Venice del Play Beach Camp555

Venice del Play Beach Camp, for kids ages four to ten, meets summers and school holidays on beaches around Santa Monica. Exact locations may vary depending upon water quality. The camp is relatively small, with lots of individual attention, and appropriate for any child regardless of swimming skills. Counselors are sensitive and attentive to each child's comfort level; the camp's water program was created by the famed Coach Sydney Lovelace of LA Surf and Swim.

Camp days generally start on the grass with a mellow, upbeat group yoga class taught by Carmen Thomas and an interactive water safety session to help remind little ones to treat the sea with respect. Activities outside the water include crafts, gymnastics, martial arts, sack races, fencing, skateboarding, dance, ball sports, music, acting, cooking, circus skills, improvisation, and even magic.

At least half the day is spent down by the water, with sand and water play, boogie boards, and cool, healthy snacks.

Rainy days are generally spent at Venice's eco-friendly Electric Lodge Theatre nearby.

Winter break camps don't require kids to get wet (though amazingly some want to!) but offer lots of ways to run off some steam in the fresh sea air. Guest instructors generally come in with fun and funky enrichment activities during cooler weather.

Surf and yoga birthday parties are also available; call for details.

Carmen Thomas, the camp's founder and resident yogini, is also a popular birth doula among Westside families. Her upbeat personality is the soul of this little camp, which has developed a very loyal following.