Summer feels far away, but the best North Shore camps fill up early. Here is what we know about summer 2027 so far, how to get help paying, and how to check that a camp is licensed.

By our editors · Facts checked October 19, 2026 · Sources: each camp’s own website and Mass.gov. Camps post new dates and prices over the winter, so check the link before you sign up.

When to start planning

  • Camps haven’t posted 2027 dates yet.
  • Use 2026 as your guide. YMCA of Metro North day camps ran June 15 to August 28, 2026, from 8 am to 4 pm, with extra care until 5:30 pm.
  • Plan your budget this winter. Many families sign up between January and March, and popular weeks go first.
  • Apply for help paying before you enroll. At some camps, income-based prices only count if you were approved first (see below).

Day camps near Lynn, Salem and Peabody

  • YMCA of Metro North: Camp Discovery in Lynn, Camp Eastman in Peabody, Camp Hillside in Saugus and Camp Melstone in Melrose, plus a gymnastics camp in Saugus. See YMCA of Metro North camps
  • YMCA of the North Shore: it calls itself the largest day camp provider on the North Shore. Camps include Children’s Island in Marblehead Harbor, Camp Sterling Woods in Beverly (35 acres, with a high ropes course and zip line) and Camp Dory on Chebacco Lake in Essex. See YMCA of the North Shore camps
  • RoboThink NE Boston (Partner): robotics, coding and STEM camps for ages 4 to 16 at 18 Lynn Street, Peabody. Visit RoboThink

See more camps, classes and party places in our North Shore directory.

Help paying for camp

  • YMCA of Metro North offers financial assistance. Members can save up to $90 a week if they keep their membership for the whole time their child is in camp.
  • YMCA of the North Shore has income-based “Flexible Pricing.” You must have an up-to-date approval for the year before you enroll. They won’t lower the price afterward.
  • Ask every camp whether it has scholarships or payment plans. Many do, but they don’t always advertise them.

How to check that a camp is licensed

In Massachusetts, a summer camp with 5 or more children must be inspected and licensed by the local board of health in the town where the camp is. The state child care agency (EEC) doesn’t license these camps. You can call that town’s board of health to ask whether a camp is licensed, or to get a copy of its latest inspection report. Mass.gov: Recreational camps

Questions to ask before you sign up

  • Is the camp licensed by the local board of health this year?
  • What are the hours, and is there early drop-off or late pickup?
  • What is the cost per week, and what does it include (lunch, field trips, swimming)?
  • What is the refund policy if plans change?
  • How are counselors trained and checked?
  • Is there help paying, or a sibling discount?

Need help finding a camp? Tell us what you need and we’ll help you find options, free. Run a camp? Get listed on KidBrief.