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Best Sleep-Away Summer Camps For Kids In Los Angeles

seaworld camp header
(credit: SeaWorld San Diego)

School will be out soon and many families are searching for ways to get their children involved in activities that are productive, include physical exercise and are fun. The following camps include many learning opportunities and relationship building lessons, challenge youth, and have created some of the best family memories. Explore these well-respected campsites for a wonderful summer.

safari park summer camp
(credit: San Diego Zoo)

Safari Park Summer Camp
15500 San Pasqual Valley Road
Escondido, CA 92027
(619) 718-3000
www.sandiegozoo.org

Children love visiting the zoo and the San Diego Safari Park takes learning about animals to the next level with its overnight camps. Families can register children for various age-appropriate camps such as the Critter Caper Campout and the Animal Care Boot Camp. All of the camping selections at San Diego Zoo's Safari Park include exploring animals and learning about their habitats. But what makes these camps so exciting is that children are allowed to explore the ways that animals get their food, how they interact within their groups, and where they even sleep. Some of the activities that are offered to campers are dissecting animal pellets, tracking animals, and observing animals at night. Some other fun animal options include learning how cheetahs are trained, visit the zoo's animal hospital, and feeding animals like rhinos and giraffes.

seaworld camp
(credit: SeaWorld)

SeaWorld Camp
500 Sea World Drive
San Diego, CA 92109
(800) 257-4268
www.seaworldparks.com

All ages love Sea World, Shamu, and sea life. That is what makes Sea World Camp so awesome. Families and organizations can visit Sea World's favorite creatures privately at night. Many groups such as Girl Scouts, Boy Scouts of America, and private parties join Sea World Camp each summer to bond with friends and learn. Sea World Overnight allows campers to view how sea animals and sea life behave when the sun sets. In addition, after camp ends, they are still able to go on Sea World's rides, watch shows, and view attractions. Some of the highlights of this camp include a hearty breakfast; meals, a Sea Work Sleepover T-shirt, and dining with Sea World's biggest star, Shamu.

Related: What To Do With Your Double-Digit Kids

Pali Adventures
(credit: Pali Overnight Adventures)

Pali Overnight Adventures
30778 Hwy 18
Running Springs, CA, 92382
(909) 867-5743
www.paliadventures.com

Pali Overnight Adventures is a camp with more than 15 specialty camp adventures to choose from. This extremely fun camp offers sessions that include cooking, film, dancing, skating, fashion design, and acting. More favorites include secret agent camp, rock star camp, journalism, and even water sports. All of the options engage campers in some of their favorite activities, such as skateboarding, water skiing, and sewing. Youth stay in the cabins and are supervised by counselors. To add to all of this, participants choose a new elective and nighttime activity each day of their stay so there is always something enjoyable to do. Each week there are special showcases by campers that includes their films, new dance moves, acting, stunts, and even a fashion show.

catalina island camps
(credit: Catalina Island Camps)

Catalina Island Camps
707 W Woodbury Road Unit F
Altadena, CA 91001
(626) 296-4040
www.catalinaislandcamps.com

Beautiful Catalina Island is one of the most amazingly gorgeous camps close to Los Angeles. Not only is the island serene, it offers many selections of fun activities for youth to try. Families can pick a one-week camping adventure all the way up to four weeks of exploration and learning. Activities that youth enjoy at Catalina include snorkeling in the cove, kayaking, sailing, paddle boarding, and hiking. The activities and camp program is used to teach youth about nature, skill development, and team building. Catalina Islands Camps are an authentic camping adventure with gatherings at campfire, singing, and sleeping under the stars.

Related: Nature Education In Los Angeles

the painted turtle
(credit: The Painted Turtle)

The Painted Turtle
17000 Elizabeth Lake Road
Lake Hughes, CA 93532
(310) 451-1353
www.thepaintedturtle.org

The Painted Turtle is an interesting therapeutic camp with a great idea. It was created for children with serious medical conditions. Some of the activities include horseback riding, fishing, theater, canoeing, star gazing, basketball, singing, and dancing. The atmosphere of this camp is peaceful and is in the midst of hills covered with trees and nearby lakes. The best part about this camp is that the entire family is able to attend for free.

Cassandra Bautista is a freelance writer from Los Angeles. Her work can be found at Examiner.com.

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