Summer
Day Camp
Summer Day Camp at Children’s Fairyland
Fairyland Summer Day Camp sparks creativity and a desire to learn by bringing stories to life. Our camps bring students into the intersection of storytelling, imagination, nature, arts, and play.
Campers enjoy team-building games, thematic projects, classic camp activities, dramatic play, park exploration, puppet show productions, Fairyland rides, and attractions, and get to see the work behind the scenes! Campers take on new challenges and have the opportunity to develop friendships within the magical playscape of our enchanted 10-acre storybook park.
Summer 2025
June 2 to August 8 | 9:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.
Aftercare available: 3:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. for an additional fee
Camp descriptions and program schedules are in the accordion below.
Registration is open now!
Camp Sessions by Age Range
Campers Entering K - 3rd Grade
For students entering K-3rd grade
Thematic Camps | One-Week Sessions
$465 Members / $480 Non-Members – per week
A Pirate’s Life for Me: June 2 – 6
Join the Circus: June 9 – 13
Farm to Table: June 16 – 20 (Camp closed June 19)
Master of the Elements: June 23 – 27
A Pirate’s Life for Me: June 30 – July 3 (Camp closed July 4)
Join the Circus: July 7 – 11
Farm to Table: July 14 – 18
Master of the Elements: July 21 – 25
A Pirate’s Life for Me: July 28 – August 1
Join the Circus: August 4 – 8
Thematic Camps Descriptions
A Pirate’s Life for Me: Climb aboard, me hearties! We’re off to find treasure, swashbuckle, and navigate the seas. Pirate maps, pirate lingo, pirate skills, and pirate treasure ahoy.
Join the Circus: Clown around, become a wild beast, and put on the most amazing performances under the big top!
Master of the Elements: Earth, Air, Fire, and Water. Learn how each element is a force of nature and become the master of all four elements!
Farm to Table: Get hands-on and dig deep into the journey food takes from dirt to plate.
Campers Entering 3rd - 6th Grade
For students entering 3rd – 6th grade
Performance Camps | Two Week Sessions
$1,070 Members / $1,100 Non-Members – per two-week session
Improv Theatre 1: June 2 – 13
Physical Theatre 1: June 16 – 27 (Camp closed June 19)
Improv Theatre 2: June 30 – July 11 (Camp closed July 4)
Physical Theatre 2: July 14 – 25
Performance Camps Descriptions
Improv Theatre: Learn elements of drama and comedy by developing your improvisation skills through games, practice, and performance.
Physical Theatre: Create a compelling story from scratch using movement as the primary storytelling method according to the principles of masked physical theatre.
In Performance Camps, thespians will create their own production from start to finish. An experienced theatre educator will guide campers through the storytelling process while exploring performance skills and stagecraft. At the end of each two week session, children will present their play for family and friends at Fairyland’s beloved Aesop’s Playhouse. Teamwork, communication, problem-solving, collaboration, and the fine tuning of social-emotional skills all take center stage at Fairyland’s performance camps.
Campers Entering 4th - 6th Grade
Specialty Camps | Two Week Sessions
$1,170 Members / $1,200 Non-Members per two-week session
Stop Motion I: June 2 – 13
Stop Motion II: June 16 – 27 (Camp closed June 19)
Stop Motion III: June 30 – July 11 (Camp closed July 4)
Specialty Camps Descriptions
Stop Motion: Students will learn how animation works and get an introduction to digital media/motion graphics. Campers will create a short video using their own drawings or using found/handmade objects with Stop Motion Studio Pro and an iPad.
Students Entering 7th - 9th Grade: Counselor-in-Training (CIT) program
For students entering 7th-9th grade
Counselor In Training Program | One-Week Sessions
Children’s Fairyland offers a Counselor-in-Training (CIT) program for youth ages 12 to 14 or rising seventh through ninth graders in conjunction with our Summer Day Camp program. CITs become stewards of Fairyland Camp, serving as role models for our younger campers. CITs assist in activities, games, and team-building projects. They will have a chance to develop their leadership experience in a fun and supportive environment while gaining real-world work experience.
This program is suitable for youth who are passionate about helping younger children and aspiring to become future camp counselors. They should be able to follow instructions and be prepared to take on a leadership role and new challenges. We offer sessions from June 2 to August 8 through our one-week Thematic Camps or two-week Theatre-Based Camps. Participation in the program includes a certificate of completion at the end of the session.
Camp FAQ
How much does camp cost?
Prices are for weekly and biweekly sessions:
Thematic Camps are one-week, $465 for Fairyland members and $480 for non-members.
Theatre Camps are two-weeks, $1,070 for members and $1,100 for non-members.
Stop Motion Camp is two-weeks, $1,170 for members and $1,200 for non-members.
Weekly Counselor-In-Training program is $200 per week.
Aftercare is $150 per week (Monday through Friday). There is no cost for CITs who need aftercare.
The camp fee includes one camp T-shirt (one for each week your child is registered for), a commemorative Fairyland’s 75th Anniversary drawstring bag (one per camper), and a Magic Key. The aftercare fee includes two snack items per day and choices of activities.
Additional shirts are available for $12 each.
Can I sign up for just one week of a two week session?
To provide campers with a better experience, we do not allow one-week registrations for our two-week sessions, such as Improv Theatre, Physical Theatre, and Stop Motion Camp. Our two-week sessions are a specialized curriculum that gives campers more time to develop friendships with their peers and counselors. We offer multiple one-week options within our Thematic Camps.
What is a day like?
Sample Thematic Camp
8:30-9:00 a.m. Arrival, games
9-10:30 a.m. Morning welcome and team building, thematic play creation, animal/plant/puppet workshop
10:30-10:45 a.m. Snack, break
10:45-12 p.m. Group activities and park exploration
12-1 p.m. Lunch, chill out time
1-3:30 p.m. Rides, scavenger hunt, group games, park exploration
3:30-3:45 p.m. Afternoon team building, pick-up or aftercare
Sample Performance Camp, Stop Motion, and Farm to Table 2.0 Schedule
8:30-9 a.m. Arrival, games
9-9:20 a.m. Morning welcome
9:20-10:30 a.m. Skill building workshop, behind-the-scenes activity
10:30-10:45 a.m. Snack
10:45-12 p.m. Games, scriptwriting, character design, project time
12-1 p.m. Lunch, chill out time
1-2 p.m. All-camp team-building activity, park exploration
2-3:30 p.m. Prop building and costume making, project time or supervised free play
3:30-3:45 p.m. Pick up or aftercare
3:30-5:30 p.m. Aftercare (free play, arts and crafts, games)
3:45 p.m. Last Show for Performance Camps
What makes our summer camp special?
- Our focus is storytelling with emphasis on imagination and social-emotional development.
- Highly experienced, fun, and compassionate staff members.
- Children learn to collaborate with peers, improve confidence, and be playful through improvisation.
- Children use creativity while engaged in hands-on activities to explore each theme. They use teamwork to create and perform amazing plays at the end of each week – boosting confidence!
- Opportunities to go behind the scenes with Fairyland’s puppet theater, gardens, and gentle animals.
- Lots of park exploration time for the campers to do everything they love at Fairyland.
Is there a show or performance that families can attend?
Our Friday skit challenges and chant-offs are created by the campers in each camp. We start with the theme and use our imaginations and teamwork to put on a short 3 to 5-minute skit. Skits are a way for campers to develop their confidence, find their voices, and add a theatrical element. These skits and chant-offs are built in as camp activities as a part of the curriculum and will be performed to the campers, CITs, and counselors only and will not be recorded and shared with families, as it is not meant to represent a full production.
We will offer in-person viewing for Improv Theatre and Physical Theatre families only. Improv Theatre will perform on Friday, June 13 for Session 1 and (Thursday) June 27 for Session 2. Physical Theatre plays will be presented on Friday, July 11 for Session 1 and July 25 for Session 2.
How do you incorporate social and emotional learning into camp?
All camp staff are trained in conflict resolution and are committed to helping children resolve their differences with words. We consciously work to create a caring community of adults and children who treat each other with respect and are ready to make new friends. Taking turns, cooperation, sharing, and being a good sport are continuously reinforced, and we take time at the end of each week for the children to share their appreciation for each other.
What are your camp hours? Is there aftercare?
Camp hours are 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Arrival is 8:30 to 9 a.m., and pick-up is 3:30 to 3:45 p.m. Aftercare is from 3:30 to 5:30 p.m. Monday through Friday. (Registration is required for aftercare.)
Campers signed in to aftercare can be picked up anytime between 3:45 and 5:30 p.m.
A late fee of $1 per minute will be applied if a child not registered in aftercare is not picked up by 3:45 p.m. The late fee applies to each minute after 5:30 p.m. for children in aftercare.
What kinds of activities are available for campers registered in aftercare?
All activities will begin after snack time. Campers will have a variety of activities to choose from each day, including organized outdoor games, art projects, and the opportunity to work on their costumes or props for the Friday play.
Who are your camp counselors?
Our camp counselors are chosen for their significant experience with children, enthusiasm for play and pretend, and vibrant, compassionate personalities. All camp staff are background-checked and trained in first aid and CPR.
We build on a caring culture with many layers of support within to help children feel connected. As children ‘age out’ of the program after turning 12, they can join the Counselor in Training cohort. Each camp group consists of twelve to fourteen campers and two Counselors In Training (CIT’s) who assist the Camp Counselors. High school interns from the OUSD’s Summer Internship Program also support camps with younger children.
What is the camp’s philosophy?
Camp is where the magic happens and children can unlock the power of storytelling through play.
What do you do all day at camp?
Our activities fall into three categories:
- Park Exploration – Hit the rides, slides, Jack and Jill Hill, use a Magic Key, climb the rigging on the pirate ship, and dig in the sand at Play Island.
- Activities – These workshops involve the horticulture, gentle animal, and puppetry specialists, as well as arts and crafts and unforgettable experiences through daily thematic activities.
- Dramatic Play – Dramatic play promotes the development of social skills. We encourage children to make up plays by pretending, group brainstorming, and practicing for the Friday show.
How about children with learning differences?
While our camp may not have the capacity to accommodate every need, we have found that we tend to be very successful at camp when we work one on one with families and are well informed about the campers’ needs before the session begins. We invite you to contact us so we can help you decide if camp is the right fit for your child.
What is your cancellation policy?
You may cancel your registration via ACTIVE through April 15. After this date, all cancellations must be submitted by email to VIcky Chen at vicky.chen@fairyland.org.
A $50 processing fee will be assessed for all cancellation requests before April 15.
After April 15, 25% of the full registration fee per camper will be assessed.
For cancellations on sessions 30-days prior to the first day of camp, 50% of the full registration per camper will be assessed.
Camp fee is nonrefundable if the request is made less than 30-days prior to the first day of camp.
You may change your camp session up to 30-days before the start of your confirmed session, but only if we have space.
We appreciate your interest in Children’s Fairyland Summer Day Camp! Please do not hesitate to email our Senior Director of Education and Community Engagement, Vicky Chen, or call 510-452-2259 ext 3529, with questions or concerns.