FREE and Inexpensive Summer Camps for CASA Youth
If you find a camp on or off this list that your child is interested in, contact the camp directly and see if they have full or partial scholarships for low-income families or at-risk youth. Make sure you get whatever forms you need and work with the child’s caregiver to get the child registered. If there is a cost, talk to your Advocate Supervisor to see if the CASA Children’s Fund can pay for the camp.
Types of Camps:
Day camp: Camp that usually runs during the day, the child spends the night at home.
Overnight camp: child spends the day and sleeps at the camp at night. Some camps for a weekend, some for longer.
Price: Partial and full scholarships available
Camp Name: Live Earth Camp
Location: Watsonville
Ages: 3 to 12 years, depending on the camp
Type of Camp: Day camp
More Information: They have Farm Camp, Art on the Farm Camp, Farm to Table Camp and Sprouts Camp. More information available at http://www.liveearthfarm.net/discovery-program/programs/farm-camps/
Contact Info: Jessica Ridgeway at 831-728-2032, lefdpdirector@gmail.com
Price: FREE for all
Camp Name: Horse and Heart
Location: Soquel
Ages: 5 to 18 years
Type of Camp: Day camp
More Information: In the tranquility of the Soquel Hills, Overlooking beautiful Monterey Bay, campers get to know the herd at Horse & Heart Ranch using natural horsemanship methods. Through the horse-human connection and under the guidance of our experienced staff - confidence, self-esteem, trust, and partnership blossom. Fun in the outdoors all day! Activities include natural horsemanship, aerial, ropes & tissue, acrobatics, axis syllabus (dance), art, theater & BEACH DAY! This camp is M-F 10 am - 4 pm. More information available at: https://www.horseandheart.org/summer-camp
Contact Info: Lori Halliday (O) 831-464-2630 (C) 650-248-4451 Email: Lori@wisdomark.com
Price: Full and partial scholarships available. Contact your Supervisor.
Camp Name: Kruz Kidz www.kruzkidz.com Kay Trust website: www.tlc.org/kaytrust
Location: Twin Lakes Church, 2701 Cabrillo College Drive in Aptos with field trips to local beaches, etc.
Ages: 6 to 11 years
Type of Camp: Day camp
More Information: Kruz Kidz offers five weeks of Adventure Camps and four weeks of Discovery Camps for campers entering 1st through 6th grade. (Surf and computer discovery camps are available for those in 7th grade.) Fun skits, field trips, and Wacky Wednesdays during Adventure weeks, or for Discovery weeks with 23 different camps to choose from, from sports, cooking, dance, art, science and more! They also offer a Junior Counselor camp for campers entering 7th-9th grade.
Contact Info: Yolanda at 465-3359 or yolanda@tlc.org.
Price: Scholarship available. Contact your Advocate Supervisor.
Camp Name: Camp WOW
Location: Watsonville
Ages: 5 to 12 years
Type of Camp: Day camp
More Information: Day camp run through the City of Watsonville. Have scholarships for low-income families.
Contact Info: For more information, call 831-768-3240.
Price: CASA will pay camp cost of $225
Camp Name: Lizzy Fowler’s Adventure Camps www.lizzyfowler.com
Location: Circle Church 111 Errett Circle Santa Cruz is the home base, but the camps involve a lot of field trips. Other locations include Henry Cowell Park, Santa Cruz Main Beach, Delaveaga Park, Natural Bridges State Park, Neary Lagoon, Santa Cruz Natural History Museum, and Harvey West Park.
Ages: Different camps for ages 7 to 13 years
Type of Camp: Day camp
More Information: Camps are designed to expose children to a variety of activities in Santa Cruz, and build the confidence of each child in a supportive and empowering environment. Teamwork, Fun, and Respect are important themes throughout our activities.
Contact Info: Contact Liz to register at lizzyfowler@aol.com.
Price: Scholarships available through the Kay Trust (application available on website). Camps range between $75 up to $200 a week
Camp Name: Camp Erin
Location: Mount Hermon
Ages: 6 to 17 years
Type of Camp: Weekend camp
More Information: Camp Erin is a FREE, weekend long grief support camp that is designed to help children and teenagers ages 6-17, who have experienced the death of someone close to them. Camp will be held October 9-11, 2015.
Contact Info: Cindi Gray at (831) 430-3039 CampErin@HospiceSantaCruz.org
Price: Full Day Weekly: $140, Half Day Weekly: $80 no field trip/$105 with field trip, Scholarships are available
Camp Name: Camp Hammer www.camphammer.com Kay Trust website: www.tlc.org/kaytrust
Location: Boulder Creek
Ages: Up to 17 years
Type of Camp: Overnight camp
More Information: Christian Camp – Recreational
Contact Info: (831)338-3200 Email: info@camphammer.com
Price: FREE for all
Camp Name: Camp Unalayee www.gocampu.com
Location: Wilderness summer camp situated on 400 private acres in the heart of Northern California’s Trinity Alps.
Ages: 10 to 17 years
Type of Camp: Overnight camping trips
More Information: As a wilderness summer camp, Unalayee is proud to have introduced thousands of kids to backcountry living while maintaining an impeccable safety record. Kids in our summer camp programs learn about themselves as they learn to live in the wilderness. The rugged terrain of the Trinity Alps provides a challenging and dramatic backdrop for wilderness adventure.
Contact Info: For more information, contact Sarah Camp, Director of Camp Unalayee (650) 308 – 4453 friends@gocampu.com
Price: Regular Price is $300/week. Discounted price for CASA Youth is $100/week..
Camp Name: Camp Opportunity www.campopp.org
Location: Santa Cruz
Ages: 8 to 13 years
Type of Camp: 6 days and 5 nights, overnight camp
More Information: Camp Opportunity is a residential camp for children at risk of abuse or neglect and is located in Santa Cruz, California. Many of the campers currently live or have lived in foster care, and all come from families facing serious issues. For six days and five nights, campers enjoy a wide variety of activities amongst the redwoods, such as swimming, hiking, soccer, archery, arts and crafts, photography, and much more. Campers also participate in a unique skills building class, designed to increase self-esteem, teach problem solving skills and encourage self-expression Evening activities include an all camp Capture the Flag game and performances by such favorites as the Bubble Man. And every night ends with a campfire, skits and an energetic song session.
Contact Info: To get your child into Camp Opportunity, contact your CASA youth's social worker.
Other places to check annually for camps for youth include:
The Santa Cruz Chamber of Commerce at www.santacruzchamber.org/cwt/external/wcpages/facts/camps.aspx
The Watsonville YMCA at www.centralcoastymca.org
SC Junior Lifeguards www.parks.ca.gov/?page_id=27056
