We provide a full-day program five days a week for 2, 4, 6, or 8 weeks where safety is our number one priority, friendships are fostered, healthy lifestyles are encouraged and your child's fun is unlimited. This camp is awesome! My son just loves everything about it. He is bummed that summer is just about over and camp is ending.
All the staff is great, you can tell they really love what they do, love working with kiddos of all ages and thrive to make it a great experience for all. Cactus Day Camp has real energy & soul. Karyn has put together a spectacular program with a great balance of indoor and outdoor activities.
All the staff is great, you can tell they really love what they do, love working with kiddos of all ages and thrive to make it a great experience for all. Cactus Day Camp has real energy & soul. Karyn has put together a spectacular program with a great balance of indoor and outdoor activities.
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Cactus Day Camp is where traditional day camping comes to the desert. We provide a full-day program five days a week for 2, 4, 6, or 8 weeks where safety is our number one priority, friendships are fostered, healthy lifestyles are encouraged and your child's fun is unlimited.
The Cactus experience is about trying new things and gaining new skills in an emotionally and physically safe and non-competitive environment while gaining independence as well as a sense of belonging.We hope you will join us this summer as we continue to create new friendships and traditions with a summer program that meets the needs of parents and children in Paradise Valley, Scottsdale, Fountain Hills and the valley.
The Cactus experience is about trying new things and gaining new skills in an emotionally and physically safe and non-competitive environment while gaining independence as well as a sense of belonging.We hope you will join us this summer as we continue to create new friendships and traditions with a summer program that meets the needs of parents and children in Paradise Valley, Scottsdale, Fountain Hills and the valley.
Cactus Day Camp is owned and directed by Karyn Miller. Karyn grew up splitting her summers between overnight and day camps. After years of being a camper, Karyn worked at Banner Day Camp in Illinois as a counselor, teen director and assistant director. She then worked year-round as the associate director for overnight camps, Lake of the Woods and Greenwoods in Michigan.
We are located at the Montessori Academy in Paradise Valley. It is a beautiful environment that lends itself to the camp setting. There are ten air conditioned rooms for indoor activities, two swimming pools, a shaded lunch area and many outdoor play areas including two large sport courts and lots of field space.
Campers are grouped by their age group and by their gender. Each group will have at least one counselor and a junior counselor and often a counselor-in-training as well. All groups will be scheduled to rotate through age appropriate activities as a group so that they visit all activities once a week (a few activities are visited one time a session).
Reviews (12)
Andrew B.
Jan 06, 2020
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My nephews have attended this camp for several summers and never what to leave. All they ever talk about is camp. The counselors they hire come with an amazing maturity all while being incredibly fun. I don’t know where they find these people. This place has been life changing for them. Hands down the best place to send your kids for the full summer camp experience close to home.
Sarah Cesena
Dec 08, 2019
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A very well planned, fun and personal experience for kids. Counselors are hand picked with very impressive resumes and such great personalities and talents to share with kids. They really create community building for the groups as well as developing individual autonomy for each camper. Great communication with campers and parents before and during camp- and service during drop off and pick up- personal camper QR code and valet! Each session is unique and so well planned. My kids insist on going to more than one session this summer.
Bryan Salley
Jul 09, 2019
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Sarah Wells
Jul 03, 2019
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I have been attending Cactus Day Camp since I was 8, and am now a group counselor. I have had the opportunity to watch it grow, and see myself grow because of this camp. I have learned endless leadership skills, communication skills, and how to smile through a stressful situation. Besides this, I have made lifelong friends and connections through Cactus Day Camp that I would not find anywhere else.
Lisa Friedman
Jun 16, 2019
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Vincent F.
Jun 02, 2019
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Amy' Bonomolo
Jan 11, 2019
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My daughter absolutely LOVES going to Cactus Day Camp! When camp ended last summer she was already counting down the days to return! Every day she is at camp, she is creating lifetime memories. The days are filled with continuous excitement including morning and afternoon pep rallies, archery, rock climbing, swimming every day, gymnastics, arts and crafts, and much, much more.
The staff at Cactus Day Camp are exceptional! They go above and beyond to make sure each child has an amazing camp experience! Karyn hires the best of the best counselors and staff each year. She looks for staff members
The staff at Cactus Day Camp are exceptional! They go above and beyond to make sure each child has an amazing camp experience! Karyn hires the best of the best counselors and staff each year. She looks for staff members
Jamie Sunenshine
Nov 03, 2018
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It is February and my son is already counting down for camp! Karyn, the director, has a gift for gathering an incredible staff and ensuring the kids have a magical summer. Reminiscent of when I went to camp, the kids get a range of activities, sports, camp songs, events and all around fun. I am even sending my 4 year daughter this summer. The smiles and positive energy from the staff at drop off and again at pick up make all the difference to providing a safe and fun-filled camp experience.
Noelle Daniels
Aug 18, 2018
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My son Gavin will be returning to Cactus Day Camp for his fourth summer. This has been an incredible experience for him! He speaks of camp months after it ends and begins looking forward to it again in Spring! The activities at camp range from archery, swimming, nine square, golf, basketball, soccer, Arcade games, martial arts and so many more fun activities to list.The camp owner and program directors, Karyn and Kaitlyn have hired a group of counselors with so many positive qualities.They are energetic, positive and are amazing role models for the children.Cactus Day camp provides the perfect
Jon Prunty
Oct 30, 2017
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I’ve been sending both of my kids to Cactus Day Camp for several years now. They both absolutely love it!!! I don’t know any other camp in the scottsdale area that offers so many activities...swimming, rock climbing, archery, arts and crafts, water-play activities, games games and more games. Karyn (the owner) even brings in a huge waterslide every week or two. The staff have always been very friendly and accommodating. I’ve never had any complaints after all the years of sending my kids there. I also dont ever have to worry about my kids getting too much sun or not keeping up with their
Jennifer M.
Jul 30, 2014
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We had such a great experience with Cactus Day Camp. As a total helicopter mom, I'm a little bit nervous leaving my kids with anyone for the first time. But this camp was held at our kids' regular school campus, with a lot of admin working there, so we felt good about giving a couple sessions a shot between summer trips.
Our son had the BEST time - it was more like going away to a real camp in that Karyn (the owner) brought in a huge water slide, archery, swimming, arts and crafts, and held lots of special activities including a cookout on Fridays. My husband and I were impressed at
Our son had the BEST time - it was more like going away to a real camp in that Karyn (the owner) brought in a huge water slide, archery, swimming, arts and crafts, and held lots of special activities including a cookout on Fridays. My husband and I were impressed at
Happy D.
Jun 12, 2011
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This camp is fabulous. Run by Karyn Miller, the principal of Fountain Hills Charter School, this camp is as good as day camps get. Karyn's exuberance and love for working with children comes through in every aspect of this camp. She hand picks counselors who share her enthusiasm, making for a positive environment filled with fun activities (arts and crafts, archery, sports, water play, and a host of other creative activities), friendship, and happy children. My son comes home from his day tired and happy. He's graduated to Camper Leader this year and is loving it! What a gem to have here
