Summer Camps

Sports Activities Camp

Ages 5-12

Come play at one of Elings Park's most popular camps. Participants enjoy a variety of games and team-building sports activities including hiking, tag, relay races, basketball and soccer drills, racquet sports and more. All activities are fully inclusive, cooperative and integrated with music for an action-packed week of fitness, friends and fun!

Instructor: Morgan William, Physical Education Specialist

Morgan is a fun-loving, energetic, organized educator with a love of the outdoors and a commitment to health and wellness. Her teaching methods embrace the social and emotional development and well-being of her students. Morgan is a graduate of UCSB in Geography and holds her California Multiple Subject Teaching Credential and Master’s Degree in Education from Antioch University. Currently, Morgan works as the Hollister School Physical Education Specialist for grades K-6 as well as a staff member for UCSB’s Adventure Programs.

Nature & Games Camp

Ages 5-12
Nature & Games Camp includes nature hikes, outdoor games, plant germination, arts and crafts and education about plants and animals. Guest speakers include staff from the Santa Barbara City Fire Department, Public Works, and the Humane Society who instruct campers in fire safety, water conservancy, and animal appreciation and safety. New this year: special focus on recycling and how kids can make a difference.

Instructor: Tyler Speier

Tyler is a student at University of California, Irvine who grew up in Santa Barbara's great outdoors. He is excited to bring his experience as a biology tutor to the Elings Park Nature and Games Camp. Tyler has been a counselor for Westmont Summer Camps and an aid for special needs children at Respite Inc. A dynamic and creative event planner, Tyler has also planned and directed children's birthday parties and large events across Santa Barbara County, including the Elings Park Great Egg Hunt.

Rugby Camp

Ages 5-12

Come learn the basic rules and skills of the second most popular sport in the world. No experience necessa

ry. All participants receive a camp T-shirt and rugby ball.

Instructor: Trevor McGreal

Spending much of his rugby career in his native New Zealand, local coach and former player Trevor McGreal returns to Elings Park for a second year to train youth in the fundamentals of rugby. Having been active in the sport for over three decades, Trevor looks forward to sharing his experience and passion with a new generation of rugby enthusiasts.

Breakers Basketball Camp

Come learn basketball fundamentals in a fun, no-pressure atmosphere. The Breakers Basketball Camp will focus on basic passing, dribbling, rebounding and shooting methods as well as offensive moves from greats like Kobe Bryant and Michael Jordan. Campers learn off-ball movements, game techniques and work ethic. Emphasis on learning to work as a team will be applied during officiated camp games. Increase your self-esteem and skills as you develop your game for future years of basketball in high school and beyond.

Instructor: Curt Pickering, Santa Barbara Breakers Head Coach

Curt is Head Coach of the Santa Barbara Breakers professional basketball team and has been Director of the Montecito Basketball Academy for 13 years.

BMX Camp
Ages 5 & up
Come ride the Elings Park BMX track with other young athletes from across the County! BMX Camp is designed for riders of all levels and abilities. Improve basic skills, learn track etiquette and get a great workout in the beautiful outdoors. BMX is one of the fastest growing sports in the US and Elings Park is home to many nationally ranked riders. Each participant must bring a helmet and a functioning bike.

Instructor: Chantel Blanchet, BMX Pro
Chantel's first time at Santa Barbara BMX was a summer camp in 1997. Over the next ten years she progressed to State Champion, West Coast Champion, National Age Group #1, Grand National #1, and World #1. After turning pro, she went on to race the qualifiers for the 2008 Olympic games. Chantel is also a certified Personal Fitness Trainer, Corrective Exercise Specialist, Performance Enhancement Specialist and business owner. Elings Park is proud to have her coaching BMX Camp for the second year in a row.

John Sisterson Soccer Academy
Ages 5-15 Choice of morning (9am-12pm) or afternoon (1pm-4pm) or both. $90/half day, $180/ full day

Join us at the Elings Park soccer fields to develop all-around skills in the world's most popular sport. Participants receive a free soccer ball.

Instructor: John Sisterson, SBCC Head Coach

John Sisterson is in his 2nd season as Head Coach of the 2008 SBCC Men's Soccer Program. Born in North East England, John has a vast experience in coaching. He is also the current SBCC Women's Head Coach and was also Head Coach for the US Women's Olympic Deaf Team that won gold at the Deaf Olympics in Australia in 2005. John has previously coached the Men's & Women's soccer teams at West Texas A&M University, and also the Upson Lee Men's Team in Georgia, posting a 74-24-4 record including a Regional Championship and 3 Runners-up berths. John has coached at the ODP level and in Europe, and is also an Associate Staff Coach for the National Soccer Coaches of America. He holds NSCAA (Premier and Advanced), UEFA (Europe), FA (England), and USSF Coaching licences. Coach Sisterson has a Masters and Bachelors Degree in Physical Education and is a member of the National Soccer Coaches of America. John was named Western State Conference Men's Coach of The Year in 2008.

Clyde Bennett's Softball Skills Camp

Ages 6-12 (girls only)

Come play ball at the Elings Park Castagnola Softball Complex--one of the finest facilities of its kind in Santa Barbara. This exciting camp includes instruction in basic skills--throwing, catchi

ng, batting and fielding--as well as strategy for game situations. All skill levels welcome.

Instructor: Clyde Bennett

Clyde has been playing, coaching and umpiring fastpitch softball for over 50 years. He has also been an elementary classroom and PE teacher for over 40 years. Clyde returns for his fourth year as an Elings Park camp instructor, bringing with him a contagious excitement for the game and a network of connections to local athletes. Players from the San Marcos High School team will assist with camp instruction.

Rob Crawford's Baseball Academy

Ages 6-12

Back by popular demand, Elings Park offers a fantastic opportunity for campers of all skill levels to learn and improve through games and drills in throwing, catching, batting and fielding. All skill levels welcome.

Mountain Bike Skills Camp

Ages 10-15 (9am-12pm, $130/week)

Let our experienced instructors guide your child through the basics of trail etiquette, riding skills and bike maintenance. Participants are required to bring a functioning mountian bike and a helmet. Space is limited, so register early! Camp brought to you by Bici Centro. See you on the trail!

Instructor: Jacob Seigel-Boettner (6/15 & 7/6 sessions)

Jacob races for Cal Cycling, UC Berkeley’s intercollegiate cycling team. He has been riding bikes since he could walk, and has led youth bike trips around the world. Jacob returns for his third year of camp at Elings Park, hoping to share the joy of the dirt with a whole new group of groms (bike lingo for new young riders.) He is experienced in teaching mountain bike skills to riders of all levels, and encourages all to participate regardless of experience.

Instructors: Robert Caiza & Edward France of Bici Centro (6/15, 7/27, 8/3 & 8/10 sessions)

Robert Caiza is a long time mountain biker, bicycle commuter, and League of American Cyclist accredited bicycling instructor. Originally from Ecuador, Robert has long become a Santa Barbara native, skilled bicycle instructor, mechanic, and advocate at Bici Centro, a local community bicycle education center.

Edward France is currently the director of Bici Centro. He is an avid mountain biker, bicycle tourer, mechanic and instructor. He is also accredited by the League of American Bicyclists as a cycling instructor.

Bici Centro is the community's bicycle education center and the place for DIY bike repair. Bici acts as a resource for Santa Barbara area bicyclists and operates educational programming, bicycle culture events, and hosts our community open shop. Bici is partnered with the Santa Barbara Bicycle Coalition.

Theater Camp by Shakespeare Santa Barbara

Ages 9-12

We at Shakespeare Santa Barbara have some exciting activities planned for your children this summer. The mornings will be full of theatre games, warm-ups, and improv games designed to acquaint your child with Shakespeare’s stories and language. We will engage the children in activities that explore their creativity, give them a chance to perform, build self-esteem, and allow them to bond as a group. Mornings will also periodically be used as a craft time in which the children will construct props or make and decorate other theatrical keepsakes. The afternoons will be spent in rehearsal for scenes or an abbreviated version of one of Shakespeare’s comedies. At the end of the camp, we will present these scenes for your enjoyment in Godric Grove's beautiful outdoor amphitheater.

Instructor: Anna Steers

Anna Steers received her BA in Performing Arts and Social Justice from the University of San Francisco. She is currently earning her MFA in Acting at California State University of Long Beach. As a member of the California Repertory Company she has performed in The Saint Plays, Brittanicus, The Kentucky Cycle, Hamlet, and The War Came. Other theatre credits include The Blue Room (USF), Angels in America (USF), Macbeth (AADA), and Tartuffe (Norris Theatre). After graduating from the American Academy of Dramatic Arts she studied Shakespeare abroad with the British American Drama Academy at Oxford University. She completed the Sanford Meisner progression as a member of the John Ruskin School of Acting. Anna mentored and directed at-risk youth in an original production at Brava! The Theatre for Women in the historical Mission District of San Francisco. In 2003 she traveled overseas to teach acting at an orphanage in Phnom Phen, Cambodia.

Flag Football Camp