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Kate Wilsonvia Google

8 months ago

This is my son’s first summer at Camp Adventurewood. All I can say is how much he loves going each morning. He’s busy all day with activities he loves, archery, elephant dodge ball, mining, water balloon fights the list goes on. The councilors are really great they are so fun and enthusiastic to see him each morning when I drop him off. My son comes home telling us how they make all the kids laugh! The make believe aspect is really amazing and he is fully loving the story that unfolds each day! He even comes home after camp and will continue games with the Scorpion, the villain of the saga and other characters that have been introduced. We found ourselves looking for a day camp very last minute in the spring. I couldn’t be happier with choosing Camp Adventurewood for our son. Michael the director is great at taking calls and communicating. I can not recommend Camp Adventurewood more for any kiddo that loves being outdoors and going on adventures, they will have the best time!

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Janet Cvia Google

8 months ago

My son attended Adventurewood camp for the first time this week. For the most part he enjoyed himself -- particularly the characters they introduce throughout the week. However, we decided to pull him out for next week because of a very disturbing situation. He shared that a counselor had pushed him with both hands on his shoulders during a capture the flag activity. He had dropped his flag and was putting it back on when a counselor (he didn't know her name) pushed him back hard enough to make him lose his balance and fall. She also barked "you need to reset!" She didn't ask if he was ok or help him up. You’d think if this was an accidental push and he fell over she would say something like "sorry bud are you ok? Here let me help you up" but nope, not a word. A friend witnessed the whole incident. I reached out to Michael, the owner of the camp. He said he wanted to identify this counselor and get her side of the story. Understandable. My son felt uncomfortable going back the next day but I reassured him it would be handled and offered to drop him off in the morning and stick around to talk to Michael and the counselor. I wanted him to feel safe. Michael identified her (Carson) and said he wanted to talk to her first. She denied everything. So we asked both kids to come over and recount what happened. They both did and reiterated she pushed him. She denied even touching him. So Michael suggests at this point that perhaps it was an accident and my son responds by saying "how do you push someone like that by accident?!" No response. So I ask her, are you saying these kids are lying? She again said she didn't touch him and at this point we send the kids away. I'm incensed because not only does she gaslight both of them to their face but tells this bold faced lie to her boss in front of the campers and me. I tell her I believe them and I think she's the one lying. At this point she gives me this dirty look - angry, irritated and almost rolls her eyes at me. I turn to Michael and say "and now she's giving ME an attitude?!" Unbelievable. In a follow up call, he tells me how good of a person she is and that this is shocking for him to hear but that she doesn't seem like someone who would do something like this...that she's getting her teacher credentials and he knows her really well. I am getting the vibe he doesn’t actually believe any of this and he sounds very skeptical. I respond by telling him that it's almost always surprising when people exhibit bad behavior and that even teachers do bad things...that doesn't make her any more credible in my eyes. He acknowledged that. In fact, it's worse because I would be really concerned to have someone like that teaching a kid. Lack of empathy, accountability, and integrity. He made all kinds of excuses for her. Exhausting. Apparently she got a "warning" and will sit out of the flag activity (umm, ok...). He seems like a smart guy and wish him nothing but success in the future and I was earnestly trying to offer advice for how to handle a situation like this better but it fell on deaf ears. I really hope that some kind of learning comes out of this for both of them. Oh and to top it off, my son's friend told her mom that Carson was giving her looks several times throughout the day today and when she asked what kind she said "side eye" looks. NOT COOL. My son also said she was kind of mean to him but wondering why they were even in close proximity when Michael said they’d absolutely be separated and would not see each other? Validates we both made the right choice by pulling them both out. He offered a refund but I'm still pissed about the situation.

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Charles LUCIMAvia Google

8 months ago

I’ve been to Camp Adventurewood for 2 years and from my experience it was not great. First off, the activities are repetitive and are boring. I was in the older group (Pioneers, Trailblazers) and the counselors really just assume you’re ok with digging holes while you’re being recorded you. For what? Your little story? The heat of California does not help at all, the bathrooms are poor and dirty and the places Treasure Hunt take a very long time to get to. They only stay there for a very little time or a very long time and it’s just not fun overall. I don’t live in Pasadena, but the junior counselor program assumes you do. It assumes you live there and have nothing better to do so you can come over and boss around children for 6 weeks. Junior Counselors are still minors, their parents take them to vacations and if someone wants to do it they have to give that all up. In the end, I don’t think it fits well for older kids from ages of 10-13.

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Claire Hoppevia Google

10 months ago

My son attended his first season at Camp Adventurewood in 2023 - it was his first experience at a summer camp and he was a little nervous and shy but all his counselors made him feel so welcome and comfortable and after the first day he was hooked! He loved the variety of activities and made so many new friends. He came home with fun stories each day. I loved that they offered a variety of options from 2 days/week to 5 days. We returned last summer and an unexpected and sudden medical event threw our summer for a loop. They were beyond kind and accommodating. Michael, the owner, personally made sure we were taken care of at a very scary time and was just incredibly kind and communicative. I can't thank him and his staff enough for the support. I would recommend this camp for any family. Its like a classic, old-school summer day camp experience!

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Renita Galevia Google

almost 3 years ago

My 9 year old son attended Camp Adventurewood for the first time last summer (2022) and had such a fantastic time that he made sure we registered him again for this Summer (2023) as soon as we were able to. He has not stopped talking about how he can't wait for camp! His favorite activities included archery, the treasure hunt and pelting the counselors with water balloons LOL. As a mom, it felt so satisfying to see my son come home good-tired, really happy and needing an epic bath from all of the outdoor play each day. One of my favorite things about Camp Adventurewood is that it is entirely outdoors and there are zero screens in terms of camp activities. The camp is run by a group of truly committed and deeply caring people as well. The bonus of this experience was that my son made a really good friend in the process. An all-around success I would say. I'm thrilled that he's so excited to go back this Summer.