375 Scholarships and Counting: Columbia’s Little Lions Camp Offers Summer Fun for Local Kids
Columbia University and the West Harlem Development Corporation have teamed up to offer 375 summer camp scholarships for neighborhood children since 2009.
Every summer, dozens of local children spend their days swimming, playing, and exploring through Columbia’s Little Lions Camp. And, since 2009, Columbia has offered 375 scholarships to those who live in Manhattan Community District 9 through a partnership between the University and the West Harlem Development Corporation (WHDC).
“We’re honored that Columbia University can collaborate with the WHDC and offer 25 scholarships to the Little Lions Camp throughout the summer,” said Matt Hall, Camp Director.
Scholarships provide free, full-day summer camp experiences for children entering grades 1-7, giving young neighbors the chance to explore Columbia’s Dodge Fitness Center and enjoy a classic summer camp experience close to home. You can find the 2026 application here.
“The campers are exposed to the lifestyle that is at Columbia University,” said Hall. “They see student life happening, they see student athletes at work, and they really get engaged with the entire campus. We want to inspire all of our campers to lead lives of service and leadership and eventually become athletes, student athletes, or university participants themselves.”
For Kasandra Arroyo, a mom of a Little Lions camper who received a scholarship to the camp, the camp experience "plants seeds for the future."
"All the staff here are super welcoming, super kind, and just amazing with the kids," Arroyo said. "For my daughter, specifically, this was something I maybe could not do on my own. There are a lot of children who don't have opportunities like this, and this can be a catalyst to open up something bigger for them. It opens up opportunities, and they help them with their confidence and social skills, and that is something they will take through their lives."
A Peek Into a Day at Little Lions Camp
The Camp Experience
The Little Lions Camp provides children with access to Columbia's Division I athletic facilities, including gyms, fields, a pool, tracks, and courts, and fills the days with a dynamic mix of physical and creative activities.
Camp runs mid-June through mid-August, Monday through Friday (except for weeks with holidays, which are prorated), with drop-off between 8:15 and 9 a.m. and pick-up at 3 p.m. Campers bring their own lunches but are offered an afternoon snack by the camp. After-care is available at an extra cost.
Counselors come from a wide range of backgrounds, from physical education teachers to Columbia student athletes and childcare specialists, so programming stays fresh, flexible, and responsive to kids' interests. The focus of the camp is kid-centered and fun-based, introducing children to a wide range of sports and activities.
Each week, the camp is built around a different, fun theme that shapes activities. That could include scavenger hunts, trivia, creative crafts, and karaoke, to classic backyard and organized games.
On a typical day, campers would rotate through warm-ups, games indoors and outdoors, swimming, arts and crafts, and free play. What separates Little Lions, however, is that these games are arranged to encourage teamwork, new friendships, and play over solely competition. The goal is for campers to stay active, be creative, try new things, and, above all, enjoy themselves in the process.
Camp and Scholarship Application Information
General summer camp applications for Summer 2026 open January 30, 2026. You can find the general application here. Weekly tuition for the camp ranges between $300 and $600, depending on how many days a week.
Families living in Manhattan Community District 9 can apply for the Little Lions Camp scholarship lottery through the WHDC. The program helps ensure that local children can participate in summer recreation and enrichment opportunities at no cost. The application can be found at westharlemdc.org. The deadline is March 4, 2026.
Families living in Manhattan Community District 12 can also apply for full scholarships to three different camps at Baker Athletics Complex, including Little Lions. The application can be found here, and you can sign up to be notified about when applications open here.