Summer Camp FAQ - Monarch Camps

Current or former counselors refer most of our new adult counsleors. Most of our counseling staff are college students working towards a degree and/or studying to become a teacher. We have an intense selection process and a mandatory two & a half day training session that allow us to choose and train the most highly qualified candidates. We look for responsible counselors who fit our active profile requirements. Most counselors have also attended our yearly 6-7 day training trip to Sequoia & Yosemite national parks. All employees are required to complete an online background check and reference checks. In addition, they must show proof of a negative TB (tuberculosis test) test in the past  year in order to be employed by us.

Group sizes will vary depending upon the nature of activities and the age of the campers. Our overall adult staff to camper ratio is never less than one adult to 8 children, but the exact ratio depends upon how many campers are in camp each specific day. Individual groups may be as small as 4 to 6 campers for the 5 and 6 year old groups or as large as 12 or more for the 11 and 12 year-old groups. We average 8-10 campers for each group and each group is assigned a counselor, who is a high school graduate, and a volunteer junior counselor, who is in high school, for supervision.

Our overall adult staff to camper ratio is never less than 1 adult to 8 children, but the exact ratio depends upon how many campers are in camp each specific day. Individual groups may be as small as 4 – 6 for 5 & 6 year olds or as large as 12 or more for 11 & 12 year olds. We average 8 – 10 campers for each group and each group is assigned a counselor (18+) and junior counselor (14-17) is assigned to a group as extra supervision. Group sizes will vary depending upon the nature of activities and age of the campers.

In Classic Day Camp, campers are grouped by gender and the grade that they are going into for the fall.

Sports and specialty camps are mixed, but may be divided within the group based on skills and experience.

At Monarch Camps we do everything we can to keep the same counselor with the group for the entire summer, but sometimes it’s beyond our control. A counselor my change for various reasons, such as changes in enrollment or employee scheduling conflicts

A juice box is provided everyday at lunch time, but NOT a lunch.

Please provide a separate snack and a separate lunch. The campers lunches are stored in our refrigerator. You may purchase lunch through at the time you register.

On Thursdays we do provide a Hebrew National hot dog, bag of chips, and juice/water/soda.

We strongly believe that all kids should be water safe and feel comfortable in the water. All campers registered for the Classic Day Camp are required to participate in swim lessons. During swim lessons all of our counselors are in the water with the children and actively teaching them different levels of swim skills. If you do not agree with our policy then please consider enrolling your child in one of our specially camps (these do not include swim lessons)  or consider another camp for your child.

During recreational swimming each counselor rotates on a 20 minute shift as lookouts to assist the LAVC lifeguards with camper supervision. When not on lookout duty, our counselors are in the water swimming playing with campers and supervising. Our pool programs and lessons are coordinated by our pool director who is Red Cross certified as a Water Safety Instructor (WSI).

Classic Day, eXcursions, Theater Arts, Nature, Glee, Dance, and All Sports camps go on every Wednesday field trip.

Aquatics, Basketball, Gymnastics, Soccer, and Tennis camps do not go on any Wednesday field trip EXCEPT for the beach trips.

Monarch eXcursions campers are the only ones who go on the Tuesday field trips.

Nature Camp and Fine Art Camp each have 2 special field trips in which we use the Monarch Camps After School vans

We have contracted with Brooks Transportation Bus Company since 2010. Not all of their buses have seat belts. Safety belts on a school bus can cause more danger when trying to evacuate during an emergency.

Our staff is not permitted to administer any medication (prescription or over the counter) to campers. Campers must carry and administer their own medication. We are NOT responsible for the administration or storage of any medication.

Each child is responsible for taking his or her medicine at the proper time. Our staff may TRY to remind campers that they need to take their medicine as a courtesy, but we cannot be responsible for ensuring that campers take their medicine at the proper time. Campers that have allergies or asthma are responsible for carrying and using asthma inhalers and epipens. If your child uses an epipen or asthma inhaler then we expect that you have spoken to the child about proper usage. Also, please make sure that your child is aware that no one should touch their epipen or asthma inhaler and that they keep it on their person at all times.

Many staff members are certified in CPR and First Aid. We also have first aid kits that are carried by our management staff. In addition, the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department maintains a station on our campus that is staffed 24 hours per day 7 days per week. The Los Angeles Fire Department also has a station directly across the street on Burbank.

The camp uses special indoor areas and low intensity activities on days in which it may be too smoggy or hot to be outside. Age appropriate movies, games, storytelling, extended arts and crafts and, of course, more pool time are all part of our hot/smoggy day activity schedule. Our main gymnasium areas are air conditioned.

Monarch Camps follows Los Angeles Valley College’s Emergency Procedure Plans. All staff are trained and briefed on campus evacuation areas and emergency scenarios. We also have a 24- hour/7 day a week, LA County Sheriff department substation on campus. In times of emergency the LA County Sheriff’s Department takes the lead on all incidents.