Summer is more than just a break from school. For children, it’s a season of discovery and a time to build friendships, explore new interests, strengthen confidence, and grow in independence. For working families, it’s also a time that requires thoughtful planning.
That’s why NDHR is pleased to introduce the new Summer Camp Directory, a comprehensive, easy-to-use tool designed to help Notre Dame families create meaningful, engaging summers for their children in 2026.
The impact of summer camp can last far beyond a few warm-weather months. From theater and tennis to faith formation and science exploration, camps provide opportunities for children to stretch themselves in ways that classrooms sometimes can’t.
Gabriela González, Assistant Director of Research & Special Projects at the Institute for Social Concerns and mother of five, shared how transformative a single summer can be:
“Between the exciting field trips and the positive social environment, the impact of these camps is clear. My middle child found her voice through acting, moving from nerves to a solo, while my oldest gained a stronger sense of purpose and faith. Seeing that level of development in one summer was truly amazing.”
The variety of experiences—academic, artistic, athletic, and faith-based—highlights what summer camp can offer: growth across every dimension of a child’s life.
Another parent, Jessica Piser, who serves as Financial Program Manager in Notre Dame Research, echoed this sentiment after her child participated in camps from the 2025 ND Camp Expo:
“These camps helped give my son a well-rounded, fun, and active summer. He was able to meet new friends and be creative in his theater and art camps. He got to explore a new sport in tennis. And he gained new independence by going to Camp Eberhart for 2 weeks of sleep away camp.”
She also emphasized the value of centralized information for working families:
“Being able to access this camp information allowed our family to plan our summer well in advance… My husband and I work full time during the summer, so having a camp that our son looked forward to going to was a win-win situation and we were so thankful to have [NDHR] aggregate all this information that would have taken hours of self-research.”
While summer camps enrich children’s lives, they also provide vital support for employee families balancing full-time work and caregiving responsibilities.
As González shared:
“Despite the occasional scheduling juggle, the quality of these camps is a huge lifesaver for working parents. From academics to the arts, the creative outlets provided here make all the difference in our children's development.”
To make summer planning even easier, NDHR has launched the enhanced Summer Camp Directory for Summer 2026.
The directory features two convenient views:
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Camp Directory View – Browse the complete list of available camps.
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Find a Camp View – Search based on your child’s age, camp theme, or the week(s) the camp is offered.
Whether your child is interested in STEM, performing arts, athletics, outdoor adventure, or faith-based programming, the directory helps you quickly identify options that align with their interests and your family’s schedule.
In addition to the directory, employees can use the Family Planner to organize schedules for the entire summer. When you open the planner, you’ll be prompted to make a copy, which you can then customize to fit your family’s needs.
Summer has a remarkable way of shaping children, building confidence, creativity, independence, and lifelong memories. With the new NDHR Summer Camp Directory, planning a meaningful and manageable summer is easier than ever.
Have questions? Contact NDHR via the Self-Service Center.
Important Notes
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All information is provided directly by the camps.
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Some camps may appear multiple times to reflect different ages, times, or pricing options.
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Not all camps are full-day or full-week programs.
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Families should verify all camp details directly with the camp provider.
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Additional camps will be added throughout the coming months as information becomes available.
If you know of a camp that should be included, NDHR invites you to submit it through the Suggest a Camp form.
Originally published by at hr.nd.edu on February 18, 2026.