No Break From Fun for Kids at Park Camp

Children at Mason Recreation Center slammed into spring Tuesday afternoon by playing basketball at Camp Funtasia, one of eight day camps offered in the Valley this week by the Los Angeles Recreation and Parks Department.

The camps give children a chance to make new friends, work on craft projects and play sports. Other city recreation centers are offering activities, including Easter egg hunts, face painting and coloring contests.

“We’re just offering a fun week away from school,” said Justin Borenstein, director of Mason’s Camp Funtasia. “It’s better than staying at home, watching TV and being bored all day.”

Students throughout the Los Angeles Unified School District are taking a break this week, along with Simi Valley schools. Students in Burbank and Glendale schools will get their weeklong recess next week.

The children attending Camp Funtasia were supposed to play with water balloons Tuesday afternoon, but cold weather dashed those plans. Instead, they finished making Easter baskets and played games in the gym.

“I really like playing and making friends every day,” said 9-year-old Chad Slauson of Chatsworth. “This is a really cool spring break.”

Today, youths will head out on a daylong field trip to Magic Mountain. On Thursday, they will go to Skateland in Northridge.

Despite the fun, some children said they wanted to go back to school.

“I miss school because I miss seeing my friends,” said 11-year-old Jessica Magallon, a fifth-grader at Germain Street Elementary in Northridge. “But, I can’t wait to go to Magic Mountain and ride on Viper.”