Ballona Beach Summer Day Camp has put together a long list of daily camp activities to keep minds challenged and bodies fit. Our sessions and weeks are themed to ensure that campers are not doing the same activities over and over, which can make a camp experience boring. At Ballona Beach no two days are the same, and each day features an activity that is exclusive to our camp. Below are descriptions of some of the activities we offer.

In The Water

Each day we take our campers down to the water where they are able to enjoy activities while under the supervision of Los Angeles County Lifeguards. Our life guards take position on the sand and in the water, while the campers are quizzed on Ballona Beach water safety rules. Then, the countdown to fun begins and the campers rush into the water. Our older and more experienced campers usually swim out past where the waves break to our deep water life guards. They enjoy jumping over incoming waves, playing keep away, and boogie boarding. Some campers choose to stay in the shallows, going waist or knee deep, playing chase, jumping the waves when they crash, wrestling seaweed, or learning how to boogie board. In the waters, our guards keep a 6 to 1 ratio. It is our mission to make sure that all campers are comfortable in the water and we are always there to assist them as they grow. It is not mandatory for campers to go in the water. For those who choose not to go in the water, we have counselors running sand castle contests and other games on the sand.

Sports & Games

On your mark… Get set… Go! Everyday campers will get a chance to show of their skills in our sporting activities. While we are a beach camp we also have access to Del Rey Lagoon Park for some of our more traditional activities like basketball, soccer, and baseball. On the beach we play games like in & out, capture the flag, frisbee golf and spud. It is our goal to teach campers to find fun in the challenge, work together, and demonstrate good sportsmanship.

Enlightening Activities

At Ballona Beach we offer enlightening activities to challenge the minds of our campers. We stimulate their thought processes with skill enhancing activities which improve coordination and deductive reasoning. Activities like yoga, kite flying, and drama are a few ways in which we teach agility (mental and physical), spontaneity, and creativity, all of which contribute to an environment where imaginations can thrive.

Hiking

Ballona Beach is located on one of the richest natural environments in Los Angeles County, The Ballona Wetlands. Our campers have the opportunity to take nature hikes along the coastline and see dolphins, sealions, crabs, and collect shells. We also take trips during the summer onto the preserved wetlands to discover some of nature’s hidden treasures. The Wetlands are an area where freshwater and saltwater mix, and create the perfect habitat for a long list of birds, reptiles and small mammals, including many endangered species.

History of the Wetlands The Ballona Wetlands were formed over the last several thousand years through the deposition of silt, mud, and clay by the Los Angeles River. The Gabrielino people of native America inhabited this region during its recent prehistory.  They lived in villages on the local bluffs, using the abundant wetlands and coastal resources for food, shelter, and clothing. Today, the Ballona Wetlands operate at about a fourth of their natural capacity.  Yet they still function as an important haven for migratory birds and other wildlife, and serve as a critical link between coastal land areas and the Santa Monica Bay.

Animals to spot off Ballona Beach

Animals to spot in Ballona Wetlands

Our Weekly Activities

Every week we introduce new activities. Some activities coincide with the theme for the week, while others will take place throughout the summer. Although you are able to pick whatever days you want to attend, and we do have a lot of fun packed into everyday of camp, it is important to check the schedule page for week's activities to make sure you get the best out of your Ballona experience.

Arts & Crafts

There are many different ways to show creativity, and arts & crafts is one of the most popular in the camp world. With that in mind our staff has put together some of the most engaging art projects we could find. Arts & crafts makes its way into our schedule two to three times a week with activities like yarn work, lanyards, and drawing. Additionally, once a week we have a special project set up for our campers, including sand candles, stained glass hangers, and painting lessons on canvas or on bird houses.            

Sailing & Kayaking (for campers ages 7-14 years old)

We offer sailing and kayaking to all of our campers 7 years and older. Once a week counselors and campers along with trained professionals enter the Marina harbor to learn the ins and outs of boats that are powered by wind. They also have the opportunity to navigate their kayaks along shorelines to take in a glimpse of nature up close and personal. Sailing and kayaking is not done in the open ocean so campers do not have to compete with waves, and campers get to go on one trip for every 5 days of camp that they are enrolled.  Campers must be enrolled 6 business days prior to any given sailing and kayaking day (sailing and kayaking is scheduled on alternate Tuesdays and Wednesdays) in order to attend.  Campers who are not eligible to attend sailing and kayaking due to enrollment within 5 or less days of any scheduled sailing and kayaking day will enjoy fun on the beach playing games and with additional water activity.

We’re taking a time out from the sand to cross the street for some good old fun.  Water balloon tosses, Aqua chase, potato sack and wheel barrel races are just a few of the games we play before heading back across the street for swim time. So join us in the park for some of our biggest challenges of the week.

Ballona Mike’s Nature Hike

 Grab your binoculars and canteen and get ready to explore the area. Ballona Beach is located at the mouth of the Ballona Wetlands were a vast variety of animals live. Ballona Mike, our top nature guide, leads tours to identify different types of birds and reptiles and if you're quiet enough and keep your eyes open we may even catch a frog or newt to examine before releasing it back into the wild. So if you want to learn more about the environment we live in then come and join Ballona Mike on one of his nature hikes.

Other Activities

Record A Song                                               Ballona CD

Calling all performers to the stage! It's More Music Week and that means that the creativity of our campers will be flowing as they write, rehearse, and record a song with their groups. The songs will go on the Beach CD (of which each participant will get a copy), and make it into rotation on our camp radio hour.  Enrollment for this week fills up fast, so if you want to sing like a star or just pretend, sign up for More Music Week (see "Prices and Schedule" page for exact dates) and get your own CD to play for your friends. It is important to make sure you can attend camp all five days of this week.