Above: LA County summer camp parks staff lead sports, crafts and much more
Today’s summer camp goes way beyond arts and crafts. SEIU 721 members teach computers, cooking, martial arts, ballet and salsa at parks across Southern California. They also work hard to make new experiences available for every kid.
Summer Camps that Work for Every Family
In LA County, many parks programs run 7AM-7PM, which makes camping available to more families.
“Most of our parents are working parents, so it’s important to have affordable programs that open early, and be able to give them new experiences,” said Penny Daniels, who supervises the day camp at Loma Alta Park in Altadena.
Youth worker Nicholas Bendy grew up nearby, and he remembers playing basketball and hiking at Loma Alta in the summers. “Kids learn about friendship, it’s not all about TV and games,” he said.
Kids Learn to Live Together
Youth Worker Leandra Golden commutes 17 miles to Altadena from her home south of downtown Los Angeles, where she grew up playing in city parks. What does she like best? “It’s how all the kids can be together no matter who they are. They’re one big little family.”
Recreation Service Leader Nora Avanessian agrees. A native of Iran, she speaks four languages and sends her own children to Crescenta Valley Community Regional Park, where she now works. “There are so many different parents here, when they come in I greet them in their own language,” she said.
“You see these kids, you see the smiles, you see why we fight for these services,” said LA County Recreation Service Manager Lila Johnson-Crenshaw. “This is why LA County works so hard to make it affordable for everybody.”
Click here to find an LA County park near you or call (310) 217-8349.