Lavner UCLA: Game Design Academy with GameMaker
Lavner Camps at UCLA offers specialized day camps focusing on STEM, including game design, coding, and robotics, for various age groups in a university setting.
▌ Editor's read The Lavner Camps website loads successfully, detailing various STEM-focused day camps held at UCLA. The organization, founded by Michael Lavner, has been operating for 22 years, indicating significant experience in youth programs. While not ACA accredited, the website states that all staff undergo background checks and are trained in safety protocols. The camp offers a wide range of programs, including Game Design with GameMaker, for ages 6-14. Google reviews for Lavner Camps generally show a rating of 4.3 stars from over 200 reviews, with parents frequently praising the engaging instructors and the quality of the STEM curriculum. The camp's presence on a university campus provides a unique and inspiring learning environment for young participants.
⌬
Since 200422+ years operating
Who thrives here Ages 9–13
Lavner UCLA: Game Design Academy with GameMaker sits in the upper-elementary to middle-school window where specialization starts to mean something. Kids in this band often want to go deeper on one thing rather than rotate through five, and many camps begin offering pre-CIT (counselor-in-training) tracks here. The right science/tech fit at this age depends on whether the child wants more autonomy or still wants the safety of a structured rhythm.
Facts & Credentials
- Program type
- Day camp
- ACA accredited
- Not verified
- Established
- 2004 (22 years)
- Operator
- Private business
- Staff-to-camper ratio
- Not listed
Details
- Category: Science/Tech
- Ages: 9–13
- Hours: 9:00 AM-3:00 PM
- Address: UCLA – 308 Westwood Plaza, Los Angeles, CA 90095
- Cost notes: $949/week
Logistics
- Lunch provided: No
- Transportation: No
- Financial aid: No
- Setting: mixed
Frequently asked about Lavner UCLA: Game Design Academy with GameMaker
- What ages does Lavner UCLA: Game Design Academy with GameMaker accept?
- Lavner UCLA: Game Design Academy with GameMaker is open to children ages 9–13. Camps publish their own age cutoffs, and some run mixed-age groups internally; check the registration page for that summer's grouping if your child sits at a boundary.
- How much does Lavner UCLA: Game Design Academy with GameMaker cost?
- Lavner UCLA: Game Design Academy with GameMaker publishes $949/week for the standard session. Final cost depends on session length, sibling discounts, and whether extended care is added on.
- What are Lavner UCLA: Game Design Academy with GameMaker's hours?
- Lavner UCLA: Game Design Academy with GameMaker runs 9:00 AM-3:00 PM. If those hours don't quite cover your work day, check whether extended care or early drop-off is offered separately.
- Who runs Lavner UCLA: Game Design Academy with GameMaker?
- Lavner UCLA: Game Design Academy with GameMaker is operated by a private business, with 22 years of operating history. The operator type matters for tuition policy (refunds, financial aid eligibility) and for what kind of staff training pipeline the camp uses.
- Does Lavner UCLA: Game Design Academy with GameMaker provide lunch?
- Lavner UCLA: Game Design Academy with GameMaker does not include lunch — campers bring their own. Most day camps without provided lunch are nut-free or nut-aware, so check the allergy policy before packing. Frozen water bottles double as ice packs and drinks; insulated lunch boxes hold below 40°F for about four hours.
- Does Lavner UCLA: Game Design Academy with GameMaker offer extended care?
- Yes — Lavner UCLA: Game Design Academy with GameMaker offers extended care (8-9 AM / 3-5:45 PM). Extended care is usually billed separately from the core session; ask whether single-day drop-in is allowed or if it requires a full-week commitment.
- How does Lavner UCLA: Game Design Academy with GameMaker compare to other science/tech camps in Los Angeles?
- Lavner UCLA: Game Design Academy with GameMaker is one of 525 science/tech camps in Los Angeles that overlap its age range. The differentiation between options usually comes down to four factors: weekly price, day length, indoor/outdoor balance, and group size. Browse same-city alternatives in the directory to compare side by side.
Planning guides
Editorial checklists to use before you compare Lavner UCLA: Game Design Academy with GameMaker with other camps.
- How to choose a summer camp · Use the decision checklist before you compare finalists.
- STEM summer camps guide · Compare projects, staff fit, and age-readiness signals.
- Financial aid and scholarship camps · Compare aid policies, discounts, and application timing.
- Summer camp pricing in 2026 · Benchmark weekly cost before you commit a deposit.
Browse similar camps
Indexable directory cuts for families comparing Lavner UCLA: Game Design Academy with GameMaker against nearby options.
Camps near here
Same city, with age-overlapping options first. Other camps to consider alongside Lavner UCLA: Game Design Academy with GameMaker.
- Brave Trails - Session 2 CA · Brave Trails · Ages 12–17 · $2,600/week
- Brave Trails - Southeast GA · Brave Trails · Ages 12–17 · $2,600/week
- Cali Camp · Topanga · Ages 4–15 · $1,075/week
- Cali Camp - Classic Camp · Topanga · Ages 4–15 · $1,075/week
- Camp Bob Waldorf - Jewish Cultural Session · Ages 8–18 · $600/week
- Camp Brave Trails - California Session 2 · California · Ages 12–17 · $2,022/week
- Camp Galileo BW — Animal Bot Builder · Brentwood · Ages 9–11 · $520/week
- Camp JCA Shalom · Los Angeles · Ages 8–16 · $1,560/week