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Camps for LA Kids on Martin Luther King, Jr. Day

1/7/13 - By Roberta B

Dr. King had a dream, and now we need a plan. Some parents have the day off for the the national holiday, which is a great opportunity to take up the president's challenge to make this holiday a day of service to our communities. For everyone else, the great man's birthday can get complicated, what with dodging parade traffic and figuring out where not-in-school kids can spend the day. As you might have guessed, we have some suggestions. The camps below offer MLK Day solutions for LA kids most years; and we know a few other school vacation day camps if these aren't enough.

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Santa Monica

Paint Lab
2912 Main Street
Santa Monica, CA 90405
310.450.9200
Kids can roll up their sleeves, pull up an easel, and paint a day (or half day) full of masterpieces with instruction from Paint Lab's pro artists at the special holiday camp. Mention Mommy Poppins for a 10% discount! Sibling discounts are also available.

Santa Monica Family YMCA
1332 6th Street
Santa Monica, CA 90401
310.393.2721
Anytime the SMMUSD schools take a day off, the Y has your back with all-day coverage. Advance registration is required (forms are on the website), but the cost can't be beat. Financial aid is also available.

Culver City

JAG Gym
8640 Hayden Place
Culver City, CA 90232
310.287.9886
JAG is holding MLK camp on both Friday January 18th and Monday January 21st. Gymnastics and more gymnastics rule the day; hot pizza lunch is available for $8 if parents want to skip packing lunch. Campers must be at least three years old and potty trained. Parents can call to register or email office@jaggym.com .

Manhattan Beach

Adventure Plex
1701 Marine Avenue
Manhattan Beach, CA 90266
310.546.7708
When South Bay kids start climbing the walls on school holidays, Adventure Plex gives them a boost. A whole host of physical and crafty activities can take the place of the three Rs for the day, including several trips up and down the climbing wall. Extended care ($10) and lunch ($6) options are available.

Studio City

Studio LOL
11634 Ventura Blvd
Studio City, CA 91604
818.660.3460
School holiday camp at Studio LOL keeps kids laughing while building confidence, communication, and performance skills through improv, sketch comedy, and working to find the "funny" in their daily lives. They're bound to come home with a good joke or two as well.

 Agoura Hills

Monarch Gymnastics
5331 Derry Avenue
Suite H-C
Agoura Hills, California 91301
818.889.3634
The gymnastics and games at Monarch's MLK camp are all about having fun on kids' day off.

Looking for more day camp ideas? Check our Summer and School Vacation Camp Guide!

Originally published January 4, 2012

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