I just got back yesterday from chaperoning middle school kids at CIMI, Fox Landing…read more My 5 star review is for the activities we did as well as the incredibly passionate, patient, and knowledgeable staff we got to work with, Brenna and Sofie. As a company, I hope you acknowledge, compensate generously, and appreciate the staff on your team for their hard work and dedication to the people who visit your camp and for giving us the experiences we have that make us want to send our kids the following years. It is them, and their talents, that turn a 2-star facility into a 5-star experience. I can not emphasize that last sentence enough, so a little louder for the people in the back: BRENNA AND SOFIE TURNED YOUR 2-STAR FACILITY INTO A 5-STAR EXPERIENCE. Our school signed up for intro to snorkeling, a night snorkel, a second day snorkel with play time (jumping off the floater), tide pooling, the large air swing, and kayaking. I read quite a few of the 1-3 star reviews from years past and could not disagree with them more. Could the facilities be upgraded? Yes. Should they be? Maybe. But this is camp. Have none of you gone camping before?? Camping is dirty. It is dusty. There are bugs. You're lucky when there are flushing toilets. This isn't a hotel with maids! And all of these kids- they could all use a lesson or two on cleaning up after themselves. You want the bathrooms to be clean? Teach your kids to not piss on the seat. You want camp floors clean? Teach your kids to shake off sand before coming in, and how to sweep the floors. It was embarrassing to see how many 13yo didn't know how to sweep the cafeteria of the food THEY DROPPED ONTO THE FLOOR 5 mins ago. I felt like all of these things, they were learning experiences for the kids and the ones that complained the most needed the lessons the most. The only time I had a real concern during the camp was during the night snorkeling; as the chaperone, I had a few minutes of panic when I felt claustrophobic as half of the kids (Sofie and I were watching 16 13yos) were climbing on top of me/the boogie board I was given, and the secondary chaperone, not a strong swimmer, also started to drag on me. During the night dives, I wonder if it would be possible to provide not just a buddy system, but have a handful of body boards provided to the kids? Some of these kids have 0 swim skills and not knowing if school-appointed chaperones are good swimmers, taking 16 kids into the ocean at night, hoping for the best... feels like there could be a couple extra measures in place. Food was sufficient- it was all "edible" and while I did see kids eating only cereal all three days, I also saw kids piling up their plates and eating it all. I did wish there was a way to keep the hundreds of small black fruit flies off of the salad greens and broccoli in the salad bar. Our rooms were inspected upon departure and another school did arrive by boat as we were departing. This means that the only cleaning done for bathrooms/cabins was by our departing kids, so my advice for future parents sending their kids- pack clorox wipes so your kid can wipe down the plastic mattress before setting up their bed and to wipe the toilet seat before their cheeks touch the pee-splattered seats. Pack crocs so they have shower slippers- shower floors were really gross. Know in advance that your kids will be wearing recently-pissed-in wetsuits, about 2 hours after another kid has worn them- but I'm going to guess this is true for every single rental gear dive spot at any vacation destination. And also know that they'll have a great time at camp.

I've sent my kids, nephews and recommended to friends. The program is top shelf! They deliver fun,…read moreadventure, and space for kids to be be kids.

Amazing Experience. Campus by the Sea is such a great place…read moreto grow closer to others and God. They are able to strike a balance between cutting out distractions, while still having fun. Attending Youth Camp has been one of the best experiences of my year, thank you to all the leaders, counselors, and the rest of the crew for making such experience possible. Even the media team was cooking... go team green btw

My first visit was in 1997 and most recent in Summer of 2021, it just keeps getting better and…read morebetter! This is a private camp that both puts on programming in the summer (family camps) and also rents the camp to other groups who want to come and host their programs at this beautiful location (churches, school groups, marine groups, etc.). I have attended camps that were hosted here by IVCF and the related Alumni Camp - they are top notch! The location is amazing. Just a one-hour boat ride away from LA, yet you'll think you are a world away. In fact, my daughter used to think Catalina was a different country, it felt so different from home. It's a great mix of modern and rustic: Electricity in the Dining Hall, Classrooms, and Bathroom (yes, there is modern plumbing with hot showers), but no electricity in your cabins (a mixture of enclosed and open-air hard-walled and tent cabins). And yes - no cell phone service!!! What a joy to tell my work I was unavailable while on vacation! A bigger joy to see your teens with no phones, finally giving in and playing card games all evening with friends and family. And don't worry, there is a land line in camp if you really need to call a loved one to check in. The staff works with a spirit of wanting to serve, they love their jobs. My most recent visit during COVID, I saw them all step up to do more work to ensure all health standards were being met. We felt safe and realized that having an open-air dining room is now a great feature! I have also been impressed by their efforts to keep long-term staff employed during the pandemic, the stability of camp leadership is serving them well as we come out of the pandemic. For those with children, this place is extra special as there is no road access to camp, everyone arrives on the pier by boat. This means, no stranger danger. Even as a 4 year-old, we could let our daughter go around camp on her own and experience a unique independence that wouldn't exist at home. Now a teen, she loves bringing friends and eagerly awaits this family vacation each year. Finally - this place is fun! When weather allows, there is snorkling, swimming, fishing, tubing, hiking, basketball, ping pong, volleyball, and campfire sing-alongs ... and everything is included in your camp price (no surprise add-on's). Sometimes there are opportunities to hike into Avalon and be brought back by boat (usually during week-long camps). Different groups program different events, but I have never been bored and have always been sad to leave. Seriously, if you have an opportunity to experience Campus By the Sea yourself, GO! I wasn't sure about going that first time, but I'm sure glad I did!

My fiancé and I really enjoyed this cruise . It was so beautiful especially coming back to see the…read moresunset . I highly suggest coming back during sunset . I love the island so much I probably would stay there next time .

I came here with my adventure guides group, the coyotes, and we loved it…read more We had the entire camp ground for our group and everybody had a fabulous time. I enjoyed the rustic setting and the freedom that the enclosed environment provided for the kids. The staff was nice and the food was great.

My son attended his first season at Camp Adventurewood in 2023 - it was his first experience at a…read moresummer camp and he was a little nervous and shy but all his counselors made him feel so welcome and comfortable and after the first day he was hooked! He loved the variety of activities and made so many new friends. He came home with fun stories each day. I loved that they offered a variety of options from 2 days/week to 5 days. We returned last summer and an unexpected and sudden medical event threw our summer for a loop. They were beyond kind and accommodating. Michael, the owner, personally made sure we were taken care of at a very scary time and was just incredibly kind and communicative. I can't thank him and his staff enough for the support. I would recommend this camp for any family. Its like a classic, old-school summer day camp experience!

My son attended Adventurewood camp for the first time this week. For the most part he enjoyed…read morehimself -- particularly the characters they introduce throughout the week. However, we decided to pull him out for next week because of a very disturbing situation. He shared that a counselor had pushed him with both hands on his shoulders during a capture the flag activity. He had dropped his flag and was putting it back on when a counselor (he didn't know her name) pushed him back hard enough to make him lose his balance and fall. She also barked "you need to reset!" She didn't ask if he was ok or help him up. You'd think if this was an accidental push and he fell over she would say something like "sorry bud are you ok? Here let me help you up" but nope, not a word. A friend he's attending camp with witnessed the whole incident. Since I pick them both up in the afternoons they both recounted this situation to me and both of them noted how inappropriate her behavior was. I immediately reached out to Michael, the owner of the camp. He said he wanted to identify this counselor and get her side of the story. Understandable. My son felt uncomfortable going back the next day but I reassured him it would be handled and offered to drop him off in the morning and stick around to talk to Michael and the counselor. I wanted him to feel safe. Michael identified her (her name is Carson) and said he wanted to talk to her first, which he did a few feet away from me. I heard her say she didn't push him. They then walked over to me and she again denied everything. So we asked both kids to come over and recount what happened. They both did -- in front of her -- and reiterated she pushed him. She denied even touching him. So Michael suggests at this point that perhaps it was an accident and my son responds by saying "how do you push someone like that by accident?!" No response. So I ask her, are you saying these kids are lying? She again said she didn't touch him and at this point we send the kids away. I'm incensed because not only does she gaslight both of them to their face but tells this bold faced lie to her boss in front of the campers and me. I tell her I believe them and I think she's the one lying. At this point she gives me this dirty look - angry, irritated and almost rolls her eyes at me. I turn to Michael and say "and now she's giving ME an attitude?!" Unbelievable. In a follow up call, he tells me how good of a person she is and that this is shocking for him to hear but that she doesn't seem like someone who would do something like this...that she's getting her teacher credentials and he knows her really well. I am getting the vibe he doesn't actually believe any of this and he sounds very skeptical. I respond by telling him that it's almost always surprising when people exhibit bad behavior and that even teachers do bad things...that doesn't make her any more credible in my eyes. He acknowledged that. In fact, it's worse because I would be really concerned to have someone like that teaching a kid. Lack of empathy, accountability, and integrity. I mean, I think it's great he's trying to have her back but there are moments in life when you need to draw a line and act swiftly...these are one of those moments. Because ultimately, this impacts the reputation of your camp. I told him that it would be good to offer training to his staff in case this ever happens again in the future and honestly he sounded baffled and asked me to clarify...I said well maybe tell your staff not to give dirty looks to a mom who's clearly upset that her son just got pushed by a grown adult at summer camp?? I told him that the response to this situation could've resulted in a totally different outcome. Had she said something like "I really don't recall pushing you but if I inadvertently did and made you feel bad I'm sorry - I didn't mean to do that" - I would've went home that morning feeling fine about the situation. When I told him this he said that he's not going to police all her reactions, that she's still young, that she's still learning and made all kinds of excuses for her. Exhausting. Apparently she got a "warning" and will sit out of the flag activity (umm, ok...). He seems like a smart guy and wish him nothing but success in the future and I was earnestly trying to offer advice for how to handle a situation like this better but it fell on deaf ears. I really hope that some kind of learning comes out of this for both of them. Oh and to top it off, my son's friend told her mom that Carson was giving her looks several times throughout the day today and when she asked what kind she said "side eye" looks. NOT COOL. My son also said she was kind of mean to him but wondering why they were even in close proximity when Michael said they'd absolutely be separated and would not see each other? Validates we both made the right choice by pulling them both out. He offered a refund but I'm still pissed about the situation.

BEST WEDDING VENUE EVER!…read more My husband and I dreamed of a wedding where everyone could stay together onsite, immersed in nature, with no worries about driving after a night of fun, and Camp Osito Rancho made that dream a reality. Our families stayed in the health center, lodge, and electrified cabins, while our friends embraced the adventure of summer cabins and tents. The venue offers so many stunning spaces, from the spacious dining hall for meals to the stage/amphitheater with fire pits--perfect for s'mores and late-night stories. We exchanged vows at the top of a hill near the outdoor pavilion, with a gorgeous backdrop of pine trees and a view of Big Bear Lake in the distance. We were able to offer our guests camp activities like archery and a pool day, as well as had room to setup other activities like craft tables and lawn games. The biggest perk was the complete freedom to choose our own vendors, allowing us to create a truly personalized experience (huge shoutout to Scratch Kitchen for catering--our guests still rave about the food). We spent a year making signs, collecting décor, buying solar lights, and crafting to transform this Girl Scout camp into a full-blown wedding festival. If you're up for planning the details, this venue is the ultimate blank canvas. Last but not least, the Camp Osito Rancho team is absolutely amazing. A huge thanks to Angel for her help throughout the year, Ryan for his help throughout the weekend, and to Gerardo for the tour that sold us from the start. For a wedding that feels like an unforgettable getaway, this place is pure magic

Amazing camp!! Came with sweet elite Girl Scouts 2020. My daughter canoed, rode horses, zip lined,…read morelearned archery. So many activities. Well worth the work. Beautiful campsite.

My boys just got home from Camp Nawakwa and had the time of their lives!…read more My older son was homesick and his cabin counselor, Squirrel, did amazing calming him and getting him involved. There was lots of activities and they had options so they could choose the things that interested them. Swimming, crafts, archery, drama, rock climbing. They had a dance and camp fires, they performed skits. When I went to pick them up my little one had lost his voice from singing and cheering so much. My homesick boy didn't want to leave... He even asked to go back for the next weeks session. Days later they are still singing their cabin songs and telling stories about what they did while they were there. I know my kids can't wait to go back and I'm so thankful they had this experience. And I'm going to make sure they return to Camp Nawakwa because they have made memories they will cherish for a lifetime...and they'll make even more in the summers to come

Camp Nawakwa-Angelus Forest Site I went on a camping trip…read morewith our church Agape Christian Center on June 5-7, 2015. I wanted to take a moment to compliment you on the cleanliness of your camp! I was pleasantly surprised. Your staff were all very friendly,courteous, and helpful. I specially wanted to thank your head chef, (I hope I have the name right, Shawn?)I have a gluten free kid and he was so nice, and helpful. He completely went out of his way, his food was delish!He made my job of having to pack gluten free food obsolete! I am so thankful! All in all had a great time, we Will definitely be back!!! See you soon! Delia Ybarra

Literally the best!! Booked them for a kids party and all the kids had a great time - they kept…read morethem occupied and each had the biggest smiles on their faces! Service from booking to end of party was exceptional. Would 1000% book again.

HOC did a great job for my daughter's 5th Birthday party! They were such a hit and the kids loved…read moremaking slime Francesca and Nadia did a great job entertaining and dealing with over 20 little ones. Thank you for making my baby's birthday extra special

I had such a great experience with Sunrise Surf, especially with my instructor Max! Booking online…read morewas super easy, and the school (Conor specifically) was really responsive and sent helpful info leading up to my first class. I'm in my 30s and had never surfed before so I was definitely nervous going into it. I did three one-on-one lessons with Max, and I couldn't have asked for a better instructor! He was awesome and made me feel comfortable right away. He was really attentive and gave me specific pointers after each attempt, so each try felt a little better. He was also super patient (I accidentally kicked him in the head probably more than once...) and was always supportive and cheering me on. Highly recommend them! I had so much fun and will definitely be back for more lessons with Max!

Amazing surf school. Both my daughters learned to surf in one three hour lesson. Bella became very…read morecomfortable and nearly independent after her second lesson. The staff is very friendly and spot on. I opted for the Will Roger's State Park location over the Venice Beach option and was very happy I did. In fact I recommend you try Will Roger's State Park.

I've taken 3 lessons with Cat over a few months, as a beginner who can't always practice…read moreconsistently (travel/work), it's been helpful to have a patient instructor reminder me of the basics and help me get a little bit better each time. Highly recommended to surf with Cat and Jazz, they're super patient and knowledgeable.

Cat & Jazz have great customer service. Their communication was great whether it be by phone or…read moretext. They were able to coordinate a last minute surf lesson after another company flaked on us the morning of our lesson. My 11 year old granddaughter's lesson was with Aaron, who graciously showed up with a wetsuit, a board and a great attitude. All with barely any notice. She opted not to wear a wetsuit, but hey she's a polynesian girl and loves cold water. He explained safety, body positioning on the board, foot positioning, paddle and pop up. Actually he gave more instructions than I listed. She understood well, so this part of the lesson was pretty quick. They walked looking for a spot. Aaron explained the different types of waves pointing them out to her as they appeared. He picked a spot that was empty and showed her how to put the board in the water, which may sound silly but it is important. She paddled out, ducked and dived, turned, popped up and rode in on her first try. They stayed out for quite a while talking in between. Sometimes she wiped out and sometimes she looked like she'd been surfing since birth. After about an hour and half she needed a break and suggested he go out so she could watch. As impressive as he was, she KTFO!!!! LOL! Just a quick little nap after waking up early and all of her hard work in that cold water. When she got up they went out again. This time she needed very little assistance. It was great!!!! Now we can surf together. All in all I'm glad the other surf school I booked with flaked on us. This was a great experience all around. I'm planning on getting a lesson set up for one of my grandbaby's friends soon. The more the merrier right? I totally recommend the Sal Y Sol surf school for a great experience!

My niece attended their Irvine camp for two weeks and loved it. Her website teacher was very…read moreknowledgeable and great with kids. She built her own websites and took them home, and they were actually very good! She also did the app creator class and made a bunch of cool apps which we got to download and use on our tablets. Very cool. She also played outside games on the school grounds, which were really nice. All in all she loved it and wants to return. I highly recommend- It's not very often you find something that makes kids interested in learning!

This is a review for Code Rev on Federal Ave. LA 90025. Saved up money to send my child to an…read moreexpensive summer camp in Minecraft Modding. They were very disappointed. Using the MCreator app was fine. Okay, I get it, it's visual and teaches simple concepts. But the instructor (maybe a college or high school student) was not an expert on it, was managing 10 kids in two different classes, seemed distracted, overworked, and sometimes on their phone. The quality of instruction was equivalent to a much cheaper program at the LA Parks, etc. My child specifically and kindly said to the instructor, "I love coding. May I learn more?" But this was not really heard. Most of the kids played Minecraft all day (9AM - 3:30PM), except during the breaks outside. But there was not much programming going on, just playing the game. My child stayed on task, tried to fix issues during the "tests" (a Minecraft Modding term), but found it hard to get assistance, except once or twice the entire day, each day. They did a little bit of Scratch coding one day. For the price this program costs, go to Asteme nearby and take their coding class, where there are professional, full-time teachers and the instruction is worth every penny. My child was so disappointed, because they had begged me to take this class. Code Rev management shouldn't punish this instructor. They should revamp the way they train instructors, pay them more so they can hire better ones, develop a half-page syllabus with an organized curriculum, let parents see it during registration, and not call this a coding class, unless there is coding. How about a little more Scratch even? If we wanted to play video games all day for 5 days, it would've been cheaper to go to Dave & Busters with friends. I should've listened to the negative reviews when I signed up. There is no care or respect for the real intellectual curiosity of the students. They think kids just want to play video games all day, and I don't think this is true for most (at least some) of the kids. But when this is what you're handed, your curious, enthusiastic child feels crushed. Do better Code Rev or reduce your prices in half and bill this more as daycare. (I rarely, if ever, write reviews, because who has the time? Also, I want to support small businesses or the franchisee. But this was just too disappointing. To prevent other parents and kids from making the same mistake, I had to say something. )