Off to Camp

* The cost of summer camp need not be prohibitive. Excellent facilities in Griffith Park have weekly rates from $155.

With summer well upon us, the dream of many children is to go to summer camp. Unfortunately, the prices at many overnight camps are prohibitive, and many parents have to pass. But there is another option through the Los Angeles Department of Recreation and Parks: Two excellent camps are in Griffith Park, both accredited by the American Camping Assn. and both affordable.

Camp Hollywoodland Girls Camp is for girls 6 to 14, with fees ranging from a base price of $155 up to $180 for one week, with the extra money covering a field trip.

Girls 15 to 17 may attend a counselor-in-training program for $90 a week, with no field trip fee.

A field trip to Disneyland is scheduled for Session No. 1, July 5 through 10, and adds $25 to the base price. Knott’s Berry Farm, Universal Studios and Magic Mountain trips add $20.

Other trips include a Dodger game ($10) and Camelot Fun Park in Anaheim ($20).

The camping week begins at 8 a.m. Monday, when campers are dropped off, and lasts until 10 a.m. Saturday, when they are released to parents.

A beautiful Southwestern lodge has recently been completed, and it is here that campers have their meals and enjoy many of their activities.

Swimming, hiking, horseback riding, music, dance and arts and crafts are scheduled throughout the week, and on two evenings, there’s a sing-along around the campfire.

Nine weekly sessions are planned for the summer, starting July 5 and ending the week of Aug. 30.

Each session has a theme: Session No. 2, July 12 to 17, is titled “Mystery Madness,” and a visit to Redondo Beach and pier is the planned field trip. The mystery theme is carried out in a life-size Clue game and a hunt for the Treasure of Hollywoodland. This trip adds no additional charge to the base price.

The theme for the week of July 26 to 31 is “Ecology Expo,” and there will be an overnight camp-out in Decker Canyon with hiking, outdoor cooking, and nature and ecology activities for $10.

For boys ages 6 to 14, Griffith Park Boys Camp operates much like Hollywoodland but with fewer extra-fee field trips.

Session No. 2, July 12 to 17, offers an excursion to Magic Mountain for $20 over the base price, and Session No. 6, Aug. 9 to 14, a trip to Knott’s Berry Farm for an extra $20.

The basic weekly rate is $155 and includes meals, accommodations and activities such as swimming, archery, field games, canoeing and outdoor cooking.

Eligibility is determined without regard to race, color, religion or national origin.

Campers may attend as many weeks as registration and the family budget allow, but the sooner one signs up, the better the chance to attend, since applications to both camps are accepted on a first-come, first-served basis.

Deadline for registration is two weeks before each session, but it is worth calling after the deadline in case the session is not completely booked.

There is a $10 fee, however, for registration after the deadline.

WHERE TO GO What: Camp Hollywoodland Girls Camp, 3200 Canyon Drive, Hollywood 90068 (location and mailing address.) Call: (213) 467-7193 for brochure or information. What: Mailing address for Griffith Park Boys Camp is 4730 Crystal Springs Drive, Los Angeles 90027. Call: (213) 664-0571 for a brochure or information.