AdventurePlex, South Bay's health and fitness center designed especially for kids, is a fun place to play, with an outdoor climbing wall, gymnasium and fitness center, challenging mazes, tunnels, and slides.

The indoor adventure structure includes an enclosed multilevel maze of tunnels, slides, and ladders, and is designed to improve children's body strength, coordination, balance, endurance, and social skills through play.

Class offerings include Yoga, Safe Sitter, Healthy Cooking, First Aid, rock climbing, a ropes course, fitness, CPR, dance, gymnastics, Tae Kwon Do, and Parent/Infant fitness.

Themed birthday parties are customized to take advantage of the unique activities at AdventurePlex, from the rock climbing wall to the adventure room. Prices start at $500 for 12 children.

Summer camp and school vacation camps are offered as well. Call for brochure.

All Olympia Gymnastics Center offers training for all gymnasts from the youngest beginners to Olympic hopefuls. The gym is equipped with state-of-the-art equipment and in-ground pits.

Classes include Parent & Me groups for tots, classes for adult professionals, and everything in between.

Programs include Gymnastics (Boys & Girls), Ballet, Cheerleading, Rhythmic Gymnastics, Teams, summer, spring, and winter camp programs, and more. Call for specific school holiday camp dates.

Birthday parties making use of the gymnastic facility and equipment under the guidance of AOGC coaches are also available.

Arcadia Rock Climbing is an indoor rock climbing gym, with climbing for all ages. The facility hosts parties, classes, and camps. The staff belay package is necessary if parents want a staff member to spot children on their climbs. Otherwise, they're on their own!

Art of Music Studio is a private music studio led by award-winning pianist, composer, and musicologist Dr. Sanya Henderson. The studio offers private lessons for piano, guitar, voice, and flute for all ages and levels. Group classes for children up to age six include Kindermusik and group keyboard, and a music enrichment program is available for preschools.

The first lesson is free. Group classes for children are organized in eight or sixteen-week sessions, while private lessons are offered on a monthly basis.

Kindermusik summer camps are offered in five-week sessions from May to September, featuring 45-minute classes of music, instruments, storytelling, and other activities for children up to age five. The camps are held at locations in Montrose and Eagle Rock and cost $100 to $115 per session.

From pirate movies to American teenagers winning medals at the Olympics, fencing is definitely back in the public eye.

Beverly Hills Fencers' Club has been training kids and adults in the sport of fencing for decades, as well offering classes in theatrical fencing for those who love swashbuckling.

Private lessons and competitive youth classes are available for kids ages seven and up. Lessons are offered in all three fencing weapons (foil, epee, and saber), and fencers are encouraged to participate in club and local tournaments.

The club consistently places well at national competitions, though recreational fencers just looking for a fun workout are equally welcomed by the community here. It's amazing what a good sword duel between father and daughter can do for family harmony!

Beverly Hills Fencers' Club runs several camps over the summer and during school vacations. These programs offer week-long opportunities for kids to improve their fencing skills.

Membership, which includes equipment and unlimited use of the facility, can be paid daily ($12), monthly ($60), or annually ($660). Lessons are priced separately. The kids' beginners class costs $70 per month and includes all club fees and equipment use.

Whether your child wants to learn a new sport, has special needs, or hopes to become an Olympic competitor, he or she can find a comfortable niche at Broadway Gymnastic School. The instructors are caring professionals trained to encourage children to have fun while participating in a motivating gymnastic program, all in a safe and nurturing environment.

The 29,000 square foot facility offers gymnastic classes, birthday parties, camps, and occasional parents' night out events.

Birthday parties can be celebrated in a number of ways. The trained staff of coaches, actors, and acrobats lead kids through gymnastics, trampoline, obstacle courses, parachute play, pit races, and optional theme activities. There is a separate room for cake, and a play area for younger siblings to safely tumble around in. Parties start at $400.

The school also offers a summer camp program; call for details.

The Cabrillo Marine Aquarium is an educational, recreational, and research facility devoted to encouraging active public participation to promote knowledge and conservation of the marine life of southern California. It's also an out and out good time, with a little learning thrown in for good measure.

You won't find huge and awesome tanks here - no gigantic whales, or dolphin shows, or the like - but this is a perfect spot for smaller kids to explore the fragile ecosystems of tidepools, mudflats, and the deep wide ocean.

In fact, the real beauty of Cabrillo is the way it gets everyone, kids and adults alike, involved. Entering the inside portion of the facility, you'll find areas dedicated to the Rocky Shores, Mud Flats, Kelp Forests, and the Open Ocean. Touch Tanks abound.

Be sure to stop by the Aquatic Nursery and see what's growing in this open husbandry lab. Students and staff are often seen working on a variety of projects here. You might be shown baby jellies or other larval animals on the microscope monitor.

Shapes, colors, and behavior of the fish in the Fish Diversity Tank reflect where and how these fish live. Sharks, too (remember the sharks? there are a few here), come in an amazing variety of sizes, shapes, and habitats.

Whales and dolphins, while not physically present, are here in spirit and in the special exhibits on feeding, a video of various cetaceans, displays of whale and dolphin skeletons, and recordings of whale sounds.

In the outdoor museum, the Cabrillo Coastal Park Trail provides accessibility for all visitors who wish to explore the rocky shores of the Point Fermin Marine Life Refuge and the sandy shore of the inner beach. A concrete path across the beach and boardwalk along the cliffs and rugged beach wheelchairs are available to enhance your visit to the tidepools.

A salt marsh, sandy beaches, and fossil rich cliffs are all within walking distance of the Aquarium.

A sidewalk trail also extends across the inner beach, allowing access for all to the waters of Cabrillo Beach. Before swimming, be sure to check with the lifeguard for any updates on water quality.

Sea Ranger volunteers are available at selected times to interpret the mudflat habitat at "Salinas de San Pedro" just across the parking lot. To extend your exhibit hall visit, pick up a "Walk Cabrillo" guide at the information booth.

SEA Club - Science Education Afternoons: Students can join the CMA Education staff for a series of hands-on afternoon marine science adventures. Observe animal behavior, examine rocky shore animals in a hike along the tidepools, explore the wonders of mud at the salt marsh, get up-close with microscopes, and even take part in a fish dissection. Each section runs for four consecutive Monday meetings, from 3:30 to 5:30 pm, at a cost of $30 per session. SEA Club T-shirt included. See our calendar for dates and age groupings.

Classes, family outings, and events are as abundant as the marine life here. Check our calendar for details and schedules.

Check the Cabrillo website for information on summer camps and school vacation camps offered by the Aquarium.

The Aquarium holds periodic Native Garden Workday and Beach Cleanups, during which families are invited to help the environment by cleaning the beach, learning about local plant and animal life as they do.

Membership: $40 Family membership includes a subscription to Tidelines, the quarterly newsletter,
10% discount in the Aquarium Gift & Book Shop, limited free parking in the Cabrillo Beach parking lot, discounts on aquarium classes and programs, advance notice of aquarium activities and new exhibits, and invitations to special Friends events and preview openings.

The California Chess Club is an affiliate of the
United States Chess Federation.

Club activities include after school chess programs, summer and holiday soccer and chess camps, scholastic tournaments, a Saturday workshop for kids ages six to 14, and group and private lessons for all ages.

Camp Calabasas is a seasonal camp for children between the ages of five and 12. The camp is offered in conjunction with the City of Calabasas Community Services Department and holds programs during winter, spring, and summer breaks.

Activities include swimming, field trips, special visitors, arts and crafts, cooking, and sports.

Camp Courage is a soccer camp for kids suffering from arthritis. Camp days are scheduled both in summertime and during some school vacations at El Marino Park in Culver City.

More information is available by sending an email to Gabriela Guefen.

The Cheviot Hills Recreation Center is located within Cheviot Hills Park and hosts a variety of classes and activities including parent/me, preschool, fitness, sports, and arts.

Camp programs are offered in the summer, winter, and spring.

CREST - which stands for child care, recreation, enrichment, sports, together - is a unique program collaborating between the City of Santa Monica and the Santa Monica-Malibu Unified School District, offering fun and exciting before and after school options right at the school site.

Throughout the school year, before and after school homework assistance and activities are available for kids in grades K-3. For students in grades K-8, enrichment classes and youth sports programs are offered. In addition, several of the schools offer free after-school unstructured supervised playground time. On school breaks, CREST offers various camp programs.

Financial assistance is available to qualifying low and moderate income families. CREST is a part of the City's Human Services Division.

Culver West Park is a three-acre park in the Culver West neighborhood, also known by the names Richard Alexander Park and Culver West Alexander Park.

Facilities include a playground, three barbecues, tennis courts, a baseball diamond, a soccer field, and a recreation building that offers a variety of city programs including children's classes and summer and holiday camps.

Culver City's El Marino Park occupies three acres in the Sunkist Park neighborhood. The park has a playground, various sports areas, picnic areas with barbecues, and a recreation building.

An after-school program is available at this site, as are several kinds of classes, camps, and other children's programs.

The Encino Community Center is a Los Angeles City Department of Recreation & Parks facility offering a variety of youth programs, including camps, classes, and a co-op nursery school.

Developed by Glendale Parks, Recreation & Community Services, this program is offered during traditional school breaks.

Professional and First Aid-certified staff are on hand to lead kids in sports and games, arts and crafts, outdoor activities, and a weekly excursion. The ratio of children to counselors is 15:1, with a minimum of two counselors on staff at any time. Children should bring their own lunches and snacks.

Registration: Children must be registered by 5pm on the Wednesday prior to the week they'll be attending. Payment not received by this time is subject to a $15 late fee. Register by mail to the Glendale Civic Auditorium, at 1401 Verdugo Road, Glendale, 91208, or in person, Mon-Thu 8am-5pm. Or telephone 818.548.2184, or fax 818.543.0793.

Camp locations include:

Verdugo Park, 1621 Canada Blvd

Dunsmore Park, 4700 Dunsmore Avenue

Brand Park, 1601 W. Mountain Street

Global Groove offers both a cultural adventure camp and an after-school program that expose 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.

The after-school program provides transportation from westside schools and a creative environment where kids learn about cultures from around the world. The weekly program includes homework help, music, dance, art and cooking. Students may attend anywhere from one to five days per week.

Gymnastics Olympica USA is a 22,000 square foot gymnastics training center for children and adults. G O USA conducts classes for all levels of gymnasts, from beginners to competitors and stunt people.

Parent and Tot classes are available for kids starting at 12 months old, while students age three to five can participate in Kindergym. Birthday parties and summer and school holiday camps are also offered.

Hollenbeck Park in Boyle Heights has a recreation center that offers an after school program, summer and school vacation camp programs, and a variety of classes for kids.

The park itself has a lake, a skate park, barbecue pits, picnic tables, basketball courts, and a children's play area.

Hollenbeck Park is also the site of the annual celebration of children, the Feria de los Niños

ITS Integrated Therapy Solutions offers early intervention services for children with special needs. The classes are conducted by licensed speech language pathologists, occupational therapists, and physical therapists.

ITS offers one-on-one therapy for those in need of intensive services, as well as classes for higher functioning children with Asperger's, forms of autism, ADD/ADHD, and other developmental disorders.

Day camps are available during school breaks and summers, for children with communication disorders and social skills difficulties.

Joey's Gym is a popular birthday party spot for young children in Beverly Hills. Owners Ron and Dana Smith provide balloons, banners, and streamers and set up tables, benches, and music. We were impressed that they serve the cake and treats themselves, so parents can concentrate on their children. All parents have to provide are the treats and paper goods.

Parties accommodate up to 24 children, and Don and Dana set up different physical activities (trampolines, bumpy courses, and aerial swings) for freeplay.

The Gym is available for parties Sat 11am-1pm, 2pm-4pm, and 4:30pm-6:30pm, Sun 10:30am-12:30pm, 1:30pm-3:30pm, and 4pm-6pm. Price is $100 deposit, with the $275 balance paid at the party, for a $375 total.

But Joey's Gym is more then just a great place for kids to have wild birthday parties, it also offers summer, winter, and holiday camp sessions; mommy & me and transition classes; plus intermediate and advanced gymnastic classes.

Classes are set up in eight week sessions, beginning at ages 4-11 months and running all the way up to ages 8 to 12 years. Classes are taught daily, including weekends.

Class tuition for a 45 minute class is $120; a 60 minute class is $140. One time membership fee is $25.

Catering to students from to three-and-a-half to 86, Karate 4 Kids USA is a true family martial arts studio.

Periodic Ninja Nights on Saturday nights offer an evening of drop-off karate, pizza, movies, and games from 6pm-10pm for $30.

School vacation camps offer games, karate instruction, dodge ball, and general mayhem. Mention GoCityKids/ParentsConnect and new students receive $25 discount off of the weekly camp rate. Summer camp programs are available, too.

Birthday parties, either at the studio or at private homes, range in price from $275-$475.

Classes for adults include a women's class taught by and for women, an emergency preparedness class, and a class for seniors.

Kids On Stage offers classes, camps, and parties for kids.

Classes include Tots on Stage, Creative Dramatics, Imagination Theater, Musical Theater, and Vocal Workshop. More experienced students can join the Master Class or the Teen Troupe. KOS offers after-school and enrichment classes.

Camps are offered during winter and spring school vacations, and during the summer, for ages four to 17. A limited number of junior counselor positions are available.

Parties can be held at a location chosen by the family, or Kids On Stage can provide a theater location; costumes, props, and music are provided by the company, and some optional add-ons include art, beading, and other special services.

La Pintoresca Park comes by its Spanish name (meaning "picturesque") quite naturally. Situated along the incline toward the San Gabriel Mountains, the park offers lovely views of the hills. The park is also home to the lovely La Pintoresca Branch Library.

The area has several picnic tables and the ever-popular skate park, which opened in 2002 and got new equipment and a resurfacing job in the spring of 2008. Proper safety gear (helmet, elbow pads, and knee pads) is required for skating, and all minors must have parental consent to use the facility.

The park hosts countless summer and afterschool enrichment programs and sports activities, including basketball, softball, flag football, volleyball, and soccer, as well as nature, arts and crafts, special community events, and field trips.

Facilities at Loma Alta Park include a playground, a community garden, basketball and tennis courts, sports fields, hiking trails, and an equestrian arena.

The seven-acre county park is home to the Giddings Grove picnic area and the Dr. Clarence H. Thurber community building, where a wide variety of community classes and other programs are offered.

A one-stop shop for a child's physical development needs, The Los Angeles School of Gymnastics offers Parent & Me programs for tots, classes for older beginners, and more - right up to the professional level.

Programs include Gymnastics (Boys & Girls), Ballet, Cheerleading, Karate, Rhythmic Gymnastics, summer and winter camp programs, and more.

Birthday parties include use of the gymnastic facility and equipment under the guidance of top professional coaches, safety-certified by USA Gymnastics.

This six-acre Malibu Bluffs Park consists of two baseball diamonds, a soccer/multi-purpose field, exercise par course, jogging path, picnic tables, and a whale watching station.

The Michael Landon Center offers a variety of public programs, including summer and winter break camps.

Mar Vista Park serves West LA with a playground, courts for basketball, baseball, volleyball, and tennis, and picnic and barbecue areas. Mar Vista Pool is also adjacent.

The recreation center houses an auditorium and an indoor gym and offers a variety of classes, camps, and other programs.

The park is particularly popular for its outdoor roller hockey rink.

Monarchs Gymnastics offers a variety of programs for kids starting at 18 months old. Recreational classes are available as well as competitive programs, and fun programs for students and non-students alike.

Summer and school vacation camps are offered, as are parents' nights out, open gymnastics, cheering, and birthday party packages.

The gym also has a location in Agoura Hills.

Monarchs Gymnastics offers a variety of programs for kids starting at 18 months old. Recreational classes are available as well as competitive programs, and fun programs for students and non-students alike.

Summer and school vacation camps are offered, as are parents' nights out, open gymnastics, cheering, and birthday party packages.

The gym also has a location in Newbury Park.

Located just off the Santa Monica Freeway at Overland Avenue, and next to the Palms Rancho Park Library, this Park is a favorite among kids.

Palms Park boasts two tot lots with swings, climbers, and slides, a large picnic area, a basketball court, and a large meandering green pasture where children may run or play ball.

The Recreation Center has kids' classes year round, rooms available for rent, and summer and winter camp programs.

Rana's Arts Club offers a variety of arts programs for children, including visual arts and performance arts. Kids can also enjoy sports, Spanish, and science during seasonal day camps and school breaks. Theater, dance, and yoga classes and private sessions are available throughout the school year. For a complete schedule, check the website.