Camps

Best Girls Softball League

Mission Viejo Girls Softball

The USA-affiliated, non-governmental, nonprofit Junior Olympic fast-pitch softball league wins the top spot again. Practicing at William S. Craycraft Park in Mission Viejo, this program emphasizes good sportsmanship, loyalty, honesty and courage — qualities young girls ages 5 to 15 from cities around south Orange County get to learn as they practice their skills and bond with their teammates.  

mvgs.org | Mission Viejo

Best Baseball Camp

U.S. Baseball Academy Irvine

With the nation’s largest network of instructional programs — with 225-plus camps throughout the country serving grades one through 12 — parents can expect top-notch coaching and guidance with this titan in the baseball camp scene. Local high school and college coaches teach kids of all ages within a small-group environment, all at an affordable price. 

usbaseballacademy.com | Irvine

Best Day Camp for Creative Kids

Art Therapy OC

Kids can relieve stress and use art to cope creatively at Art Therapy OC, run by board-certified art therapist Diana Shabtai, known as “Miss Dee.” Art Therapy offers art sessions, camps, workshops and more. The studio helps participants explore the world of art and find positive ways to express themselves creatively. They often also feature various artists and organizations at their workshop events who are doing great things in the community.

arttherapyoc.com | Newport Beach

Best Scout Day Camp

South County Cub Scout Day Camp — O’Neill Regional Park

South County Cub Scout Day Camp is staffed by parents and volunteers, and organized around dens. Dens stay together during camps. The camp is made up of campers of similar age and rank, adults and youth volunteers. Day camps are now open to non-Scouts. Equipment and supplies are cleaned between dens.

ocbsa.org/posts/daycamp | Trabuco Canyon

Best Traditional Day Camp 

YMCA of Orange County

For more than 150 years, the YMCA of Orange County has offered high-quality, diverse, engaging child and youth development programs. Day camps are offered during summer, spring and winter breaks, and are based around learning skills, developing character and making friends. Camps provide opportunities for kids to learn both how to be more independent and how to contribute to a group as they engage in physical, social and educational activities.

ymcaoc.org | Multiple Locations

Best School Day Camp 

Fairmont Schools

Fairmont Schools has ranked in each of Parenting OC’s Readers’ Choice Awards in some way for more than a decade. Fairmont’s summer programs keep students curious, challenged and connected, and include a variety of summer camp options. Whether it’s their English Language and American Culture Camp, their Speech & Debate Camp, their preschool or elementary camp, you’re sure to find a great match for your child.

fairmontschools.com | Multiple Locations

Best Special Needs Camp 

Tumble N’ Dots

The pediatric therapy clinic is popular with readers because it delivers a variety of services for neurodiverse kids, including occupational therapy, speech-language therapy, feeding therapy, animal-assisted therapy and multiple social skills group programs for kids up to 12 years old. The clinic serves various diagnoses, including autism, ADHD, sensory processing disorders, speech delays, developmental delays, anxiety and feeding issues. 

tumblendots.com | Irvine

Best Camp at Sea 

Junior Guards

The California Junior Lifeguard program focuses on teaching young people how to handle themselves safely in the ocean and help others in an emergency situation. Participants learn about oceanic environment, first aid, CPR, patient assessment and more. Plus, they have fun with a variety of water activities. 

jrlifeguards.com/junior-guards | Huntington Beach and Newport Beach

Best Ranch Camp

Farm School OC

Readers voted for Farm School OC because the camp brings an unusual mix of nurturing empathy and compassion for animals with an appreciation for farming, sustainability, buying local, eating healthy and making the world a better place for kids eight months to 12 years old. Programs are based at Zoomars at River Street Ranch. 

farmschooloc.com | San Juan Capistrano

Best Ranch Camp 

Rawhide Ranch Camp

A summer camp since 2000, Rawhide is a traditional horse-based camp in Bonsall (near San Diego) that offers day and overnight camps during the summer, with winter camps, family camps, mother/daughter weekends and even equestrian vaulting also available. Campers typically get Western riding lessons, animal and horse science classes, animal care time plus pool time, rock climbing wall, archery, arts and crafts, outdoor cooking, harnessing pony carts and campfires in the evening. 

rawhideranch.com | Bonsall

Best Ranch Camp

Lazy W Camp

Lazy W Ranch since 1954 has taken campers through a traditional camp experience — campfire, s’mores, team-building and more — alongside Bible study. There are sessions for different age groups, from elementary to high school. The adventure camp takes kids rock climbing, paddling, ocean kayaking, hiking and more for one week every summer. 

lazywranch.org | San Juan Capistrano

Best Science/Tech Camp

Bionerds, Inc.

Readers love to keep Bionerds a regular in our camps category. Children from kindergarten through eighth grade get to participate in fun, hands-on biology activities that encourage their curiosity in the subject. Bionerds offers weeklong half-day and full-day camps during winter, spring and summer breaks. They even throw birthday parties.  

bionerdsllc.com | Multiple Locations

Best Soccer Camp

SoCal Reds FC (previously Liverpool FC International Academy)

SoCal Reds Camps follow an age-appropriate player curriculum delivered in a fun yet challenging environment. 

Coaches have Cal South background checks, professional coaching qualifications and have been trained by SoCal Reds, including completion of a standardized worldwide coach accreditation. Multiple professional players today have come out of this elite camp. 

socalredsfc.com | Irvine

Best Surf Camp

Endless Sun Surf School

Endless Sun Surf School has remained a reader favorite. Newport Beach’s original surf school has been around since 1963, teaching people of all ages and abilities how to ride the waves. The instructors are CPR-certified professional surfers with a passion for the sport. The school is open year-round, offering summer camps, private lessons, and before and after-school classes. 

endlesssunsurf.com | Newport Beach

Best Volleyball Camp

YMCA Volleyball Camp

The two-day clinics are age-appropriate for kids 6 to 12 years old and emphasize skill development and good sportsmanship in an encouraging environment. Activities include a variety of events to enhance the participants’ overall athleticism and to develop their passing, serving, hitting, bumping and setting through fun volleyball games and drills.

ymcaoc.org | Multiple Locations

Best After-School Program

Anaheim YMCA

The YMCA is a reader favorite because the organization is about building community, fostering genuine connections and belonging. The YMCA is known for creating safe spaces that can empower the individual. Through diverse, high-quality programs, health and wellness, child and youth development, swimming, sports, events and even a youth and government program, kids have plenty to explore.  

anaheimymca.org | Anaheim

By Jessie Dax-Setkus, Magda Hernandez and Shawn Price