America's Best Family Camps

CALIFORNIA
Berkeley Tuolumne Family Camp, Groveland, Stanislaus National Forest
On the south fork of the Tuolumne River, seven miles from Yosemite National Park, in Stanislaus National Forest. Magic lessons, hiking, nature studies, multicultural crafts. Campers vs. staff volleyball, skit night, yoga. Swimming and fishing in the Tuolumne River. Ranger-led workshops for kids (making pine-needle baskets and leaf-print shirts), artist-in-residence program for adults (pottery, woodworking, watercolor painting, drawing, performing arts, and more). Nearby attractions include Yosemite National Park, gold rush towns, and horseback riding. Lodging: Tent-cabins with decks (some with electricity) sleep four to eight on cots; shared bathhouse. Tent sites. Food: All-you-can-eat family-style meals in the dining hall; coffee and tea all day. Ice cream social, Sunday candlelight dinners, and an outdoor barbecue by the river. 2010 dates: June 19–July 3, August 15–29. 2010 prices: $101 per night for ages 15 and up, $70 per night for ages 7–14, $54 per night for ages 3–6, ages 2 and under free; discounts apply for Berkeley residents. Contact: 510/981-5140, berkeleycamps.com.

Camp Sacramento, Twin Bridges
The south fork of the American River runs through camp. Catch a fish, and the chef will cook it. Archery, hiking, rock climbing, geocaching, bingo, arts and crafts, campfires, barbecues, dances, volleyball, softball. Lodging: 61 private cabins with electricity sleep two to six on double beds; shared bathhouse. Food: Three cafeteria-style meals daily. 2010 dates: June 20–August 14. 2010 prices: Weeklong stays $512 for ages 16 and up, $380 for ages 11–15, $279 for ages 6–10, $148 for ages 3–5, ages 2 and under free; discounts apply for residents of Sacramento, Calif. Contact 916/808-6098, cityofsacramento.org/parksandrecreation/campsac.

Emandal—A Farm on a River, Willits
A working farm since 1908 on 1,000 acres. On the banks of the Eel River near the base of Sanhedrin Mountain, cornering Mendocino National Forest, redwoods, and wine country. Farm chores include milking cows, gathering eggs, harvesting vegetables, and picking raspberries. Families explore at their own pace, spending an afternoon hiking over wooded slopes, discovering swimming holes, or simply swinging in the hammocks under the fir, madrone, and oak trees. Lodging: Wood cabins sleep up to eight with queen beds or bunks; cold running springwater, electricity, and ceiling fans; shared bathhouse. Two farmhouse rooms sleep two; private baths. Linens provided. Food: Three family-style meals daily. Bread and pizza baked in brick oven. Organic produce from on-site garden; grass-fed beef and free-range chickens and pigs are raised on the farm. 2010 dates: June 23–27, July 13–August 21, September 2–6, 17–19. 2010 prices: Six-night stays in multiple occupancy cabins $730 for ages 18 and up, $510 for ages 12–17, $398 for ages 7–11, $280 for ages 4–6, $185 for ages 2–3, ages 1 and under free; add an additional 10 percent for farmhouse accommodations. Contact: 707/459-5439, emandal.com.

Family Camp on the Bar 717 Ranch, Hayfork
A working ranch on 450 acres in the Shasta-Trinity National Forest. Overnights on horseback to the ranch's original homestead. Swimming in Hayfork Creek. Collect eggs, milk a cow, or feed rabbits, goats, and pigs in the barn. Square dancing, ropes course, gardening, archery, music, drama, nature study, cooking, baking. Silk-screening, arts and crafts, blacksmithing, ceramics, woodshop. Parental perk: a trail ride ending with a picnic of cheese and local wine. ACA accredited. Lodging: Three-sided wood cabins, without electricity and open on one side, sleep six to 15; sink, toilet, and shared shower house. Motel-style guestrooms sleep two to six; some with private baths. Tent sites. Food: Three family-style meals daily highlight the ranch's own beef, pork, and vegetables. 2010 dates: August 8–15. 2010 prices: $880 for ages 18 and up, $630 for ages 12–17, $505 for ages 6–11, $380 for ages 2–5, ages 1 and under free. Contact: 530/628-5992, bar717.com.

Forest Home at Mill Creek Canyon, Forest Falls
Nondenominational Christian camp in the San Bernardino Mountains. Waterslide, zip line, miniature golf, climbing wall, trout pond, game room, crafts cabin, hiking, music. Volleyball, basketball, field sports. Free evening child care for kids under 11. ACA accredited. Lodging: Motel-style rooms with bunk beds; shared bath. Motel-style rooms; private baths; linens. Cabins with built-in queen-size beds and bunks; private baths; linens. Food: Three meals daily. Tuesday and Friday adults-only dinner with table service; past menus have featured steak and king crab. 2010 dates: June 20–August 21. 2010 prices: Full week in economy accommodations $539 for ages 18 and up, $343 for ages 9–17, $222 for ages 3–8, $99 for ages 2 and under; adult prices for upgraded lodging are $714 for a standard room, $882 for a deluxe room, $944 in the Grace House. Contact: 909/389-2300, foresthome.org.

Lair of the Golden Bear, Pinecrest
Affiliated with the University of California at Berkeley's alumni association. Three camps in Stanislaus National Forest in the Sierra Nevada range, under cedars, redwoods, and pines. Arts and crafts: pottery, lanyard making, T-shirt painting, tie-dyeing. Three pools, 18-hole golf course nearby (30 minutes), outdoor theater by the lake, fishing, weekly speakers, hikes for all abilities. Ping-pong and Trivial Pursuit contests. Lodging: Canvas-roofed wood cabins with electricity sleep two to eight; shared bathhouse. Rooms in the motel-style building sleep two; shared bath. Food: Three family-style meals daily in the dining hall; coffee throughout the day in the adults' Vista Lodge; burger shack open nightly. 2010 dates: June 11–August 28. 2010 prices: Weeklong family camp $715 for ages 18 and up, $615 for ages 13–17, $465 for ages 5–12, $315 for ages 2–4, ages 1 and under free; different rates apply for miniweek and weekend programs. To attend, one adult must join the Cal Alumni Association, but isn't required to have ever been enrolled at a Cal university. Contact: 888/225-2586, alumni.berkeley.edu/lair.

Montecito Sequoia Lodge, Kings Canyon National Park
At an elevation of 7,500 feet, between Sequoia and Kings Canyon national parks. A cross between a country inn (wood-burning stoves) and a summer camp (powwow sing-along every morning). Tennis, archery, riflery, swimming pool, horseback riding, guided hikes to waterfalls. Canoeing, sailing, water-skiing, wakeboarding, and paddleboating on Lake Homavalo. Rock-climbing wall, gymnastics, biking, casino and open-mike nights. Workshops led by artists. ACA accredited. Lodging: Thirty-six hotel-style lodge rooms sleep two to eight; private baths. Fourteen wood cabins with electricity sleep four to eight on queen-size beds and bunks; shared bathhouse. Linens provided. Food: Three buffets daily; full bar nightly; 24-hour hospitality bar stocked with free coffee, juice, fresh fruit, soups, desserts, and snacks. Trail lunches provided for hikers 2010 dates: June 13–August 28. 2010 prices: Rates change based on type of accommodations and number of people booking; sample weeklong rates: $1,995 for two people in a cabin, $2,395 for two people in a standard room, $2,995 for two people in a family room. Contact: 800/227-9900, mslodge.com.

Mount Hermon Christian Camps, Mount Hermon
Evangelical and interdenominational Christian camp in the redwoods, just six miles from the coast. Open since 1906, with room for 600. Special programs for high schoolers, college students with their parents, and single-parent families. Ride the railroad down the canyon to the Santa Cruz boardwalk, boat on Zayante Creek, take a redwoods canopy tour 100 feet above the canyon. Ropes course, climbing wall, archery, mountain biking, hiking, team sports. Child care available. Lodging: Master deluxe, deluxe, standard, and economy lodge rooms sleep two to eight; private baths; housekeeping and towel change. Food: Family-style dining hall. Barbecues, outdoor pancake breakfasts. 2010 dates: June 13–August 14, September 3–6. 2010 prices: Lodging for six nights ranges from $492 for economy accommodations to $1,338 for master deluxe; meals and programs are $311 for ages 21 and up, $250 for ages 13–20, $227 for ages 4–12, $144 for ages 3 and under. Contact: 888/642-2677, mounthermon.org.

Oakland Feather River Camp, Quincy
Twenty acres in the Plumas National Forest. Family dances, papermaking, gourd decorating, nighttime flashlight tag. Supervised kids' activities. Theme weeks focus on storytelling, guitar, folk dancing, earth/ecology, and adult art program. Lodging: Tent cabins and wood cabins (some of both with electricity); shared bathhouse. Food: Three family-style meals daily in the dining hall. Ice cream cones at the camp store for $1. 2010 dates: June 23–27, June 27–July 5, July 7–11, 11–18, 18–25, August 10–15. 2010 prices: $65 per night for ages 18 and up, $60 per night for ages 13–17, $55 per night for ages 6–12, $40 per night for ages 2–5, ages 1 and under free; discounts apply for Oakland, Calif., residents. Contact: 510/336-2267, featherrivercamp.com.

Wonder Valley Family Camp, Sanger
On a private lake in the foothills of Sequoia and Kings Canyon national parks. Skateboard park, go-kart track, minibike dirt track, waterslides, petting zoo, outdoor stage, horseback riding, high and low ropes courses, water-skiing, personal watercraft, hiking trails. Swimming, fishing, kayaking, canoeing, and sailing on Dalton Pond. Tennis, volleyball, basketball, field sports, horseshoes, archery, paintball, riflery. Thursday is parents' night, with child care until 11:30 p.m., a prime rib dinner, casino tables, and live entertainment. Full-service day care center. ACA accredited. Lodging: 53 motel-style rooms sleep four to eight on doubles, kings, and bunks; private baths; linens provided. Food: Three buffets daily in the lakeside dining hall. 2010 dates: August 8–14, 15–21. 2010 prices: $1,499 for ages 18 and up, $1,389 for ages 13–17, $1,289 for ages 7–12, $999 for ages 3–6, $389 for ages 2 and under. Contact: 800/821-2801, wondervalleyfamilycamp.com.

COLORADO
Cheley Colorado Camps, Estes Park
On 1,600 acres of wilderness in the Rockies, 8,200 feet in elevation. Learn Western-style horseback riding with half-day and full-day rides through Rocky Mountain National Park and Roosevelt National Forest. Stream fishing, technical climbing, contests like the Dirty Derby—at week's end, the dirtiest camper wins a prize. Movie making, campfire nights, rock climbing, hiking, trout fishing, skit nights, talent show, archery, riflery. ACA accredited. Lodging: Covered wagons with four single beds; shared bathhouse; linens provided. Food: Three family-style meals daily in the dining hall; snacks throughout the day. Trail lunch provided. 2010 dates: August 10–15. 2010 prices: $750 for ages 9 and up, $450 for ages 8 and under. Contact: 800/226-7386, cheley.com.

Estes Park Center, Estes Park
On 860 acres, surrounded by 14,000-foot-tall Rocky Mountain peaks. Elk, mule deer, moose, coyotes, and the occasional black bear. Emphasis on the environment: Watch beavers build dams, or learn about the life span of a fish after a hike to the stream. ACA accredited. Lodging: Cabins (214) with two to four bedrooms and fully equipped kitchen; private baths; housekeeping. Seven lodges with 600 hotel-style rooms, all with two queen beds, some with extra bunk beds; private baths. Linens provided. Food: Three buffets daily. Pay by the meal; American plan (three meals daily) $29 adults, $19 kids. Café open from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. (closes at 10 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays). 2010 dates: Open year-round, no minimum stay. 2010 prices: Hotel rooms from $79 per night; cabins from $99 per night. Contact: 800/777-9622, ymcarockies.org.