Ready to send your kid to sleepaway camp this year? We're gathering parent recommendations for the best overnight camps near Los Angeles...or near enough to be worth the trip for an epic summer experience!
Parent reviews are essential to picking out the right overnight camp, so please add a review below if your kids have attended any of these. LA parents, if your favorite overnight summer camps in California aren't on the list yet, please suggest them as new recommendations to let the community know about them.
Find more summer fun on our full Los Angeles camp guide.
AstroCamp Mountain Science Adventure Summer Program
With core activities centering on mountain adventures, science exploration, and arts and crafts, there's plenty of creative fun to be had at AstroCamp. Nightly and themed activities, plus a heated indoor pool, disc golf course, and other attractions, will keep kids occupied in their off-hours.
Endless Summer Surf Camp
Campers can summer by the sea and learn everything there is to know about surfing- the basics, paddling, catching waves, standing up, turning techniques, etiquette, ocean awareness, and safety. Off-hours are spent touring the city, skateboarding, playing ping pong or basketball, and helping repair surfboard dings. Of course, campfires and recap videos of everyone's surfing trials are popular, too.
School of Creative and Performing Arts Summer Camps
Teens get an immersive creative experience at SOCAPA's performing arts camps. With acting, dancing, music, filmmaking, and photography, plus a unique action film & mountain biking session, kids will hone their craft. There are "boot camp" courses, introductory units, and advanced classes to suit each skill level. Day camp options also available.
Griffith Park Boys Camp
This boys-only sleepaway camp invites youth to climb a 30-foot rock wall, take on a ropes course challenge, learn archery, and hike in the great outdoors. Each week involves a field trip and similarly themed activities. The city of LA oversees the facility, so they manage applications and the potential waiting list. Older teens can participate in the Camper Leadership Training program.
Camp Hollywoodland
The city of LA manages this girls sleepaway camp, and space is limited so sign up early if possible! Camp activities like rock climbing, ziplining, archery, crafts, swimming, and more encourage girls to stay active, but leadership skills are also promoted. Themed weeks include outdoor and indoor pursuits, creative activities, and field trips. They also offer Camper Leadership Development programs for ages 15-17.
Catalina Island Summer Camp
This outdoor-centered camp gets kids in and under the water with kayaking, scuba diving, and other watersports. They also spend time playing games, rock climbing, learning archery, tackling obstacle courses, and more! Transportation to and from San Pedro is offered as part of camp tuition.
Amplify Sleep Away Camp
Mandy Hampton Fitch: Our daughter had never been to sleep away camp. After hearing amazing things about it from friends, we send her off for two weeks and she had the time of her life! She sang, took photos, learned about podcasting, spoke French with some of the girls there and made friends she will have forever. Can't say enough great things about this place!
The Road Less Traveled Summer Travel Programs
Completed grade 6-12
Although it's not your typical summer camp experience, The Road Less Traveled offers wonderful life changing travel opportunities for middle school and high school students. Students can go many places inside the United States or can travel internationally! From community service and language programs to scuba diving and summer adventures, there are lifelong memories to be made at every destination!
Primary photo: Amplify Arts Project
Upparent collects community-submitted recommendations and reviews, and any ideas that are shared reflect the opinions of individual contributors.
