The major institutions and organizations that reside in Balboa Park all over some sort of summer camp program to satisfy a wide range of interests. Plus, you can choose from half-day or full-day programs. Here is a rundown of what is available in the 2005 Balboa Park Summer Camp programs. For detailed dates and information, go to each organization's official Website.
Half-Day Camps
Japanese Friendship Garden
Contact 619-232-2721
Experience Japanese culture with fun activities, including crafts, games, language, food, and kimono dressing. Students in grades 5–8 learn about life in Japan–both historic and modern. August 8-12.
Mountain Lake Chess Camp in Balboa Park
Contact 619-234-3118
Socratic style seminars for all levels¾ chess tournaments, lightning and bughouse games, and team play on a life-sized chess set. Grades K-12.
Museum of Photographic Arts
Contact Education Department at 619-238-7559 ext. 235
Explore the art of photography and film-making, ranging from traditional still photography to digital photography, photomontage and movie-making. Grades 4-12.
Reuben H. Fleet Science Center
Contact Education Department at 619-238-1233 ext. 802 for brochure
Hands-on science exploration. New themes of forensics, the human body, and DNA investigation have been added to favorites such as astronomy, chemistry, and a special camp in the space station simulator. Grades 1-9. July 11 through August 26.
San Diego Aerospace Museum
Contact Education Department at 619-234-8291 ext. 19
Build a model airplane, launch a model rocket, build a hot air balloon, and learn about life in space. Grades 1-12.
San Diego Automotive Museum
Contact Education Department at 619-231-2886
Learn how the automobile has influenced American society and culture through the art of design, the evolution of technology, and as a means of self-expression. Design and build cars, assemble fuel cell/solar powered vehicles, and build scale model cars. Grades 3-8.
San Diego Civic Youth Ballet
Contact Mary Sullivan at 619-233-3060 for brochure.
Four one-week workshops for beginner to advanced beginner. Come to one, or all four. Includes ballet, jazz, modern, tap, field trips, and weekly performances. Call for brochure and dates.
San Diego Model Railroad
Contact Education Department at 619-696-0199 ext. 6
Explore gigantic model railroad layouts, build models of the first steel rails across the Sierra Nevadas, create dream layouts, and take field trips to ride real trains and trolleys. Includes arts, crafts and stories of railroad heroes. Grades 1-8
San Diego Museum of Man
Contact Education Department at 619-239-2001
"Monkey Around" in Primate Hall, delve into "The Mysteries of Ancient Egypt", find out what it takes to "Survive the Ice Age", or learn about archaeology and become a "Bone Detective". Workshops combine art, science and history from cultures throughout the world. Grades 1-4
San Diego Natural History Museum
Contact Education Department at 619-255-0203
Explore nature with cool summer camps for ages 3 through grade 8. Dig for fossils, dissect a fish, touch a live snake, build a dinosaur, and more. Most camps include a tour of the exhibitions Backyard Monsters and a showing of the giant-screen movie, Bugs.
Spanish Village Art Center
Contact 619-236-8997
Classes in Creative Clay teach basic hand-building, using the potter’s wheel, and creating wizards, teapots and totems. Exposure to Art allows students to hike through Balboa Park collecting objects, then carve, cut, drill, paint and bead them into walking sticks, animal masks, crowns or dolls. Grades 1-8. July 11 through August 26.
