Another important update about Summerkids Camp... A judge issued a publicly available determination which requires Cara DiMassa to be tried in federal court over the claim of being "deceptive in inducing [Doug Forbes and Elena Matyas] to send Roxie to Summerkids." Since Roxie did, in fact, attend Summerkids camp, "Cara DiMassa could be deemed to have knowingly created a policy that led to the death of [Roxie]." Finally, the judge determined that Cara DiMassa and her father Joseph DiMassa must be tried in federal court over the claim that they "engaged in despicable conduct in conscious disregard of [Doug's and Elena's] rights, as well as oppression." Oppression means "despicable conduct that subjects a person to cruel and unjust hardship in conscious disregard of that person's rights." Again, as a journalist and the president of the nation's sole camp safety foundation, I want parents and caregivers to make informed decisions about the places taking care of their most precious cargo. This camp had at least eight admitted "medical emergencies" in recent history, including a child with a serious injury that occurred weeks after Roxie's wholly preventable death. A former young counselor said they broke multiple bones, including the spine, which required a year of rehab. Cara DiMassa had apparently reprimanded and pressured the counselor for not creating enough activities for the children. The counselor subsequently invented an activity and fell 25 feet after dozens of children had been at risk on the same activity. Apparently, DiMassa encouraged the counselor to build this activity with no training or inspection. read more

Doug F's review and Jiang Z's review below... WOW. In the NFL, a player almost dies during the game and they cancel the game and send 70,000 people home. 6 year old dies at Summerkids camp and they proceed and try to make everything "normal" A child is told she is not welcome there and belongs with her "own people" She cries during most of the camp. An apology is posted THREE Years later. No Thank You. read more

So after three years, the owner decided to post an apology over yelp? And have the audacity to write" "we pride ourselves..." Please don't try to make this about one of your employees. As the owner, you were in the same room when your ex-director told my niece from China that she should not be there "she should be with her own people ". You were the one who refused to give us refund when I pulled the kids out out of your camp. After I filed a complaint, you proposed to provide a refund in exchange for me to remove my post from yelp. I don't need your apology. You are in the business dealing with children. You need to do better! read more

A friend referred us to this camp for my 5th grader, as it boasted outdoor activities in a sprawling and lush woodsy campus, which sounded like a great break after the school year. They didn't disappoint. From the orientation tour, the counselors were warm, welcoming, and funny and my 5yo asked if he could go next year after seeing the place. My daughter absolutely loved the activities and the rotating elective format that allowed her to decide if she wanted to hike or do archery or a cooking lesson from their garden. Looking forward to going next year. read more

my daughter was there the day Roxie died. after reading FACTs about what happened and how the camp is run...I am horrified. It could've been any of our children. I also feel manipulated by the information they fed us around this event. find a safe camp! Sending love to Roxie's family. read more

Our kids come home filthy from head to toe, and we love it! This camp is interactive and fun. The top aspect that attracted us the most and keeps us coming back is that this is a "learning company", it is evident they want feedback and continually reflect on their operations and camp culture to ensure the experience is fun, relevant, and educational. read more

Our family have been loyal supporters of Summerkids for many years. Multiple kids from our blended family have attended over many years, and they've all loved it so much that two of them are now going to be counsellors. Not only that, Cara and Jaime have always gone above and beyond for our family when we've been in crisis, even going so far as to visit one of our kids in the hospital when he broke his arm. This is a family camp in the most traditional sense and I'm so glad our kids got to have this kind of camp experience in the middle of Los Angeles. read more

Love the camp! It's an old-fashioned outdoor camp with games, activities, singing, and silliness for our kids. They love it!

This review is long overdue and I am going to try to be as honest as I can. My daughter attended SummerKids Summer Camp a few years ago when she was 6 years old. She has an underlying medical condition and I will say that the director noticed it in my application and personally contacted me to talk more about it. In a subsequent conversation, she even said that she did some personal research into it in order to learn more and reassured me about protocols they had in place. My daughter has attended several camps and schools since then and to this day, no one else demonstrated that level of care and attentiveness to my daughter's medical condition. Since this was our family's first camp experience, on several occasions, I either stayed around after drop-off or arrived a bit early to observe the camp and see if my daughter was enjoying herself. Overall, the camp seemed quite fun but I noticed that the younger children, including my daughter, seemed a bit disengaged and quiet. What especially bothered me is that the counselors of those young kids seemed more preoccupied socializing with other counselors than attending to the young children. My daughter did not enjoy the first few days of camp. On the first day, she asked if she could use the restroom, and her counselor (while chatting with another counselor) just quickly told her to go by herself. She also told me that the counselors "talked too fast" and her group could never understand what they were saying. I took this to mean that the counselors (mostly college age kids) did not know how to talk to 6-year olds in developmentally appropriate ways. I remember thinking that those counselors were not ready to work with young children, especially considering the ever-present temptation of chatting and joking around with their peers. We never returned to that camp for that reason, even though it is very conveniently located to our house. I had a much more positive experience that same summer at Camp Mariposa (Girl Scout Camp) where it was very clear that the high school-aged counselors were very much personally invested in connecting with the young girls in meaningful ways. My daughter loved her Camp Mariposa counselors, but she felt somewhat ignored by her Summerkids ones. read more

My 3 kids LOVE this camp. It's their favorite of them all. Which is saying something for the teenager. The kids love how nature focused it is. They sing the songs non-stop and have great stories. read more

This is the best summer camp ever. My kids were so happy and looked forward to going every day. They loved the counselors and how they got to decide what activities to participate in. We will be back! read more

My son was at camp the day Roxie drowned. It's been 4 years and he still talks about her, wonders how her parents are feeling and has nightmares where he feels like he's drowning and can't breathe. It took months before he would swim again, despite knowing how to swim and previously being comfortable in water. He said he would never go to another camp with a pool after that experience. I bring this up now because another summer is upon us and my son brought up Roxie today and I don't want anyone to ever forget Roxie and how this summer camp cut her life short and destroyed a family. I can't imagine their pain. Summerkids should not be in business. I remember the day I picked my son up from camp and his first words were "mom someone died at camp today." They should not have the privilege of running a camp after this. read more

Camp full of fun, silliness, creativity and friendship. Our children have gone to and loved Camp Summerkids for years. In a high pressure world, just getting to be kids for a few weeks each summer is such a blessing. read more

We love this camp! Our kids have attended for three years in a row and always have the best time. We love the old school approach of fresh air, camp songs and games, archery, nature hikes and even cooking! Nothing makes me happier than picking up the kids at the end of their camp day and finding them sweaty and dirty and with big smiles! read more

My son did not enjoy his expereince here last year. He was four years old and he felt there weren't many activities for him. Also he often came home dehydrated which made us think the program was quite designed for younger kids. Mind you, we opted out of swimming, since a young camper drowned the week prior due to negligence of the staff. read more

My kids are in the middle of their 4th year of camp at Summerkids. Despite having to close down or modify some of their favorite craft activities due to Covid, both kids are having a great time and look forward to camp every day. My daughter is an avid swimmer, loves the pool, and feels safe there every day. Both of my kids love their counselors, their funny songs/stories, and all the fun they bring to each day. In my experience the camp is well-organized, responsive, and caring. I look forward to sending them again next year. read more

My kids (age 7 and 9) just finished a two week stint at Summerkids. They both enjoyed it although my older boy liked it more. It is a GREAT location right at the base of the mountains. They have their own pool and great outdoors space right here. The day is broken up into 5 sections--campfire (welcome), 4 periods. Each period they can choose what they want to do. Swim, hike, play, build forts, garden, crafts, games. My son found Dungeons and Dragons and my daughter loved being in the pool and all the crafts. The price is affordable and I really wanted my kids to have an outdoor experience. I would recommend Summerkids to anyone who wants a true outdoor camp experience for their kids. read more

My son was at Summer Kids last year. We found Summer Kids to be a warm family environment and my very picky, very sensitive 6 year old loved it. He liked that he got to choose his activities and we liked that he was safe, mostly outside (unless he chose to do an indoor activity) and would come home having thoroughly enjoyed himself. We are fortunate to have this camp as an option and plan to return and continue to be part of this family. Everyone was blind sided by the tragic accident that happened last summer. I felt the camp did the best they could given the details of the situation and my heart breaks for all involved. read more

My kids have gone to Summerkids, and now Challenge, for over 10 years and have loved it. They come up dirty and tired and have been outside and off devices all day long! We love Cara and all the counselors and team there. They have made friends and memories that will last forever and every summer they are adamant no matter what they do that they get to spend multiple sessions there. read more

Last chance to have my son involved in a summer camp. What a great experience for all. End of the day, he was dirty, tired, and hungry! I will continue to indulge my son every summer. read more

My kids had such a great time at summerkids this year! They made great friends and the days were filled with activities they wanted to talk about with us at the end of the day! Thank you! read more

my 6 year old attended last summer and loved every second. this summer i decided to be creative and find a less expensive option...full on rejected. missed her chickens and her pool and everything special about summerkids. we were so lucky to get her back in. it was a big save and she had the most fun. looking forward to our third summer in a row! read more

My son has spent many summers at SummerKids, and this past summer went back for Challenge. After so much zoom school and video gaming, SummerKids get him active and social. The team there has always been so happy to see him and from when he was a little camper until now, he can't wait for camp. Thank You SK! read more

Summerkids Camp is awesome - a perfect blend of old fashion outdoor activities (fort building is a must!) with modern approach to child interaction and focusing on fun. The counselors are phenomenal are often grown campers themselves. My kids love it and are looking forward to it every summer. read more

This was son's 4th summer at Summerkids and I think it was his most favorite yet. The outdoor activity choices are great. He doesn't love sports and there is still plenty for him to do! The counselors are all wonderful, and the special event days like Epic, carnival and all day hike really make this a special camp. Highly recommend. read more

Summerkids is just a magical place. The extremely responsible and well trained staff goes to great lengths to make sure that each and every child is having a wonderful experience. The camp allows kids to explore the outdoors and try new things in a safe, encouraging environment. Kids are able to choose from a variety of activities each day so there really is something new for everyone to enjoy from swimming, to archery, to craft projects. This is a family owned camp that has been proving kids with a truly unique summer experience for generations. My kids came home every day tired out and happy. There really is a reason why people come back year after year! read more

My son has been going to Summerkids for many years. He loves it! The staff has been great and welcoming--when he was younger, he was more than a bit of a challenge, but the staff and administrators at Summerkids always made him feel welcome and loved. Cara and the rest of her staff will always be in our hearts. read more

My kids have been to SK and SK Pre-K for going on 7 years. It's such a wonderful summer experience and also a great place to have fun and get dirty during school breaks. I love the balance of structure and free play. On any given day, my kids come home taking about the all-day hike (for big kids, apparently a highly sought after activity that the little ones anticipate), an art project, or how they managed to get into not one but two sessions of swimming. They have learned a crazy number of camp songs and seem to have code names for every counselor and friend. It's such a nice environment. I would recommend this camp to anyone, but it's particularly nice if you want a full day experience that includes a quality after camp program. The activities really extend all day - so my kids have fun even when there until I get off work. read more

Summerkids was my kids' first camping experience and what a great start! There's a reason why counselors and kids come back year after year and generation after generation. Many counselors were former campers themselves, and all of them are college-age or older. They are trained in first aid and CPR, and closely supervised. This family-run camp fosters an open and trusting atmosphere, and I always know there's a DiMassa nearby if I have a question or concern. Campers choose their own activities, including archery, swimming, hiking, and countless creative crafts. All are closely supervised and well-run. I know my kids' summers at Summerkids are laying a foundation for health, happiness and love of the outdoors. read more

Summerkids has been a great tradition for my family. My two kids love it and we couldn't be happier. In fact, I'm a bit jealous. They get to do so many incredible activities and the grounds are spectacular. My daughter is looking forward to one day being a camp counselor. Truly an LA gem. read more

Summerkids really is as good as it gets. My daughter and son have been attending Summerkids for at least ten weeks each summer for the past six years and we cannot recommend it highly enough. We have also attended a couple of winter sessions, which were just as delightful. The counselors do such a great job of dealing with the kids and all of their normal issues, that my kids both want to be counselors when they are old enough. My daughter's favorite counselor attends The Ohio State University, so where do you think she want to go to college? Isn't that a great influence? Our kids have so much fun with all of the different activities that are available that for the first two weeks they are so exhausted the fall asleep on the way home. And, we only live two miles away. Not once in six years have our kids not wanted to go to camp. And, not once have we worried about their safety and well-being. This really is an excellent camp with a great opportunity for kids to be kids and enjoy the all the wonder of the outdoors with caring adults in a safe environment. If you want your child to be able to experience life in a safe, non-sterile environment with good caring people then I recommend Summderkids. read more

Summerkids is the kind of place you wanted to go to camp when you were a kid . . . but didn't. It's just a day camp -- but it's got all those traditional campy things going on: goofy songs led by brilliant, friendly, super-enthusiastic, counselors (most of them Summerkids graduates); tons of classic camp activities like hiking, archery, swimming, dodgeball frisbee water wars and other sporty stuff; plus cooking and gardening and arts and crafts -- yup, even tie-dye and macrame. Summerkids is on an amazingly beautiful 57 acre site hidden away but not too far up in the San Gabriel foothills above Pasadena/Altadena. There's a creek running through the camp, a nice pool, playgrounds, sports fields, the classic lodge buildings -- you get the picture. My eight year son just finished his third summer season, and it was his best one yet -- we let him go the entire summer session the last two years, and he flat out loves every moment. His favorite activities this year were Dungeons and Dragons with his friends and favorite counselor (yikes!), water wars, and "Epic" (sorry, impossible to explain that last one!). Summerkids is not inexpensive, but It's truly gratifying to have someplace my boy looks forward to as the school year winds down, and for every single day he's enrolled. But in my opinion the two best things about Summerkids are the family feeling -- Cowboy Joe, Mama, Cara -- the whole DiMassa clan who own and run it are lovely people -- and they're all waiting every morning to greet each and every kid with a big smile and welcome them to morning campfire. They obviously care deeply about the camp experience of every child, and are really gracious with the parents -- of course parents aren't often allowed too far past the camp gates (bravo DiMassas!). It's a totally kid-centric experience, and it feels ultra safe and warm. Also, the camp days are structured really nicely: Four or five times a day, at the beginning of every new camp activity period, all the counselors gather the kids and beckon them -- through songs and other whimsical nonsense -- to join their personally led adventure-activities. So the kids basically get to invent their own program every day from a pretty big menu of choices. What a great way to structure a camp. And the college-age counselors really put themselves out there each and every day, are fantastically friendly and supportive of the kids, and seem totally committed to having a great time. Bottom line, Summerkids is wonderful . . . we've tried other camps (even Tumbleweed way up in the Santa Monica mountains), we've mixed and matched with other week-long camps our first Summerkids year . . . but it seems we're simply Summerkids people now. We're kind of hoping our son will grow into wanting to be a counselor when he's older -- it's such a wholesome and enriching way to spend the summer. My only regret is that Summerkids makes the transition back to school a tad more difficult! read more

My son has been going to Summerkids and their Winterkids camp for 4-1/2 years. It's a magical place for children! The grounds are very large and include a garden, chickens, playground equipment, special spaces for ball games, and access to wonderful hikes. He feels he's really in nature! He has a choice of indoor or outdoor activities each period and loves the variety of fun and active games, from crafts and Dungeons and Dragons to Archery, Gaga Ball and Capture the Flag. He always looks forward to the special Poseidon days which involve extra costumes and running around. I think he most enjoys getting to know the counselors. They are all impressive young people who are responsible, attentive to his needs, and very kind. He looks up to them and looks forward to learning their funny nicknames. I love their rules #1 and #2: Have fun, and help others have fun. That communal spirit is everywhere at Summerkids. I have always known he is extremely well cared for there. The staff and counselors emphasize drinking water in the heat, re-apply sunscreen, make him wear his hat, have available snacks, know just where he is when I come for pick up, and are always attentive. In contrast, at many other camps he has attended, the counselors seem more interested in hanging out with each other than in being with the children. Summerkids games always have careful rules and structure, while at other camps my son complains that kids cheat or bully because of a lack of supervision. I run into families all the time in LA who attended Summerkids as children and now send their children there. An amazing LA tradition. We will always go back to Summerkids for its wonderfully nurturing environment of fun and play. Just what summer should be! read more

Our 6-year-old grandson has attended Summerkids the past two years. From the moment he set foot there at an open house he has loved everything about it--the location, the facilities, the activities, his fellow campers, the staff, and especially the counselors, whom he idolizes. When his time there ends, he starts counting the days until he can go back. When we arrive to pick him up, he is excited to tell us all about his day and the fun things he did. When we asked what is his favorite thing about Summerkids, he said that it's being able to choose his activities. Last summer, he declared that when he gets older, he wants to be a counselor there. We have always found the staff and counselors to be friendly and helpful; they keep a close eye on the children and are aware of their whereabouts, even during the commotion of pick-up time. We find the press coverage and some of the reactions to last summer's terrible accident very upsetting. Obviously, what happened is every parent's worst nightmare. That it happened in a wonderful place like Summerkids is difficult to fathom, but the negative judgements and criticisms being made are extremely unfair and one-sided without all the facts being known. From our experience, we are confident that the campers' safety and welfare is the top priority at Summerkids and we will not hesitate to send our precious grandson there again next year. read more

Thanks to you, Summerkids, we have found our forever camp. Like all parents, we are looking for a safe place to entrust our children. Bonus points if it is a camp that is actively fun, challenging, developmental, full of love AND that we can return to summer after summer. Jamie, Cara and the very excellent staff of certified counselors run a tight ship, where nothing slips through the cracks - specific emotional and physical needs are met, sunblock is available, special diets are accommodated, missing personal items are in the lost and found... I have never had my phone calls or emails go unanswered, nor did they try to sneak more kids into the program after promising a specific staff-to-camper ratio (like another very well known foothill camp that we tried last year). All the while, it feels like they are all parental units in a family with hundreds of kids. This was my child's first summer here and he became close to every counselor he met. It is the best testament to the camp that all the staff are legacy campers. This camp has everything you are looking for: more than adequate ratios, spotless and child-accessible facilities, indoor a/c, multiple water fountains and outdoor misters during the heat waves, sustainable arts and crafts, musical campfire pow wows, rotating activities, visiting entertainment and larger than life whole camp experiences. Some other camp programs will try to sell you amusement parks and junk food, but why would you pay to have your child spend half the day commuting on a bus, breathing car exhaust and losing their hats/water bottles/etc? The wholesome, out in nature campground at Summerkids is such a serene place that is really what native California is all about. Initially, I was worried about the looser structure of having activity choices during multiple periods, but it is so well-organized that my 5 year old was confidently explaining how it worked by the 2nd week. Again, I cannot say enough positive things about the counselors. They are helpful, careful older siblings to my child and even though he is very shy, he had no hesitation trusting, feeling comfortable and finding help whenever he needed it. Another example of the level of quality shown at Summerkids is how seriously the staff take their jobs. From the moment you arrive, there are helpers directing traffic, a welcome committee to greet you and your child, a helpful counselor to make the separation easier for vulnerable children (or parents!), energetic and dependable activity leaders and a group to bid you a fond farewell and give you any helpful information or answer any questions. They really help each other out and work together as a team to take care of things. All conversations among the staff that I have overheard are business-only! Like how to establish more camaraderie, help prevent bullying or cheating in games, ensure responsibility and build confidence and have enough inventory... These people love their jobs. They are watching out for everyone and your kids will benefit! I highly recommend Summerkids Camp and everyday I tell my kids how sad I am there isn't a Summerparents Camp as well. It is a well-established camp that has earned its reputation and we are lucky to be able to be part of their family. read more

We were recommended to summerkids by friends and classmates as a safe & fun place to have anactive summer pastime. What transpired was anything but safe and fun. There's a clear lack of adequate supervision at the camp. Several events, including my kids, where there was a failure of supervision which in some cases resulted in potential hazardous scenarios ( kids put ropes around another's neck). My daughter had a rather unnecessary and inappropriate experience which occurred in clear lack of supervision. To compound the matter it was handled in a judgmental, biased and inappropriate manner. As a father, it took all the objectivity I had to maintain a reasonable perspective. Still yet, there a lack of acknowledgment of failures and blame was very obviously misplaced. I offered to simply take the kids out of camp, refund my fees and call it a less than pleasant experience. After several attempts, the owner had no intent on owning-up to the failure of the camp. We parted ways. The general set-up of the camp is froth with issues. Should have trusted my instinct, but I trusted word of mouth. There definitely is NOT adequate staffing to provide supervision for all the kids. The staffing is handled by the owner and his family. There is just an ethical unease where nepotism predominates supervising staff. Not much room for objective checks and balances. I would highly recommend reconsidering sending your kids here. I will be considering legal action as well. This has been a real spoiler to a what should have been a wonderful summer. Before proceeding, I consulted a lieutenant and a seargent in two prominent police departments, child psychologist doctorate and legal council. All noted inappropriate manner by which the case was handled. DO NOT SEND YOUR KIDS HERE. read more

Our two children have attended for many summers. When he started at the age of five, our son was incredibly shy, very advanced academically but lagging socially. We'd had a tough time in pre-school, the fit wasn't great for him, and he was scrutinized for being quirky. Just before the summer started, a child therapist recommended we try Summerkids for the freedom and agency it would afford our boy. It was one of the best things we've ever done for our child -- by the end of summer we had a social, happy, thriving son. Our daughter, social from the second she emerged into the world, but more hesitant to participate in sports and the like, has also benefited enormously from her time at Summerkids. The staff and counselors pour their hearts into all that they do, they are pure joy, and the campus is exquisitely beautiful, truly idyllic. read more

My daughter went to the preschool program (aged 4) at the end of the season. Most of our issues probably were a result of the fact that we were coming in so late. We couldn't find our way to the preschool location, had difficulty finding someone who would answer simple questions, and when we did find the location, we once again were ignored, and couldn't even figure out the basic sign in procedure. Every step was a lot of effort, and it was up to me to try to integrate my daughter into the cliques that were already established in the room. In the end, she was tearful and hesitant and it set the tone for the remainder of our experience.. Pick-up was the same problem, as was communication about what was happening, what I needed to bring, whether or not I was supposed to get a t-shirt, etc... all very confusing. My daughter dreaded going every day, by the end of the day she seemed happy, but her first words to me would always be to ask if she had to go back the next day. If she was older, or a more boisterous child, or felt she had a friend there, we likely would have been fine. read more

My daughter loved every summer she spent at Summerkids! The staff is great and always very helpful (especially when traffic does not cooperate). She enjoyed all the activities including swimming and hiking. Her favorite by far was Epic! read more

My daughter went here the summer before 1st grade. She came home filthy and exhausted every day, which I assume means she was being active and having fun. The daily activities looked fun and the counselors at the door were always nice. But for whatever reason, she did not like the camp. She was always counting down until her last day. She wasn't miserable and didn't fight going, she just said she didn't like it. I was always trying to figure out why. It might just be that she is not an outdoorsy kid (she only tried hiking once or twice). She ended up choosing arts and crafts most of the time and brought home some really neat crafts. She didn't seem to make any friends either. I thought the 5 weeks of continuity would have allowed her to make more friends. She also complained that all the other kids were picked up earlier and did not stay in extended care. I suppose it's a long day for the kids to stay until 5:30. In any case, I thought I would share our experience. As a parent, I would have sent her again had she enjoyed it. For a first timer, it might be worth trying a shorter session to see if they like it first! read more