Summer in Columbia sneaks up fast. Registration for the best camps opens in March, gap weeks vanish by May, and the “ultimate guide” listicles go stale the day they're posted. Here's how to actually plan it — and skip the spreadsheet.
Start with coverage, not theme
The first question isn't “art or STEM?” — it's “does this cover my workday?” Half-day camps (often 9–12) leave you scrambling for afternoons; full-day programs with extended care (7:30–5:30) cover a real 8–5. On comocamps, every camp shows a coverage bar against a typical workday so you can eliminate the half-days in a glance.
Pick the weeks you need covered first. Then filter by age and budget. Theme comes last — a kid who's with good people all day has a great summer regardless.
Match the age band honestly
Published age ranges are wide; a camp that takes 5–12 may be mostly tweens. Use the age-band filter, then read the detail page — and when in doubt, call. Providers will tell you who actually shows up.
A few we'd point a friend to
A cross-section of what's on comocamps this summer — open any card for sessions, hours, and pricing:
Budget & aid
Columbia has genuinely affordable options — Parks & Rec day camps run well under $200/week. Several camps offer scholarships; see the scholarships & aid page and apply early, because aid budgets are small.
Ready to build your summer?
Filter all of Columbia's camps by week, age, price, and coverage.