I’m happy to present our second 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 year’s guide by geography to help you find the camps you’re looking for: Marin and North | South of the {510} | Sierra and Tahoe Region
Overnight Sleepaway Camps (Sponsors)
Northern California Overnight Camps (Marin and North)
Trackers Earth Overnight Camps (Mobile adventure program with bus transport from Berkeley)
Trackers Earth overnight camps are mobile expeditions that explore Northern California’s wild spaces while building outdoor survival skills. Trackers Camp does it all: From an 11-day camping adventure through the California coastal redwoods, to backpacking in the Sierras, to live action roleplaying in the Realms of the Golden Gate. This year, it is a mobile adventure program visiting many places with 3 sessions that will travel down the northern California coast (Mostly Humboldt and Mendocino with a couple days in Sonoma), and more! Trackers overnight camps are available for rising 4th – 12th graders.
Website >
Duration: Either Sunday – Friday (6 day programs) or Monday – Thursday (11 day programs)
Price: Ranges from $975 to $1,695; includes transportation from Bay Area; early-bird discount available.
“Epic… Legendary… So fun… I didn’t want to come back.” ~ Happy Kid Camper
“Trackers is simply the best finding the right balance of creating a safe emotional base and giving kids challenges, autonomy and new skills. Really extraordinary.” ~ Overnight Camper Parent
YMCA Camp Ravencliff (Redway in Humboldt County)
YMCA Camp Ravencliff is an overnight summer camp for kids 7-15, which offers traditional camp activities like sports, crafts, swimming, canoeing, archery and much more. Camp offers tiered pricing to encourage more families to come and offers free bus transportation from Richmond and Santa Rosa.
Website >
Duration: 1 week sessions
Price: $620/week is full price with need-based discounts available
“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 (Trinity County)
Founded in 1930, at the Bar 717 Ranch, everyone has something different to get excited about: horseback riding, backpacking, arts and crafts, music, gardening, animal care, backpacking, swimming in the river, and a ton of different activities. Campers are free to choose which programs they want to participate in, and there are always opportunities to contribute positively to the camp community of this big ranch family. For ages 8 to 16. Family camp also available.
Website >
Duration: Two weeks
Price: $2990/2 weeks or $1545/week; discounts for multiple sessions; transportation not included
“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
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.
Website >
Price: $2050 for 15-day session; early-bird and sibling discounts available; financial aid available to those who qualify.
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. Summer Music Camp brings together a diverse and talented student body from across the Bay Area and beyond. 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 >
Hours: One- or two-week sessions based on age and musical experience
Price: $775-$860 for one week and $1630 to $1720 for two weeks. Early bird discounts available.
“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 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. Ingredients for the meals come almost entirely from Full Belly Farm and campers help to prepare every meal eaten at camp. Campers sleep in tents provided by the camp and spend hot afternoons splashing in Cache Creek. Evenings are filled with campfires, game playing, and skits.
Duration: Sessions are one week
2015 Prices: $600 for campers ages 7-12; $750 for campers ages 13-16; Discount to CSA members
“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
Camp Newman (Santa Rosa)
Immersive summer camp based on creating a joyful Jewish life. Activities include athletics, outdoor adventure sports, music, art, dance, leadership training, and social action.
Website >
Duration: Program is 13 days for entering 3rd through 12th graders with longer options available.
Price: $2785 starting price for two-week session. Many other price points; discounts to URJ members
Plantation Farm Camp (Cazadero with bus transportation from Bay Area)
Plantation Farm Camp offers a traditional summer camp experience on a real working farm. Campers are hands-on, active participants in the farm community, with the freedom to choose their own activities every day. For ages 8 to 17.
Website >
Duration: one- two- and four-week sessions
Price: $1650/1wk; $2900/2wk; $5600/4wk; sibling & early enrollment discounts available.
“Plantation has been a camp for decades, with a long history, lots of fun traditions, and a stunning setting — it really feels like a family. It’s a working farm and the kids do farm-related activities and all the usual camp favorites too.” ~ Alison
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 12-16 take on adventure camp.
Website >
Duration: one-week session
Price: $585-$700 for slight differences in your definition of a “week” of camp.
“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
Wanderers (Pt. Reyes National Seashore, Lassen National Park, Yosemite National Park. 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, spotting tule elk, playing among the redwoods, and camping and backpacking in some of California’s most magnificent remote wilderness areas. Lassen Explorer is offered with Girls Only option.
Website >
Duration: Sessions are “one week” (usually weekdays but it varies)
Price: $1,195 – $1,450 per session depending on destination selected. Earlybird discounts available.
Young Actors’ Theatre Camp (San Francisco, Santa Cruz Mountains, Felton, Ben Lomond, Cazadero)
Camps are all taught by working actors, singers, directors, dancers, and producers who bring their current experiences and inspirations directly to the classroom. Imagine learning ‘how to write great lyrics’ from Glee’s Darren Criss while he serenades you. Focused on discovering and developing each individual student’s talents in all areas of the performing arts in a safe and supportive environment. For ages 8 to 18.
Website >
Duration: Sessions are one week (weekdays only except Lassen which extend into weekend)
Price: $2400ish for 11 Days (10 nights); financial aid available
{back to top}
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 a Jewish overnight sports camp in the Bay Area with programs in soccer, softball, volleyball, basketball, baseball, and tennis for boys and girls entering grades 4-11. Two-week sessions combine high-level specialized sports instruction with the fun, friendship, and community of a Jewish overnight camp. Community, culture and character are at the heart of this Jewish camp experience.
Website >
Duration: Sessions are two-weeks long, beginning on a Tuesday and ending on a Sunday. Those staying for adjacent sessions can stay over the nights in between. See website for details.
Price: $2995 for 2-week session or $5690 for 4-week; Multi-session & multi-sibling discounts are available. Save $100 off one session of camp with code 510families.
YMCA Camp Loma Mar (Santa Cruz Mountains)
Camp Loma Mar is an overnight summer camp for kids 7-15, which offers traditional camp activities like sports, crafts, swimming, canoeing, archery and much more. Run by YMCA of the East Bay, each of these redwood forest encircled cabins becomes home to 12 campers and one or two adult counselors. Camp offers a tiered pricing model to encourage more families to come, and offers optional bus service from Oakland.
Website >
Duration: 1 week sessions
Price: $620/week is full price with need-based discounts available
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: Junior camps $380/week; Junior high camps $390/week
Hidden Villa (Los Altos Hills)
Programs for rising 4th through 10th graders. Whether sleeping in a Tipi or out under the stars, the overnight experience is wildly fun and life changing. Getting away from home and learning to develop a community with others is an opportunity for campers to discover themselves in new and empowering ways. 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
Price: $575 for 1 week; $1195-$1235 for 2 weeks; more for backcountry program; financial aid available
“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. Days are full of fun activities, but until everyone has had a full breakfast and cleaned their cabin! Hooray for traditions! (The food looks amazing!)
Website >
Duration: Session length varies throughout the summer: one-week and two-week camps are available as well as 10 days and a mini-camp of 3 days.
Price: 1-week camp is $1995, but prices vary with session length
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.
Website >
Duration: Two-week sessions are typical; mini camps also available.
Price: $1145; member discount (reduced rates for shorter camps)
“Set in the redwoods, some of the cabins are on raised platforms with walkways through the trees, like an Ewok village. The swimming pool has a water slide and the lodge is reminiscent of Yosemite. It is so lovely there people also rent if out for weddings. My nine year old stayed there and loved it. It was also my first sleep away camp!” ~ Jennifer
YMCA Camp Jones Gulch (La Honda – West of Los Altos, toward Pescadero)
With resident camps for grades 3-10, Camp Jones Gulch welcomes kids to an activity-packed experience where children will develop a strong sense of belonging. Two open houses before camp starts allow parents to meet the directors and see the experience.
Website >
Duration: mini-camp is three nights; resident camp is 5 nights.
2015 Prices: mini-camp is $425; resident camp $625
510Families reader Vivian has fond memories of Camp Jones Gulch as a child.
{back to top}
Sierra and Tahoe Region Overnight Camps
Camp Augusta (Sierra foothills)
Resident camp designed for boys and girls between the ages of 8-16. 140 activities to try such as archery, equestrian, climbing, kayak, field games, crafts, and so many more. Mini camp for children 6 to 9 who want a taste of overnight camp life. Family camp and backcountry wilderness trips also available.
Website >
Duration: Varies from two nights (mini) to two-weeks.
Price: 1 week is $1690; 2 weeks is $2700; mini-camp also available
“My 10-year old daughter just came home from 2 weeks at Camp Augusta in the Sierra foothills (Nevada City) and she loved it. So many activities, lots of creativity and adventure, a smallish group of girls and boys and a very low counselor to camper ratio. She can’t wait to go back next summer.” ~ Wendy
Camp Chrysalis (Big Sur, Mendocino, Sierras, Sequoia National Park)
Now in its 33rd year, Camp Chrysalis offers children (8.5-17 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. Campers study the environments to develop natural science skills as well basic camping and wilderness skills. Family camp available.
Website >
Duration: Varies from 8 to 12 days based on destination.
2015 Prices: Varies from $1050 to $1550 based on destination.
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; developing resilient youth; in a Daniel Boone location (where campers hike in and gear is boated in).
Website >
Price: $1,600/1 week; $2,800/2 weeks with discounts available
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 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. Evenings include a campfire sing-along, talent show, star-gazing, and a dance. 14 and 15 year-olds have CIT opportunities. Bus service is provided to/from Berkeley.
Website >
Duration: 3 one-week sessions available in 2015; new info coming soon
2015 Prices: $493 Berkeley resident/ $542 non-resident.
Girl Scout Camp (Bothin, Skylark Ranch, and Sugar Pine)
Girl Scouts of Northern California offers a variety of camp experiences for girls ages 5-17. Archery, Aquatics, Arts & Crafts, and Animals are only the beginning. Girl Scout membership not required.
Website >
Price: Varies by program
Mountain Camp (near Lake Tahoe in Eldorado National Forest)
Mountain Camp is a co-ed, sleep-away, adventure camp for kids entering 2nd-12th grade. Tons of activities for campers to choose from: ropes course, fort building, newspaper, swimming, performing arts, archery, standup paddle-boarding, and lots more. Rumor has it, their video will sell you on it.
Website >
Duration: One week: 2pm Sunday to 10am Saturday
Price: $1900
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.
Website >
Duration: two-week sessions (can be combined)
Price: $3,350 for a two week session, $6,000 for four weeks.
Camp Tawonga (Stanislaus National Forest, near Yosemite)
For grades 2 to 10. Founded in 1925 to foster positive self-image and self-esteem, create a cooperative community, build a partnership with nature, and explore spirituality and positive Jewish identity in children.
Website >
Duration: “A taste of camp” is a 6-day session for those new to overnight camp; Regular sessions last from 2 to 3 weeks.
Price: $3,145 for 2-week session; Discounts for siblings & JCC members.
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.
Website >
Duration: Campers arrive Sundays and leave Saturday afternoons. The campers who stay for multiple weeks are fully supervised between sessions. There is no charge for the additional day.
Price: $1,495 for one week; $3,340 for two weeks of “soccer plus”
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
Price: $1,800/1wk; $3400/2wks
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: Two-week sessions contain 12 camper days. The one-week session contains 6 camper days.
Price: $895/1wk $1785/2wks; Discounts for multiple-weeks.
Camp Woolman (Sierra Nevada foothills near Yuba River)
Campers age 9 to 14 spend their days playing games, singing, making art, being silly, learning about peace, nature, the garden, and so more
Website >
Duration: One- and two-week sessions offered
2015 Prices: $800/week; discounts for multiple weeks; shuttle from Bay Area offered for a fee
{back to top}
Thanks again to our sponsors:
Trackers Earth – Rising 4th thru 12th graders adventuring on the California Coast
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
Bar 717 Ranch – Kids age 8 to 16 in Trinity County
Camp Unalayee – Kids age 10 to 17 in the Trinity Alps
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 see this info page or contact us at ads@510families.com for information.
The post Northern California Overnight Camp Guide (2016) appeared first on 510 Families.