Stay Local: Check Out the City's Day Camp Options

With just about 6 weeks left in the school year, it is time to figure out summer vacation plans for your kids.  It can be an overwhelming task  with so many options to choose from. For parents who need a full day, action-packed camp for their children, ages 8 to 14 years, you may want to consider the programs offered by the City of Santa Monica Human Services Division, CREST programs.  

The two main camps for youth are Camp Santa Monica, located at Virginia Avenue Park and Santa Monica Sports Experience, located at John Adams Middle School. Camp hours are 8:30am - 5:00 pm. Extended care is available beginning at 7:00 a.m.- 8:30 a.m.  and 5:00 p.m.- 6:00pm at an additional cost of $35/week.  Both camps include a hot lunch, healthy afternoon snack, materials, admission fees to field trips and Santa Monica Swim Center.

Camp begins Monday, June 27 and will run until Friday, August 19th.  You can enroll for just one week, or all eight weeks. Our programs can be a life saver for working parents.

The price is one of the most economical on the Westside at $200 per week for residents and $220 per week for non-residents. The city offers generous financial assistance, based on a sliding scale, to those who qualify.  A little known gem is available for parents looking for a half day camp option.  This is our Half Day Camp at Santa Monica Sports Experience.  Half Day Camp costs $123 per week for residents and $133 for non-residents and is open from 12:30PM-5:00PM.

 If your child loves sports and needs to be active all day, I would recommend Santa Monica Sports Experience. They offer a variety of traditional sports like soccer and basketball to wacky and modified games and health education activities.  Campers are coached by CREST’s highly trained and energetic staff, who work year round with the elementary and middle school after school sports teams. 

On the other hand, if your child likes more variety during the day and a less competitive environment, then I would suggest Camp Santa Monica which offers a relaxed environment of games, art & crafts, science, team building and enrichment activities. Campers are led by the enthusiastic and capable year round staff from the CREST afterschool programs and Virginia Avenue Park.

Don’t forget your teens. Camp Santa Monica has an amazing teen program for middle schoolers who will learn a variety of activities from social skills, team building, self-expression through the arts, journalism, take swim trips and weekly age-appropriate excursions such Magic Mountain, Kayaking and the UCLA ropes course and much more.

We also offer a wonderful program just for girls entering 6th-8th grade. Rosie's Girls helps build self-esteem, leadership skills, and physical confidence through an exploration of trades and non-traditional activities such as carpentry, welding, plumbing, firefighting, tree trimming, and more.  This camp is held at the City Yards and drop off is at Stewart Park.  There are only two 2-week sessions (July 5 – July 22) and (August 1- August 19). The price is $1140 for residents and $1455 for non-residents plus $75 for materials.  The girls even get uniforms and work boots! The hours are 8:30- 5pm, with extended care available for $35/week.

You can register online  or mail, fax or drop off registrations at the Reed Park Youth Office located at 1133 7th Street.

In closing, don’t be surprised if summer seems shorter than usual this year.  The SMMUSD 2011-12 school year begins early, before Labor Day on Tuesday August 30.