Camp Life

The camp structure creates a supportive community where friendships and cooperation flourish.  Camp activities are designed for children to learn new skills, build self-confidence and foster self-sufficiency.

The Unalayee program is designed to give the campers the opportunity to explore and appreciate the beautiful wilderness setting.   Each session is divided between "In Camp" time and "On the Trail" time.

While "In Camp" campers live in small groups called tribes. Each tribe has two counselors.   Tribes live as a small family.  They share communal tasks like building cook fires, cooking and clean-up.  Each tribe goes on a three day back-packing trip together.

The "On the Trail" part of the camp program consists of two packing trips -- one for three days (Tribe Hike), and another for four days (Choice Hike).

For the more adventurous, we also offer more extensive back-packing programs -- Trail Tribes.  These ten-day back-packing expeditions may explore other nearby wilderness areas, such as the Russian and Marbles Wildernesses.  These extended trips may focus on developing primitive and outdoor living skills.

From time to time we offer special programs, like a Sierra Nevada trip, Walkabout, white water rafting, "Girls Only Hikes", etc.  Please contact the camp office to see what special programs we may be offering this year.

Older campers may choose to participate in our comprehensive Counselor-in-Training (CIT) program.   This is a multi-session program for 16and 17 year olds who are motivated to assume a more responsible role in the camp community.   CITs learn leadership skills along with advanced outdoor skills such as map reading, first aid and emergency management.