5 camps for kids who love to swim

For kids who aren’t happy unless they’re soaking wet, find a camp with swimming included. Some day camps offer swimming as a regular part of their schedule. Decide how much instruction vs. supervision works best for your child and choose a program that fits with their other interests they can get wet while you work:

Cal Youth Camps provide camps with many activities that are short and sweet so kids stay engaged. Red Cross swimming lessons available each day, among other activities (soccer, crafts, basketball, dance, and more).
Location: Berkeley’s Strawberry Canyon Recreation Area
Hours: Full day is 9 to 4 pm. Extended care is offered for $15/time slot/day (morning (7:30 – 9:00am), or evening (4:00 – 5:30pm)) .
Price: Explorer camp, for ages 5-6, is $295 per week based with discounts for a 2wk commitment. Other age groups have different rates and offer half-day option. See rates and timing  for Blue Camp cubs (age 7-8), bears (age 9-10), and grizzlies (age 11-13).
Ages: 5-13

Berkeley Day Camp  provides a chance for children to explore our local parks. A typical week includes two days in Tilden Park and two days at the Berkeley Marina. Swim Day occurs every Friday and campers visit several beach locations, such as Lake Anza in Tilden Park, Crissy Fields in San Francisco or Crown Beach in Alameda (by bus, not your car).
Location: Varies
Hours: 9 – 3:30pm for the core program; extended care available 7:30 – 6pm
Price: $147/week for core program to Berkeley residents and $162/week for non-residents; $37/($42 non-res)/wk for before-care; $58 ($63 non-res)/wk for after-care.
Ages: 5-12

Monkey Business features many unusual themes (pirates, cooking, circus arts, and mad science) and rounds out the week with swimming at Lake Anza. The camp also takes advantage of proximity to Little Farm and other Tilden amenities. Each week has a different theme.
Location: Berkeley’s Tilden Park
Hours: Basic day is 8:30 to 3:30 pm. Extended care is offered from 8am to 6pm .
Price: $325/ 1 week, Add $15/wk for AM care, $40/wk for just PM care, or $60 for extended day. Price breaks for booking by 6/1.
Ages: 5-10 (for swimming) with groups separated by age

Sarah’s Science Summer Camp offers themed science weeks with topics like Sneaky Science and Wire it Up! Days include outdoor fun as well. Kids come home with projects and dirt in their hair. Once a week swimming.
Location: The Berkeley site will be at Tilden Park near the carousel with swimming at Lake Anza and the Oakland location is Roberts Regional Park with a nearby pool.
Hours: Mon–Fri, 9:00am–3:00pm. Extended Care: 8:00am – 5:30pm.
Price: $340/week for core program; $20/wk for before-care; $60/wk for after-care. Discounts for multiple-weeks and siblings.
Ages: 5-10 campers and 11-15 for CIT (counselors in training)

For full-on all-day swim camp, Cal offers overnight and day camp for serious swimmers age 7 to 17. For lessons that work, see Canyon Swim School. Classes begin in March and extend through the summer.

(updated for 2012 camps)