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Amazing Overnight Summer Camps in California for Kids and Teens

Kids have a blast in the ocean at Catalina Island. Photograph courtesy of Catalina Sea Camps
Kids have a blast in the ocean at Catalina Island. Photograph courtesy of Catalina Sea Camps
3/28/23 - By Ana Belibasis

Overnight summer camps are pretty heady stuff: Sleep away from home, meet new friends, have adventures, master new abilities, boost social skills, develop confidence, and learn to handle situations without parents around! For parents, it's a chance to have a little kid-free time without feeling guilty, because we know our kids are having the experience of a lifetime—and disconnecting from their devices. For some reason, sleepaway summer camp isn't quite as big a deal in California as it is in the Northeast, but we've scoured the state and found some pretty amazing overnight summer camps in California, from stunning Catalina Island to the rustic Sierra Nevada mountains.

For more fabulous overnight summer camps, check out our Sleepaway Summer Camp Guide to the Best Overnight Camps in the US. Or if you're looking to stay more local, bookmark our Los Angeles Summer Camp Guide and our Camp Directory where you can search for summer camps by type, age, and town.

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Camp is about trying new things! Photo courtesy of Bar 717 Ranch Camp Trinity
Camp is about trying new things! Photo courtesy of Bar 717 Ranch Camp Trinity

Top Sleepaway Camps in Northern California

Bar 717 Ranch / Camp Trinity

Hayfork
For kids 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. READ MORE

Walton's Grizzly Lodge

Portola
For kids ages 7-14
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. READ MORE

Camp Augusta Sleepaway Camp

Nevada City
For kids 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 a lake that looks like an enchanted story setting out of a storybook! 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 will sleep in cabins under the supervision of a counselor, with a ratio of one counselor per two campers. READ MORE

Mountain Meadow Ranch

Susanville
For kids 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. READ MORE
A view of Huntington Lake at Kennolyn Camp. Photo courtesy of the camp via Facebook
A view of Huntington Lake at Kennolyn Camp. Photo courtesy of the camp via Facebook

Great Sleepaway 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. READ MORE

Camp Ocean Pines

Cambria
For kids ages 7-15
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. READ MORE

Kennolyn Camps

Soquel
For kids 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. READ MORE

Camp Natoma

Paso Robles
For kids 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. READ MORE
Ready to fly! Photo courtesy of Pali Adventure Camp, Facebook
Ready to fly! Photo courtesy of Pali Adventure Camp, Facebook

Best Overnight Camps in Southern California

Catalina Sea Camp

Catalina Island
For kids 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. READ MORE

Girls Rock SB Amplify Sleep Away Camp

Ojai
For kids ages 8-18
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. READ MORE

AstroCamp

Idyllwild
For kids 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. READ MORE

Catalina Island Summer Camp

Catalina Island
For kids 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. READ MORE

Pali Adventure Camp

Running Springs
For kids 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. READ MORE

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