Parents have lots of options at their disposal when choosing summer camps for their children. But competition for spots can be fierce, as camps only have a limited number of openings, many of which fill up quickly once enrollment begins. So it’s in parents’ and kids’ best interest to identify their options early.

Sports camps

Sports camps are wildly popular. They tend to specialize in one sport, like basketball, soccer or football, and may be overseen by a local high school coach and his staff. These camps are a great way for kids to have fun playing a sport they love, and also serve as an opportunity for young athletes to learn the fundamentals of a given sport and fine-tune their existing skills or, in the case of less experienced children, develop new ones.

Outdoor-centric camps

Sometimes characterized as adventure camps or nature camps, these offerings tend to be centered around physical activities that bring children into direct contact with the great outdoors. Kayaking, rafting, ziplining, hiking and rock climbing are just some of the outdoor activities children may be introduced to over a typical summer at outdoor-centric camps. Some also teach survival skills, and many pride themselves on preparing campers to take on leadership positions on outdoor excursions.

STEM camps

STEM camps incorporate activities that focus on science, technology, engineering and math into the daily offerings. Campers may be part of teams that design and build robots. Coding a website also may be a project they take on at a STEM camp. Parents concerned that STEM camps keep kids indoors for much of the summer are urged to ask staffers how much time kids spend outside and away from screens while enrolled at the camp. Many STEM camps make a concerted effort to offer ample outdoors time, but it’s best to ask prior to enrolling.

Arts camps

Arts camps may introduce children to activities like painting and drawing or performance arts like theater and dancing. These camps also cater to kids with ample experience in artistic pursuits, and some may specialize in particular ones. So arts camps can be great for both newcomers and more experienced children.

Religious camps

Religious camps are another popular option. These emphasize faith-based teachings and spiritual activities but also tend to incorporate more traditional camp experiences, like outdoor play and other pursuits, into their daily schedules. Religious camps may be offered to congregants and noncongregants alike, so parents can look around for religious camps even if their current house of worship does not host a camp of its own.

Academic camps and special-needs camps are some additional options families can consider as they seek to ensure youngsters have a fun and memorable summer.