Virginia camps

Youth camps in Virginia

21 youth camps in 13 Virginia cities and towns, from the Virginia Department of Education licensing data.

This is the state's list, not our picks. We haven't reviewed these camps. Camps that don't need a state camp license, and camps still waiting for approval, aren't on it, so there may be more camps near you.

Cities with the most camps

Charlottesville5 Arlington4 Reston2 Fairfax1 Leesburg1 Mc Lean1 Norfolk1 Oakton1 Portsmouth1 Staunton1 Sterling1 Virginia Beach1 Williamsburg1

Virginia camp rules

Only some camp types need a camp license or permit. Overnight summer camps that host 12 or more unrelated minors overnight for any part of more than 2 consecutive days must have a VDH permit and are inspected each year by the local health department. The permit covers water, sewage, grounds, pools, and food (Code of Virginia §§35.1-1, 35.1-18; 12VAC5-440). Day camps are child day programs and need a VDOE child day center license unless they qualify for an exemption, for example a local-government recreation program or a program that runs no more than 20 days a year (Code of Virginia §22.1-289.030). VDH says its summer camp regulations are being updated.

Agency: Virginia Department of Health (VDH), Environmental Health (overnight camps); VDOE (day camps licensed as child day centers)

Official sources: VDH: Summer Camps · Code of Virginia §35.1-1, definition of summer camp · Code of Virginia §35.1-18, license required · 12VAC5-440, Regulations for Summer Camps

All Virginia rules for child care and camps · Camp license rules in every state · Checked October 2026. General information, not legal advice.

More for Virginia families

Child care and after-school programs in Virginia
Free summer meals for kids in Virginia: USDA meal sites. These are not camps.
Youth, sports and camp nonprofits in Virginia, from IRS data. Being listed there doesn't mean a camp is licensed.

Camp not listed?

If you run a camp in Virginia that isn't here, send us its details. It's free. A person at BackPR reviews every submission before anything is published, and not every camp gets listed.

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Sources

Virginia licensed child day centers, Virginia Department of Education. Data provided June 2026. No open license; VDEM best-effort disclaimer. Source data

These listings come from official state licensing lists. We show each camp's name, type, city and ZIP code as the state lists them. We don't show street addresses. A listing doesn't mean BackPR recommends a camp, and a state can suspend or end a license after its list was posted. Check the license with the state agency before you enroll a child.