Now in its 31st year, our program has developed a distinctive approach to environmental education, offering children rich experiences that combine learning, play, and personal growth. We camp in splendid natural environments as a family of learners together. Our purpose is to explore and learn, as well as to play and enjoy. In each environment, we focus on active study of the plants, wildlife and ecology around us, and on basic camping and wilderness skills. Our campers develop science skills as well as an appreciation for the natural world. Each day, our campers extend themselves in hikes...More
Now in its 31st year, our program has developed a distinctive approach to environmental education, offering children rich experiences that combine learning, play, and personal growth. We camp in splendid natural environments as a family of learners together. Our purpose is to explore and learn, as well as to play and enjoy. In each environment, we focus on active study of the plants, wildlife and ecology around us, and on basic camping and wilderness skills. Our campers develop science skills as well as an appreciation for the natural world. Each day, our campers extend themselves in hikes and local exploration. At camp, campers play chess and Capture-the-Flag, learn to whittle, sharpen knives, make jewelry, do art, and just hang out together.
Their exploration is as much of their own developing abilities as of what the world has to offer. One learns how to put his fork away and find it again; another, that she can make a tough climb. All learn to make new friends. In small groups, they enjoy working together and learn how to light a fire, cook dinner and clean up the campsite- taking care of us all. They deepen their feelings and friendships around the campfire with skits, stories, and songs from our rich heritage and complement their nature study with leaf printing on T-shirts, marble etching, and other craft projects. Group singing is a special pleasure and campers take home our camp songbook and a rich introduction to our folksong heritage. We bring many guitars, and offer beginning instruction.
As a mature staff, well experienced working together, we’ve developed a rich understanding of our camp’s culture. Within it, the children learn as much from each other as from us. We enjoy helping them do both and pay close attention to group dynamics and individual needs for support. We’ve come to be particularly concerned with helping children locate and pass through appropriate transitional experiences, that leave them recalling camp, not only as a pleasant time but as a special place where they grew more mature. Our role as mentors to these young people is a responsibility that we take seriously, and we enjoy seeing many campers return every summer a little older and more mature.
Each core session includes 32-36 campers (12 for backpacking). Our experienced counselors offer individual attention to campers with a camper:staff ratio of 4:1. We strive to maintain a gender balance and girls are strongly encouraged to attend. Big Sur is suggested for children new to camping or being away from home. Many attend twice. Mendocino is often second and is the most varied session in the types of activities. The Sierra is our most rigorous core session with the largest site and fairly primitive accommodations. In our backpacking session, older experienced campers develop additional wilderness skills. At all our sessions, the environment and experience are so rich that many attend twice or more before moving on to a different session. In addition, Chrysalis veterans at 15 - 17, through our Counselor-In-Training option, return to camp as staff helpers. This year, we are sponsoring a family camp session, located on the Mendocino coast.
