Which Willamalane Camp is Right for Your Kid?
Summer camp season for 2026 has arrived! Every family needs something different, from schedules to activities. Willamalane's wide range of camp options helps make it easier to find the right fit.
This summer camp guide will help you choose what works best for your kid. The descriptions below highlight what’s new and what to expect from Willamalane summer camps. For summer care for kids ages 3-5, see the preschool page.
Several new and exciting summer camps and activities are available this year for kids, tweens, and teens! Browse the guide below to see what options are available for your child.
Ready to sign up?
If you’ve tried to sign up for summer camps, swim lessons, or other childcare in the Eugene-Springfield area, you know it can be competitive! Take a few minutes to complete your camp prerequisites and review handbooks before signing up. Find more registration tips by clicking the button below.
Summer Camp Guide
NEW! Summer Spark Care
This year, Willamalane is collaborating with Springfield Public Schools to offer aftercare for SPS SPARK programs, similar to Willamalane’s Kids Club after-school program. This extended care will be offered on-site for the four weeks of SPARK programs.
Early Elementary (Entering grades 1-2)
Care Camps
These full-day camps are traditional summer camps, with hours from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. on weekdays. Locations vary.
- Explorer’s Camp: Kiddos will learn what summer camp is all about! Campers will try a bit of everything, from fun arts and crafts to active games and field trips to Splash. Each week has a special theme. When signing up, you’ll notice groups A and B. The camps are identical, but the locations are different.
- Multi-sports Camp: In this camp, incoming second graders can have fun learning the fundamentals of all sorts of sports. In any week, kids might try the climbing wall, take field trips to Camp Putt or Splash, try up-and-coming sports like disc golf and pickleball, or play the classics like football, basketball, and soccer, among others!
Speciality Camps
These camps are tailored to specific interests or areas where they want to improve their skills. Most are part-time offerings with different focuses each week. Hours vary.
- LEGO® Camp: Knowledgeable instructors guide kids through weekly themes and challenges in this three-hour camp. Kids develop their STEM skills and use their creativity while having fun! Kids ages five to seven join morning sessions. Kids ages 7-11 join afternoon sessions. Seven-year-olds are welcome to join either session, depending on which age group they feel most comfortable in.
- Outdoor Camp: While most outdoor camps are tailored to older kids, this one is built specifically for younger kids! Campers ages six to nine can learn to build shelters, tie knots, and set traps at the Intro to Wilderness Survival camp (held three times over the summer).
- Skills Camps: Skills camps are shorter camps that strengthen young athletes’ abilities through drills and games aimed at specific skill development. Five- and six-year-olds can choose between tennis and climbing. Kids seven and older can choose tennis, climbing, volleyball, basketball, soccer, and disc golf.
Mid-Elementary (Entering Grades 3-4)
Care Camps
These full-day camps are traditional summer camps, with hours from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. on weekdays. Locations vary.
- Discovery Camp: Calling all kids who love to investigate, experiment, and learn about the world around them. This STEM-focused full-day camp features games, activities, experiments, and projects based on a weekly theme.
- Camp Kaboom: Campers will have a blast at this full-day camp, featuring active games, crafts, and projects that follow a weekly theme. Campers will use their imaginations, make friends, and discover new talents and interests.
- Multi-sports Camp: In this camp, kids will have fun learning the fundamentals of all sorts of sports. In any week, kids may try the climbing wall, take excursions to Camp Putt or Splash, try up-and-coming sports like disc golf and pickleball, or play the classics like football, basketball, and soccer, among others!
Speciality Camps
These camps are tailored to specific interests or areas where they want to improve their skills. Most are part-time offerings with different focuses each week. Hours vary.
- Creative Camps: These partial-day camps are held at Dorris Ranch throughout July and August. They are perfect for 8- to 12-year-olds interested in trying new art projects and outdoor activities in a small-group setting.
- LEGO® Camp: Knowledgeable instructors guide kids through weekly themes and challenges in this three-hour camp. Kids develop their STEM skills and use their creativity while having fun!
- Outdoor Camp: These partial-day outdoor camps are perfect for children learning more about various skills, including wilderness survival, mountain biking, and foraging.
- Skills Camps: Skills camps are shorter camps that strengthen young athletes’ abilities through drills and games aimed at specific skill development. There are skills camps throughout the summer just for elementary school basketball, soccer, and volleyball. Kids can also join tennis, disc golf, and climbing camps, which are open to many ages and held throughout the summer.
Inbetweeners (Entering Grade 5)
Care Camps
These full-day camps are traditional summer camps, with hours from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. on weekdays. Fifth-graders have lots of options to choose from!
- Camp Quest: This is a newer full-day camp for older elementary kids entering fifth or sixth grade. Fun activities, games, field trips, hiking, and active adventures will challenge campers all summer long.
- Multi-sports Camp: In this camp, kids will have fun learning the fundamentals of all sorts of sports. In any week, kids may try the climbing wall, take excursions to Camp Putt or Splash, try up-and-coming sports like disc golf and pickleball, or play the classics like football, basketball, and soccer, among others!
Specialty Camps
These camps are tailored to specific interests or areas where they want to improve their skills. Most are part-time offerings with different focuses each week. Hours vary.
- Creative Camps: These partial-day camps are held at Dorris Ranch throughout July and August. They are perfect for 8- to 12-year-olds interested in trying new art projects and outdoor activities in a small-group setting.
- LEGO® Camps: Knowledgeable instructors guide kids through weekly themes and challenges in this three-hour camp. Kids develop their STEM skills and use their creativity while having fun! Kids ages 7-11 join afternoon sessions.
- Outdoor Camps: These partial-day outdoor camps are perfect for children learning more about various skills, including wilderness survival, mountain biking, and foraging.
- Skills Camps: There are skills camps throughout the summer just for middle school or elementary school basketball, soccer, and volleyball! Kids can also join tennis, disc golf, and climbing camps, which are open to many ages and held throughout the summer.
Inbetweeners (Entering Grade 6)
Care Camps
These full-day camps are traditional summer camps, with hours from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. on weekdays. Incoming sixth-graders can choose between Camp Quest, a camp perfect for kids transitioning to middle school, or Camp Venture, the popular adventure-based middle school camp.
- Camp Quest: This is a newer full-day camp for older elementary kids entering fifth grade or sixth grade. It’s perfect for kids who aren’t quite ready for the middle school camp, Camp Venture. Fun activities, games, field trips, hiking, and active adventures will challenge campers all summer long.
- Camp Venture: Incoming sixth graders can join Camp Venture, a camp just for middle schoolers! Campers will swim, hike, and explore throughout the Willamette Valley, and each week is unique, featuring a theme and off-site adventures.
Specialty Camps
These camps are tailored to specific interests or areas where they want to improve their skills. Most are part-time offerings with different focuses each week. Hours vary.
- Outdoor Camps: These partial-day outdoor camps are perfect for older children learning more about various skills, including wilderness survival, mountain biking, and foraging.
- Skills Camps: There are skills camps throughout the summer just for middle school or elementary school basketball, soccer, and volleyball! Kids can also join tennis, disc golf, and climbing camps, which are open to many ages and held throughout the summer.
MIDDLE SCHOOL (Entering Grades 7-8)
Care Camps
These full-day camps are traditional summer camps, with hours from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. on weekdays.
- Camp Venture: At this all-day camp just for middle schoolers, campers will swim, hike, and explore all over the Willamette Valley. Each week is unique, featuring a weekly theme and off-site adventures. This year, outgoing 8th-graders are welcome to attend a final year of Camp Venture!
Speciality Camps
These camps are tailored to specific interests or areas where they want to improve their skills. Most are part-time offerings, with different focuses each week. Hours vary.
- Outdoor Camps: The Fish, Forage, Fire, and Intermediate Wilderness Survival camps accept kids ages 13 and 14, respectively. These advanced outdoor camps are perfect for young teens interested in learning a range of survival skills.
- Skills Camps: Skills camps are shorter sessions that strengthen athletes’ abilities through drills and games focused on specific skill development. This summer, there are middle school skills camps for basketball, soccer, and volleyball. Middle schoolers can also join tennis, disc golf, and climbing camps, which are open to many ages and held throughout the summer.
HIGH SCHOOL (Ages 13-17)
Care Camps
These full-day camps are traditional summer camps, with hours from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. on weekdays.
- Camp Venture: This year, incoming 9th-graders are welcome to attend a final year of Camp Venture! At this all-day camp just for middle schoolers, campers will swim, hike, and explore all over the Willamette Valley. Each week is unique, featuring a weekly theme and off-site adventures.
Specialty Camps
- Leaders in Training: For teens ages 13-15, this camp offers an opportunity to level up after Camp Venture and gain hands-on leadership experience. Participating teens will help lead games, support younger campers, and learn what it takes to guide a camp team. Along the way, they build confidence, responsibility, and real leadership skills. At the end of this week-long program, participants can apply to volunteer as leaders-in-training throughout the remainder of the summer at other Willamalane camps.
- Skills Camps: Tennis and disc golf skills camps welcome high schoolers! These sports are adaptable to many ages, and older kids can join and focus on skill development through drills and games.
Ready to Sign Up?
If you’ve tried to sign up for summer camps, swim lessons, or other childcare in the Eugene-Springfield area, you know it can be competitive!
Here’s what we recommend:
- Create or update your account. Log in to manage your family members' information and update your saved payment cards.
- Complete your Camp Prerequisites.
- Add your top picks to your wishlist in ActiveNet, Willamalane’s registration software.
- Be ready to sign up at 8 a.m. on Wednesday, April 16, 2025.