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Popular Preschool Summer Camps in LA for Your First Time Camper

Kids play and learn together all summer. Photo courtesy of Ecole Claire Fontaine
Kids play and learn together all summer. Photo courtesy of Ecole Claire Fontaine
3/30/21 - By Meghan Rose

Finding an engaging and enriching summer camp that's right for your kid always takes a bit of work. Finding one that's a good fit for your first-time, preschool-age camper can be downright nerve-racking. You want their initial camp experience to be fun, safe, and memorable, but not over-stimulating or overwhelming.

So we searched the city for kid-tested, parent-approved picks for your LA preschooler—ones that will make them eager for camp time to arrive each year. Because the awesome thing is, most of these preschool summer camps grow with your child, accepting kids in elementary school and beyond (which also means your older campers can go to the same camp). For your older campers, check out our Summer Camp Guide, or these free and affordable summer camps and activities for kids of all ages.

 

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Let's put on a show! Photo courtesy of Kids on Stage
Let's put on a show! Photo courtesy of Kids on Stage

Preschool-Friendly Camps in Los Angeles

Tumbleweed Day Camp

Brentwood
Tumbleweed South is for kids entering PK-2nd grade
Tumbleweed has been providing children with a place to unplug, explore, and play for over 60 years. The day camp offers over 100 activities including archery, swimming, arts & crafts, nature exploration, farm animal centers, and ropes courses on 100 acres of beautiful, unspoiled nature in the Santa Monica Mountains.  READ MORE

Tom Sawyer Camps

Altadena
Pre-Camp is for kids 3-6
Tom Sawyer Camp strives to live up to the legacy of its namesake, offering classic outdoor adventures for kids young and older. Activities include such old-fashioned kid fun as fort building, hiking, making dams, frog catching, horseback riding, archery, obstacle courses, and swimming.  Camps can be reserved with 1 and 2-week sessions, five days a week and transportation is included in the fee. Pre Camp for the littlest campers is offered, and Tom Sawyer Camp is a great first summer camp experience for kids. Pre Campers must be potty trained and 3 years old. READ MORE

Camp Keystone

Agoura Hills
Junior Camp is for kids 3-5
Set on 30 acres of park-like land in the Santa Monica Mountains, Camp Keystone is non-stop fun that includes a giant waterslide, horseback riding, go-karts, boating, swimming lessons, rock climbing, classic arts & crafts, and every sport a kid could want to play. This place does camp the old-fashioned way. There are 3 camps specially designed according to age. Transportation is available from many locations around the Valley and the Westside for an additional fee. READ MORE

Ecole Claire Fontaine

Venice
Ages 2-7
Summer School at Ecole Claire Fontaine focuses on outdoor exploration, art, botany, gardening, music, science, soccer, water games, and much more in a multilingual environment (French, English, and Spanish). Kids are grouped in ages 2-3 and 4-7. READ MORE

Perfect Day Surf Camp

Santa Monica
Beach Camp is for kids 4-8
You're never too old or too young to learn to surf at surf camp. In addition to hosting a fantastic camp, Perfect Day Surf Camp offers private surf and SUP lessons for kids as young as 4 years old. Why not learn LA's signature skill during school break?  READ MORE

YADA - Youth Academy of Dramatic Arts

Mid-City and Studio City
Ages 3 and up
YADA offers camps and classes for kids of all ages from tots to teens. Summer camps take place in one or two-week sessions (some are half-day and some are full) at both locations and culminate in an amazing show. READ MORE

Got Game Camp

West LA, Beverly Hills, Mid-City, Tarzana, and Sherman Oaks
Ages 4 and up
At Got Game Camp, campers ages 4-13 experience live, interactive, and personalized camps complete with sports, arts, games, theater, science, cooking, robotics, and more. The program runs Monday thru Friday, 9am-3:30pm, and parents can sign up by the week. READ MORE

Camp Adventurewood

South Pasadena
Ages 4 and up
Camp Adventurewood is for kids 4-13, and the camp session is 6 full weeks, so campers really become family. Parents can choose from 2, 3, or 5 days a week. Kids are placed in small groups by age, and the camper to counselor ratio is amazing. Generations of parents adore this camp. READ MORE

Camp Awesome

Playa del Rey and Redondo Beach
Ages 4 and up
Camp Awesome is a drop-off only beach summer program that consists of play, leisure, sports, arts and crafts, water activities, exercise, and positive reinforcement. Parents can follow their children at any time online through social media. READ MORE

Kids on Stage - Camps

Santa Monica
Creative Dramatics Camp is for kids 3 1/2 -7
Kids on Stage is an award-winning theater arts company providing summer programs for children ages 4 to 15. Campers act, sing, dance, create art, and play theater games while learning to collaborate and express themselves in a non-competitive, engaging environment. READ MORE

Summer@Stratford

Altadena, West LA, and Mid-City
For preschool and pre-K kids
Summer@Stratford gives kids a chance to learn, explore, and engage in imaginative camp-style activities that promote STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Math) learning. A wide variety of camp sessions are designed for children entering preschool through 8th grade. READ MORE

Aloha Beach Camp

Malibu
Keiki Camp is for kids 4-7
Aloha Beach Camp offers kids a chance to surf, boogie board, and swim in the ocean, along with some tubing, jet skiing, wakeboarding, beach ecology, and other seaside activities. Kids are grouped in one of three age-appropriate aquatic programs and then can choose from over 200 beach and ocean activities. Free transportation is available from just about any neighborhood in the LA area, so you don't need to worry about how they'll get there. And if you're very busy and don't want to commit to a fixed schedule, there's an option where you can send your kids on a day-by-day basis. READ MORE

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About the Author

Meghan Rose
A mom of twins, Meghan and her family live in Los Angeles and love to explore the city, as well as the world at large together. As national editor, please send her ALL your correction requests and pitches on national parenting subjects and travel at meghan@mommypoppins.com.
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