The fantastic warm weather in California makes it the perfect place for outdoor activities like overnight camping, swimming, kayaking, ziplining, and other fun activities that kids enjoy at traditional camps.
Choosing between summer camps in California for kids can be challenging if you don’t know what the top ones are. California has many different options for kids, ranging from educational day camps to adventure overnight camps.
In this article, we cover some of the best summer camps in California that offer exciting activities for kids. Children can participate in fun outdoor activities like kayaking, sailing, and archery to receiving educational opportunities like learning how to code and build robots.
Best California Summer Camps
1. Pali Adventures
Pali Adventures is a great place to start if you’re looking for an overnight summer camp. It’s situated in Southern California near Los Angeles, and it’s perfect for kids ages 8 through 16.
With a majority of summer camps, you’ll notice that they have fixed programs tailored for your child’s age. At times, this leaves little room for a child to explore what they want. Thankfully, Pali Adventures takes your child’s interests into consideration, which is why they have a one of the top programs in the state.
Your child has the freedom to pick from 28 different specialties that they focus on, for each week of camp. Their activities include thrilling things like sailing, archery, dance, fine arts, go-karting, and much more. Kids participate in their chosen specialty in the morning hours and can then customize their week by choosing from over 70 different afternoon activities.
2. URJ Camp Newman
With its overnight camp and year-round programs, URJ Camp Newman is the perfect place for children to get a fantastic Jewish experience. They have strived to build a loving community where every camper matters.
You’ll find all kinds of camp activities, from a ropes course to soccer, Israeli dancing, photography, swimming, and most sports you can think of. Sign students up for a 2- or 3-week, or up to 8-week session based on their grade. Older teens can attend the longest session of 8 weeks, while younger campers starting from 3rd grade can attend 2 to 4 weeks.
URJ Camp Newman offers open houses where parents and kids can try some of their fun activities, tour all the facilities, and meet the camp staff. Recognizing that summer camp is a transformative experience, they work hard toward helping the campers connect to their Jewish heritage and legacy.
3. Summer Discovery at UCLA
Summer Discovery’s pre-college summer program at UCLA is an immersive adventure in the entertainment capital of the world. High school students looking for self-growth will love living and learning at America’s #1 public university alongside peers from across the globe. Plus, they’ll have the freedom to explore L.A.’s hot spots in their free time, from Manhattan Beach to Rodeo Drive.
Browse cutting-edge courses and academies, including Innovation in the Music Business, Leadership & Entrepreneurship, Screenwriting for Film & TV, Criminal Psychology and so much more. Get real-world experience and expert instruction from industry leaders. Take the Screenwriting Academy, for example – you’ll take field trips to film and television studios and even get your screenplays critiqued by a major Hollywood writer!
With sessions starting in June and July ranging from 2 to 3 weeks, get ready to set out on a transformational summer of self-discovery and fun! You can stroll down Santa Monica Pier, tour the Hollywood Walk of Fame, or have a blast at Disneyland. At Summer Discovery, you’ll grow into the best version of yourself – confident and ready to take on college!
4. Amplify Sleepaway Camp For Girls
As an award-winning arts summer camp accredited by the American Camp Association, Amplify Sleepaway Camp is a safe place for girls to grow and prosper.
Its lovely campus is nestled right in the Topa Topa Mountains of Ojai. Their extensive facilities and an extensive support staff of talented instructors allow campers to grow their passion for photography, dance, theater, film, skateboarding, and music.
Kids can craft their own schedules to add additional activities like surfing, swimming, and screen printing. The all-girls summer camp challenges gender stereotypes and provides a safe space for girls to grow their confidence and skills. Girls can stay at the sleepaway camp each night or go home each day in the 2—to 8-week sessions.
The camp ends with a final showcase, where the talented campers can display their skills in everything from guitar to drums, filmmaking, hip-hop dance, skateboarding, and much more. Older teens 16 to 17 should also look into Amplify’s Leader-in-Training (LIT) program.
There are discounts for returning families and siblings, and you can also take an extra $100 off with code hub24.
5. Camp Tawonga
Welcome to Camp Tawonga, where Jewish traditions meet unforgettable outdoor adventures! Nestled in the breathtaking Sierra Nevada Mountains, at the doorstep of Yosemite National Park, this camp offers a transformative summer experience for rising 2nd to rising 12th graders. Camp Tawonga believes in fostering a vibrant, inclusive community where campers can explore their Jewish identity, build lifelong friendships, and connect with nature.
With over 100 years of experience leading the field of Jewish camping, Tawonga prides themselves on a rich history and commitment to excellence. Their loving and dedicated staff are passionate about creating a nurturing environment where every camper feels valued and supported.
Tawonga understands that financial considerations shouldn’t hinder a child’s opportunity to experience the magic of camp. That’s why they offer generous financial assistance to ensure that all families can participate in their programs. Choose from 1, 2 and 3-week summer sessions and adventure quests.
Join Camp Tawonga and discover the magical blend of tradition, adventure, and community. Enroll your child today and watch them thrive in an environment where they can truly be themselves.
6. Shaffer’s High Sierra Camp
Established back in 2000, Shaffer’s High Sierra Camp is one of our favorites. It’s situated in Tahoe National Forest, giving campers the perfect opportunity to interact with Mother Nature. Speaking of which, the camp accommodates both boys and girls between 8 and 17 years old.
If you’re keen about choosing a well-established summer camp for your kid, this is the best place you can take them. Shaffer’s High Sierra Camp has done so well over the years that it’s even been recommended by Outside Magazine and the LA Times.
It has a zero Wi-Fi connectivity policy, which makes it easier to train kids to unplug from technology and instead focus on building relationships with people and connecting with nature. There are dozens of activities that your child can take part in. These include archery, swimming, performing arts, arts and crafts like acrylic painting, volleyball and more. The owners also plan backpacking and hiking expeditions.
Camp guides for neighboring states: Oregon & Arizona
7. Camp Woodcraft
Camp Woodcraft is a diverse and affordable summer camp that takes place in in Mountain Center, near Idyllwild, California, only two hours from San Diego. At Camp Woodcraft, kids are separated into groups divided by age with the aim to build friendship and earn how to work together as a group.
Campers from any ethnicity, religion, and economic background are welcome to attend the camp where they will meet a diverse group of youth. The camp has been in existence for 99 years and has provided an amazing summer experience for campers since then.
Currently, they have four sessions where students get to enjoy the typical summer camp experience. Fun activities include things like archery, swimming, STEM-based projects, ropes courses, and much more. At Camp Woodcraft, children improve themselves physically, spiritually, and emotionally through teamwork, self-reflection, and exposure to the world that is hard to get anywhere else.
You can also find other summer camps near San Diego with our guide.
8. Catalina Sea Camp
Catalina Sea Camp is an adventure summer camp located in Avalon, California. At camp, kids will have the chance to participate in exciting activities while also learning about marine biology.
Boys and girls from ages 8-17 will have the time of their lives at camp by participating in diving, sailing, kayaking, and other water activities. Since it’s a combination of sea and land, children can also participate in land activities like photography, painting, jewelry design, and sketching.
Catalina Sea Camp hosts plenty of fun events for the campers like a beach party, campfire, carnival, and water slide, during their one or three week stays at the private beach camp. The camp is a combination of thrilling adventures and a high-quality educational experience for kids.
Since it started all the way back in 1929, originally as a private boarding school, Catalina Sea Camp has been creating educational and fun lifelong memories for the campers.
9. Camp Augusta
Camp Augusta, located in Nevada County, is Northern California’s premier overnight camp. They have a high number of activities so that all kids can find something they want to do. Some of the exciting activities include archery, ziplining, kayaking, wall and tree climbing, equestrian, plus a whole lot of other water and land-based activities.
Camp Augusta is all about providing fun experiences for kids while at the same time helping them become a better version of themselves. They continuously seek to improve the camp by taking feedback seriously, all in the name of providing the best summer experience for campers.
They also take professionalism to another level, with their staff training taking up to 3 weeks, making it one of their top priorities. Campers receive top notch care and individual development thanks to these experts. We think it’s one of the best California summer camps with the priority they put on making sure the campers are having fun.
10. Fly Your Kite Camp
Fly Your Kite Camp offers overnight summer camps in Nevada City, California. They offer thrilling activities that campers can participate in, like ziplining, archery, kayaking, swimming, among other sports. Kids can also learn new things like cooking, performing arts, exploring nature, and much more.
Kids receive a quality outdoor education while having fun and practicing essentials skills like leadership, public speaking, creativity, and adaptability. It offers a peaceful atmosphere where campers can envelop themselves in nature and receive motivation from the passionate staff that work there.
At their sleepaway camps, children are encouraged to challenge themselves in oder to grow as a person and make the best use of this amazing summer experience.
11. AstroCamp
AstroCamp offers exciting overnight camps that combine adventure and science for kids ages 8-17. Situated in the San Jacinto Mountains, the campus is surrounded by amazing landscapes for kids to explore the natural world. You can enroll children in one-week or two-week sessions, depending on their age.
Through their science labs and outdoor adventures, kids will make new friends and improve their social skills, self-confidence, and resilience. They learn through hands-on activities in all things STEM and receive learning on astronomy.
They can partake in fun astronomy-related activities like analyzing micrometeorites, observing the night sky with telescopes, performing labs on electricity, atmosphere, and gases, and much more. They can also enjoy traditional summer camp activities like mountain biking, rock climbing, archery, hiking, ziplining, and more. They also offer a specialty geek session that combines some of the most popular STEM activities with creative arts like 3d printing, animation, and more.
12. PlanetBravo
PlanetBravo offers educational and entertaining summer camps all around the Los Angeles area. Through their numerous camps, kids in grades 2nd to 9th can learn things like video game design, robotics, music creation, making movies, and much more!
They’re taught by knowledgeable instructors, and the programs offer an 8:1 teacher-student ratio so that each child gets the right amount of appreciation. It’s not all about academics either, as kids can enjoy spending time playing outdoors to create a good balance between learning and having fun.
Through hands-on project-based learning and interactive games, campers leave camp with new skills and memorable experiences. Students can choose from a number of different classes like Roblox Game Design, RC Car Building, Youtuber Essentials, 3D Animation, and much more!
13. Deer Crossing Camp
If you live in Northern California, Deer Crossing Camp is an excellent opportunity for children ages 8-17. It’s strategically situated on the shore of Loon Lake so its surrounded by some of the most magnificent sceneries.
They divide their traditional summer camp activities into those that can be performed on land and in the water. This makes it easier for your child to choose the sport they want to explore. Camp waterfront activities include sailing, swimming, stand-up paddling, and canoeing. Land activities include archery, rock climbing, bouldering and orienteering. Don’t forget to buy a camp trunk so they can pack all they need in it.
Deer Crossing Camp offers a welcoming and supportive environment where young people can make lifelong friends.
14. Catalina Island Camps
Situated at Howlands Landing, the Catalina Island Camps is another high-quality option in Southern California. It’s approximately 22 miles off the coast, which means your child will enjoy some really scenic views all summer long.
But even more importantly, they’ll have a ton of activities to participate in. Some of these are kayaking, stand up paddling, sailing among other power boat activities. One event that really sets this summer camp apart is the provision of snorkeling lessons. Your child can have an amazing experience learning how to snorkel in the cove.
They also offer plenty of land based activities including hiking, climbing, archery, riflery, gardening & composting, and high ropes course. This California summer camp is open to students in 1st to 10th grade and is around a 3 hour trip if your family live in Los Angeles.
This is just one of the many amazing summer camps in Catalina Island.
15. Kennolyn Camp
Kennolyn Camps offer quite a few camp options around California. One is set on 440 acres of land, made up of private Redwood Forest. The camp’s location is actually very strategic as it’s easy to access both from the Bay Area and Southern California.
Kennolyn Camps is designed to accommodate kids across all age groups. More specifically, it welcomes any child who is in grade 1 through 12. One aspect that makes this summer camp exceptional is that they have an array of programs in Orange County suited for different age groups.
So whether your kid is in elementary or just starting high school, they can participate in activities customized for their age. They recently added an overnight program at Huntington Lake so be sure to check out that option when you visit their website.
16. Coppercreek Camp
Nestled in the small town of Greenville, California, Coppercreek is an excellent summer camp for kids. Since its establishment in 1965, it has been a safe haven for dozens of campers and their families.
This camp organizes its activities around four concepts: play, community, laughter and nature. Some of the activities you’ll find at Coppercreek camp include high ropes course, skateboarding, archery, climbing, drama, arts and crafts and horseback riding.
Other than the activities, another feature they stand out in is their transparency and affordability when it comes to pricing. They have different packages depending on the length of time you want to enroll your child for.
If you enroll early, you can even get a discount. Coppercreek accepts students from 1st grade all the way to 12th grade.
17. Young Actor’s Theatre Camp
Young Actors Theatre Camp receives creative campers ages 8-18 from all over California and the country each summer. They have programs in the Santa Cruz Mountains with a focus on filming and musical theatre, so youth can choose the one they’re interested in the most.
They accept campers from all skill levels, so complete beginners are welcome to attend the overnight camps. Students are taught by highly qualified instructors with industry experience, so they’re learning from some of the most talented teachers, including some with Broadway experience.
Students can attend any of their sessions running from July to August. Camp attendees stay in cabins separated by age groups and each supervised by a camp counselor. Its a great place for boys and girls to make new friends with peers that have similar interests.
If the camp doesn’t use camp trunks, don’t forget to buy a duffel bag to easily organize your child’s supplies.