What ages does City of Tampa R.E.C. Camp accept?

City of Tampa R.E.C. Camp 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 R.E.C. Camp cost?

City of Tampa R.E.C. Camp publishes $8/week for the standard session. Final cost depends on session length, sibling discounts, and whether extended care is added on.

What are City of Tampa R.E.C. Camp's hours?

City of Tampa R.E.C. Camp 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 R.E.C. Camp?

City of Tampa R.E.C. Camp 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 R.E.C. Camp provide lunch?

City of Tampa R.E.C. Camp 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 R.E.C. Camp compare to other traditional day camp camps in Tampa?

City of Tampa R.E.C. Camp is one of 21 traditional day camp 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.

▌ Traditional Day Camp · Ages 5–12

City of Tampa R.E.C. Camp

Multiple City of Tampa Recreation Centers · $8/week

The City of Tampa R.E.C. Camp offers an affordable, traditional day camp experience for children aged 5-14 at various community centers across Tampa, focusin...

▌ Editor's read The City of Tampa R.E.C. Camp website (tampa.gov/parks-and-recreation/summercamp) loads successfully and provides information about their summer camp program. The camp is a day camp, operating from 7:30 AM to 6:00 PM, and is designed for children aged 5-14. It is run by the City of Tampa Parks and Recreation Department, indicating a municipal-parks owner type. The cost is notably low at $8 per week for City of Tampa residents and $130 per week for non-residents, with a one-time $25 registration fee. The website explicitly states that 'All staff are screened through the City of Tampa Human Resources Department and must pass a Level II background check,' confirming the presence of background check language. The camp is not listed in the ACA directory. Google reviews for 'City of Tampa Parks and Recreation' generally show a positive sentiment, with an average rating of 4.3 stars from over 1,000 reviews, often praising the variety of programs and facilities. Social media handles for the City of Tampa are @cityoftampa on Instagram and 'cityoftampa' on Facebook, which promote various city services including parks and recreation.

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Parks-department programPublic, often subsidized

Shortlist in planner → Visit website

Who thrives here Ages 5–12

City of Tampa R.E.C. Camp 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 traditional day camp program.

Facts & Credentials

Program type: Day camp
ACA accredited: Not verified
Established: Not listed
Operator: Municipal parks department
Staff-to-camper ratio: Not listed

How we verify these →

Details

Category: Traditional Day Camp
Ages: 5–12
Hours: 7:30 AM - 6:00 PM
Address: 3402 W Columbus Dr, Tampa, FL 33607, USA
Cost notes: USD. $80 for the entire 10-week summer program. A valid City of Tampa Rec Card is required.

Logistics

Lunch provided: No
Transportation: No
Financial aid: No
Setting: mixed

Frequently asked about City of Tampa R.E.C. Camp

What ages does City of Tampa R.E.C. Camp accept?: City of Tampa R.E.C. Camp 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 R.E.C. Camp cost?: City of Tampa R.E.C. Camp publishes $8/week for the standard session. Final cost depends on session length, sibling discounts, and whether extended care is added on.
What are City of Tampa R.E.C. Camp's hours?: City of Tampa R.E.C. Camp 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 R.E.C. Camp?: City of Tampa R.E.C. Camp 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 R.E.C. Camp provide lunch?: City of Tampa R.E.C. Camp 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 R.E.C. Camp compare to other traditional day camp camps in Tampa?: City of Tampa R.E.C. Camp is one of 21 traditional day camp 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 R.E.C. Camp with other camps.

How to choose a summer camp · Use the decision checklist before you compare finalists.
Financial aid and scholarship camps · Compare aid policies, discounts, and application timing.
Summer camp pricing in 2026 · Benchmark weekly cost before you commit a deposit.

Browse similar camps

Indexable directory cuts for families comparing City of Tampa R.E.C. Camp against nearby options.

Camps near here

Same city, with age-overlapping options first. Other camps to consider alongside City of Tampa R.E.C. Camp.

ReDefiners World Languages Summer STEAM Camp · ReDefiners World Languages · Ages 5–12 · $250/week
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Alexander Recreation Center Traditional Summer Camp · Hillsborough County · Ages 6–12 · $40/week
American Ballet Theatre Florida Summer Intensive · Patel Conservatory · Ages 12–18 · $925/week
Bright Horizons at Tampa · Ages 3–5
Carrollwood Village Park Eco-Adventure Summer Camp · Hillsborough County · Ages 9–12 · $60/week
City of Tampa Parks & Recreation Jr. Lifeguard Camp at Bobby Hicks · Bobby Hicks Pool · Ages 8–15 · $100/week
City of Tampa Parks & Recreation R.E.C. Camp (Umbrella) · Multiple Locations · Ages 5–12