Our son is going into first grade and absolutely LOVES Valley Trails Summer Camp! He looks forward to going every morning and cannot wait to see his counselor, Gravity. The counselors have been wonderful, and it is clear that he feels happy, comfortable, and well cared for. The kids participate in so many different activities, including arts and crafts, sports, swimming, the challenge course, team building, and more. Cayden loves the giant swing, although he says the zip line is still "a little too scary." He has already decided that when he is 7, he will be brave enough to try it! For new parents wondering what to send, Cayden wears a bathing suit, rash guard, and tennis shoes, and I apply sunscreen before he leaves. I pack a towel, an extra set of clothes, and two water bottles. The camp has water available for refills, but I have found that it is easier for him to simply grab his second bottle when the first one is empty. I initially sent him with a packed lunch and snack, but he hardly ate them because, in his words, "the camp food is good." They always have fruit and what he calls "picky pasta," meaning a simple pasta option, so there always seems to be something he is willing to eat. I also drove him to camp at first, but he quickly became comfortable taking the bus and now thinks it is really cool. As a parent, I love that transportation is included. It makes camp so much more convenient and has given him another opportunity to become more independent. The camp also has an app where staff upload photos every day, which is such a fun way to see what the kids are doing. It also makes it easy to communicate with camp staff if you need to arrange an early pickup or share any other information. One of my favorite things about Valley Trails is that Cayden gets to experience a traditional, technology-free summer camp. He comes home absolutely filthy and exhausted every day, which I consider the sign of a truly great day at camp! I truly believe this will be one of his core childhood summer memories, and we are so thankful he has had this experience. read more

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Santa Clarita valley trails! my son LOVEs it here and we signed him up for even more weeks. the kids are lovely! the staff are so friendly and communicative and there are a TON of activities and it's extremely well organized. I don't understand why there are mixed reviews here, honestly, our son has had the best experience! they go to the pool everyday and the staff told us that a lot of the ground is shaded, our son comes back totally begging to go back the next day!!!! read more

My kids (incoming 3rd and 6th grade) just finished their first Valley Trails summer! They did two weeks (not consecutive) in the middle of July. It was an amazing experience for them. Everyday they got off the bus so sweaty, and dirty, and tired but FULL of stories. They told stories about the activities, their counselors, what they ate for lunch, who bought up all the root beer at the camp store, the bracelets they earned at camp, and they sang me ALL the songs they learned at camp. My kids absolutely loved it. I utilized the bus drop off and pickup (included in the camp price) and found it SO easy and comfortable to drop them off at the bus and pick them up hours later. There were at least 3 counselors on the bus (in addition to a bus driver) and they sat with friends and sang their new songs on the way to camp. I always felt safe as they double checked the kids on and off the bus. During the day the kids rotated to different activities with their small group (maybe 10-12 kids + a counselor?). They did high ropes courses, archery, team building puzzles, swim, hammocks, trampolines, karaoke, zip line, a huge hanging swing thing (like the one you pay $30pp to do at Magic Mountain), crafts, and gaga ball. Then on certain days they had something "new" - my kids had a big inflatable waterslide one week and a foam party their second week. And then there's campers choice where they get to pick what they want to do. As others mentioned there's not tons of shade, but my kids never came home sunburned or complaining about the heat. The camp communicated regularly via their app and posted photos at the end of each day. I was impressed when there was a teeny tiny minor earthquake and they immediately sent out a message to us letting us know that everyone was safe and well. Same with all the summer fire updates letting us know of their plans and the air quality. Only minor complaint was the food. There was a menu for the whole summer (pizza, burgers, quesadillas, corn dogs, nuggets, bean and cheese burritos, orange chicken) It was really hit and miss for my kids - some days they loved it and other days they hated it. There's always a "picky eater" food option of buttered noodles. And apparently they encourage the whole table to drink all the water supplied before they can get more juice. And then once they finish that, more water before they get more juice, etc. So really encouraging the kids to stay hydrated which I loved. If you're thinking about it, I'd tour the camp in the new year (I think we toured in January and made our deposit right away to take advantage of early booking discounts). The tour was so informative and got the kids (and my husband and I) excited about camp. I wanted to go to camp after that tour! Every week is themed differently (apparently some kids go all summer), so if you want to pick a popular week, be sure to book early. My kids loved Color Games and Olympic Week. But there's also a Pokemon week and some other themes. My kids will for sure go back next year. It was PERFECT for my incoming 3rd grader this year and she'll probably have another 2 or 3 years to really enjoy it. My incoming 6th grader loved it, but as he gets older I worry about them not having as many kids his age as he enters 7th and 8th grade but I'll probably get at least one more summer out of it for him. read more

They may consider hiring guides who like to work with children. It was a constant drip of- don't touch this, don't touch that. Counting the amount of beads the children used to make necklaces (we paid $18/person including adults...and they were counting their beads, 10 beads for each kid...) we felt very unwelcome, unwanted. I've never reviewed a field trip before, but absolutely would never recommend this to anyone. My kids said, this could have been fun if we had been allowed to touch anything. (Even sticks and rocks on the ground were off limits). My kids were right- it could have been fun, very cool location...but you need people to work it who make it enjoyable for the kids. read more

A fun place for kids, however due to the heat in the Santa Clarita Volley, I noticed that this camp lacked shade.. There wasn't enough schedule activities for inside when the heat was high. The other concern was the Pool. By the end of the day, it was full of debris and not cleaned throughout the day, so my campers biggest complaint was how "dirty" the pool was Its a lot of dirt rocks and not enough grass area Again it was okay however I want to find a camp that has grass, more covered shaded areas and activities that can be inside especially for the younger ones The heat up in that area was rough The staff and director was nice read more

Came here for Girl Scouts (small girls, ok?) camping and we had a blast!! Everything was pretty much thought of and provided for us. The food might not be the best, but it satisfied. If you have special dietary restrictions, like some in our group, they either brought their own foods... or drove down to the supermarket 10 minutes away and bought their own foods. There are a variety of activities available here: - swimming - rope courses - hiking - zip lining - wall climbing - gaga - archery - s'mores at the fire pit - has a small and rustic amphitheater The cabins were not near the restrooms and showers. The showers have benches you can put your stuff on. The guides were very patient and cheerful and great! I highly recommend coming here if you have group camping/retreat plans. read more

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We used Valley Trails for a program we were putting on. Cabins worked well for our group. Kitchen could use some work Some ovens are in need of repair. Freezers walk in and fridges are a good size The kitchen has separate sinks for cleaning and washing veggies. The dining hall has in even floors. The campfire area does have lights The camp has a western town a good size sports field and a pool. read more

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What is summer camp coming to? This is my first experience with a camp that is so OVERLY bureaucratic. As I raise my children to be independent individuals in the world, they are allowed to walk home from school, too and from the pool and so I hoped that they could walk home from the bus-stop after Valley Trails Camp. Little did I know that there is of-course a form for that. A form that was not sent to me until yes, my children were waiting at the bus stop and not getting released by the bus. So I was supposed to guess that there was a form for this? The Camp called me but would also not except my verbal consent to release my kids and oh, btw, I had two minutes to come and get them from the bus stop! As there are no refunds and apparently no exceptions, I will finish off the camp and NEVER be sending them to this camp again. There is no shade, it is super hot, they were tired, dirty and both came home with heat related headaches-not worth the $2000 I spent on them having a good time. Also watch out, they require a two week minimum just to milk parents even more. And guess what-no exception to that rule either! read more

This is a review of their customer service and from what I'm reading of other reviews, it sounds like this is not a one-off situation. Due to COVID-19, many parents including myself are reluctant to enroll our kids for summer camp this year. We had pre-registered during their Super Early Bird period as we knew our kids will participate in their summer camp as they have been the past two years. They have a lot of fun at this camp and my husband and I love that it's all mostly outdoors. We were notified that VT was going to proceed with camp this year with new social distancing protocols that will be put in place. My husband and I considered it and decided to not proceed with camp this summer for our kids as it was still too soon to place our kids at risk even with the protocols put in place. This included, as we were informed, only allowing 5 full days per week without the availability of select days per week for reasons that I fully understand, but wasn't going to work for us either. We then asked for a refund on our registration fee of $400 and were told they will not refund the money but will apply it towards summer 2021. I said we don't even know what the new school year is going to look like much rather summer 2021, so again I requested a full refund. We got the same response. This is very poor customer service given the pandemic that none of us were prepared for and many families are hurting financially as well. I get that this is a small business and they're hurting too, but it really does look like they're looking out only for themselves and not for their customers. I would've liked to be offered another alternative, such as returning 90% of our deposit and keep the remainder for your "processing fee" or whatever, but a refusal to refund ANY of the deposit under these unusual circumstances is not right at all. Again, I thought this was a one-off situation due to these unforeseen events, but I see other reviews here that they've refused to refund money in other situations, such as when a child injured themselves on the first day (or even before camp started!) even though the children cannot participate in the camp activities! This just tells me that VT is really only looking out for their own welfare and not considerate of the families who have put their faith in this establishment over the years. Really disappointed. read more

The owner is incredibly rude. My daughter went there for the summer and i pulled her out as quickly as i could. She struggles with heat and the owner told me that they go inside after every activity. Turns out they only go inside once. Only for lunch. My neighbor walks by the place with her son all of the time. Recently the owner came out and started yelling at them and threatening them. If you decide to go that is your choice. But I don't recommend it. read more

I honestly would not recommend coming here for a field trip, through out the trip, there was about four little activities to do. The advisors weren't so nice, or kind . I really don't know about getting down and dirty; seems like a viral eye infection is about to happen between 40 students . read more

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We attended a field trip here this morning and was very excited about it but the woman leading our group, Julia, ruined it. She was very rude and condescending with the kids. When they asked her a question, she would answer but in a very mean and annoyed way. She yelled at some parents and kids that would dare wonder off a few feet away from their parents. She made our experience a terrible one which is too bad because the actual place looks like it could be fun. It was also not very educational, Julia would say what seemed to be the minimum. She was busy being rude and making sure these parents either don't recommend this place or don't come back. Well done Julia. read more

Very disappointed with the customer service. We are new to the area and this camp was recommended by a neighbor. My 8 yo son broke his toe a couple weeks before he was supposed to start. They will not refund our prepayment. We have 4 kids which means a potential for 4 new campers. So to think they would make a business decision to keep our money ($500) and risk losing our business forever is mind boggling. Not to mention the bad review. read more

2018 was my son's 3rd year at Valley Trails. I picked this camp because of the excellent staff, well-considered program, and the high-energy activities that challenge the mind as well as the body. My son raves about the food, comes home tired and happy every day. He plans on being a counselor there someday because he loves it so much. This year's mega-hit week was the Harry Potter themed week. read more

I cannot believe I am the first to write a review. Our first couple of weeks at the camp and I could not rave enough about the experience. At first, I was skeptical being all outdoors but my children LOVE it. They begged me to send them weeks I have them signed up for something else. Next year, I will know to do it for the entire summer instead of the 4 this summer. It is a safe, traditional day camp with a fun filled day for kids. It is all inclusive. They had me at the Lunch included part when I visited in the spring as we all know what a pain it is to make daily lunches but throwing in transportation included, it is a huge bonus. When I drop off at the bus the counselors are already singing camp songs. I get misty eyed thinking about how my children are having a memorable camp experience. Everyone is professional and fun. The camp director is someone named Otter. He runs two camps and is probably the reason for its success. It is a well oiled machine and does more than it lists on the brochure. My children come home filthy, tired and begging for tomorrow to come. I cannot ask for more! read more

This is my sons third summer at Valley Trails and he still LOVES it. Transportation and lunch are provided, along with a seemingly endless list of activities every day and a different theme for each week. Counselors are great and the kids have a blast every day. read more

This past summer was a first time at VT Summer Camp for our kids (boy 10, girl 7), they had an amazing experience. They loved getting to swim every day, learning about nature, enjoyed all of it: zip line, climbing wall, archery, giant swing, high ropes, sports field games and activities, kayaking (boy), arts & crafts... Cost includes lunches and pm snack/treat, bus transportation is also available which we utilized, it worked great for us. Kids would come home happy, tired and excited for tomorrow and to see their favorite counselors! read more

If you are a working parent, this is a great place for your child during the summer. If you aren't a working parent, it's still a great place for your child. They make is super easy with an all inclusive package that includes easy pick up and drop off places and hot lunches! My child comes come home dirty, happy and exhausted. Just how it should be during summertime! read more

My kids have been going to Valley Trails Summer Camp for the last few summers! They come home tired, dirty and full of stories from their adventures that day! I love that my kids are outdoors enjoying nature and just being kids! The leaders are amazing as well!! We love Valley Trails! read more

My son loved this camp! He went this past summer (2016) and was wiped out everyday when we picked him up from all the activities that they did during the day. He had so much fun! Kids stayed very active all day long and he always had something new to tell us. Definitely will be our go to camp every year for him. There are sunscreen stations all through out the camp so kids are well protected. They have shaded areas for when its too hot out and they also have water stations, plus they do a ton of water activities since the camp is outside to help combat the heat and ensure the kids don't become overheated. read more

I am extremely disappointed in this camp. My children went on a field trip here yesterday and had a terrible time. I did not see one happy child getting off the bus. Unfortunately the weather did not cooperate and it was 100+ all day. The camp advertises zip lining, archery, pools, lakes, etc. The children only got to do one fun activity in the morning. My daughter is a vegetarian and I put that in the paperwork u see dietary concerns. She was give a salad bar for lunch and dinner. She basically ate lettuce with ranch dressing all day. They were put in a field in the afternoon to play tag (let me remind you it was extremely hot). My daughter ended up throwing up. The counselor was aware and I received no phone call saying she wasn't feeling well. The 6th graders at Rosedell Elementary school worked hard to raise funds for what they thought would be a fun filled day full of amazing activities that are not available to them on a daily basis. Instead the smashed plants to make bracelets and sang songs and got heat stroke. DO NOT send your kids to this camp!!!!!! read more

Our experience with this camp was less than satisfactory. My daughter attended for one day, was injured, and no one from the camp called to inform me. After that she did not feel comfortable and did not want to go back. I contacted the camp and they did not provide an explanation for why no one had contacted me and they did not refund my pre-paid money, despite my request that they do so. Regardless of what their "policy" is regarding refunds, when a child is injured on their first day and doesn't feel comfortable at the camp, they should refund your money! My other complaint is that they continue to send me their marketing emails despite my repeated requests that they remove me. Horrible customer service. If you are looking for a great summer camp, try Cali Camp. Great customer service and super nice people. read more

This was our first summer at Valley Trails in Santa Clarita. My sons, ages 7 and 10, had a wonderful time. Each day they came home dirty, tired, and full of stories of the things they did at camp. My eldest has special needs and requires special care and medication while at camp. A week before he went I met with the staff there to establish a care plan for him. I was impressed with their professionalism and how well the camp is run. They went above and beyond to keep me informed of how he was doing and made it possible for him to have this fun experience. My kids are looking forward to going again next summer and I will not hesitate in enrolling them. read more

We feel our experience was similar to the one described by Melanie P. For us, it was promises that were not kept and a total lack of supervision that will keep us from ever sending our child to this camp. Then, after speaking with counselors and assistants who shared our concerns about what happened, the owner dismissed us and tried to blame our child for not wanting to return. Unbelievable. read more

I fully agree with the previous review and am also surprised there are not other reviews praising this camp. I was urged by many to check this camp out for my grandkids. I did that last year signed them up and they thanked me everyday I picked them up. There was no way they weren't going this year! The activities are amazing, the counselors are great and they say the lunches are fabulous too. Thank you Valley Trails!! read more