SUMMER CAMP PROGRAM

Summer Camp operates from 8:30AM to 4:30PM this year, with morning dropoffs between 8AM and 8:30AM. 

Pickups are from 4pm to 4:30pm. Beginning at 4:30PM and ending at 5:30PM there is now a fee of $5 per 15 minutes for childcare, with a cutoff time of 5:30PM. Late pickup fees are $1 minute after 5:30. Invoices will be billed the following week and can be paid through Zelle, Paypal or Venmo within 15 days.

Pre-payments are nonrefundable, but we will cap childcare fees at $80 for the week if you prepay for a week of aftercare.

What happens in Extended Care?

Your camper will be supervised and entertained by Counselors and Jr Counselors who will stay to hand out snacks, play games, and possibly enroll their help with prepping for the next days’ activities.

We are super excited to have two weeks at Gardena Buddhist Church again to accommodate our growing numbers. Each week's curriculum will be identical and we advise parents to only sign up for one week that best suits their calendar! We usually have a waitlist at Gardena every year, so we hope to prevent this in 2026.

Last year, we experimented by offering Panda Express lunch everyday at OC and Gardena (except field trip days). This year, we will try to expand on this by offering lunch everyday at West LA and on Friday’s for DTLA & Altadena. Thank you for your patience with us as we try new things. You are always welcome to pack your own lunch & snacks for your child.

Kizuna charters buses to bring our campers to Little Tokyo on Thursday (or Wednesday for OC). We’ll tour Little Tokyo, check out historical spots, murals, and more. Interested parents may contact miki@gokizuna.org for chaperone opportunities. We encourage campers to bring money for lunch or toys or both.

Sunscreen for hot summer skies, water for walking around and cash for any lunch, toy or boba purchases.

Campers can purchase to-go lunches from one of the grocery stores but may also bring a packed lunch if they would prefer.

If your child is interested in being in the same group as a friend, please carefully read through our Camper Registration questions that will directly ask about any group requests. Once a child is registered, all requests/substitutions will only be accepted on a case-by-case basis and NOT ALL will be accommodated.

Late substitutions throw off the balance of groups and make for a less enjoyable experience for campers and counselors alike. Kizuna Summer Camp creates a space for new friends and new experiences and we hope parents will help us advocate for those opportunities.

$375 per camper until April 3rd at 11:30PM!

$425 thereafter.

We believe that every child should have the opportunity to attend Kizuna Summer Camp regardless of financial status. This year, as we continue to create a culture of access and inclusivity, we are proud to offer full scholarships to those for whom price might be a barrier. This full-tuition scholarship is awarded on a first-come, first-served basis to applicants who qualify, until funds have been exhausted.

We also provide discounts for registering multiple campers.

Please contact Miki@gokizuna.org to apply.

We strongly encourage everyone to be up to date on COVID shots and the most recent boosters. Outbreaks are likely in close quarters even with precautions. Kizuna is not requiring proof of vaccination this year.

Open of registration - April 3, 2026: Full refund

April 4, 2026 - June 8, 2026: 75% refund

June 8, 2026 - The start of summer camp: No refund

Funding for programs like Summer Camp has been in a very uncertain and chaotic space since early 2025. Budget cuts at the federal level had a profound impact on most nonprofits, Kizuna being no different. Former sources of support for cultural programming like ours have taken a hit in the last year. A slightly shorter day cuts overtime and staffing overhead. Paid aftercare for campers creates a small funding stream that allows us to provide staff, snacks and supplies while managing costs of counselors.