Beach May 2018

land camps
Into the Wilderness: Nights in Redondo’s backyard unique
among the city’s summer camp options
by David Mendez
Wilderness Park is a patch
of parkland that’s one of
the few public places in
the South Bay that a person is allowed
to sleep outdoors. The missile
site-turned-park has become a
hub of activity since it was opened
by the City of Redondo Beach in
1977, particularly in the summer
months.
Summer Wilderness Camps, offered
by Redondo’s Community
Services Department, fill up
quickly each year, and the summer
of 2018 is no different — many sessions
are already waitlisted, and
camps don’t begin until June.
“What’s wonderful about it is not
only the location, but it’s one of
our smaller camps – it caps out at
35 campers each, so it’s almost like
a classroom setting,” according to
Monica Bruno, an after-school
recreation assistant.
All of the camp activities are
planned with enrichment in mind.
Often, they’re nature-themed
crafts or projects, alongside games
that take advantage of the treelined
setting.
“The kids are going to come
home tired and dirty, making
friends, but it’s nice that way,”
Bruno said.
Families can also get in on the
action through the city’s Family
Camp nights. Permits for overnight
camping on weekends at Wilderness
Park are available year-round,
but the special weekends planned
by the City offer themed activities
and games that allow families to
enjoy the woods from their own
backyard.
“Locals don’t have to drive far.
Some families set up their campsites
and have dinner at a restaurant,
while others will get as close
to camping as possible,” Bruno
said.
The Wilderness Park summer activities
are only a sample of the
land-side selections offered by Redondo
Beach. The city offers 17
camp options, including soccer,
skateboarding, horseback riding
and dance camps. The City also offers
creative camps focused on art,
computer coding, filmmaking and
Lego engineering.
“We seemingly never can have
enough programs to get families
and their kids booked into,” said
Redondo Beach Community Development
Director John LaRock.
His department is constantly
looking to add programs for campseeking
customers. They’ve even
tossed around the concept of putting
together a “free-agent” membership,
for people to attend
multiple camps.
“Especially with children – socially,
varietally – we’re trying to
give them as much to absorb, and
we’re trying to stay ahead in their
interests,” LaRock said. “Give the
people what they want, and what
they want is more cool stuff.”
Redondo’s camps begin on June
25, with new sessions beginning
weekly for most camps. Prices
vary by program.
Wilderness Park is at 1102
Camino Real, Redondo Beach.
For more information on Redondo
Beach’s camp offerings, call
310-318-0610, ext. 3460, or visit redondo.org/camps.
B
Herons are among the many
breeds of birds that find refuge in
Wilderness Park. Photo by Bev
Morse
Dance 1 Summer Camps
The owners of Redondo’s Dance
1 believe their studio to be a place
for all learning dancers to train in
a comfortable, secure environment.
The 3D Camp, for ages 6 to
12, is themed “Take Me to the
Movies,” featuring songs from
“Trolls,” “The Greatest Showman,”
“Descendants 2” and “Annie.” The
3D Jr. Camp, for ages 3 to 5 years
old, is built on different daily
themes, and will teach children elements
of ballet, jazz, tap and hiphop
dance styles.
$360 per session for 3D Camp,
running July 16 to July 20 and Aug.
6 to Aug. 10, and $150 for 3D Jr.
Camp, from June 25 to June 29.
redondo.org/camps
PlayWell TEKnologies
Summer Camps
The LEGO-centrict PlayWell
Summer Camps are designed to let
kids explore their imaginations –
and STEM concepts – through
LEGO sets and pop-culture franchises.
Engineer-designed projects
allow campers to complete objectives
through the lens of Minecraft
and Star Wars-inspired worlds.
Camps are for kids aged 5 to 6 and
7 to 11, and are offered by both the
City of Hermosa Beach and the
City of Redondo Beach. Camps
begin June 25. Hermosa camps
cost $184 for residents, and $194
for non-residents. Redondo camps
cost $165.
redondo.org/camps or
hermosabch.org
Code to the Future
Video game lovers can become
budding game designers and programmers
with Code to the Future,
a camp designed to help curious
campers modify games through
coding. Minescratch will teach
campers programming through a
block-based tool called “Scratch,”
while Minecraft Modding will give
campers the tools to modify the
popular game Minecraft through
the Java programming language.
Minescratch costs $171, and is for
kids 7 to 12 years old. Minecraft
Modding costs $242, and is for kids
9 to 14 years old. Both programs
are at the Aviation Dance Room at
Aviation Park, 1935 Manhattan
Beach Blvd., Redondo Beach.
redondo.org/camps
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May 10, 2018 • Easy Reader / Beach magazine 53