65+ Knoxville Area Summer Camps Your Kids Will Actually Enjoy

(updated for 2020)

From icy-cold swimming adventures with friends to late-night campfire s’mores, nothing makes you smile quite like the memory of fun-filled childhood summers.   

If you want to help your kids make great summer memories of their own, summer camps are a great place to start.

These summer camps in Knoxville and throughout East TN are bursting at the seams with fun activities that are sure to stick with your kids for years to come! 

With so many camps to choose from, the selection process can seem a little overwhelming. Thankfully, this comprehensive guide gives you the nitty-gritty on all the best camps to help you choose the perfect one.

Summer Camps in Knoxville TN

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Overnight Summer Camps in Knoxville and East TN

Overnight Sleep Away Summer Camps in East TN

Camp Quest Smoky Mountains

This secular Smoky Mountain overnight camp offers both educational and recreational activities, with an emphasis on free-thinking. The educational activities focus on critical thinking and scientific inquiry. Recreational options include swimming, hiking, campfires, arts and crafts, shows, group games, movie nights, and more. This camp is for kids ages 8-17.

Great Smoky Mountains Institute at Tremont

  • 9275 Tremont Rd, Townsend
  • (865) 448-6709
  • website

This facility offers a variety of overnight summer camp opportunities for kids from ages 9-17. For kids ages 4-9, Tremont even hosts a parent-and-me overnight experience!

Smoky Mountain Adventure Camp

  • 246 Incline Way, Cosby
  • (866) 876-CAMP
  • website

This adventure-packed overnight camp offers 1, 2, 3, and 4-week options. Activities include hiking, caving, rappelling, rock climbing, challenge courses, rafting, tubing, horseback riding, canoe trips, backpacking expeditions, and more! Programs are available for kids from age 10-18.

Camp Wesley Woods

  • 329 Wesley Woods Road, Townsend
  • (865) 448-2246
  • website

This faith-centered overnight camp provides opportunities for good old fashioned fun and a variety of outdoor adventures. Special needs campers are also welcomed.

Bridgemont Camp

  • 3620 Katy Hollar Rd Sevierville, TN 37862
  • 865-453-8841
  • website

At Bridgemont, campers can grow in their Christian faith while enjoying a variety of group games, arts and crafts, outdoor activities, a 110 foot swinging bridge, and more.

Smoky Mountain Christian Camp

  • 157 Church Camp Rd, Tellico Plains
  • (423) 261-2197
  • website

This God-centered adventure camp offers overnight experiences for kids in 1st through 12th grade. Activities include games, swimming, hiking, canoeing, rafting, ziplines, and much more!

Camp Smoky

  • 3311 Camp Smoky Lane, Sevierville
  • (865) 436-5787
  • website

Campers will grow in their Baptist faith while enjoying a variety of recreational activities. Both day and overnight camps are available.

YMCA Camp Ocoee

  • 111 Ymca Drive, Ocoee, TN 37361, USA
  • (423) 338-5588
  • website

At this fantastic overnight camp, kids will enjoy a wide variety of traditional camp activities including water sports, archery, hiking, fishing, arts and crafts, and much more!

YMCA Camp Widjiwagan

  • 3308 Smith Springs Road, Antioch, TN, United States
  • 615-360-2267
  • website

This unique program offers themed overnight camps including Star Wars, Harry Potter, Percy Jackson, Minecraft and many more!

Mixed-Activity Day Camps

Day Camps in East Tennessee

4-H Summer Camps

  • 214 4-H Lane, Greeneville, TN, United States
  • (423) 639-3811
  • website

4-H offers summer camps for kids in grades 4 – 12. Activities and educational topics include kayaking, swimming, wildlife, archery, fishing, hiking, ecology, photography, crafts, canoeing, talent shows, drama, soccer, softball, basketball, volleyball, low ropes, cookouts, and more!

Tate’s Day Camp

  • 9215 Bob Gray Road, Knoxville
  • 865-690-9208
  • website

To keep things fresh, this day camp features a weekly theme. Activities include arts and crafts, sports, games, singing, swimming, wall climbing, nature studies, marksmanship, woodworking, and much more!

Camp Tipton

  • 933 Walker School Rd, Maryville
  • (865) 257-2288
  • website

As a ministry of the Chilhowee Baptist Association, this Christian based day camp allows campers to further their relationship with Christ while enjoying a variety of recreational activities.

Knoxville Jewish Alliance Summer Camps

  • 6800 Deane Hill Drive, Knoxville, TN, United States
  • (865) 690-6343
  • website

This camp serves kids in grades pre-k – 10. Camp activities include sports, arts, swimming, tennis and more! All races, creeds, and religions are welcome.

Morning Star Child Development Center

  • 10614 Flickenger Lane, Knoxville
  • 865-671-0244
  • website

This fun day camp offers both full-time and part-time programs for kids ages 5-12. Activities include swimming, sports, outdoor play, and more!

Camp Webb

  • 9800 Webb School Lane, Knoxville
  • (865) 291-3840
  • website

Hosted by the Webb School of Knoxville, these summer day camps provide campers with opportunities for learning and a variety of indoor and outdoor adventure.

Episcopal School of Knoxville Summer Camps

  • 950 Episcopal School Way, Knoxville
  • (865) 777-9032
  • website

The Episcopal School of Knoxville offers a variety of camps to suit your needs including art camps, sports camps, STEAM camps, and more!

National Fitness Center

Offering 5 locations throughout Knoxville, this fun camp offers swimming, sports, arts and crafts, music, and so much more!

Parks and Recreation

Most local parks and recreation departments throughout the region are offering a variety of fun day camps with sports, crafts, and more.

Nature Exploration Camps

Nature Exploration Summer Camps in East TN

UT Garden Discovery Camp

  • 2431 Joe Johnson Drive, Knoxville
  • (865) 974-7151
  • website

UT’s Garden Discovery Camp is a fun hands-on nature experience for kids ages 4 – 13. There are single-day sessions and week-long day camp sessions available, each with a different enchanting theme.

Knoxville Botanical Garden

  • 2743 Wimpole Avenue, Knoxville
  • (865) 862-8717
  • website

Your child will be immersed in all things nature and gardening at this fun summer camp featuring a variety of hands-on activities and outdoor adventure.

Ijams Nature Center

  • 2915 Island Home Ave, Knoxville
  • (865) 577-4717
  • website

Week-long summer camp activities include nature study, hiking, caving, canoeing, arts and crafts, games, songs, educational programs, and much more! For kids ages 3-12 years old.

Science and Academic Camps

Academic and Science Summer Camps in East TN

Zoo Knoxville

  • 3500 Knoxville Zoo Drive, Knoxville
  • 865-637-5331
  • website

Week-long zoology camps for kids ages 4-13. New themes are available every week throughout the summer.

Ripley’s Aquarium of the Smokies

  • 88 River Rd, Gatlinburg
  • (865) 430-8808
  • website


Ripley’s Aquarium offers a variety of hands-on marine biology day camps to keep your kids learning throughout the summer.

Children’s Museum of Oak Ridge

  • 461 West Outer Drive, Oak Ridge
  • (865) 482-1074
  • website

Summer camp topics include science, technology, engineering, art, and math. The camps allow kids to experience hands-on learning using a variety of themed activities.

Design Matters Camp

  • 1715 Volunteer Blvd, Knoxville
  • (865) 974-5265
  • website

This exclusive camp, hosted by UT Knoxville, is perfect for high school students interested in design and architecture. There are both overnight and day camp options available.

Bricks for Kidz

  • 9648 Kingston Pike, Knoxville
  • (865) 250-8560
  • website

Week-long summer camps focus on design and architecture with Lego. There is a fresh new theme each week.

Camp Invention

  • various locations in Knoxville and surrounding towns
  • 800-968-4332
  • website

These fun STEM camps are geared towards kids in grades K – 6th. The camps are hosted by a variety of elementary schools throughout the local area and each camp lasts 1 week. These camps incorporate science, technology, engineering, and math using fun, hands-on, activities.

UT Volunteer Your Voice Summer Camp

This camp is specifically designed for kids with speech, language, and/or hearing disorders. The camp includes 2 half days on the UT campus and a 3-day camping trip in the Smoky Mountains. To best serve your kids, Volunteer Your Voice combines individualized treatment with traditional summer camp activities. The camp welcomes kids ages 8 – 15.

Shades of Development

  • various locations, Knoxville
  • website

This education-based day camp believes in hands-on, interest-lead learning experiences. The camps take place at various facilities throughout Knox County. Each week incorporates a fun theme and an optional off-site field trip related to the theme.

The Muse

  • 516 North Beaman Street, Knoxville, TN, United States
  • 865-594-1494
  • website

The Muse boasts 5-day themed camps focusing on different aspects of science and technology, including animals, robots, weather, and more!

Kids U

  • 600 Henley Street Suite 313 Knoxville, TN
  • 865-974-0150
  • website

Hosted by UT Knoxville, these camps are for kids in grade 3-12. Topics include animals, computers, careers, discovery, sports, leadership, nature, photography, science, cooking, and more!

Knoxville Catholic High School

  • 9245 Fox Lonas Road, Knoxville, TN, United States
  • (865) 560-0313
  • website

Knoxville Catholic offers a variety of academic and recreational day camps including math, robotics, writing, baseball, basketball, cheer and much more!

The Etiquette Factory

  • 7545 South Northshore Drive, Knoxville, TN, United States
  • 855-588-6266
  • website

Each 1/2 day summer camp lasts for 4 days, with a goal of teaching campers proper manners and social skills.

Appalachian Institute of Creative Learning

Offers overnight academic camps for thinkers and dreamers!

Dance and Gymnastics Camps

Dance Camps in East TN

Angela Floyd Schools

  • 6732 Jubilee Center Way, Knoxville
  • (865) 947-9894
  • website

This dance studio offers a variety of day camp options for all levels of experiences. Camps include cute themes like sparkle party, under the sea, and more!

Van Metre School of Dance

  • 215 West Broadway Avenue, Maryville
  • (865) 982-8463
  • website

Fun day-camps are available for all skill levels.

Revolution Dance Gym Bugs

  • 201 Sherway Road, Knoxville, TN, United States
  • (865) 691-2671
  • website

These 3-day dance camps boast a new theme each week. Each theme exposes campers to new styles of dance and music.

Perpetual Motion

  • 1452 E Brown School Rd, Maryville
  • (865) 984-1253
  • website

This gymnastics-based summer camp allows you to pick and choose the weeks you want to attend. The camp is for kids ages 5 – 13 and also includes activities like swimming, crafts, and more!

Gymnastics Counts

  • 1824 Clydesdale St, Maryville
  • (865) 984-6200
  • website

In addition to gymnastics, this camp boats themed summer activities, arts and crafts, outdoor activities, and more!

The Little Gym

  • 7240 Kingston Pike, Knoxville
  • (865) 583-1166
  • website

These 90 minutes mini-gymnastics camps, are hosted for kids ages 3-12 throughout the summer

Art and Music Camps

Music and Art Summer Camps in East TN

Youthful Expressions Studio

  • 721 E Lamar Alexander Pkwy, Maryville
  • (865) 607-4473
  • website

This art studio offers 2 and 3-hour mini-camps for kids ages 7 – 19. Topics include sculpture, painting, mosaics, and more!

Arts & Fine Crafts Center

  • 1127B Broadway Ave. Knoxville, TN 37917
  • (865) 523-1401
  • website

Mini summer camps offered in a variety of topics.

Liza Moz

  • 1645 Downtown West Blvd. Knoxville TN 37919
  • (865) 531-7329
  • website

These mini-camps for ages 7+ include a variety of themed pottery painting, canvas painting, and glass painting projects.

Oak Ridge Junior Playhouse Theatre Camp

This interactive drama camp is for rising 4th graders through rising high school seniors and culminates in a showcase performance.

School of Rock

  • 101 Sherlake Lane, Knoxville, TN, United States
  • (865) 247-4038
  • website

Week-long summer camps with a different fun theme each week, including classic rock, drum week, the ’90s and more!

Knoxville Museum of Art 

  • 1050 Worlds Fair Park Drive, Knoxville
  • (865) 525-6101 
  • website

This museum offers a summer art academy designed to increase your child’s art skills, creativity, and self-confidence. Morning classes are offered for kids ages 3 – 12 and afternoon classes are offered for kids ages 13 and up.

Two Coyotes Studio

  • Sevierville, TN
  • (865) 654-446
  • website

This facility offers a 5-day drama camp and single-day art classes throughout the summer.

AR Workshops

  • 5442 Homberg Drive, Knoxville, TN, USA
  • (865) 590-9017
  • website

Kids will enjoy mini-camp classes on topics like knitting, wood crafts, and more! Classes are just 1.5 hours long.

Creative Art with Miss Shelley

  • 9700 Kingston Pike, Knoxville
  • (865) 440-3729
  • website

These fun themed camps are 1 day a week for either 4 or 8 weeks. Topics include painting and clay work. One-time classes are also available.

Sports Camps

Sports Camps in East TN

Topline Equestrian

  • Farragut, TN, United States
  • (321) 303-2105
  • website

This exciting camp operates rain or shine and provides hands-on horse experiences for all experience levels.

Knoxville Racquet Club

  • 5535 Lonas Drive, Knoxville
  • (865) 588-1323
  • website

Week-long camps offer tennis instruction and are geared towards kids ages 6 – 12

K2 Volleyball Club

  • 2639 Topside Rd, Louisville
  • (865) 982-8870
  • website

These 2-day volleyball camps are offered for all experience levels. The camps are geared towards kids of all ages.

Cedar Bluff Racquet Club

  • 701 Racquet Club Way, Knoxville
  • (865) 690-5700
  • website

This facility also offers 4-day Summer Fun Tennis Camps geared towards kids in 1st – 8th grades.

Knoxville Youth Athletics

The camps are 2 days a week for 4 weeks and players can choose between track and field and cross country.

Concord Park Golf Course

  • 10909 Northshore Drive, Knoxville
  • 865-966-9103
  • website

Golf camp is open to both beginning and advanced players.

Knoxville Christian Academy

  • 529 Academy Way, Knoxville
  • (865) 690-4721
  • website

Themed camps include cooking, soccer, lacrosse, and football. Each camp is 4 days long.

Concord Sail Camp

  • 11600 South Northshore Drive, Knoxville, TN, USA
  • (865) 599-0820
  • website

This water-centered camp teaches kids all about sailing. While all skill levels are welcome, all participants must be proficient swimmers.

Baton Twirling Camp

This camp offers baton twirling lessons for kids in pre-k – high school. The skill level ranges from beginner to advanced.

Onsight Rock Gym

  • 5335 Western Avenue, Knoxville
  • 865-888-9123
  • website

This rock climbing gym offers a variety of week-long camps throughout the summer. Each week has a different theme. For kids ages 4-17.

Young Mountain Equestrian Farm

  • 705 Harold Dr. Maryville, TN 37803
  • (865) 363-3444
  • websites

Week-long camps are available for beginning, intermediate, and advanced riders.

Ice Skating Camp

  • Ice Chalet, Knoxville
  • (865) 588-1858
  • website

Choose from 1-7 consecutive weeks of skating lessons, or opt to do just 1 day a week for 7 weeks. Lessons are for beginning and intermediate skaters.

Olympic Arrow Archery Club

Week-long archery summer camps for kids ages 10-15.

Global Champs Summer Camp

  • multiple locations, Knoxville
  • (865)-228-1423
  • website

This fun soccer camp for boys and girls is held at multiple locations throughout Knoxville.

H3 Sports

  • 200 Center Park Drive, Knoxville
  • (865) 389-5998
  • website

Available sports include baseball, softball, football, flag football, rugby, basketball, golf, track, and field.

University of Tennessee Sports Camps

  • various locations, Knoxville
  • (865) 974-0600
  • website

Sports camps are available for baseball, basketball, golf, football, soccer, softball, swimming, diving, volleyball, tennis, and rowing.

Diamond All Stars Cheerleading

  • 600 Business Park Lane, Knoxville, TN, United States
  • 865-250-6808
  • website

Competitive cheerleading for all ages, with summer camps and seasonal clinics also available.

Awesome DIY Summer Camp Ideas

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Written By
Erica Cardinal
Erica is a long-time resident of East TN and the founder of East TN Family Fun. She's also a sucker for a good adventure. Together with her hubs and kiddos, she spends her time exploring, homeschooling, and making memories.

2 thoughts on “65+ Knoxville Area Summer Camps Your Kids Will Actually Enjoy”

  1. Can we update the Oak Ridge Playhouse camp description to show that it is for rising fourth grades and up?

    Thanks!

    Reply

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