Summer Camp Roundup from La Jolla to Carlsbad

Summer vacation may seem like a long time away, especially with recent cold weather, but this is the time to start planning. Many families schedule summer camps for their kids because both parents work. Or if a parent is able to stay home with the kids, being with the kids every day all summer long can be a little too much of a good thing—both sides need a break!

A variety of themed summer camp and activities can be found through our local YMCAs and city recreational centers. Those camps can often be scheduled for individual needs such as one-day, half-day, full-day or extended care. And your children will never get bored with the variety of activities available, such as arts and crafts, park and beach play, and field trip days. The creativity in some camp themes speaks to today’s kids. For instance the in Encinitas offers such camps as Project Runway, Glee Camp, Digital Music, Amazing Race, and Survival Camp. Besides the YMCA and city summer programs, here are a few other summer camp options.

• Legoland. What kid doesn’t like playing with Lego’s? And what parent hasn’t accidentally stepped on a Lego piece? Well, put them away for a week and let the kids play at Legoland. Weeklong camps include themed activities at Legoland with full-day admission, a visit to both the Sea Life Aquarium and the Legoland Water Park. Camp themes include Pirates and Land of Adventure, Lego Bionicle, and Model Builders Secrets. california.legoland.com.
• Carlsbad Art Farm. Get both an art and animal education at the summer camps run by the Carlsbad Art Farm at Sunny Creek, a private coastal 10-acre property filled with native trees, plants and indigenous animal life. Half or full-day camps are available for students in grade 2-8, from 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., with early drop-off or late pick-up options. Campers learn the foundational elements and principals of art, and use a variety of media including charcoal and paint. Artists work at easels in a wooded setting and use live animals as their models. And there is always time to horse around with the animals. Carlsbad Art Farm, 5855 Sunny Creek Rd., Carlsbad, 760-688-6147, carlsbadartfarm.com.

• Surf Diva: Playing at the beach and in the water are typical southern California summer to do's. Why not have them learn to surf? Surf Diva offers weekly co-ed sessions all summer long at La Jolla Shores, with half-day and full-day options from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. All skill levels are welcomed and the camps will teach kids the basic fundamentals of surfing, sun protection, special tricks, surf styles and how to protect the surf environment. Overnight surf camps are also available and students stay in UC San Diego dorm rooms. Overnight options include two for girls (weeks of July 10 and 17), and a co-ed Surfing and Filmmaking camp (week of July 26), with filmmaking classes taught by the UCSD Digital Media Academy and students making their own surf film. Moms, don’t feel left out. Surf Diva has an overnight surf camp for women ages 18 and over during the week of July 10. Hey, moms need camp too! Surf Diva Surf School, 2150 Avenida de la Play, La Jolla, 858-454-8273, surfdiva.com.
• Birch Aquarium. Kids will love learning to explore the ocean at the Summer Learning Adventure Camps held at the Birch Aquarium at Scripps Institution of Oceanography in La Jolla. Designed for ages 4 to 15, the camps allow kids to experience live animal encounters, hands-on activities and field excursions. Featured will be amazing ocean creatures, myths of the sea, gooey dissections, the shark world and oceanography adventures. Kids will get their fins wet too, as they get a chance to learn to surf and snorkel. Birch Aquarium, 2300 Expedition Way, La Jolla, 858-534-FISH, aquarium.ucsd.edu.
• Rancho Coastal Humane Society. Animals and children just go hand-in-hand, and the in Encinitas lets kids gain a greater appreciation of their furry friends through their summer camp program. Appropriate for ages 6 to 15, camps use hands-on games, activities, arts and crafts, guest speakers and live animals to teach campers about animals and their importance in our world. Camp themes include Animal Adventures, Animal Keepers, and Around the Globe with Animals. The weeklong camps meet from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Rancho Coastal Humane Society, 389 Requeza St., Encinitas, 760-753-6413, rchumanesociety.org.
• Master Your Sports. For sports-minded youngsters, you can’t go wrong with the Master Your Sports summer camps. (Take it from a parent whose sons have participated in quite a few of their camps.) Kids from all skill levels will have fun playing in a variety of sports camps. Choose from basketball, baseball, soccer, volleyball, golf, football, lacrosse or dodgeball. If you can’t decide, there’s always the multisport camp where soccer, flag football, basketball, baseball and track and field are incorporated into the week, along with fun games such as  Capture the Flag. These camps are great for the active kid who just wants to play. Half-day and full-day camps are available at locations throughout San Diego, including Carlsbad, Del Mar and La Jolla. masteryoursports.com.

The American Camp Association provides parents with additional information about summer camps. Go to: acacamps.org.