What does a typical camp day look like?
Each morning begins with a morning thanksgiving circle where we have an opportunity to give gratitude. We move onto something active that gives kids an opportunity for body awareness, animal understanding, and/or tactile exploration with skulls, tracks and other mysteries of nature. Once we are all warmed up, stretched and full of gratitude we pile in our 15-passenger vans for an adventure in the local area. Each day there are elements of inspiration, skill focus, wandering/exploring, celebration, and storytelling. An example of a day in camps is:
9am - Thanksgving Circle 
9:30 – Blindfolded drum stalk
10am – Head for Rattlesnake Canyon
10:30 – Creek wander discovering tracks, plants, birds!
Noon – Group Hand drill fire and Lunch
1:00 pm- Hike down the trail stopping at any swimming holes
2:30 – Back to park for closing circle and story sharing
What will my child learn at camp?
The possibilities are endless and are guided by the curiosity of your child. Our focus on learning is for youth to gain an un derstanding of the natural world, empathy for each other and confidence of the self.
All campers will learn the basic hazards of nature and how to stay safe in the wake of poison oak, rattlesnakes and bees. S/he will have the opportunity to learn how to track animals, identify plants and trees through field marks and understand the edible/medicinal values, make fire by friction and make a shelter, listen for bird calls and explore their meaning. We strongly believe that discovery of the answer is a far greater gift than the answer itself. Fueled by observation, field guides and thoughtful questioning we take the journey of discovery together, which opens up many more questions and creates life long learners.
Through reflection and natural metaphors your child will gain valuable lessons in communication, teamwork, and empathy. We provide moments of play through group games and explorations as well as moments of self reflection through sit spots and sensory activities.
All these things contribute to bringing out the natural gifts of each child, help them become creative problem solvers, and help them feel truly ALIVE!
What does my child need to bring?
We ask that each day your camper show up with a day pack, water, lunch and snacks, bathing suit and towel. The rest is provided by our staff and all that surrounds us!
What is your staff to camper ratio?
We have a 1:4 staff to camper ratio at all times. This allows for us to meet the needs of all children in the camp. While one boy may want to sketch the track of a coyote, a girl may want to wander up the creek. Our high numbers of staff and volunteers allow us the opportunity to do both.
What is the difference between all the camps?
We offer a variety of camps to meet the needs of so many unique individuals. For kids under age 9, we offer day camps. Chickadees for ages 4-5 and Tree Frogs for ages 6-8 are day camps that meet at the Santa Barbara Rose Garden. Chickaddees remains at the Rose Garden and Rocky Nook Park while Tree Frogs explore areas of Santa Barbara trails and beaches. Our focus is wandering and exploring the passions of individual campers as well as the group.
Sandhoppers is for kids 6-9. We meet at Goleta Beach every day and focus on knowledge of this specific habitat. The wonders of the sand, waves and tides are never ending, coupled with tracking, fire and other wilderness skills these camp days are unforgettable!
Dragonfly is for kids aged 9-12 who are excited about adventure and the natural world but aren't quite ready to sleep away from home yet. It is much like our Ringtail camp but without the week long residential.
Ringtailis for 9-12 year olds ready to experience some camping time away from home. The first week is a day camp spent learning wilderness skill in preparation for the second week which is a week long residential program. We put all the skills into practice and create our own little village.
Raven is our teen program. Expeditions and camps vary but always include adventure, wilderness skills, life skills and a whole lot of fun!!
Can my child come for only part of a camp?
Part of the camp experience is forming a tight group that begins to understand each other and work together. Our days build on each other and end in celebration. We feel it is important to be able to attend all days of the camp, therefore we do not allow campers to attend only part of a camp.
Who is the staff?
We have salaried and seasonal staff working at our summer camps. Our staff are passionate about the natural world and have years of experience with kids. They have all been a part of Wilderness Youth Project for at least a year and are exceptional people. All staff are at least CPR/first aid certified and some have EMT and wilderness first responder. We fingerprint all our staff and volunteers. For more information on our staff please check out our STAFF page.
Are there scholarships available?
All of our summer camps have a scholarship sliding scale that allows you to pay the amount you feel comfortable with. If you need an additional scholarship, please call our offices as we have a limited number available. We look forward to providing scholarships for those youth who are passionate about learning and having FUN!
What are your emergency procedures? 
Our staff are all certified with CPR and first aid. In addition some staff have EMT and Wilderness First Responder certification. We are always equipped with a full first aid kit and are aware of the nearest hospital and clinic in case of emergency. Parents are contatced immediately and if they are unavailable the emergency contact provided will be called. Your childs safety is very important to us and we take all necessary precautions to insure a high level of adventure and fun while maintaining a high level of safety. Since our inception in 1999 we have never had any serious injuries.
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