Rolling River Day Camp

★★★★★Amanda Stein

We love Rolling River! It is truly a home away from home for my kids. The facilities are clean and well maintained, there are SO many activities to keep the kids entertained, and I can relax knowing that the kids are in the best hands with the amazing staff. We can’t wait to do it all again this summer!

★★★★★Fara Bellows

My son was lucky enough to spend a blissful summer session at RRDC. He had an absolute blast. They have virtually every activity a kid could ask for, and their schedules are jam packed, no down time. They prioritize fun and safety, and I can confidently say that the leadership puts your kid first. Highly recommend!

★Ang

Didn’t have a good experience. Son went here about 9 years ago. Did provide a review on the evaluation form at the time but received no contact or follow up which shows lack of concern or care. Perhaps there is care and concern but maybe for those who are better connected to this place and to the people who run it. Hesitant to write this back then for various reason. You are sold the world during the marketing day. Positives- swimming program is great and activities are a lot, perhaps too much. Bussing is good and the counselors were kind. Paid quite a lot you are expected to pay a “recommended” high % tip to many…interesting. On the day they sell you their marketing pitch, they commit they work with you to ensure your child is provided a nutritious meal… my son ate bagels daily. When I questioned him he said he doesn’t have options except for that. When I raised this concern, I was disregarded and nothing was done. Seems like the owners/their children who run the camp felt bagels was a good alternative if there was no other option. Son needed meds for the tail end of a virus and I guess I didn’t realize because I unintentionally didn’t follow the process of informing the nurse about the meds. I was hoping the counselor would pass the documents and meds on. Oh boy… big mistake, she spoke to me so rudely. I apologized but she didn’t care and why didn’t she care, she is like family to the family who owns the camp. No winning there. And that wasn’t the only time she was rude. I witnessed her during pick up talking to others that way. I guess that’s what well connected ppl can get away with it… she knew she would never face any consequences and behaved as such. Lastly, I joined the camp based on my child’s friends attending. I was told by one family that they are given flexibility especially if their child is sick and such to reschedule (they didn’t have a different package). I guess that family got special treatment. Anyway, lastly my child caught a virus from another sick child who attended camp and as a result my child was out for the last two weeks. When I tried to address, there was no accommodation. I didn’t beg or pry because I am not that. For a normal middle class family this was a tough lesson learned. Never again. Perhaps this is for certain income brackets. To this day never received a phone call with even some empathy. My child was very happy not to attend the years after. He didn’t enjoy his experience there. He often cried to not go as well but bc we spent so much we made him go. Overall, still to this day I feel very ripped off and out of all of our spending through the years, this was the most wasteful.

★★★★★Ryan Fisk

As a 20-year educator and parent of two enrolled campers, I cannot speak more highly of Rolling River! The entire Goodman family (owners/directors) are all hands on deck, involved in the day to day, and always engaging with campers, staff, and families. There's an incredible culture and camaraderie between everyone, from the group leaders who attended Rolling River decades ago as campers, all the way to the new counselors. Most important of all, everyone we've met at orientation, meet the matey's, reunion events, etc. are patient and nurturing, and truly enjoy working with children. The leadership team and head counselors are educators and it really shows throughout each camp day. Yes, the kids are here to have the time of their lives, but beneath all the fun, there's real substance and intentionality throughout the day. In the STEAM lab, there's a weekly theme and age appropriate lessons for each group. Sports/athletic blocks promote participation and teamwork. And instructional swim lessons use every square inch of the pools to maximize practice and repetitions. Between the waterfront with boating. kayaking and paddleboarding, a great mix of outside vendors/instructors, and included field trips, there's a ton of variety day to day. And we can't forget the always over-the-top special days (e.g. carnival day) and end of summer color war! It may seem cliche but we really noticed both of our kids "come out of their shells" after each camp season. They were more confident in playing sports and participating, noticeably more comfortable in the pool, and the biggest win of all was conquering their stage fright. I can attribute that last one to song and plaque day and the theatrical performance each group works on with the great team at "To The Stage" in Oceanside. We so appreciate everyone at the RIVA and recommend Rolling River without hesitation. We're already counting down the days until summer and just another two years before our little guy is old enough to join his two sisters in the fun. Thank you!

★★★★★Camalle Wellington

Rolling River Day camp is like Disney world to my son. This place is a wonderland. Every summer my son gets excited to go to camp. The staff are amazing, the activities and trips that they plan for the kids are top tier. Every day my son gets off the bus I get so jealous when he starts to tell me all the fun activities he does at Rolling River. It’s pricey but so worth every penny.