Tips from a Camp Pro: Pick One Camp and Go All In

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 families piece their child's summer together like a puzzle: a week at one camp, two weeks at another, back to the first. Some kids dive into any new environment headfirst. But most need time to settle in — even at a camp they've attended for years.

Why switching camps mid-summer is harder on kids than it looks

Every camp has its own rhythm, rituals, and culture. Bouncing between them can feel disorienting, and it tends to happen at exactly the wrong moment: right when a camper is finally getting into the groove, their session ends.

Campers who return for multiple sessions at the same camp build deeper relationships with staff and peers, and their confidence and comfort grow the longer they stay. That's why Camp Wildfolk's programming is intentionally varied — campers signed up for multiple sessions can switch electives week to week, so returning doesn't mean repeating the same activities.

The bottom line

If you've found a camp your child loves, sign up for multiple sessions — ideally consecutive ones — rather than splitting the summer across several camps. They'll feel more connected, more confident, and more excited to come back.

A bonus for busy families

Staying with one camp also simplifies logistics: one drop-off routine, one pick-up routine, one pack list. (True story: nannies have shown up at Wildfolk pick-up looking for a camper who was actually signed up at the camp down the street that week — an easy mix-up to avoid by keeping schedules consistent.)

Curious what a full summer or break session at Camp Wildfolk looks like? See Wildfolk 101 for an overview of the program, or check camp rates and multi-session discounts.