Summer Fun for Everyone!

As the school year comes to a close, many parents find themselves asking each other, “So, what are we going to do this summer?”  Whether you live in LA year round, or summer in California, there are plenty of things to keep your kids stimulated and happy in the coming months.

Want something fun to do with your little ones?  The butterflies are back at the Natural History Museum! For over 12 twelve years The Natural History Museum in L.A. has been hosting its seasonal butterfly pavilion. This year's exhibit is heavy on California natives. Many of the butterflies are contained in the tented pavilion, but a few species are fluttering throughout the museum's new Nature Gardens.  Opening on June 9^th, in the Nature Gardens you will find three-and-a-half acres of green space that wrap around the Museum's north and east sides, allowing you to take relaxing nature walks, bird watching, and even interactive gardening classes.

Need a little bit more adventure?  Pack a lunch, put on some sunscreen, and take a trip to the Los Angeles Zoo to see its newest arrivals!  

Your toddler will love to see the newest edition, Sofie the giraffe calf (born April 22), five baby Peninsular pronghorn fawns, a Sichuan takin kid, lemur, and much more scampering around the grounds.  No matter who you are or where you live, you will love a trip with your children to the L.A. Zoo. Love the idea of camping but can’t stand the outdoors?  Go Glamping!  Located only 20 miles outside of Santa Barbara, El Capitan Canyon offers resort lodging with nature as its backdrop. Their campsites are the ideal camping experience for those who can’t quite handle the ruff edges of raw wildlife. E.C.C. offers a high-end camping trip but with similar accommodations most hotels can provide.

If you have older children and are looking for interesting and unique summer camps, look no further then Kids Camps.  They have organized an extensive list of out-of-the-box and into-the-fun non-traditional camps for you child of all ages to attend this summer.

Pali Adventures in Running Springs, CA has dozens of different summer camps to suite your unique child’s interests.  Have a budding Steven Spielberg on your hands?  Don’t miss out on the Pali Film Camp.  Your camper will write, shoot and produce their very own movie and premiere their movie at the Friday Night Pali Showcase!  Are your children doing cartwheels around you?  Let them get out some energy at Pali's Flying Trapeze Camp, where campers will get instruction from professional and experienced trapeze instructors.  There is also Pali Fashion Camp, Motorsports Camp, and many more!

In this day of rising technology, some children even at a young age have knack for the new.  At Stanford’s iD Programming Academy, your rising star will spend their days
interacting with industry pros, building a portfolio for college, and engaging in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math) education.  Are you more of a Yale person?  For those who love pen and paper, your budding writer can find inspiration at Emerging Writers Institute creative writing camp.  This creative writing summer program encourages students to challenge themselves technically and artistically through guided daily writing workshops, one on one instructor evaluations, group editing sessions, and creative presentations of their work.

Last but certainly not least, if you are looking for a beautiful slice of nature, sign up for Catalina Sea Camp.  Here you will find a pristine desert island sanctuary, hiking, sailing, scuba diving, and sunshine; the complete recipe for a wild camp adventure.

For more information about these specific camps or similar camps in your area see the links above or Kids Camps website.