Alexander: So, what about next season’s roster for the UCLA men’s basketball team?

• March 23, 2025

LEXINGTON, Ky. — In a sense, both the NBA and college basketball are professional pursuits, with players getting paid. The difference: In the NBA, at least there’s some roster certainty.

So it’s kind of discomfiting, for both questioner and respondent, but it must be asked of college players when any season ends: Are you coming back next season?

Most of those answers figure to be noncommital. In light of UCLA’s 67-58 loss to Tennessee and elimination from the NCAA Tournament Saturday night here, at least one was positive. That’s a start.

Eric Dailey Jr., the transfer forward from Oklahoma State who averaged 23.6 minutes, 11.4 points and shot better than 50 percent from the field in 2024-25, had just answered a question about running it back in ’25-26 this way:

“Everybody feels the same way in this locker room, and that should be fuel for next year. And next year we’re gonna try to win the championship again, like we do every year. So it’s gonna be exciting to see what we do.”

So, that means he’s coming back?

“Yeah, for sure,” he said. “That’s definitely my goal. I want to come here and make a run and make a name with these guys, so that’s my goal.”

With whom will he be playing? Who knows at this point.

The transfer portal opens Monday, and if there were a turnstile it would likely be spinning madly. Players who didn’t play much, or are looking for a different situation or a different coach or – let’s face it – more NIL money, will be on the move. Seniors who have an extra year of eligibility and want to play as graduate students will be looking for opportunities. So will mid-major players who are good enough to possibly be plucked by a bigger program.

And if the House v. NCAA settlement goes through – the next hearing before Judge Claudia Wilken is scheduled for April 7 – and revenue sharing with players becomes legal, that will change the equation further. There’s been speculation that schools without football might even benefit more, because they can devote more resources to their basketball payrolls.

One limit is that there will be no more sixth-year players this fall, because the extra year of eligibility granted by the NCAA because of COVID-19 runs out this season.

Otherwise, the wild, wild West just gets wilder. And the idea of having a group that stays together and grows together, as was the case with Jaime Jaquez Jr., Tyger Campbell and the rest of Mick Cronin’s last UCLA tournament team in 2022-23, has pretty much vanished.

Thus, when Cronin said after Saturday’s loss that “if you’re giving me a choice, I’ll always take talent,” it’s just reality.

“You want to give the other guy three- or four-year guys, but I got better players?” he asked. “I will always take talent. So continuity is irrelevant if you don’t have talent.

“You got both, you got (Tennessee senior) Zakai Ziegler, right? You’re running around with basically another coach on the court. He’s a hell of a player, too. I will always take talent, but both are important. There’s a lot of stuff that’s important.”

Now it may be less about continuity than experience. Of the six players on Tennessee’s roster who are graduates or fifth-year players, only two started at Tennessee, Ziegler and former Etiwanda High star Jahmai Mashack.

Chaz Lanier, who broke the Tennessee record for 3-pointers in a season Saturday night, transferred in this season from North Florida. Igot Milicic Jr. played at Virginia as a freshman and at Charlotte for the next two seasons before transferring to Tennessee. Darlinstone Dubar played a year at Iowa State and three at Hofstra before transferring in as a fifth-year player. Jordan Gainey played two seasons at South Carolina Upstate before coming to Tennessee, one year after his dad Justin joined Rick Barnes’ coaching staff.

Or look at UCLA’s roster. Kobe Johnson transferred across town last summer from USC and Dailey, as noted, from Oklahoma State. Lazar Stefanovic came over from Utah in the summer of 2023. Junior William Kyle III came in last summer from South Dakota State. Junior Skyy Clark, an L.A. guy, played his freshman year at Illinois and his sophomore year at Louisville before coming home. Junior Tyler Bilodeau played two seasons at Oregon State.

It is a different environment, at once transient and transactional. And unless the college game transitions to signed multi-year contracts – and that may have a lot to do with whether players can get employee status (which the NCAA is fighting) and can organize as a players’ association – it will continue to be a free-for-all of player movement from one season to the next.

In other words, as the old Jerry Seinfeld joke goes, college basketball (and football) fans are rooting for laundry.

So as Dailey talked about how his team adapted to the Big Ten and how proud he was of their progress in a short amount of time, he also added this:

“We know the pieces we need. We know what we need, how we need to play in the Big Ten now. And I’m just – I’m very excited for what’s to come.

“… I can’t tell you who or what or when, but I can tell you that whoever it is, they’re going to come in and represent this jersey as well.”

If you’re a fan, that’s about all you can ask. Sentiment? That’s for the alumni.

jalexander@scng.com

​ Orange County Register 

State releasing new fire maps for Southern California. Here’s why they matter

• March 23, 2025

For the first time in at least 14 years, state officials will release updated fire maps for Southern California on Monday, March 24, showing where wildfires are most likely to occur within the next several decades.

With the acrid memories of January’s Palisades and Eaton fires still fresh, the new maps couldn’t be more timely.

Among other things, the maps show where fire-resistant building codes apply and where residents could be subject to annual brush inspections. Local governments can use them to guide future planning.

“I see them as an educational tool to let people know the potential hazards in an area if they were to move there or if they live there already,” said Brad Weisshaupt, Los Angeles County’s assistant fire chief. “And (it can) help inform decisions when working on their house and what they plant around their house.”

What will revised fire hazard designations tell us? And whom will they affect?

Here is an overview of what Southern Californians are likely to learn from these new maps.

Q: Who compiled these maps and what’s their purpose?

A: The state Forestry and Fire Protection Department, also known as Cal Fire, created the maps to show the probability of a wildfire occurring in a given area within the next 30-50 years.

However, the maps don’t take into account efforts by homeowners or communities to minimize the danger by clearing brush or hardening their homes. So, the maps don’t give a full picture of an area’s actual wildfire risk, Cal Fire says.

“Hopefully for homeowners, it will give them an awareness of the level of reality of the threat and the importance of hardening their homes,” said Eric Sherwin, spokesman for the San Bernardino County Fire Department. “Our goal is to find the way we can best protect our community with a united effort with the fire department and residents alike.”

Q: What areas are included in the new maps?

A: They cover areas protected by city and county fire departments in eight counties: Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside, San Bernardino, San Diego, Imperial, Mono and Inyo.

Cal Fire already released fire maps for Northern and Central California in three phases since Feb. 10.

Q: When did the old fire maps come out?

A: Previous local maps were rolled out between 2007 and 2011. Those maps only showed areas designated as “very-high fire hazard severity zones.”

Last year, new maps went into effect for “state responsibility areas,” or the 31 million acres protected by Cal Fire. But this is the first update for communities protected by local firefighters.

Q: What will the new maps show?

A: The new maps will designate three levels of fire hazard: moderate, high and very-high.

The designations are based on such factors as vegetation, terrain, fire history and local weather, according to Cal Fire.

Q: What new responsibilities will homeowners face in these fire zones?

A: Property owners in the high and very-high zones must comply with new state building codes, landscaping requirements and real estate disclosure rules.

Building codes: Construction in the high and very-high fire zones must comply with Chapter 7A, which mandates that homes have fire-resistant roofs and rain gutters, have outer walls capable of withstanding heat and flames for up to an hour, have double-pane windows with tempered, shatter-proof glass and ember-resistant attic and garage vents.

Landscaping: Residents in very-high fire zones also will have to maintain “defensible space” within 100 feet of buildings, homes and adjoining decks. Trees need to be trimmed, dead or dying vegetation must be removed  and flammable brush must be cleared.

The greatest degree of vegetation control and landscaping must occur within 30 feet of a home or building.

Some communities require annual brush inspections for residents in very-high fire zones.

The L.A. County Fire Department conducts more than 129,000 such inspections every spring from Malibu to the Antelope Valley. The Orange County Fire Authority conducts more than 85,000 inspections after the rainy season each year.

Homes in L.A. County not in compliance get 30 days to make improvements, then must be reinspected.

Failure to comply could result in fines of up to $500. Cities and counties can choose to clean up a property if the owner refuses, then bill the owner for the costs.

In addition, the state Board of Forestry is drafting new regulations that will require property owners in very-high fire zones to maintain ember-free zones within five feet of a structure — the so-called Zone 0. That means paving or rock must surround a home, and flammable materials like wooden gates, plants and bark mulch will be banned in that 5-foot perimeter.

Real estate transactions: Sellers must disclose to buyers when their properties are located in high and very-high fire zones. They also must present documentation showing that an inspection was done within six months and that the property complies with defensible space requirements.

Q: Are wildfire hazard zones likely to increase or decrease?

A: Statewide, the number of acres in high and very-high zones — which are subject to stricter building codes and real estate disclosure rules — will total 1.4 million, up from roughly 800,000 in the older maps.

Q: Will my insurance go up if my home is part of a newly designated fire zone?

A: Unlikely. Insurers typically use their own maps that include updated fire risk data — such as current fire-resistant building materials and landscaping, according to Cal Fire’s website.

​ Orange County Register 

Why many resist using mobility devices like canes and walkers

• March 23, 2025

Q. My friend who is 84 years old has a chronic condition that affects her balance. Unfortunately, her condition is progressive. She is quite fashionable, well dressed and uses an elegant leucite cane. To my dismay, she refuses to use a walker. Is there a way I can influence her to at least try using a walker for her own safety? Thank you.  E.F.

Most of us can get used to some changes that occur with age. That might be having a little less energy, requiring more sleep, being aware of our balance and just needing to slow down. However, the changes in mobility may be more of a challenge.  

Unfortunately, our society generally harbors a negative view of mobility devices, according to HME180, a home medical equipment company and network for caregivers, pharmacists and more.   

The use of a cane may have less stigma. Perhaps it’s because a little over 16 percent of older adults use one, so it’s not that unusual. Furthermore, canes can be attractive and even make a fashion statement. They come in colorful stained glass patterns, pastel shades, some made of wood and others with rhinestone handles. Some can even become a conversation piece. 

Walkers seem to present a different story. Roughly 11 percent of older adults use them. Yet some may need to use one and don’t.  Here is part of the problem. People often “will not accept safety and stability if it means giving up their individuality and self-sufficiency,” as noted by HME180. 

So why the reluctance? Some older adults may fear their loss of independence or dignity or feel walkers are just too cumbersome.   And there is the concern of how others might perceive them. Perhaps the greatest fear is that using a walker would define who they are. 

Falls are the enemy of older age. The CDC reports that over 14 million adults ages 65 and over report falls each year. That’s one out of four older adults. Furthermore, among this age group, falls are the leading cause of injury-related deaths.

Here are a few suggestions that might be helpful in your mission as suggested by Mobility2 you, a provider of mobility devices.   

Ask a health team’s opinion. This is a first step. The team might include a doctor, physical therapist or an occupational therapist who can assess mobility needs and offer a recommendation.    

Address your friend’s concerns. Discuss her reluctance and listen attentively. For example, is your friend embarrassed or afraid of appearing old? Show understanding and empathy.    

Provide compelling information. Emphasize that using a walker is a key to prevent falls that can cause injuries and even death.  They are a tool to remain independent. You might add that one in four older adults fall each year, per the CDC.

Help in choosing the right walker. Accompany your friend in selecting the appropriate walker. Factors include comfort, ease of use, weight capacity, and adjustability are important as well as cost.   

Suggest a gradual transition. Your friend may start using a walker in her home and then move outside to navigate sidewalks and people.  

I had the opportunity to talk about the “walker experience” with a friend who uses one requiring both hands. She has always been independent and taken good care of herself with yoga, Pilates, good nutrition, friends, purpose and more. “Using a walker,” she says, “makes her feel dependent and prevents her from doing many of her usual physical activities. She also does not like being a burden to others. 

“Having no free hand is a big inconvenience, she says.” She found this particularly true when it comes to heavy doors, ordering coffee at Starbucks, facing stairs with no ramp, getting in and out of one’s seat at the movie theatre and using public rest rooms. She added, “It also is difficult when attending an event with a buffet dinner as well as needing to hold an umbrella, which is not possible.”

If needing to go out in the rain, she makes sure her jacket has a hood. Yet, she adds, “People are very nice and helpful such as the young man who brought my Starbucks coffee to my table and others who have given up their seat or held the door for me. Although she believes she has no choice, she sees the upside of using a walker as preventing her from falling, her highest priority. Despite the inconveniences, this woman makes it work; she adapts, remains curious, active and fully engaged. 

Thank you, E.F., for your good question. Your friend is lucky to have you as a friend. Stay well and just a reminder to be kind …always.

Helen Dennis is a nationally recognized leader on issues of aging and the new retirement with academic, corporate and nonprofit experience. Contact Helen with your questions and comments at Helendenn@gmail.com.  Visit Helen at HelenMdennis.com and follow her on facebook.com/SuccessfulAgingCommunity.

​ Orange County Register 

Summer camp guide 2025: The benefits of camp far outlast a single summer

• March 23, 2025

From birding to sailing, there are a host of adventures waiting for kids within Orange County’s network of camps. While the summer months provide ample opportunities for children and teens to hone their talents or pick up a new skill, the lessons that they’ll learn through the camp experience can last for years to come.

“Our research shows that camp is a primary driver of some really significant outcomes in child development and it is because it’s such an immersive experience,” says Henry DeHart, interim president and CEO for the American Camp Association.

“You put children in an immersive, safe and supportive environment and you’re building independence and you’re building social skills — how to make friends with people that have different backgrounds than you, how to appreciate different perspectives and different backgrounds — how to have grit,” he adds. “Sometimes, things don’t go the way that you want them to at camp and you don’t have your parent there to solve the problem, so you have to develop problem-solving and grit and resilience.”

In the aftermath of the pandemic, demand for summer camp hit what DeHart calls a “generational high.” Moreover, in the years that have passed since then, interest in both sleep-away and day camps has remained strong. According to the ACA’s numbers, about 26 million school-aged children — roughly half of all U.S. kids — head to some kind of camp during summer vacation.

“During the pandemic, parents had an opportunity to better understand what their children really needed because they weren’t getting it during the pandemic,” says DeHart. “One of the things that they recognized is that there were really important experiences that help develop critical skills that weren’t happening in an academic setting.”

And, while one might assume that sleep-away camp is the best way for kids to gain these skills, that’s not necessarily true. “Our research has shown that the outcomes that come from camp are not dependent on whether it’s day or overnight. Day camp has just as rich of benefits as overnight camp,” says DeHart.

He adds that while overnight camp provides a more immersive experience, the benefits for youth has more to do with the quality of the camp. “A three- or four-day program can be as impactful as a two- or three-week overnight camp experience if it’s a high quality experience,” he says.

“We view the summer camps as the time to do things that are more special that we wouldn’t necessarily do throughout the year,” says Angie Timbanard of Huntington Beach. Her two children, now ages 10 and 9, have been going to day camps since they were small. Both have participated in School of Rock’s camp, where they learned to play musical instruments. Timbanard’s son has also done a coding camp and her daughter has tried camps for both horseback riding and sailing.

But, Timbanard points out, as they learn new skills, her kids are also learning how to be independent. “Generally speaking, other than the first day of school, they don’t have a lot of exposure to a brand new environment where you’re there alone and you don’t know what to expect,” she says. “You have to acclimate to what the day presents you, so I think it really helps them in practicing that skill.”

For Miko Vaughn, also of Huntington Beach, enrolling her two sons in Huntington Beach’s Junior Lifeguard program, where they’ll learn ocean safety skills, is a way to ensure that they’ll eventually be able to enjoy beach life on their own.  “Junior lifeguards is one that I really believe in because we live so close to the ocean,” she says. “I do think they need it if I’m ever going to let them go to the beach by themselves.”

And, generally speaking, Vaughn says that day camps help children learn in a playful way. “I think it stimulates them in a different way than school does, where they get to play more, which is important because kids are losing that since they’re so isolated on screens nowadays,” she says. “They get to play at school, but not that much, so I think that’s a huge benefit.”

The lessons of camp aren’t just for young children. DeHart points out that, since some camps do hire staffers as young as 16 or 17, older teens can gain critical life skills as well. “You have opportunities to learn leadership, to learn the responsibility of caring for other people or putting other people’s needs first. You’re forced to collaborate and have a sense of teamwork,” says DeHart. “A lot of the skills that employers tell us are hard to find in the applicants they see now are the exact type of skills that you learn when you work at camp.”

“We have kids who have gone through camp, we’ve known them since they were little and now they’re in college and they keep coming back and helping us with the younger kids in camp,” says Deborah Brin, camp coordinator for the Audubon Society’s Sea and Sage chapter.

With four week-long sessions held on a 360-acre nature area in Irvine, Sea and Sage provides opportunities for youth to engage with local nature as they learn about birds. “I think it creates a foundation for lifelong learning,” says Brin of the program.

Brin shares that one former camper is now a park ranger for the National Park Service. Others have gone on to work in fields related to biology or conservation. One Sea and Sage camp alum has just published her second academic paper. “We’ve known her since she was seven,” she says.

But, the skills children learn out in nature are applicable even if they don’t become a biologist. “Children are prepared to be creative,, have a lot of excitement, be curious, have an open mind, be kind — that’s one of our big things- and begin to develop observation skills,” says Brin. “Even though we’re focusing on birds, it’s going to help with many aspects of life.”

​ Orange County Register 

Trump’s tariffs will hurt California’s wine industry

• March 23, 2025

Although the Trump administration’s rationale for imposing massive tariffs on various imported goods vary by the hour, one of its key arguments is that such tariffs would bolster U.S.-based industries. California, of course, is one of the top wine producers in the world. Although only a state, it only trails the countries of Italy, Spain and France in wine production.

Nevertheless, the industry here is troubled by plans to impose as much as 200% taxes on wines from those and other countries. The Wine Institute, an association that advocates for the industry, supports the “fair, open and reciprocal trade of wine around the world.” It argues, “Retaliatory tariffs like those currently in place invariably harm U.S. wine producers and impede the growth of the wine industry.”

Some individual wineries argue that tariffs might help them compete with imported wine, but overall the industry knows that such tariffs invariably invite retaliation. As AP reports, wineries also fear tariffs will increase the cost of wine-making supplies including barrels and bottles. The wine industry already is suffering because of inflation and dropping wine consumption.

Wine importers often are a forgotten part of the equation. Per Axios, Californians bought a half-billion dollars in French wine last year. If the tariffs go into effect, the entire industry “will take a huge economic hit down the chain, affecting not only importers, but also distributors, retailers, restaurants and any business that sells imported wine.” Most are small businesses.

The wine industry has skin in the game and knows the likely harm. We’re focusing on this one industry here because of its impact on California’s economy and consumers—and close-to-home examples illustrate broader points. The best reasons for free trade center on freedom, of course. Businesses and consumers should be free to trade with whomever they choose without facing punitive taxes.

Tariffs are taxes. Period. This Editorial Board has consistently opposed tax increases. Like many Californians, some of us also enjoy wine and appreciate the benefits this industry provides in our home state. It’s time for the administration to stand down.

​ Orange County Register 

Summer camp guide 2025: What you need to know before sending your child to camp

• March 23, 2025

Even the most social child could get nervous before attending summer camp for the first time. To ensure that your kids have the best possible experience, Henry DeHart, interim president and CEO of American Camp Association, suggests bringing them into the selection process. “Involving the child in that from the very beginning is very helpful,” he says.

From there, you can determine which kind of camp — sleep-away, full day or half-day — is the best fit for your children. For sleep-away camps, DeHart notes that there are ways to ease them into going on their first trip without their parents. “A lot of camps have family camp weekends and some have family camp weeks, where you can go be at the camp as a family and your child gets to know the camp staff and the director and the facilities and maybe the next year or later that summer, they’ll go on their own,” he explains.

Lisa Tai of Huntington Beach sent her 9-year-old son to summer camp in Colorado for the first time last summer. Since 2019, though, Tai’s family has been attending a camp together here in California and she says that helped prepare her son for his first summer camp adventure. “He had an idea of what the camp was like,” she says.

It helps, too, that Tai’s son attended camp in Colorado with his cousin. And Tai herself had attended the same camp from third grade through high school, so she was able fill her son in on what the experience might be like. “It was fun for me to prepare him for it and, when he was done with that camp, to see his entire face light up every time he was telling me every single detail,” she says. “They still play some of the same games that I played when I was little.”

If you’re not already personally familiar with a summer camp, you’ll want to do research before you make your selection. DeHart recommends asking if the camp is ACA accredited, with a peer-reviewed process gauging health and safety standards. Beyond that, you’ll want to find out about the camper/staff ration. “How do they handle supervision when staff has downtime or time off?” DeHart asks. You might want to tour the camp and meet the director, as well as inquire about staff training. In addition, ask about refund policies and communication policies.

For sleep-away camps, which need more preparation than day camps, DeHart suggests talking to your kids beforehand to find out their concerns and come up with strategies to address them. “It’s helpful for children to have had an overnight experience away from home before they go to camp,” he adds.

DeHart also suggests packing a familiar object with your child and, if possible, sending a letter in advance so that it’s at the site when they begin camp. If your child has any medical needs or dietary restrictions, be sure that the camp is aware of them.

As for packing, Tai has a few suggestions. “I packed a lot more than I’m used to packing for each of my kids,” she says. Remember that, with all the activity at camp, kids might need to change clothing more often than they would on any other trip. “He had four packing cubes and I had a label maker and labeled what was inside every one,” says Tai. “I think that’s the biggest thing that helped him is that he didn’t have to worry about everything when he woke up in the morning.”

But, Tai does have an addition to her packing strategy for this year: Trash bags to store dirty clothes.

​ Orange County Register 

Summer camp guide 2025: Academic and STEM camps

• March 23, 2025

ADVENTURES IN STEM SCIENCE CAMP

●  Ages: Junior Adventure Camp 6-10; Adventure Camp 11-17

●  June 16-Aug. 5

● The Irvine Ranch Outdoor Education Center, 2 Irvine Park Road, Orange

● 714-923-3191

● www.outdooreducationcenter.org

Activities include nature hikes, mining, sustainability, astronomy, zip lining, archery, swimming, and arts and crafts.

BIONERDS

●  Ages: Kindergarten-eighth grade

●  Weekly camps run June 2-Aug. 22

● The office is at 560 W. 1st St., Tustin; classes are held at locations around Orange County

● 949-288-1486

● www.bionerdsllc.com

Weeklong camps feature topics such as “Junior Doctors,” “Spooky Science” and “Let’s Dive Into the Ocean.” Other subjects include bioengineering, genetics and laboratory safety.

BRAIN BUILDERS STEM EDUCATION

●  Ages: 6-14

● Tentatively June 15-Aug. 8

● 725 El Camino Way, Tustin; 27601 Forbes Road, Ste. 6, Laguna Niguel

● 714-360-1101

● www.brainbuildersed.org/summercamp

Half-day and full-day camps explore topics like engineering with Lego, robotics, coding, engineering, digital arts and wood shop.

CODE REV

● Ages: 6-14

● Weeklong camps: June 9-Aug. 1

● www.coderevkids.com/tech-camps

Weeklong summer tech camps for budding programmers, future video game designers, app developers, robotics engineers, 3D modelers and animators and just plain technology fans. Both in-person and online options are available.

ENVIRONMENTAL NATURE CENTER SUMMER NATURE CAMP

● Ages: 4-13

● Environmental Nature Center, 1601 E. 16th St., Newport Beach

● June 16-Aug. 8

● 949-645-8489

● encenter.org

Weeklong camps include Little Naturalist Camp for 4-year-olds, Nature Adventure Camp for kids 5-8 and Science Explorer Camp for those 9-13. There’s also a Wilderness Adventure Camp for kids 6-9 at the Tucker Wildlife Sanctuary in Modjeska Canyon.

FAIRMONT SUMMER PROGRAM

● Ages: 2-18

● June 9-Aug. 8

● 5310 E. La Palma Ave., Anaheim Hills; 1575 W. Marble St., Anaheim; 12421 Newport Ave., North Tustin; 2200 W. Sequoia Ave., Anaheim

● Summer department 714-234-2757 or the general school 714-765-6300

● fairmontsummerprograms.com

Choose from weekly summer camps that combine academic and enrichment activities, or a six-week academic program that offers individualized attention in reading, writing and mathematics. Additionally, there will be enrichment workshops that cover a variety of themes such as art, fashion, science and sports. Or spend the summer in college prep courses.

FUSION ACADEMY

●  Ages: Kindergarten to college

● Summer school dates and times are flexible; best to call Fusion directly

●  7711 Center Ave., Suite 120, Huntington Beach; 657-200-2300

● 23456 Madero, Suite 140, Mission Viejo; 949-716-7384

● fusionacademy.com

These programs allow students to catch up or get ahead in academic classes while also providing unique elective choices such as art, music or yoga. Tutoring is personalized for each student’s schedule. Off-site options are available.

ID TECH CAMPS

● Ages: 7-17

● Various programs run June 22-Aug. 7

● 888-709-8324

● idtech.com

This program offers more than 40 STEM courses in programming, video game design, robotics, web design, 3D printing, filmmaking and more. Day and overnight camp options available. Course options vary by week offered and location. In-person camp held on UC Irvine campus. Off-site options are available.

INSIDE THE OUTDOORS

● Ages: 6-12

● July 7-Aug. 1

● Shipley Nature Center, 17851 Goldenwest St., Huntington Beach

● 714-708-3885

● ocde.us/ito/Pages/SummerCamp.aspx

This camp, administered by the Orange County Department of Education, teaches kids about native plants and animals and other scientific concepts while they have fun with arts and crafts, music, water play and more.

IPSF SUMMER ENRICHMENT ACADEMY

●  Ages: Kindergarten to 12th grade

●  Session A: June 16- July 3; Session B: July 8-25; Specialty Camps: July 16-Aug. 15

●  Beacon Park School, 200 Cultivate, Irvine; Cadence Park School, 750 Benchmark, Irvine; Brywood Elementary School, 1 Westwood, Irvine; Cypress Village Elementary School, 355 Rush Lily, Irvine; Eastwood Elementary School, 99 Meander, Irvine; Oak Creek Elementary, 1 Dovecreek, Irvine

●  949-263-8340

●  www.ipsf.net/summer

More than 400 enrichment classes for elementary and middle school students in art, music, science, math, reading and writing, languages, sports, drama, and STEM. High school academic camps develop skills students need for high school and college. Held throughout the Irvine Unified School District. Off-site options are available.

JR. ZOOKEEPER SUMMER CAMP

●  Ages: 5-12

●  June 23-Aug 15

● The Reptile Zoo, 18818 Brookhurst St., Fountain Valley

●  714-500-0591

● prehistoric-inc.square.site/jr-zookeeper-camps

Campers will dig fossils, handle live snakes and play games while learning about animals’ ecosystems, senses and camouflage. Those who complete the camp receive a certificate of graduation and a six-month membership to The Reptile Zoo.

OCEAN INSTITUTE SUMMER CAMP

●  Ages: 5-17

●  June 16-Aug. 15

● 24200 Dana Point Harbor Drive, Dana Point

●  949-496-2274

●  oceaninstitute.org/summer-camp

Campers learn about the ocean and marine science by going on whale watching trips, exploring the institute’s shark touch tank and sailing on a historic tall ship.

PLANETBRAVO TECHNOTAINMENT CAMP

● Ages: Second to ninth grade

● One-week sessions run June 23-Aug. 1

● Pacific Academy, 4947 Alton Parkway, Irvine

● 310-443-7607

● planetbravo.com

PlanetBravo brings fun, engaging technology instruction that boosts kids’ confidence and gives them multimedia skills with their friends. Kids learn to code, make movies, build robots, modding minecraft and more.

RUSSIAN SCHOOL OF MATHEMATICS

●  Ages: Kindergarten to 12th grade

● Various camps per location start June 4

● 3996 Barranca Parkway, No. 110, Irvine, 949-551-1777; 960 Roosevelt, 2nd floor, Irvine, 949-593-0080; 25571 Marguerite Parkway, Mission Viejo, 949-864-6592

● russianschool.com

Two intensive six-week summer math enrichment programs are offered — a traditional course will prepare your child for the year ahead, while reinforcing the work done over the year, and the competitors program serves those students interested in advanced mathematical topics.

SEA AND SAGE AUDUBON SOCIETY NATURE DAY CAMPS

● Ages: 7-16

● Fledgling, June 16-20; Marsh, June 23-27; Coastal, July 7-11; Advanced, July 14-18

● San Joaquin Wildlife Sanctuary, 5 Riparian View, Irvine

● 949-261-7964

● seaandsageaudubon.org

Different one-week camps are offered for various age ranges. Fledgling Camp (ages 7-8) introduces kids to bird watching, Marsh Camp (9-10) teaches more about bird types, anatomy and life cycles, Coastal Camp (11-12) focues on shorebirds in freshwater and salt water marshes while Advanced Bird Camp (13-16) will cover sparrows and other grassland birds.

ST. CATHERINE’S ACADEMY

● Ages: Summer Enrichment Program for boys entering third through eighth grade

● June 15-July 10

● 215 N. Harbor Blvd., Anaheim

● 714-772-1363

● stcatherinesacademy.org

Summer Enrichment Program offers math and language arts classes in the morning, followed by sports, recreational activities, military activities and off-campus outings for the rest of the day.

SUMMER@STRATFORD

● Ages: Preschool-entering fifth grade

● June 2-Aug. 8

● 24741 Chrisanta Drive, Mission Viejo

● 949-216-5657

● www.stratfordschools.com/after-school/summer-camps

Academic camps include preschool and pre-kindergarten JumpStart Camp, kindergarten preparation and Academic Bridge Camp, for students entering first through fifth grades.

SUMMER AT SAGE

● Ages: Entering grades 5-8

● 20402 Newport Coast Drive, Newport Coast

● July 7-Aug. 1

● 949-219-0100

● sagehillschool.org

Students from the area can immerse themselves in credit or noncredit classes, workshops, and academics, arts and athletics camps.

SUMMER KNIGHTS DAY CAMP

● Ages: Preschool to eighth grade

● 32451 Bear Brand Road, Laguna Niguel

● June 16-Aug. 1

● 949-276-6700

● www.st-anne.org

Camp at St. Anne School will include a balance of light academics, arts and crafts, recreation, sports and field trips.

SYLVAN SUMMER CAMP PROGRAMS

●  Ages: Different camps serve students in grades 1-9

●  Various times throughout the summer; best to contact local representatives

● Locations in Huntington Beach, Irvine, Laguna Niguel and Mission Viejo

● www.sylvanlearning.com/camps/stem

The Sylvan EDGE summer camps teach kids STEM skills, early reading, robotics, coding, engineering, pre-algebra and writing. Off-site options are available.

TIGER WOODS LEARNING LAB

● Ages: Fifth through 12th grade

● Dates: TBA

● 1 Tiger Woods Way, Anaheim

● 714-765-8000

● tgrfoundation.org

Summer classes from students interested in an interactive, career-focused experience.

Jeff Farr, Engineering and technology professor, helps a student of the Summer STEAM Academy for elementary and middle school students prepare to launch a bottle rocket during the Tustin Summer Academy Showcase at Orchard Hills School. (Photo by Shelby Woolfe, Orange County Register/SCNG)

TUSTIN SUMMER ACADEMY

● Ages: Kindergarten-eighth grade

● June 9-July 3

● Orchard Hills School 11555 Culver Drive, Irvine

● 714-832-6299

● www.tpsf.net/summer

Enrichment program designed, written and taught by credentialed Tustin Unified teachers. Classes are meant to expand knowledge and nurture creativity and curiosity. Off-site options are available.

URBAN WORKSHOP STEM CAMP

● Ages: 10-16

● May 5-Aug. 22

● 365-A Clinton St., Costa Mesa

● 949-296-2153

● urbanworkshop.net/summercamp

Kids learn about hand tools, CAD and 3D printing, laser etching, silk screening, metal shop, welding, wood-working and electronics. All levels of skill are welcome.

​ Orange County Register 

Summer camp guide 2025: Arts camps

• March 23, 2025

ACTING ACADEMY FOR KIDS SUMMER PERFORMING ARTS CAMPS

● Ages: 4-13

● Dates: June 9-Aug. 15

● 24196 Alicia Parkway, Mission Viejo; 14281 Chambers Road, Tustin; 202 Avenida Cabrillo, San Clemente

● 949-427-0072

● www.actingacademyforkids.com

Campers are guided through the production of a popular musical from start to finish. Students take daily classes in music, acting, directing and dance. The weekly program culminates in a Friday showcase. Both virtual and in-person camp options are available.

APA KIDS AND APA JR. SUMMER PROGRAMS

● Ages: Grades 1-12

● APA Dance Intensive July 14-25

APA Flim Camp July 21-Aug 1,

Session 1: APA Kids and Junior APA Rides the Winter Express, July 7-18

Session 2: APA Kids and Junior APA Goes to the Chocolate Factory, July 21-Aug 1,

● Huntington Beach High School, 1905 Main St., Huntington Beach

● 714-536-2514, ext. 51454

●  hbapa.org/article/apa-summer-opportunities

Students will participate in art, music, dance and acting. Separate camps are offered by grade level. Each camp ends with a showcase performance and a mini art show.

Campers perform an excerpt of “Hamilton” during a showcase at the Arts and Learning Conservatory in Costa Mesa. (Photo by Drew A. Kelley, Contributing Photographer)

ARTS & LEARNING CONSERVATORY SUMMER CAMPS

● Ages: Kindergarten-12th grade

● Dates: TBA

●151 Kalmus Drive, G3, Costa Mesa

● 714-728-7100

●  www.artsandlearning.org

Performing arts camps offer instruction in theater, voice, stage tech, instrumental music and dance. Older teens will rehearse “West Side Story” while younger students can play roles in “Annie.” There also are camps devoted to band, strings, musical theater revues and camps devoted to “Encanto” and “Hamilton.” Each week of camp culminates in a performance

ART STUDIO ART CAMP

● Ages: 7-17

● June 2-Aug. 22

● 6450 Westminster Blvd., Westminster

● Studio: 714-899-6001; Mobile: 714-458-2800

● theartstudio.us/summer-camp

All Art Studio camp classes are taught by professional, working artists. Camps are tailored to the individual from beginning to advanced. Mediums offered this year are oil painting, drawing, sculpting and custom skateboard designing.

CHAPMAN SUMMER VOCAL MUSIC CAMP

● Ages: Entering grades 9-12

● June 22-28

● One University Drive, Orange

● 714-997-6871

● chapman.edu

Experience college-level singing in daily vocal classes and small ensemble practice directed by Keith Hancock, the Grammy Music Educator of the Year for 2017. The week of residential camp, which includes a dorm room and wheels, culminates with a concert in the Musco Center of the Arts. Final date to register is May 1.

CREATIVE KIDS PLAYHOUSE THEATER IMMERSION CAMP

● Ages: 3-18

● July 7-Aug. 1

●  Camino Real Playhouse, 31776 El Camino Real, San Juan Capistrano; Laguna Hills High School, 25401 Paseo De Valencia, Laguna Hills

● 949-297-6257

● creativekidsplayhouse.com

With guidance from theater professionals, kids will put together a one-act musical in one week with training in drama, dance, vocal music, set design and more. Virtual options are available.

CULINARY KIDS SUMMER CAMP

● Ages: 6-14

● Dates: July 7-Aug. 1

● Aliso Viejo Middle School, 111 Park Ave., Aliso Viejo; San Clemente Community Center, 100 N. Calle Seville, San Clemente

● 949-292-4720

● culinarykids.biz

Young chefs gain hands-on cooking experience with camps titled Perfect Pizza Pairings, Terrific Taco Time and Beach Bash: Meals and Treats to Beat the Heat. Note: Book early. Some camps are already full.

FIVE DAYS OF BROADWAY AT THE SEGERSTROM CENTER

● Ages: 11-19

● Dates: Middle school, June 16-20; high school, June 23-27

● 600 Town Center Drive, Costa Mesa

● 714-556-2122, ext. 4104, or Community@SCFTA.org

● scfta.org

Students will be coached in musical theater performance by professional artists and educators. Campers will build a foundation in music, acting and dance and be introduced to backstage and technical elements of theater. There are two camps, one for middle school students (ages 11-13) from June 17 through June 21 and another for high school students (14-19) from June 24 through June 28.

MUDDY’S STUDIO CLAY CAMP

● Ages: 8-15

● Dates: TBA

● 2610 South Halladay St., Santa Ana

● 714-641-4077

● muddysstudio.com

This camp introduces kids to the art of clay and teaches the fundamentals of ceramics. Work on a potter’s wheel, hand build and glaze pieces created from scratch. Book quickly because spots are limited and filling up fast.

PALETTE STATION SUMMER ART CAMP

● Ages: 5-12

● Various sessions run June 9-Aug. 1

● 1526 Brookhollow Drive, Ste. 84, Santa Ana

● 714-714-0126

● palettestation.com

Teachers will work with campers to create projects using acrylic paint, watercolor, colored pencils, oil pastels and modeling clay.

THE PERFORMER’S ACADEMY

● Ages: 7-15

● June 9-Aug. 11

● 23721 Birtcher Drive, Lake Forest

● 949-609-1600

● performersacademy.net

Campers will rehearse throughout the week and perform a show Friday evening. A video of the show will be shared with the camper’s family. No singing or dancing experience is necessary.

APA FILM CAMP

● Ages: 9-16

● July 21-Aug. 1

● Huntington Beach High School, 1905 Main St., Huntington Beach

● 714-536-2514, ext. 51454

● hbapa.online/film-camp

Students learn the behind-the-scenes basics of filmmaking, from screenplay writing to storyboarding, lighting, cinematography and editing. By the end of two weeks, students will have completed a short film that will shown at a screening.

APA POP MUSIC

● Ages: 9-16

● July 7-18

● Huntington Beach High School, 1905 Main St., Huntington Beach

● 714-536-2514, ext. 51454

● hbapa.online/pop-camp

This camp, operated by the Huntington Beach Academy for the Performing Arts, will introduce students to pop and rock instruments (guitar, bass, drums, keyboards) and teach them how to write songs and build their brands. Participants will present a concert on the final day of camp.

A singer and guitarist rehearse a song at School of Rock Camp in Tustin. (Photo by Mindy Schauer, Orange County Register/SCNG)

SCHOOL OF ROCK

● Ages: 7-18

● Weekly camps June 2-Aug. 22

● Locations in Huntington Beach, Rancho Santa Margarita, Santa Ana and Tustin

● 714-847-7788 (Huntington Beach); 949-888-7625 (Rancho Santa Margarita); 949-774-7625; 714-975-9116

● www.schoolofrock.com

Kids learn the basics of playing live music and receive studio/band rehearsal time. Camp includes instruction and clinics with music professionals and a rock show performance.

SEWING CAMP

● Ages: 7-15

● Various camps running from June 16-Aug. 29

● The District at Tustin Legacy, 2477 Park Ave., Tustin

● 714-259-0946

● createdesignsew.com

The camp offers half-day and full-day sessions and both a regular sewing camp (ages 8-15) and junior sewing camp (ages 7-8). Participants will learn the basics of machine sewing such as ironing, cutting patterns and threading and filling bobbins. Students choose the projects to create. The camp also offers 2-hour Fashionable Fundays workshops on Wednesdays. Off-site options are available.

SOCA ARTS

● Ages: 3.5-11

● Various camps from June 16-Aug. 8

● Aliso Viejo, Fullerton, Irvine, Lake Forest, San Clemente, Yorba Linda

● 714-486-2022

● www.socaarts.com

SoCa Arts offers a variety of summer camps devoted to singing, dancing, cheerleading and musical theater. Options include a “Frozen in Summer” Princess Academy for the youngest participants and K-Pop Camp for those 6-11.

SOUTH COAST REPERTORY SUMMER ACTING WORKSHOPS

●  Ages: Third to 12th grade

●  July 14-25 and July 28-Aug. 3

●  655 Town Center Drive, Costa Mesa

●  714-708-5555

●  scr.org

Students can choose acting, improv or musical theater as their focus for the two-week program. Students will gain exposure to various aspects of theater, such as design, improvisation, combat, singing and play writing.

​ Orange County Register