Tips from a Camp Pro: Why Independently-Owned Small Camps Bring More Connection

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 the biggest thing I'd encourage any camp parent to think about when comparing options.

What's different about a "chain" camp

Large chain camps often run 60+ locations across the country, with a headquarters based somewhere far from any one of them. That structure has its perks — consistency, resources — but it also tends to mean a standardized curriculum that can feel stale, and it's easy to lose the spirit and whimsy that makes a summer camp feel like summer camp rather than just supervised activities.

Think of it like the difference between a chain coffee shop and your favorite independently-owned one down the street. Both will get you a coffee. Only one of them knows your order, remembers your name, and feels like it was actually made for your neighborhood.

What independent ownership means for your family

At a small, independently-owned camp, the person running things is usually right there — at drop-off, at pick-up, actually getting to know the families. That's one of my favorite parts of running Wildfolk: I get to connect with our camp families season after season, not just hand off a franchise playbook and step back.

I have literally watched our campers grow up from season to season for 10 years now. The impact a camp has on a kid's childhood memories is huge, and that's not something I take lightly. When you choose a small, independent camp, you're not just picking a schedule of activities — you're choosing the people who'll help shape how your kid remembers their summers.

Want to see what that looks like in practice? Learn more about the Wildfolk way.