Fun Camps for the Season

How will your kids spend their summer vacation? Hangin’ at the mall or racking up a gazillion points on their PlayStation2? Numerous Los Angeles and Orange County venues will give them something really adventurous to talk about, say, swim camp in an Olympic training pool, weekly excursions to Disneyland, Magic Mountain and Knott’s Berry Farm, and lessons in aviation at a World War II museum, culminating with an airplane ride. Following is a sample of summer day camps.

Children can dive into an array of activities at the H20 Summer Fun Day Camp at the AAF Rose Bowl Aquatics Center in Pasadena. While the center has two Olympic pools and 10-meter diving platform, the camp will also make use of Brookside Park next door, where art and dance classes, baseball, soccer and other activities will be offered, along with swimming and diving.

“My favorite compliment is when the kids are worn out at the end of the day,” says Ruth Porter, program director. The summer camp for ages 6-11, which opened June 18, continues on a weekly basis through Aug. 24. Half-day sessions (9 a.m.-12:30 p.m. or 1-5 p.m.) are $120; full day (9 a.m.-5 p.m.) $200. Next week the cost will be $180 because the camp is closed July 4. Call (626) 397-4980.

Teenagers at the Summer Teen Camp in Costa Mesa can join one or all six weeklong sessions that are packed with excursions to Disneyland, Knott’s Berry Farm, Magic Mountain, major league baseball games, Catalina, movies, beach outings and more. The Summer Teen Camp, offered for the first time through the Costa Mesa Recreation Division, costs $95 ($100 for nonresidents) and includes all the excursions. Camp begins July 9. To sign up, call (714) 754-5158.

Another first this summer are the weeklong Airventure Camps at the Museum of Flying in Santa Monica, July 16-20 and Aug. 13-17. The camps offer an introduction to aviation for ages 8-15, based in the World War II flying museum. Tours of the control tower and operations at the airport are among the camp highlights. The last day features an airplane ride. Half-day sessions from 8:30 a.m.-noon are $100 for a week; full day from 8:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m. are $225. Call (310) 392-8822, Ext. 118.

For youngsters who like to keep their feet firmly planted on the ground--or who just like planting things in the ground, Arboretum Adventures for Kids offers weekly summer camps in the mornings, from 9-11, at the Arboretum of Los Angeles County in Arcadia. The kids will take hikes into the jungle-like garden, create crafts, and learn about plants and nature in the lush historical setting. Rainforests and Tropical Treehouses, offered July 9-13, is geared to ages 5-8, and the July 16-20 session targets ages 9-11. Kids will explore the Patchwork Garden July 23-27 (ages 5-8) and July 30-Aug. 3 (ages 9-11). The fee is $90 ($75 for Arboretum members). Call (626) 821-4623.

The Old West will come alive for kids ages 3-12 at the Autry Adventures Summer Camp, at the Autry Museum of Western Heritage in Griffith Park. Kids will hear stories, play games and learn what life was like for the pioneers. Admission is $75 for a week of half-day sessions, from 9 a.m.-noon; $145 for full-day, 9 a.m.-4 p.m. The camp opened Monday and will continue weekdays through July 20. Call (323) 667-2000, Ext. 276.

The Nixon Library hosts its second Hands-On-History Summer Day Camp, July 9-13 and July 16-20, from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Ages 8-12 will take tours of the Nixon farmhouse, build a birdhouse replica and create presidential puppets. Other activities include dressing up like 1800s pioneers, meeting President Lincoln, Ben Franklin and Betsy Ross and, on Friday, enjoying a summer picnic. Registration is accepted through July 2. Cost is $180 for the week; $40 per day (extended hours 9 a.m.-5 p.m., $7 extra). Call (714) 993-5075.

A summer staple for 33 years, the Open House at the Hollywood Bowl runs July 9-Aug. 17. A different theme is offered each week, beginning July 9-13 with Go for Baroque. New this year is Let’s Make Music, a class for ages 3-5 and their parents at 10 a.m. At 11:15 a.m., performances for ages 5 and up begin, followed by visual and performing arts workshops at noon. Cost is $5 per child; ages 2 and younger free; workshop tickets $2. Also, free rehearsals by the Los Angeles Philharmonic, Bowl Orchestra and guest artists are held from 9:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. most weekdays. Call (323) 850-2000.