These past few weeks, Oakland’s grounds haven’t been the silent, solemn setting you might expect; instead, they’ve been alive with the constant sounds of laughter, games, and activity. That’s thanks to Oakland Camps, now in their second year, inviting children aged 5-11 to Oakland for fun, hands-on learning and interactive activities.

Oakland’s new Visitor Center, which features a grassy courtyard for outdoor play and a spacious classroom space on the second floor, has given camps more room to grow and offer even more engaging activities for campers.

*Campers starting their day with outdoor play in the Visitor Center Courtyard*

In our first five camp sessions, we’ve hosted almost 90 campers, who have had a blast exploring Oakland, developing new skills, and making friends. Parents have taken notice, and shared their kids’ positive feedback with us:

"This has been Eleanor's favorite camp so far this summer. She loved exploring the neighborhood and taking a trip on Marta to the Center for Puppetry Arts. The counselors were so kind and proactive. We will definitely be back next year!" —Elizabeth, mother of Eleanor
"My son Knox was in week one and LOVED it. The director is very present and accessible, he knew all the kids' names. The camp also includes one field trip each week!" -Halley, mother of Knox
“She loved it. Said it was so fun, loved that there were so many activities, and wants to go again. She also said, last year was fun, but this year was even better!” -Barrett, mother of Avie
"James really loved it. Ted is amazing. The facility is amazing. The artwork was fantastic. The field trip via MARTA was fun, and having the option of aftercare with you guys was the cherry on the sundae.” -Maggie, mother of James
"Ted at Oakland Camps is a national treasure! I've never felt more safe leaving Jude somewhere. And Jude talks about nice he is is to all the kids. I'm signing him up for more weeks because of Ted. So happy I sent him to Oakland Camp." -Stephanie, mother of Jude
“My kids LOVED their two weeks at camp. Thank you!” -Catie, mother of Porter and Stella

*Campers enjoying a guided trip to Fernbank Museum of Natural History*

Oakland’s dynamic lineup of youth and education programs has even caught the attention of local media; in a recent article for Rough Draft Atlanta, reporter Hannah Much sat down with Oakland’s Director of Education & Youth Programs Ted Ward for an inside look at what makes the experience so unique. The article, titled “Oakland Cemetery’s summer programming offers something for everyone,” explores the thoughtful approach behind Oakland’s educational curriculum.

“I always tell the kids that this isn’t school and there are no tests, but we’re still learning,” Ted explained. Despite the historic setting, Oakland’s camps explore much more than the landscape, delving into topics from machinery to nature crafts to gardening. “Last week we ran a simple machines camp, and the only time we mentioned headstones was to demonstrate how a pulley system might move one,” Ted said. Campers also get a change of scenery once a week on field trips to engaging sites like Fernbank Museum of Natural History and LegoLand.

Ted emphasized the importance of hands-on, low-pressure learning: “I want the campers to feel no pressure about grades or rubrics and have the freedom to try, fail, and then try again. I think schools often penalize failure. But camp should be a lab for learning and failure is a part of that. If something doesn’t work, we just move on, and it’s no big deal.” From building their own solar-powered ovens to make s’mores to weaving multicolored bookmarks, Oakland’s camp activities center rewarding, experiential learning over drills and evaluations.

With only a few weeks left until it’s time to return to school, it’s not too late to join in the fun!

Oakland Camps continue through July 25, with a Fall Break Camp scheduled for October 13–17. Camps are open to children aged 5–11.

Check out our gallery below for a glimpse of all the summer adventures our campers have been having!