I'm happy to present our third 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. We organized this guide by geography to help you find the camps you're looking for: South of the {510} | Marin and North | Sierra and Tahoe Region. Now, pack up your giant duffle and let's go!
Overnight Sleepaway Camps (Sponsors)
South of the {510}: South Bay, Silicon Valley and Santa Cruz Sleepaway Camps
JCC Maccabi Sports Camp (Menlo College, Atherton)
JCC Maccabi Sports Camp is an overnight Jewish sports camp. Combines top-notch coaching and skill development with a camp culture guided by Jewish values. Campers and staff live and play in a welcoming, fun, and encouraging Jewish community. For grades 3 to 11.
Website >
Duration: One week; two week; and 4 week sessions.
Deal: Save $50 off one session of camp with code 510families.
“My dreams of my son having an experience where he can connect to his Jewish culture, find friends he relates to, and build his independence have come true.”
YMCA Camp Loma Mar (Santa Cruz Mountains)
YMCA Camp Loma Mar helps youth and teens develop independence and an appreciation of the outdoors! Surrounded by giant redwoods, campers make friendships and memories that last a lifetime. Activities include swimming, archery, climbing wall, zip line, crafts, sports, campfires, games and more! Ages 7 to 15. Camp offers a tiered pricing model to encourage more families to come, and offers optional bus service from Oakland.
Website >
Duration: 1 week sessions
Amplify Sleepover Camp (Ojai Valley)
Girls 10-17 years old choose a creative arts track to learn new skills while working together and developing self-esteem tools. All skill levels welcome to try guitar, bass, drums, vocals, keys or other instruments. Workshops include photography, beatboxing, punk rock yoga.
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Duration: One week sessions
Price: $1200/week
Deal: Use code 510n for 5% OFF
“Girls Rock/Amplify was an amazing experience for my daughter. She came back transformed and filled with wonderful memories. She can't wait to go back.”
Frontier Ranch (Scotts Valley)
Rising 4th graders through junior high campers will combine adrenaline sports with getting to know God. Many activities available (some, like surfing, require an additional fee)
Website >
Duration: One week sessions
Price: $399/week
Hidden Villa (Los Altos Hills)
Programs for rising 4th through 10th graders. Resident program begins for those entering fifth grade and is a 12-day camp with wide array of activities and a focus on social justice. Registration begins in January.
Website >
Duration: 5-day for those entering 4th and 5th grades; 12 day program for older campers
“When I was a kid, I LOVED Hidden Villa. I am looking forward to sending my kids there when they are old enough!” ~ Karen
Kennolyn Camps (Soquel, CA)
Offering specialty camps in equestrian, surfing, adventure, or good old-fashioned resident camp, Kennolyn is located on 300 acres of redwood forest, with close proximity to the beach. For 1st through 9th graders.
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Duration: Session length varies throughout the summer.
Skylark Ranch Girl Scout Camp (Santa Cruz Mountains)
Skylark Ranch resident camp offers traditional camp adventures and specialty programs just for girls. Unique programs include beginning to advanced horseback riding, ocean aquatic adventures, ropes courses, field trips, wilderness skills, family camp and more! For girls entering 2nd thru 12th grade. You don't have to be a Girl Scout to register.
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Duration: 4- to 12-day sessions
YMCA Camp Campbell (Campbell, Santa Cruz mountains)
For ages 7-16, Camp Campbell offers a traditional sleepaway camp experience in cabins with a wide range of activities from singing, reading and jewelry-making to tennis, ultimate frisbee, and football.
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Duration: Two-week sessions are typical; mini camps also available.
Northern California Overnight Camps (Marin and North)
YMCA Camp Ravencliff (Redway in Humboldt County)
YMCA Camp Ravencliff helps campers develop skills and values, fostering imagination and building friendships in a safe and supportive community. Activities include swimming, canoeing, hiking, sports, crafts, campfires, games and more! Camp offers tiered pricing to encourage more families to come and offers free bus transportation from Richmond and Santa Rosa. Ages 7 to 15.
Website >
Duration: 1 week sessions
“Ravencliff was the first place I was accepted for who I was as opposed to having to live up to peer standards. It helped shape my life.” ~ Amy, camper/leader/volunteer 1987 to present
Bar 717 Ranch Summer Camp (Hayfork, Trinity County)
Bar 717 Ranch offers children ages 8-16 the opportunity to spend the summer on a beautiful mountain ranch. Campers choose activities including horsemanship, river swimming, arts/crafts, photography, music, archery, blacksmithing and more.
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Duration: One week, two week, four week sessions
“We picked up two very happy campers, and they immediately announced that they couldn't wait to come back next summer! Our kids couldn't be more different, and each of them found people to connect with and activities to enjoy–what a lovely occurrence.” ~ Susie, parent
Bothin Girl Scout Camp (Fairfax, Marin County)
Bothin is a traditional resident camp just for girls and features general sampler adventures as well as specialty programs such as ropes course activities, performing arts, field trips, animals, STEM, art, family camp and more. For girls entering 1st through 12 grade. You don't have to be a Girl Scout to register.
Website >
Duration: 4- to 12-day sessions
Cazadero Music Camp (near the Russian River in Sonoma County)
Cazadero Music Camp brings the love of music and learning to young musicians ages 10-18. Campers work closely with skilled Conductors, talented Music Faculty, and a devoted Camp Staff. Young musicians program starts at age 6 for children with at least one year's experience on their instrument.
Website >
Price/Duration: Schedule and fees here.
“Cazadero Music Camp is amazing for older, music-playing (“One time at Band Camp…”) kiddos. For rising 5th graders and up. Gorgeous place, incredible staff. Great way to get better at an instrument very quickly.” ~ Alissa
Camp Common Ground (Occidental, CA)
A multicultural leadership camp that brings together middle schoolers from different socioeconomic and racial backgrounds. In the redwoods, campers enjoy traditional summer camp (swimming, hiking, archery) and special team challenges to develop our core skills: empathy, cultural understanding, and leadership.
Website >
Camp Full Belly Farm (Capay Valley, one hour northwest of Sacramento)
This year's information not available. Preference is given to CSA members. Campers become “farm kids” for a week by participating in all aspects of farming, from milking cows and collecting eggs to harvesting fresh fruit and vegetables for their meals. Evenings are filled with campfires, game playing, and skits.
Duration: Sessions are one week
“My daughter and I both love Camp Full Belly Farm; Molly has been going since age 7 so this will be her third year. It is a fantastic place, caring and family-like setting for kids who don’t mind getting dirty.” ~ Alissa
Point Reyes (Point Reyes National Seashore)
Camp programs combine outdoor adventuring with environmental education techniques, marine and coastal field excursions, and traditional summer camp activities. Ages 7-12 do nature science camp and ages 12-17 take on adventure camp.
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Duration: one-week session
“Point Reyes is an incredible camp; one of those camps kids return to year after year. I think of it as a life experience.” ~ Liz
Trackers Overnight Camps (Mobile adventure program with bus transport from Berkeley)
Truly adventurous from the California Coast Road Trip to backpacking in the Sierras, we merge traditional outdoor skills with backcountry adventure. Airport transportation available to Oregon forest overnight camp. Trackers overnight camps are available for rising 5th – 12th graders.
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Camp Unalayee (Trinity Alps with bus transit from Berkeley Marina)
Camp Unalayee is a wilderness backpacking camp that provides diverse young people with transformational experiences and outdoor adventures since 1949. Whether boating, backpacking, making crafts or learning leadership skills, campers learn how to safely enjoy a remarkably beautiful wilderness setting. Ages 10 to 17.
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URJ Camp Newman (Santa Rosa)
Adventure, friendship and the joy of Judaism! URJ Camp Newman’s overnight summer camp and teen travel programs give 3rd-12th graders the chance to form lifelong friends, seek adventure, discover Judaism, explore passions, develop new skills—and have a ton of fun.
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Wanderers (Multiple with buses from SF)
Wanderers offers outdoor education-focused day and overnight camps throughout northern California for kids, ages 8-14. Active one-week summer camp with days spent touching tide pool starfish, finding huckleberries, and camping and backpacking in some of California's most magnificent wilderness areas.
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Woodward Tahoe Skateboard Camp (Soda Springs)
Top pro skateboarders and instructors will be on the call to help you dial in your next move. With 35 additional activities and delicious food when you need a break from riding. As if. Co-ed for ages 7 to 19.
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Young Actors’ Theatre Camp (Multiple)
The YATC Overnight Summer Camp sessions are 11 days/10 nights. Ages 8-18, all levels encouraged.
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Sierra and Tahoe Region Overnight Camps
Mountain Meadow Ranch (Northern Sierras Tahoe)
Traditional, co-ed sleepaway camp located on a 900-acre ranch north of Lake Tahoe. Small enrollment with family-like environment. Horseback riding, paintball, archery, water sports, ropes courses, all-camp games, and more. Escorted flights offered to/from Oakland to Reno. For ages 7 to 16.
Website >
Duration: two-week sessions
Price: $3400; earlybird savings until May 1; 5% discount for siblings
“MMR is a wonderful place that teaches tolerance, inclusiveness, understanding of other people's differences, and how to be independent while also being responsible. Who could ask for more?” ~ L. Smith
Camp Chrysalis (Big Sur, Mendocino, Sierras, Sequoia National Park)
Camp Chrysalis offers children (8.5-18 years of age) the chance to combine recreation, learning, woodworking, crafts, and personal growth in three distinctive natural environments: Big Sur redwoods, Mendocino coastal tidepools and Sierra Nevada mountains. Family camp available.
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Deer Crossing Camp (Eldorado National Forest near Lake Tahoe)
An outdoor adventure for 8-17 year olds in Northern California's High Sierra with emphasis on skill-building and wilderness safety in a Daniel Boone location (where campers hike in and gear is boated in).
Website >
Duration: one week; two week; four week sessions
Echo Lake (High Sierra near South Lake Tahoe, Bus from Berkeley included in fees)
This year, youth ages 7 to 13 can enjoy a five-day overnight summer camp available in three single-week August sessions at this camp in the foothills of Lake Tahoe. Daily activities include: canoeing, swimming, sports, all-camp games, fishing, archery, arts & crafts and hiking. Bus service is provided to/from Berkeley. Family camp also available.
Website >
Gold Arrow Camp (near Kings Canyon)
In our beautiful setting on Huntington Lake, in the heart of the Sierra National Forest, campers have a chance to enjoy a traditional outdoor camp, complete with rustic living and nightly campfires and getting “unplugged.” For ages 7 to 14.
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Duration: one week; two week; three week sessions
Mountain Camp (near Lake Tahoe in Eldorado National Forest)
Mountain Camp is a sleep-away, adventure camp offering 1 and 2 week sessions for kids entering 2nd-12th grade. Located on Ice House Lake, near Tahoe, campers choose activities from ropes course and wake boarding to art and music.
Website >
Price: $1900/week
SkyLake Yosemite Camp (Wishon in Sierra National Forest)
Skylake Yosemite Camp is a classic co-ed summer camp for boys and girls age 7 to 15 on Bass Lake, near Yosemite, with small cabin groups and activities from Horseback riding to Waterskiing, with a side benefit of unplugging and growing in a thriving community of campers and counselors. Family Camp also available.
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Sugar Pine Girl Scout Camp (Big Trees, Calveras County)
Sugar Pine resident camp, nestled in the heart of the Sierra Nevada Foothills, offers traditional camp experiences and amazing high adventure fun just for girls. Unique programs include high ropes climbing, archery, horseback riding, caving, field trips, white water rafting, wilderness skills, family camp and more! For girls entering 2nd thru 12th grade. You don't have to be a Girl Scout to register.
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Camp Tawonga (Groveland, near Yosemite)
For grades 2 to 12. Camp Tawonga is a co-ed residential camp located just outside Yosemite National Park on the Tuolumne River. Since 1925, their mission of self-esteem, community, appreciation for nature, and fostering positive Jewish identity has been woven through the programs.
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Duration: “A taste of camp” is a 6-day session for those new to overnight camp; Regular sessions last from 2 to 3 weeks.
Two Rivers Soccer Camp (Graegle, CA, in the northern part of Tahoe National Forest)
Boys and girls age 7 to 17. Camper fee includes all soccer instruction, housing and meals. Bay Area shuttle provided for a fee.
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Walton's Grizzly Lodge (Sierras)
Campers ages 7 – 14 choose daily from over 40 activities including water sports, horseback riding, craft activities, athletics, archery and ropes course activities with a 500 foot zip line across the private lake.
Website >
Duration: One- and two-week sessions
Camp Winnarainbow (Mendocino County)
Stilts, trapeze, drama, juggling, unicycle, martial arts, swimming, singing, dancing, hot cocoa, the labyrinth, hanging out and more for campers ages 7–14. There will be a final show for parents and friends on the last day of every two-week session
Website >
Duration: One- and two-week sessions
Thanks again to our sponsors:
- JCC Maccabi Sports – Rising 4th thru 11th graders at Menlo College, Atherton
- YMCA Camp Loma Mar – Kids age 7 to 15 in Santa Cruz Mountains
- YMCA Camp Ravencliff – Kids age 7 to 15 in Humboldt County
- Amplify Sleepover Camp – Girls age 10 to 17 in the Ojai Valley
- Mountain Meadow Ranch – Kids age 7 to 16 in the Northern Sierras near Reno
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.
CAMP COMMON GROUND—OAKLAND:
A two-week, overnight summer camp that brings racially and economically diverse middle schoolers together. We equip them with the leadership, social-emotional, and cultural competencies that they’ll use to develop meaningful relationships with each other. And we have so much fun!
Safe: Founded and led by experienced camp professionals, who are also Bay Area educators during the school year.
Affordable: Camp Common Ground Oakland costs less than the average Bay Area overnight camp; we even offer scholarships to families in need in order to maintain the economic diversity that makes our camp special. We charge less because the magic of the camp requires that youth leaders from all walks of life can attend.
Convenient: In order to form bonds faster, all campers and staff leave and return by bus. We gather in Downtown Oakland on June 19, 2016 and head to CYO Campground in the beautiful Redwoods. After spending two weeks together, we return by bus on July 2.
Fun: Through our programming focused on cross-cultural relationship-building, empathy, and leadership, every child will build life-long friendships with their fellow campers while acquiring the leadership skills they will need in order to have a leg up in the world!
GAIA GIRLS PASSAGES ~ SPRING OPEN HOUSES AND NATURE BASED SUMMER PROGRAMS 2017:
Open Houses for Girls and Female Care-Giver
Saturday, April 22 & Saturday, May 13 from 10am-1pm in TIlden Regional Park
More info and RSVP here: http://www.gaiagirlspassages.com/gatherings/openhouses/
Gaia Girls Passages provides a vibrant inter-generational community that helps girls feel connected to the natural world and builds confidence, voice, and leadership and supports girls through the changes from childhood to young womanhood.
Artemis Village Wilderness Camp: July 17- 23, 2017, for girls entering grades 4-9 and female care-giver at beautiful Camp Tamarancho in Marin County. Girls attend camp Monday to Sunday and Moms join for the weekend. Artemis Village Wilderness Camp provides girls with an inter-generational female community, nature connection, campfires, theatre, singing, crafting, survival skills, outdoor adventure and more. Each age group has their own beautiful campground, surrounded by Oak and Redwood, and spend days on the land, swimming in the lake, and around the campfire at night.
Backcountry Immersion Trip for Teen Girls: July 3 – July 10, 2017 for teen girls entering grades 8-11, Marble Mountains Wilderness in Northern California. This immersion includes backpacking, swimming in alpine lakes, wild plant ID, tracking animals, leadership and self-awareness skills. Feel the aliveness of being in these vast landscapes, and come home feeling more connected to yourself, a group of amazing girls and women, and the land!
Need based and diversity scholarships offered. Please inquire.
See more information and register for these summer programs:
http://www.gaiagirlspassages.com/summer-camps/