Summer Camp
Summer Camp: About
At Camp Stevens, summer campers experience the best of childhood and young adulthood; they find wonder in the natural world, build meaningful connections with peers, gain confidence from trying new things, and strengthen their own values with the support of caring counselors and staff.
REGISTER
2025 Summer Camp Dates & Rates:
Session Dates:
Session 1: June 22 – June 27, ages 8-15
Session 2: July 6 – July 11, ages 8-15
Session 3: July 20 – July 25, ages 8-15
Session 4 (International Odyssey): August 2 – August 9, ages 12-17
Session Rates:
Sessions 1-3: Tier A: $1,125 Tier B: $975 Tier C: $825
Session 4: Tier A: $1,300 Tier B: $1,125 Tier C: $955
How to Register
Registration opens February 1, 2025.
Register for Summer 2025 online by clicking on the green register button. If you need a hard copy registration packet please email registrar@campstevens.org or call our office at (760)765-0028. The hard copies are only to be used for summer camp registrations for camper families without access to the internet or a computer. We encourage all families to register their campers through our online registration portal if able.
Tiered Pricing
Tiered pricing options allow you to pick the price that works for your family. We ask that you pay Tier A whenever possible to ensure camp prices stay affordable for families in need. Families that need additional assistance beyond tiered pricing can apply to our campership fund, which is supported by individual donations, organizations, and grants. You can find the campership application below.
Families that need financial assistance can apply by clicking on the application button below. If applying for a campership, please register your camper first and then fill out the online campership application. You should hear from us about the status of your application in 2-3 weeks.
Episcopal Identity and Inclusion
You and your family are welcome here! As an Episcopal camp, we are passionate about being a safe space for all campers. We celebrate a rich diversity of campers and staff including national origin, creed, religious belief, color, ethnicity, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, family structure, and ability. We hold a weekly Eucharist where groups bring offerings of art, bread, juice, or readings, and all campers are invited to participate in a way that fits with their diverse religious beliefs and practices.
Our Program
Each camper is assigned to an Adventure Group, composed of 10-14 campers and led by 3-5 summer camp staff. The Adventure Groups explore over 250 acres of forests, trails, gardens, buildings, team-building challenges, and outdoor play areas. Each group cooks out over a campfire and sleeps under the stars at least once a week. Older campers may challenge themselves on the high ropes course, and younger campers aim for new heights on the climbing wall. All campers have the option to try classic camp activities such as swimming, archery, and arts and crafts.
We work to ensure each camper leaves with a greater sense of self-love, confidence, spirituality, and creativity from a week of being accepted as they are in a compassionate community. We believe that by exploring together in a group they develop a greater sense of empathy and responsibility to others and ready to face new challenges in the future. We hope that they feel inspired by their time in nature and have a deeper desire to become stewards of the earth.
Program Readiness
We often have parents and caregivers ask if their child is ready for camp. Except for special sessions where prerequisites are listed, summer sessions at Camp Stevens are open to all campers within the listed age requirements. However, each child is different and readiness is an important component of a successful camp experience. General indicators of readiness for summer camp include:
- Camper expresses excitement about attending camp.
- Camper can manage their daily self-care tasks like teeth brushing, hair care, showering, etc.
- Camper is curious about nature and the outdoors. Ideally they have gone camping or hiking before.
- Camper understands that Camp Stevens is rustic and outdoorsy and will include at least one overnight under the stars in addition to sleeping overnight in cabins.
- Camper is ready to compromise and understands that the camp experience will be shared with others who also have ideas, needs, and preferences.
- Camper understands that they won’t have their cell phone or be able to call home during their time at camp (see camper packet for information on how to write emails and receive letters).
If your camper does not meet these indicators of readiness, consider waiting another year or two or contact us about your child and what accommodations they may need in order to be successful at camp.
Staff
Camp Stevens staff and counselors are selected for their creativity, energy, kindness, and maturity. Each counselor and staff member participates in an intensive week-long leadership program that focuses on group management, conflict resolution, bullying prevention and response, child development, creative programming, equity and inclusion, and activity leadership. Nurses, Chaplains, and camp leadership staff provide additional layers of support and guidance to ensure your camper’s physical, emotional, and spiritual safety.
Food Philosophy
We take great care to serve wholesome whole foods that parents approve and kids love. We build our menu around fresh produce, scratch-baked breads and desserts, free-range chicken and turkey, organic dairy products, and garden herbs and veggies. Food is served family-style and campers have lots of options on the table to ensure they get plenty to eat. We’re committed to providing alternatives for our vegan, vegetarian, gluten-free and allergy-affected campers.
Location and Transportation
Camp Stevens is located near the mountain town of Julian, CA. We’re an hour and a half northeast of San Diego, and three hours southeast of Los Angeles. Charter bus transportation is available from stops in Los Angeles, Anaheim, Corona, central San Diego, and La Mesa.
International Odyssey
Camp Stevens is pleased to welcome back Japanese students from the Rikkyo School. With the exception of 2020-2022 due to pandemic-related travel restrictions, this program has been running continuously for over 40 years.
What makes this session special:
- Older age group: campers in this session are 12-17 years old (compared to 8-15 for our other adventure sessions).
- Longer session: Sunday – Saturday gives us more time to adventure!
- Special Activities: All groups will have the opportunity to participate in the high ropes course.
- Cultural Exchange: Japanese students are hoping to learn more about American culture, practice their English, and participate in a classic American tradition: summer camp!
- Japan Day: Rikkyo students and teachers prepare an awesome afternoon of fun activities, delicious food, and a performance for the American campers.
Questions About Summer Camp?
Join a monthly Q&A on Zoom with our Summer Camp Director.
Dates for these sessions will be posted in February 2025.
Counselor Training
Counselor Training: June 15 – June 20, 2025
Counselor Training provides direct mentorship from experienced counselors and staff, thought-provoking discussions, in-depth workshops and the chance to build leadership skills through practice. Counselors in Training learn more about themselves and the role of a counselor while building relationships with peers and growing skills that will help them succeed in life and in future jobs.
The 2025 Counselor Training program includes two components: a Counselor Training curriculum week of discussion and learning, and a week of hands-on experience during summer camp.
Upon successful completion of both components of Counselor Training in 2025, participants will be eligible for employment in future summers. Counselors in Training will be assessed on the basis of their full participation in the training program, their ability to act responsibly, their willingness to be a role model and leader, and their enthusiasm for working with children. Participation in Counselor Training is not a guarantee of employment.
A: $500, B: $250, C: $0
Pre-Requisites and additional requirements for acceptance into the program:
- Age 16+
- Availability for the entire Counselor Training Session in June AND at least one camp session later in the summer.
- Completion of Counselor in Training application
- Successful references and interview
- Completion of 3-5 hours of online training prior to arrival at camp
To Apply:
- Register with a caregiver/parent as a camper for the counselor training session.
- Complete the counselor in training application within the registration.
- Complete a phone interview with the Summer Camp Director (we’ll reach out to schedule after your registration is complete).
- Ask three references to complete and submit the reference form.
