Summer Camp Warm Up

It's cold in most parts of the country. I thought I'd share a picture from Aloha Beach Camp in Los Angeles to warm you up some. (Even today, November 30, it's over 80 degrees in L.A. and a perfect day to hit the beach!

Don't enter the ocean until 3 days after it rains

I just read an article in the Orange County Register suggesting your relatives from out of town should take surfing lessons while they're here for the Thanksgiving Holiday. Just a quick reminder, DO NOT go into the ocean until at least 3 days after it rains. There's too much bacteria in the water and you can get sick!

Carlsbad Swimmer Rescued by Lifeguard

Just watched a youtube video on a lifeguard rescue in Carlsbad. Great job here by the lifeguard being proactive and not waiting until the swimmer was in real trouble. It's important to note that people often rely on boogie boards and things like that as floatation devices. They're not! In this case, if the lifeguard didn't act, the swimmer would've kept drifting further and further out to sea. Two points to take from this: 1) boogie boards and NOT floation devices, and 2) NEVER swim a beach without a public lifeguard present.

Winter Camp

Just wanted to address this real quickly since lots of parents have asked. Unfortunately, Aloha Beach Camp doesn't offer a winter camp program anymore . You might try the American Camp Association for a referral, if interested.

Test Post

Test post to see if this is importing into facebook

Surfing on the Sand

I was going through some old pictures of previous summers at camp. This one's always been one of my favorites. This camper is enjoying our "surfing on the sand" activity (which actually uses boogie boards rather than surfboards). Here's how it works.

For this activity, kids take a running start while tossing their boogie boards onto the wet sand several feet in front of themselves.

They chase after the board and hop onto it once they catch up.

Then they ride the board, standing up, toward the oncoming waves. (It's similar to skimboarding, if you're familiar with that.)

Our campers love this activity, especially at Keiki Camp, but it's great for kids of all ages.

Do cell phones, iPods and Gameboys Have a Place at Camp?

Seems like everyone, kids included, has a cell phone, iPod or other electronic device they can't live without. Some camps allow kids to bring these items to camp while others discourage them completely.

Aloha Beach Camp asks kids to leave their ipods, Gameboys, cell phones, video games and other portable electronics at home. Not only are these items easily lost, damaged or stolen, they are counterproductive to the camp experience.

Our goals at camp are to teach kids about the beach and ocean enviroment, help them enjoy new activities like surfing or boogie boarding and meet new friends.

But if children sit on the beach listing to their iPods or talking on their cell phones, they typically do so alone -- isolated from the rest of the group -- and their opportunities to learn and experience new activities are limited.

Sometimes parents insist on sending a cell phone to camp with their kids. They might feel better knowing they can reach their child immediately in any circumstance. But if you trust the camp to do its job correctly, there is certainly no reason for your child to have a phone with them. Just call or email the camp office because they can reach your child right away.

Now here's the flip side. Some camps (especially overnight camps) use technology to stay in touch with you and even provide ways you can see and communicate with your child while they're at camp. Some camps will post pictures of your child on the Internet as well as give you the opportunity to email your child while they are having fun at camp.

Moreover, lots of camps specialize in technology-based activities. Computer camps and video-making camps are quite popular these days. Check out http://www.findacamp.com for a camp like this near you.

Aloha Beach Camp embraces technology and the power of the Internet. But we would rather not allow electronic devices into the camp community...at least until your camper can boogie board while talking on their cell phone at the same time :-)

Hey College Students! Looking for a Summer Job?

Aloha Beach Camp will be hiring camp counselors for the summer 2009 camp season after the Holidays. If you love the beach, working with kids and making money, this could be a great job for you! Visit the camp staff page of our Web site for more information

Learn to Surf as Young as 5

A propective camp parent called today because she couldn't find a surf camp for her youngest child, a 5-year-old girl. She wanted to make sure Aloha beach Camp accepts kid that young.

I assured her we take kids as young as 4, and moreover, even though you can learn to surf at any age, starting young might be the best way to go!

Our conversation reminded me of a picture (left) I wanted to share with you. This is one of our Keiki Camp directors, Scott Kelly, teaching Sophie, one of our 5-year-old campers how to surf.

Kids Can Learn to Surf at Summer Camp in Los Angeles

One of the best thing about writing a summer camp blog is you post videos about camp in addition to just words all the time! Here is Aloha Beach Camp's surf camp director Cory Bluemling discussing Aloha Beach Camp's Billabong surf camp program at Zuma Beach in Malibu

Summer Camp Open House Dates Set

I hope you'll attend one of our summer camp open houses this year. The dates are March 15, April 19 and May 17, all Sundays, from 1 to 3 pm. We're also having an online open house (date to be determined) where you can get familiar with Aloha Beach Camp right from your own computer! Plus, if you'd like us to come to you, we can do an in-home open house for you and your friends. Hope to see you soon!

Aloha Beach Camp Picture of the Day

Check out this cool picture of counselor Laura with two High Action Kids at Aloha Beach Camp Summer Camp.

For this activity, counselors drive the jet ski while kids enjoy the ride.

Jet skiing takes place at Castaic Lake.

As in all Aloha Beach Camp boating activities, campers wear properly fitting, coastguard approved lifevest to ensure maximum safety.

New summer camp video posted on youtube

We just made a new video showing all the cool activites you can do at Aloha Beach Camp! It's available on our youtube page along with many other videos for your enjoyment. Hope you like it!

Even our competitors should read this blog!

Aloha Beach Camp is fairly well-known in Los Angeles and the summer camp community in general. So I assume some of my competitors and friends might be reading this blog. I think that's great, and hope it's valuable for you. The more information we can share, the better, because sharing information and a little friendly competition only benefits the kids who attend our camps in the end. And that's what's most important!

Also, if you haven't had the chance yet, I hope you'll visit my "How to Market Your Summer Camp" blog at http://www.campmarketingnews.com.

It's full of free tips, strategies and insights on how to advertise and promote your camp. Let me know what you think!

Summer Camp Barter - Want to do a Trade with Us?

In these tough economic times, we're all looking for ways to save money. And summer camp's not cheap, you know that. So if you own your own business and/or have something to trade, let us know. We might be interested in bartering with you!

For example, maybe you run a local newspaper or magazine. In that case, you could send your child to Aloha Beach Camp and we could advertising in your publication in exchange.

Perhaps you own a restaurant and your child wants to learn to surf. In that case we'd be interested in trading restaurant scrip for your son or daughter come to surf camp.

Interested? Let us know what you've got and let's see what we can do!

Boogie Boarding at Paradise Cove

Folks have been asking for more pictures of Aloha Beach Camp's activities. No problem! We'll start posting them more often. Here's camper Max S, an Aloha Beach Camp Keiki Camper, boogie boarding at Paradise Cove in Malibu.

Can you believe this guy's only 6? Wow!

Aloha Beach Camp on Facebook

Just wanted you to know about Aloha Beach Camp's page on Facebook. Visit us there to get camp regular updates, watch videos, become a fan and more. I also have a personal Facebook page, so come on over and say hi! We can even sign up to be friends...It's fun!

Here's a link to Aloha Beach Camp's Facebook page

Here's a link to my personal Facebook page.

Is your child's camp in compliance with new laws?

If you send your child to camp in California, here's something you should know.

After decades and decades (and decades!) of outdated laws and regulations governing organized camps, new laws and regulations are now in effect. You don't want to send your child to a summer camp that's not in compliance, but the fact is, too many camp operators don't even know about the new regulations they are now subject to!

As a volunteer for the American Camp Association in various capacities -- including serving on its legislative committee -- I have been trained to teach other camp directors about the new laws and make sure they are in compliance.

If you have any questions about the new laws and regulations pertaining to organized camps, please let me know.

And you might also take a few minutes to let your child's camp director know about these changes -- they'll thank you for it!

Skirball Center Museum and Summer Camp

I'm just about to head off for a field trip with my daughter's 6th grade school class. I'm going as a parent volunteer. The field trip location is to the Skirball Center in Los Angeles, and we're going to see the Noah's Ark exhibit. The other cool thing is my dad is a docent there, so he'll be the one showing the class around!

I've been there once before -- it's educational and amazing. I highly recommend going, and make sure you bring your kids because it's fantastic experience to share together.

I think they even have a day camp each summer. Check out http://www.skirball.org for more info.

Free Rashguard From Aloha Beach Camp

Every camper who signs up for Aloha Beach Camp gets a free rash guard and t-shirt.

Sometimes kids and parents want to know what they look like.

We have different styles and colors, so the exact rash guards pictured here may or may not be available when you come to camp.

But they'll be very similar and just as cool, that's for sure!

And if you want a rash guard that looks exactly like those you see here, let us know. We might have a few extra lying around just for you! :-)

New Video Available Soon

We'll have a new Aloha Beach Camp video posted here soon. I'll be out of town on business next week, but by the week of November 17 we'll have some cool stuff to show you!

Gearing up for camp

It's only November and feels like summer just ended, but we're already gearing up for the 2009 summer season here at Aloha Beach Camp. We're redoing our website, making new videos for you to watch, adding lots of new activities and planning all kinds of fun stuff. Keep track of this blog for continued news, information and updates!