Campus: Los Angeles, CA
Teen Summer Camps & Precollege Arts Programs
SOCAPA Los Angeles is hosted at Occidental College, one of the oldest and most beautiful college campuses in the West. Situated across Griffith Park from Studio City and Universal Studios Hollywood, Occidental’s Eagle Rock neighborhood has a cozy, suburban feel while being close to all the action.
Chosen as home base by the film industry because of its nonstop sunshine and beautiful scenery, Hollywood has become synonymous with entertainment. Not only is Los Angeles the center of the world’s film industry, but it also plays a central role in dance, music, fashion and art.
On weekends, SOCAPA students take trips in and around LA to sites ranging from the Walk of Fame in Hollywood to the boardwalks of Santa Monica and Venice Beach. Activities include the best of summer at camp as well as the LA entertainment scene, and may include visits to live tapings, film studios, beaches, theme parks, and other tourist hot spots.
Visiting filmmakers and actors from the industry drop by at least once per session to screen and talk about their work.
Day or Residential
Students who live locally or who have friends/family to stay with in Los Angeles are welcome to attend the program as Day Students. Day Students commute to campus each day and return home each evening after classes.
Occidental College
Campus, Housing & Meals
The Residence Hall
The residence hall is a traditional dormitory, with shared bathrooms and mostly double rooms. It is equipped with high-speed internet, laundry facilities, air-conditioning and a computer lab. Students congregate in the common area and have access to a small kitchenette. Students live on single-sex floors, each supervised by Residence Assistants.
Meal Plan
Most of SOCAPA's meals will be served in The Marketplace in Johnson Student Center. Marketplace offers a variety of food for students to choose from - wood-fired pizza, made-to-order pasta, deli specialties, fresh baked goods and a salad bar.
On the weekends, SOCAPA students go off-campus for trips to area attractions and are responsible for three meals over the weekend while out touring LA.
Residence Hall & Summer Office
Braun Hall - 1600 Campus Road, Los Angeles, California 90041
Nights and Weekends
SOCAPA provides evening and weekend activities for boarding students ranging from a relaxing cool off swim after a productive and exciting day of class, to karaoke night with friends in the lounge or a viewing of the summer blockbuster hit. Weekends are filled with a sampling of LA's excitement: a fun day at Universal Studios, walking around Hollywood, and getting dinner out on the town.
SOCAPA brings together the best parts of summer- having fun with friends and seeing and experiencing new places- and a productive learning experience.
Arriving By Plane
Our staff only does airport transfers on the first (opening Sunday) and last (final Saturday) days of each session. We will greet you at the baggage claim area for your flight wearing a SOCAPA t-shirt and holding a sign with your name and drop you at your airline's check-in counter when you leave; unfortunately, we cannot escort you beyond security.
Please note that you must fill out the online Travel Form at least 2 weeks prior to the start of the program.
Airport transfers are available from LAX or Burbank for an additional fee, and unaccompanied minor service includes an additional fee per direction. If your travel dates/times are outside scheduled service windows, you will need to arrange your own transportation to the residence hall.
Day Students
Schedule, After Class & Meals
Schedule
Day students should plan to begin the program on the afternoon of the first Sunday of their session, just as residential students do. Schedules and important information is shared during this orientation, and students will also meet their classmates and teachers.
Depending on the program, most class activities begin at 9am and end at 5pm, Monday through Friday. Most programs require at least one or two nights of evening work, and some 3-week programs also require students to attend one of their final weekend days.
Evening activities typically run from 7pm to 10pm, with some variance. The break between when class ends and evening activities begin is a dinner break.
After Class
Day students should be aware that most of our attendees are residential students who live in our dormitories, and that our programming is structured for students who are in our care 24/7. Day students often befriend others in the programs and can participate in our evening extracurriculars, but they won’t be a part of evening floor meetings, floor mixers, roommate experiences, or other quintessential parts of sleep-away camp that residential students enjoy.
Day students are encouraged and welcome (but not required) to attend any of our structured evening and weekend activities at no extra charge.
Meal Plan
Occidental College policies require all Day students to purchase lunch meals through the Occidental College meal hall. Day students are charged an additional Meals and Activities fee of $185 per week of attendance to cover the cost of lunches in the cafeteria, access to Occidental campus, and tickets or entrance fees for class and extracurricular activities. Day students should be prepared to purchase their own dinner when joining us for the evening.
Have questions?
We’d love to help you choose the right program and campus.