Deciding where to send your child to summer camp can be such an overwhelming experience. If you’re considering anywhere in California, we can help. California is covered with many magnificent natural spaces that can enhance kids’ time spent at camp. It’s hard to be homesick when the scenery is stunning and the activities exciting. We have searched far and wide to provide you with the best summer camp locations in California.
Yosemite National Park – Best Summer Camp Location for Iconic Adventure
With its soaring rock formations and gushing waterfalls, Yosemite National Park is the perfect backdrop for a summer camp to remember. Observe chatter marks made from glaciers from thousands of years ago as you learn about geology. Strain your neck as you look to the top of a towering ponderosa and learn about forest ecology. Find obsidian arrowheads at a backcountry campsite as you learn about native history. There is the opportunity for awe, amazement, growth, and learning around every trail bend. Yosemite’s unforgettable vistas and unique history make it one of the best summer camp locations in California, hands down.
Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks
Containing the largest trees on the planet as well as some of the deepest canyons in the world, makes Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks a truly stunning backdrop for summer camp. Backpacking into the wilderness of these national parks immerses the youth in their spectacular surroundings. Learning about flora and fauna is entertaining as you spot pikas, marmots, bears, and wildflowers galore. The trails may be a bit more challenging in these parks, but the rewards are well worth it.
Lassen Volcanic National Park – Best Summer Camp in California for Science Lovers
Lassen Volcanic National Park puts 6th grade science class to shame. With all four of the major volcano types that you can find in the world found here, there is no end to exploration and the learning that comes with it. Boiling mud pots, fumaroles, and hot springs abound, as do the wildflowers and newfound friendships on each trip. Hiking into the center of Cinder Cone volcano is a distinctive experience that many kids never forget, and that’s why we recommend Lassen Volcanic.
Inyo National Forest
This hidden gem of California contains nine officially designated wilderness areas. Located on the eastern side of the Sierra Nevada mountain range where Yosemite and Sequoia end, this area shares many of the qualities of the other parks but with fewer crowds. Inyo offers the opportunity to explore waterfalls, alpine lakes, and meadows during the day while falling asleep to shooting stars at night. No matter what the itinerary for the trip is, kids are sure to appreciate the beauty of this area and come out having a deeper connection with the land and themselves.
So What’s the California Best Summer Camp Location?
Deciding what summer camp in California is best for your child can be hard, but don’t let the decision of with whom be challenging as well. Lasting Adventures has been running backpacking summer camps in California for 27 years. We offer summer camps of six, ten, and thirteen days in length and can help you customize a trip for your favorite group of teens today!