Summer camp at Rancho Coastal Humane Society focuses on the lives of animals, with three different summer camp themes throughout the season and two weeks of spring camp. Using hands-on projects, interactions with live animals, and arts and crafts, students learn about life through animal eyes. Day camps are week-long sessions.

ActiveKidz is a sports center for kids and their families, offering classes that focus on general sports skills, yoga, rhythmic activities, tumbling, judo, and teamwork. A KidzCore Exercise Program, a core strengthening class designed just for children, is also offered.

Birthday party packages are available, with fees starting at $295 for members ($345 for non-members).

A Summer Camp program is designed for kids ages three to eight, and encompasses both sports and arts. Camp programs run in one week increments, and are available as half day (am or pm) or full day programs.

Membership is $60/month, and offers savings on parties, classes, and camps.

The Boys & Girls Club of Greater San Diego has touched the lives of kids ages six to 18 for more than 60 years. At the 12 centers and five school sites located in San Diego County, kids are offered the tools to succeed in life with learning centers, a computer lab, social recreation programs, full-sized gyms, arts and crafts, and a dance and music program. Some locations offer daycare, camps, and teen centers. The Boys & Girls Club's mission is to inspire and enable all young people, especially those who need us most, to realize their full potential as productive, responsible, and caring adults.

The national organization, Boys & Girls Clubs of America, of which San Diego is an affiliate member, has been serving youth since 1860, and is ranked number one among youth organizations by the Chronicle of Philanthropy.

To locate the nearest Boys and Girls Club and to review the programs it offers, visit the Club's website.

Camp Oliver is an overnight camp for children ages 6-16. Located 40 miles east of San Diego, it offers one-week sessions of traditional summer camp fun. Activities include arts and crafts, archery, dance, drama, hiking, swimming, and low challenge course. Financial assistance is available to those who qualify. Contact the camp for more information.

Camp Science Safari offers a variety of camps, all focusing on archaeology, palentology, science (which may include cooking), and engineering - all designed to get the kids thinking while having fun! Kids spend the morning involved in a group activity, woodwork and paintshop lessons, game zone time, a daily sports lesson in hockey, basketball, indoor soccer, softball, and inflatable rope climb), water play, and playground time. The day gets even better in the afternoon when the campers focus on a special project. Each week concludes with a family finale, where family members get to be a camper for a couple of hours. Careful you don't get wet!

The camps are offered in two parks: one in Rancho Bernardo and the other in Carmel Valley. For detailed information about the different camps, refer to the camp's web site.

Camp Science Safari offers a variety of camps, all focusing on archaeology, palentology, science (which may include cooking), and engineering - all designed to get the kids thinking while having fun! Kids spend the morning involved in a group activity, woodwork and paintshop lessons, game zone time, a daily sports lesson in hockey, basketball, indoor soccer, softball, and inflatable rope climb), water play, and playground time. The day gets even better in the afternoon when the campers focus on a special project. Each week concludes with a family finale, where family members get to be a camper for a couple of hours. Careful you don't get wet!

The camps are offered in two parks: one in Rancho Bernardo and the other in Carmel Valley. For detailed information about the different camps, refer to the camp's web site.

Captain Cook's offers cooking classes for kids using organic recipes in an eco-friendly kitchen. Birthday parties, play dates, camps, parents night out, scout badges, and field trips are also available.

The Carmel Mountain Ranch/Sabre Springs Recreation Center, opened in 1997, The large facility and surrounding park include an indoor gymnasium for basketball and volleyball, outdoor basketball courts, lighted softball fields, a community room, a children's play area, and a large picnic area.

Courses offered include gymnastics, music classes for younger children, sports leagues and classes, fencing, self-defense, art classes, dance, and camps.

Club Xcite is an innovative after school and summer mentoring organization dedicated to assisting families who need a helping hand in educating, mentoring, or just involving their children in athletic, academic, or social activities.

Club Xcite has structured programs that fit the need of kids who have learning disabilities, hard time making friends, social anxiety, difficulty focusing, struggle getting movtivate, bi-polar, behavioral problems, or any other special needs.

Mentors can provide transportation from school to your house (if needed), make sure homework gets done correctly, provide one-on-one academic tutoring in problem areas, instruct child in different sports and outdoor activities, and act as a positive role model and friend.

Club Xcite! also offers a summer camps for kids ages eight to twelve who have a harder time making friends. The camps build and maintain an environment where kids feel that they can be themselves, open up, make friends, and most importantly, have fun. All activities, sports, and games are selected to help inspire and develop friendships, with a ratio of one counselor to every two or three campers.

The Coronado Recreation Department offers Preschool Recreation Classes, Kindergarten Recreation Classes, Acrobatic Classes for All Ages, After School Camp, Holiday Camp, a Junior Golf Clinic, Youth Basketball League, Youth and Adult Recreation Classes, Aquatics Classes, and American Red Cross Classes.

Cyberstore's goal is to make computing a fun learning experience for kids and adults alike. In addition to classes, they offer gaming for kids, computer camps throughout the year, after-school programs, birthday parties - and even fix computers.

FasTracKids is an academic enrichment center designed to develop children's critical thinking, leadership, and communication skills. State-of-the-art technology is employed to deliver curriculum, and activities include hands-on exercises, role-playing, and videotaped speaking exercises in various subjects.

Gym Ventures Gymnastics is all about building better kids through gymnastics, dance, cheer, and fitness classes - which are designed to build confidence, challenge, and motivate children in a positive and safe environment.

Gym Ventures parties run two hours and include parachute time, obstacle courses, rope climbing, and access to the gymnastic equipment. Different sports themes can be incorporated, based on the birthday child's preferences.

Gym Ventures also hosts sleepovers. Visit the website for detailed information about classes, camps, and more.

Kimball Recreation Center is located in Kimball Park. The building features a large hall, an office, and a small dance room.

The Center hosts summer camps, school vacation camps, Easter Camp, an afterschool program, Easter Seals functions, belly dancing classes, children's movement classes, gymnastics, tap, ballet, lyrical ballet, hip hop dance, ceramics, youth basketball, cheerleading, flag football, field trips, dances, crafts, sewing, movies, air hockey, and more.

KinderCare provides comprehensive care for 6-week-old infants through school-aged children. Most centers are accredited by the NAEYC (National Association for the Education of Young Children).

Secured locations, with abundant resources, promise a safe and healthy environment for children, as well as developmentally appropriate learning opportunities and strong communication with parents.

Many locations offer optional enrichment classes in Phonics,
Reading, Math, Spanish, and Music, and most facilities offer day camps during spring and summer school vacations.

KinderCare learning centers can be found throughout San Diego. Check the website to find the center closest to you.

Weekly charges vary based on child's age and the number of days per week a child attends. Prices also vary by location.

When shopping around for day care, it's always a good idea to drop in unannounced to check out any childcare center you are considering.

The YMCA strives to offer Something for Everybody in its La Jolla facility, and it mostly succeeds. Its programs are generally a solid, dependable value. Program registration is usually available by phone, but some, like summer camps, require that you show up in person.

Sports Programs: Offers a range of options, including Youth and Pee Wee Sports Leagues in soccer, t-ball, baseball, football, tennis; a complete Aquatics program in its outdoor pool for children eighteen months to high school; Gymnastics for children eighteen months to high school; Basketball in its indoor gymnasium; and Tennis instruction.

Vacation Camps and Summer Camps: These are extremely popular and often filled to capacity, so book early! Some camps are taught exclusively at the Y, others take place in the field. Overnight camps to semi-exotic destinations are offered for older kids. We have favorite childhood memories of the Y's Caravan trips to Catalina Island, still offered for kids 9-13. Other "Caravan" destinations include Northern California and Yosemite.

Y Guides and Adventure Princess/Guides Program: A program for boys and girls in Kindergarten-Third Grade. Fathers and their children participate in group activities that include camping trips and other fun outings.

Parties: The Y can make its facilites available for birthday parties.

A large fitness center, aerobics, and family counseling are also available.

The Lawrence Family Jewish Community Center (the JCC) is located in a gorgeous campus environment near University Town Center. Its newly renovated and expanded facilities include a state-of-the-art fitness center (which provides babysitting services), an art gallery, theater, tennis courts, an Olympic-size swimming pool, and the Nierman Preschool, a high quality childcare center serving children 18-months old to pre-kindergarten age.

The JCC offers a variety of social, educational, and sports programs for kids of all ages, regardless of race, religious affiliation, or cultural background. These programs include but are not limited to:

After School Youth Enrichment for ages K-6.
This program offers a variety of classes such as chess, Spanish, music, science, art, and computer skills to help make the afternoon hours a fun and educational experience.

A Teen Center, which provides a fun and safe place for kids 7th grade and older to hang out. Amenities include a pool table, foosball, large screen TV, computers and games. The Teen Center also hosts organized activities such as dances, game nights, and more.

A Youth Physical Education department that offers a wide range of leagues, classes, and opportunities for children of all ages to be involved in sports. Kids can join gymnastics, swimming, tennis, basketball, flag football, baseball, karate, and triathlon training.

Krav Maga, a martial arts/self defense program. (Contact Dana Kaplan at
619.682.7090 for class schedules and prices.)

Performing Arts classes include dancing, singing, music, voice and the very popular children's theater group, the J*Company, which performs full stage productions each quarter in the JCC's new 500-seat theater.

Camp Jaycee provides summer, winter and spring camps with themes such as sports, swimming, crafts, theater, cooking, and singing.

In addition, the JCC rents its facilites for birthday parties, hosts a kids' night out/parents' night off, and offers special all-day camps for school holidays.

The Len Moore Chula Vista Skatepark is a two-acre facility featuring a 55,000 square-foot concrete skatepark, a 10,000 square-foot wood skatepark, fully stocked skateshop, lighting for night skating, shaded bleachers, and a snack bar. As one of San Diego's best skateparks, it hosts many contests, including the California State Games.

Classes, lessons, birthday parties, and camps are offered at the skatepark - during which age-appropriate and experience-appropriate guidance is provided. For details, call the park or visit the website.

Helmets, elbow pads, and knee pads are required.

Located in a new, state-of-the-art dance facility at NTC Promenade, the Malashock Dance School provides San Diego with a comprehensive array of dance classes for children, teens, and adults, from beginning to professional level dancers.

The younger set (ages three to seven) can explore movement through creative dance classes. Sessions for tweens and teens focus more on modern dance, where students learn the elements of creative dance combined with components of jazz and ballet. Those 15 and older are welcome to participate in the modern technique classes at the beginning, intermediate, and advanced levels.

The Malashock Dance School also hosts children?s spring break and summer camp sessions that provide short, fun, and creative class blocks that keep kids engaged and teach different movement styles and skills. Classes include creative movement, jazz, ballet, hip hop, musical theater, costumes and props, and more. Parents can choose either a morning or afternoon session for the week (Monday-Friday), or children can enroll for the full day.. Contact the school for more information.

Mission Bay Aquatics Center is San Diego's largest water sport center, offering sailing, wakeboarding, kayaking, waterskiing, surfing, rowing, windsurfing, and kiteboarding. It is run by the Associated Students of SDSU.

The center offers Youth Water Sports Camps during both summer and spring breaks. Campers receive instruction in their activity of choice during the morning sessions (marine science, surfing, sailing, etc.) and recreational activities in the afternoon where they get to try out other water sports.

The Center is not only for kids. On weekends and in the evenings, families are welcome to rent the equipment - or take a class together.

The Mission Valley Y is the twenty-fifth largest facility of its kind in the US and host to the largest summer camp program in North America (they must be doing something right over there). Mission Valley YMCA's facilities include the Mission Valley YMCA on Friars Road, the YMCA at Hazard Center, the Toby Wells YMCA, and Downtown YMCA.

Aquatics programs: Mission Valley YMCA offers a wide variety of aquatic programming. Its three pools (two at Friars Road and one at Toby Wells) are heated to different temperatures for optimal use for fitness, swim lessons, therapy and recreation. Programs include swim lessons, Master's swim, lap swimming, water exercise, recreational swim, swim team, arthritis classes, stroke clinics and more.

Fitness: Each Mission Valley YMCA facility has a state-of-the-art fitness center equipped with strength-training and cardio equipment. They offer computerized tracking of workouts; experienced and caring fitness coaches and personal trainers; 30-minute circuit training, mind/body programs; TVs on all cardio equipment, teen and tween fitness programs and more. More than 100 fitness classes are offered weekly, including group exercise, mind/body, indoor cycling and more.

The Toby Wells YMCA facility boasts an 11,000-square-foot gymnastics center. Toddlers learn the basics of movement in play-oriented lessons; school age children are introduced to more advanced gymnastics techniques and may choose to enter the competitive program.

Preschool: The Toby Wells YMCA has a developmental preschool for children ages three to five. It is a full-time program and includes weekly swim/gymnastics lessons and a family membership to the Y.

Babysitting: Kids Place at the Friars Road and Toby Wells locations offers up to two hours of babysitting while parents use the facility.

Sports Activities: Youth sports options for kids include basketball, t-ball, soccer, flag football, gymnastics, swim team, skateboarding, and karate.

Youth Organizations: Children in Kindergarten through Third Grade may join the Y Adventure Guides or Y Trailblazers programs. Twice each month these groups schedule meetings and an expedition activity or campout for a weekend. A great way to develop a lifelong relationship between parent and child. Teens have an opportunity to participate in Youth and Government or other monthly Teen events planned by the teens themselves.

Parties: Wondering Wondering what to do for this year's birthday party? The Y offers many possibilities, including a pool party, gymnastics party, skate park party, park party, and more.

Summer Camps: The Mission Valley YMCA may be most well known for its Summer Camp program. Choose from hundreds of camps based at either the Friars Road facility or the Toby Wells facility. Ideal for working parents, day camps include before- and after-care at no charge. The most popular ones are the swimming and gymnastics camps and the skateboarding camp - held at the Krause Family Skate Park in Clairemont. Choose from traditional, specialty, sports, teen, and resident camps.

Morley Field is a huge outdoor/indoor sports complex operated by the City of San Diego. Here you can find a place to do just about anything physical that you're interested in, including baseball, softball, basketball, tennis, archery, football, shuffle board, soccer, and swimming at Bud Kearns Municipal Pool.

The Community Building has information on local youth sports leagues and opportunities for instruction. Morley Field also features a children's playground, bicycle paths, picnic facilities, and a demonstration tennis court.

Perhaps the most unique aspect of Morley Field is its disk golf course, a large space dedicated to (Frisbee) golf.

Kidz Kampz are on the schedule to entertain and educate children during school vacations. For information on the camps, call 619.525. 8262 or email kidzkamps@gmail.com.

The Museum of Photographic Arts (MoPA) is dedicated to collecting, conserving, and exhibiting the whole range of photography. Public exhibits aim to educate and inform on cultural, historical and social issues.

The Education Department at the Museum of Photographic Arts offers a variety of programs for children including a photography outreach program, Exposure, spring and summer camps, scout workshops, specifically designed classes, and tours of the museum. In addition, the department provides classes and workshops for adults ranging from digital to alternative photography throughout the year. Self-guided and docent-led tours are available for school groups free of charge with a two-week advance reservation.

The Peninsula Y serves the communities of Point Loma, Ocean Beach, Mission Beach, Midway and Pacific Beach. The Y strives to have something for everybody and it mostly succeeds. You can register for most of these programs over the phone. But some, including the day camps, require showing up in person. Call to find out the registration date.

Aquatics: Swim programs are available from preschool Gym & Swim all the way to Lifeguard Training. The warm, shallow area of the pool is perfect for the little ones while the large area with lap lanes is home to the area swim team. There's also an Open Family Swim time.
The pool area can be booked for private parties by calling the Y.

Gym: The gym is used for adult aerobics and other fitness classes.

Basketball: is offered for children ages 5-11. The season begins in early December and ends mid February. Registration begins in the fall.

Sports Programs: T-ball, soccer, roller hockey, tennis and karate are among the after school sports offered for school age children.

Afterschool Program: Many locals take advantage of the school-age childcare programs. The older kids are picked up from school by young, energetic counselors in the Y van and transported to an after school program that is both safe and fun. This program features: sports activities, a Homework Club, arts and crafts, a daily snack, a drug prevention and character program as well as qualified staff and affordable rates.

Vacation Camps and Summer Camps: These are extremely popular and often filled to capacity, so book early! Some camps are taught exclusively at the Y, others take place in the field. Rock climbing, for instance, includes several climbs at a local indoor gym and field trip on the last day to an outdoor area in which to test out newly learned skills.

Y Guides and Adventure Princess/Guides Program: A program for boys and girls in Kindergarten - Third Grade. Fathers and their children participate in group activities that include camping trips and other fun outings.

Parties: The Y can make its pool available for birthday parties.

A large fitness center, aerobics, and family counseling are also available.

Hidden back among warehouses in South Poway Park is a 25,000-square foot gymnastics studio, Poway Gymnastics. Classes are designed for children of all ages and skill levels - from sessions for youngest ones with Mom and Tot classes to competitive teams. The equipment at the gymnasium is extensive and much of it state-of-the-art.

On Friday nights, 6:30pm-9:30pm, the gymnasium is open to the public. This is a time in which kids can work on their skills - or simply to give gymnastics a try - in a supervised environment. Parents are welcome to drop the kids off and take a few hours to themselves! The cost for Open Gym night is $10/members and $15/non-members.

Birthday parties, which are held on Sundays only, are an entertaining 1 1/2 hour event - 45 minutes of which are dedicated to gymnastics. The staff keeps the kids entertained with age-appropriate activities on the equipment (time on the trampoline is based on its availability). The remaining 45 minutes is for eating, supervised games, and presents - a time during which the parents are responsible for the children.

Let the kids (and grownups!) go wild in a room filled with giant inflatable slides and jumpies. An event at Pump It Up is held in a private, indoor, air conditioned room with huge interactive inflatable play structures. Consider this location for any kind of celebration or fun event: birthday, team sports, school, corporate team building, church groups, fundraising, field trips, or mothers group. For idea of how good it is, Pump It Up is an award-winning party franchise.

Birthday parties: Each party is two hours long with plenty of time for jumping on the inflatable equipment in the private arena. Following the jumping, enjoy the last half hour in a private party room designed for celebrating the birthday. Invite up to 25 kids! Pizza and drinks can be arranged. All parties at Pump It Up include supervision in the arena, invitations, paper goods, and cleanup of the party room.

The Rancho Bernardo-Glassman Recreation Center includes an enclosed building and a 38-acre park. The park area has two areas with play structures, eight ballfields, two outdoor basketball courts, six tennis courts, areas for lawn bowling, and a large gazebo. The Recreation Center building has an indoor gymnasium and rooms that can be rented (one includes a full kitchen).

Classes and camps for children are held at the Center. For details or a schedule, stop by or call the Recreation Center.

An affiliate of the Smithsonian Institution and located in Balboa Park, the San Diego Air & Space Museum houses a collection of historic aircraft and space vehicles from all over the world, including a replica of Lindbergh's Spirit of St. Louis, the actual Apollo 9 Command Module, and an Aviation Hall of Fame honoring flight pioneers.

Offering more than just neat things to look at, the museum has some great interactive exhibits. A favorite is the aircraft carrier, with a floor simulating a flight deck and a "Ready Room" that shows a film about working on a carrier. The museum is also the only venue in the world with an actual GPS satellite on display. To get any closer, you'd have to travel 11,000 miles into space!

The museum has so much to see and do that even those without an overwhelming interest in aviation will find themselves visiting more than once in order to see it all.

A museum annex, located at Gillespie Field, is worth seeing. This is where many museum volunteers replicate and restore aircraft.

Classes: Most classes offered at the museum are organized through schools, but it's possible to attend even if you're a free agent. Check the website to see what's available at any given time, then call or email the Education Department to enroll.

For kids with a bent for science, the Museum offers Aerosummer Summer Camp, which is actually a series of different camps for kids from first to twelfth grades. A description of each camp is on the Museum's website.

If your child is fascinated by locomotion or just likes toy trains, this is toy train heaven! All exhibits are constructed by volunteer model train hobbyists whose passion about the subject really shows.

The San Diego Model Railroad Museum houses the largest collection of indoor model railroads in the world. Four model exhibits represent the history and geography of the railroad system in Southern California. Kids are allowed to handle and run the trains in the interactive toy train room.

Train-lovers will be thrilled to discover the wide variety of rail-related items available in the gift shop, including toys, books, videos, clothing, jewelry, works of art, and other collectibles.

Parties: The Pacific Beach Room is available for birthday parties. Rental fees vary from $150-$200; which includes a variety of options and party favors from the Museum.

The San Diego Zoo is considered one of the best in the world, mainly for its longtime commitment to presenting animals in their own natural habitats. It's currently home to more than 4,000 animals and 6,500 plant species.

We suggest you start your visit by picking up your free map at the Zoo entrance, and planning your route carefully. With so much to see, one day may not be enough.

A must-see are the giant pandas. Display hours are limited and lines can get exasperatingly long, so ask Zoo personnel when they suggest you see the bears. A general rule of thumb is, the earlier the better.

We also recommend visiting the Monkey Trails and Forest Trails, Ituri Rainforest, Gorilla Tropics, Tiger River, Hippo Beach, and Polar Bear Plunge. The koalas, which are the only ones outside of Australia, and the albino python are other Zoo favorites. Also worth going to is The Children's Zoo, which has many pint-sized exhibits and hands-on activities for very young visitors. (Check out the Mouse House made of bread!)

Animal Shows: Two educational shows are offered daily in the Wegeforth Bowl and the Hunte Amphitheater. The shows introduce you to various Zoo residents