Best Overnight Summer Camps In Arizona 2024

Summer camp season is right around the corner, and that means it’s time to start narrowing down the right one for your child.

While Arizona can get quite hot in the summer, there are beautiful mountains like Camelback Mountain, gorgeous lakes like Lake Havasu, and piney areas that tend to stay at a comfortable temperature through the season. 

With great weather for a good part of the summer, your child can take advantage of those long days and sunshine to participate in a multitude of activities.

If you’re eager to send your son or daughter off to a camp experience that they’ll never forget, try one of these fantastic overnight summer camps in Arizona.

Summer Camp	Location	Ages	Gender	Session Lengths
Friendly Pines Camp	Prescott	5-14	Coed	1, 2 weeks
Camp Stein	Prescott	7-18	Coed	2, 3 weeks
Triangle Y Ranch Camp	Oracle	6-16	Coed	4, 6 days
St. Joseph's Youth Camp	Mormon Lake	7-17	Coed	1 week
Camp Tuku	Mayer	6-14	Coed	2 week
Phoenix Rising FC	Phoenix	8-16	Coed	1 week
Leadership Society of Arizona	Mesa	12-18	Coed	3 days

1. Friendly Pines Camp

Friendly Pines Camp is a stunning camp tucked amongst the pine trees. Picture rustic redwood cabins, a large dining lodge, and a babbling creek running through the whole place. 

For over 80 years, Friendly Pines has been active in their community, providing campers with amazing sleepaway summer camps. Friendly Pines Camp is located south of Prescott, AZ, in the Bradshaw Mountains. Due to the elevation, the temperature stays comfortable during the daytime, and it’s frequently sunny. 

Elementary to high school students can enjoy the one- or two-week, non-competitive programs that foster kids’ independence. Your kids will have plenty of opportunities to make friends and explore new activities such as canoeing, performing arts, horseback riding, team sports, or try their challenge course. 

It’s a classic experience designed to help children unplug during the school break and connect with nature to make the most of their summer vacation! If you’re free during a weekend in July or August, check out their family camp that’s fully inclusive.

2. Camp Stein

Camp Stein is a Jewish overnight camp in the Bradshaw Mountains in Scottsdale, AZ. Children can foster lifelong friendships with other campers of similar values to build a sense of community. It can also help strengthen their connection to their roots and religion in ways that are fun and innovative.  

Their camp session lengths vary depending on your kid’s age group, starting with one-week programs for the youngest kids and up to 4-weeks in length for older kids. 

With a mix of activities, including team sports, mountain biking, rock climbing, horseback riding, drama, Israeli dance, canoeing, and more, there’s something for everyone! Later in the day, camp events include scavenger hunts, talent shows, and a few others. 

Daily schedules include camper-led prayer services, with the idea of integrating spirituality into everyday life. 

3. Triangle Y Ranch Camp

Triangle Y Ranch Camp is offered by the YMCA of Southern Arizona. It’s situated near the Santa Catalina Mountains, about an hour north of Tucson. There are 5-day overnight camps or 3-night mini-camp options for younger campers. Each camp session has a different theme ranging from superheroes, Olympics, the wild west, and more. 

The camp emphasizes fun and aims to get kids away from technology and enjoy the great outdoors. Campers can make lifelong friends and have the chance to learn new skills and explore different hobbies. 

Activities include everything you would expect a summer camp to offer, with wall rock climbing, swimming, horseback riding, arts & crafts, and hiking being some of the perennial favorites. Your kids can also learn about STEM through fun educational activities.

4. St. Joseph’s Youth Camp

St. Joseph’s Youth Camp is a non-denominational camp designed to provide kids with a fun and memorable summer. Originally opened during the Great Depression, it’s now been operating for over 70 years. They have plenty of experience running excellent programs. 

The summer camp offers week-long stays for kids ages 7-17. This includes a Counselor in Training program for older students 15-17 who are looking to improve their leadership skills. 

Campers participate in a number of traditional camp activities such as arts and crafts, horseback riding, ropes courses, archery, kayaking, and more. They also run a Catholic week for younger kids 7-12 with religious-themed activities. 

Technology is not allowed, so students can unwind, make new friends, and disconnect from the outside world for an entire week. It’s 2.5 hour’s drive from Phoenix, and there are camp-organized buses that can pick up your children from the city and bring them here. 

5. Camp Tuku

If you want your child to gain outdoor skills, Camp Tuku is an excellent option. Located near Phoenix and Flagstaff, the summer camp boasts 300 acres with proximity to the stunning Prescott National Forest. 

They practice a mindfulness approach to help kids deal with challenges, feel more at ease with themselves, and be more creative. It’s geared toward kids and teenagers and offers a Counselor in Training program for high school students. 

Campers can participate in traditional activities like hiking, archery, and crafts at their two-week summer programs, as well as mindfulness-centric activities like yoga, gardening, and animal care. They eat delicious meals that use local ingredients and are made to be healthy by their expert chefs.  

6. Phoenix Rising FC

If your kiddo is a competitive soccer player, then the Phoenix Rising FC is the place to send them this summer. The soccer camp is held at the Embry Riddle University campus and offers both overnight and day camps. 

They aim to help young soccer players develop to the next level of play under the coaching and mentorship of professional coaches. The camp guarantees that your child can become a better player over the course of the program, in addition to having fun.

The soccer fields are open late into the evening, giving campers plenty of time for both drills and games. If your kids ever need a break from soccer, there’s also a swimming pool on campus that they can utilize. 

Plus, through it all, they have the chance to make tons of friends who like soccer just as much as they do. You won’t find many other overnight sports camps similar to these. 

7. Leadership Society of Arizona

The Leadership Society of Arizona hosts the Leadership Getaway, which prepares teenagers for success in college and their careers. Based out of Arizona State University, they foster problem-solving skills, stress management, and goal-setting. 

Your kids will be taken to a remote cabin in the woods, where they are taught how to plan for things, apply themselves to be successful, and much more. 

The Leadership Society of Arizona has offerings throughout the whole year and tailors each of its trips to the participant’s needs. Fun activities like rappelling and kayaking are combined with education. 

The leadership opportunities allow for personal development, as well as a way to teach campers how to communicate more effectively and be successful. Each trip lasts three days, and they also have other summer day camps focusing on leadership. 

If you want to keep looking for camps in the western end of the U.S, then check these out:

Best California Summer Camps

Best Colorado Summer Camps