Camp Keystone staffers just announced the addition of Keystone Mining, and we aren’t stopping there! The Grand Pooh Bah has acquired another incredible program activity to enhance the experience of our campers and we are so excited to introduce the outstanding Keystone Alpine Slide!

The Keystone Alpine Slide is a remarkable experience that our campers will adore from the top of the 170’ slide all the way to the bottom of this thrilling tubing adventure! Who needs real snow when you’ve got an entire slide covered in artificial snow that resembles grass and makes for a slick and speedy sliding experience? Not us here at Camp Keystone! We’ve got dual-slides that can be utilized for wicked cool races! And, with 30 tubes there is virtually no waiting while groups experience this unbelievable addition to Camp Keystone.

Our staff always has our camper’s safety in mind when it comes to adding program activities to our daily schedule, and the Keystone Alpine Slide is scheduled for installation during the first week of March and will be supervised by the manufacturer. The alpine slide features safety rails and breaking system that allows for our campers to take advantage of tandem sliding and training, which is encourage by the manufacturer of the slide! This is exciting news considering we strictly prohibit tandem sliding on our water slide!

All of our new program activities don’t just offer an exciting experience for our campers but also prove to provide experiential learning and challenges, which create a sense of pride in ones accomplishments that your child can take with them everywhere. Every Camp Keystone day is designed with your child’s maximum growth in mind, and this above all things is why we keep coming back every summer!

Summer is right around the corner and it is never too early to start planning for summer break! Here at Camp Keystone we are super excited about the summer plans already in the works for camp, and by taking the time to plan summer adventures early you give yourself the opportunity for securing spots in popular activities that fill up quick.

There are a variety of summer camps in the area and choosing one can be tough. Create a game plan early and you will be certain to find something that will make everyone happy. During your free time, take a moment to make a list of the activities your children have enjoyed in the past. Research different camp programs that offer the kind of program that your child will thrive in and mark your calendar for when those programs offer open houses, tours or informational programs that give you a chance to see what you’re signing up your child for.

Summer Camp is a great way to fill those summer weeks, either before or after that much needed family vacation. Keeping kids active and involved in skill building activities is key to growth and development for all ages. Here at Camp Keystone we pride ourselves on having the coolest camp with classic fun! Not only do we pride ourselves on being a camp with tons of amazing activities like our 274’ water slide, horseback riding, arts and crafts, go-carts and much more. Our staff works tirelessly to promote confidence and skill building all summer long, through activities led by our experienced and well-trained staff that puts every child in the spotlight.

When you’re ready to start putting those plans into actions, our knowledgeable staff at Camp Keystone is already gearing up for an outstanding summer and we’re happy to answer any questions your family might have. Give us a call to schedule an Open House visit or private tour today.

Every year our staff looks for new and exciting ways to engage and entertain our campers. While Camp Keystone is already the best camp around we strive to always do better! And we’ve got a NEW activity for our campers!

DRUM ROLL PLEASE!!

We’d like to introduce…Keystone Mining!

An ideal addition to our already remarkable daily events, Camp Keystone’s gem, stone and mineral themed groups will adore Keystone Mining! Our campers will get the opportunity to pan for gems, stones and minerals that they can use to craft their very own Key-Stone collection by utilizing our brand new mining equipment that features a 24′ sluice with water tower, 3 water drops and everyone is certain to hit pay dirt every time!

The Grand Pooh Bah is always looking for new entertaining additions to Camp Keystone and recently, he was inspired by Nar Nar’s reminiscing of the time spent at Meadow Oaks early in his career. And with tales of Nar Nar’s fond memories of panning for gold with campers firmly planted in his mind, the Grand Pooh Bah searched all over and finally found a way to make this dream reality!

Our staff is so excited about this new and exciting offering! We’re prepping for a big summer and we can’t wait to unveil this new exciting adventure to all the campers!

By the way, stay tuned for details on more exciting new features and offering from the Grand Pooh Bah! He’s had a lot of inspiration during this off-season and he can’t wait to share it with everyone!

Arrr mateys! Jump on board and escape to a time when the Seven Seas held treasures aplenty and every day was an adventure! We love a good adventure and if you’re a lover of Camp Keystone then we know so do you!

As of January 13th, the tall boats the Lady Washington & Hawaiian Chieftain docked in Channel Islands until January 23rd and then Ventura Harbor until February 5th! What kid wouldn’t love the chance to step onto a real ship and get the chance to experience ship life? Or even what it might be like to be on one of two battling ships? There are two cruises available, one the mimics what the experience of being on the deck of a ship would be like during a skirmish. During the Battle Sail opportunity the ships maneuver around one another in 18th-century fashion and fire cannon using real gunpowder!! And the second is a more education-oriented experience that lets family and friends experience a day on a ship in just a few hours! If you’re more of a land lover, then take advantage of the walk-on tours that are also available during the weekdays!

Both harbors are full of fun things to do with the family, and lots of great restaurants and exciting events for making a full day of the excursion! We love planning an entire day around these types of thrilling events. What’s extraordinary about this kind of voyage is that you can plan the whole outing like a mini-getaway and aim to plan to do things you haven’t done before. But isn’t that the best part of trying new and exciting things with out kids? Sharing in experiences that capture the essence of excitement and the awesome memories that come with those moments is what we parents live to accomplish!!

One of our office staff is planning to take her five year old son in the next couple of weeks and we plan to post images on Facebook as soon as we can! Don’t forget to share your favorite Spring outings with us and we’ll share them with the rest of the Camp Keystone family and friends!

IIn the midst of winter we are having amazing weather! One of the perks of living in Southern California is all sorts of amazing attractions. Within just about an hour drive up the coast, or inland to the mountains you’re smack in the middle of some of the most spectacular scenery in the world. Here in the Conejo Valley, we are lucky to be so close to the gorgeous beaches of the American Riviera also known as Santa Barbara.

Stearns Wharf, located just off of Cabrillo and State Street, is the home to the fantastic Ty Warner Sea Center run and maintained by the Natural History Museum of Santa Barbara. Truly the gem of the wharf the Sea Center has amazing activities for kids of all ages and is a great way to teach our little ones about taking care of our surrounding environment. One of our favorites is the 1,500-gallon tide pool tank that kids can crawl through to view different habitats and explore with safety and independence.

Also on the wharf there are a variety of restaurants that range from family friendly to fine dining. If you’re looking for more site seeing and adventure check out the variety of fantastic family fun like the Santa Barbara Zoo and they’re new “How to Train a Dinosaur” Live Dino Show. There are also the Botanic Gardens which are always stunning, or you can visit a fun site we found to create your own Family Trek!

The weather this weekend is going to be mild and fantastic for heading up the coast! The best part of adventures like these is the thing we find along the way. There is so much family fun to be had and we can’t wait to hear about your trips! Don’t forget to share with us on Facebook.

Have a wonderful weekend!

The year is quickly coming to a close and we’ve had such a fantastic year here at Camp Keystone that we are just itching for the New Year and summer to come along and scoop us up into another fun-filled summer! Starting off the New Year is always filled with resolutions and ways to improve upon the last year, but before you go swinging into the New Year start off with a classic family excursion to the Rose Parade!!

The Rose Parade began blooming back in 1890 as a means of promotion of Pasadena’s Hunt Club and while it began small and just for members, it has grown into something absolutely stellar and captivating for everyone around the world to take pleasure in. From chariot races to extravagantly decorated floats, marching bands and equestrian displays, the Rose Parade is a sight that everyone can appreciate. Every year friends, families and colleagues gather to donate their time to building and decorating floats as entries into the parade. Floats can take months and month of preparation and care before they are ready to grace the streets of Pasadena with their immaculate beauty. For generations families have gathered on Colorado Blvd in Pasadena and camped out for the most prime viewing locations of the parade. One of our camp staffers shared the experience with her family every New Year’s Day, and plans to share that tradition with her son this year!

But, if urban camping isn’t your thing there are festivities after parade that are sure captivate every member of your clan. Parade floats are available for viewing on Jan. 2nd, 1-5PM, Jan 3rd 7-9AM – Special Assistance viewing, 9AM – 5PM, regular hours for $10 per person and kids 5 and under are FREE!!! For details and ticket information you can check here and don’t forget to pack extra snuggly clothes since they keep those floats well refrigerated to preserve them. Here are a few more tips for visiting the floats post-parade…

• The best way to get to the Post Parade Floats is via a Park ‘n Ride and there are plenty, but make sure you take a look at the list and pick one. Shuttle riders are granted access to a priority entry line, and tickets for the round-trip is $3 unless you are 5 and under.
• Wear comfortable walking shoes!! Viewing all the floats will require walking a distance of approximately 2.5 miles and will take about two hours.
• Brochures are available for background and information on every float! Pick one up at the shuttle locations or at the venue.
• There are a limited number of vendors selling food at the venue. You are welcome to bring small quantities of food and non-alcoholic drinks into the venue but no coolers will be allowed. Make sure to bring water for hydration!

More tips are available at the Rose Parade website, along with directions and instructions for taking advantage of the FREE Float Audio Tour on iTunes. There are other neat adventures all around Pasadena during Rose Parade time, be sure to check out their website for details.

We hope everyone has an amazing New Year’s and if you happen to hit any exciting places or the Rose Parade for that matter be sure to post pictures to Facebook and let us know!

Here at Camp Keystone we are fans of anything that brings families together and celebrates the little joys of life. When our local camp families share with us stories about their own families we love to scope them up to share with the rest of our camp families. And this instance is hopefully the first in a long of sharing moments that make the holidays special and fantastic.

Imagine if you will an entire weekend spent with the ones you love doing nothing but baking cookies and enjoying the sites and sounds of the beauty of the great outdoors. One camp Mom does just that every year with her best friends from college and they have since 1997, as the second generation to keep this tradition thriving each holiday season. Invited by the founder of what they sweetly have come to call Cookie Weekend, these women joined an elite group of Grandmothers, Moms and daughters who enjoy spending the weekend in Tehachapi dedicating their time to creating deliciously decorated sugar cookies that will make journeys to bellies as far away as Hawaii as gifts to relatives, friends and clients as holiday well wishes. And today this tradition embodies everything that these women have come to love and appreciate about their lives, their family.

The weekend is full of< chats by the fire, long strolls in the beautiful area surrounding the log cabin the has been Cookie Weekend headquarters for years, and of course there is a fare of amount of quality control of cookies unsuitable for gifting. By Sunday morning, the assembly is only complete with the finishing touches of beautiful decorations, and packing into festive tins for all to enjoy during the holidays. While these women spend the rest of the year making trips up to Tehachapi for other activities, their fondest memories are those spent bonding over the time they have spent together for Cookie Weekend. And the only rules to Cookie are baking, living and loving.

Everyone at Camp Keystone loved this story, and we are so happy to share it with all of you. Traditions are the glue that holds every family together; even our camp family and we can’t wait to pick up where we left off last season with making new amazing traditions and revisiting the patented favorites. If your family has a fantastic tradition and you’d like to share it with us please don’t hesitate to post it either on Facebook or send it in an email to the office.

We hope everyone had a fantastic holiday season and that you continue to enjoy your family time together and any traditions that you share throughout the year!

All over the Los Angeles area there are tons of hidden treasures just waiting for family adventures to be had. One of the staff for our on-site event planning company shared this gem with the Camp Keystone staff and we thought it was too good to pass up sharing with the rest o f the Camp family!

Lake Balboa is an 80 acres (32 ha) recreation facility in the Sepulveda Flood Basin and has lots to offer families looking for an afternoon filled with awesome exploration. Located within the amazing recreation location is the Apollo 3 Flight Field at Woodley Park, one of the three smaller parks located on the 80 acres. The Flight Field is where the amazing Valley Flyers make their home for model aviation, and they also maintain the Flight Field to “promote good fellowship and community relations”. Anyone can come and see these amazing aerial creations zip through the air, and learn more about the adventures of the club and the many of their amazing community events they participate in throughout the year.

Recently, when Lauren took her son Jack there with her family, they had the most amazing experience meeting local and international aerial enthusiasts who were happy to share knowledge and even show off some cool tricks. Truly this is one of the spectacular hidden gems of Southern California, and we hope to get the rest of the kids in the Camp family kids over there soon and post photos on the Facebook page for everyone to see.

Also on site, are fabulous Japanese cherry Blossom trees and a variety of children’s playgrounds that are ideal for picnicking and playing with the entire family! Zip on down there during holiday break and post your favorite moments so that we can see them too.

Have a super fantastic holiday break!

Winter is an amazing time of year here in Southern California! We are lucky to be able to drive in just about any direction and find some amazing sites and fantastic family activities for the whole family to enjoy. As the weather takes a turn for the wintery, we are all very excited about getting to the local mountains for some snow adventures with our kids!

Our local mountains like Big Bear have tons of family friendly activities available and make for a great day trip or even a whole weekend adventure. There is bound to be something for everyone, from the novice Bunny Slope skier to the expert Snowboarder but, if you have little ones who aren’t ready for the slopes on two skis or one flashy board then we have just the thing for you. Big Bear has two family friendly venues for taking advantage of exciting snow play activities like tubing and alpine sliding!

Tubing at Big Bear Snowplay is an exhilarating adventure that takes the tiring experience of scaling hills to get to the top out of the mix by offering a Magic Carpet uphill lift. Leaving the kids with plenty of energy leftover energy to hit the slopes all day long! Attached to the area is a comfy heated lodge for breaks in the fun for snacks and restroom time. Another great location to visit with the kids is the Alpine Slide at Magic Mountain. It offers a variety of activities year round and even features a lodge with few arcade games and snack bar for snow play breaks. The Big Bear website has tons of great tips and ideas for planning your trip and printable directions!

Another place for a quick day trip is located just off the Interstate 5 Freeway in Frazier Park. The Mt. Pinos National Forest offers great locations for sledding, tubing and snowball fights in an unincorporated location. If heading this direction be prepared with extra clothes, towels, and take the time to map out a game plan for food and someplace to get cozy after you’re done with your snow day.

Our Camp Keystone team members are eager to hit the slopes this season with their kids and we’ll be sharing our pics as soon as we have some on our Facebook page. Don’t forget to share your adventures with us too and we’d be happy to share them on the blog.

There are so many amazing activities happening all around our neighborhood this holiday season and we wanted to make sure that all of our Camp Keystone friends and family didn’t miss out on anything during holiday break! After browsing through local sites and finding some fantastic finds our staff put together a list of some amazing things to fit into your holiday fun.

Check out these great holiday activities that the whole family can enjoy!

Throughout December – Christmas Trains via the Fillmore Railway
Saturday, December 10th – Jingle Bell Hike at the Conejo Community Center
Saturday, December 10th – 34th Annual Piru Christmas Parade
Sunday, December 11th – Holiday on the Hill at the Reagan Presidential Foundation & Museum
December 16-17th – 35th Annual Ventura Harbor Boat Parade of Lights and Fireworks
Saturday, December 17th – Snow Day, Fun Day! at Simi Valley Town Center
Saturday, December 17th – Breakfast with Santa in Malibu
December 17-18th – 18th Annual The Nutcracker at the Thousand Oaks Civic Arts Plaza
Saturday, December 17th – 15th Annual Metrolink Holiday Toy Express Tour
December 14th & 21st – Camarillo Ranch Holiday Open House with Mr. & Mrs. Claus
Friday, December 23rd – A Christmas Carol at the Conejo Valley Players
Saturday, December 24th – Kids Make a Holiday Ornament at Lakeshore Learning in Ventura.
Wednesday, December 27th – Menorah Lighting at The Commons in Calabasas

Looking for more holiday fun? There are more events to be found at Conejo Valley Guide and you’re sure to find something for everyone! And don’t forget to send us any local events that we can share with all of our camp friends and families.

Everyone here at Camp Keystone wishes you a very happy holiday season!

This post is brought to you by the Grand Pooh Bah from one of our longtime staff members, Lauren, about her family experience with giving…

I was raised in a family where I was fortunate to never want for anything. As a child this was just the way it was, I saw it on TV or in a store and I got it. My parents did not see this as spoiling but rather just what you did if you could afford to do it. However, as I got older my parents quickly made it clear that not all families were created financially equal and other children don’t actually get to “choose” their financial security. This lesson in compassion was discussed a lot in my family and the result was an understanding of how very important to my parents that we always gave back to the community, and especially to those who were less fortunate.

During the holidays season we purchased gifts and donated gently used item to local shelters where we knew children would be spending the holidays without the same great experiences we would share as a family. It felt great to contribute what our family could and it served as an invaluable lesson that was reinforced every year. This type of giving was easy and accessible! It easy to be reminded during the “gift giving season”; it’s everywhere you go with toy bins set up, local businesses soliciting gifts, children doing toy drives….give give give, and most people do.

The true lesson of giving came much later in life when it occurred that I received gifts at other times throughout the year. There are always birthdays, and gifting when goals were met and then presents simply just because and out of love. I recall thinking to myself, and asking “Do children less fortunate get gifts for these occasions too?” AS the pieces of the puzzle came together it dawned on me that there were never any bins at local businesses asking for donations throughout the year. The whole idea that giving didn’t occur all year ‘round was troubling to me. As a young adult, I committed to making a difference when I had my own children and now that I have a small child this commitment comes in the form of a very strict rule in my house. When a gift comes in for any reason, one goes out. And the toy that is selected by my child is donated to a local shelter or charity. It is heartwarming to see my child select a favorite toy of his to gift to another child to enjoy. At the age of two, he is still too young to fully understand the true meaning, but what is understood is that it is not an option for us to not give all through the year, it is mandatory…because birthdays and special occasions don’t wait until the holidays.

Giving is a great way to teach children to value what they have and that helping others is invaluable. For more information on how to give in your area look for shelters, food pantries and donation centers that will donate to families in need.

Helpful links:

• DPSS Toy Donation
• Donation Town.org
• Salvation Army
• Goodwill Donation Centers

Recently, the Camp Keystone staff was approached by a camp Mom to share with fellow campers a very cool community event. Since we love sharing awesome activities with our camp friends and families we are proud to do the same for community events that mirror the philosophy of Camp Keystone.

And so with now further ado…

On Saturday, November 19th the Dads and Dudes at Encino Elementary School present an awesome opportunity to watch a movie under the stars!

Movie: CARS 2
When: Saturday, November 19th
Where: Encino Elementary School 16941 Addison Street Encino, CA 91316
Time: Doors open at 4.30PM for dinner and entertainment
Additional information: Food and drinks will be available for purchase.
Please bring lawn chairs, blankets and warm clothes as it may get chilly. The movie will be shown on a huge screen outdoors and everyone is welcome!

Tickets can be purchased here or at the doors for $10.

We are proud to support our campers and their families, and we are thrilled to be able to share these special events with our camp community! If you have an event that is family friendly and encourages community growth and learning, please send it our way and we might include it in the next blog post!

Helpful Links:
• Encino Elementary School
• Purchase tickets
• Map to School

Here at Camp Keystone your staff has been keeping their eyes and ears peeled for more fantastic family outings that we can share with all our camp friends and families! And this week we have an amazing offering that will get you running to the station to a hop on the family fun train!

Who doesn’t love trains? We love trains! Fillmore Railway located just off the 126 in Fillmore and is surrounded by the charm of their rejuvenated downtown area. The railway has been chugging along with passengers to enjoy themed dinner train excursions since 1996, and since then has expanded its calendar to include such amazing family excursions as the Pumpkin Train, the North Pole Express and the Christmas Tree Train during the Holiday season. In the regular season, their calendar features super fun adventures like the Saturday Scenic Excursion and the Heritage Valley Tour Train. Many of the camp staff has taken their tots on the train for various occasions and we all highly recommend the experience to everyone!

Just for our Camp Keystone friends and families, we have been in touch with the Fillmore and we are pleased to offer a discount on your next trip on the Fillmore and Western Railway Co. From now until the month of November call the Fillmore Railway office and reserve your tickets for a trip on any of their excursions and use the promo code “KEYSTONE” to receive 10% OFF your entire family purchase. Since trips on the train sell out quickly for the holidays, we encourage you to book your trips in advance and quickly! Call (805) 524-2546 ‎today to book your fun family outing and don’t forget to use your special promo code!

Helpful links to help you plan your trip!
• How to get to Fillmore.
• Ticket Information
• History of the Fillmore and Western Railway
• Things to do around Fillmore

For questions or help planning your trip to Fillmore or anything Camp Keystone don’t hesitate to call 818-889-2224!

As the weather continues to change there is no time like the present to take advantage of some of natures most amazing local adventures. Cooler weather is ideal for exploring the local flora and fauna of the Santa Monica Mountains and surrounding areas, and it’s also prime time for planning outdoor excursions to local lakes or ponds for fishing!

That’s right fishing can be an ideal educational experience for teaching kids about the local ecosystems and also learning a new skill. Learning new skills and exploring natural talents is merely an extension of that fantastic camp experience that allows campers to expand their horizons through experiential activities much like the time they spend on our Camp Keystone stream.

While one might think that fishing requires a ton of gear and preparation there are ways to take short cuts if you’re not looking to invest in gear that you may not use again. One of Camp Keystone’s local neighbor’s Troutdale offers a unique pond-like experience where fishing is affordable and relaxed.

If it is the great outdoors you crave there are a few outfitters who you can be in touch with about getting gear for the family and possibly renting gear to test out for the weekend. Check out Take Me Fishing’s site to search for local outfitters that might offer lessons and helpful tips for getting started. Once you’re geared up pick your ideal location. It’s important to select a family friendly spot that will offer good facilities for bathroom breaks, picnic spots for dining and friendly rangers or staff that can answer questions and offer guidance. Located just Northeast of Ventura off the California 33 Northbound, Lake Casitas is an ideal spot for great outdoor fishing and tons of other activities like camping and boating.

Before you fish in a public lake, pond or stream you must have a license to do so in the State of California as a law. Click here to purchase licenses and print out temporary licenses that are good immediately for use. Make sure you have a license for everyone who is going to be participating to avoid any issues!

During the summer months, Camp Keystone campers get to explore out creek for classic summer camp fun and that excitement and fun can be extended year round with exploration of local fishing spots all over Southern California. One of the most exciting things for our camp staffers is sharing stories of things they got to accomplish away from Keystone and how they took what they learned during summer camp and used it with their families. So grab your pail and your rod and don’t forget to share pics with us on Facebook, we love seeing our camp families in action!

Helpful Links:

• Directions to Lake Casitas
• Department of Fish and Game
• Malibu Fish and Tackle

The media is difficult to ignore “The (CDC) Centers for Disease and Prevention says that children are four times more likely to be hit by a car on Halloween night than on any other night. That is a scary thought. In an article on Healthfinder.gov it says that the Census Bureau estimates that 40 million children between ages 5 to 14 will be out trick or treating on Halloween night.”

As I read this article, and many like it about the dangers of Halloween, I couldn’t help but think about some of my favorite ghouls, ghosts, princesses, and ninjas and their safety on Halloween. We collected some of the best safety tips to make sure our favorite monsters have a safe and fun Halloween night.

• Avoid Trick or Treating alone on Halloween night. While it’s east to say this to your eight year old, what safety precautions do you have for your twelve year old pre-teen? While it might not be “cool” to have Mom or Dad with you, parents should supervise activities on this dangerous night. What makes this night different than other nights? Would your fifth grader be allowed to roam the streets on a random night?

• Be careful not to have a sense of unrealistic safety because of cell phones. Children in trouble often do not have time to make an emergency phone call. Stay with an adult.

• Fasten reflective tape to costumes to allow drivers to see your children better. Holidays bring out the worst in adult drivers, will your child be seen in their costume?

• Try make up instead of a mask. Masks can fir poorly and cause problems with tripping, falling, and other vision hazards.

• Enter homes only if you’re with a trusted adult.

• Obtain flashlights with fresh batteries for all children and their escorts.

• Swords, knives, and similar costume accessories should be of soft and flexible material. With that many kids on the streets, avoid these possible hazardous props.

• Have a all treats before eating them. This seems basic, but how many of our kids start snacking while on route for more treats? Candy can be tampered with easily, and a hungry stomach isn’t worth taking the risk. A good meal prior to trick-or-treating will discourage youngsters from potentially unsafe Halloween treats.

By taking a few precautions, we can guarantee our kids to have a safe and sweet Halloween.

This post brought to you by the Grand Pooh Bah from one of the Camp Keystone office staff aka Shakespeare.

Please enjoy!

Fall is an amazing time of year for making family memories and trekking through the changing leaves to wander through corn mazes. My memories of this time of year are filled with amazingly awesome family trips to places like Lombardi Ranch for pumpkins, pony rides and corn maze craziness. And every year since my son was born, whom I call the Monkey, we have made the trip there for the very family friendly corn maze and photo ops a plenty.

Lombardi Ranch is a family owned and self-sustained local Los Angeles County farm, located just up the I-5 in Santa Clarita. Honestly, I’m not sure what we enjoy more, the corn maze, the train ride or the freshly grown veggies that we can take home. Since the attractions are on-site the corn maze is top notch! Rushing through fresh corn and easily laid out, so any novice maze hunter can navigate through the stocks with ease and have a blast!

The Monkey loves corn mazes and is always ready to be our fearless leader to the end of the line. Along with the corn maze, every year the Lombardi family hosts a scarecrow contest that is featured in Scarecrow Alley and kids can wonder through the alley identifying the themed scarecrow displays.

One of the great perks of living in Southern California is the variety of places like Lombardi Ranch where families living in Los Angeles can experience farm life.

Before you head to any ranch think about these things and be prepared!

• Bring cash! Many of these self-sustaining farms are only open during their peak season which is usually August to January, and they may not be set up for credit cards.
• Make sure everyone wears sturdy pants like jeans. Hay stacks can poke little legs and being around farm animals there can be little critters that like to tag along back to your house.
• Bring your camera to capture those smiles when the little ones pick out their pumpkins!!
• Research the location to see what facilities they have on-site. Many have portable potties, so you might want to bring wipes or hand sanitizer. And some don’t have food available for purchase, so you might need to bring snacks for kiddos who work up an appetite walking through corn mazes.
• Check the calendar events for the site, since many of them have activities on weekends and special safe Halloween events for the whole family!

Check out these local sites that have corn mazes:

• Faulkner Farms in Santa Paula, CA

• Underwood Farms in Moorpark, CA

• Fillmore Railway’s Pumpkinliner to Loose Caboose in Santa Paula, CA

Back in the olden days when Counselor Z was just a tadpole of eight rings, one of our favorite Father and Son outings were our weekend jaunts to the Tide Pools at Leo Carrillo State Beach. Truly, some of my fondest moments are those shared with my kids exploring the wonders of the local Santa Monica Mountains. Keystone Campers can continue adventures well into winter by exploring nearby State Parks.

Leo Carrillo is in fact a timeless part of California’s history and ecosystem, and an exceptional opportunity for Keystone Campers to view a thriving marine habitat in action. The Leo Carillo tide pools are home to an amazing assortment of animals such as sea anemones, sea stars, mussels, crab and tons of other tide pool creatures.

Counselor Z and I would spend Saturday mornings during seasonal low tides exploring the exposed rocky outcroppings and all the life that makes its home in the tiny pools. Spending these moments together gave us a chance to experience not only the beauty of the tide pools but to grow together as parent and child. It is these shared moments that create an everlasting bond between Campers and their parents.

Climbing the rocky habitats is quite the adventure for every Camper and allows Camp Parents to extend learning all year! I would love it if any of you have stories to share about any of your experiences to the tide pools, or any other local adventure you have taken with your Keystone Campers.

In the meantime, check out these tips from the Grand Pooh Bah:

• Make sure you go during low tides! Check the tides here.
• Don’t forget to wear the right shoes for hiking on the rocks, like water shoes or old tennis shoes.
• Always bring an extra change of clothes for everyone and towel for cleanups.
• Grab an extra towel and baby powder to get the sand off your feet! See more here.
• Bring a camera! The photos are priceless. Just look at my son’s smile.

Helpful Links:

Leo Carrillo State Park Guide

Leo Carrillo State Park Map

Guide to the Side of the Sea