Home / Day camps

How does day camp fit a working week?

Here is what the operators we read print about the camp day and about care before and after it: the hours, the price where there is one, and the late fee.

Listed, not checked. We have not visited, inspected, rated or endorsed any camp named on this page, and a camp being named here says nothing about how it is run. Each fact is the operator’s or the agency’s own wording, with a link to the page it came from. Read the questions to ask and put them to the camp yourself.

What is a day camp, legally?

"Child day camp" means a program in which only school-age children attend or participate, that operates for no more than twelve hours per day and no more than fifteen weeks during the summer. (codes.ohio.gov, effective September 30, 2025) Which ones register with the state, and which are exempt, is on the day camp registration page.

What hours do operators print?

• Cleveland Metroparks Zoo: Full Day Camp (9 a.m. to 4 p.m.) Member: $269 Non-Member: $298 (clevelandmetroparks.com) no year in this line
• Hiram House, the camp day: The camp day kicks off at 9:00 AM and wraps up with dismissal at 4:00 PM. (hiramhousecamp.org) no year in this line
• Hiram House, care around it: Before Camp Care runs from 8:00 am – 9:00 am (drop-off begins at 8:00 am), and After Camp Care runs from 4:00 pm – 6:00 pm (final pick-up at 6:00 pm). (hiramhousecamp.org) no year in this line
• Great Parks, care hours: The hours are 7:30-9 a.m. for before care and 4-5:30 p.m. for after care. (greatparks.org) no year in this line

What does before and after care cost?

• Cleveland Metroparks Zoo: Before Care (early drop-off begins at 7:30 a.m.): $38 (clevelandmetroparks.com) no year in this line After Care (late pick-up ends at 6:00 p.m.): $42 (clevelandmetroparks.com) no year in this line
• Great Parks: Before and after care are available for Operation Outdoors camps at Miami Whitewater Forest for $30 per week, per camper. (greatparks.org) no year in this line
• Hiram House: The cost for Before & After Camp Care is $15.00 per hour. (hiramhousecamp.org) no year in this line
• Cincinnati Museum Center, last season: We will not be offering before or after care for the summer of 2026. (cincymuseum.org) the line prints 2026

Our suggestion: ask about before and after care before you register.

What happens if you are late?

• Columbus Recreation and Parks: A $15 fee applies for pick-ups between 5:30-5:45 p.m., with an additional charge of $1 per minute for arrivals after 5:45 p.m. (columbusrecparks.com) no year in this line
• Cleveland Metroparks nature camps: a late fee of $5 per camper for every 15-minute interval past the pick-up time may be charged to your account. (clevelandmetroparks.com) no year in this line

Are there weeks with a day missing?

One operator we read prints one. Cleveland Metroparks Zoo: Holiday Week camp runs Tuesday - Friday (July 6-9. No camp Monday, July 5) (clevelandmetroparks.com) And its price line for that week: Full Day Camp (9 a.m. to 4 p.m.) during the holiday week Member: $215 Non-Member: $239 (clevelandmetroparks.com) Our suggestion: check the week list for a short week before you count on five days.

Does day camp count for the dependent care credit?

The IRS: The cost of sending your child to a day camp may be a work-related expense, even if the camp specializes in a particular activity, such as computers or soccer. (IRS Publication 503, edition for returns of 2025) More of what it says is on the taxes page.

How young can a camper be?

Four operators’ lines. YMCA of Greater Cleveland: For children ages 5*–14 (*Campers must have completed kindergarten) (clevelandymca.org) no year in this line Akron Zoo: Children MUST have completed kindergarten by June 2026 to participate in these camps. (akronzoo.org) the line prints 2026 Cincinnati Recreation Commission: This year's 10-week Summer Day Camp Program will be offered at 22 recreation centers and run from June 8, 2026 to August 14, 2026 for youth ages 6-12 (5-year-olds who have completed full-day kindergarten are eligible as well). (cincinnati-oh.gov) the line prints 2026 Cleveland Metroparks nature camps: There are opportunities for children ages 3 to 17, with over 80 different camp opportunities throughout Cleveland Metroparks. (clevelandmetroparks.com) no year in this line