City summer camps, when registration opens, the four city pools and the county's Splash Zone waterpark and splash pad, with 2026 dates as a guide to 2027.
Last checked Oct. 12, 2026. This page is updated each year at the same address. City camps and pools come from the city’s 2026 Spring and Summer Recreation Guide, Summer Day Camps and Pools pages; county waterparks from Charleston County Parks.
Charleston County schools let out Thursday, May 27, 2027. City summer camps fill fast: in 2026 lottery forms were due in January and regular camp registration opened Saturday, Feb. 7. The 2027 camp schedule comes out in the city’s spring recreation guide, usually in January. Until then, the 2026 details below show what to expect.
Who to call
- City Recreation Department (camps): 843-724-7327
- MLK Jr. Pool (swim lessons, pool hours): 843-724-7346
- James Island Pool: 843-795-5678
- Charleston County Parks (Splash Zone, county camps): 843-795-4386
City summer camps
Lottery camps. Four half-day and full-day camps are filled by lottery only. In 2026 forms were taken from 8 a.m. Jan. 12 to noon Jan. 30, families heard by Feb. 4 and had until Feb. 6 to pay, the recreation guide says. Forms are on the city’s summer lottery camps page; online registration is not available for these.
| Camp (2026) | Where | Ages | Days and times |
|---|---|---|---|
| Summer Camp by the Harbor | Hazel Parker Playground, 70 East Bay St. | 4 to 10 | Weekly, June 1 to Aug. 7; 9 a.m. to noon |
| Nuts About Nature | Tiedemann Park, 38 Elizabeth St. | 5 to 10 | Weekly, June 1 to July 31; 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. |
| Summer Fun on the Island | James Island Recreation Complex, 1088 Quail Drive | 6 to 12 | Two-week sessions, June 1 to Aug. 7; 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. |
| Camp Live Oaks | Bees Landing Recreation Center, 1580 Ashley Gardens Blvd. | 6 to 12 | Two-week sessions, June 1 to Aug. 7; 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.; 25 spots |
Day camps. The Arthur W. Christopher Community Center’s Kids Jump To It Camp, 265 Fishburne St., and St. Julian Devine Community Center’s Jumpin’ Jaguars Camp, 1 Cooper St., run all day for ages 6 to 12, in two sessions from June 1 to Aug. 7, according to the city’s Summer Day Camps page. In 2026 registration opened in person and online at 8:30 a.m. Saturday, Feb. 7. Set up your online recreation account early: the city says new accounts can take 24 to 72 hours to activate.
There was no camp on Juneteenth, June 19, or on July 3 in 2026. The city also runs sports and specialty camps, listed on its Camps and Clinics page.
County camps. Charleston County Parks runs summer camps for ages 5 to 16, from nature camps to teen outdoor trips; see its camps page.
City pools
| Pool | Address | Season | Phone |
|---|---|---|---|
| Martin Luther King Jr. Pool | 155 Jackson St. | Year round | 843-724-7346 |
| Herbert Hasell Pool | 265 Fishburne St. | Summer only | 843-724-7344 |
| James Island Pool | 1088 Quail Drive | Summer only | 843-795-5678 |
| W.L. Stephens Aquatic Center | 780 West Oak Forest Drive | Closed for renovations | 843-769-8261 |
The city’s pools page says Herbert Hasell and James Island pools are closed for the season now and W.L. Stephens is closed for renovations. Summer hours are posted when the pools open. Payment at city pools is cashless, the guide says, and annual passes are available.
Swim lessons. In 2026 summer swim lesson registration opened Saturday, May 9, at 9 a.m., in person at MLK Pool for the MLK and Herbert Hasell lessons. James Island lessons were by lottery, with forms taken April 20 to May 5.
Splash Zone and the splash pad
Splash Zone Waterpark at James Island County Park, 871 Riverland Drive, has a lazy river, a rainforest-themed play structure with sprays and buckets, 200-foot tube and open slides and a leisure pool. Its 2026 schedule:
- Weekends only, May 16 to Memorial Day: Saturday 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., Sunday 1 to 6 p.m., and Memorial Day 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
- Daily, May 30 to Aug. 9: Monday to Friday 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Saturday 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., Sunday 1 to 6 p.m.
Height limits apply on the slides. If the park closes for severe weather, Charleston County Parks lets guests return once that season on their dated receipt. The same park also has a seasonal splash pad.
Free summer fun
The city held free family movie nights at its playgrounds through summer 2026, at Thomas Johnson Playground, McMahon Playground and Lenevar Playground, from 8:30 to 10:30 p.m. No registration is needed. More ideas on our kids’ activities and free things to do pages.
What this means for you
- Mark January for lottery camp forms and early February for day camp registration.
- Make or check your city recreation account before registration day.
- The county’s Splash Zone opens on weekends in mid-May and daily once school is out.
More: Fourth of July fireworks, Memorial Day and parks and trails.
Frequently asked questions
When does City of Charleston summer camp registration open?
For summer 2026, lottery camp forms were taken Jan. 12-30 and regular day camp registration opened in person and online at 8:30 a.m. Saturday, Feb. 7. Expect a similar schedule for 2027; the city posts it in its spring recreation guide.
Which City of Charleston pools are open in summer?
Martin Luther King Jr. Pool, 155 Jackson St., is open year round. Herbert Hasell Pool, 265 Fishburne St., and James Island Pool, 1088 Quail Drive, open for the summer season. W.L. Stephens Aquatic Center in West Ashley is closed for renovations.
When does Splash Zone open?
In 2026, Charleston County Parks opened Splash Zone at James Island County Park on weekends from May 16, then daily from May 30 to Aug. 9. The 2027 dates are not out yet.
When does school get out in Charleston in 2027?
Charleston County School District’s last day for students is Thursday, May 27, 2027.
Have your say