This camp was disappointing. We went to the one day Saturday camp today and my little girl came back feeling down. She said that the teachers were nice and the activities were fine, but most of the other girls had come with friends, and they either ignored or were mean to her when she tried to be friendly to them. My daughter is very sweet and on the quiet side. She said that there were no activities or any effort made to get the kids to be inclusive or break out of their cliques. Perhaps if your kids come with friends or if you've done a great job teaching them to be bitches, they will have a great time. read more

This camp is popular and tough to get into, so set your calendar reminder in January to apply. The staff is lovely, from the administration to the bus driver, and all the counselors. Shout out to Barbara in admissions for her infinite patience!!! My daughter is having the best time this summer playing outdoors. Archery, swimming, horseback riding, and my favorite - mud play. For a few weeks this summer she gets to just be a kid!!! read more

I believe this will be our eighth summer with Tom Sawyer Camp. My son, now 11, comes home thoroughly happy and dirty. He describes his day as "FUN!" He would like to spend the entire summer at TS! Most people know of Tom Sawyer's impeccable reputation, but I'd like to say something that most may not realize. TS accepts neuro-diverse children. My son has a sensory processing disorder and was just recently diagnosed with ADD. Although he is highly functional, he is loud and intense. We were completely honest with TS and they accepted his application. TS has trained staff to understand and assist children with special needs. There have been two times in those eight years when our son had a meltdown. TS understood the situation completely and from a phycological perspective, handled both incidents perfectly. Their warm kindness, attentiveness and acceptance has saved our family in many ways. When I pick him up from camp, he is full of joy! He details the stories of the day, sings camp songs and his behavior is balanced. Being outside all day, playing in nature, using those muscles to rock climb, balance on the ropes course, run, chase, and even riding the horses are all a form of therapy. Of great importance, kids are nowhere near screens, they are able to learn how to better socialize and bond with other children and counselors alike. I can not express how grateful our family is to have TS every summer. They are not cheap, but worth every penny. TS has my sincere gratitude! read more

I didn't expect that my kids would love this camp as much as they did, as they are usually not into being outdoors all day when it's hot. But every day of camp they came home excited, happy, tired and filthy. I love that they do activities like "mud" and "fort." Also it seems to be extremely organized and careful about safety. This is the fourth summer camp we've been to in the area and by far the best. If only they had scholarships or a way for more children to be able to participate - it costs an arm and a leg! read more

TSC! And TSCTOO! Are by far THE BEST summer camps in the ENTIRE state of California! Tom Sawyer lives up to its mission statement in all ways, and is truly a great camp for campers and staff! I recommend TSC to all! At Tom Sawyer Camps, here are a few incredible activities that kids get to participate in: ride horses, explore with their imaginations, swim and earn fun badges, learn bow and arrow skills, build forts and lasting friendships, along with endless memories and smiles for miles! Oh, did I mention that professionally trained camp counselors will pick our child up and take them to camp, and then drop them off with a watermelon sized grin at the end of the day! Keep it up, TSC! You are deeply loved! read more

Simply the best summer camp ever in the San Gabriel Valley. This is the fourth years for my son. And he looks forward to it every year. Their counsellors are great! They are fun, caring and super energetic! All the games and activity are great and fun. The horse staff are professional. Swimming is slways supervised by counsellor and life guards. It ia definitely a lot more expensive than other camps that offered by local city. But the quality of the camp make it worth every dollar spent. They even pick up and drop off from your house in their special van! read more

Our daughter Arya had the best time at TSC this past summer. She was able to ride horses, learn archery, engage in water activities and arts and crafts. They took COVID precautions seriously, and all of the kids and counselors wore masks and socially distanced. After her time at home with zoom classes, Arya was overjoyed to be able to spend her summer outdoors with other kids. Sarah was very patient and supportive to my wife, who was nervous about enrolling our daughter in the camp due to COVID. She explained everything in detail, and spent the time to empathize and consider our feelings. She made sure that the staff was equipped with the skills and training to ensure the safest environment possible. My wife describes her as a gem of a person. Kate B was our daughter's counselor. She made our daughter feel welcome and at ease in a new environment. The games and activities were well structured and fun, with social distancing in mind. She was sweet and sincere. Our daughter would return and tell us she had the best day ever, and Kate was largely responsible for orchestrating her experience. Tammy was also our daughter's counselor and she would sing and play games, and helped create a wonderful experience for her. Kathy G was also very helpful in informing us about the protocols and guidelines. We wish we could give TSC more than 5*. Not only are they a camp, but they are like a working family of kind and wonderful people. read more

Went here as a kid only reason it wasn't a five star is because it was to tiring for 7 year old me but i highly recommend this camp

We've dealt with DOZENS of camps, programs, enrichment classes and other youth experiences, and Tom Sawyer and staff are by far the most organized, professional, efficient and FUN. Tom Sawyer staff and management are always on point with every aspect of our daughter's camp itinerary, right down to even the tiniest (but very important) details. This is our daughters third summer of many and she can't wait. read more

Kathy was so congenial and helpful in explaining their camp boundaries and their COVID action plan. So refreshing to experience professionalism and friendliness! read more

There's something about letting a bunch of strangers take your kid away for an entire day that just doesn't sit well with me as a mom. I have this feeling every summer when choosing a new camp and feel utterly grateful that families post their experiences on Yelp, given the steep cost and inability for us parents to observe or participate firsthand. My daughter went here when she was around 4 years old. She was the youngest in the camp and had a great time. She would come home with buttons and badges of activities she was progressing in, such as swimming, archery, and horseback riding. For enrolled families only, we could access pictures online for purchase. The pictures weren't works of art but, as a collection, we used them as conversation pieces to review what she did during the day/week. She also loved riding the camp bus every day, hanging out with the counselors and other kids. Being outdoors is important to us and we appreciate that she had exposure to a variety of activities. On the first and last day, families are welcome to camp to meet the staff and listen to camp songs, plays, etc. Oh and if your child is on the spazzy side, no worries! Tons of those kids come here too and their needs are well taken care of over a long, busy day. We live on the Westside now and hope to find something comparable over here but haven't yet, which is why I decided to write this belated review. Tom Sawyer is a must do for local families. read more

My daughter LOVES Tom Sawyer Camp! The location is great, the counselors are wonderful, positive, patient and enthusiastic. The entire staff, from the office receptionist to the councilors and on up to the directors really care about your child and providing a wonderful experience. The kids get to do so many great things. My daughter talked non-stop about riding a horse, the hikes, seeing frogs and the echo princess. This was our second year and we plan for many more. read more

I pick up my 7 year old son at the end of a camp day and he's disgustingly filthy, has wood and tree parts in his hair, has soaked and totally muddied shoes and a HUGE SMILE on his face. He sleeps early in anticipation for his next day at camp. The counselors are responsible, fun adults playing and hanging out with kids. The counselors are totally into what they do and they do it very well. Yes, pricey is what pricey gets, but this place is worth every penny! read more

Tom Sawyer Camps is a GEM - a wonderful place where children UNPLUG from their devices, take a break from the pressure of academics and have FUN! In an age where kids don't "go outside and play" and their days are filled with structured activities and sports, this camp teaches them how to be creative, take risks, and totally enjoy the outdoors. The staff are remarkable young adults who are well-trained and responsible but know how to be silly and crazy in a way that encourages kids to be kids. Most all of them grew up in camp themselves. Activities vary by age including swimming, horseback riding, building "forts," playing in the mud, traditional outdoor games, ropes course, rock-climbing, windsurfing, kayaking and more. On hot days the local fire department is known for arriving with the hoses to create cooling rain from the sky. Most importantly, kids learn how to make their own fun, not be entertained by others. Here's the best part. TSC provides door-to-door transportation! Your child will be picked up by a TSC counselor who is a very safe driver, in a TSC van with seat belts, and dropped off by the same in the afternoon. Camp activities start in the van, with songs and conversation - not the radio. Let's talk about price. Some will say that TSC is "expensive." I say it is WORTH EVERY PENNY. When you factor in the transportation, along with all of the lessons alone (swimming, horseback riding etc.) you would be hard-pressed to find a better deal. This camp is family owned and operated. This family works hard to keep the cost as reasonable as they possibly can. I attended TSC. My kids have attending pre-camp, day camp, and outpost. One child cannot wait to become a counselor herself! read more

My daughter has attended this camp for 10 years. It's the best summer opportunity for kids in California, hands down. Aside from the usual being outside, away from digital devices, running around, horses/swimming/hiking kind of stuff, what makes this camp SO SPECIAL is its emphasis on teamwork and working together. There is no bullying here, and specific strategies the very well trained counselors use to help the campers in each small group work together in various fun group activities, projects and events. It's about learning to take healthy risks with people and yourself, putting yourself out there. It's not a camp where you have to be a superstar or a certain kind of person to succeed. Everyone is friends, everyone is celebrated. This doesn't happen by accident, of course. Every counselor is not only carefully screened and selected, but extremely well trained both in safety but also group dynamics, child development, and more. It's just an incredible experience, and it's a damn shame more kids can't attend (though there is a scholarship program!!!). Quite simply, if you want the very best for your kid, something that will help them be a good person as well as have a great summer, this is the place. A+++++++ read more

My son was a camper at Tom Sawyer Camp for two years and "deposited" for a third but after engaging with the current Executive Director this year, we will not be coming back. The customer service, communication and information provided as we round the bend into this first "post Covid" summer was completely lacking. When I reached out via telephone the ED was unsympathetic to our situation, unwilling to take responsibility for communication blips and vague in her willingness to provide Covid safety protocol information. Additionally, she was rude and entered into an argument with me over the phone. I have never posted a review or expressed a formal complaint re. a business but I'm truly disappointed in the customer service at this otherwise wonderful camp. Get a new Executive Director! read more

My review for my 9-year-old son is exactly the same as Rosawan R. (below)... I was looking for "good old-fashioned" summer experience for him - outdoors, unplugged, simple but adventurous. TSC is exactly that - they hike, build forts, ride horses, swim, learn archery, throw mud balls. It's about as close as you can get to a 1950's, rural, home grown summer in modern, über-urban LA. The same goes for my 3-year-old daughter at the TSC pre-camp, except here it is much gentler where the counselors are amazingly adept at handling the special emotional and physical needs of toddlers. There's lots of hand-holding and lap-sitting when needed, but that's not for long - the toddlers quickly become fans of hiking, swimming, horse-riding, and lots of song-singing and games of chase! We love TSC. read more

My kids are in an aftercare camp at their elementary school. They have a great time every day. They learn so much about playing fair and managing conflict with other children. The counselors are terrific people. They don't just watch the kids, they interact with them, share interests with them, and play games of all kinds with them. There are crafts, card games, basketball and tag, all going on constantly all the time. My kids' only complaint is an unavoidable one. Because the counselors are young people and this kind of job isn't the kind you keep for life, staff members rotate through and they get attached to them and are sad when they leave. However, I see that as another great lesson they learn at TSC. People come and go in your life. Enjoy them while you're with them; don't take them for granted. The summer camp is very pricey, but given what they do with the children, I understand why. Maybe we'll afford it one of these years! read more

My daughters LOVE Tom Sawyer Camp. It has been magic for us! They are so excited that they rush to get ready in the morning (this isn't normally the case) and always want to be waiting outside when the van picks them up in the morning (pick-up and drop-off at home is such a treat!). It is obvious that the counselors are well trained. They are all so creative, caring and fun. They seem to LOVE what they are doing and make the kids feel so special. Both girls lead us in camp songs and pretend to be counselors when they are at home. My 3 year old comes home yelling with excitement about all of the things she's done during the day. It has exceeded all of my expectations (and they were high to begin with). We LOVE Tom Sawyer Camp. read more

My daughter started attending Tom Sawyer at 3 years old as a precamper and she loved it! Though it seems to be the most expensive, I think this is the best summer program in the area hands down! We love the focus on nature, the hiking, the team building, the forts they create, the fantasy they include plus the hiking, swimming, and horseback riding lessons. They don't go on all day field trips to places were there are tons of other camps they use nature and fill the days in enriching ways that I could not be happier have been exposed to my daughter. Kids get so much screen time that I appreciate the time they get outside playing in MUD at camp and the ice blocking too! The door to door service is a nice perk as well. read more

I went here as a kid and now my daughter is going. The camp has been around for many years. The kids swim and ride horses. They have such a wonderful culture at the camp. Very good staff that care about the kids. They keep them safe and they have fun! Kids are outdoors with no TV and cell phones. Kids get dirty and play. Older kids go sailing and rock climbing. There may be cheaper camps, but this is the best! You get what you pay for. read more

Organized, well run camp! They fill up quickly so don't miss your priority registration if you are a returning family. My two kids loved every minute of it! read more

My kids attend the after care camp at their school, Aveson. The team is led by Eric who could not be a nicer, more fun guy - and they plan lots of great activities that my two boys just love. They can stay inside and do arts or play card games, or they can be active outside and be directed in bball, pickup games or just play on the playground. I hear my kids tell me how camp went that day, rather than what happened at school! read more

Best camp I've ever attended hands down. Only sorry I had to stop after Outpost because we moved away. If you're in the area PLEASE send your child to this camp. It's the best gift you could give. read more

Great if you can afford it. This year, for 9 weeks, it costs over $4000. And this is BEFORE the aftercare costs which most parents would need as the camp gets out early. We've been going every year but the costs are just getting out of hand. read more

My family loves TSC so much that we come all the way from Phoenix so they can enjoy several weeks of summer camp! We stay with friends and the kids do awesome activities every day! My 9-year old boy gets to play in the mud, build forts in the forest, ride horses and go swimming every day! My 12-year old daughter gets to learn how to wind-surf, body surf at the beach, hike, build forts and do a high- ropes course! The staff are awesome, caring and very diligent about each child's safety. read more

This year was our first experience with TSC. My son is 9 and one of his buddies was going to attend. They didn't sign up in time and didn't get in. I was super concerned that my son wouldn't have friends and would be challenged. The camp assured me most kids don't have friends there when they start and that will change. So we did it, we dove in. Or rather, he dove in. First camp ever on his own and it was a slow start to love it, but everyday he came home with new silly songs and a joy that was infectious. He was sure it would only be this one year at the beginning of the session, and now he is wants to come back next year. He grew as a young gent- and I couldn't be happier. My only wish is that I could have seen his fort they built! The staff was super communicative and wonderful. I'm so grateful we decided to go! read more

I sent my daughter to Tom Sawyer camp over spring break in late March of 2018. We have had lots of great experience at Tom Sawyer in years past. Unfortunately, this was not the case on our last day this time, and we can no longer recommend this camp to friends. Spring break camp is designated for K-5th grade. On my daughter's last day, a Wednesday, a sixth grader (who should not have even been attending the camp), dressed up in a police uniform spent the day harassing my 8 year old. Let's pause for a second there - older kid arrives to day camp in police uniform with handcuffs and a bottle of pepper spray but no one is concerned. Amazing. Throughout the day she threatened my daughter and other children with it repeatedly if/when they didn't listen to her. My daughter had never even heard of pepper spray before this incident! My 8 year old told the counselors but they did not intervene and even more incredibly they did not take away the 6th grader's handcuffs or pepper spray. TS took the kids on a day trip and they traveled by small vans. At one of the stops, the 6th grader screamed at my daughter because she wasn't moving fast enough and the sixth grader could not get out until my daughter did. Silence from the counselor and driver. Even more troubling than my daughter's experience that day was the way the head office responded to my concerns. I called the head office less than an hour after I picked up my daughter and let them know what happened at camp that day (which was located at Aveson Charter School), they said they would speak to the counselors on site to find out what happened. The next morning, the site supervisor (Eric?) called me back. He was unconcerned. He did not apologize for my daughters experience or the lack of reaction or responsiveness of the counselors. He said the counselors had been spoken to but the kids were "just playing cops and robbers." My daughter wasn't participating in the 'play' and in the past the counselors have been much more sensitive to bullying covered as 'playing'. He did not offer a refund for the day. He basically called to let me know he had received my message. At a time when we see such troubling police behavior in real life, you would think the counselors would have just been more on top of it. It was a very disappointing experience from every angle. I had been excited for my daughters to attend TS's traditional summer program this year but I'm so so glad I had not sent in my paperwork or deposit for that yet. read more

We sent our 4 1/2 year old son to TSC this August and it was everything we hoped it would be for him. He not only learned how to swim, something he really didn't want to do and had been resisting, he is a regular fish now, I can't get him out of the water! I know it was because everyone there made him feel comfortable and safe. He has always been shy and tentative to try new and maybe scary things that he felt he didn't know how to do, now he tells me "don't worry momma, if I don't do it right I'll just try again", yup I cried. He loved the different magical stories and characters the Councelors developed thru his month there and he truly enjoyed getting up and going every day. Oh and now he wants to take full on horse back riding lessons! I can't thank the Councelors enough, talk about a collective group of individuals that know how to have a good time but also be attentive to each childs needs and abilities. And YES it is very expensive, it was something we had to plan and scrape our budget for, we asked our family members to contribute instead of sending large amounts of toys and clothes he just didn't need more of for his birthday and Christmas, and my husband thought his very financially conservative wife had gone off the deep end when I finally told him how much it was going to be, BUT he actually turned to me after picking our son up on the very first day COVERED in mud and talking a mile a minute on everything he did that day and said "I get it now." Yup I had some tears then too! read more

Highly recommend this camp! My son typically does not like camp, but Tom Sawyer was a completely different, positive experience for him (and by extension for me). Plus, every time I emailed or called with a question, I received a prompt, helpful response. read more

As the parent of a senior counsellor, I am compelled to share too. I commend Mike Horner and his daughter Sarah as stellar role models. Their provision through TSC of high standards of training and team building has provided my son a platform for growth and enrichment along with many sweet memories. He too comes home tired and wearing mud..... read more

This camp is awesome. This was my daughter's first year and she had a blast. They totally prepare the kids and the parents before hand and everything is ran great. This is a camp I would love to go to as an adult it is so fun. I also have to say how great the staff is and how helpful they are with everything. I messed up dates for my daughter's school and they worked with me on the issue. I can't say enough great things about Tom Sawyer. read more

My kids love this camp/program. They always come home with an exciting story of what they did at camp that day. I told my son to go take a shower- he smells like Hahamonga. His response to me was "doesn't it smell Gooood' . So I know he's having a good time. My daughter loves the fact that she can swim laps during her free time in the pool. The transportation pick up and drop off is also an added bonus. read more

Attended Tom Sawyer camp as a kid myself and also sent my daughters. It is a great camp, although if they are still using the Hahamongna Park area by Devil's Gate Dam next to JPL, they really should rethink this location. The wash was used as a rocket fuel dumping site before WWll and many kids in the area have contracted leukemia and cancers as adults. I grew up in the area and had many classmates die. read more