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SPECIAL SECTION
Summer Camps
& Schools
March 18, 2015
Page 2
Palisades News Special Section — Summer Camps & Schools
March 18, 2015
March 18, 2015
Palisades News Special Section — Summer Camps & Schools
Page 3
Local Expert Offers Stress Tips for Parents
By LAUREL BUSBY
Staff Writer
C
hildren today are often under pressure to “do things faster, better and
earlier,” stress expert and author
Amanda Enayati says. Whether it’s walking, talking, or learning to read, parents
may feel pressure to help their kids move
forward in building skills instead of simply enjoying the fun of childhood.
But it doesn’t have to be this way. Parents
can act as “protective barriers” between our
competitive society and their kids—allowing children more time and space to play
and relax, while also helping youngsters
develop resiliency in handling life’s stresses.
Here are Enayati’s top stress tips for parents and kids that she has discovered in
her years investigating the subject for
CNN Health, PBS Media Shift and other
media outlets.
1. Playtime, downtime and family time:
“The young child’s job is to play,” Enayati
says. “Even when kids have a moment, we
try to get them to do something constructive and formal, but we need to build
wide-open spaces in their day where they
have nothing to do but play.” This play
would also be gadget-free with things like
blocks and Legos, instead of using the instant gratification of phones, iPads, computers and television.
2. Build an unconditionally loving family: In her research, Enayati learned that the
strongest predictor of high achievement
and low behavioral problems is family
On the Cover
Palisades Elementary fourth graders
(left to right) Letizia Oetker, Gabriella
Bose, Sofia and Sasha Shull, Olivia
Rodeno and Claire Monaco jumped
rope to show support for American
Heart Month. The annual event
promotes exercise and a healthy diet, as
well as awareness of a national event
to prevent heart attacks and strokes.
Photo: Bart Bartholomew
Amanda Enayati
meals. “The importance of family time
and being part of a family cannot be emphasized enough. Family doesn’t have to
be defined a certain way just as long as the
child feels like they are part of a community or family.”
3. Resting, rejuvenating and relaxing:
Sleep is vital. “Lack of sleep is coordinated
with high levels of anxiety and depression,”
Enayati notes. She suggests maintaining a
child’s routine with parts of the day to anticipate happily, so that no matter what
stresses might be affecting the parents, the
child still has a stable schedule.
4. Teach children the art of distraction:
Stress is an inevitable part of life, and part
of childhood is learning to handle life’s difficulties. One way to deal with stress is simply to turn one’s attention away from it. If
children practice this with a parent, they
can eventually learn to do it for themselves.
5. Problem solving: In discussions with
children about a problem, try asking openended questions, such as “Tell me what’s
happening.” Then discuss any misunderstandings a kid may have and brainstorm
strategies that may help solve the problem.
If similar situations have occurred in the
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past, aid a child in recalling what was beneficial then that might also help now.
6. Validate children’s feelings: It is important to say “I know how that feels” instead
of saying “You shouldn’t be feeling that
way,” Enayati says. By doing this, the parent alleviates stress and helps a child learn
empathy. Another good question during
conflicts is simply “How do you think the
other person feels?”
7. Treat children like children: “Kids are
not mini-adults,” she says, so it’s important to make certain that they are not
being exposed to inappropriate media, inappropriate ways of dressing or inappropriate adult issues.
8. Some stress is good: It’s vital that kids
learn to handle some adversity, so that
they can develop resiliency and coping
skills as they encounter stress throughout
their lives. “There has to be some degree
of legitimate suffering—not abuse . . . but
growing and failing and learning from
that,” Enayati says.
9. Ask the big important whys: A good
question to ask ourselves is “What is our
value system as a society and as a family?”
she said. Each family has its own value system, and it is worth taking a look at what
that is. Sometimes, the value system itself
may be causing stress, so identifying the
value system may help address the stress.
If some values aren’t what you want
them to be, then alter them to what is truly
important to your family. “It’s never too
late. Put your stake in the ground and live
your values,” Enayati says. “Sometimes that
causes suffering and difficulty, but that is
the good kind of suffering. You’re asking
the big whys.”
(Amanda Enayati’s book, Seeking Serenity: The 10 New Rules for Health and Happiness in the Age of Anxiety, was published
this month, and an article about her and the
book is featured on page 5 of this paper.)
Optimist Club Seeks Grant Applicants
Pacific Palisades Optimist Club, whose
motto is “Friends of Youth” and whose
goal is “Bring Out the Best in Kids,” will
once again make annual grants to youth
organizations based in Pacific Palisades or
those that provide services that benefit
youth in this community.
Grants may be used for funding of a specific event, for equipment, a facility or service, and must be spent this year. Grants are
not given to organizations that request continuing financial support. The application
must be received no later than March 31.
Award decisions will be made within
two months, and grant recipients will be
notified and, if possible, receive their
awards at the weekly Tuesday breakfast
meeting of the Palisades Optimists.
Interested organizations, schools and
clubs may send queries to grant committee
chairman Bill Skinner ([email protected])
or call (310) 459-8286 to receive an application and grant guidelines.
Applications are also available at the
Chamber of Commerce at 15330 Antioch
Street. They may be returned to the Chamber or mailed to Grants Committee Chairman, Optimist Club of Pacific Palisades,
P.O. Box 211, Pacific Palisades 90272.
Summertime
Pool Fun
After group swimming
lessons, this happy
Palisades-Malibu
camper was allowed to
play in the Palisades
High School swimming
pool.
Photo: Courtesy of
Palisades-Malibu YMCA
Page 4
March 18, 2015
Palisades News Special Section — Summer Camps & Schools
Camps Should Be Fun
By LAUREL BUSBY
Staff Writer
A
s the school year came to a close last
year, my then-nine-year-old son
announced that summer would be
his rest time, so he wouldn’t be participating in any activities.
When I list the number of activities he
had been participating in, you might think
that he had a point that it was all a bit much.
He did gymnastics, chess, saxophone,
drama, chorus, Chinese, strategy games, art,
soccer and an occasional nature class.
On the other hand, he didn’t have to go
to school, because he’s a homeschooler. At
home, we took a laid-back approach to
homeschooling. We read books, did some
casual math when he was in the mood,
played board games and explored science
kits. He also had lots of time to draw, make
his own cards and otherwise engage in activities that called to him. In addition, we
went on field trips to plays and museums.
He was also tired of the field trips,
though, and was insistent that he just wanted to hang out at home. So we did . . . for
a while, and it was nice. He listened to audiobooks and made cards. He created an
origami animal game where he was the
game master, and he made teams of animals and special power boosts for them.
We also watched some movies and con-
tinued to play board games. We didn’t
even plan a vacation.
I have to admit that I was exhausted, too,
and cherished the down time. We both
needed a break from driving all over the
L.A. basin to so many activities. But what
about camp? I had loved camp as a kid and
didn’t want him to miss out on the fun.
He turned down my suggestion that he
might like the camp that his chorus director had created. Even though he enjoyed
chorus, he thought a singing and acting
camp would be too much for him.
He eventually agreed to try the same
Chinese camp that he had attended the year
before. He enjoyed it, and he was ready to
try another camp. He did so, and we also
decided to travel a bit, venturing to San
Francisco and Yosemite for a laid-back vacation. Both the camps and the trips
seemed to inspire him to want a bit more
in the way of activities again.
Not too many, though. For the fall, we
scaled back. He dropped chorus and
drama. I decided that the drives I had been
making for chess, art and saxophone were
just too long for me, so those were dropped
too. Instead, Chinese, gymnastics, soccer
and the occasional nature class or field trip
became the remaining regular activities.
Suddenly our lives were more manageable.
In the process of overdoing it and perhaps at times underdoing it, I discovered
Linus Busby Thompson works on his gymnastic skills.
that for both our sakes, we needed to pick
and choose activities with a bit more attention to burnout. As spring approached, my
son realized that he was missing chorus,
while soccer came to an end. So he rejoined
the chorus. He also was ready to add back
chess and was intrigued by the gymnastic
sport, Parkour, so he began sporadically
attending a class.
The whole family did a bit of volunteering—working at a state park to help remove
invasive plants and install native ones, and
we all felt enlivened by it. Over the holiday
break, my son tried a winter camp, which
was a big hit with him. He has already asked
to attend more summer camps this year.
Strangely enough, during the previous
school year, my husband had been experiencing the same thing at work—too
much work and too little downtime—and
the combination was affecting his health
and well-being.
So, now we all are on the lookout for
burnout. We cherish our moments at
home, and we take more time just to be together. We also take care to pick and choose
our activities with more thought, so that
we choose those that we really want to do.
My son was right. He needed a rest time.
We all did.
(Editor’s note: Laurel Busby, a veteran
newspaper writer, lives in Culver City.)
March 18, 2015
Palisades News Special Section — Summer Camps & Schools
Page 5
Fitness by the Sea: Endless Possibilities
K
ids should have fun in the summer: a camp
should not be another job for a child, it should
be a break from a structure schedule.
Fitness by the Sea is a place kids love to go because
“We encourage children to ‘learn by doing’ and our
experienced staff members are there to serve as mentors
and participants during all activities,” said camp founder
Eric Colton. “While we call it ‘Growth, Caring & Endless
Fun’ . . . the kids just call it ‘the time of their lives!’”
Who wouldn't want to boogie board, swim with the
dolphins, jump over the gymnastics vault, get their faces
painted as their favorite animal, and just have a fun day
on the beach? Fitness by the Sea offers this and more,
right here locally at Will Rogers State Beach.
Designed for children from 4 to 14, campers are
allowed to choose from more than 80 activities.
Physical sports such as baseball, volleyball, kickball
and capture the flag help kids develop interdependence,
confidence and sportsmanship.
Arts and crafts, dance, face painting, and music help
foster creativity, imagination and self-expression, while
surfing, swimming and boogie boarding promote an
active lifestyle, self-esteem and perseverance.
Gymnastics, boxing, cheerleading and martial arts
all cultivate self-discipline, determination and courage.
“We believe that active kids are happy kids,” Colton
said, noting that many of the kids who have come to his
program proclaiming not to have an interest in sports,
once encouraged to try something new, find a niche that
they love.
Founded in 2000, Fitness by the Sea has become synonymous with excellence in the field of day camps. The FBS
formula for success blends an experienced and spirited
Eric and Billie Colton, owners of Fitness by the Sea, with twins
Maia and Willow and sister Violet. Photo: Courtesy of Eric Colton
staff (average age 28) with dynamic and creative activities,
offered in an encouraging, nurturing environment.
With the camp’s growing popularity with children,
Fitness by the Sea has expanded to four locations:
Palisades at Will Rogers (June 8 to August 28), Palisades
North (June 15 to August 21), Santa Monica (June 8 to
August 28 and at the Jonathan Club (June 15 to August
21—members and sponsored guests only.)
Safety is a number one priority. “The former Chief of
LA County lifeguards called FBS the safest beach camp
he’s ever seen,” continued Colton. “A staff to camper ratio
of 6 to 1 is strictly maintained, and during surfing, we
maintain a ratio of 3 to 1 to further improve our safety
measures.” Sunscreen is applied liberally and often.
The Coltons, who are Pacific Palisades residents,
have three children. Twins, Maia and Willow are 8 and
younger sister Violet is 5. The sisters are often amongst
the campers at the Pacific Palisades camp location.
Because they are also parents, the Coltons understand
the importance of allowing campers to make their own
choices. A recent study by the American Camp Association
revealed that kids need more opportunities to practice
leadership and decision-making and that is available at
Fitness by the Sea.
Campers are encouraged to become involved in
activities and staff members watch kids on the sidelines
and work to bring them in. It goes without saying that
teasing and bullying is not allowed.
This is a place a kid can reinvent him/herself. Many
come to the came with labels, such as nerd or jock.
Encouraged to try other activities, they discover that
they may not only be good at basketball, but also good
at painting, something they had never tried.
Counselors constantly work with kids, encouraging
them to go outside of their comfort zone, which ultimately
results in increased self-confidence.
Camp runs from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., with extended care
available in the mornings and afternoons from 8:30 a.m. to
5:45 p.m. Parents can register their children for a minimum
of five days and these do not have to be consecutive days.
Call: (310) 459-2425 or visit: fitnessbythesea.com or
e-mail: info@fitnessbythesea.
Page 6
Palisades News Special Section — Summer Camps & Schools
Library Story Telling
Let your children experience the joys of
having another adult read them a book at
the Palisades Branch Library, 861 Alma Real.
STAR (Story Telling and Reading) times:
Mondays: 10 a.m.-noon (Grandma Peggy)
Mondays: 3-5 p.m. (Uncle Mark)
Tuesdays: 2-4 p.m. (Tutu Bobbie)
Wednesdays: 2-4 p.m. (Grandmom Judy)
Thursdays: 2:30-4:30 p.m. (Grandma Lou)
Fridays: 10 a.m.- noon (Aunt Ashley)
Fridays: 2-4 p.m. (Granny Stephanie)
Saturdays: 10 a.m.-noon (Momma Flo)
March 18, 2015
High School Art Sought for Competition
Each spring, the Congressional Institute sponsors a nationwide high school
visual-art competition to recognize and
encourage artistic talent. Since the competition began in 1982, more than
650,000 high school students have participated.
Congressman Ted Lieu invites all students in his district to enter the competition. The submission deadline is 5 p.m.,
Friday, April 10, at 5055 Wilshire Blvd.
Suite 310, L.A. 90036.
The winner will receive a trip to Washington, D.C. to attend the national awards
ceremony, where work will be displayed
for one year at the U.S. Capitol. There
are also district prizes for second and
third place.
Artwork must be two-dimensional and
each framed artwork can be no larger
than 28 inches long, 28 inches wide, and
4 inches deep. No framed piece should
weigh more than 15 pounds.
Accepted mediums include: paintings
(oil, acrylics, watercolor, etc.); drawings
(colored pencil, pencil, ink, marker, pastels, charcoal); collages (must be two-dimensional); prints (lithographs, silkscreen
and block prints); mixed media; computer-generated art; and photographs.
Each entry must be original in concept,
design and execution.
Congressman Lieu will host a reception and awards ceremony for his district
on April 20, at the Fantasea Yacht Club,
4215 Admiralty Way, Marina del Rey.
Call Ashley Fumiko Dominguez at
(323) 651-1040 or e-mail [email protected] or David Leger at
(323) 651-1040 or e-mail david.leger
@mail.house.gov. Visit: lieu.house.gov/
services/art-competition.
MUSIC SCHOLARSHIPS
45th Annual Young
Artist Competition
Palisades Symphony is seeking students,
in grades 1 through 12, who are able to perform a movement of a concerto with orchestra, to audition for monetary awards
and the opportunity to play with the Palisades Symphony in concert on June 14.
The concerto performed must be from
the standard repertoire, memorized and
with orchestration readily available.
There are three categories, and former
winners may not apply with the same in-
strument in the same grade level. In grades
1 through 6, first place will win $100; grades
7 through 9, $200; grades 10 through 12,
$200. The Alfred Newman Memorial Scholarship for $1,000 and the Chamber Music
Palisades Award for $500 will also be awarded.
Auditions will be held on the afternoon
of March 31 in Mercer Hall at Palisades
High School.
Applicants should write their name,
address, phone number, age, school and
grade, a brief biographical sketch that includes musical training and teacher and
send that information to Palisades Symphony, P.O. Box 214, Pacific Palisades. A
$10 application fee must be included. The Santa Monica, Brentwood, Malibu or
deadline is March 23. Call (310) 454-8040. Topanga and be available to perform at a
Committee meeting during the year.
Philharmonic Scholarships All auditions will be in the afternoon on
either March 30 or 31, starting with the
For Young Musicians
youngest students. The exact time and loThe Westside Committee of the Los An- cation will be announced. Students must
geles Philharmonic annually awards schol- bring their own accompanist.
arships varying from $100 to $500 to music
Students trying for the Philharmonic
students in grades 6 through 12.
awards and also the Palisades Symphony
Students must have studied at least three must fill out different applications for the
years on the instrument they play, perform different awards, but need only audition
a piece of classical music of three to five once. The deadline for received applicaminutes, have a written recommendation tions is March 23.
from their teacher, live in Pacific Palisades,
Call (310) 454-8040 for an application.
Fitness by the Sea
Celebrating our 16th Year!
Sign up by the Day!
“FBS is the safest beach camp I have ever seen.”
- Chief of LA County Lifeguards
2 Locations
Pacific Palisades . Santa Monica
Ages 4-14 ... Over 60 Activities!
Surfing . Swimming . Capture the Flag
Martial Arts . Gymnastics . Boogie Boarding
Volleyball . Soccer . Arts & Crafts . Dance
10% D
i
ends M scount
ay 1st
6:1 Ratio . Older Staff (Avg. Age 28) . 310-459-2425
Enroll at www.FitnessByTheSea.com
Rated by LA Parent as the
Best Value Beach Camp
on the West Side
“Still one of the best values in camps
on the west side.”
- Susan A.
Los Angeles
“I felt so very safe with my kids in the
ocean with their amazing staff.”
- Tara M.
Santa Monica
“The only camp my kids ask to go
back to every summer. Unbelieveable courselors and staff!”
- Gloria K.
Pacific Palisades
“By far my daughter’s favorite camp.”
- Jennifer B.
Pacific Palisades
March 18, 2015
Palisades News Special Section — Summer Camps & Schools
Page 7
Hike, Swim at YMCA Camp
R
egistration for the Palisades-Malibu
YMCA summer day camp is now
open and parents are encouraged to
enroll early because last year the camp was
full. Sessions run from June 8 through
August 6.
Not only is it one of the most competitively-priced camps, it is also located at one
of the premier locations in the country, at
Simon Meadow, at the corner of Sunset
Boulevard and Temescal Canyon Road.
Situated on a landscaped four-acre park
at the entrance to the Santa Monica Mountains, this camp takes advantage of its location. A mile from the beach, a quarter of a
mile from the Palisades High School swimming pool and near hiking trails, campers
are able to have the best of all worlds.
The camp spotlights the three f ’s—
friends, freedom and fun. Everyday activities include archery, arts and crafts, hiking,
football, soccer, dodge ball, moon bounce,
mini-golf and party games.
Once a week, campers enjoy splash time at
the PaliHi pool; children will be provided
with group swim lessons by certified instructors at no additional charge. Private swim lessons are also available for an additional fee.
Older campers go to the beach once a
week, and have fun playing in the sand
and water.
Campers try a variety of sports at the YMCA Camp.
Special groups come to Simon Meadow
weekly to offer a variety of activities, such
as visiting with exotic animals, playing outdoor laser tag or trying a rock-climbing
wall. Enrichment classes at camp this year
will include cooking, Spanish, Mad Science,
nature and STEM (science, technology,
engineering and mathematics).
Children are divided into groups, with
SUMMER CAMPS &
SCHOOL PROGRAMS
Special Section — April 15, 2015
Place Your Ad NOW in the Palisades News!
Full-Color Pages, Full-Color Ads
Distribution to the entire 90272 Palisades Community
(by US Mail to 13,300 addresses & 1,200 distribution around town)
Special Section Pricing (call for details)
Make your Ad Reservation Today!
Ad Space Reservation Deadline: April 6
Camera-ready Ad Artwork Deadline: April 7
(ads must be supplied by advertiser)
Contact for Information:
Jeff at (310) 573-0150 • [email protected]
Grace at (310) 454-7383 • [email protected]
Photo: Courtesy of Palisades-Malibu YMCA
the youngest campers (3 to 5 years old),
encouraged to play in the moon bounce,
learn camp songs, try arts and crafts, experience water play and make friends.
Kindergarten and first grade students
are part of the Mountain Cub group and
join their elder peers in scavenger hunts,
team building activities and trips to the
pool and the beach.
Second and third graders are grouped
into the Coyotes and fourth and fifth
graders are Hawks.
Coaches are sixth and seven graders who
are offered a unique position of being both
a counselor and a camper. Middle school
students work directly with the YMCA
staff to guide their younger peers, but are
also able to participate in activities with
other Coaches.
More than activities, the Y Summer
Camp experience provides a caring environment for all children; encourages positive peer interaction; offers creative activities
and helps all kids developed self-esteem.
The Y has received an American Camping Association accreditation, which means
the camp went through a thorough (up to
300 standards) review of its operation—
from staff qualifications and training to
emergency management.
The American Camp Association collaborates with experts from the American
Academy of Pediatrics, the American Red
Cross, and other youth-serving agencies to
assure that current practices at camp reflect
the most up-to-date, research-based standards in camp operation.
Contact Ashley Russell, YMCA Youth &
Family Director, (310) 454-5591 or [email protected].
Page 8
Palisades News Special Section — Summer Camps & Schools
March 18, 2015
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