There’s much to love about day camps. They offer children the chance to develop their social skills, build confidence, and create lifelong memories. And for the parents? Well, they get to enjoy some precious free time, all the while knowing that their little ones are having fun in a safe and welcoming environment.
If you’re in California, you’ll have no shortage of options available to you. According to some sources, there are more day camps operating in California than any other state, with hundreds — perhaps as many as 700 — to choose from.
While that’s good news for parents concerned about securing a place for their son or daughter, it does present one obvious challenge: with so many day camps in California to choose from, how are you supposed to know which one is the best option?
With that question in mind, we thought it’d be a good idea to take a close look at the many California day camps available and compile a top list of the ones we found. If you’re looking for the perfect day camp for your child, we’re confident that one of the following will fit the bill.
1. Got Game Camp: The Best Overall Day Camp in California
It’s not hard to see why Got Game Camp has earned a reputation for being the best summer camp in Los Angeles. This is a camp that mixes learning, fun, and growth all in one exciting package. Each camper gets to customize their day based on their interests, so whether they’re interested in sports, STEM, arts, or creative activities, parents can have full confidence that their child will be enjoying engaging activities all summer long.
Got Camp was founded back in 2004 and made its name by offering world-class summer camp programs, but it has since expanded its suite of camp offerings to include winter camp, after-school, and ‘No School’ day camps, which is great for parents looking for additional help throughout the year. But whenever you send your child to Got Game, you can expect them to have a good time — this camp has received exceptionally good reviews from past campers, with many parents opting to send their children back year after year.
2. Cali Camp: A Good Option for Nature Lovers
Does your child love the outdoors? Then Cali Camp, which was established way back in 1955, may be the perfect place for them to spend their summer. Serving children aged 4 – 15, Cali Camp takes place in the Santa Monica Mountains, offering campers the chance to safely explore the region’s streams, meadows, and oak trees. There are multiple different camp programs to choose from, allowing parents to choose one that aligns with their child’s needs, including wrangler camp (for horse lovers) and classic camp (which is big on go-karts, zip lines, and other classic camp activities).
3. Bay Club: A Solid All-Round Camp
Bay Club, which has locations throughout California, Oregon, and Washington, offers a wide variety of day camps for children aged from 3 all the way through to 18. Its specialty is Bay Club Camp, which is for campers aged 5 – 12. However old your child is, they’ll find that they have a terrific time once they arrive. This is a camp that mixes high-end amenities with creativity and fun, providing an experience that entertains, engages, and delights children at every turn.
4. Avid4 Adventure: For Adventurous Campers
Avid4 Adventure is a day camp that, as the name suggests, focuses heavily on adventure. If you have a little one who’s eager to spend their summer months outdoors, soaking up all that the great California landscape has to offer, then Avid4 Adventure may be the perfect choice. They offer camp experiences in four different locations across California (Burlingame, Oakland, Menlo Park, and a remote natural location), and specialize in a few key outdoor activities, including rock climbing, kayaking, biking, and stand-up paddleboarding. You can choose to send your child to a single-sport or multi-sport camp.
5. Camp Keystone: A Good Local Day Camp
Camp Keystone has been in operation for nearly three decades, and today offers day camp experiences for children aged 3 to 15. Their camps are split into three categories: Junior Camp (3 – 5), Big Camp (6 – 12) and CILT Camp (13 – 15), and, depending on the type of camp, can include classic activities (arts and crafts, boating/fishing, archery), more adventurous activities (inflatables, mountain climbing, go-karts), and water-based activities (swimming, waterslides, stream exploration).
6. Tumbleweed Day Camp: For A Screen-Free Experience
Tumbleweed Camp offers children the chance to live as children used to: without screens. They’re big on allowing campers to explore freely, but they also offer plenty of classic activities that are designed to provide traditional fun. Once at camp, your child will be able to try out new activities as well as the ones that they already know and love. Tumbleweed also intentionally keeps its groups small, allowing campers to form genuine friendships with each other.
7. Mountain Camp Marin: A Happy Camp In the Heart of California
Mountain Camp Marin, located in San Rafael, is designed for children in grades K through 8. They believe in helping children gain independence and confidence through exploration, learning, and making new friends, but how they do so will be up to them. Mountain Camp Marin operates a “choose your own adventure” policy, which means that each camper gets to design how they’ll spend their day.
8. Emerald Cove Day Camp: For Campers in Grades K-4
Emerald Cove Day Camp, located in the San Clemente Area, offers campers a happy mix of excitement and discovery. While at camp, they’ll get the chance to ride horses, develop archery skills, climb walls, and enjoy ropes courses, among many other activities.
Final Thoughts
As we’ve seen, there’s no shortage of excellent day camps in California! The best overall camp we found was Got Game Camp, which offered essentially everything that campers — and parents — would look for in a camp, though others may also be appropriate depending on specific tastes, with some having a greater focus on the outdoors or arts & crafts.
Meg is an author at Cinnamon Hollow. She writes on a variety of topics sharing tips and ideas for daily life.