City of Tampa Parks & Recreation R.E.C. Camp - Highland Pines
The City of Tampa Parks & Recreation R.E.C. Camp at Highland Pines offers a supervised summer day camp experience for children aged 5-15, focusing on recreat...
▌ Editor's read The City of Tampa Parks & Recreation R.E.C. Camp at Highland Pines is a day camp for children aged 5-15, operated by the municipal parks department. The camp website (tampa.gov/parks-and-recreation/summercamp) loads successfully and provides details on the program, including a focus on recreation, enrichment, and supervised activities. The site states that all staff undergo background checks. While specific Google reviews for the Highland Pines R.E.C. Camp were not readily available, the broader City of Tampa Parks and Recreation department generally receives positive feedback. The camp is not listed as ACA accredited. Social media handles for the department are @cityoftampaparks on Instagram and TampaParksandRec on Facebook.
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Parks-department programPublic, often subsidized
Who thrives here Ages 5–12
City of Tampa Parks & Recreation R.E.C. Camp - Highland Pines fits middle-elementary campers — old enough for skill-building to land, young enough that friend-group dynamics and counselor warmth still matter more than program rigor. Parents at this age band tend to prioritize a balanced rhythm of structured activity and unstructured play, which is the actual differentiator inside any given community/rec center program.
Facts & Credentials
- Program type
- Day camp
- ACA accredited
- Not verified
- Established
- Not listed
- Operator
- Municipal parks department
- Staff-to-camper ratio
- Not listed
Details
- Category: Community/Rec Center
- Ages: 5–12
- Hours: 7:30 am - 6:00 pm
- Address: 4505 E 21st Ave, Tampa, FL 33605
- Phone: (813) 274-8615
- Cost notes: $80 for the summer (10 weeks) for residents. Financial assistance available.
Logistics
- Lunch provided: No
- Transportation: No
- Financial aid: No
- Setting: mixed
Frequently asked about City of Tampa Parks & Recreation R.E.C. Camp - Highland Pines
- What ages does City of Tampa Parks & Recreation R.E.C. Camp - Highland Pines accept?
- City of Tampa Parks & Recreation R.E.C. Camp - Highland Pines is open to children ages 5–12. Camps publish their own age cutoffs, and some run mixed-age groups internally; check the registration page for that summer's grouping if your child sits at a boundary.
- How much does City of Tampa Parks & Recreation R.E.C. Camp - Highland Pines cost?
- City of Tampa Parks & Recreation R.E.C. Camp - Highland Pines doesn't publish a flat per-week rate — pricing varies by session. $80 for the summer (10 weeks) for residents. Financial assistance available. Contact the camp directly for the current schedule of fees.
- What are City of Tampa Parks & Recreation R.E.C. Camp - Highland Pines's hours?
- City of Tampa Parks & Recreation R.E.C. Camp - Highland Pines runs 7:30 am - 6:00 pm. If those hours don't quite cover your work day, check whether extended care or early drop-off is offered separately.
- Who runs City of Tampa Parks & Recreation R.E.C. Camp - Highland Pines?
- City of Tampa Parks & Recreation R.E.C. Camp - Highland Pines is operated by the local parks department. The operator type matters for tuition policy (refunds, financial aid eligibility) and for what kind of staff training pipeline the camp uses.
- Does City of Tampa Parks & Recreation R.E.C. Camp - Highland Pines provide lunch?
- City of Tampa Parks & Recreation R.E.C. Camp - Highland Pines does not include lunch — campers bring their own. Most day camps without provided lunch are nut-free or nut-aware, so check the allergy policy before packing. Frozen water bottles double as ice packs and drinks; insulated lunch boxes hold below 40°F for about four hours.
- How does City of Tampa Parks & Recreation R.E.C. Camp - Highland Pines compare to other community/rec center camps in Tampa?
- City of Tampa Parks & Recreation R.E.C. Camp - Highland Pines is one of 69 community/rec center camps in Tampa that overlap its age range. The differentiation between options usually comes down to four factors: weekly price, day length, indoor/outdoor balance, and group size. Browse same-city alternatives in the directory to compare side by side.
Planning guides
Editorial checklists to use before you compare City of Tampa Parks & Recreation R.E.C. Camp - Highland Pines with other camps.
- How to choose a summer camp · Use the decision checklist before you compare finalists.
- Summer camp pricing in 2026 · Benchmark weekly cost before you commit a deposit.
- Summer camp safety and accreditation · Review licensing, supervision, and accreditation signals.
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