City summer camp sign-ups opened in March last year in three blocks. Seven indoor rec center pools, the Level Green sprayground and free Party at the Pier.
Last checked Oct. 19, 2026. This page is updated each year at the same address. Sources: Virginia Beach Parks and Recreation’s summer camps page, 2026 camp registration guide, aquatics page, Level Green Park and 2026 Summer Guide. 2027 camp dates and prices are not out yet; figures below are 2026’s.
Summer 2027 in Virginia Beach starts with camp sign-ups in March. Last year Parks and Recreation opened registration in three blocks, with priority for families already in its programs. The city’s pools are indoors at its seven recreation centers; the outdoor water play is the Level Green Park sprayground and the ocean itself. VBCPS’s last day of school is Friday, June 11, 2027.
Who to call
- Camps and child care (Out-of-School Time): 757-385-0402, fun@vbgov.com
- Parks and Recreation: 757-385-1100
- Camp alerts: text CHILDCARE to 757111
- Hunt Club Farm summer camp: 757-427-9520
City summer camps
Parks and Recreation runs three kinds of camps. In 2026:
| Camp | Dates | Hours | Weekly fee |
|---|---|---|---|
| Recreation center child care camps (K-5), Bayside, Bow Creek, Great Neck, Kempsville, Princess Anne | June 15 to Aug. 21 (10 weeks) | 6:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. | $225 |
| KidzQuest school-site camps (K-5) | June 15 to Aug. 14 or Aug. 7 | 6:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. | $143 ($79 reduced) |
| Middle School Mania (grades 6-8), Landstown and Larkspur middle schools | June 22 to Aug. 14 | 6:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. | $149 ($82 reduced) |
| Specialty and sports camps (LEGO, cooking, art, basketball, tennis, pickleball, rock wall and more) | one week each, June to August | half day | $125 |
| Nature camps (Back 2 Nature, Watershed Explorers, archery) | one week each | half or full day | $125 to $275 |
Child care camps include games, crafts, STEM projects, swimming and a field trip or special event every week. Fees include a $15 weekly registration fee; deposits are nonrefundable, and each week’s balance is due 14 days before it starts. Camps were closed Friday, June 19 (Juneteenth) and Friday, July 3.
How 2026 registration worked (on the city’s ActiveNet site):
- Block 1, March 14-15: priority sign-up for all weeks of child care camp at one site.
- Block 2, March 20 from 6 p.m.: priority sign-up for single weeks of child care and specialty and sports camps.
- Block 3, from 9 a.m. March 21: open registration for everything, including nature camps.
Priority blocks were open only to children in the city’s 2025-26 before- and after-school programs or its 2025 summer camps, and not to new ActiveNet accounts. The city recommends building a “wish list” in ActiveNet before registration opens.
Hunt Club Farm Summer Farm Camp, 2388 London Bridge Road, is a private alternative for ages 6 to 12: full days, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekdays, with animal care, an introduction to horseback riding, the TreeWalk and fishing or paddle boating. Tuition was $460 per child per week in 2026, with a $100 deposit, and some weeks sold out, the farm says.
Pools
Every city recreation center has an indoor pool open year-round with a membership or day pass:
- Bayside, 4500 First Court Road
- Bow Creek, 3427 Club House Road (sprayground, slide and diving board)
- Great Neck, 2521 Shorehaven Drive
- Kempsville, 800 Monmouth Lane
- Princess Anne, 1400 Nimmo Parkway
- Seatack, 141 S. Birdneck Road
- Williams Farm, 5252 Learning Circle (slide)
Open swim times are on each center’s pool calendar. Children 8 and under must be in the water with someone 16 or older, and after 8 p.m. children 9 to 11 need a parent in the building. Centers close for annual maintenance weeks (Williams Farm’s pool was closed Oct. 11-25, 2026), so check before you go.
The sprayground
Level Green Park, 1520 Level Green Blvd., has the city’s first public sprayground, free:
- Open 9 a.m. to sunset, Memorial Day through Labor Day; weekends only in May and September
- Runs only when the air is 75 degrees or warmer
- Children 8 and under need an adult; swim diapers for children not toilet trained
- No pets, food, glass or water balloons; plastic bottles are fine
The park also has a playground, two fenced dog parks, paved trails and restrooms.
Beaches
On Memorial Day 2026, city lifeguards staffed the Oceanfront from 1st to 41st streets, the North End, Camp Pendleton, Croatan, Sandbridge and Little Island Park until 6 p.m. Little Island Park, 3820 Sandpiper Road, has a 2,000-foot swimming beach south of its fishing pier, and parking fees apply from the Friday of Memorial Day weekend through Labor Day. At the Oceanfront, Grommet Island Park at the Boardwalk and 2nd Street is a fully accessible beach playground with free beach wheelchairs.
Free summer events (2026)
- Party at the Pier, Little Island Park: free movie nights on the sand on Tuesdays at 8:30 p.m. and concerts on Thursdays, 6 to 9 p.m., in June and July. Parking is free after 5 p.m.
- Parks After Dark, Thursdays to Saturdays, 6 to 10 p.m., June to Aug. 22, at Williams Farm Park, Level Green Park and Rosemont Elementary School: free games and activities for youth.
- Play All Day VA, Sunday, June 21, sunrise to sunset at Mount Trashmore Park.
- Fourth of July at Mount Trashmore: see our Fourth of July fireworks page.
What this means for you
- Set a reminder for early March: last year’s priority blocks opened March 14 and 20.
- Create your ActiveNet account and wish list before registration day.
- On hot days, check the temperature before heading to the sprayground; it stays off below 75 degrees.
Related: kids’ activities in Virginia Beach and Memorial Day.
Frequently asked questions
When does summer camp registration open in Virginia Beach?
In 2026, Parks and Recreation opened camp registration in three blocks: priority all-week child care sign-up March 14-15, priority weekly sign-up March 20 and open registration from 9 a.m. March 21. 2027 dates had not been posted when we checked on Oct. 19, 2026.
How much are Virginia Beach Parks and Recreation summer camps?
In 2026, recreation center child care camps were $225 a week, 6:30 a.m. to 6 p.m., and KidzQuest school-site camps $143 a week, with reduced fees for families with a fee waiver. Half-day specialty and sports camps were $125 a week.
Does Virginia Beach have public pools?
Yes. Each of the seven city recreation centers has an indoor pool open year-round with a membership or day pass. Bow Creek has a sprayground, slide and diving board, and Williams Farm also has a slide.
Is there a splash pad in Virginia Beach?
Yes. Level Green Park, 1520 Level Green Blvd., has the city’s first public sprayground, open 9 a.m. to sunset from Memorial Day through Labor Day and on weekends in May and September, when it is at least 75 degrees.
What is Party at the Pier?
A free summer series at Little Island Park, 3820 Sandpiper Road, in Sandbridge, with movies on the sand on Tuesdays at 8:30 p.m. and concerts on Thursdays, 6 to 9 p.m. Parking is free after 5 p.m.
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