CULTURAL SUMMER CAMPS

Summer is almost here, and parents across Los Angeles are starting to ask the same question: what are the kids doing for camp this year?  It’s an exciting time in L.A –longer days, slower pace, and a chance to breathe after a busy school year. 

For parents, summer also offers a special opportunity: a chance to show our children the diversity of the world –and to remind them that everyone belongs.

And in Los Angeles, that diversity is everywhere.

Rediscovering Cultural Exploration

Before becoming a parent, I loved exploring everything L.A. has to offer –driving across town for delicious food, vibrant festivals, and music that transported me somewhere new.  But after having two kids, our world–and our driving radius– seemed to shrink.  Between school schedules, extracurricular activities, and the everyday logistics of family life, it became easier to stay closer to home.

Sometimes I forget that cultural exploration is still within reach –we just have to notice it, and sometimes seek it out.  It can be as simple as spending an afternoon at a neighborhood festival, having an authentic meal, or signing up for a class that introduces our kids to culture, whether it reflects our own heritage or someone else’s.

Research consistently shows that children exposed to diverse cultural experiences develop higher levels of empathy and perspective-taking than their peers. Developmental psychologists point to the power of “discovery moments” –when children encounter something genuinely new and different, their curiosity and openness grow.  Summer, with its open schedule, is one of the best times to create discovery.

And in Los Angeles, those opportunities are everywhere. 

Cultural Camps for Curious Kids

Summer camps have become wonderful spaces of cultural discovery.  Beyond the traditional staples of swimming and crafts, many now offer experiences that connect children to global traditions, languages, and creative expressions –sparking curiosity and a deeper appreciation for the world around them.

The following camps are just a glimpse of the many cultural summer experiences tucked throughout Los Angeles –visit their websites and Instagrams to ask questions before enrolling.

Cooking Camps

Children learn to prepare foods from around the world, discovering new ingredients and traditions along the way.  Check out the Los Angeles Cooking School (losangelescookingschool) for international cooking, and the YAK Academy (@rbyakacademy) for Latin American dishes.  

Language Camps

Language immersion camps introduce children to new ways of communicating.  Check out My Escuelita (@myescuelita) where they incorporate ancestral traditions of gardening with Spanish immersion, and Los Angeles French Academy for French preschool immersion camps (@ninou.preschool).

Music and Arts Camps

Through dance, instruments, and visual arts, kids experience cultural traditions that have been passed down through generations.  Check out BollyPop LA (@bollypop_la) for South Asian Bollywood dancing, and RAZ Land Art (@ razlandart) for art infused with cultural storytelling, each week a new continent.

Activity Camps

Games and physical traditions from around the world make for a surprisingly powerful cultural bridges. Consider world cup soccer with Culture Bytes (@ iculturalbytes ), and kung fu with Enter Martial Arts (@ enter_martial_arts).

Educational Camps

Opportunities for enrichment can also be a lens for cultural exploration.  Consider Sankofa at the Beach Health & Engineering Academy, merging culture into CSULB’s career exploration, and Kizuna (@gokizuna) for Japanese and Japanese American arts and culture.

Affinity Camps

Some camps are built specifically around a shared identity, culture, or background –offering a space to celebrate heritage.  Check out Crown Me (@ crownmecamps) for their Black Joy camps, and JCamp Los Angeles (@jla_jcamp) for Jewish identity and community.

Abroad Camps

For those who are able, a trip abroad can be a transformative experience.  Check out Boundless Life (@boundlesslife) for global family programs, and Surf Club Keros (@surfclubkerosofficial) for summer under the Greek sun.

Discovering the World in Your Own Backyard

These days, when I catch myself dreaming about traveling far away, I find the world is right here around me.  Los Angeles is a vast, vibrant mosaic of cultures, traditions, and stories.  Curiosity and wonder can happen anywhere –sometimes all it takes is noticing.

I was recently reminded of this while having dinner on Abbott Kinney.  I found myself surrounded by lively international music, conversations in half a dozen languages, and families from around the globe, all during one meal.  It felt like another world without ever leaving the city.

When our children explore cultures through food, art, language, and community, they begin to see the world with wider eyes.  They awaken to cultural curiosity and discover that everyone has a story –and everyone belongs. What starts as a fun summer camp experience can quietly grow into something much bigger: empathy, openness, and a deeper appreciation for people whose lives look different from their own.

That may be the most meaningful gift this season can offer.

Start with one camp, one festival, or one new neighborhood restaurant.  In Los Angeles, the world is closer than you think.