Most kids spend their summers getting older. Ours spend it growing up.
There's a difference. And if you're a parent looking for a summer camp in Winter Garden, you probably already feel it. Plant Street Academy's summer camp in Winter Garden, FL is built around one idea - the skills that matter most: confidence, communication, leadership, real-world thinking, don't show up on a report card. They show up in how your child walks into a room. How they handle a hard conversation. Whether they speak up when it counts.
Below, you'll find everything you need to know about our program: how it's structured, what your child will gain, and why families across West Orange County keep coming back.
More Than a Summer Camp ...
A Journey That Lasts All Year
Most summer camps are designed as a one-time event. Sign up. Attend. Have fun. Move on.
We believe something is missing from that model.
Real growth ... the kind that changes how a child carries themselves in the right environment, with the right people around them.
Our program is built as a self-discovery journey, not a one-and-done experience. Each day builds on the last. Kids don't just repeat activities, they step into bigger challenges, take on more responsibility, and start to understand what leadership feels like from the inside.
The more days (and weeks) your child attends, the deeper the growth. One week is a great start. Multiple weeks is where the transformation happens. Research backs this up. A 2024 study published in Frontiers in Psychology found that in less than two weeks, camp participants showed measurable gains in empathy, optimism, self-esteem, and readiness to contribute to their community, and those gains held. (Kirchhoff, Keller & Blanc, 2024)
How the Program Works - Three Phases, One Journey
Our program moves through three connected phases. Each one is designed to build on the last, so the growth is cumulative, not just experiential.
Phase 1: Discovery
This is where it starts. Kids dive into hands-on projects, teamwork challenges, and creative problem-solving. The goal isn't to teach them facts, it's to show them what they're capable of. Many kids arrive not quite sure what to expect. They leave the Discovery phase with something they didn't have before: a sense that their ideas matter.
Phase 2: Confidence Building
Students step into new territory. They take on roles, speak up in front of groups, and start making real decisions. The focus shifts from exploring skills to owning them. This phase is where we see some of the biggest shifts. Kids who were quiet start speaking up. Kids who held back start leading.
Phase 3: Leadership Development
In this phase, returning students mentor younger ones. They join our Coach-In-Training program, where they start to understand that leadership isn't about being in charge, it's about making the people around you better.
A 2025 study in the Journal of Leadership Education found that youth leadership programs that combine peer collaboration, adult mentorship, and community-focused projects are especially effective at developing lasting leadership competencies. That's exactly what this phase is built around. (Oyedare, Kaufman & Council, 2025)
What Your Child Will Gain at Our Winter Garden Summer Camp
Here's what we care about most: what does your child walk away with?
Not a lanyard. Not a certificate. Something they actually use.
Confidence and Self-Esteem
Confidence isn't taught. It's built through experience, through struggle, through being in an environment where it's safe to try and okay to fail. A 2024 study on youth camp program quality found that safe, supportive environments were the primary driver of growth in self-efficacy and prosocial behavior among kids ages 9-12. That's not a coincidence. That's the design. (Herring, 2025 — RANGE Undergraduate Research Journal)
Communication and Critical Thinking
Every activity at camp is built around collaboration. Kids have to listen, disagree respectfully, present ideas, and persuade others. These aren't soft skills. They're the skills that determine how far someone goes.
Leadership and Responsibility
Kids don't learn leadership by being told what it is. They learn it by practicing it in low-stakes situations, with support around them, before the world expects it of them. The YMCA's research on youth leadership programs notes that teens who develop leadership skills in structured, supportive settings are significantly better prepared for both academic and professional challenges ahead.
Entrepreneurship and Real-World Projects
Campers work in teams on real projects — pitching ideas, solving problems, making decisions under pressure. They learn how to move from an idea to an action plan. That's a skill most adults are still figuring out.
Social Skills and Peer Connection
Small group sizes mean kids actually get to know each other. Not just as classmates, as teammates. The friendships that form here tend to stick.
Why Choose Plant Street Academy for Summer Camp in Winter Garden, FL?
There are plenty of options in West Orange County. Here's what makes this one different.
A Program Built for Long-Term Growth, Not Just Summer Fun
We're not trying to keep kids busy. We're trying to change how they see themselves.
The three-phase progression model means that every summer builds on the one before it. Skills compound. Confidence deepens. And by the time a student reaches the Leadership phase, they've earned every bit of it.
Small Groups, Personalized Attention
We keep group sizes intentionally small. That means your child isn't just another camper. They're seen, challenged, and supported by people who actually know them.
Conveniently Located Near Downtown Winter Garden
We're at 855 E. Plant St., Suite 900 - right in the heart of Winter Garden. Easy drop-off, easy pick-up, and close to everything that makes this community worth being part of.
A Proven Track Record
Parents report real changes. Not just "my kid had fun" — but "I didn't recognize hime!" "He couldn't wait to go back." "He coaches his peers now." That's the goal. And it's what keeps families coming back, year after year.
Summer Camp Program Details
Who Can Attend?
Our summer camp is designed for children ages 9-14, pre-teens and early teens who are old enough to take on real challenges and young enough that the right experience can genuinely shape who they become.
Session Dates
Summer 2026 sessions begin June 1st and run through August 7th. Camp is structured around a daily schedule that works for working families, with extended care options available.
How to Enroll
Spots are limited (only 25 per week) and they do fill up. You can register your child here.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the camp open to families from outside Winter Garden?
Yes. We serve families from across West Orange County - Winter Garden, Clermont, Minneola, Windermere, Ocoee, Oakland and surrounding areas.
What age groups do you serve?
Our summer camp is designed for children ages 9-14.
When does camp start?
Summer 2026 begins June 1st and runs through August 7th.
What are the daily hours?
Daily programming is structured around a schedule that works for working parents, with extended care options available for early drop-off and late pick-up.
Hours: 9:00 AM – 3:00 PM
Early Drop-Off: 8:00 AM
Late Pick-Up: 5:00 PM
How do I register?
You can register your child(ren) and get full details here.
What makes this different from other summer camps near Winter Garden?
Most summer camps are built around entertainment. Ours is built around development. The three-phase model - Discovery, Confidence Building, Leadership Development - means every summer moves your child forward, not just through it.
Can my child attend multiple summers?
That's actually the point. The program is designed as a multi-year journey. Returning students take on bigger roles each year, which is where the deepest growth happens. Returning children receive a 10% volume discount.
Summer 2026 Spots Are Filling Fast
Camp starts on June 1st. If you're considering it, now is the time.
Limited spots. A program designed for real growth. A summer your child will actually remember.
· Reserve your child's spot: here
· See the program in action. Attend an Open House: plantstreetacademy.com/event-list
· Questions? Reach us at team@plantstreetacademy.com
