Summer at BrightRoots has always been about the small, joyful moments. A child digging their hands into a mud kitchen for the first time. Two new friends giggling under a parachute on the lawn. A quiet four-year-old who finally feels brave enough to belt out the closing song on Friday. Those moments do not happen by accident, and they are exactly what our 2026 summer programs are designed to make space for.
Registration opened on Monday, and we wanted to give families a clear preview of what is on offer this year, what is new, and how to claim a scholarship spot if cost would otherwise be a barrier.
Three Camp Tracks for Three Stages of Childhood
We have organized the season into three age-based tracks so that every child gets activities calibrated to their developmental stage.
Sprouts (ages 2–3) runs three half-day mornings each week. Mornings are slow-paced and sensory-rich, with story circles, water tables, music, and plenty of time for naps and snuggles. New caregivers can join the first session of the week to ease the transition.
Saplings (ages 4–5) is a full-day Monday-through-Thursday program built around weekly themes. Past favorites like Tiny Chefs and Backyard Naturalists are returning, alongside two new themes for 2026: Rivers and Ponds and Builders and Inventors.
Branches (ages 6–8) is our newest track and runs in two-week blocks across June and July. It is designed for kindergarten and early-elementary kids who want more sustained project work, with longer art residencies, extended field trips, and a weekly community service component.
What Is New This Year
A few things are different in 2026, and we want families to know about them up front.
Earlier drop-off windows. Based on parent feedback last summer, all three tracks now open at 8:15 a.m. instead of 8:45. The later end-of-day pickup remains the same.
Heat protocols. After last August's stretch of triple-digit afternoons, we have rebuilt our outdoor schedule. Outdoor play happens before 11 a.m. and after 4 p.m. on hot days, with the middle of the day reserved for indoor projects in our air-conditioned classrooms. Our updated heat policy is available on the program page.
Twenty additional scholarship seats. Thanks to a generous match from a local family foundation, we are able to offer twenty more full-tuition scholarships this summer than we did last year, on top of our standard sliding-scale tuition. No additional documentation is required beyond the standard income self-attestation.
Key Dates
- March 23: Registration opens for current BrightRoots families
- March 30: Registration opens to the wider community
- April 30: Scholarship applications close
- May 15: Final session-balancing decisions communicated to families
- June 9: First day of summer programming
We expect Saplings sessions to fill before April 30 based on early demand. If your first-choice week is full when you register, please join the waitlist. We move kids off waitlists weekly as the picture firms up.
A Word on Scholarship Access
We hear from families every year who were not sure whether they qualified for a scholarship spot, or who felt awkward asking. We want to be direct: our scholarships exist precisely so that families do not have to weigh summer enrichment against rent or groceries. If the question of cost is even on your mind, please apply. The form takes about five minutes, requires no income documentation, and is reviewed by a small staff team. We do not share applicant details with classroom educators, so your child's experience this summer will look identical to anyone else's.
How to Register
Registration links and full session calendars are on the Programs page. If you have questions, reach out to our Family Engagement Coordinator at any time. We can walk you through track selection, schedule logistics, or the scholarship process by phone or email, whichever is easier.
We cannot wait to see what this summer brings. Some of our deepest memories from past years are rooted in those long, slow June afternoons when the only agenda was wonder. We are looking forward to making more of them with you.
