After two years of limited and modified summer camps, Santa Barbara Parks and Recreation Department summer camps will return to normal operations this year with registration starting at 9 a.m. Tuesday, April 5 for Junior Guards and 9 a.m. Wednesday, April 6 for general registration.
The department will offer a range of camps at locations throughout the city, including full- and part-day offerings and counselor-in-training programs. To view the camp lineup, visit sbparksandrec.org.
The Recreation Department is also now hiring for summer camp positions. View the job postings on the city’s Human Resources website.
“The department was so fortunate to be in a positon to offer safe and healthy camp programs that served over 2,900 children and their families during the pandemic,” said Rich Hanna, recreation manager. “We are thrilled to emerge from the pandemic and return to offering a full suite of full- and half-day camp programs for our community.”
Camps this summer include old favorites such as Nature Camp, Junior Guards, Beach Volleyball, Swim and Tennis, Ceramics, and Theater Camps, as well as swimming lessons and new offerings including Lobster Jo’s Beach Camp, Trapeze Camp, and Water Polo Camp.
Continuing this year is the department’s longstanding partnership with the Police Activities League to administer 154 scholarships for camps to allow lower-income families the ability to participate in camps.
Parks and Recreation’s free Summer Fun program, which aims to provide eight weeks of programming for families who cannot afford traditional camps, will also be available this summer at both Franklin and Washington elementary schools.
Recommendations for a smooth registration:
1. Login or create your PerfectMind account in advance. Remember to create a parent/guardian account first, then the child’s.
2. Update medical information; instructions are at santabarbaraca.gov/medicalupdate.
3. Register for camps on April 6 (April 5 for Junior Guards) and review updated Summer Camp Policies, including changes to waitlists, refunds, and last-minute registrations: santabarbaraca.gov/summercamppolcies.
For more about summer camps or other happenings in the Parks and Recreation Department, visit SantaBarbaraCA.gov/ParksAndRec, or sign up for the email list at bit.ly/LoveParksAndRec.