Most summer programs are built around one question: what will keep the kids busy? At WeVillage, we asked a better one — what will make their summer actually matter? That’s the thinking behind Summer Studio Camp, our nine-week seasonal program for children ages 4–9. Families looking for a summer camp in Sherman Oaks continue to choose us because they can trust our approach.

Here are the nine things that make it different — one for each week of summer.

1. Small groups that build real belonging

Twelve kids per group. One teacher. One aide. Far from a simple marketing statistic, this ratio is why we see shy children gain confidence and outgoing children develop better listening skills. It’s how we make sure no child spends the summer getting lost in the shuffle.

Week 1 · June 8–12 · Super Me! Self-portraits, feelings, and family stories. The first week is built around each child — who they are, who their people are, how they show up in the world. The perfect starting point for a summer community.

2. Outdoor time that’s actually outdoor

Research from the Harvard Center on the Developing Child continues to reinforce what families already sense: unstructured outdoor play is one of the most developmentally rich experiences a young child can have. Our daily schedule builds outdoor time in — not as an afterthought, but as a priority.

Week 2 · June 15–19 · Garden Party! Planting, nature discoveries, and outdoor fun. The whole week moves outside. Real sunshine, real dirt, real discoveries. This is what a summer week should feel like at five years old.

3. Walkable Sherman Oaks: A neighborhood-integrated experience

Because we’re located in the heart of Sherman Oaks, the neighborhood becomes part of the camp. Our kids take walking field trips to the park, the library, and (yes) Menchie’s. There’s no long bus ride eating up half the morning. The day starts here, happens here, and ends here.

Week 3 · June 22–26 · Splash & Sea Adventures Water play and ocean crafts. A full week of water play, sprinklers, and beach-inspired projects — the kind of summer activities parents used to daydream about.

4. Nine weekly themes, designed by educators

Summer Studio Camp isn’t a patchwork of random activities. Every week is built around a theme — imagination, movement, making, discovery — designed by the same educators who run our year-round programs. Themes drive the art, the stories, the field trips, and the outdoor play. Kids leave with ideas, not just souvenirs.

This aligns with what the National Association for the Education of Young Children calls intentional teaching — where every activity connects to a bigger purpose.

Week 4 · June 29–July 3 · Build It Big! Forts, towers, and cardboard cities. An entire week of engineering and imagination. The kind of play that looks like fun and builds problem-solving.

5. The same teachers who run our school year

The adults in the room matter more than anything else. Summer Studio Camp is staffed by the same early educators who teach at WeVillage during the school year — not college students hired for ten weeks. The result is consistency, calm, and a level of developmental awareness that you simply don’t get from temporary staff.

Week 5 · July 6–10 · StoryTime Magic Dress-up, puppets, and playful performances. This week requires educators who know how to hold space for imagination. Our teachers do.

Curious what a week actually looks like? See camp details →

6. A space designed for this

The studio itself is designed for children — warm, organized, creative, thoughtful. Not institutional. Not decorated-to-look-fun. Genuinely high-quality. The materials are quality. The art projects are meaningful. The food is whole, fresh, and made for real kids with real appetites.

Week 6 · July 13–17 · Color Explosion Painting, clay, and light play. A week where the space earns its keep. Real art materials, real mess, real creativity — all held inside a studio built to let kids make things that matter to them.

7. A language layer most camps skip

WeVillage has always believed early childhood is the right window for language. Our year-round Spanish Immersion program, La Escuelita, threads into the summer too — with playful exposure baked into the themes.

Week 7 · July 20–24 · World Adventure Week Music and playful Spanish exploration. The week where the world gets bigger. Songs, stories, and language woven into everything — no flashcards, no pressure, just play.

8. Teachers who teach the social stuff

The hardest things to learn at five aren’t academic. They’re how to be a good friend. How to share without losing yourself. How to notice when someone else needs something. Our teachers are trained to hold those moments — not just manage the classroom around them.

Week 8 · July 27–31 · Kindness Crew Yoga, friendship games, and connection. A whole week built around the things we wish every camp made time for. Calm bodies, kind hearts, real friendship.

9. Flexibility that fits your family’s summer

Summer isn’t one shape. Some families need nine weeks of consistent care; others need three to bridge a travel schedule or a grandparent visit. Summer Studio Camp lets you enroll by the week — or book the full nine weeks — so the camp adapts to your calendar instead of the other way around.

If you need even more flexibility around camp weeks, FlexCare is our on-demand early education program that works alongside camp enrollment for families whose schedules shift week to week.

Week 9 · August 3–7 · Summer Celebration Week Camp favorites, water play, and a joyful end-of-summer celebration. The closer. Everything the kids loved most, one more time. A summer worth celebrating.

Early Bird Special: Enroll by May 15th and take $25 off each week. Spots fill by theme — reserve the weeks you want while availability lasts.

Your village is waiting. WeVillage is early education designed for modern families. Schedule a Tour →