Camp Info
| Ages: | 5–12 |
| Type: | Day |
| Month: | Summer |
| Gender: | Girls-Only |
| Setting: | Coast |
| Water: | Water, Swimming, Diving, Scuba Diving, Snorkeling, Boating, Kayaking, Surfing |
[email protected]
Chula Vista, CA, USA
Sunshine Mermaids Summer Camps are adventure-based marine and life-skills camps for children and teens. The main Sunshine Mermaid Day Camp and Ocean Knights Day Camp serve ages 5–12, with age-group options for MerLittles, MerPrincesses, and MerLadies. Older campers ages 12–17 can join SCUBA Day Camp, while the overnight marine camp is listed for mermaids ages 7–17.
The program blends water activities, ocean conservation, animal learning, rescue themes, art, and hands-on exploration. Campers may participate in boogie boarding, snorkeling, kayaking, surfing, tide pooling, aquarium visits, eco-conservation activities, CPR training, self-defense, or horseback riding, depending on the selected camp and activity day.
The day camp format uses themed days. A typical week may include Aquatic Adventure Day, Rescue Day, Art Day, Science Day, and another Aquatic Adventure Day. Younger campers ages 5–6 and 7–10 follow a gentler day-camp structure, while ages 11–12 may have higher-adventure options such as snorkeling, Discover SCUBA, horseback riding, kayaking, or a water park.
This camp is best suited to curious kids who enjoy active learning outside a regular classroom. It is especially appealing to children who enjoy the ocean, marine animals, environmental topics, art, and practical rescue-style activities.
| Ages: | 5–12 |
| Type: | Day |
| Month: | Summer |
| Gender: | Girls-Only |
| Setting: | Coast |
| Water: | Water, Swimming, Diving, Scuba Diving, Snorkeling, Boating, Kayaking, Surfing |
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.
Sunshine Mermaids offers both day camp and overnight-style programming. The main Sunshine Mermaid Day Camp, Ocean Knights Day Camp, SCUBA Day Camp, and Camp Done Your Way are day programs. Campers attend during the day and return home afterward. Pick-up and drop-off are listed at Highwood Park in La Mesa.
The main day camp schedule runs from 8:30 AM to 2:30 PM. Extended hours are available for SCUBA Day Camp for a small additional charge. Camp Done Your Way allows groups to choose their week and hours, with an 8-camper minimum.
The Overnight Marine Camp is different from the regular day camp. It includes transportation from San Diego airport or LAX to Ventura Harbor, three days aboard the Peace Boat, one day of hotel accommodations in Ventura Harbor, and a sleepover at the San Diego Zoo. This option is much more travel-oriented and is intended for campers ready for a bigger marine adventure beyond a local day camp.
The day camp package includes dinner on the night of the parent presentation. The standard also includes a water bottle and refills. Healthy snacks twice daily are listed as an add-on, not as part of the base day camp package.
Prepared daily meals are not listed for the regular day camp. Families should plan as if campers need food from home unless they have purchased snack add-ons or received separate instructions during registration. For water-based camp days, a packed lunch, extra water, and easy snacks are practical items to confirm before the first day.
SCUBA Day Camp and Camp Done Your Way do not list a full daily meal service. Camp Done Your Way includes a water bottle and refills, with healthy snacks twice daily available as an add-on.
Sunshine Mermaids includes several activity areas connected to water, animals, rescue learning, and outdoor adventure. Listed water-based activities may include boogie boarding, snorkeling with leopard sharks or stingrays, kayaking in San Diego Bay, sea cave kayaking, kayaking at Mission Bay, water park activities, surfing, SCUBA diving, and snorkeling.
Rescue Day activities are divided into animal-rescue and people-rescue themes. Animal rescue and welfare may include a trip to San Diego Humane Society and equestrian husbandry with horseback riding. People rescue and welfare may include meeting EMTs, learning CPR, and self-defense.
Because activities can include ocean, pool, kayak, animal, and rescue-style experiences, families should review the selected camp week carefully before registration. Some activities may be joined with other age groups.
Sunshine Mermaids Summer Camps use themed days to give campers a different kind of adventure across the week. Aquatic Adventure Days may include boogie boarding, snorkeling, kayaking, surfing, a water park, or other water-based experiences. Marine Science, Biodiversity, and Conservation Day may include aquarium visits, tide pooling, wildlife centers, dolphin and whale boat excursions, or SeaWorld.
Art Day adds creative variety through nature art, museum visits, canvas painting, pottery painting, and similar projects. Rescue Day is split into two directions: animal rescue and welfare, or people rescue and welfare. Campers may learn about humane society work, equestrian husbandry, horseback riding, EMTs, CPR, and self-defense.
The SCUBA Day Camp adds a more specialized water track for teens ages 12–17. It includes SCUBA diving, snorkeling, ocean conservation, marine biology, and an optional Catalina diving add-on.
