Catalina Island Camps
Catalina Island Camps, 100 Howland Landing, Avalon, CA 90704
About
Catalina Island Camps offers activities such as skin diving, kayaking, sailing, power boats, stand up paddleboards and paddleboarding, and day trips. Campers also take part in a ropes course, climbing and rock climbing, archery and other target sports, arts and crafts, gardening and composting, morning adventure trips, overnights, and badgework. The program is a one- and two-week co-ed sleepaway camp for children and teens in 1st through 10th grade, with programs for high school juniors and seniors to develop personal and group leadership skills.
• Ages: 6–18 years old
• Schedule: The program is intentionally designed around a two-week session.
Catalina Island Camps states that the center of the experience for every camper is belonging to a cabin group, with campers placed in cabins by their current grade in school. A cabin counselor and an activity specialist live with each cabin, and a Counselor-in-Training may also live with younger cabins, guiding and creating the camp experience for up to ten campers. Activities are scheduled by the cabin group for the first week of each session so everyone can try each activity, and cabins share meals together in the outdoor dining area and participate in most evening programs as a group. As a session moves into its second week, campers make individual choices and mix more with campers from other cabins during after dinner zones, overnights, badgework activities, and individual choice evening programs.
Catalina Island Camps describes itself as a natural wonderland that is home to a variety of marine life, birds, and land mammals, and uses the phrase “Unplug • Connect • Discover.” The camp’s mission statement is that it develops life-long skills through fun and unique outdoor experiences in a community that cultivates respect for self, others, and the environment. The camp is family operated, and has been run by Tom and Maria Horner since 1995, which the camp states allows them to create a strong community. 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.
Catalina Island Camps notes that it has a mainland office in Altadena, California, together with its sister camp, Tom Sawyer Camps, a Pasadena area day camp. The camp also offers the Jean-Michel Cousteau Family Camp and an experiential education program for school groups from 4th to 12th grade. Catalina Island Camps lists credentials including ACA and WAIC membership.
Parent and camper comments describe campers being free from phones, feeling happier, more confident, and empowered, and enjoying being unplugged, with several parents thanking the staff and noting that their children wanted to return. One camper comment states, “I felt much more relaxed, I enjoyed the freedom of having my friends listen to me instead of looking at their phone and ignoring me,” and another says, “I like that without my phone I can know more people.”
Last updated June 13, 2026.
• Ages: 6–18 years old
• Schedule: The program is intentionally designed around a two-week session.
Catalina Island Camps states that the center of the experience for every camper is belonging to a cabin group, with campers placed in cabins by their current grade in school. A cabin counselor and an activity specialist live with each cabin, and a Counselor-in-Training may also live with younger cabins, guiding and creating the camp experience for up to ten campers. Activities are scheduled by the cabin group for the first week of each session so everyone can try each activity, and cabins share meals together in the outdoor dining area and participate in most evening programs as a group. As a session moves into its second week, campers make individual choices and mix more with campers from other cabins during after dinner zones, overnights, badgework activities, and individual choice evening programs.
Catalina Island Camps describes itself as a natural wonderland that is home to a variety of marine life, birds, and land mammals, and uses the phrase “Unplug • Connect • Discover.” The camp’s mission statement is that it develops life-long skills through fun and unique outdoor experiences in a community that cultivates respect for self, others, and the environment. The camp is family operated, and has been run by Tom and Maria Horner since 1995, which the camp states allows them to create a strong community. 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.
Catalina Island Camps notes that it has a mainland office in Altadena, California, together with its sister camp, Tom Sawyer Camps, a Pasadena area day camp. The camp also offers the Jean-Michel Cousteau Family Camp and an experiential education program for school groups from 4th to 12th grade. Catalina Island Camps lists credentials including ACA and WAIC membership.
Parent and camper comments describe campers being free from phones, feeling happier, more confident, and empowered, and enjoying being unplugged, with several parents thanking the staff and noting that their children wanted to return. One camper comment states, “I felt much more relaxed, I enjoyed the freedom of having my friends listen to me instead of looking at their phone and ignoring me,” and another says, “I like that without my phone I can know more people.”
Last updated June 13, 2026.
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