Part of Cassie Young's "Tips from a Camp Pro" series — insider advice from Camp Wildfolk's Founder + Executive Director, drawn from 15+ years working in LA day camps. Why independently-owned small camps bring more connection Before I founded Camp Wildfolk, I spent 15 years working in just about every kind of day camp the LA area has to offer — big and small, chain and independent. That experience is exactly why I built Wildfolk to be small and independently owned, and it's th

Tips from a Camp Pro is an ongoing series from Camp Wildfolk founder and Executive Director Cassie Young — known at camp as "Goldie Fox." Cassie has worked in Los Angeles day camps for 25 years and holds an MSW from UCLA specializing in children and families. Should my child attend one camp or several different camps each summer? One camp, for multiple sessions, is almost always the better choice for your child's experience — even if variety sounds appealing on paper. Many fa

Tips from a Camp Pro is an ongoing series from Camp Wildfolk founder and Executive Director Cassie Young — known at camp as "Goldie Fox." Cassie has worked in Los Angeles day camps for 25 years and holds an MSW from UCLA specializing in children and families. She is also an ACA-certified Camp Director. What should I ask a camp about staff background checks and safety before signing up? Choosing a camp comes down to trust, confidence, and a bit of gut feeling. Here's how to bu

When Is Winter Break Camp? Camp Wildfolk's Winter Break Camp runs across three weeks this year: December 21–24, 2026 (no camp Friday, 12/25), December 28–31, 2026 (no camp Friday, 1/1/27), and January 4–8, 2027. Families can register for one week or all three. Where Does It Take Place? Winter Break Camp is held at Wildfolk East Valley, hosted at Adat Ari El, 12020 Burbank Blvd., Valley Village, CA 91607. What Programs Are Offered? Young Folks- our Pre-K–Kindergarten program W

When Is Thanksgiving Break Camp? Camp Wildfolk's Fall Mini-Camp runs November 23–25, 2026 (Monday through Wednesday of Thanksgiving week) for campers ages 4 to 15 (Pre-K through 9th grade). Where Does It Take Place? Fall Mini-Camp is held at Wildfolk East Valley, hosted at Adat Ari El, 12020 Burbank Blvd., Valley Village, CA 91607. What Will My Camper Do All Day? Campers choose from a handful of themed programs built around Camp Wildfolk's project-based approach: Clay Makers

Giving children space to fall, fail, and learn on their own. One of the most important things we can give our children is permission to...