Summer Camps, Programs for Children Abound

As the school year comes to an end, parents looking to keep their children busy during the long summer break have many options. Here are some programs offered locally:

* City parks in the San Fernando Valley offer a variety of camps and programs for children. For more information, call the city of Los Angeles Recreation and Parks Department, (818) 756-8060 or your local park.

* Low-cost child care will be offered through the 31st District PTSA Latchkey Project at Calvert, Darby, Emelita, Nestle and Superior elementary schools from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. June 28-Sept. 3. Call (818) 996-2668.

* Kids ages 5 to 13 can enjoy free crafts and activities at parks in the city of San Fernando from 2:30 to 5:30 p.m. weekdays. The city also offers a youth basketball program for ages 5 to 16. It begins June 28 and costs $20. Call (818) 898-1290. Swimming lessons are available at the San Fernando Recreation Pool for $14 to $20 per two-week session. Call (818) 898-1291.

* Space is available in several weeklong camps offered by the city of Burbank for ages 8 to 12 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. weekdays. Cost is $100 a week. Enrichment programs for students in the second through ninth grades range from $200 to $300 for an eight-week session. Call (818) 238-5397. Half-day sports camps are also offered. Call (818) 238-5330.

* The city of Glendale offers several day camps for ages 6 to 15 at local parks. Cost is $85 a week. Call (818) 548-3797.

* Summer day camps offered by the city of Calabasas are full, but there are specialty programs at local parks, ranging from Rollerblading camp ($12 a day) to cheerleading dance camp ($129 a week). Call (818) 880-6461.

* The city of Agoura Hills has an array of activities for ages 3 to 15, including an afternoon day camp for preschoolers and an “adventure club” for ages 11 to 15. Children ages 6 to 11 can attend camp from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Monday through Thursday from June 21-Aug. 19 for $14 a day. On Fridays, children visit amusement parks and attractions for $22 to $28 a day. An after-camp program is offered from 2 to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday for $12 a day. Also, science camps for kindergarten through sixth-graders. Call (818) 597-7361.

* An afternoon recreation program for children ages 5 to 12 is offered by the city of Westlake Village and the Conejo Park and Recreation District. The first session runs June 21-July 9 and the second session from July 12-Aug. 5. Each costs $25 or $45 for both. Call (805) 381-2793.

* Space is still available for Monarch Summer Camp, which started Monday at Valley College. It offers a variety of camps, including sports camps, chef’s camp and skin diving camp. The program for ages 5 to 16 runs from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. daily, but children can be dropped off as early as 7:15 a.m. and picked up at 5:45 p.m. at no extra charge. Cost is $130 a week. Call (818) 947-2577.

* Pierce College Extension has full-day and half-day summer camps, in addition to classes beginning at $35 in subjects ranging from ventriloquism to photography to baby-sitting training. Call (818) 719-6425.

* Mission College Community Extension does not offer daytime summer camp, but it does have a variety of classes for children starting at $24, including study skills, singing and ballet. Call (818) 364-7387.

* The Summer Academic Program for elementary school students grades one-six, will be held from 8:30 a.m. to 12:45 p.m. weekdays July 6-Aug. 6 at Cal State Northridge. Kids can take four classes a day, ranging from math to science to needlepoint. Cost is $400. A camp for secondary students, grades six-12, will be offered from 8 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. weekdays July 6-Aug. 6. Students take two courses, including computers, dance and money management. Cost is $350. Call (818) 677-3333.

* CSUN’s recreation camp is full, but several sports camps will be offered this summer. Call (818) 677-3208.

* A Junior Wheelchair Sports Camp for ages 7 to 21 will be offered at CSUN from July 5-July 9. Camp is free for first-time attendees. Returning campers pay $200; financial assistance is available. Call (818) 677-3252.

* Budding actors in grades seven-12 can participate in the Teenage Drama Workshop at CSUN from 8:15 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. weekdays June 28-Aug. 8. Cost is $775. Call (818) 677-3086.