Worried about how to keep your kids happy and occupied during summer vacation? A wide array of options are available to children of all ages and interests. Try a performing arts camp for the aspiring actress, a science exploration program for the future biologist, or a sports camp for an energetic, active child.
Here is a guide to some of the area’s summer camps and programs, what they include and how to contact them for more information. Prices and dates are wide-ranging, giving parents and kids a large selection to choose from. Options include both day and resident camps, with sports, religious, science, arts and outdoor themes.
If you don’t see something you like, you can look for more options by calling the Child Development Resource Center at 476-7140, consulting Santa Cruz Parks and Recreation Summer Activity Guide at www.santacruzparksandrec.com, or visiting Santa Cruz Kids at www.santacruzkids.com/ summerprograms.html.
Art camps Kuumbwa Summer Jazz Camp
The two-week day camp is for aspiring musicians and covers basic improvisation and theory, jazz concepts, jazz appreciation, jazz history and performance. The program is for 8th-12th graders and takes place June 14-24.
Location: Cabrillo College, 6500 Soquel Drive, Aptos. Cost: $190. Registration deadline: June 1. Phone: 427-2227.
Cabrillo Summer Academy
A program of enrichment classes for 5th-12th graders which takes place June 21-Aug. 6. Classes offered include computer robotics, rock and pop guitar, theater and music. Family classes are also offered for students and their parents in astronomy, beginners blues harmonica and much more. The Academy will also be collaborating with the Pajaro Valley Performing Arts Association in a three-week arts camp for 3rd-12th graders.
| Location: Cabrillo College, 6500 Soquel Drive, Aptos. Cost: $70-$150, depending on length of class. Registration deadline: June 7. Phone: 479-6331. Web site: www.cabrillo-extension.org. |
Classes in music and art offered for children ages 7-13. Projects include masks, wood figures, wire sculpture, drawing, painting, printmaking and collages. Weeklong sessions will take place June 21-25, June 28-July 2, July 12-16, and Aug. 2-6.
Location: Santa Cruz Mountain Arts Center, 9341 Mill Street, Ben Lomond. Cost: $220 per week for full days; $110 per week for half days. Registration deadline: Until spaces fill — students must register before the first day of class. Phone: 336-4ART (4278). Web site: www.mountainartcenter.org.
Performing Art Children’s Conservatory
An intensive conservatory program for children ages 8-18. Children participate in four hour-long elective classes in performing arts such as vocals, acting, dance, sound, scenic art, costume design, theatrical makeup and stage combat. Classes are followed by four hours of rehearsal for a performance of ‘Grease,’ which will take place at the end of the program. Program runs June 21-July 25, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Location: Loma Prieta Community Center, 23800 Summit Road, Los Gatos. Cost: $725 (scholarships available). Registration deadline: Until spaces fill. Phone: 408-353-9999.
Summer Theater Workshop
Children rehearse and perform a production of ‘Peter Pan.’ Camp lasts June 14-July 18. Ages 8-16 are eligible to participate.
Location: San Lorenzo Valley High Performing Arts Center. Cost: $435. Registration deadline: June 10. Phone: 476-5220. Web site: www.mbrtheatre.com.
Santa Cruz Studio School
Ongoing classes in painting and drawing for children ages 3-18. Sessions run June 7-Aug. 27.
Location: 143 S. River St., Santa Cruz. Cost: $16-$20 depending on class. Registration deadline: None. Phone: 457-1374.
Day camps YMCA Camp Campbell
The YMCA of the Redwoods offers several day and resident camps for kids of varying ages. Some of the programs offered this year are Teen Adventure Camp, Youth Camp, Trailblazers Camp and Leader-In-Training Program. Call or visit the Web site for specific dates, prices and other details.
Cost: $100-$799. Phone: 338-2128. Web site: www.ymcacampcampbell.org.
Kennolyn’s Day Camp
Kennolyn’s Camp offers both day and resident camps. Kids can enjoy many activities, including horseback riding, ceramics, climbing, arts and crafts, archery and a ropes course. The camp runs June 20-Sept. 6 for ages 5-14. Location: 8205 Glenhaven Road, Soquel. Cost: Day camp $399 per week; resident camp $1015 per week. Registration deadline: Until spaces fill. Phone: 479-6714. Web site: www.kennolyn.com/camps/.
Wildlands and Watering Cans
Weeklong sessions from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. for ages 7-10, focusing on garden activities. Children will hike, build bird feeders and set up a farmers’ market cart, among other activities. Sessions are June 21-25, June 28-July 2 and July 12-16. Location: UCSC Farm and Life Lab. Cost: $230 per session for members of Life Lab Science Program; $260 for nonmembers. Registration Deadline: Until spaces fill. Phone: 459-2001. Web site: http://www.lifelab.org/camp/index.html.
Farm and Wilderness Exploration
A science exploration camp for ages 11-14 in which children will develop their scientific skills, observe wildlife, hike and create garden art projects. Program takes place July 26-30.
Location: UCSC Farm and Life Lab. Cost: $230 per session for members of Life Lab Science Program; $260 for nonmembers. Registration Deadline: Until spaces fill. Phone: 459-2001. Web site: http://www.lifelab.org/camp/index.html.
Camp Seascape
This summer experience emphasizes cooperation, investigation, skill development, creativity and fun. Campers will be offered a variety of activities including swimming, tai kwon do, basketball, arts and crafts, tennis, volleyball, gymnastics, soccer and beach games. Six two- week sessions take place June 14-Sept. 3 for ages 3 to 13. Open house noon to 4 p.m. May 1.
Location: Seascape Sports Club. Cost: $495 for each two-week session. Phone: 688-1993. Web site: www.seascapesportsclub.com.
Educational camps
ID Tech Camps
A weeklong day or resident camp where kids learn about the many different aspects of technology. Participants produce digital movies, create video games, design Web sites, program robots, compose and mix music, and much more. Students take home a project at the end of the weeklong course. The camp is for ages 7-17 and takes place at local universities, including UC Santa Cruz, Stanford University, Santa Clara University and UC Berkeley. One computer per student, six students per instructor. Camps take place June 20-Aug. 20.
Location: Local colleges and universities. Cost: $639 for day students, $989 for overnight students. Registration Deadline: Until spaces fill. Phone: 1-888-709-8324. Web site: www.internalDrive.com.
Aptos Academy Summer Adventure
A camp for children ages 5-12 with activities including art, drama, music, sports, science, dance, hiking, canoeing and more. Weekly theme units include America, the Solar System, Hawaiian Fun in the Sun, Wild Animals, Bugs and Bats, Kings, Queens and Castles, and Fabulous Mexican Fiesta. Camp takes place June 21-Aug. 13.
Location: Aptos Academy, 1940 Bonita Drive, Aptos. Cost: Full time $250 per week, $55 per day; part time $150 per week, $35 per day. Registration Deadline: Until spaces fill. Phone: 688-1080. Web site: www.aptosacademy.org.
Merit Academy Summer Program
One-on-one academic tutorials for K-12 students. Elementary students can take reading comprehension and math. Middle school students can participate in Math Foundation and a workshop for writing essays and research papers. High school students can take classes for SAT I and II preparation, college advisory, college application essays, research papers, literature and critical analysis. High school students can also take a driver’s education class that includes auto shop, CPR training and certification, information on car sales and insurance, a MADD seminar and field trips to the emergency room and the California Highway Patrol. Classes last June-August.
Location: Academy, 2392 N. Rodeo Gulch Road, Soquel. Cost: Call for prices. Registration Deadline: Until spaces fill. Phone: 462-5655. Web site: www.meritworld.com.
Developmental Learning Solutions
A program for K-12 students with learning disabilities or delayed skill development. Classes include writing improvement, study skills, keyboarding, science, intensive reading instruction, vocabulary development, self-advocacy, math, voice recognition software, an SAT preparation class and more. Each class has 3-6 students. Sessions take place June 14-June 25 and July 19-July 30.
Location: 700 Frederick St., Suite 104, Santa Cruz. Cost: $400-$575, $100 deposit. Registration Deadline: Until spaces fill. Phone: 429-5987.
Little People’s School
Three-week sessions for ages 2-6 (must be potty-trained). Session I, ‘Puppies to Panthers: Discovering Animal Differences,’ takes place June 14-July 2. Session II, ‘Pushcarts to Planes: Investigating How Things Go,’ takes place July 5-July 23. Session III, ‘People and Places: Exploring International Cooking, Music, and Art,’ takes place July 26-Aug. 13.
Location: 13171 Railroad Ave., Boulder Creek. Cost: Ranges $139-$304 per month. Registration Deadline: Until spaces fill. Phone: 338-4112.
Ocean Explorers
Several programs for ages 7-14 focusing on marine sciences. Children will learn about marine mammals of the Monterey Bay through field explorations, games and crafts. Weekly sessions take place June 18-Aug. 20.
Location: Seymour Center at Long Marine Lab, 100 Shaffer Road, Santa Cruz. Cost: $300-$500 for members of the Friends of Long Marine Laboratory, $350-$550 for nonmembers, depending on age. Registration Deadline: 5 p.m. on April 15. Phone: 459-3800. Web site: http://www2.ucsc.edu/seymourcenter/lpyouth.html.
Outdoor Science Exploration
This nonprofit science education foundation puts on ‘Day Adventures,’ daily field trips featuring science experiments, nature exploring, play time, and crafts for ages 7-14. The program takes place June 14-July 16 and each trip is supervised by at least one, certified teacher.
The foundation also sponsors a backpacking trip for teenagers, ‘Teen Backpacking in Yosemite National Park.’ The trip will take place July 25-Aug. 1. Limited to 13 teenagers who must be interviewed, write an essay and attend preparation meetings.
Location: 150 Lions Field Drive, Santa Cruz. Cost: $35 per day or $155 per week before June 4; $44 per day or $170 per week after June 4. Registration Deadline: Until spaces fill (up to 25 children per day trip). Phone: 423-5925 Web site: www.osefun.com.
Outdoor camps
Skylark Ranch
Sponsored by the Girl Scouts of Santa Cruz County, this camp offers many different programs for 2nd-12th grade girls. Activities include horseback riding, beach and marine exploration, fine arts, low and high ropes courses, archery, outdoor wilderness skills, llamas, surfing, field trips, leadership programs and adventure programs. Sessions run June 26-Aug. 22. Campers are not required to be Girl Scouts.
Cost: $210-$575, depending on age and program. Registration Deadline: Until spaces fill. Phone: 408-287-4170. Web site: www.girlscoutsofscc.org/camp.
Hidden Falls
Another camp option sponsored by the Girl Scouts of Santa Cruz County. This program offers family and mother/daughter camps. Activities include swimming, sports, archery, arts and crafts, environmental education, outdoor living skills, dancing, talent shows, hiking, creek walking, outdoor cooking and campfires. Available for 2nd-12th grade girls and their families. Call or visit
