YMCA Summer Campers Play All Day Long

The Palisades-Malibu YMCA summer camp provides outdoor fun for children ages three to those going into seventh grade. Camp runs from June 3 through August 15 at Simon Meadow, located at the corner of Sunset Boulevard and Temescal Canyon Road.
For the youngest campers Leaping Lizards (3-to-5 years old), the day is 9 a.m. to noon Monday through Friday.
The older campers, Mountain Cubs (kindergarten and first grade), Coyotes (second and third grade), Hawks (fourth and fifth grade) and Counselors in Training (sixth and seventh graders) go from 8 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. and have the option of attending either three days or weekly.
Youth participate in daily activities such as sports and games, arts and crafts, hiking, bouncers, cooking and literary enrichments, dramatic play and archery.
Weekly activities include visiting the Palisades High swimming pool or Will Rogers State Beach.
Additionally, outside groups provide campers with outdoor laser tag, a rock-climbing wall, gymnastics, science, theater and animal visits.
In his 2008 book “Last Child in the Woods: Saving our Children from Nature Deficit Disorder,” Richard Louv writes “…A growing body of research links our mental, physical, and spiritual health directly to our association with nature—in positive ways. As one scientist puts it, we can now assume that just as children need good nutrition and adequate sleep, they may very well need contact with nature.”
YMCA camp director Ashley Russell said, “Kids expand their social skills by making new friends and learn important character/team-building strengths through activities.”
“Zach (9) and Lucas (7) always try a number of summer camps each year and last year when they tried the Y Camp for the first time they absolutely loved it,” said mom Claire Haas.” Every day they came home talking about all of the games they played with their friends and counselors and how much fun they had.“
Additionally, the YMCA sponsors a resident camp at Big Bear, with horseback riding, lake sports, banana boating, campfire and team building, a ropes course and arts and crafts.
To sign up for Y camps, call (310) 454-5591 or visit the YMCA office at 821 Via de la Paz or e-mail AshleyRussell@ymcala.org.