MARINE CORPS BASE CAMP PENDLETON, Calif. -- With the end of the school year, the only thing on kids’ minds is having fun. Instead of having touch football games in the street or hundred of kids swarm the community pool, local youth centers have come up with a solution to ease this summer's annual concern.

Marine Corps Community Service’s Youth and Teen Programs are offering ages 10 through 16 with an opportunity to participate in up to six weekly summer camp sessions. The camps run from June 15 through August 21 and encourage children to be physically active rather than staying at home. It also gives parents the chance to let their children participate in fun activities while they are at work during the day. All children of active duty service members, Department of Defense, Marine Corps Community Services employees and retirees are eligible to participate.

Children who are signed up with the camp are invited to join field trips including Padres baseball games, Magic Mountain, Knott’s Soak City and the San Diego Fair.

“Each year we think of new and improved ways to make our summer camp more exciting for the children. This year is going to be exceptionally more exhilarating,” said Dee Thomas, manager, De Luz Youth and Teen Center.

The fees for this year’s summer camp will be $125 a week. Individuals can register for multiple weeks at a time, but will be paying a fixed amount for each week. There will also be a $15 deposit to ensure the child has a guaranteed spot for that specific week. The hours for the camp are scheduled from 6 a.m. to 2 p.m. and the youth and teen center are scheduled for regular recreation hours from 2 to 8 p.m.

“I have full confidence in our program assistants and managers that they will not only take great care of the children but also be a terrific mentor and friend as well,” said Deitra Jackson, manager, San Onofre Youth and Teen Center.

During field trips, parents will need to provide their children with a non-microwaveable lunch and sunscreen.

“It is important that parents register their children as soon as possible because each year the amount of children signing up is increasing,” said Thomas. “The camps have the ability of only taking 50 children a week, spots are filling up fast.”

For additional information, contact Jaqueline Patterson, director, Camp Pendleton Youth and Teen Programs, at (760) 725-2102.