Rise & Shine

As the sun rises over Ballona Beach the warm air begins to melt away the dew trapped on the surface of the sand, and the rolling waves gently greet the shore. It's quiet, except for a few seagulls passing overhead and the early morning Ballona staff that has just begun to set up camp. Within a few minutes the empty beach is transformed into the center of summer fun. When the clock strikes 8 am our early bird campers who are in Extended Camp begin to show up on the beach.      

   At 9 am we head across the street to Del Rey Lagoon Park for drop-off, where we will meet with our campers who are not in Extended Camp. By 9:30 am all campers should have arrived at camp, so it's back across the street to the beach for our morning rally (any camper arriving after 9:30 should join us on the beach). During our rallies, campers are introduced to counselors, camp rules, the day's schedule, and they participate in a few activities to get them going. By 10 am our first activity begins and groups are off and running. Each group has a schedule to follow so they head off to their stations. Sometimes more than one group comes together to complete an activity.

At 11 am campers head to their second activity. This is also the time that the water opens so those that have swimming on their schedule reapply sunblock, grab their towels, and head to the lifeguard tower with their groups. Some groups will not get into the water until after lunch so they head over to their second activity. (We strongly encourage campers to take breaks in the shade of the cabanas throughout the day. Restrooms are conveniently located a few feet from our beach cabanas and counselors serve as escorts. At no time are campers allowed to go to the restroom unsupervised.)

At 12 noon all of camp meets together under the cabanas for lunch and to reapply sunblock (lunches and sunblock should be brought from home). After eating, some campers take time to relax and soak in the beauty of the beach, while others dig holes, play cards, or start up a game of catch. When 1 pm comes groups are once again off and running to their third activity of the day. One hour later all of camp meets for the daily whole camp activity, which is based on the theme of the week. Campers are placed into teams with a counselor to guide them as they challenge other teams in everything from relays to scavenger hunts. Ballona Beach goers usually spend most of the day in anticipation of the end of day activity. At approximately 3 pm campers get back into their groups for snack and closing circle (a reflection on the positive happenings of the day).

Pick-up is between 3:30 and 4 pm in Del Rey Lagoon Park, so we head across the street to meet with parents. By 4 pm all campers who are not in Extended Camp have left for the day so we head back to the beach for games or sandcastle building (It is important to remember that Extended Camp pick-up and drop-off is on the beach, and that any campers not scheduled for Extended Camp will be charged the hourly Extended Camp rate for any portion of the hour/s that a camper remains at camp beyond 4 pm). By 6:00 pm all campers should be picked up from Ballona Beach. As the sun makes its way into the horizon the Ballona staff breaks down camp so we can do it all again the next day.

Ballona Beach Summer Day Camp

Daily Schedule

8:00-9:00  Extended Camp

9:00-9:30 Morning Drop-Off

9:30-10:00 Meet & Greet/ Morning Rally

10:00-11:00 Activity/Water

11:00-11:45 Water

12:00-1:00 Lunch & Lunchtime Rally

1:00-2:00 Activity/Water

2:00-3:00 End of the Day Activity

3:00-3:15 Closing Circle

3:30-4:00 Pick-Up

4:00-6:00 Extended Camp