Fire Up For Camp!

Looking for the perfect camp, but don't know where to start? This handy list of spring & summer camps and programs will help make planning a breeze!

Quick links:  Summer Programs | Day Trips for Camp Programs | Family Camp/Camping

Adventure Ski & Snowboard School
Encinitas - 760-942-2188
www.adventureski.com

All About Mandarin Academy
La Jolla - 858-780-1888
www.AllAboutMandarin.us

Animal Adventure Camp
San Diego - 619-243-3432
www.sdhumane.org

Aqua Pros Swim School
Clairemont or Your Home
619-209-2990
www.aquapros.org

AquaSafe Swimming
Your Pool or Ours!
Point Loma - 619-531-8888
www.AquaSafeSwimming.com

Banyan Tree Learning Center
Mira Mesa - 858-578-6616
Point Loma - 619-226-6171
www.banyantlc.com

Beth Montessori
La Jolla - 858-452-3030
www.bethmontessori.com

Birch Aquarium at Scripps
La Jolla - 858-534-FISH
www.aquarium.ucsd.edu

Boys & Girls Club of Greater San Diego
Countywide - 1-866-SDYOUTH
www.sdyouth.org

Bubbles Swim School
Spring Valley - 619-660-0128
www.bubblesswimschool.com

California Ballet School
Kearny Mesa - 858-560-5676
La Mesa - 619-667-1300
Pacific Beach - 858-483-8554
www.californiaballet.org

California Music Studios
Countywide - 800-227-6222
www.californiamusicstudios.com

Camp Jaycee
La Jolla - 858-362-1132
www.lfjcc.org

Camp Fire USA - Camp Cahito
Balboa Park - 619-291-8985
www.campfiresdi.org

Canyon Rim Children’s Center
Allied Gardens - 619-287-6767
www.CanyonRimCC.com

Carmel Mountain Preschool
Rancho Peñasquitos - 858-484-4877
www.carmelmountainpreschool.com

CeramiCafe Art Lounge
Del Mar - 858-259-9958
Grossmont Center - 619-466-4800

www.ceramicafe.com
Chess/Video Game Creation/3D Animation Camp
La Jolla - 1-888-65-CHESS
www.chesscamp.com

Children’s Creative & Performing Arts Academy
El Cajon - 619-440-1704
North Park - 619-584-2454
www.ccpaasd.com

The Children’s School
La Jolla - 858-454-0184
www.tcslj.org

Circle T Ranch Horse Camp
Lakeside - 619-312-0544
www.thecircleTranch.com

City Ballet School Dance Camp
Pacific Beach - 858-274-6058
www.cityballet.org

City Tree Christian School
Downtown - 619-232-3794
www.citytree.org

Crazzy’s Wasewagan Camp & Retreat
Angelus Oaks (near Big Bear)
909-794-2910
Wasewagan.com

CYT Summer Theater Camp
Countywide - 800-696-1929
CYT.org

Day Jams Rock Music Camp
La Jolla - 800-295-5956
www.dayjams.com

Edge
La Jolla - 619-405-7085
bluesparkassoc.com

Emerald City Academy of Rhythmic Gymnastics
Scripps Ranch - 619-437-4161
www.EmeraldCityRhythmics.com

Encinitas Country Day School
Encinitas - 760-942-1111
www.countrydayschools.org

Encinitas Learning Center
Encinitas - 760-634-6886
www.encinitaslearningcenter.com

Floaties Swim School
Poway - 877-277-7946
www.floatiesswimschool.com

Future Champions Golf Camp
Mission Valley - 619-339-2377
www.futurechampionsgolf.com

The Gifted Preschool     
Encinitas - 760-436-9666
www.giftedpreschool.com

Helen Woodward Animal Center Critter Camp
Rancho Santa Fe
858-756-4117 x318
animalcenter.org

Honey Bear Preschool & Childcare
Point Loma - 619-224-4733
www.HoneyBearChildcareCenter.com

Horizon Prep
Rancho Santa Fe - 858-756-5599
www.horizonprep.org

iD Tech Camps
UC San Diego - 888-709-8324
www.iDTechCamps.com

Integral Elementary School
La Jolla - 858-450-4321
www.IntegralElementary.com

Intellichildren
San Marcos - 760-471-0221
www.intellichildren.com

Kid’s Depot of Otay Ranch
Chula Vista - 619-656-0506
www.kids-depot.com

Kidz-N-Fun
North County - 760-917-4800
www.kidz-n-fun.com

KinderCare Summer Camp
Countywide - 1-888-9FUN-CAMP
www.KinderCare.com/SummerCamp

Kitchen Art Studio
Mira Mesa - 858-657-9001
www.kitchenartstudio.net

La Costa Valley Preschool
Carlsbad - 760-436-2797
www.lacostavalleypreschool.com

La Jolla Playhouse
La Jolla - 858-550-1070 x103
lajollaplayhouse.org

Lifetime Montessori School
North County - 858-759-0631
www.LifetimeMontessoriSchool.com

Lingua Natal Language Center
Solana Beach - 858-792-0750
www.LinguaNatal.com

Little Artists
Clairemont - 858-268-2255
Poway - 858-486-1555
San Carlos - 619-462-1955
www.mylittleartists.com

Little Rascalz Soccer School
Countywide - 619-309-9626
www.littlerascalzsoccer.com

Mad Science Summer Camps
Countywide - 858-505-4880
www.madscience.org/SanDiego

Martial Arts Professional Schools
Countywide - 619-224-9600
www.martialartsprofessionalschools.com

Mega Arte Riding Academy
Carlsbad/San Elijo - 760-822-4778
www.ridingacademy.biz

Menehune Surf Camp
La Jolla, Del Mar, Encinitas &
Mission Beach - 858-663-7299
www.menehunesurf.com

Merry Go Round Preschool
Ocean Beach - 619-225-0344
www.MGRpreschool.com

Metro Dance
San Diego - 619-299-6387
www.MetroDanceSD.com

Mission Bay Montessori Academy
University City - 858-457-5895
www.mbmacademy.com

Mission Bay Sportcenter
Mission Beach - 858-488-1004
www.missionbaysportcenter.com

Mission Valley & Toby Wells YMCAs
Mission Valley & Clairemont 619-298-3576
www.missionvalley.ymca.org

Montessori Child
Development Center
Poway - 858-748-1727
www.mcdcpoway.com

Mt. Helix Academy Summer Program
La Mesa - 619-243-1400
MtHelixAcademy.org

Murray Callan Swim Schools
Pacific Beach - 858-273-7946
San Marcos - 760-744-7946
www.murraycallanswimschools.com

My Kids Clubhouse
Bonita - 619-434-8676
Poway - 858-668-2838
www.mykidsclubhouse.com

National Youth Sports
Countywide - 619-542-7884
www.nysonline.org

The New Childrens Museum
Downtown - 619-233-8792 x121
thinkplaycreate.org

Noonan Family Swim School
Del Mar, Linda Vista, Temecula 858-847-0794
www.noonanfamilyswimschool.com

North County Gymnastics & The Gyminny Kids
Rancho Bernardo - 858-451-0204
www.GyminnyKids.com

Oceanside Parks & Recreation
Oceanside - 760-435-5041
www.ci.oceanside.ca.us

Pacific Athletic Club
Carmel Valley - 858-509-9933
waccamps.com

Pacific Beach Surf Camp
Pacific Beach - 858-373-1138
www.pacificbeachsurfschool.com

Piano Warehouse
San Marcos - 760-744-9320
www.pianowhse.com

Pilgrim Lutheran Sonshine Day Camp
Chula Vista - 619-420-6233
www.PilgrimCV.org

Poway Gymnastics
Poway - 858-748-1716
www.powaygymnastics.com

Pump it Up
Chula Vista - 619-216-9812
Poway - 858-748-4600
San Marcos - 760-510-8000
Sorrento Valley - 858-658-9968
www.pumpitupparty.com

Rainbow Kids Integral Preschool
Mira Mesa - 858-271-6985
RainbowKidsSchool.com

Rancho Encinitas Academy
Encinitas - 760-942-2011
www.ranchoencinitasacademy.com

Rawhide Ranch
North County - 760-758-0083
www.rawhideranch.com

Reuben H. Fleet Science Center
Balboa Park - 619-238-1233
www.rhfleet.org

The Salvation Army Kroc Center
College Area - 619-269-1460
www.kroccenter.org

San Diego Air & Space Museum Balboa Park
www.sandiegoairandspace.org

San Diego Children's Choir
Multiple Locations - 858-587-1087
www.sdcchoir.org

San Diego Civic Youth Ballet
Balboa Park - 619-233-3060
www.sdcyb.org

San Diego French-American School
La Jolla - 858-456-2807
www.sdfrenchschool.org

San Diego Ice Arena
Mira Mesa - 858-530-1825
www.sdice.com

San Diego Junior Theatre
Balboa Park, La Jolla 619-239-1311
JuniorTheatre.com

San Diego Natural History Museum
Balboa Park - 619-232-3821
www.sdnhm.org

San Diego Surf
Pacific Beach - 858-205-7683
www.sandiegosurfingschool.com

San Diego Zoo & Wild Animal Park
San Diego - 619-557-3962
Escondido - 760-738-5057
www.sandiegozoo.org

School of Rock Music
Downtown - 619-696-9343
www.SchoolofRock.com

Scripps Performing Arts Academy
Scripps Ranch - 858-586-7834
Carmel Valley - 858-509-2624
www.SuperKidsLive.com

SeaWorld Adventure Camps
San Diego - 800-25-SHAMU x4
SWBG-AdventureCamps.com

Surf & Turf Summer Camps
Solana Beach/Del Mar 858-259-1148
www.concordequestriancenter.com

Sweetwater Horses
Bonita - 619-475-3134
www.sweetwaterhorses.com

Team Touché Fencing Center
Sorrento Valley - 619-278-8114
www.TeamTouche.com

Time 2 Shine
4S Ranch - 858-675-0772
www.wertime2shine.com

Total Education Solutions
San Diego - 619-275-4525
www.tesidea.com

Victory Gymnastics Academy
San Diego - 858-650-3547
VictoryGymnasticsAcademy.com

Warren-Walker School
Point Loma, Mission Valley, La Mesa 619-223-3663
www.warren-walker.com

Wee Care Preschool
Chula Vista - 619-425-9933
Clairemont - 858-560-0985
www.weecarepreschools.com

Wonders-Children Learning Language
Encinitas - 760-632-5264
www.wonderslanguage.com

YakAcademy
Poway - 858-679-7760
www.YakAcademy.com

YMCA of San Diego County
San Diego - 858-292-9622
www.ymca.org

ZLAC Rowing Club for Girls
Pacific Beach - 858-274-7826
www.zlac.org/juniors/news.htm

SUMMER PROGRAMS
Montessori Teacher Training
San Diego - 858-270-9350
www.montessoriteacherscollege.org

San Diego Learning Center
Chula Vista, Eastlake, Viejas
619-426-2474
www.sandiegolearningcenter.com

DAY TRIPS for CAMP PROGRAMS
Color Me Mine
Santee - 619-258-8525
www.santee.colormemine.com

Elite Gymnastics Academy
El Cajon - 619-441-5900
www.EliteGymnastics.com

GameTruck
We’ll come to you!
888-602-4263
www.GameTruckParty.com

Playtown
El Cajon - 619-447-7529
www.goplaytown.com

Viejas Outlet Center
Alpine - 619-659-2070
ViejasOutletCenter.com

FAMILY CAMP/CAMPING
Jewish Single Parents Family Camp
San Diego - 858-637-3080
www.jfssd.org

Mission Trails Regional Park
San Carlos/Santee - 619-668-2748
www.mtrp.org
 

The Woes and "Woo-Hoos!" of Tent Camping

We recently went camping with three families that “camp” in their RVs about a dozen times a year. Even though we hadn’t camped for four years and we don’t own an RV, we were not intimidated. We agreed to go the “old-fashioned way”… in a tent. We had a few challenges, but had a grand time and can’t wait to go again!

We had the privilege of two completely different camping locations each weekend: Hurkey Creek Park, which is in the beautiful mountains near Idyllwild and South Carlsbad State Beach. Both provided stunning backdrops and a serene environment.

Even before our first departure, we discovered that our perception of camping varied greatly from that of our friends. The shower, big-screen TV and stacked washer & dryer in Kevin and Margo’s RV prompted my husband and I to say, “This isn’t camping!” I finally understood why they go so often.

Our buddies had the conveniences of home at their fingertips: air conditioning (or heat), the ability to wash dishes in a sink, sleep in a bug-free environment and most importantly, a three–step walk from the bed to the toilet.

We had a couple luxuries of our own, such as the mesmerizing, comforting sound of crashing waves to lull us to sleep at Carlsbad beach. My husband and I also enjoyed midnight strolls to the bathroom, which included stargazing and a wonderful ocean breeze. Our RVing comrades could not make this same claim.

You can’t go camping without roasting marshmallows over a campfire. Remember to bring graham crackers and Hershey bars so you can make s’mores. We were introduced to a new indulgence: s’mores made with peanut butter cups instead of chocolate bars—wow! These are delicious, but very sweet, so be sure to pace yourself (really, just one is plenty). To prevent middle-of-the-night sick tummies (especially if you have kids under 10) consider imposing a two s’mores maximum—one with chocolate, one without.

Since our family hadn’t been camping in a while, we were a little rusty. Here are a few tips inspired by lessons we re-learned (the hard way):
 
Test your equipment before you go, particularly your light and cooking sources. When we arrived at our campground, we discovered our matches wouldn’t strike and one of our lanterns didn’t work. Take extra matches in case some get wet. Better yet, take a lighter.
If you wear earplugs (because someone in your tent snores), make sure you only use one. This way, you have one ear free to hear the child that throws up in the middle of the night from eating too many s’mores.
Remove everything from the pockets inside your tent before you break it down and pack it up. After ours was put away, we realized our car keys were still in there!
 
Camping has changed a lot since our last adventure. Words I never expected to hear while enjoying the great outdoors:
 
“I’m going to cruise around the campground on my Segway.”
“Check out star maps on my iPhone!”
“Let’s watch the Lakers game!”
“Honey, can you get my jacket out of the closet?”
 
The one phrase that trumped them all came from my 7-year old daughter, Naomi, “I wish we lived here because we get to eat all our meals outside and I can go to the beach everyday.”

That was all I needed to hear. “Roughing it” in our tent was worth every effort!
 
Tidbits of Camping Wisdom
1. We learned a simple (but brilliant) tip from our friends Thad and Jennifer: if you want people to join your campfire, pack extra chairs! Our family of four had three chairs. Their family of four had 10. Guess whose campsite had visitors all the time?

2. An air mattress makes all the difference in the world. Either buy one or borrow one from a friend. Don’t forget the pump and batteries!

3. Citronella candles on your table will help keep the bugs away.

4. If your campsite doesn’t have a water faucet (many don’t), you may want to bring a collapsible water jug. You can fill it and reduce the number of trips to the faucet when it comes time to wash dishes.

5. To prevent animals from making a mess of your campsite, put all food away at night and when you’re away from your site. As long as you’re not in bear country, the food should be fine in your car.

6. If you’ve never camped before, consider pitching a tent in your backyard and sleeping there first. This is particularly advisable if you have small children.

For a comprehensive camping checklist, visit: www.lovetheoutdoors.com/camping/Checklists.htm. It may not be necessary to pack everything on the list, but it will help you figure out exactly what you do need.

Hurkey Creek Park
This beautiful campground boasts tall pines and a huge grass field. There are some all-grass campsites available. Reservations: 800-234-7275 or www.riversidecountyparks.org. To contact the campground directly, call 951-659-2050.

South Carlsbad State Beach Campground
Reservations at South Carlsbad State Beach can be made up to seven months in advance. Planning ahead certainly pays off – it’s a fabulous campground! If you’re not able to plan that far in advance, there are three options:
Call Reserve America and ask if there are cancellations.
Drive to the campground and wait at the front gate to see if someone cancels that day. The kiosk at the gate opens at 9:00 am, but people have been known to get in line at 7:00 am. There is risk involved here, of course, because you have to arrive with your gear, but you may not get in.
If you’re lucky enough to know someone with a reservation who can’t go at the last minute, take her spot.
 
To make reservations, call Reserve America at 800-444-7275 or visit www.parks.ca.gov. For other questions, call the campground directly at 760-483-3143.
 
Peak Season: March 1-November 30
$25/night (inland site); $35/night (ocean-view site)
7-night maximum
 
Non-Peak Season: December 1-February 29
$20/night (inland site); $30/night (ocean-view site)
14-night maximum
 
Lisa Gipson, who usually prefers the Hilton, looks forward to practicing new tenting skills with her two Girl Scout troops. Until then, you’ll find her working at San Diego Family Magazine.