paddleboarding , pitching tents , cooking and gathering around a campfire to roast marshmallows , plus other activities like indoor rock climbing . Camp culminates with an overnight experience that kids are sure to be talking about once school starts again in the fall . |
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approach . We just don ’ t do that .”
Beach Camp Laguna is another local favorite that offers two different camps grouped by age . Little Mermaids & Sea Cubs is for kids ages 4 ½ to 7 , while Beach Camp Laguna is designated for kids ages 7-14 . Like Laguna Ethos , Beach Camp Laguna is more than just fun and games , ( although there ’ s plenty of that , too ). Campers are also taught ocean safety and awareness while activities range from short swims past the ocean breakers to fun lifeguard-related games , paddleboarding , bodysurfing , snorkeling and more . Parents can register for the weeklong camps online through the city of Laguna Beach .
Laguna ’ s Junior Lifeguards Program is a perennial favorite best suited for kids ages 8-15 looking for a challenge . The program hinges on ocean safety , rescue techniques , physical fitness and teamwork . All
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Clockwise from bottom left : Pro Touch Soccer Camp ; Beach Camp Laguna ; a Legofocused camp , all offered through the city
newcomers must pass a swim test before getting the green light to enroll , so the first step would be to make an appointment ( Fridays and Saturdays only ) at the Laguna Beach High School and Community Pool on one of the dates posted online throughout the spring and first week of summer .
The city also offers skimboarding camps , taught either by champion rider Paulo Prietto and staff from his SoLag Skim School or The Vic champion Johnny Weber with Leo Bushman and Victoria Skimboards owner Tex Haines assisting . The SoLag camps take place at Treasure Island Beach — walking to Aliso Beach if conditions are better there — focusing on everything from basic skills to advanced maneuvers . The Victoria Skimboards camps roam along beaches from Thalia to Bluebird , teaching water safety , wrapping waves and advanced tricks for every level plus tide pool exploration and beach fun ; both camps offer loaner boards and feature a ratio of five campers to one instructor .
Last , but not least , the Boys & Girls Club ’ s Action-Packed Adventure Camp Week , Aug . 5-9 , is a special opportunity for kids in fifth grade or older to embrace the great outdoors via hiking , kayaking or stand-up
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ARTISTIC ENDEAVORS Looking for something a little more artistic for the little ones this summer ? Laguna Art Museum and Laguna Playhouse have it covered . This summer , the museum is focusing on weekly day camps held every Monday from 9:30 a . m . to 2 p . m . for kids ages 6-12 . First up is Art Adventure Day Camp on June 24 . “ Top Secret ,” the program blurb teases , “ channel your inner spy and adventurer as the museum transforms into an immersive code-breaking space , equipped with cryptic clues and yarn lasers .”
Mini camp add-ons from 3-5 p . m . are also available after the day sessions . Parents would be wise to keep checking the museum website for the staggered release of additional summer programming , but Museum Educator Katherine Morton promises they ’ ve got a ton of fun things planned . “ Each program will be different ,” Morton says , noting that some will mix in science , technology , engineering and math , or STEM . “ Think … the chance to blow things up in the art museum , allowing kids to make a mess in a space that usually feels more restrictive .” As an added bonus , the museum is closed to the general public on Mondays , so kids get full , free reign of the entire museum space .
According to Morton , the types of children who thrive in the art museum ’ s programs are “ kids that are open to exploring , that have a lot of high energy , that want to learn more about art , but also more about
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BOTTOM : DUSAN STEVANOVIC |
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