Outdoor wilderness skills are a popular component at many summer camps.
Each summer, the final bell of the school year leads to a teenager's inevitable complaint: "I'm bored!" A short respite from solitary activities such as watching television and playing computer games can improve your teen's physical and mental well-being. For decades, summer camps have been the hallmark of youthful summer recreation, giving parents a reprieve from teenage summer doldrums. Today, an assortment of California camps exist to accommodate your teen's individual interests.
iD Tech Camps
Teens with a penchant for all things computer-related will revel in the technical environment at iD Tech Camps. Week-long and overnight camps take place at prestigious universities such as Stanford, University of California at Berkeley and University of California Los Angeles. Participants choose from a range of technical programs such as video game design, 3D modeling, graphic design, programming and robotics. The camp boasts a six-to-one ratio of campers to instructors for maximum teaching impact. Campers rage in age from seven to 17 years. An advanced teen academy is offered for youths ages 13 to 18.
iD Tech Camps
42 West Campbell Avenue
Suite 301
Campbell, CA 95008
888-709-8324
internaldrive.com
GO Adventure Trips
GO Adventure caters to adventurous youth between the ages of 12 and 18. The company focuses on wilderness survival skills, outdoor recreation and environmental awareness. Trips can be as short as a one-day hike or as long as a 14-day wilderness adventure. Teens have the opportunity to learn about first aid and nutrition. Those participating in a three-day or longer trip participate in recreational activities such as rafting.
Lifeschool's Go Adventure
P.O. Box 134
Bodega, CA 94922
707-876-3071
goadventure.org
Oxbow Summer Art Camp
Teens with an artistic inclination thrive at Oxbow Summer Art Camp. The Napa, California, program provides 13-to-16-year-old teens instruction on a myriad of artistic mediums. Programs include traditional art mediums of drawing, painting, illustration and sculpture. Modern artistic options also include digital photography and computer arts. Summer sessions last 16 days and teens stay in dormitory-style accommodations.
The Oxbow Summer Art Camp
530 Third Street
Napa, CA 94559
707-255-6000
oxbowschool.org
American Dance Training Camp
If your teen has natural rhythm and a desire to dance, the American Dance Training Camp holds sessions in both northern and southern California. The camp caters to youths between 13 and 17 years of age. Sessions last approximately one week, culminating in an all-camp showcase recital. Teens choose from a wide selection of dance movement styles including ballet, jazz, lyrical, modern, tap, hip hop and funk.
American Dance Training Camp
P.O. Box 14922
San Francisco, CA 94114
866-383-2382
americandancetrainingcamp.com
Camp Loma Mar YMCA
Operated by the East Bay YMCA, Camp Loma Mar is a traditional overnight summer camp offered to teens entering the ninth or tenth grade. Teens reside in cabins during their stay on the 100-acre site. Programs include hiking, crafts and a climbing wall. Camp Loma Mar focuses on teaching environmental and outdoor skills as well as character-building values. Sessions last approximately one week, and participants must pay for YMCA membership in addition to camp fees.
YMCA Camp Loma Mar
9900 Pescadero Road
Loma Mar, CA 94021
650-879-0223
lomamar.ymcaeastbay.org
The Catalina Experience
The Catalina Experience teen camp programs focus on outdoor adventures in a marine environment. Campers range between 13 and 17 years of age, and each session lasts between one to two weeks. Located on an idyllic island environment, teens participate in activities such as kayaking, snorkeling, tide pooling and night hikes while learning about survival techniques, oceanography and ecology.
The Catalina Experience
P.O. Box 31
Avalona, CA 90704
888-829-5553
thecatalinaexperience.com
Tags: Camp Loma, activities such, American Dance, American Dance Training, Catalina Experience, Dance Training, Dance Training Camp
