Fall & Winter Break Camps in Long Beach & Orange County
Where to Find Winter Break Camps Near You
1. City Recreation Departments – Check your city’s parks and recreation website or activity guide for winter break camps that may include sports, arts, or general activities.
2. YMCA / Boys & Girls Clubs – Many youth group centers offer themed day camps for kids during winter break, including fitness activities, crafts, and group games.
3. Local Attractions – Museums, zoos, aquariums, and science centers often run educational and fun winter camps for kids of various ages.
4. Performing Arts Centers – Look for camps at local theaters or dance schools that offer winter programs focusing on acting, singing, or dance.
5. Libraries and Community Centers – Check out your local library or community center for low-cost or free winter programs and workshops for kids.
6. Art and Craft Studios – Search for holiday-themed art camps at local studios, offering kids a chance to create seasonal crafts and projects.
7. Sports Academies – Reach out to local sports clubs, gyms, or academies for winter sports camps, such as soccer, basketball, or gymnastics.
8. STEM Programs – Look for STEM-focused organizations or businesses that might offer winter coding camps, robotics, or science workshops.
9. Nature Centers – Many nature reserves or outdoor education centers offer winter-themed day camps focused on exploration and wildlife.
10. Religious Organizations – Churches, temples, and other religious groups may offer winter break camps with activities like storytelling, crafts, and games.
11. Parent Networking Groups – Join local parent groups on social media or community forums where others may share winter camp recommendations.
12. Private Schools and Daycares – Many private schools or daycare centers host winter camps for their students or the community during holiday breaks.
Featured Camps & Classes
Acting Out Theatre Camps & Workshops
Long Beach
Acting Out is offering fall and winter workshops designed to keep your young actors engaged and inspired.
Veteran’s Day Workshop
Monday, November 11, 2024
Dynamic one-day acting workshop designed to ignite creativity and boost confidence.
Thanksgiving Week Workshops
November 25 and/or 26, 2024
Improv, theater games and discovering characters. Join them one or both days.
Winter Break Workshops
December 23, 2024
Play around with holiday themes and characters in this one day workshop
January 2-3, 2024 (half and full-day option)
Variety Show Workshop, a fast paced, fun-filled experience where performers will showcase their talents and sharpen their acting skills.
Lil’ Chef School Holiday Cooking Camps
Irvine
November 25-27: Thanksgiving Week Camp
Menu highlights include turkey pot pie, garlic monkey bread, gingerbread cookies, salted caramel apple bars, pumpkin loaf, and more. Ages 4 and up. Cost: $319-349 full camp or $125 daily. Sibling discount rate available.
December 23, 24, 27: Winter Camp Week One
Menu highlights include beef stroganoff, loaded potato skins, gingerbread cookies, Italian meatball wedding soup, shepherd pie, green bean casserole, and more. Ages 5 and up. Cost: $319-329 full camp or $125 daily. Sibling discount rate available.
December 30-31 & January 2-3: Winter Camp Week Two
Menu highlights include chicken and waffles, potato cheese soup, snickerdoodle cookies, Irish chicken and dumplings, corn bread muffins, fettuccini alfredo, and more. Ages 5 and up. Cost: $356-396 full camp or $125 daily.
Ultimate Ninjas Thanksgiving & Winter Break Camps
Anaheim
Thanksgiving Break Camp: November 25, 26, 27, 28
Winter Break Camp: December 23 – January 10, 2024
Ultimate Ninjas offers the ultimate school-break camps! Ninjas learn how to tackle obstacles with structured obstacle practice, participate in conditioning exercises, play play games and enjoy free time. Kids (ages 5-15) are able to participate. Sibling discount available.
Cost: $100 per full day, $60 per half-day (morning or afternoon sessions available).
My Gym Children’s Fitness Center
Long Beach
Experience the holiday enchantment at My Gym with their exclusive 1-Week Holiday Enrollment Special for just $29! Delight in the joy of Mommy-and-Me classes tailor-made for holiday bonding and fun. From those heartwarming first steps to awe-inspiring handstands, My Gym programs kindle physical growth, nurture essential social skills, and boost self-esteem—a perfect gift for the whole family!
With options for all ages, including heartwarming newborn classes and exhilarating ninja training, there’s something for someone to unwrap. Don’t miss out on the festive opportunity to give your child the gift of boundless possibilities this holiday season.
Urban Workshop Hands-On Shop Class
Winter Camp: December 16 – January 24, 2025
Spring Semester Starts: January 27, 2025
Shop class for kids! Urban Workshop’s Youth Program offers an exciting opportunity where kids have fun, get dirty, and make plenty of sawdust, metal chips, and wire scraps along the way! Students gain lifelong skills through hands-on experience with traditional hand tools and modern power tools, creating projects they can proudly showcase at home.
- Hands-on skills building
- STEM & Industrial Arts exploration
- Use of traditional & modern tools
- Take-home projects
- Charter Funds accepted
- Flexible scheduling options
The program runs year-round with 12-week semesters in Fall and Spring, featuring weekly 3-hour classes. Additionally, 1-week camps are available in Summer and Winter. For the most current start dates, please click here.
Merage JCC Winter Camp
Merage Jewish Community Center | Irvine
December 23-27 & December 30 – January 3, 2025
(No camp on December 25 and early 3:30pm closure on December 31)
Snow doesn’t usually fall here in Orange County, but we can still celebrate the winter season and all it offers. Your child will be baking, crafting, singing, learning, dancing, and playing during these JCamp days… Choose just a few days, or all of them! Register today!
Skatedogs Winter Break Camp
Irvine: December 23 – January 3, 2025
Long Beach: December 30 – January 3, 2025
Whether you are just learning or ready to learn advanced tricks, the Skatedogs Winter Break Camp is right for you! Make new friends, advance your skills and most importantly, have fun in their private skatepark! The camp includes lessons, free skate, games, competitions, and prizes! With quarter pipes, launch ramps, fun boxes, rails, and other fun obstacles, we will work with each skater’s individual skill level to help them be the best skateboarder they can be, in a fun and safe environment!
Thanksgiving Break Camp is also held in Long Beach from November 25-27.
Camps are closed for the holiday, check schedule.
Free Winter Fun Days
Various Parks | Long Beach
December 23 – January 3, 2025
Winter Fun Days is a drop-in program for children 5-12 years of age to be part of extended supervision recreation activities during Winter Break. Children may come and go at their own discretion. A limited number of staff will be on-site to lead recreational activities. (No drop-in Dec. 25 and Jan. 1)
YMCA of Greater Long Beach
Did you know that 90% of a human’s brain develops in the first five years of life? What many parents don’t realize is that a strong investment in our children at this critical time will pay off for the rest of their lives. Simply participating in preschool is the most impactful way to give your children the skills they need to succeed in life.
With six locations in Greater Long Beach, the YMCA provides state subsidized, year-round childcare for qualifying families. Their preschools reflect the communities that they serve, and they work with families to tailor opportunities for children to learn, grow and thrive.
Orange Unified School District
OUSD offers parents a range of educational options for children of all ages including dual-language programs in Spanish/ English and Mandarin/English.
The district has received many awards, including Golden Bell Awards from the California School Board Association, National Forum Schools to Watch, California Civic Learning Awards, 25 Gold Ribbon and 23 Distinguished School Awards from the California Department of Education. In addition, three of their high schools have been designated as U.S. News & World Report’s “Best” for four consecutive years.
For more information, visit orangeusd.org or book your personal tour at orangeusd.org/learnmore. Open enrollment for 2025-2026 begins January 20th!
United States Youth Volleyball League
USYVL aims to provide every child (ages 7-15) a chance to learn and play volleyball in a fun, safe, supervised environment. One of the main tenets of the program is to encourage children to do their best with their abilities. With an emphasis on positive reinforcement, the program seeks to build confidence and self-esteem in each child.
Programs in Aliso Viejo, Anaheim, Cerritos, El Segundo, Huntington Beach, Irvine, Laguna Niguel, Long Beach, Los Alamitos, Mission Viejo, Palos Verdes, Pasadena, Torrance, Tustin, and lots more.
Explore the HolidayGuide:
Categories: Blog
This post was written by Kidsguide
