LA’s BEST is now enrolling students for its free summer programs across Los Angeles. Since 1988, LA’s BEST has provided safe, joyful and high-quality expanded learning opportunities that support the academic, social and emotional growth of elementary school students.

Summer programming runs June 15–July 24 and includes arts, STEM, sports, recreation, academic enrichment and hands-on learning experiences. Students may attend any participating LA’s BEST summer site, regardless of summer school enrollment status.

Families can find a participating site and apply at lasbest.org/find-a-site or learn more at lasbest.org.

About LA’s BEST

LA’s BEST (Better Educated Students for Tomorrow) is a nonprofit afterschool and expanded learning program serving more than 23,000 students across 201 LAUSD elementary school sites. Through a unique public-private partnership with the City of Los Angeles and LAUSD, LA’s BEST helps children thrive by providing enriching learning experiences at no cost to families.

The post Free Summer Programs for Kids at LA’s BEST appeared first on L.A. Parent.

Summer is made for simple pleasures: running barefoot through the grass, family game nights on the patio, bike rides around the neighborhood and long days spent exploring. Whether you’re planning beach trips, backyard adventures or educational activities to prevent summer learning loss, our Summer Fun Guide is packed with products designed to help families make the most of the season.

Every item featured has been tested and evaluated by the NAPPA Awards team, giving parents trusted recommendations for fun, learning and adventure.

Savor the longer days, warm nights, friends, family, laughter, picnics and the beach. To add to the summer fun and make your backyard the place to be for all the kids, how about a Monster Jam truck with 360° donut water spraying power, candy-scented hoops and balls or a bow launcher?

Invite the neighbors for an outdoor art show with giant spirographs to turn your sidewalk into a dazzling spiral canvas. Or test your skills with a Giant Color Stack Challenge, Cone Toss or Tower Stack. Summer wouldn’t be the same without long bike rides and some gardening.  Check out all the fun here.

The post Best Summer Toys, Games and Gear for Kids appeared first on L.A. Parent.

Before becoming a parent, I loved exploring everything L.A. has to offer. I gladly drove across town for delicious food, vibrant festivals and music that transported me somewhere new. But after having two kids, our world — and our driving radius — seemed to shrink. Between school schedules, extracurricular activities and the everyday logistics of family life, it became easier to stay closer to home. That’s why I’ve come to see summer, and especially summer camps, as an opportunity to bring that sense of discovery back.

In Los Angeles, cultural exploration is always within reach. It can be as simple as spending an afternoon at a neighborhood festival, having an authentic meal or signing up for a class that introduces our kids to culture — whether it reflects our own heritage or someone else’s.

Research consistently shows that children exposed to diverse cultural experiences develop higher levels of empathy and perspective building than their less-exposed peers. Developmental psychologists point to the power of “discovery moments.” When children encounter something genuinely new and different, their curiosity and openness grow. 

Summer, with its more flexible schedule, is one of the best times to cultivate a spirit of discovery — and act on it. In Los Angeles, those opportunities are everywhere. 

Cultural camps for curious kids

Summer camps have become wonderful spaces of cultural discovery. Beyond the traditional staples of swimming and crafts, many now offer experiences that connect children to global traditions, languages and creative expressions, sparking curiosity and a deeper appreciation for the world around them.

The following camps are just a glimpse of the many cultural summer experiences tucked throughout Los Angeles. Visit their websites and Instagram profiles to ask questions before enrolling.

• Cooking camps – Children learn to prepare foods from around the world, discovering new ingredients and traditions along the way. Check out the Los Angeles Cooking School (losangelescookingschool.com) for its international cooking camp and the YAK Academy (@rbyakacademy on Instagram) for an immersion into Central American and Latin American cuisine. Other local favorites: The Gourmandise School (thegourmandiseschool.com) in Santa Monica and Little Kitchen Academy (littlekitchenacademy.com) in Century City.

• Language camps – Language immersion camps introduce children to new ways of communicating. Check out My Escuelita (@myescuelita on Instagram), which incorporates ancestral traditions of gardening with Spanish immersion, and Los Angeles French Academy for French preschool immersion camps (@ninou.preschool on Instagram).

• Music and arts camps – Through dance, instruments and visual arts, kids experience cultural traditions that have been passed down through generations. Check out BollyPop LA (@bollypop_la on Instagram) for South Asian Bollywood dancing and RAZ Land Art (@razlandart on Instagram) for art infused with cultural storytelling. Each week, kids get to explore a new continent.

• Activity camps – Games and physical traditions from around the world make for surprisingly powerful cultural bridges. Consider world cup soccer with Culture Bytes (@ iculturalbytes on Instagram) and kung fu with Enter Martial Arts (@enter_martial_arts on Instagram).

• Educational camps – Opportunities for enrichment can also be a lens for cultural exploration. Consider Long Beach State University’s Sankofa Summer Academy, which is run by the College of Health & Human Services (@csulbchhs on Instagram) and merges culture and career exploration. To learn about Japanese and Japanese American arts and culture, check out summer camp options at Kizuna (@gokizuna on Instagram).

• Affinity camps – Some camps are built specifically around a shared identity, culture or background, offering a space to celebrate heritage. Check out Crown Me Camps (crown-me.com), which offers nature camps, immersive lessons on Black innovators, journeys into Afrofuturism and more. Visit JCamp Los Angeles (@jla_jcamp on Instagram) for camps exploring Jewish identity and community.

• International camps – For those who are able go abroad, an international camp can be a transformative experience. Check out Boundless Life (@boundlesslife on Instagram) for global family programs and Surf Club Keros (@surfclubkerosofficial on Instagram) for summer under the Greek sun.

Discovering the world in your own backyard

These days, when I catch myself dreaming about traveling far away, I find the world is right here around me. Los Angeles is a vast, vibrant mosaic of cultures, traditions and stories. Curiosity and wonder can happen anywhere. Sometimes, all it takes is noticing.

I was recently reminded of this while having dinner on Abbott Kinney Boulevard in Venice. I found myself surrounded by lively international music, conversations in half a dozen languages and families from around the globe, all during one meal. It felt like another world without ever leaving the city.

When our children explore cultures through food, art, language and community, they begin to see the world with wider eyes. They awaken to cultural curiosity and discover that everyone has a story — and everyone belongs. What starts as a fun summer camp experience can quietly grow into something much bigger: empathy, openness and a deeper appreciation for people whose lives look different from their own.

That may be the most meaningful gift this season can offer.

Start with one camp, one festival or one new neighborhood restaurant. In Los Angeles, the world is closer than you think.

Jalpa Vaidya Patel, LCSW, PPSC, is a mother, school social worker, adjunct professor and author of the forthcoming children’s picture book, “Wizzy the Worldly Tree.” Follow her work on Instagram @wizzysways.

The post Best Cultural Summer Camps in Los Angeles for Kids appeared first on L.A. Parent.

Giselle Carrillo and her nonprofit Los Courage Camps have been transforming the summer experience of children from underrepresented communities in Los Angeles and Orange counties since 2017. Los Courage Camps’ mission is to teach the diverse children of Los Angeles who have not experienced the ocean how to surf and, consequently, connect them to their courage, potential, inner strength and leadership.

With grant funding from Go Campaign, the camp is expanding access to include surfing opportunities throughout the year.

Carrillo blends her background in education with a passion for community by using the ocean as a classroom where kids build confidence, resilience and real-world skills. Designed for children of all ages, the camps encourage young participants to step outside their comfort zones, try new activities and develop confidence in a supportive environment.

Carrillo is a first-generation East L.A. native who learned to surf at 25 when she embarked on a quest to conquer her fears. In the process, she found her courage.

 For more information, visit loscouragecamps.org.

The post How Los Courage Camps Helps Kids Build Confidence Through Surfing appeared first on L.A. Parent.

As a new mom, everything is fresh and wonderful (and terrifying!) and you’re looking to do your best in every situation, yet, at the same time, everything about the experience is overwhelming. 

To help combat my new mom anxiety, I read everything I could, and while most parenting books were kind of vanilla, every so often one would truly resonate.

A standout was “Last Child in the Woods: Saving Our Children from Nature Deficit Disorder,” by Richard Louv. Looking back, I can honestly say that the lessons it taught me worked. I know this because a few weeks ago, I stood outside our home watching my 18-year-old son, Jett, load up the car for a two-week camping trip to three states and six national parks – Yosemite, Sequoia National Park and Crater Lake among them. 

He’d planned everything himself: the campsite bookings, the gear, the food, the itinerary. I watched him pack his tent, hiking boots, machete (I tried not to think too hard about that one) and his hammer. He looked at me, grinning, and in that moment, I thought to myself, “Huh, that book worked.”

Back to the beginning

When Jett was just eight weeks old, my stepmom suggested I read Louv’s New York Times bestselling book. “I think this is up your alley and your love of nature,” she said. One thing about me: When people I love suggest I read a book, I tend to read it. 

At the time, I had just lost my business partner in the entertainment industry and was pivoting into travel and lifestyle writing and public relations. I was craving a sense of purpose and calm, and Louv’s book hit me like a lightning bolt. It was about the growing disconnect between kids and nature — and how much children need to climb, explore and get dirty to develop into balanced, creative humans. This is especially necessary for boys, who simply do not get enough of this sort of adventure and exploration in our uber-connected gaming world. 

I told my husband, Rob, “Let’s raise an outdoor kid; let’s embrace nature,” and so we decided that, as a family, we’d spend our money on experiences rather than things. Fewer handbags, more hikes. Fewer gadgets, more adventures. We declared ourselves an “outdoor family.” 

Our family’s outdoor philosophy

From then on, nature became our family’s classroom, playground and therapy. We explored mountains, oceans and forests. We camped in El Capitan, kayaked in Catalina and snorkeled in Maui. Every trip was an opportunity for our son to get his hands dirty, his heart full and his perspective widened. I even have photos of us with Jett wrapped in a Baby Björn on a boating daytrip, my first commitment to taking our kid along in outdoor travel. The captain who snapped our first outdoor family photo cheered us on: “Good for you for getting out!” 

When life got chaotic — and it often did, with the career uncertainties and a few eccentric in-laws thrown into the mix — nature steadied us. 

During the pandemic, when travel and school came to a screeching halt, I enrolled us in sailing lessons. Nature would once again be our teacher. Jett learned to surf and snowboard. We discovered hidden hiking trails near our home and spent weekends under the California sky, watching the stars. Nature was always the solution to stress, boredom, disconnection and, later, teenage angst.

Full circle: The solo trip

Fast forward to today. Watching Jett plan and execute his own camping trip was a full-circle moment. He handled it all, booking sites, navigating apps, budgeting, packing and creating backup plans when his first campsite sold out.

We gave him only one rule for safety, and that was not to drive for longer than four hours in one stretch. I helped organize two laundry stops. The rest was up to him. I was both proud and terrified as he drove away. 

When he came home energized a couple of weeks later, he said, “Mom, it was the best trip of my life. It changed me.” 

He edited a video for his YouTube channel, which showed clips of him and his friend driving through winding mountain roads, cooking dinner over a camp stove, waking at 4 a.m. to hike to a sunrise lookout and canoeing down a misty river. 

He laughed about packing too much, getting chased by an angry swarm of bees — and about how he finally understood why I always insisted on driving breaks. More than that, I saw that he’d become capable, confident and comfortable in his own skin. 

The lessons from years of family travel and outdoor adventures had stuck.

The Books (and People) That Helped Along the Way

“Last Child in the Woods” was my parenting compass, but it wasn’t the only one. Over the years, a few other wise voices stood out:

• “The Ten Basic Principles of Good Parenting”  by Laurence Steinberg reminded me to always know where my child is, what he’s doing, and who he’s with. This simple, grounding advice built trust and safety.
• “He’s Not Lazy” by Adam Price helped me ask Jett what he wanted to explore instead of telling him what he should do. That question led him to snowboarding, and me, somewhat reluctantly, to learn how to ski at an age in which I’m receiving prepaid funeral plot discounts.
• Jenny Hwang (@projectparentcoach) on Instagram taught me to let Jett make mistakes and learn from them. Provide boundaries and then get out of the way so they can experience life and natural consequences. I learned you can’t bubble wrap resilience or growth. 

These voices reminded me that raising an independent child means slowly working yourself out of a job so they can function and learn without you. And nature is a spectacular classroom to learn how to stretch oneself while remaining in awe and respect of all the beauty around you. 

The book that will never leave my shelf

Watching Jett in nature, whether it was catching his first wave, climbing ancient paths to explore Machu Picchu, walking along coastal paths in Japan or sailing around the Mediterranean, I saw him connect to something far bigger than himself.

When I first read Louv’s book, I first simply focused on the importance of playtime outdoors (for everyone — not just kids).  And later, I realized that it was about building independence, resilience and awe.

If you give your child a love of nature, you’ve given them something that will sustain them for life. In a world where screens dominate attention, nature offers real connection to self, to others and to the planet.

If we expect the next generation to save the Earth, we must first teach them to cherish it.

Lessons for Fellow Parents

And so after 18 years of muddy boots, mosquito nets and sunrises, here’s what I’ve learned:

Nature is the best classroom. Our son learned more about problem-solving, planning and perseverance from camping on his own than any textbook could teach. Every hike, sail and surf session was a lesson in patience, adaptability and self-reliance. 

Experiences beat things every time. Our family vacations weren’t luxury affairs. We weren’t collecting passport stamps; we were collecting memories. Those shared adventures built our bond and gave our son a priceless sense of wonder. 

Let them lead. Ask your kids what they want to explore. Our son’s love of snowboarding, hiking, and even his current obsession with filming nature content, came from simply asking, “What are you curious about?”

Know where they are, but let them go. Trust doesn’t happen overnight. It’s built through consistent communication and small freedoms. The reward is watching them soar (sometimes literally off a mountain trail).

The book worked because we worked at it. It wasn’t magic. It was effort. Every hike, every outing, every decision to choose an adventure over another online purchase. 

Bees, blisters and booking sites. Parenting, like travel and nature, is messy, beautiful and often unpredictable. There were bee stings, blistered heels, wrong turns and more than a few tearful moments along the way. But there was also laughter, wonder and joy. The kind that sticks.

When Jett drove off on his own trip, I saw a young man shaped by all those moments. As parents, we hope our children will one day be confident, kind and curious about the world. For me, that journey started with embracing a single book and a single idea: That nature heals, teaches and connects.

And now, as my son ventures into the world with a backpack and a head full of dreams, I can say with certainty, the book worked. Nature delivers challenges, awe, adventure, excitement and connection for a family — and generations to come. 

Margot Black is a Los Angeles-based travel writer, mom and founder of Black Ink PR.

The post How Nature Helps Kids Build Confidence, Independence and Lifelong Skills appeared first on L.A. Parent.

If you’re anything like my family, “Last Minute” could be your family’s surname. I don’t say that to shame us. No — we are an overworked, overscheduled bunch who should be handed trophies for keeping as many balls as we do juggling in air. But if you’ve let signing your kids up for summer camp slip from your orbit this year, don’t fret.  

Here is a roundup of some flexible summer camps in and around L.A. County. These camps provide flexible scheduling options and diverse activities to suit families looking for freedom in how — and when — you use the camp services.

1. Got Game Camp

Website: gotgamecamp.com

Locations: Multiple sites across Mid-City L.A., West L.A. and San Fernando Valley.

Dates: June 12-Aug. 22 (varies by location); 9 a.m.-3:30 p.m., with extended care from 8 a.m.-5 p.m.

Flexible options: Weekly registration available. Campers can customize daily schedules based on interests.

Activities: Sports, art/science projects, water play, games and field trips for ages 6 and up.

2. Aventuras Forest School

Website: aventurasforestschool.org/summer-camp

Location: Griffith Park area.

Dates: Weekly options from June 16-Aug. 15; 9 a.m.-1 p.m.

Flexible options: Enrollment occurs on a rolling basis until full.

Activities: Spanish immersion through nature-based play and exploration in Fern Dell’s forest environment.

3. UCLA Recreation Summer Camps

Website: recreation.ucla.edu/summercamps

Location: UCLA Campus and Marina Aquatic Center in Marina del Rey.

Dates: June 16-Aug. 22. Most camps run between 8 a.m.-5 p.m. (varies by program). Extended care is available.

Flexible options: Registration closes Wednesdays at noon before the following session begins. Example: If camp starts July 10th, registration closes Wednesday, July 5 at 12 p.m. 

Activities: Specialized programs by interest (e.g., arts, nature, counselors in training or water sports at Marina Aquatic Center). 

4. Fitness by the Sea Beach Camp

Website: fitnessbythesea.com

Location: Santa Monica and Pacific Palisades

Dates: June 11-Aug. 22; 9 a.m.-3 p.m., with extended care options

Flexible options: Options to sign up by the week. Parents can change their child’s schedule as needed throughout the summer

Activities: Campers are free to choose their own activities, which includes more than 50 different water sports, team and individual sports and creative activities.

5. Pali Adventures

Website: paliadventures.com

Location: Running Springs.

Dates: One-week sessions run from June 8-Aug. 16.

Flexible options: For this overnight camp, campers choose a morning specialty and design their own activities for the rest of the day to create a personalized camp experience.

Activities: Includes traditional camp activities alongside specialties such as filmmaking, a rock music program, motor sports, culinary arts and flying trapeze.

6. Aloha Beach Camp

Website: alohabeachcamp.com

Location: Zuma Beach, Paradise Cove, Channel Islands Harbor and other beach sites.

Dates: June 16-Aug. 22.

Flexible options: Day-by-day enrollment is available. There is also a “name your own price” option for families.

Activities: Surfing, sandcastles, bug hunts, beach hikes and more.

7. Tech Revolution STEM Summer Camps at UCLA

Website: lavnercampsandprograms.com

Location: UCLA, Cal Poly Pomona, Crossroads School.

Dates: June 16-Aug. 22; 9 a.m.-3p.m., with extended care options from 8 a.m.-5:45 p.m.

Flexible options: Weekly enrollment with the ability to switch weeks or cancel if needed, with an option to receive a credit for a later camp. Campers can build a customized schedule by selecting different STEM courses each week.

Activities: Robotics, game design, coding, engineering and more.

8. Steve & Kate’s Camp

Website: steveandkatescamp.com

Location: Five locations across L.A. County

Dates: June-August (camp dates vary); 8 a.m.-6 p.m.

Flexible options: These camps provide flexible options for families who prefer day-by-day enrollment without requiring long-term commitments. Families can purchase day passes to use whenever and wherever convenient. No advance commitment is required. Campers can even leave and come back the same day.

Activities: Self-directed learning experiences including arts, sports and creative projects.

9. Anderson Adventure Camp H20

Website: rosebowlquatics.org/camp

Location: Rose Bowl Aquatics Center in Pasadena.

Dates: June 9-Aug. 8; 8 a.m.-3 p.m., with extended care options from 3-6 p.m.

Flexible options: Weekly registrations. Some weeks are still open.

Activities: Swimming lessons, arcade games, arts and crafts, parachute play, flag football and more.

The post Flexible Los Angeles Summer Camps for Busy Families  appeared first on L.A. Parent.

Apple Camp is part of Today at Apple, a free complimentary educational initiative that transforms Apple stores into vibrant hubs of learning and creativity. Celebrating its 22nd anniversary, Apple Camp is designed for children aged 6 to 10 and their families, aiming to help the next generation of creators dive into immersive experiences, learn new skills and express their creativity using the iPad.

Guided by Apple’s Creatives and Creative Pros, families embark on a journey where the magic of Apple is not just observed but experienced firsthand. These dedicated team members are the heart and soul of Today at Apple sessions, bringing each participant’s creative vision to life.

2024 Apple Camp Program: A Story of Kindness

This year’s theme, “Create an Interactive Story of Kindness,” invites campers to explore the depths of their imagination in a 90-minute storytelling odyssey. Armed with the all-new iPad Pro and the innovative Apple Pencil Pro, campers will craft their very own storybooks. From drawing enchanting illustrations to recording whimsical sounds and shaping fun 3D objects, the Pages app becomes a canvas for young minds to express their unique interpretation of kindness.

Unleashing Creativity Across the iPad Universe

At Apple Camp, children learn that storytelling knows no bounds. With a variety of iPad models at their disposal, campers can mix and match drawings, shapes, colors and sounds to weave tales of characters exemplifying kindness in myriad ways. It’s a hands-on lesson in creative storytelling and visualizing ideas that resonate with the heart.

Interactive Tools for Interactive Minds

Exclusively for Apple Camp, the Today at Apple team has crafted custom templates within the Pages app. These templates serve as a playground for interactive storytelling, allowing kids and families to collaborate on filling out their story pages with acts of kindness. Adults are more than spectators; they’re active participants, lending their voices and sounds to enrich the narrative, even in multiple languages.

A Celebration of Creativity

As the session draws to a close, a celebratory moment awaits. Families gather to share their digital masterpieces, using AirDrop to showcase their stories on a communal display. The culmination of their efforts is not just a shared experience, but a tangible memory: Each family leaves with a special Apple Camp t-shirt and a digital copy of their book, exported as an EPUB file for the Books app — a keepsake to cherish and a story to share for generations.

Join the Adventure

Apple Camp sessions are set to commence on June 19, first gracing Apple Stores in the US, Canada, and select European locations, with the rest of the world soon to follow. To stay abreast of the latest updates and information on Apple Camp, be sure to visit apple.co/apple-camp.

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Enter HAWKs L.A.(Hiking Adventures With Kids), which provides a variety of programs ranging from after school enrichment to week-long camps. 

Playing outside is a source of joy, creativity and freedom that children innately possess. HAWKs L.A.’s programs are designed to nurture and encourage children’s natural sense of wonder. In doing so, their curriculum is designed to educate children about animals and ecosystems, help develop geographical skills and begin identifying native species. Guiding young adventurers on their nature walks are HAWKs educators, who are equipped with a diverse range of skill sets. Many educators have backgrounds in counseling, elementary school teaching, biology, entomology or parenting their own little ones, too. HAWKs L.A. rotates 10-20 locations within each of their regions, which educators have scouted for features like restroom accessibility, trail steepness, poison oak levels or other safety concerns.  

Aside from their nurturing approach, HAWKs L.A. is unlike any other nature program because of unique experiences like shallow water snorkeling where children count trout populations, star gazing at Mt. Wilson Observatory and moonlight hikes. Participants of the moonlight hike have the chance to learn about nocturnal creatures and experience the changes of a natural landscape as day turns to night.

Whatever the activity, HAWKs educators are deeply engaged with their adventure group, tailoring the experience to each child’s special interests. Their philosophy is not to compete with video games and TV shows, but to help each child connect to their surroundings. A number of educators are known to facilitate activities like jumping around on boulders, digging for crystals, or structure building with sticks to simulate popular games like Minecraft and Legend of Zelda.

From seeking out nocturnal animals in the darkness of the night, to recording insect and pollinator observations, HAWKs L.A. will foster courage and confidence, and cultivate the intrinsic curiosity in every child. 

To learn more, visit hawksla.com.

The post HAWKs L.A. Is Reinventing Play Time appeared first on L.A. Parent.

Miracles for Kids, in partnership with Waves of Impact, is hosting the12th Annual Surf & Paddle Camp this summer for families with critically-ill children.

This July, “Surf & Paddle” summer camp offers a much-needed physical/mental respite families to enjoy a day of sun, surf and sand for free. Joyful memories are created as children with life-threatening illnesses and their families enjoy a carefree day filled with surfing, paddle boarding, yoga, sand-castle building and time together.

Parents get a break from the overwhelm of ongoing care management, with nothing on their agenda but watching their kids experience the achievement of learning something new. Siblings get a day that feels all about them, too — receiving the same special treatment and attention. Child patients get to enjoy a moment of feeling like just a fun-loving kid again as spirits are lifted and they get to run wild on the beach instead of running to doctor’s appointments.

Upcoming surf days:

Friday, July 14 – 7 a.m.-3 p.m. – Surf Day

Bolsa Chica State Beach

Thursday, July 20 – 8 a.m.-2 p.m. – SUP & Kayak Day

Newport Aquatic Center, 1 Whitecliffs Dr., Newport Beach

While families across America are gearing up for summertime travel adventures, parents of critically-ill children continue to face the ongoing struggles and stresses of managing everyday care needs. Miracles for Kids empowers people to “be the miracle” for families struggling with the battle against a child’s life-threatening illness. Leveraging the power of community, the California-based nonprofit provides for essential needs such as housing and bills, in addition to emotional wellness, such as days with family-friendly opportunities for critically-ill children and their siblings to experience joyful play. 

“Miracles for Kids is grateful to all of the sponsors and volunteers who make our Surf & Paddle camps possible each year. Working together, we provide a day where families can hit the pause button on a life filled with extraordinary stress – and simply enjoy each other,” says Autumn Strier, co-founder and CEO of Miracles for Kids.

Learn how you can “be the miracle” for families in need and explore internships, corporate sponsorships, community programs, giving circles or local events at MiraclesForKids.org.

The post A Break from illness: Surf & Paddle Camp appeared first on L.A. Parent.

For more than 20 years, children and their families have gotten the opportunity to explore their creativity in the form of Apple Store Camps. This year, the free sessions, titled “Design Your Dream Invention on iPad,” will be held from June 10 to Aug. 5.

According to Apple, the sessions are geared towards children between the ages of 8 and 12, as well as their parents or guardians.

“We’re so thrilled to welcome campers and their families into our stores this summer to tap into and expand their imagination at Apple Camp,” says Deidre O’Brein, Apple’s senior vice president of Retail.

“This exciting and fun program celebrates the great inventors, trailblazers and entrepreneurs of the future by providing them the tools and skills to learn and connect with each other and our team members.”

During the 60-minute sessions, which are led by an Apple Creative, participants will be using Apple Pencil, Keynote and Freeform. No prior experience of these accessories and apps is necessary as Apple Creatives will teach children and their parents/guardians how to use the technology. All materials will be provided at the application as well, along with an Apple Camp t-shirt.

After participating in a discussion about inventions, students will then brainstorm an invention that could help improve a part of their neighborhood or help a loved one via the Freeform app, and the Apple Creative will draw it on an iPad. With Freeform, users can use shapes and sticky notes, as well as drawing and writing tools, to brainstorm their designs.

Participants will then use Keynote to insert details about the inventions and create GIFs in the style of trading cards that will be displayed in the session’s “Wall of Fame.” This segment will last an additional 30 minutes, and everyone has a chance to be featured and share their inventions with the other attendees. This final portion of the session is optional to attend.

Parents and guardians must register prior to attending a session. Click this link to find a session near you.

Renee Elefante is a student journalist based in Orange County. A rising senior at Chapman University, she is an editorial intern for L.A. Parent Magazine and the editor-in-chief for her university’s student-run newspaper, The Panther.

The post Free Apple Store Camps are Back for the Summer appeared first on L.A. Parent.