LOS ANGELES SUMMER CAMPS BLOG

You know that saying, "there's an app for that?" 

It basically refers to the notion that whatever your interest in a certain subject or activity -- or you need help accomplishing a certain task, you're trying to find something, and so on -- you can simply download an app onto your phone, computer or tablet to help you achieve it.

There's an app for everything, and guess what? The same can be said about camps: "There's a camp for that" fits the bill exactly! 

​What do we mean by, "there's a camp for that?"

L.A. area families looking for a specialty summer camp program for their kids this summer can find the ideal program at L.A. Camp Fair 2018.

L.A. Camp Fair is a free, three-day summer camp expo event taking place on three convenient dates and locations in and around Los Angeles on March  14, April 14 and April 22.

Over 60 camps and programs will be on display. You'll have the opportunity to meet all the camp representatives and learn about their programs. It's a lot easier finding the perfect camp when they're all together in one place compared to contacting all of the individually for information.

• The March 11 Camp Fair takes place at UCLA
• The April 14 Camp Fair takes place at Conejo Creek North Park in Thousand Oaks
• The April 22 Camp Fair takes place at A.C. Stelle Middle School in Calabasas

You might choose to attend just one, two or all three camp fairs, whatever's most convenient for you.  But in order to learn about all the camp opportunities without missing anything, coming to all three camp fairs might be  your best choice since some of the camps are only exhibiting at one or two events.

Grab your free tickets to one, two, or all three camp fairs here. 

Year after year, sports summer camps are among the most popular programs for kids and 2018 is no different. It's only January and we've already heard from many sports camp owners and directors their camps are beginning to fill up.

There's still time to sign up, though, and lots of time to find a great sports camp for you!

Where's the best way to find a great sports camp? Come to the L.A. Camp Fair at UCLA in March!

Over 75 camps and programs will be on display, including one of the top sports camps in Los Angeles, Iverbe Day and Sports Camp

​Iverbe is a camp that's dedicated to creating a fun, positive summer experience in a safe environment at the Willows Community School, Palisades High School and at St. Anastasia School in Westchester.

The program is committed to providing your child with a uniquely personal camp experience. Iverbe's camp counselors understand the importance of developing relationships with their campers and will help them build meaningful relationships with each other.  The camp's goal is to provide a safe, supportive environment where campers are free to explore their capabilities and focus on having fun.

To meet the staff from Iverbe and many other sports camps and programs this summer, get your free tickets to the L.A. Camp Fair today.

Even though summer recently ended and campers have returned to school, this is an exciting time for camps in general as many have already begun planning new and exciting activities for their 2018 summer camp seasons.

The fall and early winter months (generally September through December) are also when most camps begin marketing their programs for the future summer.

Two L.A. summer camps in particular, Pali Overnight Adventures and URJ 6 Points Sports Academy, are have already gotten started promoting their respective 2018 camps with new listings on L.A. Summer Camps.com.  The camps are listed on the site's L.A. Overnight Camps and Specialty Summer Camps pages.

Both Pali and URJ 6 Points Sports offer unique summer camp programming.

Pali offers many amazing specialty camp activities from stunt man camps to cooking adventures and everything in between.

URJ 6 Points Sports has a genuinely interesting program concept in its own right; it's one of the only (if not THE only) sleepaway Jewish sports camps we know about in Los Angeles.

Go ahead and check out Pali Adventures and URJ 6 Points Sports Academy when you can. And don't forget to check back here often as we share more information about various 2018 Los Angeles Summer Camp opportunities going forward.

Lindero Kids' Summer Sports Camp provides a memorable day-camp experience for children ages 4-12.The camp offers a low camper to counselor ratio which is a key factor to the success of each camp session.

With professional tennis and golf instruction, campers enjoy a well rounded experience. Serious golfers can participate in the Golf Academy program which focuses on the finer points of the game. At the end of each week, campers participate in tournaments followed by an awards ceremony.

Afternoon activities include the choice of golf, tennis, swimming, arts and crafts, basketball and more. Camper’s days are balanced with the perfect blend between a learning experience and free recreational time.

Camp hours are from 9 am to 3 pm and also provides pre-care and post-care. Lindero Kids' Summer Sports Camp is excited for the summer as we welcome new and returning campers for another great season in 2017. For more information visit our website or call the club at 818-889-1158 x107.

Saken Sports Camp, one of the most popular summer sports camps for L.A. area kids, has signed up for the L.A. Camp Fair in Calabasas on April 23.

Saken Sports Camp is built on the philosophy that all children should have a phenomenal camp experience regardless of their gender, age or athletic ability.  Their goal is to ensure each camper has an unforgettable experience participating in various sports, games and activities in a safe and supportive environment. When a camper leaves Saken, they will possess an enhanced value of sportsmanship, character and self- confidence.

Please be sure to visit Saken's Sport Camp's booth at the upcoming Camp Fair.

Parents learn about summer camp opportunities for their kids in many different ways.  Maybe the get a referral from a friend, discover a program via online search, or some other way.

But did you know attending a Camp Fair is one of the best ways to learn about many different programs and meet their representatives all in once place?

Camp Fairs are live events where many camps are on display, usually in booths or tables, which are staffed by the camp representatives themselves.

Parents and kids go booth to booth meeting the camp representatives and learning about the various programs.

Camp Fairs are generally free to the public (the camps pay the Camp Fair promoter to attend the event) and usually take place on weekends.

L.A. Summer Camps.com will be putting on a Camp Fair in Calabasas on Sunday, April 23 from 12:00pm to 3:00pm.  Dozens upon dozens of camps will be there, from day camps to overnight camps to specialty camps and more.

More information is coming soon, including how camps and programs can register for this event and families can get free tickets. So be sure to follow our blog and check back often to learn more about this fantastic summer camp event!

As you may recall, earlier this week we mentioned how sports camps are gaining popularity in and around Los Angeles.  Just this week we've heard from families wanting our opinion on the best football camps, hockey camps and tennis camps in the city.  And even though we're about to head into the coldest time of year, three other moms emailed us about their kids' surf camp interest for the upcoming 2017 summer season.

One of the things we learned long ago through our involvement with camps is when children express interest in learning a new skill or trying a new activity, it’s best to help them pursue those interests as much as possible to the extent that you can.

In this manner, you will be helping your son or daughter learn more about themselves as a person by discovering their likes and dislikes, interests and non-interests, while simultaneously helping them increase their self confidence and esteem as they grow into happy, healthy adults.

If your son or daughter has expressed interest in learning to surf, why not sign them up for surf camp this summer?

If you live in L.A., you probably already know we're blessed with some of the best beaches, weather, and waves in the world.  After all, our local beaches are here and available for your child's enjoyment, and if you're like most L.A. parents, you'll probably be sending your child to camp this year.

Why not combine the two and sign your child up for surf camp? Surfing and summertime go hand in hand.

Great question. The answer depends on what "kind" of surf camp you're looking for. 

It's important to distinguish between a pure surf camp -- where surfing's the primary (if not the only) activity offered -- from other camps which may offer surfing as a smaller component to a more comprehensive summer program that might also boogie boarding, water play, sand games, and other beach-related activities in addition to surfing.

If you want a pure, dedicated surf camp program -- where surfing's the primary focus -- we highly advise learning to swim before signing up for the program.  Sending your child to surf camp if they don't know how to swim could potentially be a very unsafe (and not very fun) proposition.

Now there's just one more thing to note.

Despite our personal thoughts on this subject, individual camps may have their own guilelines regarding previous swimming experience required of their campers.  Check with the camp director for their particular policies before signing up for any program.

Given the sheer number of surf camps available, it's tempting to type "Surf Camps Los Angeles" into Google, then sign up for the first one you find.

While that's not a bad way to find a surf camp, keep in mind ANYONE can make ANYTHING look good online! This means you must be absolutely certain you're not choosing some fly-by-night program that just started teaching kids to surf yesterday.

This isn't to say newer surf camps aren't qualified to deliver an outstanding camp experiences to your child.  All we're saying is, it's pretty darn easy to put up a website, head down to the beach, set up a tent or canopy and call yourself a surf camp. 

Fortunately, there's a number of reputable, established surf camp programs in L.A. and Malibu you can choose from. One consideration is to contact the American Camp Association for a referral to qualified surf camps in your area.  Asking your friends if they can recommend a program is always a good strategy, too.

Once you find some surf camps that interest you, talk to each camp director to narrow down your choice. Eventually you'll find one or two you consider to be the best match for your child.

This is an important question and one often overlooked by families when choosing a summer surfing program. If you don't live near the beach, or your work schedule prevents you from driving your child to camp yourself, consider a surf camp that provides transportation. Some of the surf camps providing transportation do so for free, while others charge extra for the convenience.

Other programs require you to pick-up and and drop-off your kids yourself, so you'll need to find a way to get your child to camp yourself while braving the beach traffic. One popular arrangement we've seen used at many surf camps is a carpool arrangement with other camper families. Ask the camp director to help you facilitate a carpool for your program if this idea would benefit you.

The main point to remember is you have numerous transportation options when it comes to getting your child back and forth to camp.

Many camps in the L.A. area, notably the more popular ones, tend to fill up quickly.  Camps register children on a space-available basis, so when the last spot's gone, it's generally gone for good. The only option you may have at that point is to join the waiting list and hope for the best.

All in all, when you find a program that appeals to you, it's best to register sooner rather than later. This way you can sidestep the frustration and disappointment of finding a surf camp your child's eager to try, only to find out later they don't have room for you.

JCC Maccabi Sports Camp, an overnight summer sports camp for kids and teens between the 4th and 11th grades, has joined LASummerCamps.com. Campers who sign up for this program will enjoy all kinds of sports and other camp activities ranging from volleyball to tennis to soccer and more.  JCC Maccabi Sports Camp is an overnight Jewish sports camp located just outside of San Francisco in Atherton, California.  Many kids from L.A. attend the camp each summer which combines sports and other camp activities with a Jewish summer camp experience.