Summer in LA: Enrichment Programs That Engage, Inspire and Empower Kids
Los Angeles teems with energy even in the midst of winter, but come summer, opportunities for growth and discovery ascend to a fever pitch. It’s a season where childhood curiosity, adventures and personal journeys unroll in endless possibility.
How will Angeleno youth direct their efforts? While playtime and family trips certainly rejuvenate, well-designed summer programs offer an unmissable chance for kids to explore passion areas, expand capabilities and uncover hidden talents that set their trajectories for years ahead.
And Los Angeles families find no shortage of top-caliber options — from prestigious institutions to niche workshops, sports showcases to performing arts intensives. But with the sheer volume of programming, determining the right programs aligned to your child’s needs and interests gets tricky.
As a former director of summer academies and 30-year education reform expert focused on engagement, enrichment and personalized learning, I’ve seen firsthand the elements that comprise meaningful summer experiences. Below I outline 16 of Los Angeles’ standout summer programs making a marked impact on youth development and promise for the future.
Flagship Offerings Setting the Standard
Otis College of Art and Design Summer of Art
With over 104 years educating artists in the heart of LA, Otis College delivers an unparalleled Summer of Art program mirroring their intensive BFA curriculum. Visiting students of all skill levels enroll in focused workshops under direct tutelage of Otis’ professional faculty — a rare opportunity even for mature artists. Curricula balance building technical skills in everything from observational drawing to fashion illustration, while nurturing personal vision that makes each student’s creative voice stand apart.
Participants gain access to Otis’ incredible campus facilities — from fully equipped photo and sculpture studios to the renowned Ben Maltz Gallery. The program climaxes in a Summer of Art Exhibition where students unveil selections of their work; mirroring the experience of professional artists. No other institution matches this level of hands-on artistic immersion.
More Info: www.otis.edu/summer-art
Los Angeles City College Kids College
Los Angeles City College’s Kids College leverages the faculty and facilities of LA’s premier community college to deliver engaging summer enrichment for K-6 students. Course topics spanning coding, debate, rocketry and even magic make learning interactive and fun. Kids College keeps class sizes small, ensuring participants receive individualized coaching from talented, passionate teachers that brings core concepts to life. Over 30 course options re-ignite natural curiosity through relevant, hands-on projects. Little wonder enrollment fills up quickly year after year for this treasured LACC tradition.
More Info: www.laccd.edu
Innovative Programming Cultivating Lasting Life Skills
P.S. Arts Summer Arts Camp
P.S. Arts believes creativity, empathy and strong values must be nurtured hand-in-hand. Their summer arts camps span visual arts, dance, theater and music led by practicing artists. Yet weaving throughout the program, campers engage in volunteering projects — perhaps planting gardens for elderly neighbors or designing uplifting murals for local schools. These initiatives grant kids the ability to lift their communities through creative action while forming friendships in an encouraging environment. Both products of the arts instruction and the character lessons stick with camp participants long term.
More Info: psarts.org
Adventure Pact
In an age of digital immersion, Adventure Pact flips the script by unlocking the wonders of California’s wilderness for LA youth. Under leadership of licensed guides, students backpack, hike and snorkel their way towards personal growth and restored connections with nature. Trips conclude by volunteering on impactful conservation projects, living the ethos that stewardship of our planet comes through understanding gained from lived experience. These weeklong excursions have been life-changing for thousands of kids in broadening perspectives, developing grit and pursuing passions in environmental sciences.
More Info: adventurepact.com
iD Tech Camps
It’s no secret technology drives innovation now and far into the future. iD Tech Camps strategically develops coding abilities, entrepreneurial thinking and collaboration skills students need to make ideas reality. Their programs held at UCLA and other prestigious local campuses blend coding languages like Java and Python with cutting-edge platforms from robotics to VR and artificial intelligence. With a sharp 6:1 camper to counselor ratio and instructors studying computer science at top collegiate programs, iD Tech strikes the perfect balances of educational intensity with an unabashed spirit of fun and friendship. Kids walk away vastly more equipped to shape technological progress while developing bonds that last years beyond.
More Info: idtech.com
Nurturing Young Artists While Building Creative Confidence
Socapa Performing Arts Camp
With immersive programs focused on film, photography, theater, dance and vocals, Socapa empowers high school students to develop artistic skillsets while discovering their creative voices. Participants learn from passionate teaching artists across each discipline, tailoring lessons and collaborative projects based on teens’ ambitions and strengths. UCLA’s state-of-the-art studios house classes by day, while evenings shift to workshop sessions with working entertainment professionals. In culminating showcase events, students unveil portfolio pieces, films and theatrical performances with pride and confidence built by Socapa’s intentional culture of uplift through community and mastery.
More Info: www.socapa.org
Chef Eric’s Culinary Classroom
Chef Eric’s Culinary Classroom takes cooking camps to sheer sophistication with intensive workshops training young chefs in professional kitchens. Chef Eric Levine along with guest master chefs teach essential culinary foundations from sauce making to knife skills before guiding students to prepare and feast on impressive three-course meals straight out of 5-star restaurants. Sessions max out at 12 students, ensuring abundant personal instruction enabling teens to find styles and specialties that fit their emerging culinary passions. From recreational cooks to aspiring restaurant owners, Chef Eric’s Craftsmanship approach leaves all campers hungry for more.
More Info: culinaryclassroom.com
Accessible Programs Imparting Arts and Life Lessons
Inner-City Arts
This treasured non-profit has brought visual and performing arts education to thousands of LA youth from underserved communities for over 30 years. Their summer arts camps remain welcoming and affordable to all students, led by talented artists guiding kids as they unlock creative talents across painting, photography, dance and more in Inner-City Arts’ beautiful campus. Students consistently cite feeling heard, seen and empowered by caring mentors who impart knowledge as they prepare final pieces for exhibitions. When arts education intersects equity and social justice, the outcomes can profoundly shape youths‘ determination to transform their lives and communities. Inner-City Arts remains centrally focused on this mission.
More Info: inner-cityarts.org
Levity Live Comedy Camp
Laughter and comedy spread joy while building confidence and quick wit — skills serving kids well regardless of paths they pursue. This specialized Levity Live camp tailors time-tested approaches for crafting stand-up routines and improv chops for teens 12-16. Over five workshop-intensive days, LA comedians mentor campers through developing original material that hits punchlines while staying aligned to personal on-stage personas. The program culminates in a live comedy showcase as comedy hopefuls perform their sets to open two public shows featuring Levity Live’s weekend headliners. It‘s a thrilling opportunity to receive intensive coaching while discovering comic talents in supportive environment where participants consistently leave more carefree and quick on their feet.
More Info: levitylive.com/comedycamp
Comprehensive STEM Offerings Priming Young Minds
CodeRev Computer Camps
Beyond gaming or entertainment, computer coding unlocks problem solving capabilities while revealing creativity in entirely new lights. CodeRev‘s camps held at 14 LA locations tap kids’ inclinations to learn through play as their imaginative game designs come to life through JavaScript, HTML and CSS fundamentals. With meticulous 6:1 camper-to-instructor ratios led by coding professionals, lessons feel individualized for every child while the upbeat energy keeps tech skills building momentum long after summer‘s end. When youth experience coding’s capacity to bring ideas to reality while strengthening confidence during those pivotal developmental years, it sticks with them for life.
More Info: www.CodeRevKids.com
