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Here's a list of summer camp options for kids that are usually available in the summer throughout San Luis Obispo (SLO) County below. Most places don't post information until a couple of months before summer break begins.

2025 Summer Camps for Kids in San Luis Obispo County Availability

1. Summer Experience at multiple schools in San Luis Obispo County for grades: 1st through 12th. Times and schedule vary by grade groups.


2. Summer School Camp from City of San Luis Obispo Youth Services They call it KidVENTURE! They have weekly themes for ages 5 - 12 years old, separated by 3 groups. They usually don't post information until a couple of months before summer break. Full Day Camp is Monday - Friday between times: 7:30AM - 5:30PM


3. Summer Blast Program by Lucia Mar Unified School District for TK - high school kids under the Lucia Mar Unified School District. Student would attend from 8AM to 2PM for free. Registration and more information will be available on March 2025. They will also have After Summer Blast Care as an option. More details and registration info from Lucia Mar Unified School District.


4. Avila Bay Athletic Club & Spa in Avila Beach is having a weekly Summer Camp from 9AM - 3PM, Mon - Fri,  for members and non-members (rates are different). Each week includes tennis instruction, water activites, art projects, instructional gardening, soccer, kids fitness, kempo, obstacle courses, science experiments, and much more! This year each Friday will have a fun, special theme! Kids must complete a swim test.


5. Oceano Dunes Junior Lifeguards Program in the summer offers two sessions. Each session is $275 and the dates are: Session I 2025: June 9 - June 27, Session II 2024: July 7 - July 25. The program runs Monday through Friday 10:00AM to 2:00PM. The kids need to try out for this in order to be be admitted. Registration will open in April 2025 and you would have to go to the registration information tab for more information on ReserveCalifornia.com to register. Once registered, you would meet at 25 W. Grand Ave, Oceano 93433


6. Monarch Hills in San Luis Obispo is offering 4 sessions of summer camp in 2025 for kids who are between kindergarten and 6th grade. Kids area learning the Waldorf way, which is a farm based education program. The capacity is 15 children for each week. 


7. Boys and Girls Club South County SLO They have summer camps for elementary aged kids with pods by age groups for a really affordable rate per week. This is in South County area of San Luis Obispo. Full Day Camp is Monday - Friday between times: 7AM - 6PM. 


8. Pacific Flips Gymnastics Summer Camps in (Grover Beach) are for for kids ages 4 - 14 years old. You can choose between half day or full day. Half Day is 9AM - Noon and Full Day is 9AM - 3PM. You can pay by the week or by the day, with discounts if you book more days out of the week. They would occasionally host a Pajamanastics which is fun play for kids in the evening in their pajamas. Many parents have enrolled their kids at a Pajamanastics event at Pacific Flips so the kids can have fun while the parents go on date night or run errands.


9. Summer Camps at Playtime Discoveries in Atascadero Summer Camp here has different weekly activities and varies by age groups. 


10. Youth Summer Program by City of Arroyo Grande has Summer weekly programs for different types of youth activities.Some are sports focused, while others are art focused.


11. Youth Evolution Basketball Summer Camp has four different locations to pick from: Arroyo Grande, Atascadero, Paso Robles and San Luis Obispo. They are from Monday - Friday for 3 hours a day by age group.


12. Summer Camp at Centennial Park in Paso Robles by YMCA is for kids in grades K - 6th for ages 4 - 12 years old. It is a weekly cost. Full Day Camp is Monday - Friday between the times: 7:30AM - 5:30PM.


13. Summer Camp at Baywood Elementary by YMCA (San Luis Obispo) are for kids in grades K - 6th grade for ages 4 - 12 years old. It is a weekly cost. Full Day Camp is Monday - Friday between 7:30AM - 5:30PM.


14. Summer Camp at Los Ranchos by YMCA for ages 4 - 12 years old. You sign up online by weekly registration. Address: 5785 Los Ranchos Road. San Luis Obispo CA 93401


15. Summer Camp at Ocean View Elementary by YMCA for ages 4 - 12 years old. You sign up by weekly registration. Address: 1208 Linda Drive., Arroyo Grande CA 93420


16. Central Coast Gymnastics Summer Camp in San Luis Obispo are for kids ages 4 - 13.5 years old with weekly themes. Half Days are from 9AM - Noon and Full Days are from 9AM - 3PM (depending on how many days a week the child is attending, rates for the week varies).
    
    My kids have attended their camps before and I'm always impressed by how organized they are. (Update: As a mom, I want to caution you about this place so I recommend googling "Central Coast Gymnastics" under the News section as something happened in 2023. Please do some research, then make your decision.)


17. Performance Athletics Gymnastics in San Luis Obispo has Summer Camp with a different theme every week. You can pick from 8:30AM - 5:30PM Mon - Fri or 9:30AM - 2:30PM Mon - Fri. This is for ages from 4 - 13 years old.


18. Legacy Training Center in San Luis Obispo has Summer Camp for half days or full days and you pay by the week or by the day. They offer a sibling discount. This camp is for ages 4 years old and up. Half day hours are from 9AM - noon or 12:30PM - 3PM. Full day hours are 9AM - 3PM. 


19. Camp Natoma is a screen-free program under the stars and making new friends from June - August. This is a true camp where they sleep in sleeping bags. Location is West of Paso Robles.


20. Keshet Lavoux Childrens Art Studio is offering 5 weeks of Summer Camp with weekly themes in South Atascadero. Camp is for ages 6 - 12 years old.


21. Central Coast Aquarium offers Summer Camp from June - August for half day (9AM - noon) and full day (9AM - 3PM). Sessions are broken down by age/grade groups. They are located in Avila Beach. They usually focus on Spring Camp first and then they would publish the summer info after.
    
    See more pictures that I've taken during a past visit at Central Coast Aquarium. I've volunteered to chaperone for a field trip here and it was a very fun experience.
    


22. SLO Classical Academy is located in San Luis Obispo, California for preschoolers through 8th grade kids. There are 3 different sessions. Preschoolers and kindergartener are put in a group together while the older kids get grouped together.
    


23. Summer Camp at Central Coast New Tech in Nipomo by Nipomo Rec Office. Summer Camp is for 1st - 6th graders from 7AM - 6PM Mon-Fri and includes: games, arts & crafts, swim days at the NHS pool, field trips and more. Rates are affordable for half day and full day. Register at the Nipomo Rec Office or call 805-929-5437.


24. Cuesta College For Kids & JR Camps are two summer programs that are run by Cuesta College. The College for Kids Program is for ages 10 - 15 years old and the Cuesta College JR Camp is for ages 5 - 9 years old. Their programs are from Monday - Thursday. You can register online or call their office at 805-546-3132. 


25. Morro Bay Little Guards is a daily 3 hour program during the summer (Mon - Fri) for ages 6 - 9 years old in Morro Bay. You can choose from the morning session or afternoon session. Morro Bay is a beautiful and iconic location in San Luis Obispo County. See pictures that I've taken in Morro Bay.


26. Summer Camp at Camp Ocean Pines (cabin stay for 6 days or 13 days) in Cambria. Activities include target sports, arts & crafts, performance, science & nature, social, food and other outdoor activities. 


27. Creative Kids Performing Arts Musical Theater Camp at Pismo Beach Vets Hall from 9AM - 1PM for kids ages between 8 years old - 14 years old. There are 4 summer sessions.


28. Summer Camp at The Pad in San Luis Obispo is for kids between the ages of 6 - 14 years old. You pay the week. Every day is packed full of topics such as climbing techniques, route setting, belaying, knot tying, yoga, and more. Of course, there’s all the good stuff of a day camp, too: fun games, crafts, new friends, but with the bonus of developing a love for climbing.

(Note: This is a growing list so come back to check for updates.)

Reading Suggestions on Things to Do For Kids in San Luis Obispo County:

• Find Suggested Things To Do for Teens in SLO County
• Find a List of Kids Night Out or Parents Night Out Events throughout San Luis Obispo County
• Read About My Experience with the Lucia Mar Summer Swim Program at Arroyo Grande High School for the Kid's Swim Lessons During Summer Break
• Read About my Cabana Experience at Mustang Waterpark in Arroyo Grande (Only Open Between Late May - Early Sept Every Year)
• Read About my Ravine Waterpark Experiences in Paso Robles (Also Only Open Between Late May - Early Sept Every Year)
  

Read About My Chaperoning Tips and My Experiences with Chaperoning on Field Trips

Being outdoors in the summer can be so fun but it comes with a risk. Even if the sun seems mild, it's good to have sunscreen, a pair of sunglasses and a sun hat to protect your skin. Staying active improves your mood and you'll get exercise that'll help you stay healthy.

Suggested Activites for the Summer:

• You can go to the two local waterparks, Mustang Waterpark or Ravine Waterpark, or get your own small waterpark at home for the kids. It can get really hot in the summer time. Even a splish splash slide should help the kids cool down and have some fun for hours.
• Take them to free events throughout the summer at the public library. See upcoming free events in San Luis Obispo County.
• Take them to our local beaches like Pismo Beach, Grover Beach/Oceano Dunes, Avila Beach and Morro Bay where that kids can enjoy some time in the ocean and look at the nearby shops. See all of my beach pictures and blog entries of the beaches in our county.
• If you don't mind driving an hour away, you can take the kids to the Lompoc Aquatic Center for recreational swimming. It's an indoor pool facility with waterslides located in Lompoc, California (Santa Barbara County).