I'm happy to present our sixth Sleepaway Camp Guide for Bay Area families as a companion to our East Bay Day Camp Guide. Be sure to tell us in the comments your favorites that we missed. Now, pack up your giant duffle and let's go!
Please note that all camps with logos are paid sponsors.
Sleepaway Camps in California
iD Tech (UC Berkeley, Stanford, many others)
Learn to code, design video games, mod Minecraft, create with Roblox, engineer robots, and work with AI at iD Tech. Overnight camp held at UC Berkeley and Stanford, and more locations.
Camp Duration: One- and two-week programs
Price: Varies
Grade entering: 4th, 5th, 6th, 7th, 8th, 9th, 10th, 11th, 12th
Jam Camp West
Jam Camp West is an exciting, creative and fun 7-day (6-night) music, dance and vocal program held in Loma Mar, CA for 10-15 year olds of all skill levels, providing extremely high quality music and dance curriculum taught by leading educators.
Camp Duration: 7-day (6-night)
Price: $995
Grade entering: 4th, 5th, 6th, 7th, 8th, 9th, 10th
Online Fees Waived use code "510jam2020" at checkout
Avid4 Adventure Overnight Expedition Camps
Avid4 expedition campers sleep in tents every night and adventure every day, choosing to focus on a water sport or a multi-sport experience for the week. Campers explore their spectacular surroundings and log lots of practice in outdoor sports learning skills in gear management, cooking outdoors, problem solving, and teamwork. Available for rising 5th - 9th graders.
Camp Duration: 6 days, Sunday through Friday
Price: Full price is $1,365. Early bird and sibling discounts available.
Grade entering: 5th, 6th, 7th, 8th, 9th
Outward Bound Costa Rica (OBCR)
OBCR offers unforgettable summer courses for adventurers, aged 14-18. All courses include the opportunity for students to volunteer in remote communities; gain valuable leadership and Spanish language skills; and discover the rainforests, rivers and reefs of Costa Rica & Panama.
Camp Duration: 2-8 weeks, July-August.
Price: 2-week course: $2,930-$3,185. 3-week course: $3,950. 4-week course: $5,050. 5-week course: $6,098. 6-week course: $6,870. 7-week course: $8,160. 8-week course: $9,300. Scholarships & discounts available.
Grade entering: 8th, 9th, 10th, 11th, 12th
Trackers Earth Camps (Northern California and Oregon)
Trackers Bay overnight adventures use epic storytelling to teach real skills. Choose from backpacking camps visiting Point Reyes, the Sierras, and more. Older kids can join 11-day treks across Northern California and Oregon. Also offering teen leadership training for grades 8-12.
Camp Duration: 5-11 Days
Price: $1045-$1850
Grade entering: 5th, 6th, 7th, 8th, 9th, 10th, 11th, 12th
Mountain Meadow Ranch Summer Camp (Sierra Mountains)
A co-ed, traditional sleepaway camp for kids age 7 to 16, uniquely located on a 900 acre ranch in the Sierras north of Lake Tahoe. Limited enrollment allows for a more personal camp experience and family-like feel that bring all of the camp family together. Easy chaperoned flights to / from Oakland via Reno. 63 summers family-owned and operated.
Camp Duration: Two- & Four- Week Sessions Offered
Price: $3600 for 13 days, $6500 for 27 weeks
Grade entering: 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th, 6th, 7th, 8th, 9th, 10th, 11th, 12th
JCC Maccabi Sports Camp
JCC Maccabi Sports Camp is a Jewish overnight sports camp in the San Francisco Bay Area offering programs in soccer, basketball, baseball, volleyball and tennis for boys and girls entering grades 3-11. Community, culture and character are at the heart of a unique experience that combines high-level specialized sports instruction with the fun, friendship, and community of a Jewish overnight camp.
Camp Duration: 2 weeks
Price: 3595
Grade entering: 3rd, 4th, 5th, 6th, 7th, 8th, 9th, 10th, 11th, 12th
Use code 510FAMILIES to save $100 before 2/1/20
Camp Woolman (Sierra Nevada foothills)
Woolman's small community will help your camper shine. Overnight programming for children aged 9-17, days are full of backpacking, swimming, soccer, art, singing, and more. Woolman is a place for life-long friendships and just being yourself.
Camp Duration: 1 to 6 weeks
Price: $900/1 week, $1700/2 weeks, $2400/3 weeks. Scholarships available!
Grade entering: 4th, 5th, 6th, 7th, 8th, 9th, 10th, 11th, 12th
YMCA Camp Loma Mar Summer Camp
YMCA Camp Loma Mar is a traditional overnight summer camp focused on creating a magical experience full of exciting activities and deep connections. Camp offers rock climbing, zipline, archery, and so much more. Bus service from Oakland and Richmond.
Camp Duration: 1 week sessions from Sunday-Saturday
Price: $630
Grade entering: 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th, 6th, 7th, 8th, 9th, 10th, 11th, 12th
Artemis Wilderness Village Camp for Girls (and moms!)
Supporting families and children during the teenage years transition, Artemis Village offers community, nature connection, campfires, theater, singing, crafting, survival skills, herbalism, swimming, organic meals, and outdoor adventure. Each age group has a beautiful campground. Female caregivers join for the weekend.
Camp Duration: 7 days
Price: Tuition is $1,235. Scholarships available. Early bird pricing available.
Grade entering: 4th, 5th, 6th, 7th, 8th, 9th
Save $50 with code 510FAMILY
Camp BizSmart
Camp BizSmart is an exciting, hands-on entrepreneur experience for aspiring innovators and problem solvers. For ages 11 to 15, two-week immersion into product innovation is team-based with guidance from top CEOs with a final competition at Microsoft. Campers learn, have fun, and make lifelong friends. Additional creative workshops are available for 13-16 yr olds and for 16-19 yr olds.
Camp Duration: 2 weeks
Price: Tuition for 2 weeks is $2,283.75 housing is in addition to this
Grade entering: 5th, 6th, 7th, 8th, 9th, 10th, 11th, 12th
Gaia Girls Passages Teen Backpacking Trips
These teen backpacking trips are for female-identified and gender expansive teens who are ready to get out of the city, grow their comfort zone, seek new experiences, and discover the magic of the natural world that is always waiting for them.
Camp Duration: 5 days or 6 days (depending on the trip selected)
Price: Tuition is $1,140 or $1,392 depending on the trip selected. Scholarships available. Early bird discounts available.
Grade entering: 7th, 8th, 9th, 10th, 11th, 12th
Save $50 with code 510FAMILY
Camp Tawonga
Camp Tawonga is a 160-acre residential Jewish summer camp located on the middle fork of the Tuolumne River, a few miles west of Yosemite National Park, in the Stanislaus National Forest.
Camp Duration: 1-3 weeks
Price: $1,415/week
Grade entering: 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th, 6th, 7th, 8th, 9th, 10th, 11th, 12th
Cazadero Music Camp
‘Caz’ brings the love of music and learning to young musicians at this popular sleepaway camp. Campers work closely with skilled conductors, talented music faculty, and a devoted staff.
Camp Duration: 1- and 2-week programs
Price: Varies with earlybird savings
Grade entering: 5th, 6th, 7th, 8th, 9th, 10th, 11th, 12th
Bar 717 Ranch/Camp Trinity
Founded in 1930, the Bar 717 Ranch offers children, ages 8-16, the opportunity to spend the summer on a beautiful mountain ranch. Campers choose freely from activities including horsemanship, backpacking, gardening, animal care, river swimming, arts/crafts, photography, music, archery, blacksmithing and ceramics.
Camp Duration: 2 weeks
Price: $3510
Grade entering: 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th, 6th, 7th, 8th, 9th, 10th
Camp Augusta (Nevada City)
Camp Augusta is a sleepaway camp where children learn to live together in a supportive atmosphere that promotes personal and social growth. Ages 8 to 16. Family camp and mini camp also available.
Camp Duration: Varies
Price: $3375 for 2-weeks or $1875 for 1-week program
Grade entering: 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th, 6th, 7th, 8th, 9th, 10th, 11th, 12th
Camp Be'chol Lashon
Camp Be’chol Lashon is a multicultural Jewish leadership camp for campers age 8-18 that teaches about global Jewish diversity, builds community leaders, and inspires a love of Judaism. The camp is held at beautiful Walker Creek Ranch in West Marin. Special leadership opportunities for ages 15-18.
Camp Duration: 2 weeks
Price: $3000
Grade entering: 3rd, 4th, 5th, 6th, 7th, 8th, 9th, 10th, 11th, 12th
Digital Media Academy Tech Camps at Stanford University
Digital Media Academy offers campers ages 9-18 a unique opportunity to live the life of a university student as they dorm in Stanford's overnight housing, develop STEAM skills, and create memories that will last a lifetime.
Camp Duration: Multi-week options are available. One course is typically one week (5 days). Academies (two courses) are two weeks long (10 days). Students have the ability to select multiple courses from June through August and stay for as long as they would like!
Price: Prices start at $1495 for one-week courses and $2270 for academies (two-weeks). Overnight Housing is $995/week.
Grade entering: 3rd, 4th, 5th, 6th, 7th, 8th, 9th, 10th, 11th, 12th
NatureBridge Summer Backpacking
NatureBridge Summer Backpacking programs are designed to develop future environmental leaders as they take students on a challenging physical and academic journey into spectacular wilderness in Yosemite and Olympic National Parks. No backpacking experience is necessary. Financial assistance is available.
Camp Duration: 1 week
Price: $1,430 / $1,670
Grade entering: 7th, 8th, 9th, 10th, 11th, 12th
Project Ember (Sebastopol)
Project Ember is an artistic engineering camp where kids work together to tackle imaginative design challenges and create their own larger-than-life solutions. Learn to use power tools, design thinking, prototyping, and above all, collaboration. Every session is unique and every project is one-of-a-kind.
Camp Duration: One week
Price: $1850/week
Grade entering: 5th, 6th, 7th, 8th, 9th, 10th, 11th, 12th
Skylake Yosemite Camp
American Camp Association accredited co-ed summer camp in the east coast tradition, Skylake is located on Bass Lake 20 miles from Yosemite. Full range of activities from horseback riding, mountain bikes and boating. Celebrating 75 years.
Camp Duration: Two weeks
Price: $3875
Grade entering: 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th, 6th, 7th
Big thanks again to our overnight camp sponsors:
- iD Tech – Kids age 10 to 17, UC Berkeley, Stanford, and many other locations
- Avid 4 Adventure – Kids entering grades 1st to 11th at two locations, Mt. Evans and Windy Peak
- Jam Camp West – Kids age 10 to 15 in Loma Mar, CA
- Outward Bound Costa Rica – Kids age 14 to 18 in Costa Rica and Panama
- Trackers Earth – Kids entering grades 5th to 12th, locations vary
- Mountain Meadow Ranch – Kids age 7 to 16 in the Northern Sierras near Reno
- JCC Maccabi – Kids entering grades 3rd to 11th in Atherton, CA
- Camp Woolman – Kids entering grades 4th to 10th near Nevada City, CA
- YMCA Camp Loma Mar – Kids age 7 to 15 in the Pescadero Valley
- Gaia Girls – Girls entering grades 4th to 12th, locations vary
- BizSmart – Kids age 11 to 15 in Silicon Valley
We work really hard to make sure that prices and descriptions are accurate but they can change; please check with vendor for current rates and availability; and tell ‘em 510families sent ya!
All decisions for this guide were made by Heather and Whitney, founders of 510families.com, we apologize for any errors or glaring omissions. Promotional consideration was paid by sponsored listings as indicated. If you’d like to be considered for future Camp Guides, please contact us at ads@510families.com for information.
[Photo of Felton area redwoods by Casey Horner via Unsplash]
Diane Tobin says
Hi Juan: Nice to hear from you and thank you for your interest in Camp Be’chol Lashon. Interesting to hear about your group of kids in China. Are you interested in actually sending the kids to attend camp in the US this summer? We actually teach about Jewish communities around the world, including China.
Lana says
Dear Parents, my 10 year old daughter Jaclyn is going to this amazing camp called Fly Your Kite Camp .
They teach children important practical life skills, no technology, all while being outdoors and doing such fun things as archery, ziplining, climbing wall, boating, and much more! Children will learn tons while having fun and exploring nature. Dates are July 28th through Aug 3, and it’s a sleep-away program. Located at Calvin Crest Conferences in Oakhurst, by the beautiful Yosemite. Bus from San Jose provided. I’m shouting out to parents of children aged 7-13 as it’s amazing opportunity to for them to learn and have fun in great outdoors!
As one of the parents in charge, I can share a promo code to make it really affordable for you! Message me!
Parent volunteers are welcome!
http://www.FlyYourKiteCamp.com for info