Camp Keystone Reviews

This is for anyone who s looking to work there and parents. I worked here for 2 summers around 7 years ago. Back then, Google reviews weren t really a thing, now they are and I m going to speak my experience. Years later, I m still disgusted at the managing I experienced and I hope for the sake of current counselors that it s gotten better. Shadow, Princess, and basically all of management (I m sure some people have left or changed) is unprofessional, disrespectful, and immature. If you aren t on their side for whatever reason, they dislike you. They were incredibly unhelpful and on a b*tchy mommy daughter pact trip. There were parties every Wednesday and some of the counselors would go in hungover the next day working with kids. Mind you, there s couselors there who are 14-17. I am so happy they decided not to invite me back for that 3rd summer, because I was itching to get out of there. Like I said, I m sure some things have changed, but hopefully for the better.

My daughter loved Camp Keystone. She loved the counselors and was sad to leave at the end of the year. She keeps asking when she gets to go back. She made lots of friends and liked all the activity choices.

My son's first experience with Camp Keystone this week. It has been wonderful. The staff go out of their way to make you (parent) and camper comfortable, and at ease. The owner is the sweetest, kindest person so devoted to his camp. I will definitely have my son continue going here!

The camp is great. The staff is great. But don't be fooled by the owner. He's two faced and treats a lot of his staff like crap....nothing but a bully to his staff

My son absolutely loved this place. Even though we've moved, he still wants to return. Worth every penny!

First off: THIS REVIEW IS FOR PARENTS, KIDS, AND JOB APPLICANTS

So to future job applicants and parents(because I want you to know what we went through it s important you know how staff was treated)
I worked at Camp Keystone for one summer and I have never regret anything more in my entire life.

I was freshly graduated out of high school, well on my way to start college and was looking for a summer job to get some cash to get myself some dorm room supplies. Camp Keystone was recommended to me by my school. There was a mass email sent out to seniors to consider jobs and I loved the idea of camp counciling because I always loved going to camp as a kid and loved my councilors and wanted that same experience.

That s not what I got.

After the interview process and getting in and orientation and everything I thought it was fun, but immediately I realized things were going down hill. There was no indoor break area and these days were easily 100 degrees and higher and they expected staff to sit out in the sun. We don t get breaks either. Our breaks were 15 minuets of lunch that the camp made us pay for. The camp kept running out of water and on days I got told I had to save the water for the kids, which is understandable, but as an employee who was spending time in the sun everyday and walk long distances in the heat, it was kind of cruel.

The kids are basically allowed to verbally abuse their councilors because the directors just don t care and our only course of action in any situation is to say hey do you want us to call a director over here? and if we do call them over they just tell the kid to stop and that s it. Then it continues. It s a cycle.

I had a friend fired because another parent left their child in a car to quickly check in their child (which takes less than a minute you literally just walk in and sign your name that s it) and the parent threatened to call authorities if no one took responsibility.

No one helped me at all. I was always told I wasn t doing enough, that I had to try harder, that I had to suck it up and take action, that everything I was doing wasn t enough. I left more than not in tears because I was being yelled at. And I know what you re thinking what were you doing? There must have been something you were doing wrong that doesn t make sense well I ll tell you. I played games with my kids charades, pirate ship, down by the banks, dress up games, create a character, spirit costume dress up, and a lot more. Apparently these games weren t what the camp wanted. I always got pulled aside and yelled at in front of a group of kids. I was constantly stressed and in edge being told I was failing on a daily basis. I showed up hours early and stayed hours late every day to try and improve what and never asked for extra pay, and no matter what it wasn t enough. When I sent in my email saying I can t do this anymore I got a response saying that it was okay and that not everyone it cut out to take care of kids.
But that was never my problem. The kids were fine most of the time, yes one or two a day get to you, but they re kids. It s the directors and the staff higher up on the food chain with their constant pulling me aside and telling me I m not good enough. I don t think I ever got any ounce of praise, which as someone who tried hard to impress and put my entire soul into trying to be the best councilor I could, really hurt because all I got was criticism.

Now just overall with what the kid experience most have been like.
There was So many kids

The camp is always under staffed and there s too many kids, so there s not a lot of people to keep track of all the children. the children don t get play as much as they want to at areas because the camp makes a big deal of you have to do every activity every day .

Not enough food, not enough water, long hikes and walks in 90 degree heat, etc..

My daughter has attended Camp Keystone since she was 6 years old. She loves it! She is now a CILT, counselor in training and can t wait to work for camp Keystone. She is so much more responsible.

Three years in a row sending our son here and every year it just gets better and better for him. The staff and counselors are the best in the world, and the camp itself is everything you would expect from a summer camp and then some.

Today, Camp Keystone asked Yelp to remove my PSA. I am reposting as a courtesy to parents looking at summer camps: A few years back, my son broke his arm at Camp Keystone and did not receive any medical assistance there. Camp Keystone does not dispute this. Please make sure to look out for your child's safety.

Previous post: I don't normally write negative reviews. Not worth the time. However, in this case, I feel obligated to write because I don't want other kids to go through what my now 11 year old son had to go through. I totally get it. Camp Keystone hires a bunch of random kids to look after younger kids. It's a great business model. Accidents do happen and my son's been hurt a few times at other places but always received immediate help or medical attention. At Camp Keystone, he broke his arm in the morning but was not attended to or treated at all until he came home and I took him to the doctor. He was in a cast for the entire summer. By the way, my son literally just asked me what I was doing and I told him I was writing a review of Camp Keystone (which he attended over a year and half ago) and he just blurted out, "That place sucks! Why did the counselor have to kick the ball so hard at me?" My 11 year old son has no agenda, no ill will. He's just telling it the way it happened.

Awesome camp! The best I have seen. I have 2 kids age 6 and 8 and both of them could not wait to go to camp Keystone. They have been taking a bus to get there. Bus was always on time, drivers and bus stuff friendly and very responsible. You could see how much attention they paid to kids safety. Camp itself is beautiful place.Big opening in the hills, huge shady trees. Lots of activities! You name it. Starting from cfaft and swimming to horseback riding, archery, and fishing. Stuff is most helpful, supportive and nice. Kids are looking forward for the next summer.

I m going to preface my review by saying that I, in 2016, detested the notion of being sent to summer camp. I wanted to remain in my bedroom undisturbed, accompanied only by my technology and whatever artery-clogging concession I could get my hands on. My father, the titular bearer of bad news to my preteenage self, concluded that I needed to choose a summer camp to keep myself occupied. I ended up deciding to spend my summer at Camp Keystone because of all of the fun activities their website offered. I didn t expect much of it, that is, until I arrived. The place in its entirety was, well, realistically ethereal. The tall trees, the sprawling grass field, & the beautiful Santa Monica mountains surrounding the general vicinity had me absolutely captivated! I met the counselors & fellow campers of my group, and spent my first day of camp having my expectations contradicted in such positive ways. Counselors were funny, caring, and enthusiastic. Each and every activity was so awesome! Needless to say, when my father picked me up at my bus stop, I was beaming and let him know that this was the place I wanted to be. I never knew a first day could go so well! I absolutely, positively loved that place. When the summer came to a bittersweet culmination, it gave me something to look forward to in 2017. Throughout the three seasons I ve been at Camp Keystone, I ve received the opportunity to turn complete strangers into family. I ve just finished my 2018 season, and I just can t wait to see what fantastic fun the 2019 season brings. I give this place an 11/10.