These camps and programs held at UC San Diego are open to children of staff, faculty, students, returning families, and the community.
Also see Summer Camp Programs located at UCSD, which are not necessarily sponsored by the university.
Summer Session
Grades 9-12
Students may choose from lower division courses (1-99) offered during two 5-week sessions to:
- Get an early start on a college career
- Fulfill 1 year of language in only 9 weeks
- Take courses to prepare for Fall Quarter
- Accelerate time to graduate
Academic Connections
Grades 9–12
- Residential program
- Pre-college summer program
- Hands-on college subject matter courses
- Low student-to-teacher ratio
COSMOS
Grades 8–12
Residential academic experience for top high school students in mathematics and science
Knock Around Camps
Ages 5 and up
Sponsored by UCSD Recreation, includes general camps plus leadership, sports, and beach camps
La Jolla Playhouse
- Conservatory, grades 10–12
- Young performers workshop, grades 2–12
- Young performers academy, grades 3–12
Mission Bay Youth Watersports Camp
Ages 6–17
Located at the Mission Bay Aquatic Center
- Kayaking
- Marine science
- Sailing
- Surfing
- Wakeboarding
- Waterskiing
- Windsurfing
San Diego Area Writing Project
Grades 3–12
- Young Writer's Camp
- YWC — College Writing
- YWC — The College Admission Essay
San Diego Supercomputer Center Summer Camps
Elementary, middle and high school
Over 20 summer camps to choose from, including:
- Hands-on Science
- Animation Creation
- Beginning and Advanced Programming
- Robotics
- Skateboard Creation
- Video Production
New this year: StudentTECH Junior, a series of fun-filled camps for
Sally Ride Science
Grades 6–12
- Summer STEAM workshops for middle and high school girls
- 1-week courses, 15 hours total, 3-hour classes
- Morning & afternoon sessions
Summer Learning at Birch Aquarium
Ages 4–15
- Week-long camps
- Day camps
- Animal encounters
- Arts and science
UCSD Jazz Camp
Ages 14 – Adult
- Jazz history and theory
- Improvisation workshops
- Master classes
- Performance
ensembles - Jazz composition and arranging
- Online application
UCSD Recreation classes
See descriptions of quarterly classes and activities for children, including:
- Dance
- Gymnastics
- Martial arts
- Sports
- Swimming
UCSD Sports Camps
Ages 5–18
Specialized sports camps and clinics available through UCSD:
- Baseball
- Boys' basketball
- Girls' basketball
- Crew
- Boys' soccer
- Girls' soccer
- Softball
- Swimming &
diving - Tennis
- Girls' volleyball
- Water polo
U.S. - China Future Leaders Summer Program
Grades 10-12
Based at UC San Diego's School of Global Policy and Strategy, this unique summer program challenges high school students to think globally.
- Participate in game-based role-playing focused on four global challenges that concern the U.S. and China.
- Foster problem-solving and decision-making skills.
- Develop critical thinking about global policy issues.
- Learn diplomacy and conflict resolution techniques.
- Cultivate intercultural skills beyond the classroom through team-building activities and educational field trips.
- Experience lectures by world-renowned scholars on the U.S. and China.