thx1138

California Summer Camps - Shaffer's High Sierra Camp

This camp seems to be a solid choice, I called and asked some questions and they seem pretty legit. They offer 1 and 2 week sessions and have openings available. Also it seems like it offers the kind of activities that would keep your 12 year old happy and excited. Take a look at it.

Note this is not my camp, I don't work there, or even in California. I work in Texas. I did a search and came up with this took a look and made a few calls, this place seemed the best. Also the director I talked to was very nice and helpful. When I called the spy camp they seemed really defensive.

hwnorth

The two middle boys are heading to Hockey Camp ( dreams of WHL, and possibilities) middle daughter is going to Dance Camp, oldest just wants to go camping and ATVing, and still looking into the youngest.. her time is usually taken up during the summer with us camping and riding, and grandparents etc.

Claire64

thx1138 - Thank you so much for all your help today! You've been amazing and it's awesome to have help from someone who really knows a lot about summer camps! That camp does look really nice, and you're right, it gives a lot more info than PaliAdventures. It is a little bit far away from us (7-8 hours), but I will definitely talk to my husband about it and then talk to the boys. They generally aren't quite as outdoorsy as this camp sounds, but I think at least Landon would love the new experience.

hwnorth - I'm sure hockey camp is loads of fun. Only one of my sons plays hockey, but he absolute loves it. I'm sure that in a few years, we'll have to fly him up to Canada for some camps and things, because the hockey here is not very competitive.

thx1138

Traditional Coed Summer Residential Camp | Sacramento | San Francisco | California - Mountain Camp

Surf Camp California Summer Camps Kids Surfing Lessons Teen Boy Girl Youth Program Costa Rica San Clemente Surf Camp San Diego Learn to Surf Adventure Los Angeles

I had some more time to look and these too also seemed fairly solid. Neither are as rustic as the last camp I posted which might suit your boys better, and the second camp is from all appearances a top of the line surf camp. I would personally feel comfortable reccomending either. They are a bit on the short side being offering two and one week sessions but since your kids would be first time campers that isn't a bad thing. I wasn't able to call and see if they still had openings though so you will have to do that if they interest you and your kids. The last day to register for the first camp is next Thursday.

Two other things I forgot to say in my first post;
-Get input from your kids on what summer camp is right for them, it seems obvious but many parents send their kid to a specific camp because they liked it as a kid without bothering to think that they might have had different interests than their child has.

-If your child has special diet restrictions plan on it. For example, if your kid is a vegetarian and takes protein supplements (muscle milk etc.) make sure you send them with him and that his counselors know that he is supposed to eat them. This can stop your kid from getting to camp and feeling sick after a day or two because he hasn't had any protein.

I'm just glad there is something I'm actually qualified to awnser questions about.

Xero

I was too much of a baby like pretty much my whole life to go to summer camp, let alone spend the night at a friends house (until I was probably around 13) LOL! I would think and say that I wanted to go to these kind of things soooo bad and then I would get there and call my mom crying to come pick me up usually that night. I always had anxiety about stuff like that. I was a nervous kid I think.

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Claire64

Thanks again thx1138!

The surf camp was actually one I was looking into for Sean. My nephew went there last summer and enjoyed it. I talked to Sean about it last night and he says he definitely wants to do it. As for Landon, I asked him about going to either of them and he said two weeks is too long, because he doesn't want to miss baseball and soccer. I know of a few good daycamps, so I think that would suit Landon better for this summer.

Xero - That's exactly how I was as a child. I was invited to sleepovers and wanted to go to camp, but I was too scared. Then, when I was about 10 or 11, I went to my best friend's cabin for a night and loved it so much that I stayed for the whole summer.

Xero

Wow! See I couldn't stay anywhere for more than a weekend until I was like...17 or 18! LOL>

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Aunt

When I was a kid i usually went for 3 or 4 weeks and had a blast. loved it! My niece did not go last year because we were working through some grief.
This year she is going to one with some girlfriends for 2 weeks (i thought we would see how she does)
It specializes in all things water and she is from a family of keen sailors so I am hoping it is going to be good. Some camps actually interview the kids so that they know whether they are the right fit. The camp that my niece is going to did that with a girlfriend of hers a few years ago and told the parents she might be a little bit young and to wait a yr or 2. So if in doubt perhaps see about a cam that interviews that way they may be able to tell ypu if they feel one of your kids needs to wait for a bit.

etceterae

Summer camps are great, but it really depends on what kind of things the kid likes. I went to a JROTC summer camp last year, so everything was military/boot-camp related. Personally, I had a lot of fun doing obstacle courses and shooting a simulated machine gun. It was very stimulating for me, though I knew plenty of people whose parents forced them to go to that camp, and they ended up having a terrible time.

Also, it really helps if a few of your kids' friends will go there too. =]

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Want more advice from me and other teenagers? Go to teensonparenting.blogspot.com for cool challenges, projects, and help on communication.

thx1138

So, now that the summer is over how did he enjoy daycamp? Have enough fun to want to go back, or maybe try a sleepaway camp? Or maybe not so much?