Best Overnight Summer Camps in California

Top Overnight Camps in Northern California

Pinecrest Lake Overnight Camp
Stanislaus National Forest
Ages 7 - 14
Located 3 hours from Bay Area, Run for Fun Camps at Pinecrest Lake gives kids an unforgettable overnight experience in the beautiful Stanislaus National Forest. From games in the woods to kayaking on the lake to scenic horseback rides, your camper is sure to have a blast. One week and two week sessions are available. Visit the website here.

Bar 717 Ranch / Camp Trinity
Hayfork
Ages 8 - 16
Camp Trinity on the Bar 717 Ranch is a residential summer camp for kids ages 8-16, on 450 acres in the beautiful mountains of Trinity County in Northern California. Campers choose from activities that range from horseback riding, animal care, gardening, crafting, ceramics, and woodworking to backpacking trips, campfires, singing, and more. The camp offers four two-week sessions of summer camp as well as one week of Family Camp. Visit the website here.

Walton's Grizzly Lodge
Portola
Ages 7 - 15
Located in the quintessential summer camp setting just an hour north of Lake Tahoe, this camp boasts a private lake and beautiful grounds surrounded by pines. Kids take part in over forty activities including water sports, archery, horseback riding, athletics, sports, and much more. Choose from one or two-week sessions, with options to extend. Campers stay in fully equipped cabins with 8 to 16 other campers and 2 counselors. Visit the website here.

Camp Augusta Sleepaway Camp
Nevada City
Ages 8 - 16
Be part of a community of adventurous campers who learn about nature in a beautiful place with breathtaking waterfalls, old-growth trees, and an enchanting lake! Kids build friendships and participate in plenty of activities such as archery, horseback riding, ziplining, and climbing. If your kid (ages 6-8) has separation anxiety, you can try the mini camp which lasts only three days and two nights. The kids sleep in cabins under the supervision of a counselor, with a ratio of one counselor per two campers. Visit the website here.

Mountain Meadow Ranch
Susanville
Ages 7 - 16
Located in a 900-acre ranch on the northeastern slopes of the Sierra Nevada mountains, this family-owned camp has been around for over 60 years. Campers open up to new adventures such as animal care, archery, fishing, fencing, ceramics, arts and crafts, and more. Kids choose which activity they want to participate in each day, and sleep in bunk beds in uniquely decorated cabins with private bathrooms and showers. Cabins are separated by age and gender. Visit the website here.

Great Overnight Camps in Central California

Summer at Santa Catalina
Monterey
For girls, ages 8 - 14
Summer at Santa Catalina encourages girls ages 8-14 to access their own powerful inner resources in two-week camp sessions, or a five-week musical theater program. Activities take advantage of the Monterey Bay coastline with beach days, tide pooling, and outings to the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk, plus campers choose their own classes—from marine biology to surfing to visual arts. Visit the website here.

Camp Ocean Pines
Cambria
Ages 7 - 16
Camp Ocean Pines lies on thirteen acres of pine forest overlooking the ocean. The camp's mission is that hands-on contact with the environment creates a connection and love between the campers and nature that will translate into willingness and responsibility to take care of it. Campers have a flexible schedule where they will choose daily activities from a list that includes kayaking, playing with animals, music, ziplining, dancing, climbing trees, painting, archery, and more. Campers stay in cabins overlooking the ocean that sleep 8 campers and 2 counselors. Visit the website here.

Kennolyn Camps
Soquel
Ages 6 - 18
This sleepaway camp nests in a private area of 450 acres of redwood forest in the Santa Cruz Mountains. The camp has created a town-like little village in the middle of the woods where campers choose from an ample selection of activities like swimming, rope courses, golf, climbing, archery, soccer, and many more. Aside from all the outdoor activities, kids interact with farm animals who also live on site. Sleeping quarters are beautiful cabins that surround the Town Square that sleep up to 10 campers and two counselors. Visit the website here.

Camp Natoma
Paso Robles
Ages 6 - 16
Camp Natoma sits on a protected 360-acre oak woodland in the Adelaida Mountains. This is a 6-night camp program that has been around since 1941, and it's very unique in that campers sleep under the stars! There are five campsites, as well as a dining hall where kids eat family-style meals. Campers spend the day enjoying the great outdoors by hiking along beautiful trails. There are also activities such as archery, arts and crafts, dancing, and drama. Evenings are for gathering along the fire ring for camp songs and stories. Visit the website here.

Riverway Ranch Camp
Sanger
Ages 7-16
Kids can experience the summer of a lifetime at this traditional summer camp located in beautiful Wonder Valley. They can choose from a variety of activities, such as horseback riding, boating, gymnastics, video production and more than 75 other options. This allows each student at River Way to have the exact camp experience they want- in addition to making tons of friends and tons of memories. Visit the website here.

Best Overnight Camps in Southern California

Catalina Sea Camp
Catalina Island
Ages 8 - 17
Catalina Sea Camp has one and three-week camp programs that are amazing adventures for kids ages 8-17. Days at the popular sleep-away camp for budding biologists are full of activities like snorkeling, boat trips, hands-on marine science, and the chance to see all kinds of animals in the wild. Visit the website here.

Amplify Sleep Away Camp
Ojai
For kids ages 9 - 18
Amplify campers follow their dreams, try incredible new things, and gain lifelong friends and positive role models in a safe and supportive environment. The very low staff-to-camper ratio of 1:6 ensures a level of instruction, engagement, and mentoring that makes the experience unforgettable. Campers choose a specialty to focus on during each session of camp from a selection that includes Rock Band, DJ, Photography, Podcasting, Skateboarding, and so much more. Visit the website here.

AstroCamp
Idyllwild
Ages 8 - 17
Situated in the picturesque town of Idyllwild, surrounded by breathtaking views of the San Jacinto Mountains, AstroCamp is the perfect camp for science, mountain, and space exploration lovers. Choose between one and two-week programs that focus on a variety of traditional camp activities as well as the opportunity to explore science and space. Campers also engage in fun outdoor activities such as mountain biking, campouts, archery, rock climbing, and much more. There are up to 8 kids, grouped by age, and one counselor sharing a cabin. Visit the website here.

Catalina Island Summer Camp
Catalina Island
Ages 6 - 15
Located at Howlands Landing on Catalina Island, campers enjoy outdoor adventures such as swimming in the ocean, diving, kayaking, sailing, hiking on wild trails, and more. They also get to explore the habitat of all the marine and land animal life that call the island home. This summer program is two weeks long. Kids are placed in cabins according to school grade and are supervised by a camp counselor and an activity specialist. Visit the website here.

Pali Adventure Camp
Running Springs
Ages 8 - 16
Pali offers a unique approach to camp: Before arrival, kids choose one activity that they'd like to specialize in for one week, and they will focus on this activity every morning. The over 25 options include fashion, film, science, water sports, motorsports, arts and many more. Kids can go live their fantasy while learning from top-notch experts, boosting confidence and learning new skills. Pali Adventure Summer Camp offers one and two-week programs, and there's also an option to stay longer. Campers live in group cabins of 10 kids and 2 counselors. Visit the website here.

categories: kids activities, summer activities for kids

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