The state of California has officially announced that overnight youth camps can open on June 1st, allowing locally-based Camp Natoma to begin registration for summer sessions that provide an immersive outdoor experience for youth to experience the healing benefits of nature-based interventions around screen time and social media after a year of isolation.
Camp Natoma, a 501(c)3 non-profit organization, will be facilitating seven week-long summer camp sessions starting June 28th and going through August 15th for the summer of 2021. The camp offers multiple group options for different ages and a teen leadership training program. The camp also offers Family Camp options outside of the summer camp sessions. Camp participants will be able to enjoy the onsite pool and water slide, in addition to morning programs such as Drama, Crafts, and Nature Explorers.
Campers will also partake in speciality activities such as hikes, hatchet throwing, skits, crafts, group games, creek walks, geocaching, cooking, archery, and other activities that focus on teambuilding, leadership, and problem solving. Each camp group will participate in age-tailored activities that help to redevelop friendships, social skills, senses of empathy, and environmentally-friendly habits. Camp Natoma knows that kids need a place to be outside away from screens and everyday routines that have become mundane from a year in quarantine.
Camp Natoma was founded in 1941 and sits on 360 acres of oak woodland with a year-round running creek that embodies senses of relaxation, calmness, positive relationship building, and cooperative social interaction. Camp Natoma has remained a primitive nature-based camp for youth to sleep under the stars, learn outdoor skills, express their creativity, and gain teamwork skills. After a year in isolation during the pandemic, Camp Natoma understands that youth need to get outside, be physically active, connect with role models, and immerse themselves into a camp setting that fosters individual growth, independence, resilience, empathy, and friendship through challenges and relationship building.
Youth at Camp Natoma will spend a week sleeping under the stars, free from screens and normal day-to-day activities, to connect with peers and mentors in a natural environment that has been designed to expand participants’ ainity for nature and improve their mental health. Camp Natoma will help youth in SLO County regain their independence and connection with nature, and decrease their dependence on technology and virtual schooling through active outdoor programming.
To register for a summer session at Camp Natoma or to find out more information, please visit campnatoma.org and Enroll Now!