Best Sleep-Away Camps Near Los Angeles
Sleep-awayĀ campsĀ provide an excellent opportunity for kids to gain new experiences while they work onĀ social skills,Ā develop their independence, build lifelong friendships from all over the country, and have a ton of fun. Plus, itās a great break for parents, too. From sleeping in bunks to eating in the dining hall, and plenty of outdoor adventures, we’ve compiled a list of the best overnight summer camps near Los Angeles and the South Bay.
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Sleep-Away Summer Camps
There are many different sleep-away camps, from traditional to religious and even performing arts-based, so itās essential to research to find the right one for your kids. Here are our top picks for the best overnight camps to help you get started. Sleep-away summer camps tend to fill up quickly, so be sure to register soon!
Camp Hollywoodland
Camp Hollywoodland and Griffith Park Boys Camp offer youth camping experiences in the middle of an urban forest, right in the heart of Los Angeles. Both camps provide a classic sleepaway summer camp experience for kids ages six and up.
- Activities: Camp activities include swimming, rock wall climbing, nature awareness, field trips, and more.
- Age: Camp Hollywoodland is open to girls ages 6 – 17. Th Griffith Park Boys Camp is offered to boys ages 7 to 14.
- Location: 3200 Canyon Dr., Los Angeles, CA 90068
- Cost: Price varies by week, but ranges from $550 to $650.
- Website: laparks.org/camp/camp-hollywoodland
Amplify Sleep Away Camp
Amplify Sleep Away Camp is an award-winning music and creative arts summer camp for girls in beautiful Ojai, California. Amplifyās experienced team of mentors lets young artists follow their dreams, try incredible new things, and gain lifelong friends and positive role models in a safe, supportive environment. Campers also move throughout Amplify with their own age groups, including dorm assignments, electives, and creative tracks. For locals, they also offer a day camp program Monday through Friday.
- Activities: Campers can choose from more than 50 different electives to try out, including skateboarding, DJing, screenprinting, collage making, photography, rock band, musical theater, music production, and so much more.
- Age: 8ā18. Girls in grades 3 – 8 can sign up for one-week sessions, and girls in grades 6-12 can sign up for two or four-week sessions.
- Location: Besant Hill School, 8585 N Ojai Rd, Ojai, CA 93023
- Cost: Prices start at $4,300 for two week sessions and range to $11,225 for six week sessions.
- Website: girlsrocksb.org/amplify-sleep-away-camp
YMCA – Camp Whittle & Camp Marcil
These two YMCA camps have long been a staple for Los Angeles families looking to have their kids enjoy nature and escape the city for the summer. Like most YMCA activities, these camps are about building new skills, developing character, and making life-long friendships.
- Activities: Campers enjoy a wide range of traditional camp experiences, including arts & crafts, swimming, mountain biking, hiking, archery, and sports. Teen campers also get the opportunity to try rock climbing, and the high ropes challenge course.
- Age: Both camps offer programs for campers in 3rd through 8th grades and a teen program for students in grades 8 -12.
- Locations: Camp Whittle, 31701 Rim of the World Dr, Fawnskin, CA; Camp Marcil, 41011 Jenks Lake Rd W, Angelus Oaks, CA
- Cost:Ā Camp Whittle is $799/ week, and Camp Marcil is $749/ week.
- Website: ymcala.org/camps/ymca-camping-services
Girl Scout Camp
What better way to develop leadership skills in the great outdoors than at Girl Scout Camp? The Girl Scouts of Greater Los Angeles host two sleepaway camp programs. One at Camp Lakota in Frasier Park and the other at Osito Rancho in the San Bernardino mountains. Both camps offer week-long sessions with tons of activities like high ropes courses, archery, kayaking, swimming, zip lining, horseback riding, and more. Girls can make new friends, earn badges, explore the outdoors and make incredible memories.
- Activities: Offerings vary by location but both camps offer tons of outdoor adventures as well as traditional camp activities like crafts, singalongs and campfires.
- Age: Grades 2 – 12 (Must be entering 4th grade to participate in archery).
- Locations: Camp Lakota, 11220 Dorothy Ln, Frazier Park, CA 93225, Camp Osito Rancho, Osita Camp Rd, Big Bear Lake, CA 92315
- Cost: Sessions start at $1,015 per week.
- Website: girlscoutsla.org
Camp Hess Kramer and Gindling Hilltop Camp
Wilshire Boulevard Temple provides a dynamic and fun environment for two separate camps during the summer. Both locations offer an experience focused on Judaism that campers won’t receive anywhere else.
Camp Hess Kramer is a bigger camp that can provide an engaging experience with large-scale activities for 350 campers and staff.
Gindling Hilltop Camp, on the other hand, is more intimate with just 150 campers and staff. At Hilltop, campers really get to know everyone, and kids learn what it means to be a part of something extraordinary.
- Activities: In the spirit of Jewish tradition, kids read the Torah enjoy Israeli dancing, songs, and relaxing activities.
- Age: Both camps take kids based on their grade level. There are different weeks for different grade levels. Kids from grades 3-12 can participate in these sleep-away summer camps.
- Location: 3663 Wilshire Blvd, Los Angeles, CA
- Cost: Camp fees depend on what grade your child is in. Tuition starts at $4,010 for a 15-night stay and goes up to $6,530 for the oldest campers in the 49-day CIT program.
- Website: wbtcamps.org
Wasewagan Summer Camp & Retreat
**Camp Wasewagan was hit hard by the wind and torrential rains caused by Hurricane Hillary in 2023. The camp is set to reopen for 2024, but official announcements on dates is TBA.**
Wasewagan Outdoor School is a sleep-away summer camp perfect for kids who love the outdoors. This camp is located in Big Bear Lake, CA, and offers campers a chance to experience nature. Campers will enjoy hiking, camping, fishing, and much more.
- Activities: There are tons of exciting activities for kids to enjoy, such as swimming, archery, volleyball, basketball, river walks, canoeing, paintballing, kayaking, fishing, and ziplining.
- Age: Kids ages 5-16 can enjoy this sleep-away camp.
- Location: 42121 Seven Oaks Rd, Angelus Oaks, CA
- Cost: TBA
- Website: wasewagan.com
Pali Adventure Camp
Pali Adventure Camp is a sleep-away summer camp perfect for kids who love adventure. This camp is located in the San Bernardino Mountains and offers campers a truly unique experience.
Pali offers 28-amazing programs from aviation and secret agent camp to movie makeup and more. Before campers arrive, they choose one focus or specialty for the week they come. The mornings are spent with kids doing their chosen activity.
- Activities: With 28 programs, kids can choose activities like aviation, culinary arts, visual arts, performing arts, fashion design, flying trapeze, Hollywood stunts, wacky sports, water sports, fashion, film, wacky science, and more.
- Age: Pali Adventures is a sleep-away summer camp for kids ages 8-16.
- Location: 30778 CA-18, Running Springs, CA
- Cost: For 1 week, the price starts at $2,995.
- Website: paliadventures.com
Camp JCA Shalom
Camp JCA Shalom is one of the most popular sleep-away summer camps in LA. Located in the heart of Los Angeles, this camp offers kids a chance to experience Jewish life and culture like never before. It is a place for kids to come and explore Judaism in a fun, safe, and welcoming environment. Campers will enjoy participating in traditional Jewish ceremonies and more.
Although we are highlighting their summer camp programs, JCA Shalom Camp is the “Camp for All Seasons.” Winter, Spring, Summer, and Fall!
- Activities: Kids get to experience a wide range of activities, including horseback riding, archery, outdoor cooking, ziplining, swimming, water sports, pioneer skills, Maccabiah Games, Israeli days, and more!
- Age: They offer two-week sessions for children entering grades 2-8, a three-week session for kids entering grades 5-8, a special one-week mini-camp for kids entering grades 2-6, and a variety of programs for teens entering grades 9-12.
- Location: 34342 Mulholland Hwy, Malibu, CA
- Cost: Early bird rates start at $1080 for mini-camp sessions and $2890 for regular sleep-away summer camp. Prices vary depending on the week and activities.
- Website: campjcashalom.com
Canyon Creek Summer
Canyon Creek Summer Camp is a coed sleep-away camp nestled in the Angeles National Forest in Southern California. They provide a safe, non-competitive environment where kids can build confidence, develop independence, learn teamwork, and gain problem-solving skills in a fun-filled way.
- Activities: There are over 60 activities kids can choose from, including archery, arts and crafts, go-karts, laser tag, scuba diving, swimming, mini-bike riding, sports, and more.
- Age: Kids ages 7-16 can enjoy this sleep-away camp.
- Location: 41600 Lake Hughes Rd, Lake Hughes, CA
- Cost: Age 7-14 is $2375 for one week/ $4750 for two weeks, and age 15-16 is $4750 for two weeks.
- Website: canyoncreeksummercamp.com
Rawhide Ranch
There is no sleep-away summer camp like Rawhide Ranch! It’s a kids camp straight out of the Wild West. At Rawhide, campers have fun learning about horses and livestock while discovering the importance of integrity, respect, hard work, and the value of community.
- Activities: There are many wild west things to do like harnessing pony carts, riding horses, and outdoor cooking. There are also plenty of traditional camp activities like rock climbing, archery, arts and crafts, sports/games, and swimming.
- Age: Kids ages 7-15 can enjoy a week overnight at Rawhide Ranch. There are day camps for ages 5 and up as well.
- Location: 6987 W Lilac Rd, Bonsall, CA
- Cost: Overnight camps are $1,079.
- Website: rawhideranch.com
Camp Bravo
Camp Bravo is a week-long performing arts sleep-away summer camp. The summer camp provides a safe, non-competitive environment for kids to explore their passions for performance and theater. If your tweens and teens live to sing and perform, this is the camp for them.
- Activities: Performing arts activities include acting, story theater, combat, musical theater, sketch comedy, dance, and more.
- Age: Middle school and High school
- Location: deBenneville Pines Camp Facility, 41750 Jenks Lake Road West Angelus Oaks, CA
- Cost: $1,250 per session (2 week-long summer sessions)
- Website: campbravo.org
Bar 717 Ranch/Camp Trinity
The Bar 717 Ranch/ Camp Trinity was founded in 1930! It is the oldest co-educational summer camp in California. Kids live, work, and play on 450 acres of wilderness, learning pioneer skills, resourcefulness, and respect for the land while having fun-filled friendships and rewarding experiences. Though this camp is located in Northern California, it is worth the trek for the unforgettable experience.
- Activities: There are a variety of activities kids can enjoy here, including horsemanship, backpacking, gardening, animal care, river swimming, arts and crafts, photography, riflery, music, archery, blacksmithing, ceramics, and more.
- Age: Children 8-16 can enjoy this sleep-away camp.
- Location: 17197 Hyampom Rd, Hayfork, CA
- Cost: Tuition is based on the number of weeks kids are staying. Sleep-away summer camp is $4,320 for two weeks or $8,390 for four weeks.
- Website:Ā bar717.com
More Los Angeles and South Bay Summer Camps
The Best Art Camps for Kids in LA
The Best Sports Camps for Kids in LA
The Best Surf Summer Camps in Los Angeles
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