Summer Kids Get A Ticket To Ride

There are summer camps, and there’s the summer camp. Tom Sawyer Camp is the summer camp.

With other camps, you drop off your kids, they do fun activities, you pick them up after, then listen to them regale you with their adventures.

Tom Sawyer has all those, and more. But what sets Tom Sawyer Camp apart from the others is not only its fun activities that are uniquely Tom Sawyer, but the fact that the camp pick the kids up and brings them home after.

It is much more convenient for the parents for sure, but for the kids? Half the fun is getting on the van.

Satisfied parents Cindy and Bill Wenzlau say, “What I say to everybody who is trying to decide on their summer plans – simplify your life and send your kids to Tom Sawyer. Because they pick up your kids. Half the fun is getting on the van. They love it. It’s like a whole different group, it’s their van group, and their van parties and the fun things that they do on the van. And then they get to camp and they have their special group at camp and then the kids get dropped off. And yes, they have to take their shoes and socks off and get hosed down before they come in but it’s the easiest way to get the most out of your summer.”

Steve Wagner, another Tom Sawyer parent adds, “”The fact that they get picked up and delivered at the front door is an immense positive thing for us parents. But more importantly, it’s a positive part of the camp for the kids. I think they enjoy the van ride almost as much, or as much as arriving at the camp itself or on their way home.”

The van is not just a means to transport the kids, but also a vehicle to forge lasting friendships.

Kirsten, a mother of 12-year old campers says her kids “certainly talk a lot about their activities but I think, also as important, the van rides and the van parties and the friendships that they made.”

Even if parents are willing to bring their kids to school, the van ride is much more inviting to the kids, as Sarah, a mother of an 8-year old camper, attests: “My schedule permitted me to drive her if she wanted and I said, ‘Can I drive you to camp, that’d be fine if you want me.” (Daughter replies:) ‘Oh no, I gotta be on the bus Mom that’s where all my friends are.'”

With all the fun and friends in the world, parents are naturally concerned first and foremost, of the safety of their child. Tom Sawyer prides itself with its trained staff and safety regulations.

Susan McDonell, Tom Sawyer parent, says, “I think the scariest part of being a parent is safety issues with our children and that was probably one of the most important things. Putting our little one out on the bus at three years old was something I wouldn’t thought I’d feel comfortable doing.”

But soon after, McDonell’s fears were allayed after understanding the interview process the camp makes. She says, “they do a group interview, they do a lot of reference checking, they do an extensive amount of training especially when it comes to the bus issue.”

McDonell adds, “You really want to know that those staff members have good driving records and have experienced driving those vans. So I have to say that Tom Sawyer really enforces the safety and as a parent I can feel good going on my day after my child has gotten on the bus and know that I’m not gonna see him for several hours. I don’t worry.”

Tom Sawyer Camp is located at Hahamongna Watershed Park in Arroyo Seco, with offices at 707 West Woodbury Rd, #F Altadena. To find out more about the camp and how you can have your kids picked up and brought home from camp, visit http://www.tomsawyercamps.com or cal (626)794-1156.