School's out, your kids are home and now the infinite glittering days of summer stretch out into eternity. Excited? Anxious? 

Having abundant playtime with your kids is always phenomenal, but filling the summer with engaging activities is definitely one of the more intimidating parental tasks. As founders of the most unique, Venice day camps Cosmic Light Kids, we have endless out-of-this-world ideas for summertime activities, and we love sharing what we know so that you and your little buddies have a cosmically fun summer! After all, you don’t live in the quirkiest city on the planet to experience anything less. 

A “midnight” watch of the Delta- Aquarid meteor shower

Stay up late and enjoy this all-natural space show!  The Delta-Aquarid meteor shower features fast moving rocks with glowing ionized gas trails!  The shower runs all summer long, but the best times to watch are when the sky is sufficiently dark (after 10pm) and on the peak days of July 14-17 and August 12-15. 

The Venice Oceanarium Hands-On Learning

Ultimately, we’re just a rock floating in space with a bunch of space-life growing on top. It’s easy to forget, but once you see the bizarre, majestic and incredible creatures that live all around us, our inter-stellar nature makes more sense. Get an up close and personal look at our local marine life at The Venice Oceanarium's exhibit at the Venice Pier (at the end of Washington Blvd.) most Sundays from 11:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. View the ever-changing natural history, hands-on displays. Visit the Venice Oceanarium for more details. 

The Santa Monica Camera Obscura

Engage with the optical nature of light and atmosphere at the Santa Monica Camera Obscura.  Built in 1898, the Santa Monica Camera Obscura is a super cool, vintage gem! A camera obscura is essentially a room that has been transformed into a life-size camera.  Light from the outside filters in through a small hole, and the scenic outdoors is projected in full moving color into the rest of the room.  A gorgeous and unique experience, the Santa Monica Camera Obscura is located at 1450 Ocean Ave and open M-F from 9 am-3 pm and Saturday from 11 am-4 pm. Check-in at 1450 Ocean with an ID to borrow the key.

Early Morning or Early Evening Meditation

Meditating with your kids is one of the most special and cosmic activities you can do together.  Not only do you prepare your kids with smart techniques for stress-management for the future, you jointly connect to the infinite universe (the whole purpose of meditation)!  Its been said that kids of this era are more galactic then we even imagined, which is why at our Cosmic Light Kids summer camp meditation practice is a staple!   If you don’t know how to meditate or you’re not comfortable leading meditation for your kids, check out the Venice-local Ra Ma Yoga Institute and the studio owner Guru Jagat.  It’s our home studio where we both teach when not running the camp! http://www.ramayogainstitute.com

Tour the Venice Mosaic House

The Venice Mosaic House is a total Venice classic. Every inch of the simple 1940’s home, owned by two life-long L.A. artists, has been encrusted with colored tiles, ceramics and mirrors…even broken teapots, Christmas ornaments and toys! The house is a happy kaleidoscope of the unique Venice culture and a testament to art and dedication in this increasingly digitized world. It’s a Venice must. 

Superfood Snack Time (with ingredients from the interstellar Moon Juice pantry!)

Support your kid’s well-being and nurture their cosmic culinary creativity with ingredients from the Rose Avenue Moon Juice pantry. Moon Juice is the best place in Venice to pick up truly cosmological, high frequency ingredients for snacks and treats like smoothies, home-made chocolate, granola, baked goods and so much more.  Moon Juice owner Amanda Chantal Bacon is working on a book where we hope she also shares her favorite kid-friendly recipes!

Exotic Fruit Ice Cream Making

From dragon fruit to horned melon, star fruit to passion fruit, guava to loquats – what comet dropped off these dazzlingly bizarre and delicious eats? A great summer time way to include these tasty and inter-dimensional treats is in a coconut-cream based ice cream.  Simply blend a yummy, strange fruit of your choice with coconut cream and then follow the directions on your ice-cream maker. Enjoy a brilliant and nutritive way to cool down!

DIY Super-Solar Sunblock

The Sun offers us glittering and radiant warmth, light and energy.  But, for most of us, it also offers a toasty burn if we go too long unprotected!  Engage your kids in this curative, uber-enriching DIY craft that keeps skin healthy and free from ultra-violet solar damage! To make: blend ¾ cup coconut oil, ¼ cup melted beeswax, 1 tsp. vitamin E, 2 tbsp. zinc oxide and 10 drops of essential oil of your choice!

Blue Marble DIY Bug-Away

Our earth is often called a “Blue Marble” because it’s composed of three-quarters water.  Biting bugs love wet environments and when you live on a blue marble like ours, pinching insects are a common occurrence. Protect your kids from itch-bug chomps and get crafty with this exquisite essential oil insect repellent. To make: blend 30-50 drops of high purity essential oils with 4 oz. distilled water and 4 oz. witch hazel. Worthy oils to choose from include: Citronella, Clove, Lemongrass, Rosemary, Tea Tree, Eucalyptus, Cedar, Catnip, Lavender, and Mint.

Cosmic Sunprint Photography

Sunprint photography is a super easy activity that creatively connects kids to solar energy. Start the project indoors withby treating (or purchasing pre-treated) sheets of paper or fabric swathes.  Have your kids place the paper on a flat, mobile surface and arrange a cluster of sterling objects on top (wherever the objects are placed will stay white, while the rest of the paper or fabric will develop blue). Take the prints outside and place in the sun. After 10-15 minutes, remove the objects and have kids rinse the paper or fabric in water to stop the development process. Hang the prints to dry and enjoy a stunning solar creation! Purchase kits at http://www.sunprints.org

About Harmanjot

Harmanjot is the co-founder of Cosmic Light Kids Camp, a Kundalini yoga and unique adventure day camp for kids she started with her husband, Walker, who is an artist and teacher.  Harmanjot is a Master’s degree candidate in Interdisciplinary Creativity at the European Graduate School and a kundalini yoga teacher at the Ra Ma Institute in Venice. She has a vast imagination for kid’s activities and, as a former model and singer, brings beauty, heart and grace to everything she does.  www.cosmiclightkids.com www.harmanjot.com