UCLA252

From a simple outdoor picnic in the sculpture garden to a kids' show at Royce Hall, the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) is more than just a world-class educational institution. Families can enjoy a surprising number of activities and events held at and by the university.

Located in Westwood, between Sunset and Wilshire Boulevards on LA's westside, the campus roams over a 419-acre area with lush landscaping and impressive architecture. Starting at the southern end of UCLA, accessed via Westwood Boulevard, visitors will find the UCLA Store.

Looking more like a Bloomingdale's than a campus shop, the store sells UCLA-emblazoned clothes and collectibles as well as non-partisan goods. Designer clothes and even makeup can be found in this attractive complex. The bookstore itself is as good as many big-chain stores, with a huge inventory of fiction and textbooks (surprise - many of which are authored by UCLA professors).

To the southwest of the store lies Pauley Pavilion, one of the many sports venues that families frequent. Aside from the basketball games at Pauley Pavilion, the campus hosts volleyball, gymnastics, track-and-field, and soccer matches. Football and baseball are off-campus. Tickets can be purchased through UCLA's Central Ticket Office (CTO) by calling 310.UCLA.101 (310.825.2101) or visiting the web site.

Heading to the middle of campus, visitors will find the famed plaza of buildings that includes Royce Hall. Many classical, jazz, dance, and other performance shows play in the acoustically brilliant hall, as well as more specifically family-oriented programs. Across the plaza is the Powell Library, a magnificent architectural specimen with a dazzling array of books.

Families will find film options at both the James A. Bridges theater at the northern end of campus and the Hammer Museum's Billy Wilder Theater. The Freud (pronounced "frood") Playhouse runs revival theatrical productions, many of which are great for the whole gang. Performance tickets can be purchased through UCLA's Central Ticket Office (CTO) by calling 310.UCLA.101 (310.825.2101) or visiting the web site.

The Wight Gallery of Art is open year-round, though it's more suited to older kids, and the Hammer Museum sometimes has kids' programs.

The sculpture garden, also at the north end, is a unique spot to run around or picnic near artwork made by some of the world's great artists.

The Fowler Museum is a campus treasure trove. The collection and exhibitions focus on cultural objects primarily from Africa, Asia, Oceania, and Native and Latin America, past and present. Interpretive exhibitions and workshops are offered for families during the school year, and summer camp sessions are available for children. Weekend Walkthroughs of current exhibitions, led by museum educators and curators, are conducted on the first Saturday and Sunday of each month and are appropriate for all ages.

The Geffen Playhouse is located just south of campus. The Geffen offers Los Angeles theater goers a season of five plays, as well as a variety of outreach and educational programs. The Playhouse is dedicated to presenting the best in both classic and contemporary plays and includes both West Coast and world premieres in its roster. The Geffen values its role as an important educational resource by providing students with master classes, workshops, and internships and is affiliated with UCLA's School of Theater, Film, and Television.

The university hosts countless other music, performance, and sports events the family can enjoy.

UCLA provides a mind-boggling array of camps and classes. The Summer Youth Program offers no less than 6 camps, ranging from the Camp Tots (for 5 year olds) to CIT (counselors in training for 15 to 17-year olds).

For kids who want to concentrate on a particular sport, UCLA Athletics Sports Camp has programs in everything from basketball to water polo. Swimming and tennis classes are available for ages 3 to 12 and older kids can take part in Teen Outdoor Adventures.

In the summer months, UCLA is lucky enough to host the Countrywide Classic and be an important part of the only major men's tennis event in Los Angeles as world-class tennis explodes onto the hardcourts of the prestigious Los Angeles Tennis Center at UCLA, home of the 1984 Olympic Games. Tennis players compete for a total prize winning of one million dollars.

UCLA also runs UniCamp, a summer experience for underprivileged youth run by volunteers and Bruin Woods, a family camp for Bruin alumni held at the university's Lake Arrowhead complex.