Summer break is most kids’ favorite time of the year, but for parents it poses a question of where their children can spend their days away from school.
The City of Long Beach has three programs for this exact purpose: Summer Day Camps, Aquatics Camps and Kids Discover Camps. All of these camps will run Monday through Friday from June 15 to Aug. 21.
Registration opens on April 11 at 9 a.m. online at lbcity.info/DayCamps. Parents and caregivers are encouraged to register their child as early as possible as enrollment space is limited. Prices vary for each camp, and financial assistance is available for families on a first-come, first-served basis. Contact 562-570-3150 to learn more about the available financial assistance.
From 9 a.m. to noon on April 11, the City’s Parks, Recreation and Marine Department (PRM) will offer self-enrollment stations at multiple parks for families who do not have personal access to a computer or smart phone. Staff will be available to assist with registration questions, but customers will be responsible for completing the self-enrollment. Locations will open at 8 a.m. and registration will begin at 9 a.m.
The new Silverado Park Signature Playground’s design reflects the vibrant colors and theme of Silverado Park’s mural, “We are the Seeds” by Mer Young. (Courtesy of the City of Long Beach).
Self-serve enrollment will take place at the following Long Beach parks on April 11:
Bixby Park (130 Cherry Ave.)
Pan American Park (5157 Centralia St.)
Silverado Park (1545 W. 31st St.)
Veterans Park (101 E. 28th St.)
Whaley Park (5620 E. Atherton St.)
Residents may also visit any open Long Beach Public Library location to register online at one of the available public computer labs. Open days and times vary by location.
A couple walk with their dog another the edge of the water at the El Dorado Duck Pond on April 11, 2022. (Richard H. Grant | Signal Tribune)
Summer Day Camps
Youth ages 5 to 12 can enjoy games, crafts, physical fitness, enrichment activities and more. Summer Day Camps will take place Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., with extended care options available from 7 a.m. to 9 a.m. and 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. The weekly cost is $123 for a regular day-schedule and $160 for extended care.
More information about Summer Day Camps, including participating camp locations, is available on the Summer Day Camps webpage.
The Summer Day Camps will take place at the following sites*:
*Locations are subject to change
Bixby Park (130 Cherry Ave.)
El Dorado Park West (2800 N. Studebaker Road)
Pan American Park (5157 Centralia St.)
Silverado Park (1545 W. 31st St.)
Stearns Champions Park (4520 E 23rd St.)
Veterans Park (101 E. 28th St.)
Wardlow Park (3457 Stanbridge Ave.)
Whaley Park (5620 E. Atherton St.)
Residents swim laps inside the Belmont Plaza Pool in Long Beach on Oct. 25, 2022. (Richard H. Grant | Signal Tribune)
Aquatics Day Camps
PRM offers two Aquatics Day Camps: Belmont Junior Beach Camp (ages 5 to 7) and Bayshore Beach Camp (ages 8 to 12), both outside the Belmont Outdoor Pool (4320 E. Olympic Plaza). Aquatics Day Camps will take place Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., with extended care options available from 7 a.m. to 9 a.m. and 4 p.m. to 6 p.m.
The Belmont Junior Beach campers can enjoy games, crafts, beach play, songs and American Red Cross swimming lessons. Weekly excursions include canoeing and kayaking at the Leeway Sailing Center, making every week an adventure on land and water.
Campers at the Bayshore Beach Camp can enjoy canoeing, kayaking, swimming, crafts and excursions as well. Campers will also engage in hands-on environmental and marine biology activities.
The weekly cost for both camps is $176, with an additional $30-60 weekly cost for extended care. Excursion fees vary and are not included in the registration fee. Excursion fees are paid online during registration or on a weekly basis at the Aquatics Camps Office. Childcare will not be available on excursion days for campers who are not attending the excursion. Camp fees will not be prorated for excursion days.
Swim lessons are provided at no extra cost at both camps, though not during the camp’s “excursion days.” All Aquatics Camps staff are trained lifeguards certified in First Aid, CPR and Water Safety instruction by the American Red Cross. The staff to camper ratio at Belmont Junior Beach Camp and Bayshore Beach Camp is 1:8.
More information is available on the Aquatics Day Camp webpage or by calling 562-570-1888.
Parents sit on benches while children play in the renovated play area at Colorado Lagoon Park on March 29, 2022. (Richard H. Grant | Signal Tribune)
Nature Kids! Discovery Camps
Children will experience nature through weekly investigation, hands-on activities, games and crafts. Lessons cover local animals, plants, bugs and more. Camps will take place at either El Dorado Nature Center (7550 E. Spring St.) or Colorado Lagoon (5119 E. Colorado St.).
Preschool sessions (ages 3 to 5) are $107 per week and youth sessions (ages 5 to 8) are $125 per week. More information is available on the Nature Kids! Discovery Camps webpage.
