Catalina Island Camps

Catalina Island Camps offers activities such as skin diving, kayaking, sailing, power boats, and day trips, along with morning adventure trips and overnights. Campers take part in a ropes course, climbing and rock climbing, archery, target sports, and badgework. The program also includes stand up paddleboards and paddleboarding, arts and crafts, and gardening and composting, as well as activities focused on nature.

• Ages: 6–16 years old
• Schedule: Program intentionally designed around a two-week session

Catalina Island Camps is a one and two-week co-ed sleepaway camp for children and teens in 1st through 10th grade, with activities scheduled by cabin group for the first week so everyone can try each activity. The camp uses a cabin-based community structure with a cabin counselor and activity specialist living with each cabin, and a Counselor-in-Training may also live with younger cabins. The program includes a badgework program for progressive skill development and has an “Unplug • Connect • Discover” focus.

Catalina Island Camps develops life-long skills through fun and unique outdoor experiences in a community that cultivates respect for self, others and the environment. Programs are built around the marine and land environments of Howlands Landing and include a Jean-Michel Cousteau Family Camp with Jean-Michel and his team from Ocean Futures Society. Camper Leadership Programs are offered for high school juniors and seniors to develop personal and group leadership skills, and there is also a School Year Program as an experiential education program for school groups from 4th to 12th grade.

Catalina Island Camps is family operated by Tom and Maria Horner, who have run the camp since 1995. The leadership team includes Tom and Maria Horner as Executive Directors, Christine Honan Simpson as General Manager CELP Director, Nick Horner as Program Director, Eric Simpson as General Manager Facility and Food Service, and Holly Kern as CELP Registrar. The camp holds credentials shown as Icon/Footer-Logo-ACA and waic-member-logo-full-color-rgb.

Parent testimonials describe campers being unplugged from phones, taking on hard hikes, and facing fears related to the ocean, as well as returning home happier, more confident, and empowered. Parents also note frequent letters and emails from campers, appreciation for communication systems between home and camp, and campers wanting to return the next summer. Camper comments include feeling more relaxed without phones around and finding it easier to get to know more people without a phone.

Catalina Island Camps also participates in community involvement such as an Earth Day Celebration at Hahamongna Watershed Park on a Saturday in April from 10:00 AM to 12:00 PM.

Last updated March 12, 2026.