Summer Camps & Enrichment Programs
Covid-19 Protocols for all Recreation Programs: Summer 2021
- Masks will be worn by all staff and participants during pick-up and drop-off. During outdoor activities, participants and vaccinated staff members may take their masks off.
- Recreation Staff will be asking families to self-report any Covid exposures.
- Staff and participants will follow social distancing guidelines when needed.
- Recreation Staff will have sanitation stations/products available at all times.
Camp FunStuff
Portsmouth Recreation will host Camp Funstuff at the Connie Bean Center/Middle School from June 21- August 20 (no camp July 5). Hours: Monday - Friday 7:30am to 3:30pm. Camp is open to children who would be entering Kindergarten in September, through grade 5. Camp participation is $180 per child per week for residents or $200 for nonresidents.
Registration begins Monday, April 19 at 10:00am. Click Here to register online.
Online registration can only be made with credit or debit cards. If you need to pay by cash or check, or need to make alternate payment arrangements, please call the Recreation Department at (603) 427-1547 to make an appointment. We have set aside a certain number of spots for in-person registration.
Online registration is based on the grade your child is entering. Please check your online account ahead of time to make sure your child is in the correct grade! If their grade is not correct or they do not have a grade level assigned, you will need to call us to fix it. This cannot be fixed online!
Campers will be divided into pods each week, with two staff members assigned to each pod. The pods will act as independent small camps throughout the summer. The focus is on outdoor activities but the camp will have access to Middle School classrooms (with the school distancing guidelines and Plexiglas dividers in place) and a large tent, in case of bad weather. At this time, there will be no bus field trips, but campers will be visiting local destinations like the Outdoor Pool, Prescott Park, South Mill Pond courts and the Gundalow.
COVID-19 protocols are being required to ensure the safety of children and staff, including wearing masks, hand sanitizer stations and breaks. Camp staff will take temperature checks and ask health screening questions at each daily check-in.
Camp FunStuff Frequently Asked Questions
Camp FunStuff Discipline Policy
Camp FunStuff Registration Form
Sports Camp
Campers will play different sports throughout the day and hope to also visit the Peirce Island Pool on most afternoons. Sports Camp is for children entering grades 5-8. Campers will meet daily in front of the South Mill Pond Tennis Courts, off of Junkins Ave./Leary Field. Campers will receive instruction in team sports (soccer, baseball, etc.) individual sports (tennis, pickleball, track, etc.) and social sports (lawn games, nature walks, pool time, etc). Camp hours are from 7:30am-3:30pm.
Cost is $180 per week for Portsmouth residents and $200 for nonresidents. Camp is limited to only 20 participants each week. For further information, please call Portsmouth Recreation at (603) 427-1547 or email bcfoley@cityofportsmouth.com.
Sports Camp will be held:
Session I - July 26-30
Session II - August 2-6
Session III - August 9-13
Session IV - August 16-20
Arts in the Afternoon
This Arts Camp will take place Monday-Thursday afternoons, 12:30-3:00pm. Participants will do fun art designs, craft projects, and be given a chance to let their artistic selves shine. On certain days we will walk to nearby locales to paint or sketch. Each week will be limited to 20 participants. Cost will be $60.00 for residents and $80 for nonresidents. Camp will meet outside the Connie Bean Center. Only on rainy days will camp be held inside.
Session I - Grades K-2: June 21-24
Session II - Grades K-2: June 28-July 1
No Camp week of July 5-July 8
Session III - Grades 3-6: July12-15
Session IV - Grades 3-6: July 19-22
Youth Baseball
Ages: 5-6 years
Days: Mondays & Wednesdays mornings, June 21- July 21
Time: 9:00-10:00am
Location: Leary Field Area on Parrott Ave
Cost: $40 (Includes shirt and hat)
Youth Baseball Is designed for children to have fun and learn the fundamentals of the game. Each session will focus on fun drills and end with a small baseball game, while using a tee and Whiffle-ball bat and ball. This program is limited to 20 participants.
Multi-Sport
Ages: 7-11 years
Days: Mondays & Wednesdays, June 21-July 21
Time:10:30-11:30am
Location: Leary Field on Parrott Ave
Cost: $40 (Includes shirt)
The Multi-Sport program is designed to introduce a new sport each week. Favorites over the years have been basketball, flag football, soccer, ultimate frisbee and more. Multi-Sport is designed to be noncompetitive and instructional. This program is limited to 20 participants.
Pre-K Soccer
Ages: 4-5 years
Days: Tuesdays only-June 22-July 20 -OR- Thursdays only-June 24-July 22. (Sign-up for one session per week).
Time: 9:00-10:00am
Location: Leary field on Parrott Ave
Cost: $40 (Includes shirt and shin-guards)
Children will learn soccer fundamentals, participate in small sided games and meet new friends. This program is limited to 20 participants per session.
Soccer Skillz
Ages: 6-10 years
Days: Tuesdays & Thursdays, June 22-July 22
Time:10:30-11:30am
Location: Leary field on Parrott Ave
Cost: $40.00 (Includes shirt and shin guards)
In Soccer Skillz we emphasize skills, fundamentals and techniques. Drills will the first part of each session followed by small games to finish up. This program is limited to 20 participants.
Preschool Arts & Crafts Class
Ages: 3-5 years
Days: Mondays & Wednesdays mornings, June 21- July 21
Time: 10:00-11:00am
Location: Senior Activity Center, 125 Cottage St.
Cost: $45
This arts & crafts program will be for preschool children and a grown up to get their hands messy to create beautiful things! A different fun, easy activity will be planned each day to get kids engaged and thinking creatively. This program is limited to 8 children plus an adult with them.
LEGO Robotics: Jurassic Bricks
Grades: Entering 1-5
July 26 - July 30
9:00 - 11:45am
Fee: $125
Young LEGO enthusiasts and budding paleontologists will absolutely love Seacoast Technology Workshops’ latest program...Jurassic Bricks! Using LEGO WeDo 2.0 robotics kits we will build our way through the Jurassic period! We will learn all about dinosaurs as we construct a dozen different species including triceratops, sauropod, stegosaurus, and of course a t-rex! Then using laptops and specially designed drag-and-drop software we will bring our dinosaurs to life! All participants will receive a special LEGO Paleontologist certificate of achievement! Note: Participants do not get to take LEGO projects home. This program is limited to 16 participants.
LEGO Robotics Master
Grades: Entering 1-5
July 26 - July 30
12:15 - 3:00pm
Fee: $125
Do you have what it takes to be Portsmouth Recreation's next LEGO Master? Young LEGO Masters will be guided through a series of daily LEGO robotic challenges! Participants will have access to thousands of specialized LEGO bricks including motors, sensors, and so much more! Then, using a laptop and kid-friendly LEGO WeDo 2.0 software, teams will create programs to bring their creations to life! Daily challenges will include amusement park rides, vehicles, animals, and much more! This is a can’t miss one-of-a-kind program for LEGO fans! All participants will receive a special Portsmouth Recreation LEGO Master certificate of achievement! Note: Participants do not get to take LEGO projects home. This program is limited to 16 participants.
Mad Science BRIXOLOGY and Engineering Camp
Get ready for the Bridges, Bricks, Blast-Off Brigade! Campers step into the shoes of engineers in this Mad Science FUN'gineered camp full of rockets, wacky machines, flying devices, roller coasters, and BRICKS! We have merged 2 days of our BRIXOLOGY program with 3 days of our “Adventures in Engineering” Camp to inspire our next generation of engineers in mechanical, structural, aerospace, and nautical engineering. For two days, children are challenged to use LEGO® bricks to assemble a space station and a mechanized drawing machine. They will also use their creativity to solve real-world design challenges like building a sailboat slalom and off-world habitat. They build skyscrapers and are challenged to build the strongest bridge. Children build and take-home projects like micro-pincher's, a truss bridge, carnival ride, and flying fizzler rockets. Brixology take-homes are the Wave Rider Boat and Skyroller Zipline cable car which are compatible with campers LEGO® bricks at home. This program is limited to 20 participants.
Session I: August 2 - 6
Session II: August 9 - 13
9:00am-3:00pm
Location: Senior Activity Center, 125 Cottage St.
Cost: $280
Ages: 6-12 Years Old
SeaPerch STEM Engineering Camp
The SeaPerch program is offered by Portsmouth Naval Shipyard STEM Outreach Program.
Campers will be building and operating their own SeaPerch Remotely Operated Vehicles (ROVs). First on the desk, then in a portable pool at the end of the week. The SeaPerch are tethered ROVs, meaning they are controlled using a wire that runs back up out of the pool to the camper's hand-held controller. This program teaches assembly and design skills; buoyancy and propulsion; trial and error and iterative development, all while having fun. Introduction to soldering and tools is also included and a focus on safety is also part of the program. This program is limited to 15 participants per session.
Ages 12-15
Session I: August 2-6
Session II: August 9-13
12:00pm-3:00pm
Portsmouth Middle School
Cost: $40
Tennis in the Parks
The tennis program where kids play while they learn!
Led by an approved USTA Net Generation tennis coach, the program will focus on developing the skills to serve, rally and play - so it’s perfect for beginners and first-time players. Once the skills are there, participants will play fun matches with other players in the program. This program uses modified tennis balls, age-appropriate rackets, court sizes, and the latest fun and engaging activities that help players successfully learn and play the game quicker!
All players in their first session receive and keep a new age-appropriate racket, tennis ball, and a program t-shirt!
July 12 - July 28
Monday & Wednesday Mornings
Red Ball (Grades 1 & 2) 8:00 am - 9:00 am
Orange Ball (Grades 3 - 5) 9:15 am - 10:15 am
Minimum 7 players and Maximum 20 players per age group
Location: Portsmouth High School Tennis Courts - Andrew Jarvis Dr (The tennis courts are behind the school)
Fee: $60 for residents, $65 for nonresidents
Registration opens June 3 for residents, June 10 for nonresidents