint account to check the status of their application at any time.

CYP Pre-Teen / Middle School Summer Programs 2023

Cambridge Youth Programs (CYP) Summer Programs offer safe and fun programming for pre-teens and middle schoolers to connect with peers, build leadership skills, and explore a range of enriching activities in an inclusive environment. The deadline to apply to CYP Summer Programs was Friday, March 10.

Eligibility:

Applicants must be Cambridge residents or children of City of Cambridge employees.
Applicants must be 3-8th graders in the current academic 2022-2023 year

Application and Notification Timeline:

Monday, February 13 – Friday, March 10: Application period for CYP Summer Programs Lottery

Applications will be submitted online through the City’s Viewpoint platform.
Families who need help with their application can contact askdhsp@cambridgema.gov or 617-349-6200.
DHSP staff will be available to help at 51 Inman St. 3rd floor Monday February 13, February 27, and March 6 from 5 – 7:30 p.m.
DHSP staff will be available at:
- Peabody School 70 Rindge Ave., Wednesday March 1, from 6– 7:30 p.m.
- Moore Youth Center 12 Gilmore St., Thursday March 2, from 6– 7:30 p.m.
- Frisoli Youth Center 61 Willow St., Tuesday March 7, from 6– 7:30 p.m.
- Morse School 40 Granite St., Wednesday March 8 from 6– 7:30 p.m.

Week of March 27 – Families will be notified of their child’s placement in a CYP Summer Program or in the waiting pool.
Notifications will be sent by email through the Viewpoint platform (noreply@viewpointcloud.com).
Families can log into their Viewpoint account to check the status of their application at any time.

Program Locations and Descriptions

Discovery Program at Russell Youth Center
Participants explore their interests and express themselves through performing and visual arts, science exploration, sports, and other fun activities!

Empowerment Program at Frisoli Youth Center
Participants build confidence, self-esteem, and community in an environment inclusive of all gender identities. Activities include volleyball, self-defense, swimming, arts, science, and more!

Sports Leadership Academy at Moore Youth Center
Participants learn, practice, and develop skills for a variety of sports, including soccer, basketball, swimming, tennis, and more! In addition to athletics, programming focuses on enrichment, academics, and leadership building.

Middle School Summer Program at Gately Youth Center
Participants enjoy a variety of fun activities, including sports and visual arts. They learn about healthy living and develop leadership skills, with a focus on connecting with peers and younger youth.

Mayor’s Summer Youth Employment Program

In addition to summer programming for K-8^th graders, DHSP’s Office of Workforce Development manages The Mayor’s Summer Youth Employment Program (MSYEP), which offers summer jobs to teens ages 14 through the summer after they complete high school.