Children taking part in a Treasure Coast summer camp activity

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Treasure Coast Summer Camps Guide 2026

A current 2026 guide to Treasure Coast summer camps in Martin, St. Lucie, and Indian River counties, with ages, prices, hours, specialty picks, late-summer timing, and official registration links.

10 min readWritten by Derek BrumbyLast verified July 24, 2026Publisher review: Brumby LLC

Summer-camp planning on the Treasure Coast is really three searches at once. Martin County has especially strong public and school-linked programs, St. Lucie County combines municipal coverage with outdoor specialty camps, and Indian River County stands out for art and lagoon-based environmental programs.

This guide was checked on July 23, 2026. Many June specialty camps are finished, and several late-July sessions are full or waitlist-only. Families still looking for coverage should check the live registration pages for YMCA programs, the City of Port St. Lucie's additional Aug. 3-7 youth week, the Environmental Learning Center's Aug. 3-7 Wild Lagoon session, and the July 28-31 junior golf camp at Sailfish Sands. Availability can change quickly, so confirm space before making plans.

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Quick list

Best Treasure Coast camp starting points for 2026

  • Best lower-cost coverage: Martin County Parks, City of Vero Beach Recreation, YMCA of the Treasure Coast, and City of Port St. Lucie
  • Best nature and science programs: Environmental Learning Center, Oxbow Eco-Center, Florida Oceanographic Society, and the Environmental Studies Center
  • Best arts program: Vero Beach Museum of Art Summer Art Camp
  • Best late-summer pages to check: YMCA, Port St. Lucie, Environmental Learning Center, and Sailfish Sands

The Best Value Plays for 2026

Martin County Parks and Recreation is the clearest place to start when price matters most. Its 2026 program runs through July 31 for eligible children ages 5 and older who have completed kindergarten. Three county-supported sites in Stuart and Jensen Beach are free for qualifying Martin County youth, while the Jensen Beach camp is listed at $100 per week. Camp hours are 7:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., and the county says programming includes lunch, field trips, a T-shirt, and an opportunity to participate in entry-level swim lessons.

The YMCA of the Treasure Coast is another strong practical choice for families who need long hours and several locations. The 2026 page lists day-camp pricing of $95 per week in St. Lucie County, $110 in Indiantown, and $125 for Stuart YMCA family members or $150 for nonmembers. Typical hours are 7 a.m. to 6 p.m., and lunch plus an afternoon snack are included at most sites. The YMCA also lists financial assistance and accepted subsidy programs.

In Indian River County, City of Vero Beach Recreation lists nine one-week sessions through July 31 for ages 6 to 12, with hours from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. and supervised drop-off and pickup from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Pricing is $95 per week for city residents and $130 for non-city residents, including lunch and activities. Port St. Lucie's city camps run through July 31 for ages 3 to 14 at $140 per week, with hours from 7:30 a.m. to 6 p.m.; an additional Aug. 3-7 week is scheduled for Youth Camp ages 6 to 11 at the MIDFLORIDA Event Center, subject to availability.

  • Martin County Parks offers the region's strongest mix of free and low-cost public camps
  • YMCA is a practical choice when long hours and multiple locations matter most
  • City of Vero Beach Recreation remains one of the best municipal values in Indian River County
  • Port St. Lucie's city camps add long-day coverage across several age groups

Best for Nature, Water, and Field-Based Experiences

The Environmental Studies Center in Jensen Beach offered four 2026 camp weeks from June 1 through June 26 at $260 per week for students entering second through eighth grade. Activities included boat trips, seining, snorkeling, fishing, and other hands-on environmental work. Registration is now closed, but the program is worth bookmarking for next year because it combines serious field experience with a public-school setting.

Camp WET is even more specialized. The Environmental Studies Center scheduled two two-week June sessions at $200 per session for Martin County public-school students who were in fourth or fifth grade and were selected through their schools. The program focuses on the Indian River Lagoon and includes field investigations, boating, fishing, and cast-netting. It is not open enrollment, so eligible families should watch for school nomination information early in the year.

Florida Oceanographic Society remains one of the Treasure Coast's most appealing marine-science choices for ages 5 to 16. Its 2026 registration page shows most sessions as full, including the Aug. 3-7 camp for ages 8 to 11, with waitlists offered for several age groups. That pattern is a useful planning signal: marine-science camps can fill months before summer begins.

St. Lucie County's Oxbow Eco-Center combines outdoor learning, county-preserve field trips, and grade-specific themes. Most 2026 weeks were priced at $250 and included programs such as Wild Child, Wild Archery, Jr. Preserve Rangers, Preserve Pals, STEMtastic!, and Preserve Puppeteers. As of July 23, the final July 27-31 session was listed as full with a waitlist, while Preserve Pals advertised 40 community-service hours for students entering grades 9 through 12.

The Environmental Learning Center in Vero Beach offers the broadest late-summer nature schedule in this guide. Wild Lagoon 2026 serves children entering first through eighth grade, runs from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., and is priced at $325 per week with a 10% member discount. The posted schedule continues through Aug. 7, and activities can include canoeing, archery, wildlife encounters, pontoon trips, plankton labs, squid dissections, and visits to nearby conservation sites. Scholarships are available, and families should use the live booking page to confirm remaining space.

  • Environmental Learning Center has the broadest remaining late-summer nature schedule
  • Oxbow and Florida Oceanographic show how quickly specialty camps fill
  • Environmental Studies Center offers one of Martin County's most distinctive programs
  • For water, wildlife, and field trips, book as soon as registration opens
Children in life jackets seated at the Environmental Learning Center canoe dock
Wild Lagoon campers prepare for a water-based activity at the Environmental Learning Center in Vero Beach.

Local tip

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Best for Art, Creativity, and Project-Based Learning

Vero Beach Museum of Art runs the Treasure Coast's most developed arts-camp program. The 2026 Summer Art Camp spans June 1 through July 24 for ages 5 to 16, with morning and afternoon studio sessions, daily gallery visits, and all supplies included. Week-long sessions are listed at $115 for members and $135 for nonmembers, with optional supervised lunch at $40 per week. The season is nearly complete, but the page is a useful benchmark for families planning ahead because registration opened to members March 9 and to the public March 23.

For middle-school writers, the Laura (Riding) Jackson Foundation's Write in the Middle remains a worthwhile niche program. The foundation describes it as an annual June camp in which every participant becomes a published writer, with registration typically opening in February. Its general student-programs page does not provide a complete current 2026 schedule, so families should contact the foundation directly or join its mailing list before relying on a date.

  • Vero Beach Museum of Art has the region's most complete arts-camp program
  • Museum sessions combine studio instruction with daily gallery visits
  • Write in the Middle is a strong niche option for middle-school writers
  • Arts families should watch February and March registration dates
Young art campers and instructors posing in a Vero Beach Museum of Art studio
Vero Beach Museum of Art Summer Art Camp combines studio projects with age-group instruction and gallery visits.

Best for Sports-Focused or High-Energy Families

YMCA Summer Sports Camp is the most straightforward late-summer multi-sport option in this guide. The Stuart program serves ages 6 to 12 from June 1 through Aug. 7 and includes basketball, soccer, flag football, volleyball, strength and conditioning, and team-building games. The posted weekly price is $200 for YMCA members and $225 for nonmembers, plus a deposit and registration fee. The page says registration is open, but families should confirm the specific week before paying.

For focused instruction, Sailfish Sands Junior Golf Summer Camp serves ages 7 to 17 and follows PGA Sports Academy curriculum. The final 2026 session is scheduled for Tuesday, July 28, through Friday, July 31. Pricing starts at $275 for a half-day week and $450 for a full-day week, with single-day and extended-stay options also listed. Space is limited, and the county directs families to call or submit the contact form to confirm availability.

  • YMCA Summer Sports Camp is the strongest remaining multi-sport option
  • Sailfish Sands has a final four-day golf session scheduled for July 28-31
  • YMCA works best for variety and long-day coverage
  • Sailfish Sands is the better fit for focused golf instruction

What Port St. Lucie Families Should Know Right Now

Port St. Lucie's city camps are no longer just a watch-list item. The city has posted 2026 Tot Camp for ages 3 to 5, Youth Camp for ages 6 to 11, and Teen Camp for ages 12 to 14 at four locations. The main season runs June 8 through July 31 from 7:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. at $140 per week. An additional Aug. 3-7 week is scheduled for Youth Camp only at the MIDFLORIDA Event Center, and specialty camps are listed as open until full. Breakfast and lunch are not provided.

McKee Botanical Garden remains a true watch-list option. Its Camp McKee page is live, but it still displays 'Dates TBD' rather than a complete 2026 schedule. Families interested in a garden-based camp should contact McKee or subscribe to its newsletter, but should not treat the current page as confirmation of bookable dates.

  • Port St. Lucie's 2026 city camp details are fully posted
  • The main season runs June 8-July 31, with an extra Aug. 3-7 youth week
  • City camps cost $140 per week and run from 7:30 a.m. to 6 p.m.
  • Camp McKee remains a watch-list program because its page still says Dates TBD

Where to Start by Family Type

For affordable full-day coverage, begin with Martin County Parks, City of Vero Beach Recreation, YMCA of the Treasure Coast, and City of Port St. Lucie. For outdoor learning, prioritize the Environmental Learning Center, Oxbow, Florida Oceanographic, and the Environmental Studies Center. For art, Vero Beach Museum of Art is the strongest established choice; for writing, keep Laura (Riding) Jackson Foundation on the early-registration list.

For the remaining weeks of 2026, compare the camp calendar with your commute before looking at themes. A camp that ends at 3 p.m. may require extra care, while a 6 p.m. pickup can solve a workday problem. Confirm availability, refund rules, meals, field-trip fees, and age or grade eligibility directly with the provider. For next summer, start checking specialty-camp pages in February and municipal pages in March.

  • Start with your nonnegotiable: price, hours, location, or specialty
  • Use public camps for coverage and specialty camps for a child's strongest interest
  • Check live registration pages because late-summer availability changes quickly
  • For 2027 planning, note which programs opened registration in February or March

FAQ

Common questions

What are the best low-cost summer camps on the Treasure Coast in 2026?

The strongest lower-cost starting points are Martin County Parks and Recreation, City of Vero Beach Recreation, YMCA of the Treasure Coast, and City of Port St. Lucie. Martin County includes free programs for eligible youth and a $100-per-week Jensen Beach option; Vero Beach lists $95 resident pricing; YMCA St. Lucie sites start at $95 per week; and Port St. Lucie lists $140 per week with long-day coverage.

Which Treasure Coast summer camps are best for science and nature?

Environmental Learning Center, Oxbow Eco-Center, Florida Oceanographic Society, and Martin County's Environmental Studies Center are the region's clearest science and nature leaders. They also tend to fill earlier than general day camps, especially programs built around water, wildlife, field trips, or small age-group cohorts.

Are Port St. Lucie city summer camps posted for 2026?

Yes. The city lists Tot, Youth, and Teen camps from June 8 through July 31 at $140 per week, plus an additional Aug. 3-7 Youth Camp week at the MIDFLORIDA Event Center. Registration is first-come, first-served, so families should check the live city page for current availability.

Sources

Reference links

Written by

Derek Brumby

We publish Treasure Coast guides for residents, newcomers, and weekend planners. Our goal is to combine local context, linked source material, and ongoing page updates so a reader can act on the guide instead of just skim it.

Derek Brumby is currently the sole author and editor. Publisher review is handled by Brumby LLC, the company that owns and operates On The Treasure Coast.

Research and updates

Last verified July 24, 2026

This guide was written and edited by Derek Brumby using linked local and official sources, then reviewed for Treasure Coast planning context.

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