alternatives to summer camps

[brgnmom]

I'm wondering if any other parents here are considering alternatives to summer camps for their child(ren). I spoke with my son's preschool teacher, and she advised against sending my son to a summer camp this year b/c he'll be facing a lot of changes in a short amount of time: moving from Boston to Los Angeles next month, getting ready for a baby sibling in the fall, new preschool to adjust to, etc...

So I'm curious what other types of options there are during the summer? I'm planning on taking my son to the local parks and beaches, and hoping to meet other moms in LA. I have a few relatives there that we're planning on spending time with, but other than that, I'm out of ideas for structured activities for my DS outside of our new home this summer. He has already taken several classes through the Y -- that is always a possibility again.

I'm interested in learning whether you are leaning towards alternatives to summer camps and what you are considering. Thank you in advance.

[vonfirmath]

Growing up, we were always in swim team every year. So we had 1 week of summer camp (through church, once we got to middle school) and every day swim team practice. And swim meets many Saturdayas

[hillview]

We joined a club (gym club not fancy one) with outdoor pools so the kids can swim every day or so and play in an a/c basketball court area. I think it will be great.
/hillary

[Tondi G]

We live in Los Angeles and there are tons of things to do with your child if you don't want to do summer camp.

Beach ... we like Paradise Cove in Malibu or the Santa Monica Pier (rides/games etc in addition to some sand/surf time. There is also a free public beach club/house that you can visit called the Annenberg Community Beach House http://beachhouse.smgov.net/

Museums
CA Science Center
Natural History Museum
Kidspace Museum
La Brea Tar Pits/Page Museum
The Getty
Skirball had a neat Noah's Ark exhibit

Aquarium of the Pacific in Long Beach

In Griffith Park
the LA Zoo
Travel Town (trains... free)
Ponyrides / train ride on the west side of Griffith Park
The Carousel and Shane's Inspiration playground
Western Heritage Museum

If you want a nice nature walk head up to Franklin Canyon ... walk around the lake, see the ducks (see turtles if you are lucky). My boys love this! http://www.lamountains.com/parks.asp?parkid=14
we want to see about visiting the Tree People this summer maybe too.

Check your local library for story time. Ours has an art class run by LACMA during the week and the boys enjoy it.

Amusement parks
Disneyland
Knott's Berry Farm
Six Flags Magic Mountain

Water Parks
Raging Waters
Six Flags Hurricane Harbor
Knott's Soak City


I like this site a lot ... has a ton of leads on things to do in and around LA!

http://gocitykids.parentsconnect.com...angeles-ca-usa

I try to plan to do one bigger all day outing per week.. sometimes we do more... sometimes we have a mellow lazy week. We go to a local farmers market on Monday mornings... the kids like sampling the fruit and we buy our fruits and vegis for the week. There are many farmers markets on the weekends and various on the weekdays too. Ours is at a park so we often hit the playground for a bit after doing our shopping.

we do art/crafts some days, we play outside with sidewalk chalk, sprinkler, slip n slide, throw around a football or baseball kick a soccer ball around a field at the park, fly kites at the beach or the park. Sometimes we will go to a friends pool to swim or go to a public pool with neighbors kids.My boys love going to the movies and on hot days it is a wonderful thing! We take a trip down to San Diego once every summer, there is a ton to do down there with Sea World, Legoland, SD Zoo, Wild Animal Park etc. With a 10 week summer vacation we find ways to fill our time/days. Sometimes we don't get to do everything we had planned to!

[KrisM]

Originally Posted by Tondi G

I like this site a lot ... has a ton of leads on things to do in and around LA!

http://gocitykids.parentsconnect.com...angeles-ca-usa

Thank you for this site! I'm not in LA, but looked up my local site and found a place with great camps for summer. I only want 1 or 2 weeks and was having a tough time coming up with something that is close enough for me to want to drive there . I'm really excited. I think DS will go to Lego camp and DD will go to Princess camp!

ETA: I really am so excited! The place has 84 different camps! 84!!

[brgnmom]

Originally Posted by KrisM

Thank you for this site! I'm not in LA, but looked up my local site and found a place with great camps for summer. I only want 1 or 2 weeks and was having a tough time coming up with something that is close enough for me to want to drive there . I'm really excited. I think DS will go to Lego camp and DD will go to Princess camp!

oooh Lego camp!! That sounds like such a fun summer camp idea. I may look into something like that for my DS.

[brittone2]

No camp, but will probably be joining a pool in our new town a few weeks after we arrive.

Both kids have been wanting to do some sort of gymnastics and or dance program, so we might sign up for that soon.

Otherwise, lots of times at parks, museums, family day trips...that's what we usually do.

eta: DS expressed an interest in Lego camp when I mentioned it, but the one I know of where we are moving is for 8+. I'm going to see if he can still attend or if we can find a different one.

[alexsmommy]

I completely understand where your preschool teacher is coming from, but I would think about seeing if his new preschool has a summer camp. Might be a low key way to meet some other students and potential playdate friends. Our preschool camp is only three hours, low key and it's typically almost all kids who go to preschool there. It's inexpensive enough that I have no problem skipping days to do something else or just hang out at home.
Other than that, local pool, museums, water parks, individual classes once weekly etc. Even if you don't have a summer camp option at your preschool, I'd call the preschool and ask the teacher what she'd suggest. There are things here I'd never know about if I were just moving here, like on of our park district parks has a water feature that is great for preschoolers. It's not one of the ones in walking distance, but not far at all, so that is information I try to give newbies with preschool age kids so they might meet other families with kids of similar ages.
Do you have a local park district? Great place to start.
Good luck.

[brgnmom]

Thank you all for your suggestions. Tondi G, your list of recommendations is impressive and I'm in awe of how detail-oriented you are. I still remember how you posted all the helpful tips and pictures during the Borders secret sale earlier this year. (I think it was you, if I'm remembering correctly). Thank you!!

Alexmommy, great point about finding out if there's a summer camp at my son's future preschool. I'll need to look into that -- if there's one that is offered for one day per week or something pretty low key, then I'd enroll my son in it, just so he'll feel more comfortable at the new school and we'll meet families there before the school year starts up in the fall. Thank you for your suggestion!

[Tondi G]

Originally Posted by brgnmom

Thank you all for your suggestions. Tondi G, your list of recommendations is impressive and I'm in awe of how detail-oriented you are. I still remember how you posted all the helpful tips and pictures during the Borders secret sale earlier this year. (I think it was you, if I'm remembering correctly). Thank you!!

It wasn't me on the borders thread but you are very welcome for the suggestions around Los Angeles.

I go through this every summer... worrying about how I will keep my children entertained but not run myself into the ground in the process. We have mellow days and exciting busy days. There is a lot to do in and around LA. One other place I didn't list but want to let you know about is Underwood family farms. Their Moorpark location is FANTASTIC. It's a bit of a drive but worth it. It can be very hot in the summer but we went to a morning bday party in early June and had such a wonderful time. You can pick your own fruit and vegis (my kids had a ball picking strawberries and raspberries. they have farm animals the kids can feed. Pony rides, a bouncer, jumbo trikes, electric tractors to ride, all kinds of things to climb in and on. Check it out!

http://www.underwoodfamilyfarms.com/moorpark.html