It’s Tuesday afternoon, and you’re stuck in traffic on the 405. Your meeting took longer than you thought. Meanwhile, your kid is having a great time at surf camp on the beach in Santa Monica, not even thinking about the time. If you’ve ever signed your child up for summer surf camp and worried, “What if I’m late to pick them up?” you’re not alone. Lots of parents wonder about this, and it makes total sense.
The good news is, at Aqua Surf, we’ve got you covered. We offer extended care, so you don’t have to worry if you’re running late. You can drop your child off as early as 8:00 am and pick them up late if you get caught up with something. Extended care costs $40 per child, per hour. If you’d like to set it up, just schedule it through our online portal:
The Part Nobody Tells You About Planning for Summer Camp
When parents look for surf camps, they want to make sure the basics are covered: is it safe, will my kid learn, and are the instructors good with kids? These things matter a lot. But there’s also another worry, like how pickup will work. That can make parents nervous.
Summer days don’t always go as planned. Maybe your meeting goes late,
or your doctor’s appointment takes longer than expected. And somehow it’s always on a camp pickup day. But this is just how life goes, and that’s why having a flexible plan is a smart move.
The best thing about extended care isn’t just the extra time. It’s knowing your child is safe, with people they know and trust, in a place they feel comfortable, and never left waiting or wondering where you are.
What Extended Care Actually Looks Like
At Aqua Surf School, we offer extended care both before and after camp, and each one is helpful in its own way.
Morning Extended Care (8:00 am – 9:00 am) is for families who need to drop off their child early. Maybe you have to get to work, have an early meeting, or take another child to school. With this option, you can bring your child without rushing. They can get comfortable and feel safe in good hands before camp starts at 9:00 am.
Afternoon Extended Care (3:00 pm – 5:00 pm) is helpful if you need more time at the end of the day. Normal pickup is between 2:45 pm and 3:15 pm. That time is short, and sometimes things come up. With afternoon care, you have two more hours, so you don’t have to worry if you’re late.
The price is $40 per child, per hour. You can sign up for extra care ahead of time on our website, so everything’s sorted before your child even sets foot on the beach.
Drop-Off, Pickup, and the Logistics That Actually Matter
At Aqua Surf, safety is very important. It’s not just about being safe in the water. We also care about who picks up your child and when.
Every child is signed in by a parent or guardian when they arrive, and signed out when they leave. This is not just paperwork. It’s a step taken to make sure your child is safe all day. If someone else, like a grandparent or family friend, will pick up your child, you can add their name to your account online. That way, our team knows who to expect.
If your teen is older and can go home alone, we allow it, but we need your written permission first. So if that applies to your family, letting us know that in advance would be amazing.
If you know you will be late picking up your child, please call or text us. Our staff will stay with your child in a shaded area, with sunscreen and water, until you arrive. We never leave kids waiting in the heat. This is just one way we show we care.
Working Extended Care Into Your Family’s Summer Plan
Many parents think extended care is only for emergencies. But if you know your week is busy or you often have trouble picking up on time, it can help to plan for extended care ahead of time. It’s easier to add it when you sign up, instead of waiting until the last minute.
Our online booking system makes this really easy for you. When you create or log into your account, you can manage your child’s schedule and add extended care all in one place. If you know some days are always busy, you can add extra care just for those days. If mornings are busy for you, you can bring your child to camp early, starting at 8:00 am, by using morning extended care.
If you have more than one child at camp, remember the extended care fee is charged for each child, per hour. Keep this in mind when planning which days you need extra care.
A Quick Note on Communication
We really want parents to talk with us. Good communication makes things easier for everyone, especially your child. If you are running late, please call or text us. If your plans change during the week, tell the beach administrator when you drop off your child. If someone different is picking up your child, add that information to your account profile so we know.
Our office is open Monday to Friday, 8:00 am to 5:00 pm. You can reach us by phone, text, or email at info@aquasurf.com. For questions about pickup or extended care, our team is always at the beach to help.
The Bigger Picture
It’s easy to worry about all the details of summer camp. But we have been running camps since 1997 and have welcomed thousands of kids at beaches in Santa Monica, Malibu Beach, Redondo Beach, Manhattan Beach, and more. We’ve seen every kind of pickup and schedule problem you can think of. That’s why we offer extended care, because we know what families need.
Surf camp could be the most memorable highlight of your child’s summer. It’s all about early mornings, beach days, new friends, and learning to ride the waves. The small details, like pickup, shouldn’t get in the way of that fun. With the extended care option, you can relax, knowing your child is taken care of, even if your day doesn’t go as planned.
Ready to lock in your dates for summer surf camp?
Explore all of Aqua Surf’s Summer Surf Camp options and check out camp locations to find the beach closest to you.