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.

Academy by the Sea and Camp Pacific offer three separate residential camps for kids ages eight through 16.

The month-long Academic program focuses on improving study skills and strengthening students' education. Campers choose four classes from a variety of subjects, and focus on these academic areas. Fun is part of the curriculum, with plenty of afternoon and weekend recreational activities. Boarding is encouraged, though day students are welcome to attend.

Camp Pacific is for the camper looking for recreation and sports. Skill-building, teamwork, sportsmanship, and self-improvement are elements the campers focus on - as well as on having fun. Those in Camp Pacific have the option of participating int the Surf and Bodyboard camp.

At the week-long Surf and Bodyboard camp, campers learn how to surf and bodyboard - or improve on existing skills. The sessions include instruction on the beach, classroom instruction, and independent practice.

The cost includes meals, internet access, all athletic and social activities, and a T-shirt.

Acting Professionally offers screen acting classes for adults and children, taught by actor and director Terry Ross. Summer camps on related topics are also available.

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.

Amazing Science gets kids excited about science with hands-on, innovative programs that include make-and-take-home projects.

Many of the Amazing Science programs take place in schools, but their birthday parties and summer camps are also highly successful. Birthday party sessions can take place at a home, school, or park and run for close to an hour (depending on the ages of the kids and the season). At the party, the instructor performs eight to 10 high-energy highly entertaining demonstrations - with the birthday child in assistance. In addition, each child completes a project to take home. Theme-related goody bags are included.

Amazing Science summer camps focus on two different topics, with each child making two make-and-take-home projects each day. The camps, held in Del Mar, are scheduled during two weeks in July.

American Family Kenpo Karate offers classes and camps. Check the website for current offerings.

Angel Acres, an equestrian riding and boarding facility, offers a spring and summer camps for kids interested in learning about caring for and riding horses. The 10-acre facility is spread over two adjacent ranches and includes an equestrian center with two riding arenas, allowing multiple riders to work out at the same time. In addition to riding, the week-long camp offers arts and crafts, journal writing, country dancing lessons, games, and more. Of special interest to the kids is the barnyard, which has llamas, a potbelly pig, goats, and birds.

Angel Acres also offers boarding facilities for up to 40 horses. The private, peaceful, and attractive ranch can be rented for parties. Call or visit the website for details.

Aquatic Adventures offers a marine science and water sports day camp for six to 12 year olds and a more intensive day program called Eco Expedition for 11-16 year olds. The program integrates real science with real fun through dissections, experiments, and field adventures.

Art 4 Children offers a wide variety of classes - some at local schools, many at the studio, others at private events - including birthday parties. They even offer week-long camps for kids during school breaks. The classes range from Mommy and Me sessions to arts and crafts workshops for the older kids.

Art 4 Children offers a wide variety of classes - some at local schools, many at the studio, others at private events - including birthday parties. They even offer week-long camps for kids during school breaks. The classes range from Mommy and Me sessions to arts and crafts workshops for the older kids.

Art Start's Susan Bainbridge teaches students to develop creativity and drawing skills through afterschool enrichment classes and summer camp programming.

Online registration is available on the City of Poway's website.

The Australian Surf Academy operates at La Jolla Shores conducting weekly day camps (surf & sports) for kids and private lessons for all ages. Kids get to experience the culture of Australia along with professional surf instruction. The Academy is operated by Surf Diva Surfing School.

Band at the Beach, now in its 20th year, is a "music advocacy" organization offering group and private music lessons to students interested in learning how to play the piano and other musical instruments. They also refer qualified music teachers.

During the summer, Band at the Beach holds a music camp for students in seventh through 12th grades that culminates with a concert open to the public. Students must have two years' experience or a note from their teacher to attend. The camp is held at the Masonic Center of Point Loma, 1711 Sunset Cliffs Boulevard, in Ocean Beach.

The Barnes Tennis Center has twenty hard top courts and four clay courts, a backboard, a volleyball court, and a basketball court, all of which make the place one of the most comprehensive sports centers in town. It's also a great place to learn tennis; the coaches are chosen not only for their status as USTA Pros but for their exceptional ability to teach children.

Just as attractive to parents (and children) is that the set up allows for children to be safely dropped off after school. Upon arrival kids are checked in at a security entrance and are supervised while at the Center.

Between rounds, kids have a chance to do homework at the Learning Center, which offers access to computers and a full time tutor with a Master's degree in Education. Across the hall is a player's lounge where kids can relax and unwind from a busy day and maybe get in a game of ping-pong or two.

Parents are encouraged to get involved with their child's activities and are invited to a once monthly Pizza Night where they can visit with coaches and the director of the program.

Because the Center wants to include all children with an interest in tennis, scholarships are available upon review of application with proof of financial need.

Disabled players are welcome and special tournaments and classes are available as well.

Classes: The cost of lessons varies depending on the size and duration of class. Eight weeks of once-weekly group lessons for kids, for instance, is $100. Private lessons cost approximately $40 per hour and can be arranged by contacting your favorite coach. You can borrow or buy racquets for children and adults in the small, but comprehensive pro shop.

In addition to individual and group lessons the center hosts a free tournament for kids from 2pm-4pm the first Sunday of each month. The snack bar is open during tournaments.

Barnes also offers Team Tennis For Kids.This program is designed to have children as young as age 7, at the beginning level, participate in tennis as a team sport.

The "Junior Development Program" is designed to help children who choose tennis as their primary sport and want to play at a competitive level.

Summer camps: If you're interested in summer camp, you can register for one-week half-day sessions (9am-12pm) for $105-$150 or a full day (7:30am-3pm) for $170.

If your kids are fascinated by the underwater world but you can't fathom the cost of a visit to SeaWorld, then the Birch Aquarium is the place to go. The aquarium is the public exploration center for world-renowned Scripps Institution of Oceanography, part of the University of California, San Diego. For more than a century, the aquarium-museum has inspired visitors with the wonders of the ocean. The aquarium features interactive exhibits and fabulous educational programs.

Perched on the side of a hill overlooking La Jolla Shores, this beautiful facility enjoys panoramic views of the Pacific, which are best appreciated from the outdoor tidepool plaza. Visitors are encouraged to touch tide-pool creatures such as hermit crabs, sea stars, sea cucumbers, and more with assistance from trained volunteers.

Inside, children will be mesmerized by a giant tank of silvery sardines that marks the entrance to the Hall of Fishes. The aquarium features a stunning variety of Pacific marine life in more than 60 habitats. A crowd favorite is a 70,000-gallon kelp forest tank where interactive dive shows are held Tuesdays and Thursdays at 12:30pm and Sundays at 10:30am.

Scripps Explorers Gallery features a museum showcasing cutting-edge discoveries by Scripps explorers. Dive into exhibitions that showcase the mysteries of ocean, air, land, and life through interactive displays and media.

Wonders of Water entices visitors to make a splash as they experience rippling, streaming water in three outdoor waterplay stations. Imaginations will overflow as guests of all ages build dams and create rapids, design watersheds, and explore water.

During the summer, the aquarium holds Summer Learning Adventure Camps for kids ages four to 15. The programs give campers opportunities to explore ocean habitats, learn about marine biology, meet animals up-close, and learn to surf and snorkel.

The aquarium offers two-hour themed educational birthday parties that include hands-on activities with live animals, marine-themed crafts, aquarium tours, and other activities.

Family Days, held on the third Saturday of each month from 11am to 3pm, merge earth and ocean sciences with art and literacy themes for all ages. Each month's theme is introduced through crafts, stories, interactive exploration, and occasional activities with researchers from Scripps Institution of Oceanography. Family Days activities are included free with admission.

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.

The Buena Vista Lagoon is a charming fresh water ecological reserve which straddles the Oceanside-Carlsbad city line. The only fresh-water lagoon in the state of California, it is home to dozens of varieties of migrant and resident waterfowl, and is the site of the Buena Vista Audubon Society, which operates a small but fascinating Nature Center on the edge of the lagoon.

The Nature Center displays one of the finest collections of of taxidermied animals and birds in San Diego county. Kids will be enthralled by displays of insects collected by the resident "Bug Man," and will love to touch and feel the bones, feathers, and nests on the activity table, not to mention the live tarantula.

Besides looking at the exhibits, you'll want to explore the surroundings and discover the many varieties of local plants, animals, and birds for yourself. There are two trails near the Nature Center with lots of interesting views of the lagoon inhabitants. Picnic facilities are available if you choose to make a day of it.

The Nature Center offers tours of the area by reservation, or you are welcome to join a tour if you just happen to come by while one is being given.

Summer camps at the Nature Center tap kids into nature with activities that include docent-led nature talks and lagoon walks, and a variety of artistic endeavors.

The Cabrillo Rec. Center offers a variety of classes for kids, children's ceramics, cooking, crafts, and hula among them. Children ages 8-14 may register here to participate in the area's Youth Flag Football program.

Summer sports camps are offered to children ages 4-14 in conjunction with Skyhawks, a national program, that offers instruction in soccer, baseball, basketball and flag football. These camps are one week in duration and are offered for half-day or whole day.

Afterschool Care: Offered before and after school from 6:30am-7:30pm. Parents can opt to sign their children up on a daily or weekly basis. Activities included in the camp are art, crafts, sports, and movies.

Snug Harbor is a year-round recreation area that offers an abundance of water sport opportunities, including water skiing, board sailing, kayaking, canoing, rowing, and fishing. The Harbor is on public land, but it is operated and maintained by California Water Sports.

California Water Sports rents everything from paddle boats, to canoes and jet skis, and will take you water skiing, wakeboarding, or tubing. It also offers Birthday Party Packages and runs summer Camp H2O Extreme.

Camp Cahito, run by Camp Fire, is a place for campers to spend from one week to nine weeks. With a different theme each week, campers find new adventures no matter how long they attend. Located on seven beautiful acres in historic Balboa Park, Camp Cahito is ideal for parents working downtown.

Generally, the camp is open to girls and boys going into first through sixth grades in the fall, but check the schedule for special opportunities for younger and older campers.

Camp hours are from 9am-3:30pm with extended hours available from 7:30am-5:30pm. Campers bring a sack lunch each day; snacks are provided by Camp Fire.

Campers can participate in archery, arts, crafts, hiking, exploring the world, drama, outdoor living skills, camp songs, and much more.

Let your children's imaginations run wild this summer at the national Camp Invention, a weeklong day camp offered in elementary schools across the country. In San Diego, the camp is held at Valley Vista Elementary, in Bonita.

Kids in the first through sixth grades participate in fun, hands-on activities that enhance their understanding of the arts, sciences, history, and math.

Created by the National Inventors Hall of Fame Foundation in partnership with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office.

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 Playball is an age-specific sports program for children ages three to nine. Children learn the basics of soccer, tennis, hockey, basketball, baseball, volleyball, and more, in a fun, creative, and non-competitive environment. Camp Playball develops and reinforces life skills such as confidence, self esteem, cooperation, leadership, and respect.

The camp is offered at five different locations throughout San Diego: Carmel Valley, La Jolla, Scripps Ranch, Clairemont, and
North County.

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.

During the summer, Carlsbad Lightning Soccer offers week-long camps for kids looking to improve their soccer skills in a friendly environment. The camps are held at different park fields in Carlsbad.

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.

Circle T Ranch is a spacious, well-shaded riding facility offering day camps June through September. Campers learn about grooming and the care of horses, and participate in riding instruction and trail rides, crafts, and horse-related games. Journal writing gives campers a tangible memory of their time at the Circle T Ranch and dance instruction is also available. At the end of the week, parents are invited to participate in a bonfire and BBQ with their children.

Circle T Ranch also offers private lessons and private trail rides for riders of all levels and ages.

The City of Carlsbad runs a number of youth programs at facilities all over Carlsbad. Most are coordinated through the Recreation Department office. The programs include a youth basketball leagues, track and field clinics, field trips for teens, and a variety of summer camps for children ages five to 17.

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.

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.

Converse International School of Languages ffers an intensive summer Spanish or French language program for teens. Students study the language by speaking, listening, reading, and writing skills from 9am to 12:30pm and afternoons from 1pm to 5:30pm.

Students also have the option of attending supervised fun activities and excursions with teens from Spain, France, Italy, Germany, Mexico, Brazil, and Japan. Activities include beach day, movie day, volleyball day, a Harbour cruise, San Diego Zoo, and Seaworld. Excursions include trips to Six Flags Magic Mountain, Disneyland, and much more!

Choose between Option A (Spanish only) or Option B (Spanish plus activities). A placement test is administered to determine student's level prior their start date. Levels start at Beginner and continue through Advanced/Bilingual. The enrollment fee of $75 covers the cost of text books and placement test.

Located in the Mid-City area of San Diego, the Copley YMCA serves the communities of Allied Gardens, College, East San Diego, Grantville, North Park, Normal Heights, City Heights, and Talmadge.

The Y offers a range of programs, from afterschool care and day camps for elementary school kids to all-day child care for preschoolers.

Its aquatics program begins with Preschool Swim and offers a series of progressive swim lessons to children of all ages plus a Swim Team program in its heated indoor pool.

Youth Sports include basketball, soccer, flag football and Tae Kwon Do.

A one-time joiner fee of $45 is required for family memberships (but not for teens).

Traditional day camps are offered during the summer, spring, and winter breaks. Activities include arts and crafts, games, weekly field trips, and swimming.

CSUSM-ES Summer Youth Camps offers three camps that stimulate kids' creativity.

Engineering with