Summer Camp
June 22–August 21, 2026!
Details at a Glance
Our Summer Camp runs for nine weeks. We welcome children ages 5 to 12 for an unforgettable season of fun, adventure, and learning! To participate, children must be at least 5 years old and enrolled in Kindergarten for Fall 2026, and no older than 12 years old and entering 6th grade.
Any Questions? Email childprograms@lccenter.org.
Age Groups
When staffing allows, we will be dividing our 26 campers into two age-specific groups to ensure activities are tailored to their developmental levels. Each group will enjoy engaging, age-appropriate experiences designed for maximum fun and learning!
🟡 Kindergarten–2nd Grade: Gaggle of Goslings
🔵 3rd Grade–6th Grade: Gaggle of Geese
What’s New This Year
We are thrilled to open enrollment for Summer Camp 2026! If your family has joined us in the past, you’ll notice that camp will look a little different this year. We are embracing the great outdoors and making the most of our beautiful local landscape. Here’s what’s new:
Our New Home Base
Camp days will be spent primarily at Veterans Memorial Field, beside the Wilbur McMahon School where campers will enjoy plenty of fresh air and outdoor activity. Additionally, we will venture through Dundery Brook Trail regularly throughout the summer. In the event of extreme heat, high winds, or thunderstorms, we will head into the Wilbur School Gymnasium for a reprieve.
Because we will be spending the majority of our time outside, please ensure your child is equipped with extra sun protection, bug spray, and any other gear that will support their fun in the sun! Emailed Newsletters will be sent out each week with a "What to Pack" checklist.
Camp Uniforms & Safety
To ensure our staff can easily identify campers while other families are enjoying Vets Field, campers are required to wear their camp shirts, color assigned to their age group every day. Each family will receive two shirts per camper, with additional shirts available for purchase at cost. Safety is our top priority, and we appreciate your help in making our group easily recognizable.
Our Weekly Themes
Our Summer Camp runs Monday through Friday from June 22nd to August 21st, with the exception of July 3rd and August 10th. Each week features a unique theme, bringing campers a variety of exciting activities, including themed crafts, games, walking field trips, and more. Every week is designed to spark creativity, adventure, and fun!
June 22–26: Welcome to Summer Camp!
June 29–July 2: Creative Collaborations
July 6–10: Wandering Waters
July 13–17: Spectacular Sports
July 20–24: All About Animals
July 27–31: Fantastic Farming
August 3–7: Outstanding Outdoors
August 10–14: Super Science
August 17–21: Environmental Expeditions
Our Daily Schedule
Children are to be dropped off between 8:30–9:00AM and picked up between 4:00–4:30PM.
In the event of building closure or early dismissal due to inclement weather, we will not operate camp. In this scenario, please plan for other arrangements.
8:30AM: Campers arrive and are warmly welcomed.
9:00AM: We kick off the day with a morning meeting, where we go over the day's exciting activities. A fun, themed game helps campers connect and get energized for the day ahead.
9:15AM: Time for a morning snack (brought from home).
9:45AM: When staffing allows, campers split into two age groups: Goslings (Grades K–2) and Geese (Grades 3–6). Each group participates in age-appropriate activities designed for engagement, creativity, and fun.
12:00PM: We reunite for a break from the sun, a home-packed lunch, and a relaxing cool-down period.
1:30PM: Campers separate once more, diving back into theme-based activities tailored to their age group.
3:30PM: We gather for a home-packed afternoon snack and reflect on the day, sharing excitement about what’s ahead.
4:00PM: Cleanup and dismissal. Families may pick up campers anytime between 4:00–4:30PM.
Children are to be picked up at the Camp Location behind the Wilbur McMahon School by 4:30PM by a parent or an authorized person who presents a valid ID. Any changes to the authorized pickup person must be reported to the Little Compton Community Center in writing via email before pickup. Pickup begins at 4:00 PM unless communicated otherwise.
Please note that late pickup past 4:30 PM will result in a charge of $1/minute per child. Late charges will be billed in an additional invoice. Three violations of the policy may result in your child's dismissal from the program.
Registration
Registration opens for:
Current After School Club Families: April 28–May 3, 2026
Year-round Little Compton Residents & Wilbur-McMahon Families: May 4–10, 2026
Please note: you must live in Little Compton year-round or attend Wilbur-McMahon school to register on this priority date.General Public: May 11–June 10, 2026
Please note that filling out the form does not secure your child's spot in our Summer Camp. Once you have filled out the form, a staff member will reach out in 3–5 business days to confirm your child's registration, send you an invoice for all enrolled weeks of camp, and send your contract and other necessary documents.
If you would like to enroll more than one child, you will have to fill out the form for each attending camper.
Also, please note that a $50 non-refundable holding deposit is due with submission of this packet.
Summer Camp Contact
Phone Number:
401-635-2400
Mailing Address:
PO Box 926 Little Compton, RI 02837
Physical Address:
34 Commons Little Compton RI, 02837
Children’s Programs’ Email:
childprograms@lccenter.org
Children's Programs Manager Email:
gwynhallman@lccenter.org
Sliding Scale Pricing
After positive feedback in 2025 this year's Summer Camp will operate on a sliding scale for our 2026 season. In order to calculate the cost of your child's camp attendance it is important we collect relevant financial data, which could result in reduced tuition.
Our three-tier pricing structure is based on gross family income and household size, allowing us to provide fair and flexible tuition rates. This model is designed to support families who need financial assistance while maintaining the high-quality camp experience that every child deserves.
We are committed to making Summer Camp a welcoming and inclusive experience for all!
Frequently Asked Questions
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We provide childcare for children ages 5–12 who are enrolled in grades K-6 in the 26–27 academic year.
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Per our license, our minimum required ratio is 13 students to 1 staff with a maximum of 26 campers per day. With that said, we aim to have 4 staff on each day. In the event of a call out, we may have to combine groups to maintain our ratio.
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Our historic building is nearly 125 years old, and as it ages, we must adapt our operations to meet evolving safety standards.
Additionally, we are taking a proactive approach to lead remediation. Recent inspections identified lead in the window trim and the soil near the front of the building where the holly bushes are. Remediation work will begin this summer; moving camp off-site ensures the safety of our campers while this significant work is completed.
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We’ve acquired a cellphone which will allow for parents to call or email the Summer Camp Staff directly if their child’s schedule changes. The phone will not be able to send or receive text messages, and will no longer be in service after the summer. We will share the phone number with families once registration is complete.
As in past years, our staff will use walkie talkies to communicate regularly throughout the day.
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It takes a village! We are collaborating closely with the Wilbur School, the DPW, the Recreation Committee, the Little Compton Police & Fire Departments, and the Little Compton Garden Club.
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At Vets Field: Campers will use the Wilbur School bathrooms and/or porta potties.
Home Base: At Vets Field, we will have a large event tent and picnic tables (near the swings and gazebo) for check-in, check-out and shade. At the Vineyard, the barn will serve as our home base.
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Drinking Water: The Community Center will continue to provide plenty of fresh water for campers and staff in water dispensers.
Water Play: We are excited to continue water-play this year! This will take place behind the Wilbur School (on the north side).
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Families must supply and apply sunscreen at the beginning of the day. Campers will apply their own sunscreen throughout the day. Spray sunscreen and a face stick is the easiest to use. Hats are strongly recommended. A staff member will alert you if your child’s sunscreen runs out. Staff are not allowed to apply sunscreen to campers and instead serve as sunscreen coaches.
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We do not take traditional field trips. Instead, we take “walking” trips to the playground and Veteran’s Field multiple times per week.
Additionally, we have scheduled “drop-off” field trips where parents will drop off and pick-up their child at an alternate location within 10-minutes of our center. Since we will not be using buses, this is at no added cost to our Camp families.
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Yes! We will have “Water Play” multiple times a week. We will set up sprinklers, super soakers, Slip ‘N’ Slides, on our patio and yard to cool off on a hot summer day. Parents will be informed at the beginning of the week of what they should pack and when.
Your child does not need swimming experience or skills to engage in the “Water Play” portion of our program.
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Our activity schedule depends on the week’s theme, and which age group your child will be participating in. Every week, we will be taking walking trips to the playground, “Water Play” on the patio, and offering free play with our sports equipment and games.
We will also offer themed activities as well. Previous themed activities have included:
Galaxy Painting
Goldfish Bingo
Oobleck and Slime
Basketball Workshop
Invention Kits
And so much more!
We also work with a variety of “Special Guests” who bring exciting new programming and enthusiastic experts to our program. Vendors we’ve worked with in the past include:
Hope Alpaca Farm
Westport River Watershed Alliance
Roger Williams Park Zoo
Mad Science
Olympic Swimmer Elizabeth Beisel
Buttonwood Park Zoo
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We are here to help! Please call us at 401-635-2400 and ask for Gwyn, or email childprograms@lccenter.org.
Jr. Counselor Program
As children start to reach the elder end of our age range, we have noted the importance of having role models to our younger students. We want to create opportunities for leadership for rising 5th and 6th graders who prove to be outstanding role models. Our Jr. Counselors will work alongside our staff and our K–2 “Gaggle of Goslings” 2–3 days during each of their regularly scheduled weeks.
We encourage any family with an enrolled 5th or 6th grader to apply by June 1st. Applications must include:
Completed Application Form
Letter of Recommendation (by a current school Teacher or Educator)
Optional: Interview with our Programs Manager