Los Angeles Summer Camp Guide

As parents we want our kids' summers to be rich and filled with exciting activities. And any parent who's gotten that dreaded phone call from sleepaway camp knows, not every camp is the perfect fit for every child. So if the wide yawn of time that lays before you is intimidating and leaves you wondering about the best fit for your child(ren), we have a round-up of our favorite summer camps –- covering a wide range of interests from the sports enthusiast to the young artist -– to help you as you begin exploring your options. Many camps start in June and fill up long before that, so get cracking!

Sleepaway Camps

Sleepaway camps in the Los Angeles and outlying vicinity offer varying camp sessions of varying lengths between one week and one month, with two weeks being standard.

Canyon Creek Sports Camp

41600 Lake Hughes Road
Lake Hughes, CA 93532-1011
Tel: (661) 724-9184
More Info

A traditional sleepaway camp for boys and girls ages 7-16, Canyon Creek's mission is to provide a safe, noncompetitive environment for boys and girls where they have the opportunity to build confidence, independence, learn teamwork and develop problem-solving skills through sports. With 81 acres near Castaic Lake, great athletic facilities and state of the art equipment, they deliver. Canyon Creek offers one- and two-week sessions and an "escape from the distractions of city life."

Griffith Park Boys' Camp

4730 Crystal Springs Drive
Los Angeles, CA 90027
(323) 664-0571
More Info

Located in the historic Griffith Park hills, Griffith Park Boys' Camp has been run by the City of LA's Department of Recreation and Parks camping section since 1924. This camp offers the full sleepaway camp experience on a 10-acre facility with a 30 ft. rock climbing wall, high ropes challenge course, archery range and miles and miles of hiking trails. They offer week-long sessions for boys from ages 7 through 14.

Camp Hollywoodland

3200 Canyon Dr.
Hollywood CA 90068
(323) 467-7193
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Nestled between the Hollywood Sign and the Griffith Park Observatory, Camp Hollywoodland for girls is also run by the City of LA's Department of Recreation and Parks. The camp offers week-long sessions and is designed to provide girls in the Los Angeles area with camping and recreational programs close to the City in a mountain atmosphere.

HINT: Before you sign your child up for a lengthy stay at a sleepaway camp, you may want to speak with the camp administration to see what the average length of stay is most of their campers. The reason being if most campers only stay one week, you may not want your child to be there for two or more weeks since the friends they make will be leaving. That can be hard on a kid. Alternately, if most campers stay a month, you may want to consider signing your child up for a longer term so they can really experience sleepaway camp with their new lifelong friends.

Day Camps - General

Tumbleweed Day Camp

1024 Hanley Avenue
Los Angeles, CA 90049
(310) 472-7474
More Info

Tucked away up in rustic Crestwood Hills in Brentwood, Tumbleweed offers a traditional day camp for children ages 4 – 14. They plan activities from horseback riding (you can even purchase private lessons), archery, swimming, and arts and crafts, to their own unique Tumblewheel and a obstacle course your kids will love. Camp "overnights" round out the experience and help prepare your child for sleepaway camp.

Tocaloma Summer Day Camp

3231 Ocean Park Boulevard
Santa Monica, CA 90405
(310) 399-2267
More Info

Camp director Tiffany Romero focuses on "fostering the adventure of childhood." She adds that the camp "offers a traditional day camp experience...everything from swimming and sports to drama and archery." Programs for kids ages 4 - 14 are run at Berkeley Hall School off Mulholland at the 405. They tailor their activities to the needs of a child's age, and place them in small groups to provide maximum counselor-to-kid ratios. Many of the staff members at this camp started out as campers!

Cheviot Hills Recreation Center

2551 Motor Ave.
Los Angeles, CA 90064
(310) 837-5186
More Info

Cheviot Hills Recreation Center offers a variety of summer day camp programs for kids ages 6 - 14. The advantage, besides the small variety, is that it's close to home if you live in the area and much less expensive than a private camp.

Camp Kinneret Summer Day Camp

P.O. Box 329
Agoura, CA 91376-0329
818-706-8255
More Info

Camp Kinneret holds two sessions for kids from pre-school through 12th grade. The camp is located on land owned by a church in the hills off Agoura Road near Reyes Adobe -- not too far a drive from the San Fernando Valley. The semi-wilderness allows for cool programs like archery and horseback riding as well as traditional camp activities.

Fitness by the Sea

Pacific Palisades
Will Rogers Beach, Tower 14
PCH & Temescal Canyon

South Bay
Dockweiler Beach, Tower 49
Vista del Mar & Imperial Hwy

Santa Monica
SM State Beach, Tower 11
PCH & California Incline
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Fitness by the Sea offers a unique day camp experience, on the beach, all day long. The philosophy at FBS is "an unstructured environment where campers are free to participate in as many or few activities as they want and are encouraged to try different things each day". The largest location, in Pacific Palisades,offers at least 10 activities every morning and at least 10 more each afternoon – including surfing and boogie boarding. Very cool. Additionally, unlike traditional camps, campers are grouped by activity not age (this is important to note because it's not for everyone) although they do offer specialized activities for their youngest campers.

Specialty Day Camps

Josephson Academy of Gymnastics

8640 Hayden Place
Culver City, CA 90232
(310) 287-9886
More Info

Josephson (or JAG) is not a hard-core gymnastics camp. In fact, younger kids will love the variety that includes movement, storytime, and arts & crafts. As campers get older they spend more time in the gym, and teens learn how to assist the younger children. This gym has produced many award-winning gymnasts, so don't be surprised if summer camp sparks a competitive edge in your child!

Iverbe Sports Camp

@ Willows Community School
8509 Higuera Street
Culver City, CA 90232
More Info

This is a day camp that runs the kids wild in activities from basketball to "pillo polo" -- like floor hockey but played with sticks that have foam on the end. Lunch and snacks are included in the registration fee, and kids get water play every Friday. Eight weeks of sessions allow children to try multiple sports.

Art Works Studio & Classroom

8688 Washington Boulevard
Culver City, CA 90232-7460
(310) 202-1894
More Info

Do you have a junior Van Gogh drawing on the walls? Maybe art camp is the place for her! Art Works has daily summer art camp sessions where your child can draw, paint, sculpt, and make collages -- all day, every day. Activities better left for someone else to clean up after, anyway.