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Southwest Summer Camps > Hiking and Backpacking Summer Camps
Rock-N-Water Christian Adventure Camps
Coed Christian adventure programsRock-N-Water is a Christian adventure camp in California for church youth groups, individuals, families, retreats, and summer camps. We use adventures like whitewater rafting, rock climbing, and backpacking to build team work and help youth realize God through adventures in His Creation.
Activities include: Whitewater Rafting, Outdoor Rock Climbing, Backpacking, Canyoneering, Team Challenges, White Water Inflatable Kayaking and more.
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SOAR, Inc.
Wilderness adventure program
SOAR has provided multi-length, high adventure programs for youth diagnosed with ADHD and/or learning disabilities for over 35 years. Recognizing that the outdoors provides an ideal classroom where relevant learning can occur and life skills can be taught, emphasis is placed on developing self-confidence, social skills, and problem solving techniques. Course are co-ed, and are dveloped for youth ages 8-25 with average to above average intelligence and physical ability. Staff to student ratio is low, and instructors are hired for qualities of maturity, caring and passion for working with our population in the outdoor setting.
Activities vary by location and range from snorkeling and fishing in the Florida keys; backpacking and rafting in the Blue Ridge mountains of NC; surfing and sea kayaking in California; horsepacking and fishing in the Wind River Mountains of Wyoming; to canoeing and rock climbing in the Adirondack mountains of New York. Specialty courses include a trip tropical Belize, learning to whitewater kayak in North Carolina, earning SCUBA certifications in Florida, and even participating in a Wyoming Rodeo! Our Postgraduate program serves young adults ages 18-25.
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Camp Nor'wester
Residential coed summer camp
Less Technology - More Independence. Camp Nor'wester has provided memorable summers to 1000's of kids since 1935. Activities are considered traditional: arts and crafts, drama, archery, and ropes course, with lots of outdoor activities like sailing, kayaking, hiking and overnight camping trips. Living is cooperative - everyone helps with daily living needs like cleaning latrine and shower houses; clearing trails; gathering wood for shower house boilers, repairing fire circles, and serving food at meal times. We get outside, live with simple comforts, and do things that require personal effort.
Leaving the distractions of technology, media and commerce behind, campers discover new interests and friendships through simple, self- powered pleasures. Change takes time. Our four-week program allows campers to step out on their own, away from preconceived images or expectations held by family and school communities. They will encounter challenging experiences in a supportive, group living environment. They will learn to build relationships, share adventures and take on responsibilities.
Kids don't have to be the smartest, fastest, tallest or coolest to come to Nor'wester. They just have to be willing to leave the cushy life behind, unplug for a while, and try something out of the ordinary.
Friendly Pines Camp
Residential coed summer camp
High in the tall, cool pines near historic Prescott, Arizona, Friendly Pines offers 30+ activities to choose from. Activities include English & Western riding, pony driving, swimming, tennis, waterskiing, rock climbing, ropes course, archery, arts, fishing, sports, hiking, pets, outdoor living skills, & more.
Excellent camper to staff ratios. We conduct professional background checks and drug tests on all staff. 65 years of experience. Coed, ages 6-13. An Arizona tradition!
Camp Trinity on The Bar 717 Ranch
Residential coed summer camp
The Bar 717 Ranch/Camp Trinity offers children ages 8 to 16 the opportunity to spend the summer on a beautiful mountain ranch. The Bar 717 Ranch /Camp Trinity teaches responsibility for oneself and others in a noncompetitive, supportive environment. We are located in northern California on 450 acres which is surrounded by the Shasta-Trinity National Forest. We offer 2, 3, and 4 week sessions.
Activities include: horsemanship, backpacking, river swimming, music, arts & crafts, ceramics, blacksmithing, gardening.
Camp Whittier
Residential coed summer campNestled among the hills of the Los Padres National Forest, the private, tucked-away 55 acre resident camp is bounded by hiking trails and hosts an abundance of wildlife in woodland area. Cachuma Lake and its amenities are within walking distance. Programs include: Ropes Challenge Course, Swimming, Drama, Archery, Music, Arts & Crafts, Campfires and more. ACA accredited camp.
5 day sessions in July. Scholarships are available. Campers are between the ages of 6 and 13 years old. CIT'S (counselor in training) program available ages 14-17.
Camp available for user group retreat rentals, challenge course & outdoor education programs year round.
Adventure Treks
Wilderness adventure program for Teens
Ever climbed a snow covered volcano? Slept under a starry sky on a wilderness beach or rafted a crazy fun whitewater river? Here is your chance! At Adventure Treks this is just a snapshot of your best summer ever. You will see incredible scenery, make great friends from across the country, laugh more than you ever thought possible, and become a better leader. A recent study shows Adventure Treks will improve the 21st century life skills your parents think you will need be successful.
Temporarily escape the digital age. 12 - 18 year olds can visit exciting destinations on the West Coast, British Columbia, Colorado, Utah, Alaska, New England and the Southeast. Give us just two or three weeks and you will see benefits and make friendships that will last the rest of your life.
Catalina Island Camps
Residential coed summer camp
Catalina Island Camps is a Summer Resident Camp for boys and girls ages 7 through 15. The camp facilities are located at Howlands Landing on the California side of Catalina Island, 22 miles from Southern California. 150-180 boys and girls ages 7 to 15 participate in the camp's waterfront and land programs.
Activities include: sailing, skin diving, water-skiing, sea-kayaking, climbing wall, ropes course, and many others.
Astrocamp
Residential coed summer camp
Explore the wonders of the universe with qualified instructor of the physical sciences. It's fun and educational. Traditional summer camp fun. Mountain bike, rock climb and hike in the beautiful San Jacinto Mountains of Southern California.
Traditional camp activities combined with astronomy, rocketry, space exploration, physical science activities and more. Camp season opens in June and ends in August. One and two week sessions, ages 8 to 17.
Walton's Grizzly Lodge Summer Camp
Residential coed summer camp
Founded in 1926 by Mom and Pop Walton, Walton's Grizzly Lodge is currently under the guidance of third generation owners and fourth generation directors. We believe in providing a structured program for children that emphasizes a feeling of family, friendship and belonging and encourages active participation in a variety of experiences.
Our private lake is ideal for water skiing, wake boarding, windsurfing, sailing, fishing and swimming. Horseback riding. Extensive ropes courses. Variety of craft programs. Wide range of athletics. Out of camp trips. One and two week sessions available. Ages 7-14. One hour from Reno!
River Way Ranch Camp
Residential coed summer camp
Memories and friendships await you at River Way Ranch Camp, one of California's premier residential summer camps for ages 7-16. A family tradition since 1967, generations of families have been coming to the scenic foothills of Sequoia/Kings Canyon National Parks to experience the summer of a lifetime.
Campers are well supervised by a highly-trained staff as they participate in their choice of more than 65 activities offered. The caring and devoted counselors guide campers through new adventures as they learn new skills, meet new friends, and achieve each goal, one step at a time. Accredited by the American Camping Association, River Way Ranch Camp maintains its outstanding reputation as "one of the best summer camps in the United States."
Wilderness Ventures
Wilderness adventure program
Since 1973, Wilderness Ventures has been introducing exciting outdoor expeditions to beginners and experienced young adults, ages 12 through 20. Our adventures visit a variety of wilderness environments in the Western United States, Hawaii, Alaska, Canada, Europe, Australia, Central America, South America, and the South Pacific. Trips range from 14-36 days.
Activities include backpacking, whitewater rafting & kayaking, mountaineering, biking, sailing, surfing, SCUBA, canoeing, sea kayaking, and community service.
Camp Augusta
Residential coed summer campCamp Augusta is an 80 acre, non-profit, residential summer camp located in the Sierra Nevada Mountains of Northern California. We are a small camp with about 50 staff and 90 campers per session. We aim to help campers develop self-confidence, independence, social skills (emotional intelligence), creativity, activity skills, environmental awareness and appreciation, friendships, and healthy living skills while having FUN in a small, tight, true community set in a beautiful forest.
Camp Augusta operates on a structure of flat hierarchy, consensus and intention with every action. We also have many activities that you are unlikely to find at other camps.
Hawaii Wilderness Adventure School
Wilderness Adventure - United StatesLooking for a way to get your teenagers unplugged, and a bit out of their comfort zone? Our mission is to foster a love of the outdoors in young people which inspires environmental stewardship in future leaders. Students learn leadership skills by cooking, teaching, and guiding each other through unforgettable adventures.
We emphasize respect for the land and culture, through service projects benefiting local farmers and the community. Get off the beaten path by hiking to waterfalls, sailing, SCUBA diving and exploring volcanoes! With a focus on education, students learn invaluable skills while immersed in the natural treasures of Hawaii.
Cottonwood Gulch Foundation
Wilderness Adventure Program
Backpack up a mountain, live in a canyon, survey with an archaeologist, go rock climbing, restore burrowing owl habitat, silversmith your own jewelry, become best friends with someone you won't meet anywhere else - all in one summer. And we've been doing this longer than just about everyone--since 1926, our traveling expeditions have explored the Four Corners area, backpacking into remote wilderness areas, canoeing river canyons and exploring ancestral Puebloan ruins and the modern cultures of the Southwest.
Friendships and lessons learned at the Gulch last a lifetime, and a large number of our Trekkers and staff "70%-75%" return for another summer. Expeditions range from 2-6 weeks in length and are for those ages 10-19. Options include both single-sex and co-ed groups. Call or email for a free brochure, or just to chat with us about why we love what we do!
Kennolyn Camps
Coed Camp with Residential & Day Camp Sessions
Kennolyn Camps has a wide range of summer camp options. From one week of Day Camp to four weeks of Resident Camp. From our specialized Equestrian Camp to our Family Camp over Labor Day weekend. Make Kennolyn Camps a part of your summer!
35 activities to choose from for boys and girls ages 6-14, including extensive ropes courses for all ages, horseback riding and more. Located on 300 acres in California's beautiful Redwoods, five miles from Monterey Bay and Pacific Ocean.
Wellspring Camp La Jolla
Residential Coed Fitness and Weight Loss Camp
If you're looking for a fun-in-the-sun and an amazing variety of mountain and beach activities, Wellspring Camp La Jolla is the place for you. Campers 11 - 25 years old take advantage of the wonderful sunshine, refreshing local waters, and fantastic campus facilities, campers participate in a variety of outdoor activities and watersports. Then, we cool off back on campus in extensive fitness and recreation facilities, including training and aerobic areas, weight rooms, gyms, and swimming pool. Campers share modern, comfortable, air-conditioned dorms as well as dining and common areas.
Nutrition and culinary classes paired with the delicious food served in the dining hall guarantee knowledge of and love for new foods. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy with a "BC" (Behavioral Coach) in group and individual sessions knits these elements together into comprehensive lifestyle change for rapid weight loss and long-term weight control.
Wellspring Academy of California Summer Session
Residential Coed Fitness and Weight Loss Camp
Wellspring Academy of California, the premier treatment program for adolescent obesity and the first boarding school for weight loss, welcomes students for summer session. Wellspring Academy is the only summer weight loss program or camp where students earn academic credit, lose weight and catch up or accelerate academically this summer at Wellspring Academy.
Wellspring Academy of California offers 3 different summer programs, ages 11-24. High School Summer Academic Program: Earn summer credits while participating in Wellspring's renowned weight loss and fitness program, Wellspring Academy of California Summer College Program: Academic option with online or local college curriculum and Wellspring Academy of California Adventure Program: incorporates a series of off-campus adventure trips and on-campus activities. Enrollment is open year-round.
Nutrition and culinary classes paired with the delicious food served in the dining hall guarantee knowledge of and love for new foods. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy with a "BC" (Behavioral Coach) in group and individual sessions knits these elements together into comprehensive lifestyle change for rapid weight loss and long-term weight control.
Bold Earth Teen Adventures
Adventure Travel Programs
The worldwide leader in adventure travel since 1976! If you are interested in fun, community service, cultural and language immersion, adventure and travel then this is the camp for you. Rock climb in Colorado, take language class in Costa Rica, go world class white water rafting, climb peaks, PADI SCUBA dive Fiji, build bamboo rafts in Bali, hike the great wall of China, visit Machu Picchu or surf the warm blue waters of Hawaii!
For 36 years the mission of Bold Earth has been to offer an adventure for every enthusiastic traveler, 11 - 18 years of age, from beginner to expert! Our leaders are the best in the industry with over 80+ hours of backcountry first aid and extensive experience working with students. Our leader's first priority is safety and the second is FUN! The goal of Bold Earth is to teach independence and leadership skills which will lead to a lifetime of exploration, friendship and enjoyment.
Camp Tawonga
Residential coed summer campLocated at the doorstep of Yosemite National Park, on the middle fork of the Tuolumne River, on 160 acres in the Stanislaus National Forest, Camp Tawonga has been a leader in Jewish camping since 1925. Campers attend summer sessions at our Yosemite location, or can choose one of our Teen Adventure Quests that travel throughout Yosemite, Canada, and the Pacific Northwest. Teens can apply for leadership programs, like staff in training or Tawonga's Teen Service Learning trip to Israel, a four and a half week trip combing service, travel, and learning. Call (415)543-2267 or visit www.tawonga.org for more information.
Lasting Adventures, Inc.
Wilderness Adventure
Throughout the summer, Lasting Adventures, guides youth ages 11-18 on memorable excursions in and around the Yosemite backcountry. While having fun, making new friends, and learning about the outdoors, these one and two week-long excursions focus on positive youth development.
Staffed by professional educators and naturalists, our mission is to use the natural environment and outdoor activities to teach youth the necessary skills and attitudes for living successful lives. Through safe risk taking opportunities, participants will be challenged to improve their sense of self-esteem, self-worth, and self-confidence. Along with creating lasting memories, it is our goal that participants will finish this adventure with a greater knowledge of themselves, the world, and the environment around them.
Gold Arrow Camp
Residential coed summer camp
Gold Arrow Camp is a traditional, resident summer camp for children on Huntington Lake in the Sierra National forest. Boys and girls, ages 6-14, enjoy rustic living and nightly campfires without the distractions of TV, computers, and telephones in a beautiful lakeside setting. Since 1933, children have returned year after year because of the feeling of tradition, community, and belonging that they experience. Through participation in a structured program of over twenty non-competitive watersports and traditional activities, campers are encouraged to try new things, build their skills, and take risks. The result is improved confidence and perseverance.
Campers participate in waterskiing, wakeboarding, sailing, motorboating, horseback riding, archery, riflery, mountain biking, rock climbing, and much more. Session lengths of 1-4 weeks run June through August. Gold Arrow Camp is accredited by the American Camp Association and is a member of the Western Association of Independent Camps.
Rock-N-Water Christian Adventure Camps
Coed Christian adventure programsRock-N-Water is a Christian adventure camp in California for church youth groups, individuals, families, retreats, and summer camps. We use adventures like whitewater rafting, rock climbing, and backpacking to build team work and help youth realize God through adventures in His Creation.
Activities include: Whitewater Rafting, Outdoor Rock Climbing, Backpacking, Canyoneering, Team Challenges, White Water Inflatable Kayaking and more.
