Looking for summer activities for the children and teens in your life?
The programs listed below offer a wide range of opportunities for youth ages six to 18 in Nashville. The organizations offering these opportunities received funding from the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) program.
The CDBG program is funded by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, and MDHA administers the program on behalf of the Metropolitan Government of Nashville and Davidson County. A portion of these funds are awarded annually to eligible nonprofits and public agencies to operate enrichment programs during the summer months for youths ages six to 18 within Nashville and Davidson County. Each summer, nearly 1,500 children and teens participate in these programs.
In 2025, 24 programs were awarded funds to support programs for local children and teens. More information about the organizations and their programs can be found below.
Click or tap on any box below to be taken to that organization’s website.
An eight-week program etiquette training program for at-risk kids in North and East Nashville. It provides a safe and enjoyable environment for them to learn and grow with a diverse curriculum that enhances their academic, social, physical and professional growth.
Backfield in Motion is a nonprofit organization dedicated to transforming the lives of inner-city youth through education and athletics. Founded in 2000 by Joe Davis, Backfield in Motion was created to bridge the gap between opportunities available to inner-city youth and those in more affluent areas. Their mission is to foster educational excellence and personal growth, using athletics as a motivating force to improve academic performance and life skills.
An eight-week program for youth in grades K-10. It offers academic enrichment, sports, character education, community service, fitness activities, the arts and educational field trips. Free lunch is provided by the Metro Summer Lunch Program.
A summer youth job skills and internship program for individuals ages 14-16. Participants will learn various aspects of employment, including job readiness skill training, dressing for success, resume development and effective interviewing techniques.
The mission of the Boys & Girls Clubs of Middle Tennessee is to enable all young people, especially those who need us most, to reach their full potential as productive, caring, responsible citizens.
A therapeutic and academic enrichment program for refugees, asylees and migrant children with complex trauma due to the political strife, oppression, poverty and discrimination. The program prepares youth for the next school year, focusing on academics, time management, healthy decision-making, goal setting and budgeting.
Design Your Neighborhood and Nashville Youth Design Team are Civic Design Center youth education programs that take place in Tennessee.
The ENHE program aims to enhance student academic performance, character and social skills. It targets kindergarten and first grade students in East Nashville, receiving reading instruction in phonemic awareness, phonics, fluency, vocabulary and reading comprehension.
The ENHE is a character and social skills development program for children in grades two through five attending Metro Nashville Public Schools in Maplewood and Stratford clusters of East Nashville. The program promotes Positive Youth Development (PYD) in a safe and nurturing environment by emphasizing responsibility, respect, manners, leadership and discipline. It also focuses on writing and the five essential elements of reading instruction.
This program provides youth with several community service projects to take part in. One of these projects entails hosting a portrait day event for families in the local community. Participants will work collaboratively in a team-based environment, taking on various media roles, to achieve the goals set by the client.
Youth are engaged in all aspects of gardening work, such as planting seeds, harvesting crops, taking care of chickens/livestock, creating compost and improving access to fresh food. They will also receive education on food forest management, including lessons in weeding, irrigation, caring for perennial crops and harvesting crops.
The program offers opportunities for individuals to learn various skills in the fields of mass media, culinary, gardening, fashion design, cosmetology and art studio. Participants will have the chance to create their own studio album and a comprehensive visual art portfolio.
The theme for this year’s camp is “Our World of AI.” The program aims to help students improve their skills in unique ways. The focus is on encouraging students to think creatively and solve complex problems innovatively. The program also includes job skills training and project-based STEAM learning opportunities.
The theme proposed for this year’s camp is “WE ARE.” All attendees will receive t-shirts with the phrase ‘We are…’ printed on them, followed by positive attributes such as intelligent, funny, talented, loving, strong, loyal and passionate. The summer literacy program will incorporate the five components of quality reading programs recommended by the National Reading Panel, which include phonemic awareness, phonics, fluency, vocabulary and comprehension.
The Moves & Grooves “Arts & Culture” Summer Enrichment Camp is a unique program that offers participants an opportunity to learn about music and dance traditions from around the world. The camp is designed to foster awareness of cultural differences and promote a sense of belonging among students. The program runs for six weeks and includes dance training, nutrition education, self-image workshops and academic lessons.
NICE’s program promotes self-awareness, vocabulary and civic understanding. Students’ English as a second language and social-emotional learning skills will be assessed. The daily schedule includes civic engagement, literacy and subject-based activities.
YEA! Summer Camp is designed to help students master the English language and develop their social-emotional skills. The program runs for six weeks, with each week focusing on a different theme related to social and emotional development.
The Leadership Academy is an eight-week program to prevent the decline of summer education. Students will engage in activities related to science, technology, engineering, math, language, arts and sports/fitness. Additionally, they will be taken on weekly college tours and field trips.
Nations Academy, our after-school and summer youth development and literacy program, serves refugee children by providing homework help, individualized internet-based reading tutoring, summer reading intensives, enrichment activities, and a positive, trauma-informed learning environment.
PTM runs a seven-week Summer Program full of energy, friendships, unique experiences, and volunteer groups. Students have a varied daily schedule at different locations, spending time in rotations of enrichment and sports, exploring a different theme each week to discover what they enjoy.
A unique and free summer program offered by Rocketown, aimed at middle and high school students. The program will include activities that help students find their passions, become more active and develop a healthy lifestyle. These activities include computer work, cooking, community involvement and career exploration.
Our camp offers hands-on activities in sports, arts, STEM, and life skills, encouraging creativity, confidence, exciting field trips and leadership.
This summer camp aims to serve students mostly from families earning a low- to moderate-income living in the Edgehill neighborhood. The students will benefit from six weeks of professionally instructed enrichment classes and enhancement activities. This summer’s planned activities include reading/literacy, daily career exploration, public speaking/communication skills, healthy lifestyles/healthy eating, physical activity and professional performing arts instruction.
YMCA Day Camps inspire kids to learn and play together, try new activities and experiences, and simply enjoy being themselves all summer long.
Our open enrollment for Summer Camp will begin May 1st. Please contact the YES Center closest to you for more information:
YES Lindsley Center – Downtown Nashville at 2nd & Lindsley-jwilliams@youthencouragement.org
YES Carpenter’s Square Center – South Nashville just off Nolensville Pike-tanesha@youthencouragement.org
