DAY CAMP PROGRAMS

It may not seem like it, but summer is fast approaching--at least for day camp providers who are finalizing their programs this month. City-sponsored summer recreation information is usually mailed to residents in the early spring. Sign-ups take place between March and early June.

Here are just a few of the myriad Orange County summer programs being planned for this year:

* The Santa Ana Recreation and Community Services Agency will offer 6- to 12-year-olds supervised care from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. The cost is $80 for each two-week session. Non-Santa Ana residents pay $120 for two weeks. Scholarships are available for families who cannot afford to pay. (714) 647-5301.

* The West County Family YMCA in Huntington Beach also offers scholarships for its day camp and day-care programs. For day care, parents pay $66 weekly for supervised programs from 6:45 a.m. to 6 p.m. and children participate in low-cost activities like bowling and miniature golf. Day camp, with field trips to amusement parks, costs about $90 a week. (714) 847-9622.

* Camp Frazier, on the site of the old Lion Country Safari park in Laguna Hills, provides day camp for 300 to 400 children daily during the summer. Activities include swimming at the Wild Rivers water park, which is on the Camp Frazier property, horseback riding, canoeing, fishing, lessons in karate, gymnastics and puppetry, and hiking. The cost is $150 a week for programs running from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. A minimum two-week sign-up is required. (714) 837-1200.

* Oceanside Aquatics Camp, for those who do not mind a long drive, draws participants from the East Coast and Europe as well as from Orange County and San Diego. Two-week sessions cost $110 and include instruction in surfing, body boarding and marine biology from experts, including some of the world’s top competitive surfers. Although the beach program runs from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m., arrangements can be made for extended care. The surf camp has proved so popular that an adult version has been started.

* The East Bluff Boys’ and Girls’ Club will have roller skating, bike riding, swimming, nature hikes through Newport’s Back Bay and excursions on its summer day camp program. Cost is $85 a week.

* Other sources for summer day care include private schools, preschools and public schools.

City-sponsored programs are listed below:

City Ages Hours Weekly Fees Phone Anaheim 5-12 7-6 $82.50 999-5191 Brea 6-12 7-6 $73 671-4428 10-4 $52 Costa Mesa 6-12 7-6 *$75 642-1569 9-4 *$65 Cypress 5-12 10-4 **$40 229-6780 Fullerton 5-13 7-6 $80 738-6575 10-4 $75 Garden Grove 5-12 7-6 * $70 741-5200 Huntington Beach 6-12 8:30-4 $85 960-8870 or 960-8895 Irvine 6-12 7:30-6 * $84 854-8144 9-5 * $64 Laguna Niguel***** La Habra 5-12 6:15-6 * $60 (213) 697-7545 La Mirada 5-12 7-6 $45 (213) 943-7277 La Palma 5-12 7:30-6 $50 522-6740 Mission Viejo***** Newport Beach***** Orange 5-12 8-4 *** $30 532-0383 Placentia 5-12 7-6 $75 993-8232 San Juan Capistrano 5-12 7:30-6 * $75 493-5911 9-5 * $65 493-5911 Santa Ana 6-12 6-6 **** $70/100 647-5301 Seal Beach 5-11 9-4 $75 (213) 431-2527 x227 Stanton 4-13 10-4 no cost 220-2220 x277 Tustin 6-11 7:30-6 $67 544-8890 x220 Westminster 5-12 9:30-3:30 no cost 895-2860

* Indicates 1990 fees have not been set. The figures shown are from 1989.

** City of Cypress offers day camp one to three weeks during the summer, depending on the child’s age.

*** City of Orange charges $30 for the entire summer program, but parents must pay for each excursion their child goes on.

**** City of Santa Ana runs two-week minimum programs at cost of $80 to residents and $120 to non-residents.

***** Does not offer a day camp program.