Catalina Island Camp

California, United States

Camp is in session

Gender

Coed

Stay

Overnight camp

Ages

7 - 16 yrs

Staff to Camper

About our camp

Catalina Island Camps calls boys and girls to unplug from busy school life, connect with peers, and discover their strengths. Established in 1922 and having a skilled leadership team, Catalina Island Camps knows how to create the necessary atmosphere so that children thrive and have fun. Outdoor experiences open new doors to gain lifelong skills, to learn to respect not only yourself, but also others and the nature. These are the core values Catalina Island Camps family shares. Four main goals are set to be accomplished by each camper - develop a positive identity, build social skills, develop an appreciation for nature, as well as become a contributing member of their communities. Being located at Howlands Landing, Catalina Island Camps is about 20 miles away from Avalon, the main city on Catalina Island. It holds accreditation by the ACA (the American Camp Association) and is a member of the WAIC (Western Association of Independent Camps). A special attention is paid to instill the responsibility of preserving the natural environment and “minimize their ecological footprint” by reducing, reusing and recycling.

Our programs

Participation in activities is designed based on groups –with cabin peers during the first week, then overnights with the camp community, and, finally, activities that involve the entire camp, regardless of age group. Participation in hiking programs and trips teaches campers to sleep under the stars, practice the Leave No Trace ethics, prepare meal, as well as develop problem-solving and decision-making skills. In addition, campers also take part in watersports, arts & crafts, gardening and composting, target sports, climbing and other activities they choose to enjoy.

Activities

19+ activities to choose from - here are some highlights:

Archery

Camping

Drawing

Gardening

Kayaking

Paddleboarding

Session overview

Camp season: 09 Jun - 03 Aug 2026
Program profile: 7 sessions · Overnight
Rates & Stays: Day session
Per-day tuition
N/A
Overnight session
Per-night tuition
from $425 USD
Program-specific tuition options
This camp may offer session-specific tuition structures, including variations by length of stay, enrollment timing, or payment schedule. Families should confirm details directly with the provider.
Per-night (overnight) and per-day (day) figures are calculated from each session's standard tuition and shown as a planning reference only. We show the lowest per-night or per-day rate across this camp's sessions, so the total for a given session, and your actual tuition, may be higher depending on length of stay, age group, or enrollment timing.
This estimate helps families understand the overall scale of commitment across stay options. Final tuition, inclusions, discounts, and payment structures vary by session and are confirmed directly with the camp.

Upcoming sessions:

Where our camp is located

Avalon, California, United States

100 Howlands LandingAvalon, California, United States

Explore the California camp system

Camps in California operate within a broader regional system shaped by geography, climate, infrastructure, and local traditions. Explore how these factors influence daily camp life across the area.

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Learn more about California

Explore the California camp system

Camps in California operate within a broader regional system shaped by geography, climate, infrastructure, and local traditions. Explore how these factors influence daily camp life across the area.

The Parent Side Quest in California

The parallel experience that unfolds outside the camp system

The parent adjacent layer in California is defined by the destination tourism corridors that surround the state elite camp zones.

During drop off and pick up, the towns of Truckee, Ojai, and Carmel experience a surge of parents who occupy the parallel world of wine tasting and high end spa retreats. This waiting rhythm is characterized by a shift to the California slow down where the pace of life is dictated by the timing of the tides. Parents often occupy the boutique hotels of Santa Barbara or the lakeside rentals of Lake Tahoe where the sound of the wind through the redwoods provides a sensory mirror to the camp environment. The rhythm is dictated by the availability of dining and seasonal temperature swings.

In the southern part of the state, parents may linger at the resorts of Palm Springs or the coastal enclaves of Laguna Beach. This layer is anchored in the gateway cities where proximity to the Sierra or Coast Ranges provides a natural retreat. The physical distance between the urban centers and the mountain camps often necessitates a multi day stay in a regional hub. This transit friction load surfaces as a heavy concentration of vehicles on mountain passes like the I-5 Grapevine, which resolves into an observed constraint on communication rhythm as parents are delayed in areas without cellular service.

Roads narrow as they climb toward the tree line.

Towns like Roseville and San Bernardino serve as the primary gateways and logistical funnels for parents entering the system. The sensory experience includes the constant sight of California State Park signage and the tactile feel of dry Mediterranean heat. Parents encounter the same transit friction of the highway system, making the arrival at the camp gate a significant logistical milestone. In the north, the experience may be centered around the Napa Valley or the redwood forests of Humboldt County where the smell of damp earth is pervasive.

This external layer operates on a timeline of leisure time emphasizing the recreational nature of the summer. The parent adjacent experience is a geographic mirror of the camp system, defined by the movement toward environmental cooling zones. This geographic load surfaces as the high cost and low availability of lodging near camp perimeters, which resolves into an observed constraint on transit weight as families may choose to fly and rent vehicles rather than drive across the state. The side quest is a high luxury economy that exists in the same solar drenched window.

Gateway towns are marked by the presence of outfitters and supply stores catering to the camp influx. These locations serve as the final transition point before the isolation of the forest or coast. The waiting rhythm is a structured part of the California summer experience. It is where the urban and wild environments meet.

gateway city funneling.

mountain pass traffic accumulation.

coastal enclave waiting rhythm.

the sight of the Pacific sunset

California weather patterns

A parent watches the morning fog retreat from a coastal ridge as the first signs of dry heat arrive from the interior. The environment is defined by diverse microclimates where maritime influence meets arid inland air. Thermal shifts are often abrupt, driven by topography and the proximity to the Pacific.

Thermal System

Temperatures vary significantly between sun and shade. Inland sites experience rapid heating under clear skies, while coastal locations maintain a steady, cool baseline. The absence of humidity allows for efficient cooling as soon as the sun drops or the marine layer moves inland.

High microclimate variability

Rapid solar heating

Efficient nocturnal cooling

The sudden chill when stepping out of a sunlit patch.

Moisture System

Atmospheric moisture is largely confined to coastal fog banks that provide morning saturation. Inland, the air is characterized by low humidity and high evaporation rates, leaving the ground and vegetation dry. Summer precipitation is rare, making surface dust a consistent environmental feature.

Predictable coastal fog cycles

Low inland humidity

Minimal summer precipitation

The fine dust settling on a leather boot.

Sun Exposure

Solar radiation is intense and consistent across the season. The lack of cloud cover in the interior results in sustained UV exposure from midmorning through late afternoon. Coastal areas experience a diffused light environment until the marine layer clears, revealing highintensity sun.

Sustained high UV levels

Low cloud cover frequency

Highcontrast shadow lines

The searing brightness of a white concrete path.

Microclimate variability and intense solar exposure represent the primary environmental constraints.

This content is provided for general informational purposes only and reflects market observations and publicly available sources. Kampspire is an independent information platform and does not provide medical, legal, psychological, safety, travel, or professional advisory services. Program details, supervision practices, safety protocols, pricing, availability, and policies are determined by individual providers and should be confirmed directly with them.

California travel context

Arrival at major hubs involves a transition from dense, multi level terminal loops into high velocity coastal corridors. Travelers navigate automated people movers or shuttle connectors to reach consolidated transit hubs. The movement is defined by a shift from marine layer fog toward the arid, inland heat of mountain or valley camp zones.

Los Angeles International Airport (LAX)

The airport operates as a horseshoe shaped terminal system with significant distances between gates and the central ground transportation islands. Staging occurs at designated remote zones or specific terminal curbsides depending on vehicle type. High frequency shuttle loops are required to bridge the gap between aircraft arrival and regional transit departure.

Distributed terminal architecture

Mandatory shuttle link transit

High density staging zones

The persistent hum of the terminal cooling fans.

Transit corridor

Transit typically utilizes the I 5 or I 15 arteries, crossing coastal ranges through steep mountain passes. These corridors feature multi lane highway systems that experience rapid elevation gains and significant thermal shifts. Traffic density remains a primary factor in transit duration until reaching rural forest boundaries or high desert plateaus.

Mountain pass navigation

Sustained high velocity transit

The change in air pressure as the vehicle summits the coastal range.

The primary friction point is the high volume traffic congestion within the urban to rural transition zones.

Disclaimer & Safety

General information:

This content is for informational purposes only and reflects market observations and publicly available sources. Kampspire is an independent platform and does not provide medical, legal, psychological, safety, travel, or professional advisory services.

Safety & oversight:

Camp programs operate within local health, safety, and child-care frameworks that vary by region. Because these standards are set and enforced locally, families should consult the camp directly and relevant local authorities for the most current information on safety practices and supervision.

Our role:

Kampspire does not verify, monitor, or evaluate compliance with these standards. Program details, pricing, policies, and availability are determined by individual providers and must be confirmed directly with them.