exploring how to keep kids engaged, active, and inspired during the long break. For many, summer camps remain one of the most valuable and enriching options available. From Santa Monica to Mar Vista and beyond, the Westside offers a wide range of camps that cater to every interest — from surfing and soccer to coding and creative arts. But beyond the daily activities, camps offer something more lasting: real-life experiences that help children grow. Summer camps encourage independence and personal responsibility. In a supervised setting, kids learn how to make decisions, manage their time, and work with others — skills that carry over into school, home, and social settings. These are especially important lessons in a world where structured routines and screen time often dominate the school year. Another key benefit is the opportunity for kids to unplug and stay active. Westside camps often Continue on page 11
025 WESTSIDE GOLDEN AGER SERIES 2023
Why Summer Camps Are a Smart Choice for Westside Families
Embracing the Golden Age: Rediscover Joy, Wisdom, and Adventure in West LA!
Where is the Series Distributed?
Get in Front of Over 250,000 West LA Residents! The Guide is Distributed in BOTH Print and Digital to the following communities; Santa Monica, Paci c Palisades, Brentwood, Venice, Marina del Rey, Culver City, Century City, Westwood, Bel-Air, West Hollywood, West Los Angeles via 7 West LA Media Outlets.
75,000 Email Subscribers 70,000 Print Circulation across 4 publications 180,000+ Unique Web Visitors Every Month across our Digital Network
Reaching Over 500,000 people in the West LA area over a 6 week campaign across 7 local West LA outlets
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Camp Dates: June 9 - August 15th, 2025 | Time: 9:00am - 12:00pm
Early Bird Special: Register before May 1st ($300 per week)
Location:
Westside Beach Camp (Will Rodgers State Beach, Tower 15) in Pacific palisades
New York Film Academy in Los Angeles Offers Summer Camps, Programs
New York Film Academy in Los Angeles is hosting several summer camps for teenagers and kids, providing practical training in disciplines within the film, media and performing arts industries.
Students work on exciting projects and learn the latest techniques and tools within their chosen creative field while studying under the direction and mentorship of experienced NYFA faculty.
While strengthening students’ skills in collaboration, presentation, critique and time management, NYFA’s summer camps also help students forge a creative path as they
pursue their chosen fields.
“This is a valuable opportunity for young artists to find their creative voice and forge a creative path. Our students create polished, advanced level work that can be showcased on resumes and applications,” said Chris Pettoni, NYFA’s director of youth and special programs at the Los Angeles campus.
Programs for kids ages 10-13 and 14-17 range from one week to three and six weeks in Filmmaking, Acting for Film, Screenwriting, Photography, 3D Animation, Game Design and more.
Longer programs have residential options available for students outside of Los Angeles.
“Our students learn by doing. We introduce them to the foundations of these different disciples by guiding them through a curriculum in which they’re making films, writing scripts, taking photos, creating games and animation and performing in front of the camera,” Pettoni said.
To learn more and register for NYFA’s summer opportunities, visit https://www.nyfa. edu/location/nyfa-los-angeles/
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Registration is Open for Harvard-Westlake Summer Programs
By Susan Payne
Summer programs at Harvard-Westlake are open for registration.
Participants can experience renowned programs in academics, visual arts, performing arts, film, debate and athletics, divided into six different program areas: North Faring Exploration, Coldwater Prep, Coldwater Arts, Debate LA and Wolverine Sports.
“Students in and outside of the HarvardWestlake community look forward to the range of summer programs we offer,” said Jim Patterson, director of summer programs. “Each program gives them a choice of offerings that align with their interests and summer schedule.”
New this year is a partnership with the California Institute of the Arts for performing artists in rising grades 10, 11, and 12. During these sessions, students apply their creative process and develop their own unique performance under the guidance of two professional performers.
“This is a tremendous opportunity for kids who are interested in performing to really think about their creative process and apply their process to creating some performance piece throughout the course of the program,” Patterson said.
Open to the wider community, Harvard-
Westlake summer programs include North Faring Exploration, a three-week academic and arts enrichment program for grades five through seven; Coldwater Prep, a mix of academic preparation and enrichment
for the upcoming school year; Coldwater Arts, a variety of art classes for grades seven through 12, including sewing, dance, photography and film; Debate LA, for students interested in debate, both beginner
and advanced; and Wolverine Sports, a summer sports program.
To learn more about Harvard-Westlake Summer Programs, visit https://www. hw.com/summerprograms.
Cali Camp Welcomes Los Angeles Campers
By Susan Payne
Roam streams, meadows and oak trees in the heart of rock-lined Topanga Canyon this summer at Cali Camp, a welcoming adventure for campers ages 4 to 14.
Offering three different camp experiences for classic fun, horse wranglers and leadership, Cali Camp is a daily American Camp Association accredited camp that runs weekly sessions from June 16 to August 8. Registration for the camp is now open for activities and outdoor fun that launches every camper’s experience.
Kassandra “Blaze” Wilsey, the executive director at Cali Camp, recommends campers register for the minimum of two weeks during the summer. The first week, reserved for acclimating new campers, and the second, to fully immerse themselves in the fun.
“The best way for campers to full immerse themselves into the camp experience is to have at least a two week enrollment, but it doesn’t have to be consecutive. We want them to get a sense of our program and then really dive into their camp experience. Everything from horseback riding to zip lining, to arts and crafts” Wilsey said.
This summer, Cali Camp is offering its traditional camp experience, Classic Camp, packed with swimming, arts and crafts, ropes courses, zip lines, aerial arts and more. For horse lovers, Wrangler Camp
offers horseback riding and horse care including halter, groom, tack, handle and bath skills. Junior Leader Program provides training experiences for teenagers ages 14-15, giving them opportunities to gain leadership skills, build positive self-images and enhance self-esteem.
“Junior Leaders get a sense of what it’s like to give back to the community and show leadership to younger campers in different age groups and activities. It’s a
fantastic program that prepares them for possible employment with us when they turn 16,” Wilsey said.
Whether campers are enrolling with a friend or a sibling, or alone, Cali Camp’s programming is specifically designed for campers to foster friendships by spending time in nature and exploring outdoor activities.
“We view it as an educational experience. Your child might not understand or know
they’re going through an educational process, but there’s much to be gained from the camp experience. Camp is the perfect place to foster new friendships. Our staff are trained on how to have kids connect with one another,” Wilsey said.
To register your camper for Cali Camp this summer or book an upcoming camp tour, visit CaliCamp.com.
JUNE 23RD - JULY 25TH
summer at new roads
June 16-July 25
Join us and experience the magic of New Roads this summer
with weekly camps for elementary school students from 9-3pm for $420
middle and high school classes to support core skills, academic placement and College Prep Bootcamp.
n Animation
n Podcasting
n Performing Arts
n Speech & Debate
n College Essay Writing Workshop
n Basketball Camp
n Wellness Camp
n Supplemental Algebra
n Reading, Writing, and Grammar Workshop
n Volleyball Camp
ASTEME Camps Explore Science, Technology, Math and Engineering
Many
teachers and parents hear this question daily when it comes to schooling: “When
am I ever going to use what I learn in class in my life?”
ASTEME, a nonprofit program created to help children discover the answer to this question, is offering a variety of summer camps that emphasize projectbased learning and hands-on activities for children interested in science, technology, engineering and math.
A fulltime elementary and middle school, ASTEME was founded 17 years ago by Allan Yu, a former director of the UCLA Math Project.
“We saw math as being the forefront of our academy: it’s a language you have to learn in order to access, science, technology and engineering. At ASTEME, we show
them exactly how math is used every day,” Yu said.
This summer, ASTEME is offering over 40 different thematic summer camp programs along with Math Guild, a camp spearheaded by Yu that bolsters students’ confidence and proficiency in mathematics while developing a deeper understanding of how math is used everywhere.
In addition to the themed camps, ASTEME’s award-winning robotics and coding camps are available for beginning to advanced coders.
“We have a Harry Potter themed science and magic camp, a LEGO engineering camp, Minecraft architecture camp, Disney and music camps,” Yu said. “We have developed camps that students are interested in, or from parents that have requested those camps. There’s something for everyone here.”
Featured weekly camps include preASTEME for transitional kindergarteners, math intensive camps for third through ninth graders, robotics and coding, wilderness survival, an all-girls science of Broadway music camp, interstellar exploration, media arts and more.
“Students enjoy our camps for two reasons: the first because our teachers are incredible, and secondly, they have fun.
It’s not just play or unstructured time; our lessons engage the students in a dynamic, yet academic way,” Yu said. Camps are offered in a weekly format for students entering transitional kindergarten up to ninth grade. Families who sign up for four or more camps get 15% off pricing.
Extended care is available after camp until 5:30pm. Scholarships and daily rates are available.
Registration for ASTEME Academy Summer Camps is open now. For more information and registration, visit asteme. com/summer.
USE CODE MIRROR25 FOR $25 OFF PER WEEK!
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make use of outdoor spaces, whether it’s beach games in Santa Monica, nature walks in Temescal Canyon, or sports at local parks. These programs provide a healthy balance of physical activity and free play that supports both mental and physical well-being. Creativity also plays a major role in summer programs. Art, music, theater, and STEM-focused camps give kids the chance to explore their passions and try something new. These experiences often boost confidence, spark curiosity, and open doors to lifelong interests. For working parents, camps can also provide a structured and supportive environment during business hours.
Many West LA programs offer early drop-off and extended care options, helping families maintain a smooth routine throughout the summer. With flexible durations — from weeklong sessions to full-summer enrollment — and options for all age groups, summer camps remain a trusted solution for keeping kids learning, moving, and making memories. Local directories, school newsletters, and community centers are great starting points for exploring available camps. Parents are encouraged to register early, as many of the most popular programs fill up quickly.
nonprofit art center, founded in 1970
Camps
Aquarium Aquarium
Rolling Robots Camp is a ‘Tech Genius Program’
Roll out the ... robots.
An afterschool learning center for robotics and STEM is hosting weekly camps this summer designed to encourage open creativity, deep exploration and project-based learning.
Rolling Robots, founded by aerospace engineers Bing Jiang and Dr. George Kirkman in 2008, is home to several world-class competition teams from Los Angeles, which continue to win numerous top awards at the VEX Robotics World Championship. Rolling Robots has four yearround locations in West Los Angeles, Pasadena, Palos Verdes and Irvine.
“I believe every kid is a genius to begin with. And as we equip and train them with more technical tools, and they achieve success along the way through designing robots, coding, practicing teamwork and experiencing defeat, but getting back up, which puts them on the path to become a true tech genius,” said Jiang.
During weekly summer camps, kids ages 5 to 15 are welcome to explore Rolling Robots’ camps in a non-competition format, designed to spark a budding interest in robotics and STEM. Participants, divided into age groups, learn technical tools, the engineering process and creative thinking through hands-on work.
Camps start June 9th through August 15th in the year-round locations and multiple popup locations. Sessions run one week at a time, Monday through Friday, morning and afternoon, or full day camps are available.
“Our unique half-day camp sessions provide flexibility to parents. Full-day campers will
learn two topics and have the benefit of our complimentary lunch hour,” Jiang said.
For ages 5-6, Junior Robot Builders build take-home robots every day of camp while Little Engineers learn about different engineering professions and complete a project. For ages 7-8, campers learn about LEGO robot coding and building. Campers ages 8-12 and higher learn VEX IQ robot build and code, as well as
C++ coding for VEX robots and Minecraft and Roblox game design, depending on the chosen camp.
For those campers who want to continue building robots throughout the year, eventually, they can join robotics competition teams as young as 9 and use complex systems and strategies for competition.
“These competitions inspire children to learn
more and build self-confidence in the process. We are both coaches and mentors, teaching them basic things, but ultimately, having the student decide, how do I want to build? What strategies do I want to play? what do I want to do? Students are always the center of the activity,” Jiang said. To learn more about Rolling Robots and find a camp location near you, visit RollingRobots. com.
Performing Arts Workshops Summer Camp Open for Registration
Performing Arts Workshops (PAW) has something for everyone this summer. They offer four two-week musical theater camps and eight oneweek variety camps across its eight Los Angeles locations.
Along with teaching acting, dance and voice technique, this summer PAW’s Musical Theater campers will have the opportunity to present children’s adaptations of Wicked, Hogwarts School Musical, Alice in Wonderland and Barbie Dream Musical.
Parents often combine a two-week musical theater session with a one-week camp in
specialties such as Actor’s Reel, Debate, Guitar, Photography, Story Slam, Stage FX Makeup, and more, depending on the interest of the child.
Cheryl Appleman, founder and president, said PAW is the ultimate arts experience for kids.
“Performing Arts Workshop is proud to offer a child-friendly approach to the performing arts. Our camp is not just for kids who want to be on stage, our goal is to offer an inclusive, well-rounded arts experience which introduces a child to new passions within the arts including delving into special FX makeup, photography, music, and even language arts like poetry, story writing and debate. With our dedication and commitment to children’s growth and fostering a creative safe space, many of our families come back year after year.”
From ages 5 to 14, PAW camps are designed with the child in mind and auditions are not required.
“We welcome anyone who signs up as long as they are in our age range. Over the first few days of musical theater camp, our teachers work with the kids to gauge their strengths and comfort levels. On the third day, the campers are assigned a role based on what they would be most comfortable playing. We feel this approach to theater bolsters every child’s selfconfidence and love for the arts.” Appleman
said. PAW was awarded L.A. Parent Magazine’s Best After School Program, Best Summer Camp and Best Live Children’s Theater.
To schedule your summer of performing arts, visit https://www.performingartsworkshops. com. Tuition rates, scholarships and financial assistance are available.
Kids Learn Season of Science, Biomimicry in Heal the Bay Science Camp
This summer, kids have the opportunity to engage in science in Heal the Bay’s Aquarium Summer Science Camp.
Heal the Bay is an environmental nonprofit dedicated to making the coastal waters and watersheds in Greater Los Angeles safe, healthy, and clean. The nonprofit offers exciting programs and camps throughout the year dedicated to fueling students’ love for science and learning.
This summer, campers will embark on an exciting, scientific journey of discovery and innovation in two parts: Season of Science and Biomimicry. The first part of camp, Season of Science, focuses on the process of scientific observation and explains the science behind seasonal change, and its impact on marine and terrestrial life, to inspire environmental stewardship. The second part, Biomimicry, investigates how humans take inspiration from nature to solve
problems and generate new technologies.
“During our outdoor camps, we are mindful of the kids, their physical safety and health while they make observations and critically think about the world around them. This two-part camp series engages children to learn about science, connect it to the wonders of the natural world, and all
while having fun,” said Robert Ramos, Heal the Bay’s educational manager.
Held at the Heal the Bay Aquarium at the Santa Monica Pier, session one is two weeks long and will be hosted June 23 through June 27, and June 30 through July 3, for kindergarten through second grade. Session two is July 7 through July 11, and
July 14 through July 18, for grades third through sixth. Enrollment ends June 20. Aftercare is available for an additional $20 per day and lasts from 2 p.m. to 3 p.m. For more information about the camps, visit https://healthebay.org/camps/. For questions, email Robert Ramos rramos@ healthebay.org.
Prime Time Sports and Day Camps Coming Soon
Time Sports Camp has remained a constant in the everchanging camp landscape for over 30 years by following this tried-and-true approach: keep it simple.
This summer, Prime Time is proudly featuring both its classic Sports Camp and signature Day Camp options so that campers will have an incredible and dynamic camp experience no matter their interests.
“Our recipe for success is simple: amazing staff, low staffing ratios, excellent facilities, and a dynamic, age-appropriate curriculum designed to make sure that each child goes
home every day ‘tired, dirty and happy,’” said Peter Straus, who founded Prime Time in 1990.
This summer Prime Time Sports Camp has four locations in Marina Del Rey, Culver City, Silver Lake and West Los Angeles offering summer opportunities for campers, boys and girls ages 4-14 in grades pre-kindergarten to 8th grade.
Each location offers both Prime Time camp options. For kids who can’t play enough, Prime Time SPORTS is all about sports and games, specializing in over 10 different sports in addition to weekly tournaments, Olympicthemed weeks, guest speakers, special events and, of course, the Prime Time Carnival.
For the camper who enjoys it all, Prime Time’s Day Camp offers the best of Prime Time SPORTS balanced with the wildly popular components of the Prime Time afterschool program including art academy, tech time, movie production, themed weeks, special events and of course, sports and games.
“Families love that we have different camp options because they can drop off multiple kids at a single, safe location and know that they’re going to have a great time,” Straus said.
and film production through Prime Time Day Camp, all at one location.”
“Parents want their children to be exposed to different activities, and having different camp
options allows us to do that within the context of each program. We’re able to incorporate activities like lacrosse, pickleball, tennis and golf; sports that some of the kids don’t have access to every day while at the same time introducing things like 3D printing, robotics
To learn about the camp offerings and sign up today, visit www.primetimesportscamp. com
Our talented teachers and staff have developed a variety of innovative summer programming, with a range of opportunities for students to pursue their studies, explore new experiences, learn and have fun!
