Editor's curated guide to the Los Angeles day camps that genuinely shine for young campers — beach programs, traditional camps, sports, STEM, and arts, all with verified age 5 admission and structured support for first-time campers.
Quick answer: Five-year-olds in Los Angeles have great day camp options for 2026. The strongest picks combine three things: they accept age 5 (not just K-grad), they group younger campers separately from older kids, and they're staffed for the patience and pacing that 5-year-olds need.
Top categories include beach camps (Aloha Beach Camp, Fitness by the Sea, Sandy Days), traditional outdoor day camps (Tumbleweed, Tocaloma, Camp Galileo), sports camps (LMU, Oaks Christian, Got Game), and STEM/creative programs (Camp CodeREV, Rolling Robots, Art History Camp). Costs range from $400-$700 per week for most full-day programs.
Sleepaway camps are generally not appropriate for age 5 — this page focuses entirely on day camps where your child comes home each evening.
Five is a transitional age. Some children at this age are ready for a full day of structured activity with new friends; others need shorter sessions, familiar routines, and extra warmth. The good news: Los Angeles has both kinds of programs.
When evaluating a camp for your 5-year-old, the questions that matter most are about structure, supervision, and pacing:
Every camp below has been verified to accept age 5 for the 2026 summer season. Listings are alphabetical.
The only American Camp Association-accredited beach camp in Los Angeles, and one of the few beach programs that actively welcomes 4 and 5-year-olds with age-grouped instruction. Younger campers learn ocean basics in shallow water with dedicated counselors. Day-by-day enrollment means you can try a single day before committing. Free transportation throughout L.A. and the Valley.
Run by Art Studio Agoura, this camp introduces young children to great painters — Van Gogh, Magritte, Rousseau — and lets them create in each artist's style. The 5-year-old experience is calmer and more hands-on than a typical busy summer camp, making it ideal for kids who prefer creative focus to high-energy group play.
A drop-off-only beach summer program with two convenient L.A. locations. Mix of play, leisure, sports, arts and crafts, water activities, beach parties, and field trips. Parents can follow along through camp social media. Good for younger campers who like variety without overwhelming intensity.
One of the few tech-focused camps that accepts true beginners at age 5. STEAM projects tailored to each age group — younger kids work with simple coding, digital art, and robotics fundamentals. Outdoor play breaks built into every day so it's not just screen time.
Hands-on art and science challenges grouped by age, with K-prep programs specifically designed for the youngest campers. Operates in small cohorts that spend much of the day outdoors. Locations include Arcadia, Brentwood, Burbank, Culver City, Encino, Manhattan Beach, Pasadena, Venice, Westwood, and more.
An adventurous art and nature camp that takes kindergarteners seriously. Younger campers explore the hidden natural world with guides trained in age-appropriate outdoor education. Three sites across the Valley and Malibu.
L.A.'s longest-running beach camp, with 200+ activities and an excellent track record with young children. Day-by-day scheduling — pick any number of days, any time. Bus transportation from Beverly Hills, Westwood, Mar Vista, Culver City, Marina del Rey, Playa del Rey, West Hollywood, Playa Vista, and El Segundo.
Each child customizes their day from soccer, basketball, hockey, baseball, arts and crafts, robotics, science, coding, drama, and more. Younger campers benefit from energetic, trained coaches who are good at meeting kids where they are. Strong choice for high-energy 5-year-olds who want to try a bit of everything.
Multi-sport camp on one of SoCal's most beautiful college campuses. Younger campers get age-appropriate skill-building in a fun, non-competitive environment. Lunch and pool time included. A good fit for the active 5-year-old who likes running around.
Sports camps for boys and girls with state-of-the-art facilities and expert instruction from trained coaches. Lunch and pool time included. Good for Conejo Valley families.
Home of multiple VEX Robotics World Champions, with a Jr. Robot Builders track designed specifically for young children. Flexible half-day (9am-12pm or 1pm-4pm) and full-day options — half-day is often the right starting point for 5-year-olds.
The ultimate beach camp for a season of fun, located right on the sand in Pacific Palisades. Conveniently located for Santa Monica, West LA, and Greater Los Angeles. Smaller and more intimate than some of the bigger beach programs.
30 program offerings across creativity, fitness, technology, stage, and skill-building. Held at neighborhood elementary schools, so kindergarteners attend in familiar school-like environments. Locations include West Los Angeles, Pacific Palisades, Westchester, Sherman Oaks, and more.
Kids choose their own activities throughout the day — sewing, stop-motion animation, music, coding, sports, baking, filmmaking. Buy Day Passes and use them whenever; unused passes refunded at summer's end. 8am-6pm care, lunch and snacks included. Great for families with unpredictable summer schedules.
Founded in 1945 with one goal: the finest day camp possible. Activities range from yoga to basketball to drama and crafts in an inclusive, supportive environment that values fair play, adventure, mutual respect, and friendship. The traditional camp experience for kids who want classic.
A sleepaway camp at heart, wrapped in a traditional day camp package. 100 acres in the Santa Monica Mountains with swimming, horseback riding, challenge course, art, theater, hiking, archery, and more. ACA-accredited. Transportation provided. Pre-K and kindergarten campers get their own age-grouped program. Operating since 1954.
Some 5-year-olds walk into camp on day one like they own the place. Others need a slower start. Both are normal.
If your child is on the cautious side, here's what tends to work:
Whatever camp you choose, the goal of the first summer isn't mastery of any specific activity — it's helping your child build the confidence that camp is fun and safe. That confidence carries into every summer that follows.
Yes — many Los Angeles day camps accept age 5, and several specialize in Pre-K and kindergarten campers. The key is picking a camp that groups younger children separately, offers structured supervision, and paces the day for shorter attention spans.
It depends on your child. Active outdoor kids do well at beach camps (Aloha Beach Camp, Fitness by the Sea) and traditional camps (Tumbleweed, Tocaloma). Quieter, more focused kids often prefer arts-based programs (Art History Camp) or self-directed environments (Steve & Kate's). Sporty kids enjoy LMU Sports Camp or Got Game.
The reputable ones are. Look for ACA accreditation (Aloha Beach Camp is the only ACA-accredited beach camp in L.A.), separate groups for younger campers, certified lifeguards, sun protection routines, and shallow-water-only instruction for age 5. Ask any camp you're considering exactly how they handle younger campers in the ocean.
Comfortable clothes, sunscreen applied before drop-off, a labeled hat, a refillable water bottle, lunch and snacks (check whether the camp provides them), a small backpack, and camp-specific items like a swimsuit and towel for water programs. Avoid sending anything valuable or sentimental.
Most 5-year-olds feel nervous about their first camp — that's normal, not a warning sign. Choose a flexible-scheduling camp so you can try a few days first. Drop-offs should be quick and confident; long goodbyes make separation harder, not easier. Most kids settle in within 30-45 minutes.
Most full-day L.A. day camps cost $400-$700 per week for 2026. Specialty camps (STEM, arts) can run higher. Some lower-cost options exist through parks & recreation departments and the Girl Scouts of Greater L.A. day camps starting around $33 per day. Early-bird discounts (usually expiring March or April) and sibling discounts are common.
Now, if you have a top choice. The best L.A. day camps fill by April for the most popular sessions. Most camps open registration in January or February with early-bird pricing through March or early April.
Generally no. Most sleepaway camps start at age 7 or 8, and the few that accept younger campers (like Camp Hollywoodland at age 6) are exceptions. Five is too young for overnight programs for almost all children. Stick with day camps at this age — they offer the camp experience with the security of coming home each evening.
The 15 camps above are our editor's picks for 5-year-olds. To see every Los Angeles day camp by activity, neighborhood, or age range, visit our complete L.A. day camps directory. Looking for older-kid options? Check our L.A. sports camps and specialty camps guides.
The best way to decide if a camp feels right for your 5-year-old is to meet the director face-to-face. L.A. Camp Fair 2026 is the region's biggest free summer camp expo, with seven convenient dates and locations: UCLA, Harvard-Westlake, Crossroads School, Pasadena City College, Thousand Oaks High School, Irvine Great Park, and Ken Miller Recreation Center in Torrance.
Trusted Los Angeles summer camps in one easy guide. Plus early-bird discount alerts from participating camps.
Find Camps & Services |
Info & Support
|