Santa Barbara, CA, USA
Ocean play, creative projects, and skateboarding shape the Santa Barbara experience at Lobster Jo’s. Beach Camp mixes ocean activities with beach-themed arts and crafts, group games, sandcastle contests, surfing, and beach karaoke. Art Camp adds dedicated creative time with painting, sculpting, plant pressing, and beading before campers join beach activities. Skate Camp focuses on proper skateboarding technique, new skills, and practice at Skater’s Point, with all skill levels welcomed.
The program is built around getting children outside and engaged with the Santa Barbara waterfront and community. Lobster Jo’s describes curiosity, stewardship, community, and self-expression as central themes, using activities such as surfing, crafting, and skating to give campers different ways to explore and participate. A Half-Day option is also described for children coming from selected partner camps before joining Beach Camp for three hours of afternoon play.
Families should expect an active day with water, sun, movement, and hands-on projects. The camp’s FAQ says children do not need to know how to swim; staff use a swim assessment to identify campers who need a life vest near the water, and the program includes non-water activities as well.
| Ages: | 5–14 |
| Type: | Day |
| Gender: | Co-Ed |
| Setting: | City, Coast |
| Sports: | Sports, Skating & Boarding, Skateboarding |
| Water: | Water, Surfing |
| Arts: | Arts, Fine Arts, Arts & Crafts, Painting, Sculpture, Jewelry Making |
| Meals Type: | Bring Your Own |
| Address: | East Beach, Cabrillo Blvd. near Milpas St., Santa Barbara, CA 93101 |
| Santa Barbara | |
| USA |
You won’t be charged yet. The camp will contact you to confirm all terms first.
You can still submit a quick request to let the camp know you’re interested.
Lobster Jo’s organizes its Santa Barbara summer offerings around distinct activity formats. Beach Camp is the broadest beach-day program, combining ocean activities, group games, beach-themed arts and crafts, sandcastle contests, surfing, and karaoke. Art Camp begins with focused creative work in media such as painting, sculpting, plant pressing, and beading, then connects campers with Beach Camp activities later in the day.
Skate Camp centers on skateboarding technique and skill development at Skater’s Point. Campers practice new skills and work through the park’s challenges, and the program is described as open to all skill levels. A Half-Day option is designed to extend the day for campers coming from selected Ceramics, Skate, or Beach Volleyball programs, with staff escorting them to Beach Camp for a three-hour afternoon block.
Across the programs, the organization emphasizes outdoor exploration, curiosity, community, stewardship, and creative expression. The FAQ also makes clear that Beach Camp is not limited to strong swimmers: children receive a swim assessment, life-vest needs are identified near the water, and non-water activities remain part of the experience.
Families are asked to send campers with water and food for the day. The FAQ also identifies snack and lunch as regular times when counselors prompt sunscreen reapplication. No camp-provided meal service or dietary program is described in the saved official sources.
Counselors instruct campers to reapply sunscreen every 80 minutes, with dedicated reminders at snack, lunch, and free play. Beach campers receive a swim assessment so staff can determine who needs a life vest near the water, and the camp also offers non-water activities. The FAQ says counselors are CPR and First Aid certified, TB screened, background checked, trained for mandatory reporting, and interviewed before joining the staff.
The counselor team is described as being made up largely of UCSB and SBCC undergraduates. The camp says counselors are CPR and First Aid certified, TB screened, background checked, trained for mandatory reporting, and required to pass an interview process. The organization also identifies program leads for beach, art, skate, and water-safety responsibilities.
Families should send campers with water and food. Beach and Art campers are also asked to bring a towel, swimsuit, and sunscreen; Skate Camp participants need a skateboard, pads, and a helmet. The camp asks families to arrive with sunscreen already applied. The Half-Day program is described as an escorted transition from selected Ceramics, Skate, or Beach Volleyball programs to Beach Camp for afternoon activities.
