Jamboree Keeps 1,600 Day Campers Entertained

Ancient Egypt, a futuristic land called Stargate, and Jurassic Park were featured Thursday in Woodley Park as children from summer day camps throughout the San Fernando Valley gathered for a super jamboree.

Sponsored by the city of Los Angeles Recreation and Parks Department, the event kept more than 1,600 children and nearly 300 counselors and other staffers in perpetual motion. The children enjoyed having their faces painted, racing through inflatable obstacle courses, shooting baskets into a hoop held by a stilt walker and making miniature papier-mache mummies and Cleopatras.

A firing range where the weapons were frog-shaped squirt guns and the targets counselors was very popular.

Wendy Wilkinson, jamboree chairwoman and a 30-year Parks Department veteran, remembers when summer camp was more supplement than necessity.

“We used to offer a one-day sports camp or a daylong travel camp,” she recalled. “Now we have kids five days a week from dawn until 6 p.m.

“It’s sad parents can’t be with their kids more, but we’re glad we can offer some wholesome activities.”

Originally, most counselors were volunteers from local high schools, said Ann Vollmer, camping supervisor for the entire city. “Now most are college-age and receive up to 24 hours of training.”

Building team spirit and improving youngsters’ people skills are among the day camp goals, Wilkinson said.

“What we hope by this, as different as kids think that they are, that they’ll realize we’re all the same. It’s easier to learn to get along when you’re doing fun projects”

Karlyn Watkins, 6, of Woodland Hills, reflected on a more fundamental lesson of day camp: “You should never wear long pants on hot days.”