Summer in Boca Raton: the city's 30-plus summer camps, two public pools open year-round, three splash pads, sea turtle walks and free concerts, with 2026 dates.
Last checked Oct. 8, 2026. This page is updated each year at the same address. Facts come from the City of Boca Raton’s Summer 2026 Recreator (PDF), Fall 2026 Recreator (PDF) and park pages; school dates from the School District of Palm Beach County. Dates marked 2026 are last summer’s; 2027 dates are not out yet.
Summer in Boca Raton starts when school lets out on Thursday, May 27, 2027. The city runs more than 30 summer camps, two public pools that stay open all year, three splash pads in its parks, sea turtle programs at Gumbo Limbo and free Friday concerts at Mizner Park Amphitheater. The 2027 camp list and summer program guide come out in the spring; this page shows what the city offered in 2026 so you can plan.
Who to call
- Summer camps: Recreation Services, 561-393-7810; the Summer 2026 Recreator (PDF) lists last year’s programs
- Meadows Park Pool: 1300 NW Eighth St., 561-393-7851
- The Swim Center: St. Andrews Boulevard, 561-544-8540
- Gumbo Limbo Nature Center: 561-544-8605
Camps
The city advertised more than 30 summer camps in 2026, from sports and science to arts and the outdoors, with printed booklets at its facilities and an online camp list at myboca.us/SummerCamps. That page was offline for the off-season when we checked; the 2027 list is expected in the spring. The city’s seasonal camps are held at sites including Sugar Sand Park Community Center, the Children’s Science Explorium, Gumbo Limbo Nature Center and the city tennis centers. Resident registration opens before nonresident registration, so check your residency on the city’s map first.
Pools
Both city pools are open year-round, so there is no summer opening day.
| Pool | Address | Hours (2026) | Highlights |
|---|---|---|---|
| Meadows Park Pool | 1300 NW Eighth St. | 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Mon.-Fri.; 10 a.m. to 5:45 p.m. Sat.; noon to 5:45 p.m. Sun. | Eight 25-yard lanes, 14-foot deep end, two diving boards, ADA lift, deck lights for evening swims |
| The Swim Center | 21626 St. Andrews Blvd. | 7:30 a.m. to 9:30 p.m. Mon.-Thu.; 7:30 a.m. to 7 p.m. Fri.; 7:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sat.-Sun. | Six-lane 25-yard pool heated in winter and cooled in summer, spa, kiddie pool and splash pad |
Swim lessons are taught by American Red Cross water safety instructors; most levels need a swim assessment first, available without an appointment at either pool. In 2026 the summer session at the Swim Center ran July 11 to Aug. 29 on Saturdays.
Summer Mantas swim team: in 2026 the city team trained June 2 to Aug. 4 and competed in the South Florida Recreational Swim League, with tryouts in mid-May ($235 residents, $295 nonresidents).
Splash pads
| Park | Address | Park hours |
|---|---|---|
| Sugar Sand Park | 300 S. Military Trail | 8 a.m. to 11 p.m. Mon.-Sat.; 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Sun. in daylight saving time |
| Patch Reef Park | 2000 W. Yamato Road | 7:30 a.m. to 11 p.m. Mon.-Sat.; 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Sun. in daylight saving time |
| Wildflower Park | 551 E. Palmetto Park Road | 7 a.m. to 11 p.m. |
More in our kids’ activities guide.
Sea turtles
Gumbo Limbo Nature Center, 1801 N. Ocean Blvd., runs two summer programs that sell out:
- Turtle walks (2026: Tuesday to Thursday nights, May 26 to July 2, 8:45 p.m. to midnight; adults and children 8 and up): a classroom talk, then a trip to the beach if staff spot a nesting loggerhead. Sightings are not guaranteed.
- Hatchling releases (2026: Monday to Thursday nights, July 13 to Aug. 27; recommended for ages 5 and up): a 40-minute presentation, then watching rescued hatchlings head into the surf. $10 residents, $15 nonresidents; limit of six reservations a household. 2026 registration opened May 12 for residents and May 19 for nonresidents.
Free summer fun
- Summer in the City, Mizner Park Amphitheater: free tribute concerts on select Fridays; the 2026 series ran June 12 to Aug. 7 (Summer in the City).
- Summer Reading Kickoff: in 2026, a free drop-in party with a DJ and crafts at the Spanish River Library on Saturday, June 6.
- Fourth of July: see our Fourth of July fireworks page.
Heat and storms
Hurricane season runs June 1 to Nov. 30. Afternoon thunderstorms are common in summer. See our hurricane prep guide.
Frequently asked questions
When do pools open for summer? They are open all year.
How many summer camps are there? More than 30 in 2026; the 2027 list comes out in spring.
Where are the splash pads? Sugar Sand Park, Patch Reef Park, Wildflower Park and the Swim Center.
When does school let out? Thursday, May 27, 2027.
Can we watch sea turtles? Yes, through Gumbo Limbo’s turtle walks and hatchling releases.
What this means for you
- Register for camps as soon as the 2027 list opens; resident registration comes first.
- Book Gumbo Limbo’s turtle programs the day registration opens.
- Swim lessons need an assessment first; go on a walk-in afternoon.
Related: Memorial Day, kids’ activities, Father’s Day and free things to do.
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