Program FAQs

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Who are the CIC campers?

CIC campers currently in 1st through 10th grades can enroll in any session at camp. Campers currently in 1st grade may enroll in our one week sessions. The Camper in Leadership Training (CILT) program is open to campers currently in 10th grade. Our campers come prepared to make friends while participating in vigorous, exciting activities.

Where do they come from?

All over the United States! While the majority of our campers are from Southern California, we have many campers from around the country and the world!

How long do they stay?

We have one, two and four week sessions. Most campers come for two weeks. The two-week sessions include an out-of-camp overnight for campers entering 6thgrade and older and an in-camp overnight for younger campers. All two-week campers participate in our Badgework program that encourages campers to build skills in activities of their choice. Four-week sessions include a day trip to Avalon.

How do they get there?

Catalina Island Camps arranges transportation from San Pedro to our camp at Howlands Landing. The fee for this transportation is included in your tuition. We depart from San Pedro in the afternoon and return in the late morning. Specific information about departure and arrival will be sent at a later date.

What do campers do from outside the Los Angeles Area?

We are unable to offer transportation between the airport and the boat terminal. All campers must be brought to the boat terminal by a parent of guardian.

What if my child wants to attend camp with a friend?

Campers are placed into cabin groups according to the grade they will be entering in the fall. If you wish to have your child placed in a cabin with a friend, please indicate this on your enrollment form. Both campers should be within a year of the same age. If both campers are not entering the same grade, they will be placed according to the grade of the younger child. Cabin requests must be made by all families involved to guarantee that the request will be honored. We cannot guarantee that groups of more than four campers will be placed together.

Camp food has such a bad reputation…how does yours compare?

We are fortunate to have an excellent Food Service Manager and staff, and they receive rave reviews each year from our campers! Breakfast each day consists of a hot entrée as well as fresh fruit and a dry cereal bar. At both lunch and dinner, there is a salad bar in addition to the entrée. We have many campers and staff who are vegetarians, so most of our meals are prepared as meat “add-ins.” For example, when we have pasta, it is served plain, and the campers can choose between a marinara sauce, a cream sauce, and a meat sauce. In the event that an entrée includes meat, a vegetarian option is available. Other special dietary needs can be accommodated as well; please call our office for more information.

This sounds great! How do we sign up?

To enroll your child in camp for this summer, click on the “Sign Up Online” button. All balances are due by May 1. All enrollments after May 1 must be accompanied by full payment. The camper medical form is also due by May 1.

How soon do we need to sign up?

Our enrollment works on a first-come, first-served basis. The online registration system will only allow you to register for sessions that have space. If you are interested in a session that does not pop up when you try to enroll your camper, please contact our office for information about the waitlist.

What happens if the session we have selected is already full?

The online registration system will not allow you to register for a session that is full. You can select another session or contact our office for information about the waitlist.

How does the waiting list work?

To place your child on a waitlist, please contact our office. If space becomes available, we will contact you to confirm your continued interest in the space.

How does the camp program differ for the various age groups?

The majority of our camp activities are available to all of our campers. Some exceptions: the high ropes course (entering 5th grade and above); day trips (entering 8th grade and above); and water skiing or wakeboarding (entering 5th grade and above). All campers participate in Power Boat activities (i.e. tubing or knee boarding) but the youngest campers usually do not try water skiing or wakeboarding. Please call our office for more information.

Can my child choose their own schedule?

We are a group-centered camp. Our campers are placed into cabin groups according to their grade and are scheduled to do activities as a cabin group. During a two-week program, Wednesday through Saturday of the second week is set aside for badgework, where campers can choose the activities they want to spend more time in.

Two-Week Sample Schedule

Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thirsday Friday Saturday Sunday
First Week Arrive at camp for Dinner

Evening Program:
Get to know your cabin mates

Swim Evals for all campers

Activities by Cabin

Evening Program:
Opening Campfire

Activities by Cabin

Evening Program:
Varies by session

Thursday Morning Adventures

Afternoon activities by Cabin

Evening Program: Varies by session

Activities by Cabin Group

Evening Program:
Individual Choice Night

Morning Super Zones

Evening Program:
Movie Night or Night Dive (7th graders and older)

Parents Day

Activities by Cabin

Evening Program:
Middle Campfire

Second Week Overnights
6th grade and up leave camp,
2nd – 5th graders take over camp!
Afternoon returns from Overnights

Evening Program:
Casino Game Night

Sleep In!

One morning Cabin Activity

Afternoon Badgework Activities

Evening Program:
Varies by session

Badgework Activities

Evening Program:
Lip Sync

Badgework Activities all Day

Evening Program:
Movie Night or Night Dive (7th graders and older)

Special Event in the Morning

Afternoon Final Badgework Activities

Evening Program:
Dance Night

Final Day of Camp:

Games, Swimming, Photos, Camp Store, Packing

Awards Banquet at Dinner

Evening Program:
Closing Campfire

Does my child have to participate in all of the activities?

At Catalina Island Camps we use the philosophy of Challenge by Choice. While we hope that the activities at camp will be exciting to all campers, our experience is that some campers have hesitation towards one or more camp activities. During staff orientation, our camp staff is given many tools for encouraging campers to participate in activities.

Campers are never forced to participate in camp activities. We do have a minimum standard of participation for all camp activities, which includes putting on any equipment used for the activity and following the basic instructions of the instructors. Usually, through positive encouragement and preparation to participate, campers will try an activity. Our instructors are trained to allow a child the option to not participate if the camper has gone through the minimum standards of participation.

Still have questions?