Best Summer Day Camps In Orange County
Keeping kids busy during the summer is part of a parent's job. Summers can be boring, especially for kids who aren't driving. To rectify this problem, there are a number of summer day camps around Orange County available to keep kids temporarily engaged. The camps all have different themes, so kids with all kinds of interests can find something to do.
Brain Builders Educational Programs
27601 Forbes Road, Unit 6
Laguna Niguel, CA 92677
(714) 360-1101
www.brainbuildersed.org
With classes like "City Destruction" and "Star Wars Camp,"this summer day camp sounds like battle school. However, this Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM) day camp, doesn't use anything dangerous to teach future engineers. They'll use Legos to make catapults, and structures that can resist their attacks. Other classes have kids using computers to help build creations. Age limits vary by class, with the youngest kids allowed into a class being 5 and the oldest being 12.
Ocean Institute
24200 Dana Point Harbor Drive
Dana Point, CA 92629
(949) 496-2274
www.ocean-institute.org/summer-camps
Classes are age based at this educational camp about the wide open sea. Children 5-6 can learn about marine life, build sand castles, make crafts and sing songs together. Kids between the ages of 6 and 7 use their detective skills to uncover the secrets of the sea. In the last age groups, there is more serious study. The 12-14 year olds learn how to use the kinds of technology scientists use to research the ocean, including how to construct and operate a remotely operated vehicle (ROV) underwater. In their last year at the camp, between the ages of 14-17, the kids will study “intertidal ecology, animal husbandry, laboratory investigations and shipboard research in preparation for a marine science internship or career.” Participants in their last year will have the opportunity to be selected for an internship at the Ocean Institute.
JP's Surf Camp
647 Camino De Los Mares, Suite 108
San Clemente, CA 92673
(949) 547-2088
www.jpssurfcamp.com/
JP's Surf Camp instructs children and adults. The minimum age requirement for children is 6. For beginning surfers, the classes focus on “ocean awareness, surfing instruction and technique, surfing etiquette, wave selection and judgment, proper surfing equipment and overall physical fitness.” Intermediate and advanced surfers receive instruction tailored to their needs. Soft surfboards are used for beginners, and hard surfboards are used for experienced ones. Everyone is required "to be able to swim the length of a swimming pool with confidence."
The Center Stage Studio And Dance
27101 Aliso Creek Road, Suite 136
Aliso Viejo, CA 92656
(949) 305-9758
www.thecenterstagestudio.com
There are two summer camps for kids aged 6-12 that are running at the studio this summer. There is "Musical, Dance & Song Camp" and "Dance Camp." The first camp has several musical productions going on throughout the summer, so kids can be in "The Sound of Music," "Wicked Oz," "The Jungle Book," "Descendants," "Matilda," "Little Mermaid" or "Star Wars the Musical." Dance Camp has classes in Jazz, Tap, Hip Hop, Ballet, and Lyrical. Shows are always on Friday nights.
Art Steps
18212 Imperial Highway
Yorba Linda, CA 92886
(714) 524-2248
www.artstepsclasses.com
Art Steps's mission is to allow beginning through advanced child and teen artists to explore new media, subject matter and techniques, or deeply study artistic subjects they love. Classes for students between the ages of 4-16 are available. The youngest group, ranging from ages 4-6, can take the Storybook Workshop, where they learn to draw their favorite storybook characters. Older students may sign up for Anime & Cartooning, Perspective, Cartoon Clay, Figure Drawing & Portraiture, Advanced Drawing or A Palette of Art (a variety class).
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