[Jen's List] CAMP INFO

[Jennifer Levinson]

Hi everyone,
I had a few requests about a week ago to gather some info on the 3 well known Valley summer camps. Below you will find the responses rec'd. If you have any questions, speaking to parents whose children have experienced the camp before, is a wonderful way to gather 1st hand references! I hope this helps all of those still considering their summer options. I know that the info helped me as well. My son was at Kinneret last year and while PLENTY of kids love it, for some reason(I still am not sure why!), he was not happy and will most likely be attending Sierra Canyon this summer. 
Jen


SIERRA CANYON
http://www.sierracanyondaycamp.com/default.asp
Sierra Canyon Day Camp invites you to a special Open House so you and your family can tour the beautiful facilities and meet the professional staff and veteran directors. Each Open House features various camp activities and a delicious BBQ lunch. This is a great opportunity to show you why thousands of children have made Sierra Canyon Day Camp their number one choice for the ultimate day camp experience!  Sundays, March 9th, April 13th and June 1st from 1 pm - 4 pm.  Please call the camp office and schedule a private tour at your convenience if you are unable to attend the Open House dates. The camp office is open M-F 8:00am - 5:00 p.m. 818-882-8121

Brendon went to Sierra Canyon last year and had a really fantastic time. He went three days a week, M, Wed, and Friday from 9-3 and although they have shuttle service I drove him there and back. This year he'll be on the shuttle. They p/u at Babies"r"us in Calabasas or for you it would be Castle peak Park in West Hills. You can do 2 days a week all the way up to 5 days a week. The grounds are gorgeous and what I like is that they had lots of INDOOR and OUTDOOR activities pending the temp. outside. Each group is supervised by one head counselor, one junior counselor and two counselors in training. Each day the kids experience six different activities out of their 30 varied activities, ranging from rock climbing, go Karts, swimming, 110' water slide, arts and crafts, baking, being entertained by "Joey " the Rainbow Wizard", karate, music, fun with science and many many more. They have guided swim activities while being supervised by certified life guards. Every Wednesday is a different "theme " day where you have to come dressed up as either a superhero or a rock star (examples from last year). Michie Zimmer - michiezimmer at hotmail.com

My kids went to Sierra canyon school for 8 years, and the camp for many summers. It is an AMAZING place. Can't say enough good things about it. Sharis315 at aol.com 

My two daughters went to Sierra Canyon Camp last summer and LOVED it! I really felt good about the attention, energy and care they received. Good luck in your search. Evette Knight Interiors-(818) 399-6700 OR evette at evetteknight.com

Gabriel has gone to Sierra Canyon for the past 2 summers.  He LOVES it!  It is so much fun.   I highly recommend it.  You can call me if you have any questions about it 818-508-6530. Lori - loribrockman at yahoo.com
  
my twin daughters went to Sierra canyon day camp for 5 years, from 5 until 10. They loved it. The campus is beautiful and the staff is incredible.  They loved the counselors.  We had an amazing experience, but at 10 they got a little old for day camp. Now off to sleep a way for the past 2 years.  Even the food was great there. So I had zero complaints.
I know kids love Cali as well.  I went to look at Keystone before the started Sierra and was not impressed because of the grounds.  It was so spread out and I was paranoid about how kids could wander, but it has been around for a while and I am sure it is safe.  Also, I loved Sierra because you did not HAVE to take a bus there.  I drove them.  I was not crazy about the camps where they had 18 year olds, or younger driving the kids on the freeway in the morning and on the canyons.  I think I sound paranoid, but also, since I drove them and then did carpools with my neighbors, Sierra was a lot cheaper than the rest of them.  That was a big plus sending 2 at once.  It was almost $30-35 a day cheaper not paying for the transportation, which is not a choice with the camps in the canyons. Good Luck,Jill Lieberman - Jilllaurendesign at aol.com 

My daughter went to Sierra Canyon last summer for the first time (she was 5). She went M,W,F from 9am to 4pm and loved it!!!  They have all the bells and whistles and most of the camp counselors are former campers themselves. They have themed weeks, swimming with a water slide, swimming lessons, plays, music, horse riding, go carts, bounce house, bounce slides with water.  She came home each time happy and tired.Hope it helps. Natasha Taormina - n_taormina at yahoo.com

My kids have been going to Sierra Canyon Summer Camp for 6 years!  They love it!  I love it because I am uncomfortable with letting my kids go on fieldtrips.  They have rotations of so many different and interesting activities the kids never get bored.  Most of the counselors are former campers.  They are very responsible!  You can't beat Sierra Canyon!  If you have any specific questions, just ask! Cindy - bradshaw05 at adelphia.net 

My daughter attended Sierra Canyon for a summer session in 06. I actually cut short her summer at Camp Gan Alonim in Simi to try something new so she could meet more local kids. I loved the school, it was clean, there was plentiful shade, swimming & the adults were very helpful. I thought the environment felt really good. I did question the maturity level of the counselors, they seemed so young and in comparison to her counselors at Gan, seemed less equipped to handle the groups they had. Bebe however never complained about a lack of supervision or help from the counselors. They had a great food program, for prepared lunches, that I really liked! All in all, I would have probably sent Bebe back to SC, but she didn't want to return. She liked the "dirty" stuff, like gardening, looking for frogs & horse trails - real camp kind of stuff. She had the option this summer to return, but chose to be at Gan Alonim. I think it felt to much like she was at another school vs being at a Summer Camp. My son was still to young ( I know you have boys) to attend that year so I cant share with you a young boys perspective. Robin - Levittalfa at aol.com 


CALI CAMP 
http://www.calicamp.com/index.html
Personal Tours - Monday through Friday 9:00 AM - 4:00 PM. Children invited to attend. Call (310) 455-0404 to schedule an appointment OR Attend one of the four Open Houses.Noon - 4:00 PM on Sundays - March 16th & 30th, April 13th & 27th 

My daughter went to Cali Camp last summer and loved it!  She loves all the different activities (min. golf, fishing, nature, crafts, basketball, tennis, swim etc.), the staff is sweet, attentive and helpful and the natural setting is amazing.  She is going back this summer and so is my son! if there are other questions feel free to email me or call. Kathy Paul - 818-762-9144 home OR 818-261-5030 cell - kathygpaul at gmail.com

I was a counselor here for 9 years.  I grew up at the place.  It may have changed since then (about 12 years ago) but the main directors (Owner Saul Rowen and director Pam Hawley) are still the same.  It's an amazing camp with an unbelievable array of activities, like horseback riding, go-carts, arts and crafts, mini golf, ropes course, hiking, swimming....  They make it fun to be a camper and a counselor (all parents out there w/ teens from 13 to 19 and up!).  Some of my closest friends are still from Cali Camp.  They have open house days where parents can go check it out.  I very highly recommend it.  They have bus drop off and pick up, too.  Hope this helps. Kim Ingel - kimingel at yahoo.com

My son has gone to both Cali Camp. Cali was a great camp for a boy.  The have a jungle forrest, horses, swimming, archery and dune buggy's.  He loved it.  He rode the bus and had a great time. They had great communication with me. I can give more detail if needed. Tracy Landsberg - tlandsberg at mac.com

I would not recommend Cali Camp for little, little ones. It is a huge camp, and LOTS of bees! Sharis315 at aol.com 

My daughter has been going to Cali Camp for 5 years.  She loves it.  The reason I like it is in old Topanga Canyon so there are kids from all over.  She meets such interesting kids, not just kids she goes to school with.  They are very organized.  I love the owner and he cares about his campers so much.  I highly recommend this Camp.  It is also a lot cooler in the summer time the Kenneret or Keystone.  I think they all have their advantages, its just what works for your child - Laurie Christl lchristl at adelphia.net

I have a lot of input on Cali-Camp.  I grew up there and went all the way up to becoming one of the directors of the camp for a number of years!  I think that it's a fabulous camp!  They have so much to offer  (as do the others!)  The campers are exhausted by the end of the day on the bus ride home.  I have to tell you, the bus ride is what a lot of the campers look forward to.  They have introduced "team spirit" to the individual buses now, so it is not just an ordinary bus ride.  It is fun!  They have soooooooooo many activities!  The site is gorgeous!  It is like the old west.  And you do not feel like you are in the busy day to day life in L.A.  It is how camps on the east coast feel like, and they have the best reputation in the camping industry.  You also want an accredited camp from the camping assoc., I believe they have that and if they don't you must ask why?  (that goes for all the camps)  That is always important.  You want to know how they train the bus drivers?  That is of course very important for obvious reasons.   Cali-Camp has a delicious hot lunch every day or you may bring your own.  All the boys look forward to go-carts, rock climbing and the ropes course, (they have mini versions of all for little ones)  They have swim lessons (group only).  And a full time RN at their nurse's office.  Let me know if you want more info about the camp! Amy - AmyGoldberg76 at aol.com 


KEYSTONE
http://campkeystone.com/
Open Houses - Sundays  11:30 am to 3:00 pm - March 9, 16, and 30 & April 13, 20, and 27 
If you can't make an open house call the office and schedule a private tour during normal business hours between 9:00 am to 4:30 pm. 818-889-2224.

My daughter has gone to Keystone the last two years and will be going again this summer.  She is a pretty timid kid, so when she started the summer before she turned 4 (in August) she didn't like it very much, but her closest friend who was the same age loved it.  It is a long day for them at that age.  Last year she went all summer and had a blast.  The scenery is amazing and they have so many fantastic activities for the kids.  The junior camp (ages 3-5) is a little more mellow than the regular camp (6+) because they give them a rest period after lunch and they are at the pool without the older kids there. If your kid is adventurous he/she will LOVE it!  Any other questions, let me know. Kim Romano - romanochick at gmail.com

My two kids LOVED LOVED LOVED Keystone last summer!!!! I am looking now to enroll my 10 year old daughter again. My 7 year old son will be going to a different camp this summer - not because he didn't love Keystone, but he has medical issues that I thought a specialty camp would be more suited to deal with. (And I would be less of a nervous wreck!) Anyway, Keystone is a bit like Disneyland if you ask me. The waterslide, zip line (awesome!), swimming, rock climbing, bouncy structures, horseback riding, and tons more. It is a lot of stuff to do, and the kids always came home talking about how much fun they had and they were EXHAUSTED by days end. I can't say enough about it. The staff is incredibly professional and on top of things. I met with them privately to really talk to them seriously about my son who has Type 1 Diabetes. I wasn't even sure if they'd take him because of the special attention he requires. There is a nurse on site and the director was amazing. They were very welcoming of him and put my worries more at ease. The camp counsellors were in direct contact with me with any questions about Marlon's care. Both my daughter and my son made friends there and said they wanted to go back.  I'd be happy to answer any specific questions. Oh, and congratulations on your new baby news!!!! I am also expecting in June (our fourth!)...
Chris Whigham - stinewhigham at yahoo.com

My son, now 7 3/4 has attended Camp Keystone the past 2 summers and LOVED it.  They have a great location, lots of shade and drinking fountains and he loved the waterslide.  The last week they do the waterslide all day each day, it was awesome.  We also loved the penny carnival, it was a fun family day.  There is a pretty good early registration discount until the end of January I believe.  Stacey - info at partiesbystacey.com
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