Family Vacation Center 2024
An All-Inclusive Vacation for both UCSB Almuni & Non Alumni
Online Registration for Summer 2024 is now OPEN!
Infant and Toddler Care
The Family Vacation Center provides childcare and kids camps for kids ages 1 month to 18 years old.
The Family Vacation Center is one of the few programs in the country to offer childcare for infants. UCSB student counselors take loving care of these babies, allowing you time to rest and relax.
Small World – designed for infants ages 1 month to toddlers up to 3 years old. Activities range from outdoor play and walks to crafts, story telling, creative movement, and snacks.
Infant and Toddler FAQs
Small World is broken up into Infant and Toddler Care. Infants are “non-walkers” and toddlers are children who are walking. Though the groups are divided for most of the time, all the children will go on the walks together, unless they are sleeping.
Infants are provided a variety of play options indoors as well as walks, music and story time and naps. Toddler activities include ball pit play, outdoor and indoor toys, creative movement play, story time, imaginative art projects, tactile activities, and walks around camp.
The Small World Staff changes all diapers every two hours unless otherwise needed. Safety and sanitary policies are followed to keep all our children safe and clean. We ask that you provide your own diapers and wipes.
Snacks are provided daily for Small World Children and they consist of items like goldfish, animal cookies, graham crackers, apple sauce and otter pops. If you would prefer that your child eats his or her own snacks, you may bring them with your child. Small world has a refrigerator for bottles, baby foods, and any other items that may need to be refrigerated. If your child has allergies, be sure to inform the staff upon dropping your child off so that they may provide the appropriate snack items.
When a Small World session includes a meal time we take the children to the dining commons and provide a variety of healthy options. If you would prefer that your child eat specific items you may provide them or inform the staff of these preferences. For safety purposes, children with allergies will be given red allergy bracelets so that all staff members are aware of their allergies. High chairs and booster seats are provided in the dining commons.
Please provide the following items for your child: bottles, sippy cups, pacifiers, diapers and wipes, extra change of clothes, special snacks and any comfort item that your child may need. Each child will have their own cubby and we asked all items are labeled.
Small World consists of two floors. The bottom floor is divided into the various play areas (i.e. toy room, ball pit room, art room, etc) and the second floor consists of four nap rooms with pack and plays and a “quiet room”. Each child will have their own crib or mattress (depending on their age) for the duration of their stay. We ask that you bring any blankets, lovies, pacifiers, noise machines, etc. that will help your child sleep better.
Kids
Children from ages 3 and up are divided into appropriate groups where age-related activities are planned to fit each age group.
Depending upon how many children of various ages actually attend any particular session, we may change these groups in order to fit the needs of the children present. Children in the younger age groups stay close to camp, while older children explore field trips around Santa Barbara.
Kids Group Field Trips
Monday is field trip day! Kids have the chance to experience some of the best activities Santa Barbara has to offer from the new MOXI Science Museum to the Escape Room to the Santa Barbara Zoo.
Classic Summer Camp Games
Summer Camp would not be complete without Capture the Flag and Scavenger Hunts.
Touch Tanks
Many of our Kids Groups get to partake in an interactive and educational “touch tank” experience, hosted by the Marine Science Department at UCSB.
Other Activities
- Kids Night Out
- Kids Group Variety Show
- Arts and Crafts
- Pool Time
- Kids Tennis Lessons
- Kids Dance Class
- Pajama Parties
- Kids Surf Lessons*
*These premium activities are available for an additional fee.
Kids FAQs
Children are grouped according to the year in school they will be going into in the fall.
We discourage moving children to other age groups because the planned activities will be appropriate to that age group’s skills and development. Many times during camp, age groups will combine to participate in larger camp activities so siblings and friends in other age groups can see each other.
Our kids groups are supervised by a ratio of 1:10 for our school-aged children and 1:8 for children ages 3-4. One-on-one care can be pre-arranged with the FVC management; see babysitting for rates.
The schedule for time spent in kids groups is as follows:
Sunday: 9:00am – 12:00pm, 5:00pm – 9:00pm
Monday: 9:00am – 3:00pm
Tuesday: 9:00am – 12:00pm, 5:00pm – 9:00pm
Thursday: 9:00am – 3:00pm
Friday: 9:00am – 12:00pm
Babysitting is available and provided by the FVC staff. Many guests choose to take advantage of this during the adult-only evening events. Babysitting can be booked on your pre-arrival form or during your vacation. Babysitting rates range from $10-$15 per hour depending on the number of children in your party.
A daily schedule of activities will be provided for parents at check-in with a list of items your child will need to bring each day. We suggest packing a small backpack to hold swimsuits, sunscreen and sweatshirts for evening programs.
We encourage children to stay off cell phones during kids groups unless it is an emergency. If you would like your child to carry a phone to stay in touch with you, we ask that it is kept in their backpack and only used for emergencies.
On Mondays, kids groups (kindergarten ages and up) will travel within the local area for a field trip. Field trip transportation will be by school bus. Children ages 3-4 will participate in field trips around campus and the local walking area.
On Thursdays, kids groups (ages 3 and up) will travel to the local beach. Beach Day transportation will be in 12-passenger vans with car seats and booster seats. California law requires children under 4 years or 40lbs to be in a car seat and children under 6 years or 60lbs to be in a booster seat. We ask parents to provide car seats (arrangements can be made if you did not travel with a car seat). Booster seats will be provided by the FVC for travel on this day.
We ask that children have breakfast with their families before being dropped off for morning sessions. If kids groups are during a lunch or dinner meal period, we will take the children to the dining commons or provide a meal during field trip times.
Teens
Teens have a variety of Teen Group Events and Outings as well as being able to participate in many of the adult activities and classes.
Teen activities are centered around the UCSB campus and local Santa Barbara area. Each week teen vacationers entering 7th and 8th grade will be in our Jr High Group. This group will have a blast with a variety of events to include, bowling, Moxi Museum, slacklining, group surfing lesson, time on the tennis courts, beach day, pool parties, capture the flag, art and crafts and more!
The High School group (teens entering 9th-12th in the fall) will experience an opening night ice cream sundae party, a teambuilding experience at the UCSB Ropes Course, an overnight camping trip to a local Santa Barbara campground, teen focused field trips to include bowling, the escape room, beach day, surfing lessons and hang outs at the UCSB Recreation center pool.
Family
Surf Lessons
Surf Lessons are offered to kids and adults throughout the week on the beaches at UCSB. Lessons include surf boards, wetsuits, instruction, and a guaranteed good time!*
Campfire
S’mores, Camp Songs and Sing-Alongs! Join our vacationers and staff for a tradition-filled campfire on the beach. Family photos at sunset are available by our professional photographer at no extra cost.
Arts and Crafts
The Craft Studio offers a variety of arts and crafts that everyone in the family will enjoy. Some of the highlights include pottery painting, lanyards, tie-dye, and derby car making.*
Water Show
Enjoy a favorite tradition at the FVC pool on Tuesday afternoon. There are relay races and water games for all ages. As a big finale, the staff performs a show full of dancing and laughter, in and out of the water.
Other Activities
- Family Carnival
- Pinewood Derby Race*
- Disco Bingo
- Family Talent Show
- Vacationer vs. Staff Softball Game
- Family Rock Climbing*
- Welcome / Farewell Show
- Beach Day BBQ
- Reptile Show
- Horseback Riding*
*These premium activities are available for an additional fee.
Adults
Santa Barbara Wine Country Tour
Our popular wine tour will feature wineries and vineyards specially selected for their breathtaking surroundings, knowledgeable tour guides and exquisite wine selections.*
Tennis
Strengthen your Tennis skills this summer with our FVC Tennis Pros. Singles and Doubles Tennis Tournaments are offered as well as lessons, clinics and workshops.
Ocean Kayaking
Our waters are rich in marine and bird life, making kayaking an ideal way to experience the ocean in Santa Barbara. Our tour is designed to give guests the chance to enjoy the sport of ocean kayaking on a single or double “sit-on-top kayak” with a skilled guide.*
Massage Therapy
On site massages offered by trained and licensed massage therapists.*
Other Activities
- Plein Air painting Class*
- 27 Mile Bike Ride
- Taste of Santa Barbara Food Tour*
- Santa Barbara Art Walk
- Mountain Bike Ride
- Horseback Riding*
- Stand Up Paddle Boarding*
- Adult Surf Lessons*
- Pub Trivia
- Santa Barbara Hike
- Beer Tour of Local Brewery*
- Yoga*
- Karaoke
- Golf Tournament*
- Campus Tour
- Santa Barbara Garden Tour*
*These premium activities are available for an additional fee.
Contact Us
Family Vacation Center
UCSB Alumni Association
Santa Barbara, CA 93106-1120
Office Hours: M-F 8am-4pm Pacific
Tel: 805-893-3123
Fax: 805-893-2927
familyvacationcenter@alumni.ucsb.edu
