Santa Barbara’s Top Summer Camps for 2024

Santa Barbara offers a vibrant selection of summer camps, each with its unique blend of activities and experiences tailored for young children. Whether your child is interested in arts, adventure, sports, or science, there’s a camp that fits their interests. Here’s a list of the top summer camps in Santa Barbara for 2023, perfect for kids in kindergarten to first grade.

If we missed any camps that should be on the list, please drop the details in the comments so we can add them!! Thanks a million!! It takes a village to keep these kiddos busy all summer!!

Arts & Crafts Camp (The Woods Art Studio)

This camp offers a creative outdoor experience where children’s imaginations are fueled by an array of arts & crafts projects. Activities include mixed media projects using acrylic paint, watercolor, collage, and fabric arts, blended with field games and nature hikes.

• Age/Grade: 6+
• Price: $475/week
• Website: The Woods Art Studio
• Hours: 9:00 AM – 3:00 PM
• Location: The Woods Art Studio

Busy Bees Adventure Beach Camp

Busy Bees Adventure Beach Camp is ideal for young beach enthusiasts. The camp includes swimming, boogie boarding, making drip sandcastles, tide pooling, and beach games. It’s a perfect blend of fun and learning in a safe beach environment.

• Age/Grade: 7+
• Price: $325/week
• Website: Busy Bees Adventure Beach Camp
• Hours: 10:00 AM – 1:00 PM

UC Santa Barbara Summer Camps

The Annual UCSB Summer Day Camp provides a fun, energetic, and active environment in which children can enhance the development of their physical and interpersonal skills!

• Age/Grade: ages 5-14
• Price: varies by camp
• Website: UCSB Camps
• Note: ‘Walk-up’ registration will not be accepted. You must pre-register by the Friday before each session at 10am to secure space

Camp Elings

Camp Elings offers week-long summer programs for kids to explore and enjoy various outdoor activities. The camps include Outdoor Adventure Camp, Tennis, BMX, and Theater Camp, catering to a wide range of interests.

• Age/Grade: ages 5-12
• Price: $290/week
• Website: Camp Elings
• Hours: 9:00 AM – 3:00 PM

Riviera Ridge School Summer Camp

Campers create, move, and play while exploring all areas of The Riviera Ridge School’s 11-acre campus. Students will break a sweat with outdoor sports, cool off with water games, stimulate their minds with hands-on science experiments, channel their creativity with arts and crafts, relax with a swim in the pool, and build confidence with theater games throughout the week.

• Age/Grades: elementary camp; CIT grades 7-12
• Website: Riviera Ridge Summer

Camp Natoma

Camp Natoma is a summer tradition where campers experience outdoor living under the stars. The camp offers a variety of activities like rock-hopping, singing camp songs, swimming, and hiking, promoting an immersive nature experience.

• Age/Grade: Grades 1-11
• Price: $875/single session; $50 discount for multiple sessions/siblings
• Website: Camp Natoma
• Location: Paso Robles

Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History: Nature Adventures Camps

Nature Adventures™ camps engage children in experiencing and observing the natural world. The camps, designed for ages 4–12, cover topics like marine biology and forensic science. Activities include kitchen chemistry and the Great Mucous Olympics.

• Age/Grade: Information not available
• Price: Members $300/$375, non-members $360/$450
• Website: Nature Adventures Camps
• Hours: 9:00 AM – 3:00 PM; Extended Day option available 8:30 AM – 5:00 PM
• Location: SB Museum of Natural History or Sea Center (depends on camp)
• Note: Currently they are hiring a Dir of Education and do not have camp info yet for Summer 2024

Santa Barbara Parks & Rec Camps

Santa Barbara Parks and Recreation offers various camps, including Nature Camp, Lobster Jo’s, Trapeze Camp, LEGO-Inspired Engineering Camp, and more. These camps are held at iconic locations in Santa Barbara.

• Age/Grade: Varies by camp
• Price: Information not available
• Website: Santa Barbara Parks & Rec Camps
• Hours: Varies by camp
• Location: Varies by camp

Santa Barbara Rock Gym Summer Camp

This camp is ideal for kids ages 5-9 to get introduced to climbing. Activities include climbing basics, games, and crafts. Campers learn about harness wearing, knot tying, and climbing communication.

• Age/Grade: Information not available
• Price: $300/week (10% off for Members)
• Website: Santa Barbara Rock Gym Summer Camp
• Hours: 9:00 AM – 12:00 PM
• Location: S.B. Rock Gym, 322 State St

Camp Stow (Goleta Valley Historical Society)

Camp Stow provides a unique blend of nature, ranch exploration, and history for younger children. The camp includes activities like caring for farm animals, outdoor play, and learning about historical practices.

• Age/Grade: Grades K-3rd
• Price: $225/week
• Website: Camp Stow
• Hours: 9:00 AM – 1:00 PM
• Location: Goleta Valley Historical Society

Hearts Horseback Riding Camp

Hearts Horse Experience Camp offers horseback riding and horsemanship skills in a safe environment. The camp is designed for children with and without special needs, focusing on horse care, science, and riding lessons.

• Age/Grade: Information not available
• Price: $500/week
• Website: Hearts Horseback Riding Camp
• Hours: 9:00 AM – 1:00 PM
• Location: Hearts Therapeutic Equestrian Center, 4420 Calle Real

Montessori Center School Summer Camp

Whether your family is new to Montessori or has been a part of the community for years, all are welcome. Summer program instructors embrace Montessori principles while providing an enriching experience that is unique, educational, and fun. Children continue to work within the school environment alongside trained teachers while exploring themes and activities that are exclusive to the summer program.

• Website: Montessori Center School Summer Camp
• Location: Montessori Center School, 401 N Fairview Ave, Goleta, CA 93117

iSurf – Beach Boogie Summer Camp

iSurf Camps emphasize community, camaraderie, and confidence building. Activities include surfing, bodyboarding, sandcastle building, beach games, and learning ocean safety fundamentals.

• Age/Grade: 5+
• Price: $450/week; Daily Drop-In Rate $115/day
• Website: iSurf
• Hours: 9:00 AM – 4:00 PM (Full day and Half day options)
• Location: Leadbetter Beach or Campus Point, Goleta

Laguna Blanca Camps

Laguna Blanca Camps feature a variety of summer programs including art, adventure, games, STEM, LEGO, and sports camps.

• Age/Grade: ages 4-17
• Price: $395/week + $25/day for aftercare + $75/week for Bus
• Website: Laguna Blanca Camps
• Hours: 9:00 AM – 2:30 PM; Aftercare available until 5:00 or 5:30 PM
• Location: LBS Hope Ranch and LBS Montecito

Santa Barbara Botanical Garden Summer Camp

The Garden introduces a new camp program for children ages 5-10. This summer camp focuses on outdoor play, exploration, and connection in a native botanical landscape. Activities include arts and crafts, wildlife viewing, and exploration.

• Age/Grade: Ages 5-10 (CIT 14-17)
• Price: $325/week + $100 aftercare
• Website: Santa Barbara Botanical Garden Summer Camp
• Hours: 9:00 AM – 3:00 PM + Extended care to 5:00 PM

Santa Barbara Gymnastics Club Summer Camp

This camp includes activities across all gym areas, tailored by age and skill level. Activities feature trampoline, gymnastics, bars, and more. There’s also a quiet time after lunch for crafts or movie snippets.

• Age/Grade: 4+
• Price: $100 per day (10% discount for members) and $450 ($405 for members) for the week
• Website: Santa Barbara Gymnastics Summer Club Camp
• Hours: 9:00 AM – 2:00 PM
• Location: SB Gym Club, 4129 State Street (in rear of building), Santa Barbara, CA 93110

Santa Barbara Museum of Art Camp

The camp allows children to explore plain air landscape painting, inspired by Monet. It includes watercolor and acrylic painting, focusing on techniques like color mixing, wet and dry brush techniques, and composition.

• Age/Grade: Information not available
• Price: TBD
• Website: Santa Barbara Museum of Art Camp
• Hours: 9:00 AM – 3:00 PM
• Note: Summer 2024 not up yet, but expect it soon

Cate School Summer Programs

Cate School Summer programs include 3 separate programs. A Sports Academy for kids and teens, offering half day, day and sleep-away options for current 3rd through 11th graders. Academic sleep away camp for current 6th, 7th, and 8th graders. And Cate Summer Outdoors, a week-long residential outdoors program for current 6th-10th graders.

• Website: Cate Summer Programs
• Location: Cate School, 1960 Cate Mesa Road, Carpinteria, California 93013

YMCA Summer Camps in Santa Barbara County

Day Camps at the YMCA are packed with activities and new friendships. YMCA campers will experience art, STEM activities, sports and outdoor recreation, field trips, and much more. Weekly themes bring energy to camp and ensure that each week is a different adventure.

• Website: Channel Islands YMCA Camps
• Locations:
  • Camarillo
  • Lompoc
  • Montecito
  • San Luis Obispo
  • Santa Barbara
  • St. George
  • Stuart C. Gildred
  • Ventura

Santa Barbara Sailing Center Kids Summer Camps

Santa Barbara Sailing Center offers a sailing camp with a focus on safety and skill-building. The camp features a 5:1 student-to-instructor ratio, US Coast Guard Captains, and certified instructors. Campers learn basic sailing techniques, nautical terminology, and participate in a race day.

• Age/Grade: Information not available
• Price: $400.00 per child per session
• Website: Santa Barbara Sailing Center
• Hours: 1:00 PM – 5:00 PM

Santa Barbara Zoo Camp

The traditional Zoo Camp includes hands-on science activities, crafts, animal encounters, and a guided Zoo tour. Specialty camps are also offered during the summer session.

• Age/Grade: Information not available
• Price: $345/week ($295/week for SB Zoo Members)
• Website: Santa Barbara Zoo Camp
• Hours: “Full Day” 9:00 AM – 3:00 PM
• Location: SB Zoo

SB Dance Arts Summer Camp

Destination Dance is a summer camp designed to enhance self-esteem and foster community and connection among children. The camp offers various dance-related activities.

• Age/Grade: 5+
• Price: Information not available
• Website: SB Dance Arts
• Location: 531 E. Cota Street, Santa Barbara, CA 93103

SB Trapeze Camp

SB Trapeze Camp offers training in various aerial arts, including flying and static trapeze, aerial silks, lyra hoop, and more. The camp also includes ground tumbling and acrobatic balance.

• Age/Grade: Information not available
• Price: $600/week
• Website: SB Trapeze Camp
• Hours: 9:00 AM – 1:00 PM

Seeds of Love (SOL) Summer Camp

SOL Summer Camp is held at various beautiful outdoor locations in Santa Barbara or Goleta. The camp includes music, art, storytelling, games, free play, tea and snack time, cooking, and exploring nature.

• Age/Grade: 2.5-6 years
• Price: $320/week
• Website: Seeds of Love
• Hours: 9:00 AM – 1:30 PM
• Location: Varies

STEM Camp at UCSB

This camp focuses on robotics, engineering, Minecraft, Roblox, 3D design, and more, offering both half-day or full-day options. It aims to provide a foundation for curiosity, creativity, and confidence in STEM fields.

• Age/Grade: Information not available
• Price: $495/week until 2/28 (use code STEMSB100 at checkout), $595/week thereafter
• Website: STEM Camp at UCSB
• Hours: 8:30 AM – 4:00 PM
• Location: UCSB

Nike Baseball Camp at Westmont College (sleepaway or day)

Come join the fun at the Westmont College Nike Baseball Camp! Gorgeous weather, superb instruction, and great competition makes this a wonderful baseball camp experience for athletes of all abilities.

• Sleepaway or Day Camp
• Ages: 9-16
• Website: Nike Baseball Camp
• Location: Russell Carr Field- 955 La Paz Rd., Santa Barbara, California 93108