Destination Science – Encino, CA

My ten-​year-​old son recently attended this camp. I have to say my first impression of the camp was not great. Upon arriving at the classroom, the counselor did not greet me or my son, but just handed me a clipboard to sign in. The first activity they did was a camouflage game where they hid colored toothpicks in a field with prickly plants. My son had those prickly spike balls all over him. Also, he told me that they only had two classes that were about 10 minutes– the rest of the time was play and snacks. To me, it seemed more like arts and crafts than science, but maybe that’s ok for summer camp. We were just expecting more!

The camp themes themselves are great fun, and my 5 year old really enjoyed the experiments and added quite a bit to his already-​impressive knowledge of science. My issues with this camp are around the Encino facilities and level of attentiveness and security, particularly for the youngest campers. Pick-​up seemed chaotic, with the kids awaiting parents in an outdoor courtyard with the door to the street left open and accessible to high school students using the weight room and, frankly, anyone who decided to enter the area. My son never felt comfortable using the bathroom during the camp day because he told me that the counselors were not always present and there was a child making fun of younger kids in the restrooms. Most troubling, Crespi is undergoing major renovations this summer, thus the Destination Science camp activities are crammed into a small portion of the school not under construction. The huge, beautiful astroturf field was/​is off-​limits to the camp this summer, so camp organizers had the kids carrying out some of their outdoor activities on a field covered in prickly plants and grass. I cancelled my child’s planned enrollment for a second week at Destination Science after he suffered dozens of plant splinters imbedded in his hand and knee from the field that had to be painstakingly removed over 2 ½ hours at the pediatrician’s office — very traumatic for a small kid. DS Headquarters staff, to their credit, seemed concerned when I shared our experience with the splinters and did refund our 2^nd week tuition promptly. Overall, a great concept poorly executed at this location. Sad given my son’s interest in science and initial excitement at attending this camp.

This is one of those super camps! kids love coming here and the staff is just amazing and patience. They learn so much each year and are always wanting to come back. Next summer will be their fourth year. Whats great about this camp is that there are a few different science topics to choose from each week. the kids come home daily with fun nic nacks of different toys or experiments that they learned about that day.
I would recommend this to both boys and girls and they don’t have to love science, they will fall in love with the fun filled day of all the cool things that their parents wont allow them to do and try at home because they are to messy or gross. This is a cool fun camp.