Recreation

Day Camps

Play, Discover, Explore! Santa Cruz County Parks provides quality summer and seasonal camps that engage and have a positive impact on youth in our community. Our staff of professionals provide programming that is safe, educational, and fun!

Day Camps with County Parks

Learn about our popular camps! Click the title of each category to see our current offerings!
Scroll down to learn how to register.

Arts & Culture Camps

Awaken your child's inner artist this summer at County Park’s arts & culture camps! Camps include various themes and activities such as music, creative play, and nature crafts. Campers will have fun collaborating with their peers in an enriching environment and will also get the opportunity for individual ventures and projects to allow their unique personalities to flourish! Cultural Camps are the perfect opportunity for your children to immerse themselves in a new culture.

Aquatics Camps

The County Park’s pool guards program at the Simpkins Family Swim Center will provide your child with an understanding of the skills required to become aquatically proficient while emphasizing fun and physical fitness! Under the supervision of our experienced instructors, campers will practice the skills necessary to become a successful lifeguard. All sessions will include swimming, running, calisthenics and team-building games, in addition to other physical activities and special activity days.

Nature & Science Camps

Do you have a budding naturalist or backyard explorer? Perhaps a science sleuth or tech fanatic? Check out some of County Park’s nature & science camps! Taking place at County parks and open spaces, nature camp participants will awaken their inner ecologist and learn to become stewards of the land by uncovering local ecosystems and learning about Santa Cruz County's diverse plants and wildlife. We encourage your child's inquisitive nature and teach them how to conduct their own research in the fields of chemistry, biology, physics, botany and so much more!

Recreation Day Camps

Register your 6-12 year old child at one of our recreation sites for a fun-filled summer of games, arts & crafts, sports, cooking, and local field trips. Campers will be divided into groups for age-appropriate activities. Campers will receive a camp t-shirt, which will be worn on all field trips.

Sports Camps

Calling all future Olympians and athletes! Kick, punt, and pass your way into a season of team building and fun! County Park's offers a broad spectrum of athletic activities such as basketball, volleyball, disc golf, futsal and baseball camps at parks across the County!

Register for Day Camps

Learn how to register for day camps with County Parks!

How to Register Online
  • Create an account on ActiveNet.
  • Navigate to the Activities tab in the menu.
  • Select the camp category you are interested in.
  • Register for your desired program and complete payment.
  • Thank you for choosing to participate in County Parks programs!
Accessibility

County Parks strives to make our programs accessible to all individuals and will make reasonable accommodations to ensure accessibility to individuals needing such assistance. If you have accessibility requests or concerns and would like more information and support, please contact us.

Cancellations & Refunds

Requests for credits or refunds must be submitted in writing or by email.
Four days or more prior to activity start date, participants may receive full credit to their account that is valid for one year,
or a refund can be issued minus a $5.00 cancellation fee.
Three or fewer business days prior to activity start date, refunds, credits or transfers will not be issued.
Refunds are not available if the class has met three times, or if a participant fails to attend.
If a program is cancelled by Parks, a full refund will be issued within 4 weeks.

Contact Us

Phone:

(831) 454-7901 (General)

(831) 454-7941 (Registrations)

Monday – Friday 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM, except holidays

Email:

parksinfo@scparks.com (General)

rec@scparks.com (Registrations)

Our physical office is open, but staff availability is limited.