LOS ANGELES SUMMER CAMPS BLOG

Some parents and families are concerned whether camps will be operating this summer due to the coronavirus public health outbreak. An equally big concern is whether families will even have enough money to send their kids to camp. Allow us for a moment to ease your mind.

For one thing, local camps and programs have every intention of operating this summer while providing a safe, healthy and fun camp experience for your kids this year.  For many programs, the first day of camp is still three months away.  We're optimistic the coronavirus issue will be behind us by then, and your kids will be able to by outside in a fun, social environment at camp with their friends.

Next, we realize the financial impact of the coronavirus situation has not been easy.  That's why many Los Angeles area camps have come together to offer various coupons, discounts and promotions to help you save money at camp this summer. Please take a moment to see the various discounts available.  Summer 2020 is a great time to get a discount at camp!

Many parents are taking a "wait and see" approach to signing up for summer camp due to the Covid-19 public health situation.

Even though it's only March and summer is still several months away, some families are wondering if camps will even be operating.  Other parents are feeling uncomfortable at the very thought of sending their kids to camp since most camps take place in close community settings.  Moreover, kids attending sleepaway camps often need to fly or otherwise travel some distance from home, and the prospect of traveling right now is not a very comforting one (if it isn't outright banned).

We understand and sympathize with these feelings. However, we also caution parents to think twice before casting the idea of summer camp aside.  Doing so could cost you the opportunity of finding space for your child at camp in the long run.  Here's why. 

Most families we know have already cancelled their summer vacation and travel plans deciding to stay close to home instead. Add to that the number of families foregoing overnight camp this summer, and the ripple effect of all this could be that most local day camps will be sold out. There just won't be enough space to accommodate all the kids who want to attend.

The self-quarantine and school cancellations are giving everyone a taste of how difficult it is when active kids are stuck at home with nothing to do.  By the time summer gets here they'll be climbing the walls needing activity and stimulation.  But you still want them close to home just in case, right? Plus, many parents will need to increase their work hours to compensate for missed days. This adds up to an increased demand for day camp programs.

We anticipate all these families will turn try to sign up for day camps all at once,  probably in May or June when Covid-19 has hopefully leveled and begun to decrease.  At that point, parents will be faced with the prospect of incredible competition to find available space in camps already filled to the brim. 

No one wants to find themselves on a wait list or, perhaps worse, have to send their kids to a camp that may be their second or third choice. That means it's best to reserve your space now at your favorite day camp now to cover your bets later. Most camps have very reasonable refund policies given today's unfortunate coronavirus environment, so if you sign up for camp now but change your mind later, you'll  likely get your money back. 

By signing up for day camp now, you can wait out the coronvirus situation with confidence knowing you're child is safely signed up for the program of your choice. Let everyone else fight over the few remaining spots at camp when all of this blows over.

The coronavirus public health threat has disrupted everyone's daily lives. Summer camps -- and families like you who are looking for camps for their kids -- aren't immune from this unfortunate situation.

As you may know, lasummercamps.com sponsors the L.A. Camp Fairs every year. This year, the camp fairs in Los Feliz, at UCLA, in Calabasas and at Cal State Northridge all had to be cancelled. Stopping the spread of the coronavirus is the number one priority right now.

We know you rely on us to share the many exciting summer camp programs and opportunities for kids in L.A. Historically, one of the ways we've done that is by telling you all about the L.A. Camp Fairs. Unfortunately, large gatherings in public places isn't prudent right now, so in conjunction with the camp fair organizers we developed a "virtual" camp fair website called vcampfair.com.

What's vcampfair.com? It's the online equivalent of a live summer camp fair but it takes place online instead. You can visit all the camp fair booths, learn about all the participating programs, connect with camp directors and more, all from your own computer.

For the foreseeable future, most of us will be staying close to home. We'll be using our computers and mobile devices more than ever to purchase supplies, gather information and monitor events. Now you can go to a camp fair and a great summer camp right from the comfort of your own couch.  Check out the virtual camp fair and find a great camp for your kids today.

No doubt about it, there's lots of fearful people out there. And because most camps take place in a close community, parents have questions about whether camps will be operating this summer.

We've spoken to many camp directors here in L.A. the past few days to gauge their plans for this summer. Every one of them says it will be "business as usual" this summer with every intention to operate.

That's good news for parents, who often view sending their kids to summer camp as a rite of passage or at least a traditional experience each summer they don't want their kids to miss.

Moreover, many families depend on day camps as a child care mechanism so their kids have someplace to go during the day while their parents work.

The hope is this:  By the time the weather warms up and cold and flu season passes, the cornoavirus health threat will be gone (if not greatly reduced) and there will be no impact to camps regarding this subject whatsover.

At the same time, it's always best to plan ahead. If you've already signed up for camp, or just considering a program or two, make sure you have a clear understanding of each camp's refund policy and keep checking their websites or calling them for updates regarding their latest plans.

Regarding the type of program you're considering, there may be benefits to attending a day camp this summer (versus a sleepaway camp) since day camps generally take place in large open-space outdoor environments, not in a closed contained cabin settings like sleepaway camps do.  On the other hand, most sleepaway camps we know of have sophisticated health and wellness programs in place and are ready to share an amazing camp experience with your kids.

Whatever kind of camp  you choose this summer, make sure you ask the camp director about their staff safety certifications, pre-camp and arrival day screening procedures, and on-site medical staff including nurses, Health Supervisors and more.  You must be completely satisfied with the camp's emergency response and communicable disease plans and strategies, otherwise you should find another camp.

We are sorry to say all of the L.A. Camp Fairs plus the Camp Fair in Santa Barbara have been cancelled due to the coronavirus health threat.  Cancelled events include

• March 14 in Los Feliz
• March 15 at UCLA
• March 29 at Cal State Northridge
• April 4 in Calabasas
• April 18 at Santa Barbara City College

We are so sad we won't be able to meet together in person to help you find a summer camp for your kids this year, but this website is a great resource to help you find a great day camp, sleepaway camp, sports camp or specialty camp not just in the Los Angeles area but elsewhere, too.

Most, if not all, of the camps who intended to participate at the camp fair events will most definitely be operating their programs this summer, so be sure to visit their websites for more information.

Meanwhile, we hope to see you next year when the camp fair events resume as usual. Until then, we hope you stay healthy and safe!

We regret to inform you this weekend's L.A. Camp Fairs on Saturday March 14 in Los Feliz and Sunday, March 15 at UCLA have been cancelled due to the unfortunate issues surrounding the coronavirus.

All of the camps and programs scheduled to attend the Camp Fair this weekend were looking forward to meeting you and sharing their summer program opportunities with you. As official sponsors of the Camp Fairs, we are very sad we can't get together. But protecting your health and safety is the number one priority, so it's in everyone's best interest to cancel the event.

The majority, if not all, of the camps who were planning to participate this weekend are still operating their camps this summer, so please don't hesitate to reach out to them for information. You can find a listings and links to their websites here. 

There's also a wealth of information about local L.A. area camps on the lasummercamps.com website.

If the events are able to rescheduled for a future date, we will let you know right away. Meanwhile, we will post information regularly about additional ways you can connect with the camps that interest you.

Thank you so much for your support. We hope you have a great summer and we see you at a future Camp Fair event soon.

Sincerely,

Your Friends at the L.A. Camp Fair

With all the talk about caronavirus, you may be wondering if the L.A. Camp Fair at UCLA is still taking place this weekend in Pauley Pavilion. You'll be glad to know it is!

Join us this Sunday, March 15 from noon to 3:00 PM to meet camp directors and counselors from over 50 summer camps and learn about their programs. Ask questions and get to know each of the camps in person. There's nothing meeting all kinds of camp representatives face-to-face all in one place. You'll be able to get a personal feel for the camps that feel "right" to you and others that don't quite fit the bill.  Be sure to bring your kids too so they can see for themselves all the amazing camp opportunities  they can enjoy this summer.

Grab your free tickets to the L.A. Camp Fair at UCLA today!

Even though it's still early March and rainy weather is predicted this week here in Los Angeles, don't let that prevent you from looking for a summer day camp or overnight camp for your kids.

When you consider the millions of families with kids living in L.A. who've already started searching for camps -- not to mention the countless others who've already registered their kids up for various programs -- it's best not to wait any longer before beginning your search for a camp this summer.

Most summer camps in L.A. operate with very limited capacity restrictions. If you want to make sure your child grabs one of the few available spots, we advise narrowing down your list of prospective programs to a select two or three, doing your due diligence, then picking your preferred program as soon as possible.

When it comes to finding a great L.A. summer camp, the early bird gets the worm. Many camps have long waiting lists of anxious families hoping space opens up for their camper.  Find a camp now so you can avoid disappointment later.

The L.A. Camp Fair in Los Feliz takes place this Saturday, March 14 in the Los Angeles Friendship Auditorium from noon to 3:00 PM. Meet camp directors from over 40 different programs from day camps to overnight camps and all kinds of camps in between.  The Camp Fair is free, but we're expecting a lot of people and only have a limited number of free tickets to give away, so get yours today before they're all gone and find a great summer camp for your kids this summer! Free Los Feliz Camp Fair tickets.