Griffith Overnight Camps Let You Park the Kids for Less

With rates that run upward of $500 for a five-day session, overnight summer camps for boys and girls have become prohibitive for many families. But one of the best-kept secrets in town is that the city of Los Angeles Department of Recreation and Parks has overnight camps in Griffith Park that are less then $200.

Camp Hollywoodland is for girls ages 6 to 14 and includes weekly programs with trips to Magic Mountain or a Dodger game, Knott’s Berry Farm or Disneyland.

The session offering the baseball game (June 26 to July 1) runs $145. The week of the Disneyland excursion (July 24 to July 29) is $180.

The Griffith Park Boys Camp, also for 6- to 14-year-olds, includes most of the same excursions, again with the top price of $180 for the week of the Disneyland trip (July 24 to July 29) and $145 for a week with a wacky sports event featuring Frisbee golf, three-legged soccer and one-armed baseball at Staples Center (June 26 to July 1).

The usual camping activities--archery, horseback riding, swimming and hiking--are offered at both camps, with arts and crafts for more quiet time. Parents drop their child off at 8 a.m. Monday mornings and pick them up Saturday at 9:30 a.m.

Ten weekly sessions start June 26 and end Aug. 28. Both camps are accredited by the American Camping Assn. for excellence in program quality, safety and health, and both also offer counselor leadership training programs for 15- to 17-year-olds. Camp fees include meals, lodging, supervision, workshops, activities, field trips and park ranger security.

One particular plus for parents who tend to worry when their child is too far from home is the proximity of Griffith Park to almost anywhere in Los Angeles. Call for a brochure. To see the camp facilities, attend open house days May 7, June 4 and June 11 from 1 to 3 p.m.

Camp Hollywoodland, 3200 Canyon Drive, Hollywood. (323) 467-7193. Griffith Park Boys Camp, 4730 Crystal Springs Drive, Los Angeles. (323) 664-0571.

Supersale of the Week: Beginning Thursday, one of the Southland’s best women’s resale stores, P.J. London, is having a designer sale with deals worth noting for the woman who wants current fashions by Ralph Lauren, Jil Sander or Chanel at 60% off their already drastically reduced prices. Sale starts at 10:30 am.

P.J. London, 11661 San Vicente Blvd., Brentwood. (310) 826-4649.