Spring break will soon be here! Are you ready?

Many of our local summer camps have Spring Break programs which are not only a great way to keep kids active and well supervised during the week long break but also a way for you to try out a program that you may be considering for the summer.

There are a few special considerations when choosing a Spring Break Camp. Obviously the weather can be more of a factor in April than it is in the summer. Ask about rainy day plans when you talk to the camp staff. Is there indoor space and will the campers be engaged in alternative activities or will they sit and watch a movie if the weather doesn't cooperate? Who will the counselors be for that week? Most summer camps hire college students who are not always available during Spring Break. Make sure the camp isn't relying on local, untrained staff to replicate what their full time trained summer staff offers. Ideally you would want to hear that a camp has some local returning summer staff able to work that week and if new staff members are being brought in for the first time, they have at least a day of structured training and will be closely supervised.

You may need to work a little to create a full week of camp programs but with a little creative scheduling kids can enjoy a variety of activities. Some programs are only scheduled for part of the week (usually 2 or 3 days) while others are scheduled for the entire week but only for half days. Another consideration is whether you will need transportation or additional childcare hours to accommodate your schedule.

It's worth searching through this newspaper and local websites to find Spring Break Camps. Here are few that you might consider:

WEST Performing Arts will have daily camp programs April 5th-9th. Each day will have a different theme so you can do one day or all five. Campers will enjoy theatre games, art projects, and creative play. Cost is $60 per day with a 50% sibling discount making this a great option if you have multiple kids. (831) 425 9378.

Kennolyn Camps will offer day camp from Tuesday, April 6th to Thursday, April 8th. Transportation from Santa Cruz and Soquel is included. Activities include crafts, archery, hiking, tennis, games, and more. Cost is $200 for 3 days with a $50 credit toward summer camp for new Kennolyn families. (831) 479-6714.

Pleasant Valley Horse Camp of Aptos has five day and three-day options over Spring Break where campers combine equestrian activities with arts and crafts. Cost is $300 for the full week, and $200 for Monday, Wednesday, Friday option. (831) 763-2733.

Santa Cruz County and the City of Santa Cruz have Spring Break programs which can be found on their websites. If you commute over the hill, you might consider one of the many programs offered by Los Gatos Recreation Department. Soccer Camp, Archery and Fencing Camp, and Karate/Tae Kwon Do Camp are available. You'll enjoy the company of your kids as you commute to work.

Camp is a tradition and there's no reason to wait for summer to enjoy a great camp program. Let camp put a little Spring in your step.

Websites of camps featured in this article.
West Performing Arts www.westperformingarts.com
Kennolyn Camp www.kennolyn.com
Pleasant Valley Horse Camp www.pleasantvalleykidsclub.com
Los Gatos Recreation www.lgsrecreation.org


Andrew Townsend is the Director of Kennolyn Camps in Soquel (www.kennolyn.com) and the immediate Past President of the American Camp Association, Northern California. He is a frequent speaker to groups of parents and camp directors. If you have questions about summer camp, send them to Andrew at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it . Questions of general interest may be answered in upcoming articles.

Spring Camps
By Andrew Townsend