Although spring has just started, summertime is just around the corner! Before you know it, the kids will be off from school and the perfect beach weather you’ve been dreaming of will finally be here. But why not plan ahead for the summer?
There are numerous summer camps—both day and overnight!—around Santa Cruz County for all ages. And with many different themes, like horseback riding and baseball, there’s a program for everyone. Registration for the day camps in Santa Cruz County typically opens in April and May, and spots fill up quickly because of high demand. But for those who haven’t quite decided what they want to do, or are planning for next year, here are some of the exciting day camps around Santa Cruz County that the kids are sure to love!
Beach And Aquatic Camps
Whether your little one just wants some fun in the sun, or if they’re learning valuable skills in the water, Santa Cruz County offers a number of beach and aquatic camps.
Pool Guards is one of the most popular summer programs in the county. Little Guards (for kids ages 5-6) and Junior Guards (for kids ages 7-13) camps are hosted at the Simpkins Family Swim Center, located in Twin Lakes. The camps are a great way for kids to hone their lifeguard and swimming skills, while also playing fun and exciting games. These programs, however, have strict rules and regulations when it comes to pick-up and drop-off, uniforms, registration, and enrollment. More information can be found here.
Captiola runs a similar program to the one above. Little Guards (ages 6-8), Junior Guards (9-15, although separated into 3 age groups), and U19 (16-18) seek to help develop necessary swimming and lifeguarding skills through fun games and activities. This includes mock rescues, paddle boarding and body surfing, and beach games. More information can be found here.
City of Santa Cruz Parks & Recreation also hosts two different camps during the summer: Harvey West Camps and Beach Camp at Main Beach. Kids ages 5-12 take part in a number of fun activities, throughout the months of July and August. Registration (as is typical of many camps in Santa Cruz County) must be completed by phone or in-person. More information can be found here.
Arts & Education Camps
For the creative kids, Santa Cruz County offers a lot of artistic and educational camps. Two museums in Santa Cruz, the Seymour Marine Discovery Center and the Santa Cruz Museum of Natural History, both host programs year-round as well as camps in the summer.
The Ocean Explorers program is a popular one, run by the Seymour Marine Discovery Center. There are different camps based on theme and age: Coastal Ecosystem Explorers (for those ages 7-9), Marine Science for Girls (an overnight camp for girls ages 9-11), and Masterful Marine Mammals (two separate programs, one for ages 9-11 and the other for 12-14). Kids can learn all about the incredible Santa Cruz ecosystem, and activities include forest hikes, kayaking, and beach visits. More information can be found here.
The Santa Cruz Museum of Natural History specializes in very popular nature camps—and spots fill up very quickly! There are several programs for different age ranges (5-7, 8-9, and 10-11) and registration is week-by-week, with themes and activities that change each time. Kids explore the world around them and make scientific discoveries, with an emphasis on art and creativity. More information can be found here.
Dance and performing arts camps are also very popular. West Performing Arts Academy has weekly summer camps where kids will put on a performance and take acting classes/workshops—often with a creative aspect, too. These camps often have a waitlist, however, because of their high demand. More information can be found here.
For the very little ones (ages 4-8), the International Academy of Dance in Santa Cruz has themed weeks, as well. More information can be found here.
Sports Camps
Santa Cruz County kids love to play baseball, soccer, and basketball—and there are a number of sports camps to choose from! Paradigm Sport’s summer baseball camps, hosted at Harvey West Park, are very popular (more information here), and campers can practice hitting, pitching, catching, and more.
Of course, Santa Cruz County is also well-known for its stables and equestrian opportunities, and kids can participate, too! Pleasant Valley Horse Club, located in Aptos, offers daily and weekly camps for kids as young as 5 interested in horseback riding. More information can be found here.
Santa Cruz Gymnastics (in Live Oak) has weekly summer camps for kids ages 5-12. Each week is themed, with full-day and half-day options. More information can be found here.
There’s so much to see and do around Santa Cruz County! If you and your family are thinking of making the move to the area, contact Lauren Spencer today to get started. Your dream home is only a click away.
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