Five Weeks of French-infused Fun!
Ecole du Soleil is Monday, June 19 – Friday, July 21
*1-week minimum registration, consecutive weeks not required, see below for more details!
Sold Out!
$475 – regular pricing
*Plus applicable registration fees are taken by the payment platform.
Join the Waitlists:
Petite Ecole | Rising Preschool
Petite Ecole | Rising Pre-K
La Grande Ecole | Rising K-5th
*Please note that the students on the waitlists will now be let in on the basis of a drop out. We encourage families to still find alternative summer camp options. Thanks!
Ecole du Soleil Driving to Camp
Los Feliz Main Campus
4155 Russell Avenue
Los Angeles, CA 90027
It is imperative that everyone abide by the traffic rules on and around campus. When driving through the residential streets to or from camp, please drive slowly, pay close attention to the road, and be mindful of pedestrians and other vehicles. There is a 15mph speed limit on Russell Ave (the street leading to camp), and special attention should be given on the hill. The on-campus speed limit is 5mph. Please make sure to pass along this message to anyone who drops off or picks up your camper(s). We appreciate your commitment to everyone’s safety, and we thank you for helping us be respectful and courteous neighbors!
Ecole du Soleil
Fun and smart! The perfect vacation for your kids!
Ecole du Soleil runs 5 weeks, from Monday, June 19 – Friday, July 21, 2023 on our Los Feliz campus. La Petite Ecole du Soleil is for campers entering preschool and pre-kindergarten in fall. La Grande Ecole du Soleil is for campers entering kindergarten-5th grade in the fall. L’Ecole du Soleil offers a bustling daily schedule and a watchful counseling staff.
Our objective is to introduce children to the French language and culture at an early age while they still have a linguistic openness to easily learn a second language. Their adaptability, their lack of inhibition, and, above all, their ability to reproduce any sound accurately will help them learn a second language with great ease. We provide a unique learning context in which your children will learn at their own pace in a fun, genuine, French summer camp environment.
French classes are taught by a group of highly-experienced teachers. Previous exposure to French is not required. Ecole du Soleil is an extension program of the International School of Los Angeles (LILA).
The Los Feliz Campus is a licensed daycare center by the State of California.
Petite Ecole du Soleil
Preschool & Pre-K campers
(2-4 year olds)
A Day at Camp: Preschool & Pre-K Campers
*Last year’s schedule & subject to change
| 8:00 – 9:00 | Drop-off and daycare |
| 9:00 – 9:15 | Morning routine |
| 9:15 – 10:00 | Activities in French (please see activities section for details) |
| 10:00 – 10:30 | Snack and recess |
| 10:30 – 11:15 | Activities in French |
| 11:15 – 12:00 | Activities in French |
| 12:00 – 12:45 | Lunch and outdoor play time |
| 12:45 – 1:45 | Nap time |
| 1:45 – 2:30 | Activities in French |
| 2:30 – 2:45 | Snack and recess |
| 2:45 – 3:30 | Activities in French |
| 3:30 – 5:00 | Pickup and daycare |
Open to children ages 2-4, who will be attending preschool and pre-kindergarten in the fall. The children must be potty trained and have prior experience in a daycare environment.
The goal of Petite Ecole du Soleil is to introduce the French language through day-to-day activities: greetings, colors, fruits, and days of the week, to name a few. Mornings will focus on the acquisition of the French language. The afternoons will consist of various fun activities including games, arts, crafts, sports, singing, and reading. The program will also help young campers gain social skills.
This program also focuses on social-emotional learning and helps children gain social skills through everyday interactions. Each week children will be introduced to a new theme. The French teacher will plan sessions and activities accordingly and let children explore & learn about the theme throughout the week.
Take a look at this year’s themes below:
Week 1 – Les animaux / Animals
Students will learn about the wonderful creatures that live on our planet. We’ll do various animal arts and crafts, read stories, sing songs, and more.
Week 2 – L’Afrique, L’Asie, L’Oceanie / Africa, Asia, Oceania
Students will learn about the animals, plants, and people from these three great continents.
Week 3 – Les contes de fées : princes & princesses / Fairy Tales: Princes & Princesses
Students will use their imaginations, dress in costumes, and pretend play to become princes and princesses. Lots of coloring and arts and crafts too.
Week 4 – Les dinosaures / Dinosaurs
Students will explore an adventurous week of camp, featuring giant dinosaur-themed inflatable attractions, “fossil” digging, and other prehistoric fun.
Week 5 – Les pays du monde / Nations of the World
Celebrating international cultures and festivities, students will be engaged, excited, and intrigued! From Bollywood dance to flag design, and everything in between, campers will explore cultures from around the world and be invited to share their own, all while having some French-infused fun.
Activities
Math: one-on-one correspondence, recognizing numbers, and counting in French.
Fine Motor Skills: using a pencil, learning how to write letters, and drawing.
Art: mixing colors, cutting, gluing, and discovering forms, and textures.
Sports: developing fine and gross motor skills as well as coordination through: ball games, soccer, grasping, throwing.
Music: new vocabulary and rhymes through French songs.
Grande Ecole du Soleil
K to 5th grade campers
Daily Schedule
| 8:00 – 9:00 | Drop-off and daycare |
| 9:00 – 9:15 | Morning routine |
| 9:15 – 10:30 | Fun bilingual activities |
| 10:30 – 11:00 | Snack and recess |
| 11:00 – 12:30 | Fun bilingual activities |
| 12:30 – 1:30 | Lunch |
| 1:30 – 2:30 | K-2nd: French classroom time; 3rd-5th: sports |
| 2:30 – 3:30 | K-2nd: sports; 3rd-5th: French classroom time |
| 2:15 – 3:30 | French |
| 3:30 – 5:00 | Pickup and daycare |
*Fun-filled Fridays will follow a modified schedule.
Themes
Week 1 – L’espace / Outer Space
We’ll have fun outer space-themed activities and classes as we learn about the stars, space travel, and our solar system.
Week 2 – La magie et le cirque / Magic & Circus
Students will celebrate the worlds of magic and circus with French-speaking teaching artists, a grand show, and our usual array of fun activities.
Week 3 – Les robots / Robots
Students will enjoy an electrifying week with visits from Mad Science LA, robotics lessons, and fun-themed activities.
Week 4 – Les dinosaures / Dinosaurs
Students will enjoy camp, featuring giant dinosaur-themed inflatable attractions, “fossil” digging, and other prehistoric fun.
Week 5 – Les pays du monde / Nations of the World
Celebrating international cultures and festivities, students will be engaged, excited, and intrigued! From Bollywood dance to flag design, and everything in between, campers will explore cultures from around the world and be invited to share their own, all while having some French-infused fun.
Summer Camp Activities
French classes
Designed to teach the fundamentals of the French language (and/or to maintain the knowledge of French), the classes take place five times a week and are taught by our experienced French teachers. The objective of this program is to introduce children to the French language and culture at an early age, when they still have a linguistic openness to easily learn a second language.
This year, French components have been integrated into all activities, creating a truly bilingual and French-infused experience.
The curriculum promotes the development of speaking, listening, reading, and writing skills. The classes are designed for both beginners and intermediate French speakers.
Improv & Art
Improv: SODE’s Comedic Improv is the perfect class to polish off your funny bone. In this class, students will have the opportunity to let loose, get silly, and create hilarious and memorable characters and scenes. They will learn skills that will make them more confident, creative, and help them think more quickly on their feet. Through guided improvisation exercises, students will strengthen their sense of humor and comedic timing. SODE’s Comedic Improv is a fun class for aspiring comics and for students who just want to have a good time.
Art Class: Get ready for a colorful adventure into the art world this summer! Creative Creatures and Co. will be bringing some amazing art projects to our campers in the form of printmaking, ceramics, drawing and painting, mixed media, and so much more! Explore colorful materials, learn to use the most imaginative art tools, and get a little messy along the way. Campers will walk away with a serious number of smiles, creativity overflow, and a desire to continue discovering their newfound talents.
Sports, Dance & Magic / Percussions
Sports: Training with highly experienced coaches, campers will learn the fundamentals of a variety of sports and improve their skills in an enriching environment. These classes are educational and recreational, enhancing the natural development of players, all while having fun!
Dance: SODE Summer Dance lets students experience a different dance genre each week in a safe and supportive atmosphere. Whether it’s Hip Hop or Bollywood, each class will focus on creative expression, choreography, and especially having fun! By using a traditional dance warm-up, across-the-floor exercises, games and choreography, SODE Summer Dance will teach aspiring dancers all the basics while having fun.
Magic & Circus: These classes will be presented by a cast of world-class magicians and circus artists with credits ranging from Le Plus Grand Cabaret du Monde to the Hollywood Magic Castle! Campers will be ready to astound and amaze as they learn their skills which will be taught in French.
Percussions: There’s nothing more exhilarating than being part of a drum circle. Not only does drumming help release emotions but it energizes, inspires, and even encourages community building, all while creating beautiful percussive sounds. This year, our students will explore their creative side by composing their own rhythmic songs, play with sounds and tempo using instruments from around the world, and dive into team building drumming exercises to promote self-esteem and performance.
Fun-filled Friday
Every Friday we will follow a modified schedule. With French lessons switching to the morning, this topsy-turvy day will involve camp-wide games, weekly themed inflatable attractions, and water slides and games on the soccer field!
Our Staff
Every one of our on-site staff members and activity instructors is committed to providing a high-quality educational and recreational experience for campers.
Our French teachers are native French speakers who teach French during the regular school year. Staff members provide a safe atmosphere where children celebrate and appreciate themselves, while celebrating and appreciating others. All staff are qualified, experienced educators in school and camp environments. All employees undergo background checks and hold CPR and first-aid certifications.
Personal references are available upon request.
*At this point in time we are not planning to have field trips during the 2023 summer season. Should this change, field trips will be optional, and activities will be planned on campus for those who do not wish to participate.
For more information about Ecole du Soleil, please contact Benjamin Nemser, After-School Activities and Vacation Camps Manager, by email or by phone at 323-480-4147.
