Family FAQ

Welcome Families!

PAW’s Family Welcome Center is your one stop resource guide to ensuring your child’s daily experience at camp is as awesome as possible!

This FAQ PAGE covers a full range of the most important information parents need to know and is grouped by topic, allowing you to easily find just what you are looking for.

Here, you will find your most important camp information including camp hours, drop off and pick-up times, sign in and sign out procedures, camp attire, food-packing guidance, allergies protocol, show day and costume info, camp fun facts, and so much more!

ALL campers must be signed in each day.  PAW’s top priority is the safety and well-being of our campers, and the peace of mind of our parents. In order to ensure this, we have created a comprehensive sign-in and sign-out system that is implemented at each of our camp locations.

  • Sign In~ Every morning we require that our campers be signed into camp by the person that is dropping them off. The individual that is dropping off will sign their own name next to every child that they are delivering to the camp site. This includes carpool parents, relatives, etc.

Drop-off and supervised playtime is available from 8:45am until 9:00am.
The camp day begins at 9:00am. We kindly ask that all campers be at camp and ready to go by 8:55am so that we can make sure to fit as much fun and learning into the day as possible, and so that nobody misses our daily morning warm-ups and activities!  NO child may be dropped off at any PAW Camp Location prior to our doors opening at 8:00am.

Sunrise Students (Early drop of from 8:00am to 8:45am)
We are happy to offer our Sunrise Student option, which is available from 8:00am-8:45am for any families that need the extra supervised camp time in the morning. Sunrise Students may arrive at camp as early as 8:00am each morning. You can either add an entire session as a Sunrise Student before the first day of camp at a discounted rate of $10 per day, or you can pay as you go and only join Sunrise Students on certain days at our daily rate of $15.

Full 1 Week Camp – $50
Full 2 Week Camp – $100
Pay As You Go Daily Rate – $15

2 Starting Each Camp Day
3 Starting Each Camp Day
  • Children’s Personal Belongings ~ At the time of sign-in, it is important for the person dropping off to do one final double check that every child they deliver to camp has their lunch box, as well as any special clothing, kits or gear they need for that day’s activities. This final check will provide parents with the knowledge that something may be missing and allow time for those items to be delivered to camp asap.

3:00pm is when our regular camp day ends with a standard pick-up period until 3:10pm.  To help us create the best learning outcome for each camp and complete each day’s curriculum, we ask that parents allow their child to stay at camp throughout the full day.

ALL campers must be signed out each day.  PAW’s top priority is the safety and well-being of our campers and the peace of mind of our parents. In order to ensure this, we have created a comprehensive sign-in and sign-out system that is implemented at each of our camp locations.

  • Sign Out ~ Every afternoon we require that our campers be signed out of camp by the person that is removing them from camp. The individual that is picking up will sign their own name next to every child that they are removing from the camp site. This includes carpool parents, relatives, etc.
  • AUTHORIZATION NOTES ~ For any special circumstances in which a child is being dropped off or picked up by someone other than a parent/guardian, or is walking to or from camp, we do require additional documentation and authorization. Please see the Authorization Notes in the section below!

After 3:10pm
We at PAW understand that sometimes unforeseen circumstances present themselves and can cause inconveniences for our parents when it comes time for pick-up. Below we have broken down our pick-up information for each of our locations after 3:10pm!

  • At Sites WITHOUT Extended Day
  • (Northridge, Rancho Palos Verdes, Redondo Beach)
  • We have built into our day a courtesy pick-up window with supervised play from 3:00pm to 3:10pm at no extra charge! Our camp sites close at 3:20pm.  If your child has not been signed out of camp after 3:20pm, a $1 per minute supervision fee will apply, which is paid directly to the teacher that remains at camp supervising your child. 
  • At Sites WITH Extended Day we offer supervised play from 3:10pm – 5:00pm
  • (El Segundo, Pasadena, Studio City, Torrance, West LA)
  • If your child has not been signed out by 3:15pm, they will automatically join extended day for a daily drop in rate of $25 (this is reduced to only $20 per day when added for the full session), and they will be more than welcome to enjoy supervised play until 5:00pm. Our camps close at 5:00pm.  After 5:00pm, a $1 per minute supervision fee will apply, which is paid directly to the teacher that remains at camp to supervise your child.
5 Ending Each Camp Day

EXTENDED PLAY (From 3:10pm – 5:00pm)

At camp sites where we are able to provide Extended Day, it is open to families that need the extra supervised play at camp, or for any campers that would like to remain at camp to spend time with their new PAW Pals! Campers attending Extended Day may remain at camp with teachers until 5:00pm at the latest.  You can either add an entire session of Extended Day before the first day of camp at a discounted rate of $20 per day, or you can pay as you go and only join Extended Day on certain days at our daily rate of $25.

Full 1 Week Camp – $100
Full 2 Week Camp – $200
Pay As You Go Daily Rate – $25

Authorization Notes

Our goal is to make sure that the logistics and routines of the camp day can run as smoothly as possible for our campers, our parents, and our teachers. When it comes to camp arrival and departure, we do this by maintaining up-to-date forms both in the office and on-site regarding pick-up permissions and walking permissions so that you can be confident that your child is safe.

Pick-Up Authorizations ~ For any child being picked up from camp by someone other than a parent/guardian:

  1. Download the Pick-Up Authorization form.
  2. Fill in your child’s information.
  3. List all potential family members, friends, carpool parents, and babysitters that have your authorization to pick-up your child from camp. This can be updated as necessary.
  4. Sign and date the bottom of the form.
Send the form back to performingartsla@aol.com before camp begins.

Walk/Bike Home Authorizations ~ For any child that has your permission to walk to and/or home from camp:
(Without this note on file, we will not permit any child to leave camp without an adult present.  This note will also be required if they are being removed from camp by a sibling who is a minor.  Also, PAWs “Release Authorization” does specifically require your child to leave campus once they sign-out to walk or bike home. Due to liability and safety protocols, once children are signed out and released from PAW supervision, parents may not select locations on the facility grounds to have their children wait unattended for pick-up.)

  1. Download the Walking Note form.
  2. Fill in your child’s information.
  3. Select the days that your child has permission to walk to and/or home from camp.
  4. Sign and date the bottom of the form.
Send the form back to performingartsla@aol.com before camp begins!

The camp day includes a lot of fun movement and physical activity, so it is important that campers dress in comfortable, camp-appropriate clothing that is easy enough to move around in that they can fully participate in all camp activities safely, easily, and happily.

FOR GIRLS ~
Girls can wear a t-shirt with pants, leggings, capris, or shorts. Girls are more than welcome to wear dresses or skirts, but they must have shorts or leggings underneath. All shoes should be either sneakers or velcro sandals. For safety, flip-flops and high heels are not allowed at camp.

FOR BOYS ~
Boys can wear a t-shirt with pants or shorts. All shoes should be either sneakers or velcro sandals. For safety, flip-flops are not allowed at camp.

PAW CAMP T-SHIRT ~
A parent and camper favorite, our Official PAW T-Shirt is a quality souvenir of a summer spent at PAW, making new friends, and lots of fun memories! T-Shirts can be purchased before camp during registration at a discounted rate of $20, or they can be purchased during camp for $25.  We have T-Shirts available in both child sizes and adult sizes!

COSTUMES ~
All special performance clothing or costumes are provided by the parents of our campers.  In order to maintain our long-standing tradition of having no extra production charges for our parents, we have developed a DIY costume suggestion list that will guide you in using clothing items that your child may already have.  We encourage parents to be creative in putting together a costume that represents the character(s) that your child will be portraying in the show. The costume suggestion list can be found in the back of your child’s script, which will be sent home on the third day of camp. Use your imagination, have fun, and please do not feel obligated to buy anything extravagant!

FRIDAY SPIRIT DAY ~
We have special Fun Friday Spirit Day events with unique themes and exciting activities to celebrate the end of another amazing week at PAW! Campers are encouraged to dress up according to the theme. Our Friday Spirit Day schedule is available on each camp page of our website, and will also be available from your on-site Camp Director during your camp session!

We are so excited to have you in our PAW Family and we want you and your children to be as prepared as possible for each camp day! The better prepared they are, the better their experience will be! Please reference this helpful list of items to have packed each day as you arrive at camp!

FOOD & DRINK:
Please be sure to pack a mid-morning snack for your child to enjoy. In addition to their mid-morning snack, each child needs complete and filling lunch. And of course, they will also need a beverage, as well as a bottle of water.

An example of a typical packed snack & lunch box for a child could look like: granola bar & juice box for snack, then a sandwich with apple slices, carrot sticks, crackers/chips, and fruit snacks for lunch, with another juice box or bottle of water.

Please keep in mind that our facilities do NOT provide any refrigeration for children’s lunches so make sure the items you pack for your child do not require refrigeration, or you may pack their food in an insulated lunch box with an ice pack for any food items that need to be kept cold, such as yogurt or string cheese.

Helpful Tip: We do have a very active day and often see kids eating their entire lunch at snack time and then having no food left for lunch time. To avoid this, please be mindful to pack a sufficient amount of food for both mealtimes.

SUNSCREEN
Although the majority of the camp day will be held indoors, it is up to you to feel free to apply sunscreen to your child before they arrive at camp or send a bottle of sunscreen so they can apply it to themselves later in the day. This is not a requirement, but something to consider if sunscreen is already a part of your child’s daily routine.

EPI-PENS, MEDICATION, ETC.
Nothing is more important than protecting your child’s health and well-being.  To ensure PAW’s ability to fully participate in protecting each child’s welfare at camp, we do require parents disclose and provide us with a guidance note regarding all allergies, medications, disabilities or special needs their child may have via email at the time of enrollment.  In some circumstances PAW is able to, with written permission, help administer simple medications.  On the first day of your session, get there early (by 8:30am) and introduce yourself and your child to the on-site camp director and review medications.  On any medications we have agreed to assist with, make sure to clearly label your child’s name as well as instructions on their use. All medications will be given to the on-site director for safekeeping.  Please see the section below on how to disclose any allergies, medical conditions or special needs your child may have. 

SCRIPTS & COMPOSITION BOOKS
For our campers attending Musical Theater Camp please be sure to bring your scripts to camp each day. For our campers attending Actor’s Sizzle Reel, Rock The Mic, Story Slam, Debate, or LOL Stand Up Comedy please remember to bring the composition book that PAW provides you with to camp each day.

GUITARS
For our campers attending Guitar Camp, please remember, you must bring your acoustic guitar with you each day of camp! While we do in some cases have campers who additionally bring electric guitars to camp with their own mini-amps, we cannot guarantee that our campers will have access to electricity at all times during the camp day.

CAMERAS
For our campers attending Photography Camp, please remember to bring your camera and 8GB flash drive (or larger) to camp each day! Please be sure to charge your camera battery the night before. As a precaution, you may also want to have an extra camera battery and/or battery charger with you at camp.

MAKEUP
CAMPERS ATTENDING STAGE FX MAKEUP MUST PROVIDE THEIR OWN BASE MAKEUP:
We have created a curriculum that is awesome and can be accomplished with things you may already have at home or can get easily. Your child will need:
Powder or cream foundation, blush, several shades of powder or cream eye shadows, eyeliner, lip stick, lip liner, eyebrow pencil, and mascara (all make-up colors are based on your complexion and/or colors you enjoy).

TUITION INCLUDES ALL SPECIAL FX MAKEUP:
PAW Staff will supply and utilize Ben Nye Special Effects Makeup at camp for advanced workshops including: Theatrical, Aging, Scars, Zombies, Día de Los Muertos, and Special FX. This will incorporate liquid latex, specialty color wheels, stage blood, as well as gentle makeup remover, blending sponges, professional brushes, table top mirrors, etc. This workshop is not recommended for children with skin allergies and/or skin conditions.

PLENTY OF REST
Just like a school day, a day at camp is jam packed with fun learning and socializing opportunities, which requires your child to be well hydrated, well fed, and well rested to sustain the energy needed for a great camp day! Please make sure your child has had a sufficient amount of sleep and a well-balanced breakfast to best prepare them for all of the fun and exciting learning opportunities they will encounter at camp!

 

GREAT ATTITUDE
Lastly, please be sure to bring your best attitude with you to camp each day! In order to help your child get excited about camp, it could be helpful to start talking to them about it a week before it starts, and again the night before, especially if this is their first time attending a summer camp. Talking about it and helping them get pumped up can help give children that extra boost of confidence! For more helpful tips on preparing your child for camp, check out our Happy Camper Section of this page. We look forward to making this camp season our best one yet! ☺

 

MAGIC KITS
On the first day of camp, children attending Magic will be provided with a special personal kit.  Please remember to bring your kit back to camp each day. We want you to enjoy practicing with them at home, but you will need them with you to participate in the camp curriculum.

At PAW, our goal is to meet the needs of our campers with allergies, medical needs, and special needs, while also ensuring that the needs of our entire camp community are being met. We strive to ensure that the safety, well-being, education, and camp experience of all of our campers is top-notch at all times!

PAW is proud to be an Arts program that warmly welcomes and serves campers of diverse needs. In order to safely support your child, PAW does require parents to disclose and provide us with a guidance note regarding any allergies, medical needs, and/or special needs that your child may have at the time of registration and we will need your assistance on how to best serve them while at camp.  

In order to provide campers with a quality Arts Education, PAW instructors have extensive specialized training in their arts discipline and field of expertise. However, they do not have medical training, nor do they have specialized training to work with children with disabilities and special needs, so they will be unable to support certain medications at camp.

It is important to contact the PAW office for more information prior to enrollment to discuss your child’s specific needs. Our team is happy to walk you through the types of signed letters or releases we require which will function as our guide to safely serve your child while they are at camp with us.  In some cases, the letters will need to come from both the parent and the child’s doctor.  In some cases PAW may require parents to provide an adult aide to accompany their child to camp as well as cover the cost of the criminal background check PAW will need to run on this adult.  Receipt of the necessary letters, releases and criminal background check can take up to 14 days, therefore it is important to enroll your child no later than three weeks ahead of the session you wish to participate in, or earlier to ensure an open spot in camp.

PAW’s Protocols and Safety Guidelines Regarding COVID-19

Here at PAW, we are proud to say that we place the highest priority on the safety and wellbeing of our campers, their families, our teaching faculty, as well as on the administrators of the facilities who so graciously allow us the privilege of using their space.

Some of the COVID safety measures, protocols, and policies we implement are prescribed by the CDC for public safety, some are required through our camp location rental agreements and some, we here at PAW, have determined to be in the best interest of the camp group as a whole. They are as follows:

• MASK WEARING ~ PAW maintains an “optional” masking policy for all campers, teachers, and family members. We welcome all mask choices, and would like you to encourage your child to follow the masking approach that feels most appropriate for them.  Please Note: Depending on CDC guidelines, facility requirements, as well as on our determination of what is in the best interest of our camp as a whole, we here at PAW reserve the right to move to a “mandated” masking policy at any point throughout the summer.

• VACCINATED TEACHERS ~ PAW is proud to announce we only accommodate a population of vaccinated teachers.

• SANITATION ~ PAW will ensure children have the opportunities for frequent hand washing as well as hand sanitizing using Purell Gel Hand Sanitizer.

• CHILDREN WHO DISPLAY SYMPTOMS DURING A CAMP SESSION ~ Children who display any potential symptoms of COVID while on campus (runny nose, fever, cough, headache, fatigue, etc.) must be picked up from camp immediately and may only return to their session once they are symptom free and with proof of a fully negative Rapid COVID test (which can be brought to camp by the parent and performed together by the parent & camp director).  We understand it takes approximately 7 to days to produce a fully negative COVID test after the first day of a positive test result.  We are unable to accommodate refunds/credits for missed days of camp due to illness or due to a positive COVID test. When possible, we will accommodate a switch to another camp session with proof of a positive COVID test…providing the session is within the same summer/year the tuition was originally paid for and if the session you wish to switch into has available space.

• COVID TESTING ~ If a child is exposed to COVID, parents are required to provide proof of a negative rapid COVID test before their child may return/attend camp.

• IF A CHILD TESTS POSITIVE FOR COVID PRIOR TO THEIR CAMP SESSION ~ PAW will make best efforts to allow for a switch of camp sessions (providing there is space in the session you would like to switch into). Camp tuition must be used within the same year for which it was paid.

• CAMP RECITALS ~ PAW camp performances are free and only attended by the immediate family members of our campers.  As of Summer 2023. . . PAW has moved to an “optional” masking policy for audience members. Depending on the size of the camp group and size of our seating area, we reserve the right to only admit between 4 and 6 family members per camp recital. Please Note: Depending on CDC guidelines, facility requirements, as well as on our own determination for public safety, we here at PAW reserve the right to require a “mandated” masking policy for our audience members when entering the facility and throughout the entirety of the camp presentation.

• SUBJECT TO CHANGE ~ Our protocols may be subject to change without advanced notice here based on COVID case numbers or updated CDC guidelines prior to/while camp is in session.  These updates may include the removal of some restrictions or the addition of others.

At PAW, safety is always at the forefront of our minds. And we know how important it is for parents/guardians to feel confident that their children are in a safe space. For that reason we have procedures in place to ensure that the lines of communication are open and efficient. This enables information about our campers to be passed accurately and confidentially, without removing teaching staff from the supervision of the children, ensuring safety at our camp sites. As a parent/guardian, you can have comfort in knowing that these consistent lines of communication from our office to our camp locations are part of our camp culture.

Of course, parents/guardians who wish to relay an important message to their children can call our PAW office directly. In addition to our regular outgoing phone calls from the PAW office to our camp sites, our on-site staff of directors and teachers are required to call in to the PAW office multiple times a day to keep the lines of communication flowing smoothly. This is the best way to be sure that any important information about each camper is directly relayed to the appropriate staff member, and any notable event that needs to be reported to a parent will be communicated efficiently without removing teaching staff from the supervision of the children. The more we can keep our teachers in the classroom, engaging and supervising our campers, the better we can serve you and your child.

We encourage parents/guardians to speak with the on-site camp director regarding casting, costuming, or ways to encourage their child who may have some shyness or separation anxiety. In these cases, please arrive at camp early, before the regular drop off period, to ensure time with the on-site director. Also, if you have previously disclosed to the PAW office that your child will be taking any medications or has any special needs, please show up early on the first day of the camp session to introduce yourself and your child to the on-site director.

For all other questions regarding camp, or if you have a question during the regular camp hours for any one of our on-site staff members, please feel free to call the PAW office. We will gladly hear your questions and address them with our on-site directors immediately as necessary. Of course, once we have gotten the information you are requesting we will be sure to return a call to you in a timely manner.

PAW CAMPS ARE A “CELL FREE ZONE FOR OUR CAMPERS.

We do this to help our kids stay present & engaged in our daily activities and connected to their camp experience. Our campers who have cell phones for emergencies are required to keep them zipped up in their backpacks and not taken out while at the camp facility.  (PAW does not encourage children to bring cell phones to camp and does not assume responsibility for a cell phone that is lost or broken.) For this reason, we encourage all of our PAW moms, dads and guardians to become familiar with our communication procedures.

26 Parent PAW Communications

There may be times when we need to contact you, the parent/guardian. Please be mindful that when your child is in our care to answer your phone if you receive a call from the PAW office. You can go ahead and save our office number in your cell phones and address books, as any and all communication from PAW will be coming to you from this number (310) 827-8827. Some examples of times we may need to contact you while your child is at camp are: if your child has left their lunch box at home and you need to bring food to camp, if your child feels ill, or your child has not been picked up from camp.

All of these steps in the Parent to PAW to Camper Communication procedure have proven to ensure the best outcome for transmitting important information from home to camp and vice versa. Our goal is to keep communication clear, smooth and efficient, so that PAW campers can have their best summer ever!

27 Parent PAW Communications
As educators, all of our camp curriculum has been designed to a standard that is accessible to school age of children of varying developmental stages.
Here Are The Age Spans For Each PAW Camp Activity Option:
(Children who turn the minimum age by August 31st, are eligible for the camp of their choice.)

MUSICAL THEATER ~ is open to children ages 6-14
 
ACTOR’S SIZZLE REELS ~ is open to children ages 9-14

DEBATE ~ is open to children ages 9-14 

GUITAR ~
is open to children ages 8-14
 
LOL STAND-UP COMEDY ~ is open to children ages 9-14

PHOTOGRAPHY ~ is open to children ages 8-14 

STAGE FX MAKEUP ~ is open to children ages 9-14
 
STORY SLAM ~ is open to children ages 9-14

TOP POP CHOIR ~ is open to children ages 8-14

* JR COUNSELOR PROGRAM ~ For outstanding teens ages 15-16
(Approved Jr. Counselors must be 15 at the time of their camp session
in order to be outside of the Musical Theater camp peer group.)

Here is what you and your child can expect during a typical day at summer camp:

First, when campers arrive in the morning we start off as one camp family for a daily warm up and social circle.  Next we split into groups based on the specialty the campers are enrolled in…including; Musical Theater, Guitar, Debate, Stage FX Makeup, Photography, LOL Stand-Up Comedy, Story Slam, Rock The Mic, Top Pop Choir, and Actor’s Sizzle Reels. Each of these specialty subjects enjoy their own unique schedule, which includes several comprehensive workshops throughout the day. It’s in these workshops, learning as a group with their own specialized camp instructor, that our campers will explore and learn the foundations of the Arts Discipline they came to camp for.

PAW campers will also have many opportunities throughout the day to enjoy time together as a full camp, no matter the specialty they have signed up for.  These include scheduled snack, lunch and play periods, allowing PAW campers to interact and play with siblings or friends of their choosing.

We also have exciting activities for the full camp which include group games, photo sessions, Friday Spirit Day events, and so much more!  

One question we are frequently asked by parents of siblings, or parents of children with friends at camp, is:

“Will my child get to see his/her sibling or friend during the camp day?”
The answer is of course, yes!

As educators who have experience with children of various ages and interests, it is important to us that we are providing our campers with the most developmentally appropriate curriculum and activities possible!  In order to achieve this there will be sections of the day when we may group the campers according to their age and/or individual aptitudes or activities.

Even if your child is in a different age group or specialty camp than their friends or siblings, we have designed a camp day that provides many opportunities for our campers to come back together as a group each day to share what they have learned and enjoy free time with each other! 

On a special final note…our MUSICAL THEATER campers will delve into a rotation of morning workshops including Voice Training, Acting Technique classes and Choreography/Dance.

In these morning workshops, the campers participate together in age-appropriate peer groups…which facilitates the best learning outcomes.

The techniques they learn in the morning workshops are then applied in the afternoon rehearsal process when the musical theater campers work as a FULL CAST to bring the production together.

It’s a full day, with lots of art and lots of play!

The diverse opportunities and possibilities that we provide our campers sets PAW apart from other Arts summer camps!

Many campers think of PAW as a special summer camp universe that unites old friends, new friends, and teachers with different interests and experiences across our eight locations to achieve one goal: to have a great summer with the perfect PAW schedule!

Parents are able to meet their planning needs, scheduling camp around summer school and family vacations by participating in a variety our 1 & 2 Week Sessions at a single location, or even mixing and matching sessions and activities that are available at our nearby locations.

If you have multiple children with completely different interests, but would LOVE a single drop-off in the morning and a single pick-up in the afternoon, we have lots of options for you to mix and match a summer that makes everyone happy, whether they love being on stage, being behind the scenes, creating visual art, or even writing and being creative!

We encourage kids & parents to work together while picking out their summer itinerary.  Our website was designed to help parents identify their child’s interests from our camp activity lineup. Together you can check out the many videos, pictures, and descriptions that paint a full picture of what campers do on a day-to-day basis. When your child chooses their favorite PAW Camp Theme, they’ll be that much more committed to having a good time!

While you’re in the beginning stages of planning your child’s summer, check in with them about their interests. Now is the time for kids to figure out what they enjoy, what excites them, and what they want to grow their skills in! There’s no limit to how many activities your child can do!

If you are trying to piece together the perfect summer for your child, check out our Schedules At-A-Glance page to see what is available our locations nearest to you.

PAW also encourages parents to take advantage of our unique discounts in order to maximize your child’s summer while also receiving the most savings possible. Whether you are a returning family, a new family, have multiple children attending camp, or are interested in multiple sessions of camp, we’ve got savings for you!  Check out our discounts on our Tuition-At-A-Glance page. 

As a final touch on planning your child’s summer camp experience with us, we also have our family favorite PAW Perks available…including; TheaterGrams, VIP Seating, Raffles, and so much more!

• SWITCHING SESSIONS ~ We here at PAW are mindful of the changing needs of our families, so we allow parents to switch sessions all the way up until June 1st each year.  All you need to do is send an email to us at performingartsla@aol.com and include your full name, your child’s full name, the camp location, and list the activity you are currently enrolled in and the name & dates of the activity you would like to switch into. Please also include if you wish to keep/add/remove Sunrise Early Drop Off or Extended Day.  In some cases (especially due to illness), if space is available, we will make our best attempt to accommodate the switching of sessions even after camp has begun.  Of course, all tuition must be utilized within the same summer for which it was paid. 

• REFUNDS ~ If your family needs or wishes to cancel your summer camp session(s) with us, you are able to receive a cancellation refund up until May 15th each year.  Prior to the deadline, parents need only send us an email to cancel any or all of their summer itinerary. Your cancellation email needs to be sent to performingartsla@aol.com and must include your full name, your child’s full name, the camp location, and the name of the activity you would like to cancel. There are no refunds after May 15th,  and all tuition must be utilized within the same summer for which it was paid. Cancellation of camp sessions has a $95 non-refundable fee to cover admin and credit card charging rates.

SHOW DAY INFO:

On the last day of every Musical Theater camp session, a culminating performance will be held for our campers to share all that they have learned with their friends and families! The show will include the Musical Theater production, as well as excerpts and special moments from each of the Specialty Camps that are in that session, including…Stand Up Comedy, Guitar, Top Pop Choir, Poetry and the rest! Our Photography campers will even enjoy hosting a special art gallery of their printed works.

Children who attend a 1 week camp session that does not end on one of our Musical Theater show days, will have the opportunity to present a showcase of what they have learned during our Spirit Friday closing event. During the last 30 minutes of camp, our Stand Up Comics, Spoken Word Poets, Guitarists, Top Pop Choir or Magicians will get to perform for their fellow campers and parents.  Even our Photography campers will get the chance to display their finished art work in a gallery style setting during this time.

On Show Days all campers need to arrive at camp in their costumes or special clothing, ready for a morning dress rehearsal, and they will remain in costume through the final curtain call.

The doors open by 1:30pm and the show begins promptly at 2:00pm. Our camp performances are always free and attended by our campers’ friends and family!

Since we do not sell tickets with assigned seats for our final performances, our audience seating is primarily first come first served.

However, we do have 3 wonderful options to choose how you would like to acquire great seats for the show:

  1. You can arrive at the venue early on the day of the show in order to get a spot in line when the doors open and have your choice of all available seating!
  2. You may enter our “GOLDEN SEATS RAFFLE” to win the two best seats in the house! Tickets are just $5 each and can be purchased from the Camp Director. The Golden Seats Winner will be announced minutes before the kids take the stage! All proceeds from this raffle benefit our Summer Camp Scholarship Campaign.
  3. With a donation to our Summer Camp Scholarship Campaign of $45 for 2 VIP SEATS or $60 for 4 VIP SEATS you will guarantee that you have seats reserved with a personalized commemorative silver certificate in the first few rows! These seats are limited.  All proceeds from this benefit our Summer Camp Scholarship Campaign. Visit our GoFundMe site to reserve your seats today!
PHOTOS & VIDEO:             

We encourage parents to bring a camera to the show to take videos of photos their children!  PAW does not sell or require parents to purchase these items from us.

Please note that all cameras must be battery operated and tripods cannot be placed in aisles or be raised above your seated position as a courtesy to other family members.

When attending the camp recital with small children who are siblings of our campers, for their safety, please keep them seated with you throughout the show.

CASTING AT PAW:             

We pride ourselves in making our campers’ experiences in theater as positive and uplifting as possible. It is for this reason that we do not ask any camper to audition in order to attend camp or to receive a part in the show. Instead, for the first two days of camp, our teachers will watch the campers participate in their workshops and activities as they learn each child’s strengths and comfort levels. Then, on the 3rd day of camp, every child is assigned a role that they will excel in while continuing to develop their individual skills. We believe that this “child friendly” approach is the best way to bolster our campers’ confidence, which is our goal as an Arts Education program for children.

COSTUMES:

All special performance clothing or costumes are provided by the parents of our campers.  In order to maintain our long-standing tradition of having no extra production charges for our parents, we have developed a DIY costume suggestion list that will guide you in using clothing items that your child may already have.  We encourage parents to be creative in putting together a costume that represents the character(s) that your child will be portraying in the show. The costume suggestion list can be found in the back of your child’s script, which will be sent home on the third day of camp. Use your imagination, have fun, and please do not feel obligated to buy anything extravagant!

From the page to the stage…your big day is here!

WISHING EVERYONE A HAPPY JUNE 19th & JULY 4 th  ☺

 

JUNE 19th: In order to meet the needs of parents who require child-care on June 19th, while still honoring the Juneteenth holiday…we are excited to announce that we have 4 camp locations that will be open on June 19th.
Camp on that day, is available if you are registered for the following locations: WEST LA, RANCHO PALOS VERDES, TORRANCE and STUDIO CITY.

JULY 4th: All eight camp locations are closed.


In the event that camp is closed for a holiday, the tuition for that session has been adjusted on our enrollment form to reflect the closure as follows:
We reduced the tuition by a ratio equal to one day of camp.
This also includes tuition for Sunrise Students and Extended Play
for parents utilizing these services.

For our full summer camp schedule, check out our Schedules At-A-Glance page!

At PAW, our goal is to ensure that every child is a
“Happy Camper”!

We created this guide to help you and your child maximize your PAW experience, understand how to select your perfect activity options, create the best mindset, as well as guiding you through helping your child if they may be shy or deal with separation anxiety.

~ Helpful Hints Preparing Your Child For Summer Camp ~

Have a shy child?: Starting from the moment your child enters our camp space, our team of teachers will start games and help our campers meet, get to know each other & make new friends.

Another great tool for parents. . . connect with the parents of your kid’s friends to get an idea of what they are planning. It might even give you the chance to coordinate your schedules so your kids can go to sessions of camp together. Kids get even more psyched up for camp when they already know they will be going to camp with a friend!  That is especially true for a child who is on the shy side! 

Create a Positive Mindset: As camp approaches, get your child in a positive mindset!  Re-watch the videos from the website and check out the photos that originally got your child excited about their summer camp selections. 

Come to Camp With Good Energy & Rest: The same way it is important on a school night. . . make sure they get plenty of sleep the night before every camp day and a complete breakfast so that they have lots of energy to have as much fun as they possibly can!

On the First Day: Arrive early, so you can take your time signing your child in, introducing them to the teachers and helping show your child the layout of the camp.  By taking the time to help your child familiarize themselves with the camp environment, you help put them at ease.

Hang Out: Stay with your child until he or she finds another child to play with.  You can also be proactive and introduce your child to another family and encourage the kids to play a game together. By taking the extra time with your child on the first day, your child will sense you are not in a rush to leave and therefore feel more confident.

Share Pick Up Information With Your Child:  Before arriving at camp discuss who will be picking them up and when. For younger children especially, this approach will help keep your departure from becoming a stressful event. 

Connect With the Staff: For parents who have children that are prone to crying when you leave, before departing the camp site, ask a staff member or older, experienced camper to play a game with your child.  By having your child engaged in an activity, you take their mind off the stress of being separated from you.

Stay Positive: Dropping a child off at camp can cause anxious moments for parents, too.  Keep the moment of departure very positive.  Trust your judgment and know when it is time to leave.  Some children don’t stop crying until a parent has gone.  Over the years we have had great success by encouraging parents of these children to leave the room, but stay just out of sight until we give the signal that all is well.  In most cases this takes less than five minutes.  While it is true no one knows a child better than their parent, a child will often behave differently with a teacher than with their mom or dad.  For many children, their sense of identity and independence kicks in only once their parent leaves.

Each day you drop off your child, tell them you love them and wish them a wonderful day at camp!

On a final note, while enrolling your child allow them to explore our website with you by their side. Our website was designed to be used as a help tool for parents and their children to aid in the camp theme selection process. Together you can check out the many videos, pictures, and descriptions that paint a full picture of what campers do on a day-to-day basis. When your child chooses their favorite PAW Camp Theme, they’ll be that much more committed to having a good time!

While you’re in the beginning stages of planning your child’s summer, check in with them about their interests.  There’s no limit to how many activities your child can do! Summer is the best time for kids to figure out what they enjoy, what excites them, and what they want to grow their skills in!

 

One of the key ingredients to the success of PAW’s AWARD-WINNING Summer Camps are our teachers!

Your children’s safety and enjoyment of the camp experience is our primary concern.  PAW’s teaching staff are screened and vetted extensively before being placed to work with your children.

Our teachers are professionals working in their respective fields, have or are working toward their Bachelors or Masters degrees, and have prior experience working with children.  Additionally, our teachers are also required to submit to and clear a criminal background check. To ensure every child has a chance to receive individualized attention, our teacher to student ratio is 1 adult for every 10 to 12 children. 

Our teachers come from a diverse array of backgrounds and disciplines, but the one thing they have in common is…fun!  Along with their high level of training and proficiency in their respective Arts Disciplines, to be hired here at PAW they must also possess the “gift” of being able to impart curriculum in an engaging, kind, and entertaining manner.

Get in Touch

📬 MAILING ADDRESS: 
904 Silver Spur Rd., #402
Rolling Hills Estates CA 90274
📞 PHONE:
💌 EMAIL:
performingartsla@aol.com
🕖 OFFICE HOURS:
9am-5pm Mon-Fri
Call Now Button