Progressive Skill Development at Catalina Island Camps: The Badgework Program

At Catalina Island Camps, we know that parents want more than just a fun summer experience for their children—they want meaningful growth and skill development. That’s why we created Badgework, our progressive skill development program designed to help campers build confidence, mastery, and independence through hands-on learning.

Learning by Choice and Experience

Badgework empowers campers during each two-week session to choose activities they want to explore and improve. By allowing campers to select their areas of interest, learning becomes personal, motivating, and engaging. Many of these activities—especially ocean and outdoor skills—are experiences campers may not have access to away from camp, making their time at CIC truly unique.

A Wide Range of Skill-Building Activities

Our Badgework program offers skill development and instruction in:

Sailing
Snorkeling
Kayaking
Water-Skiing and Wakeboarding
Archery
BB Guns
Rock Climbing
Nature Studies
Tidepools
Hiking

Each activity is thoughtfully designed to challenge campers while maintaining a supportive and encouraging environment.

A Clear Path for Progress

Every Badgework activity includes four progressive levels:
White, Red, Blue, and Gold.

Campers can advance one level per activity during each two-week session, allowing them to see measurable progress while reinforcing the value of commitment and practice. Campers who return for multiple sessions have the opportunity to continue advancing and building mastery year after year.

A Catalina Island Camps Burgee. Burgees are nautical flags used for ceremony and communication. CIC uses a swallowtail burgee for campers to attach their recognition pins to track their camp history.

Recognition and Celebration

Each camper receives a CIC felt burgee during their first summer (the Blue CIC felt burgee in the image above), which becomes a symbol of their growth at camp. Read more about the nautical history of burgees

With every session they participate in Badgework, campers earn recognition awards to add to their burgee—creating a lasting, visual reminder of their accomplishments. Campers’ efforts are celebrated at the Award Banquet on the final night of each session.

Special recognition is given to:

Campers who achieve the top (Gold) level in an activity (see the star pins attached to the CIC burgee in the image above)
Campers who reach new Burgee levels, marking overall progress across all activities (see the white burgee pin on the felt swallow tail burgee in the picture)

Skills That Go Beyond Summer

Badgework is more than earning levels—it’s about developing perseverance, confidence, and a love of learning. By combining choice, structure, and celebration, Catalina Island Camps ensures that campers leave with skills, pride in their achievements, and memories that last long after the summer ends.