Childcare: May 2008 Archives

We ran a story yesterday about summer camps nationwide seeing enrollment drop. I called around to local camps across the region and they say campers are still coming, either because camp is one the last last expenses parents cut, or because families have cancelled big, pricey vacations are are doing camp instead. Here's more:

Despite job worries and rising expenses, parents in the San Fernando Valley are scraping together the money to send their kids to camp - even if it means scrapping the family vacation.

"When the economy is recessed, there are many parents who cancel a big family trip that they would take when times are good," says Saul Rowen, owner of Cali-Camp, a 53-year-old day camp located on 20 acres in Topanga Canyon.

He's expecting about 500 children this summer, up from 420 a year ago.

Eric Naftulin, whose Aloha Beach Camp at Paradise Cove gives kids an introduction to marine life for about $100 a day, also is expecting an increase in enrollment.

"People cut back on this or that in an economy like this, but they still want to give their kids child care and a day-camp experience," he said.

Tumbleweed Day Camp saw a spike in the number of parents who made $500 deposits in December to take advanced of an early-registration discount, said Herb Toplan, assistant executive director.

But he said parents also cut back on the length of time their kids will be attending the camp, in the Santa Monica mountains above Brentwood.

"Last summer they may have done nine weeks; this year they may do four."

At $690 a week, that translates into big savings.