Our teenagers benefit from summer camp just as much, if not more, than younger campers, according to the National Camp Association. From improving interpersonal skills and fostering an environment to form close friendships, camp gives teens the opportunity to experience character growth and develop life skills, all while having fun.

And while in and around Bucks County we’re fortunate to have countless award-winning camp programs to choose from (most commonly referred to as CIT or Counselor in Training programs), our teen’s summer opportunities don’t stop there. From getting a head start on college campuses to traveling the globe, it’s never been a better time to be a teen!

Are you looking for a unique experience for your teenager? Get started with this selection of summer opportunities for young people in our area. Looking for opportunities closer to the Main Line? Check out our sister site’s piece, Making the Most of Summer: Opportunities for Teens.

Camp Opportunities

Breezy Point Day Camp

1126 Bridgetown Pike, Langhorne

Breezy Point Day Camp, an ACA accredited summer camp in Bucks County for children ages 2-14, provides campers going into 8th and 9th grade with the opportunity to join their CIT Program. There they’ll get to work with younger children in the morning, socialize with friends and participate in activities around the grounds in the afternoon, and go on several off-campus trips throughout the summer. Led by Director, George Hanna, a middle school Physical Education teacher, the CIT Program is a unique summer experience for 8th and 9th graders.

Camp America Day Camp

341 Lower State Road, Chalfont

At Camp America Day Camp, your teen (aged 13-15) can enroll in their Division 4 CIT Program, where they’ll have the opportunity to take on new leadership roles within the 42-acre camp. Half the time campers will have a normal camp day with their bunk mates and the other half of the day they will apprentice with different counselors around camp. In these new roles, CITs gain valuable insights into their own preferred styles of leaderships. Additionally, those individuals that complete the three year program can have the opportunity to work at the camp in the future as a staff member.

Camp NAC

Newtown Athletic Club, 120 Pheasant Run, Newtown

Each week of Camp NAC’s 13-week long program, teens will have the choice to participate in either NAC’s CIT program or Teen Adventure. On Tuesdays and Fridays, all teen campers will go on a pre-planned field trip-regardless of their choice of theme. Teens who choose the CIT program will spend the morning working with a Camp NAC counselor. CIT Teens will act as role models for younger campers and have the opportunity to develop leadership skills, while still participating in fun games and activities. Each week of the CIT Program focuses on a different theme and curriculum. Teens who do not choose the CIT program will participate in activities centered around a new theme every day. Examples of themes include: art, STEAM, sports, cooking, fitness, etc.

Code Ninjas

678 Stony Hill Road, Suite 9, Yardley

Just like math, science, and literature, coding is a key aspect of understanding our technologically-advanced world. At Code Ninjas, kids learn to code through an engaging game-based curriculum that boosts self-confidence and teaches teamwork, logic, and problem solving. They gain vital skills while having a blast. This program is available for children up to age 14.

Conquering Cuisine Kids Cooking Classes

378 North Main Street, Doylestown

The goal of the four-part series (available to teens ages 13-14 as well as tweens 10-12) is to teach fundamental techniques needed to prepare a variety of basic meals. Along the way they’ll learn kitchen safety and the proper use of and care of cooking tools. Each class will begin with instruction on the recipes being prepared included understanding the ingredients, measurements and procedure. Participants then prepare the items listed in each class with the guidance and supervision of instructors. The menus are designed to stress fresh ingredients and kid-friendly flavors and of course, your teen will get to eat the meal they’ve just created!

Delaware Valley University’s Kids U! and Inspire U!

700 E Butler Avenue, Doylestown

Build the perfect summer for your prospective college student with Kids U! and Inspire U! weeklong on-campus specialty summer camps and teen programs, exclusive online summer camps, or a mix of both. Bring your teens this summer for new next-level, real-world campus learning experiences each week learning to master something new. Teens ages 14-18 will see, learn, and try what it takes to have a career in fields of interest, while interacting with other teens, faculty and industry pros in a real-world campus learning environment. Program examples include Podcasting and Media Lab, Veterinary Studies, Theater Arts Leadership, Equine Management and more.

Elbow Lane Day Camp

828 Elbow Lane, Warrington

For 8th and 9th graders, Elbow Lane Day Camp in Warrington has several options. Their CIT programs are the final steps for campers before becoming eligible to join the staff as Junior Counselors. This program provides a tremendous learning situation for young teens as they assist and share experiences with Senior Counselors. In addition, there are options for participation in regular camp activities and experience some off-campus trips. This program is open to children who are 13 (going into 8th grade) and 14 years of age (going into 9th grade).

Girls Empowered Summer Programs

PO Box 201, Doylestown

Girls Empowered, Inc. is offering its eighth year of summer empowerment programs to Peace Valley Park. Of their two programs, their Girls Leadership Program for incoming 7th-9th grade girls runs from July 11-15, 2023. This program is for girls who want to develop the skills to be a leader at school, in sports, other extracurricular activities, and in the community. The girls will learn the qualities of an effective leader and team player, understand their own strengths and weaknesses as a leader, learn the importance of self-care/setting healthy boundaries, develop healthy decision-making, effective communication, stress, and time management skills. The girls will also utilize their new leadership skills to engage in a meaningful community service project.

Ravens Run Visual and Performing Arts Camp

85 W. Mechanic Street, New Hope

Is your teen a budding artist? Ravens Run is a unique day camp for kids ages 5-15 who love art. Located in New Hope, Ravens Run brings together professional artists and a selective number of campers (100) to explore creativity in a supportive, inspiring & fun environment. This camp provides each child with a rich visual and performing arts experience in a wide variety of media including: drawing, painting, ceramics, sculpture, printmaking, digital photography, cake decorating, claymation, movie making, dance, theatre, yoga and singing.

School of Rock Music Camps

Doylestown and Newtown Locations

Has your teen always dreamed of playing in a band or learning to write songs? School of Rock Doylestown and Newtown both offer a wide variety of music camps and workshops that cover topics such as these. Their local music camps are perfect for musicians of any skill level who want to play guitar, bass, drums, keyboard and vocals up until age 17. Check out their Beatles Camp for the Abbey Road lover in your home or their Songwriting Camp for your next John Lennon!

Southampton Summer Day Camp

1459 2nd Street Pike, Southampton

The Leadership in Training Program at Southampton Summer Day Camp provides your young teen (ages 13-14) with fun, friends and leadership. Your child will spend half of the day with their bunk learning the ropes to becoming a counselor. The other half of the day will be spent with friends on camp activities. Preplanned, out of camp trips are a much-anticipated highlight of each summer. In addition, camp projects and community service events round out a very busy summer.

Teens on Campus at Bucks County Community College

Various Bucks County Community College Campuses

New to the Kids on Campus summer program at various Bucks County Community College (BCCC) campuses, teenagers aged 13 through 15 can engage in exciting activities such as voice and sing production, fire academy, mock trials and more! This program is an excellent opportunity for prospective future college students to learn more about the areas of study they may want to pursue.

Warwick Township Parks and Recreation Day Camp

1733 Township Greene, Jamison

Teens 16 and older are welcome to join Warwick’s “Just Camp It” Day Camp for a summer filled with tons of fun! The Warwick Township Parks and Recreation team is looking for energetic and mature individuals to be counselors at their camp. Applicants must be 16 years of age by June 1, 2023. Counselors will be guaranteed 40 hours of work from Monday through Friday starting at $9 per hour. Contact Erin Long, Parks and Recreation Program Coordinator at elong@warwicktownship.org for an application.

YMCA of Bucks and Hunterdon Counties Camps

Various locations throughout Bucks and Hunterdon Counties

Summer day camp programs are available throughout Bucks County and Hunterdon County for children aged 3 through 15. Traditional adventure camps, as well as sports and specialty camps, are available week with half day, full day, and extended day programs available at most sites. And because the YMCA understands camp can get costly, they also provide financial assistance to families that qualify. Each campsite has a unique personality so come check them out!

Travel for Teens

900 West Valley Road, Wayne

Travel for Teens, based out of Chester County, provides teens with a new perspective and is a fantastic opportunity for growth. This agency strives to provide meaningful and authentic travel experiences for teens and young adults. You can explore their menu of 100 plus trips by grade to find the perfect, age-appropriate travel experience for your child. And each trip is professionally staffed to ensure the safety and care of the group, which comprises 16–24 teen travelers. Destinations include Costa Rica, Hawaii, Alaska, Africa, many countries of Europe, Southwestern US, and more. 

Internships

Wouldn’t it be great if your teen could spend the summer pursuing an interest that also rewards them with a distinguishing experience? Although many summer internships for teenagers are often unpaid, they usually “pay” well in terms of unique experiences and personal enrichment. If your teen has an interest in a field such as science, the arts, the environment, or another particular field, a great way to delve deeper is through an internship. Check out Bucks County Community College’s Career Services page, which offers helpful free resources for finding the right internship. Whether it’s an internship at a local museum, an environmental organization, a technology company, or other institution, it’s one of those opportunities for growth that also looks great on a college application. 

Jobs at Local Small Businesses

If your teen wants a summer job opportunity, of course there are restaurants like Chick-fil-A and McDonald’s or retail outlets like Target and Walmart. But instead of working at corporate chain stores consider opportunities at independent, local businesses and organizations. In addition to offering your teens unique work and experiences, working at the local mom and pop can form lasting and ties to the community. If your teen is interested in landscape architecture, have them reach out to your local neighborhood landscaper and see if they could use any seasonal help.

Country Clubs

Working at a country club offers a lot of perks for teenagers: employment, social connection, fun, and – perhaps best of all – access to club amenities. Check out The Bucks Country Club in Jamison, who frequently post openings in their various departments, from the golf shop, to the bar and grill to the pool. Golf clubs also often hire teen golf caddies, who can earn great tips helping out on the green. 

Retirement Communities

Another unique summer opportunity for teens is working at a retirement community. For teens who have a nurturing personality, working with seniors can offer a profoundly rewarding experience. Persida K recommends Juniper Village at Bucks County for employment. “Juniper company is an outstanding organization that truly cares for its employees and the community it serves. It has provided me with an incredible platform to grow both personally and professionally.”

Other Opportunities

Maybe your teen isn’t sure what they want to do this summer and could use some guidance? The Camp Experts & Teen Summers  is a free advisory service that helps families find the right summer camp, teen travel, language, or pre-college enrichment program for their children. According to Camp Experts & Teen Summers consultant, Jennifer Markizon, “There are lots of great options for teens. Depending on their interests, there are pre-college enrichment programs on college campuses, teen-only camps, and community service trips — both domestic and abroad.” 

Feature Photo Courtesy of Briarwood Day Camp