Camp Awesome

My 8-​year old niece was visiting for about two weeks and so I needed a day camp to take care of her while I was at work. Looking through Unilocal,I found Camp Awesome.
My niece loved this place. I was worried about her making friends on her first day since she was registered in the middle of summer but that wasn’t a problem at all. She also received a camp awesome shirt but it was obviously used and full of stains from the previous camper. I can understand the need to reuse shirts but I feel like there should be more effort in cleaning them.
Overall I would recommend this summer camp for parents that want their children to have fun out on the beach.

This camp totally lives up to its name. Completely awesome. My 6 year old did it for the first time this summer and LOVED it. If you are looking for a «learning» camp where your child learns a skill or has a lot of intellectual stimulation this isn’t a good choice. But if you are looking for a camp that’s just good old fashioned summer fun– playing in the water, building sandcastles, burying counselors in the sand, play, play, and more play this camp is wonderful. As a parent I especially loved the by-​the-​day pricing and flexible scheduling. That’s really hard to find. For my child 5 straight days at the beach would be too much, but she loved having one day at the beach every week. At the beginning of summer I signed her up for several days but then it was great to be able to add a day when something came up. The location is great because they play at the beach, but Del Rey Lagoon Park is just across the street so they play at the playground and on the grass too. My only negative feedback is my daughter got sunburned a few times. Though they re-​apply sunblock a couple times a day the children mostly apply their own and she definitely could have used some help. I wish the counselors were more proactive helping with sunblock– especially for the smaller children. Overall, though, we loved it and will definitely be going back next summer.

My 9-​year-​old was a first-​timer at Camp Awesome this summer. I did an exhaustive web search for a local, reasonably priced camp and read review after review of everything I could find. About Awesome, I thought, it better live up to its name … In the end, I signed her up for two weeks with Awesome, and I’m so glad I did! My daughter LOVED IT!
From day 1, she could not wait to return to camp the following day, for the entire two weeks she was there. She made several new friends and enjoyed the daily games organized by the counselors. The program did a good job at keeping the kids engaged and having a good time all day, every day. They had ample water time/​activities, beach activities, arts & crafts, as well as time at the park across the street. One of the highlights was going to the corner store every day to buy snacks. Yes, there was consumption of sugar, but, hey, it’s summer. Let the kids live a little!
The director was highly professional and seems to know what he’s doing in terms of running a successful camp and hiring a great staff. I felt that my daughter was safe and well-​cared for at this camp. All in all, it was a score for mom, score for Camp Awesome and fun, fun, fun for my little one! As a matter of fact, after my daughter’s two-​week stint was up, she asked to go back to visit her friends and the counselors at Awesome. Aawwww! She will definitely return next year. Awesome lives up to its name. :)

You get what you pay for. The registration fee is low compared to other camps and now I know why. This «camp» is simply a baby/​kidsitting service at the beach. There are no lessons or goals, but to have fun. Each afternoon, the kids go to a store (?) for snacks. My daughter told me about the candy or popsicle or lollipop she purchased each day. My daughter also described how one of the campers told her a funny story about how he pooped a baby out. What?! This is so inappropriate. Lastly, my daughter came home with her face sunburnt. I was so glad when the week was over.
A parent friend told me just last week that she arrived at 5 and waited for over 20 minutes to pick her daughter up because they hadn’t returned from the store (to buy sugar or salt-​laden snacks). Another parent friend told me he pulled his daughter out even before they began, on the first day, because not one counselor greeted them and when he asked his daughter to join in on the Rainbow Loom activity, the counselor just smirked, and was not inviting at all.
A neon green t-​shirt is included with tuition and I think it’s a good way to easily spot campers. Also, communication with Jessica, the secretary was always easy and very responsive.
Overall, I believe this is a no-​frills camp option and my daughter seemed to have a good time. However, I wasn’t impressed, so I don’t think I’ll bring her back next year.

My daughter went the whole summer last year 2014 and she enjoyed it very much. The staff is great at entertaining, etc. Always making an effort to have the child engaged and not just sitting around being «watched.» She’s looking forward to the next session.

This is a great beach camp. My kids love it and keep wanting to go back. Drop off is much easier than other beach camps. The counselors are great with kids and make sure they sunscreen and hydrate. We first met the counselors when they worked at the afterschool program in Manhattan Beach. We miss them since they left and look forward to seeing them during the summer.

My son attended Camp Awesome for the first time this summer. After the first day I asked him how it was. His response? AWESOME! The counselors are so great and they come up with really fun games and activities.
Then we found out they were going to start offering birthday parties. Well my son wasted no time in deciding that was what he wanted. We just had his birthday party this last weekend, and I have to say it was the easiest party I’ve ever had for any of my children! Zach and James came ready to play! They had 20 kids involved in really creative games (all of which my son had played over the summer, and which he requested for his party) for 2 hours! All week I have had parents of his friends tell me how much their children loved Camp Awesome.
I can’t recommend Camp Awesome enough!

My girls have been to more expensive beach/​surf camps and i was worried they would not like Camp Awesome and would ask to change camps. It turned out both my daughters LOVED Camp Awesome! They had a blast and want to go back next year for the whole year. I am excited, since the cost makes it possible to go all summer long. Other camps, we can go only 1 week in the summer.
Thanks Camp Awesome for making the girls summer an Awesome one!
andrea schainen

We put our kids in for the first time this summer after all of their other activities ended. I was skeptical at first but they both came home each day loving it. They are dying to go back ! So we are trying to make that happen since we still have a few more weeks of summer left ! It’s affordable and they love it what more can you ask for!!!

My niece visits every summer and does day camp every year. She’s done Gymnastics camps, theater camps, art camps and swimming camps and I think she liked Camp Awesome better than any of the others, because it was just FUN! No pressure to perform. The counselors are great. They are all very positive and welcoming and were truly Awesome! It was also extremely reasonable $$$ About half the price of some of the camps she’s attended. I was a little worried about being out in the sun all day, but it was not an issue, she’s fair skinned and we covered her in sunblock in the morning and then they remind the campers to reapply and help if needed. It’s also pretty overcast right on the water most days. I would highly recommend :)

My son is one of the original campers at Camp Awesome. We discovered this gem of a camp in its early days, and it has never disappointed! My son begs to go back every year and if we’d let him, he’d be there every day of the summer! He never tires of it. He’s had many of his buddies join him there too.
Camp counselors and all the volunteers are THE BEST! They make it fun every day and my son loves the flexibility. James, Zack, Jessica and all the great counselors are always thinking of fun things to do to keep it fun. The daily trips to the little market in Playa Del Rey are a real treat, just like ‘the good ‘olé days.‘
The name of the camp is very fitting… it really is AWESOME! Someone else mentioned how reasonable and affordable it is… all true.

This will be our 3^rd year attending Camp Awesome! What a fun, flexible, and excellent program. My daughter enjoys every activity and comes home sandy, tired, smiling, and full of stories — exactly what you want from an awesome beach camp. James & Zack are the best camp leaders, always positive and enthusiastic, always thinking up new games and activities. Also I’m never worried because I know she is safe and under constant supervision. The staff is amazing, too. We can’t wait to come back.

OMG this camp is amazing. The name fits them great:) this camp is Awesome. The staff and volunteers are great. I will recommend this camp to all my friends. Love it:) I give it :)

Can not recommend Camp Awesome highly enough!!!
We have know James & Zack for years and the have created a camp that is fun, safe and has the kids exhausted when they get home (always a good thing)!
The camp is in a great location, on the beach, in a cove off the thoroughfare in Playa del Rey. There is a playground across from the campsite and they always have something special and exciting planned on Friday’s (bounce houses, pizza parties, etc!)
Last but not least, they are ridiculously affordable. In this day and age of spending a minimum of $ 250/​week, Camp Awesome has coverage from 8 – 6 for under $ 150.00’s!!!
Please check out their website — you will be glad you did!

My son loved this camp last year and can not wait to go back again this summer. Very friendly and safe environment with a very enthusiastic staff that has fun activities planned all day long. It does not get better than this camp!!!