Summer Options Include Soccer, Baseball, Riding and Field Trips

Parents looking for ways to fill their child’s idle summertime hours may choose from a wide selection of day camps sponsored by cities, schools and private institutions throughout Ventura County. Here is a sampling:

Peppercorn Riding School--Horseback-riding day camp, June 16-Aug. 1, for ages 8-15. Western or English riding instruction and horse management will be covered. $200 per week. Located at Willow Creek Ranch, 6645 Wheeler Canyon Road, between Ventura and Santa Paula. Information: 525-9824.

Ventura College Community Services--Series of weeklong day camps, June 23-Aug. 15, for ages 6-14. Volleyball, baseball and basketball camps will be offered, as well as an explorers camp, which will include wilderness hikes and field trips to beaches, museums and other attractions. $110-$135 per week. Located at Ventura College, 4667 Telegraph Road. Information: 654-6459.

Painted Pony Farm--A day camp focusing on nature, June 16-Aug. 16, for ages 5-10, with a junior counselor program for ages 11-14. One-week sessions cover animal education and care, cooking, crafts, frog and tadpole hunting, gardening and swimming. $120 per week. Located at 15315 Ojai-Santa Paula Road, Ojai. Information: 525-9820.

Tres Condados Girl Scout Council--Day camps of three to five days in Camarillo, Fillmore, Thousand Oaks, Moorpark, Ojai, Simi Valley and Ventura, as well as Santa Barbara and Arroyo Grande. Open to girls 5-17. Girl Scout membership not required. Crafts, outdoor skills and other activities based on different themes for each camp. About $20-$40 per session with sliding fee available. Discounts for older girls who serve as program aides. Information: 649-9363.

Camp Tecuya--Girl Scout-sponsored overnight camp located outside Frazier Park. The 15 sessions run from June 22 to Aug. 16 for girls, ages 7-17, Scouts and non-Scouts. Backpacking, swimming, tent camping, outdoor cooking and nature exploring. Horseback riding also available. Session are five, seven or 10 days. $165-$429, with sliding fees available. Information: 649-9363.

Mini-Hawks Sports Camp--The Skyhawks Sports Academy will offer a Mini-Hawks day camp June 23-27 and Aug. 4-8 for ages 4-7. Soccer, basketball, baseball. $86, with financial aid available for low-income families. Held at Arroyo Vista Community Park, off Tierra Rejada Road, Moorpark. Information: 531-9100.

Camp Moorpark--Similar to other city-sponsored programs throughout the county. The camp runs June 16-Sept. 2 for ages 5-12, and a counselor-in-training program for ages 12-14. Camps include field trips and activities based on different themes. $36 for two days, $75 for five, with additional fees for some field trips. Counselors-in-training are half price. Sports camps are also offered in five-day sessions throughout the summer for ages 7-14. $65-$89 per week. Information: 531-9100.