Camps

The Children's Culinary Academy offers kids a chance to prepare and cook a different dish each day, ranging from pizza and cookies (for younger students) to gourmet sandwiches (for the older students). The classes are broken into three age groups, so participants are sure to interact with other kids their own age.

The summer program (a half-day culinary camp) is held on weekdays; school year family classes are generally offered on Saturdays.

Mad Science Summer Day Camp is a five-day science camp for kids. Each day of the camp consists of different science subject matter, including Cell City, The Organ Trail, and Chemical Counting. Children can perform a variety of hands-on experiments, and make a different item to take home every day.

Snacks are provided, but each child must bring his or her own sack lunch.

Kensa Learning Center and Bright Minds Institute offer
science Summer day camps in Brentwood. The three week day camp is designed for budding scientists entering grades 1-3.

Contact the camp for schedules of specific camps.

Created in 1989 by casting director Katy Wallin, AIA Actor's Studio offers classes in which kids can have fun learning the craft of acting, while parents can get advice about their children's careers.

The studio also holds week-long summer camps and brings its after-school program to several elementary schools.

Kids who are ready to rock might enjoy the Paul Green School Of Rock Music.

The school focuses on teaching kids ages seven to 17 how to play instruments - guitar, bass, keyboards, voice, and drums - and how to perform in a rock band. All skill levels are welcome in the afterschool classes, and kids can enroll any time. Kids learn music theory while playing with other students.

Individual 45-minute lessons and supervised group rehearsals each week prepare kids for quarterly performances in "real" rock venues. The showcase rock concerts incorporate light shows and stagecraft, just like the real thing. Additional specialized workshops covering topics like songwriting and touring are offered throughout the year.

Summer camp is also available.

Recording artist Deborah Gibson teams up with Hollywood acting coaches Howard Fine and Cynthia Bain to create Camp Electric Youth. The performing arts summer camp offers a variety of classes for kids ages seven to 17 in acting, voice, dance, songwriting, and more.

As the high-powered names imply, this is a camp for kids serious about performing and interested in a career in the industry. The two-week camp culminates in a final showcase in front of casting directors, agents, managers, and producers. Seminars are also offered for parents who would like to broaden their knowledge of the business and how to emotionally protect young performers.

Band practice, photography, and culinary creations replace TV and video games at STAR Education's sites throughout greater Los Angeles. The program is run by the same organization that created the wonderful STAR Eco Station.

Encouraging creativity, innovation, and exploration with curriculum developed for gifted standards, STAR Camps focus on students' specific areas of interest. STAR - the largest provider of Gifted and Talented Education (GATE) in California - has opened these advanced programs to all children currently enrolled in first through fifth grades, helping them to maintain their academic progress throughout the winter break in an enriching, college-like environment. Each camp features an optional weekly field trip as well.

All-STAR Chefs teaches campers about different cooking techniques and take home samples of their gourmet creations, while All-STAR Photography brings an opportunity to hone skills for taking portraits, action shots, landscape, and indoor and outdoor pictures. At All-STAR Rockers, students receive one-on-one instruction from professional musicians and rehearse with a rock band of kids their own age.

Other camp themes include All-STAR Artists, All-STAR Chess Players, All-STAR Performers, All-STAR Scientists, and All-STAR Techies, who design their own websites. All-STAR ECO Station is held at the award-winning Environmental Science Museum and Exotic Wildlife Rescue Facility in Culver City, where campers come face-to-face with jungle cats, tropical birds, slithering snakes and crazy crocodiles on a daily basis.

Tips on Trips and Camps is a free advisory service providing information on over 600 overnight summer programs. In addition to traditional and specialty camps, consultants provide information on student travel, language immersion, outdoor adventure, community service, internships, and academic study in the US and abroad.

Tips on Trips and Camps identifies each child's needs through a dialogue with the family and matches those needs to the appropriate programs. Advisors assist parents in distinguishing between choices.

Consultants conduct interviews with summer program directors, make personal visits to programs in session, and have access to evaluations from families who've attended programs around the world, giving Tips on Trips and Camps a depth and breadth of knowledge not available elsewhere.

Global Groove is a unique cultural adventure camp that exposes kids to cultural arts, music, dance, and culinary traditions as a means of self discovery.

Camp activities offered include Capoeira, flamenco, African drumming, didjirdu, surfing, swimming, guitar, art, acting, and much more. Children participate in a Carnival every two weeks to show off their new skills to parents and visitors.

Northridge Christian Church offers various family programs, including a summertime Power Lab, dedicated to introducing children and teens to Christianity and the Bible.

Jumpin' GymKids Summer Camp offers overnight camps in Palos Verdes for gymnasts, dancers, and cheerleaders. Camps are part Catholic retreat as well, including circle time, journals, and arts & crafts. Housing is in rooms with double beds and private baths.

Jumpin' GymKids also offers enrichment classes at some schools.