OVERVIEW

Camp Chrysalis has developed a distinctive approach to environmental education, offering children rich experiences that combine recreation, learning, and personal growth. Our core sessions are based in three spectacular environments that we explore as a family of learners together: Big Sur redwoods, Mendocino coast, and Sierra Nevada mountains. In each of these unique environments we focus on active study of the local ecology and help the campers to develop critical life skills and lasting friendships. Away from the distraction and allure of screens and social media, our purpose is to explore, learn, grow, and play. Our intentional mentoring of young people is one of the reasons many campers return year-after-year, and often transition into leadership roles as CITs and sometimes counselors.

Around base camp and on daily excursions, we focus on active study of the environment and local wildlife to develop natural science skills as well as an appreciation of the natural world while also developing basic camping and wilderness skills. Our campers extend themselves on hikes and then play in favorite swimming spots. Back at base camp, they complement their nature study with leaf-printing on T-shirts, and use knives, saws, and drills while working on woodworking, jewelry and other craft projects.

Campers' exploration is as much of their own developing abilities as of what the world has to offer. One learns how to put his fork away and find it again. Another, that they can make a tough climb. All learn to make new friends. On the cooking and cleaning crews, they enjoy working together, taking care of us all. They deepen their feelings and friendships around the campfire with skits, stories, and songs from our rich folk heritage.

We divide the campers into four small groups of mixed genders and ages. In these small groups, they enjoy working and playing together, and taking care of us all. Each core session includes 36-40 campers (12 for Pinnacles, backpacking, and the snow session) and ten experienced staff. Our experienced counselors offer individual attention to campers with a camper:staff ratio of better than 4:1 which allows for strong relationship building and individual attention. Our intentional mentoring of young people is one of the big draws of the camp as campers develop positive connections with caring adults as well as long-lasting friendships with other campers. In addition, we strive to provide a welcoming community for non-binary campers and staff.

We leave early by bus on the first day of each session and return in the late afternoon of the last day. When we arrive at our campsite, we set up a village of tents, our camp kitchen and picnic tables, campfire benches, and our woodworking and crafts areas. Campers bring sleeping-bags, personal gear, and tents (optional); and everyone pitches in to help with meal preparation and camp maintenance. The campsites have tables and toilet facilities. Beyond this, we’re roughing it; but the camp experience is pleasurable and is not arduous. All activities are paced to enable younger and less-experienced campers to feel successful.

Group singing around the evening campfire is a special pleasure; campers take home our camp songbook, and a rich introduction to our folksong heritage. We bring several guitars and offer beginning instruction to those campers who are interested.

The camp is well stocked with board and card games as well as basic sports equipment. However, the most engaging games are usually those developed by campers or staff (as in the cases of “Shoes in my sand” on the Mendocino beach, “Blind Date” on the Jug Handle hike, or the after dinner “tortilla racing” on the backpacking trip).

Arts and Crafts projects

T-Shirts: painting, silk screening, and leaf-printing
Jewelry-making emphasizing local materials
Wood working
Basic leatherworking
Watercolors, colored pencils, and other media
Woodcutting and print making

Camping and Wilderness skills

Fire building
Fire starting with flint and steel and bow drill
Whittling
Archery, map and compass use, water filters and pumps, the ABC’s of packing a pack, and pooping in the woods, in the Sierra session