Camp Woodcraft
Camp Woodcraft Big Bear Valley Retreat Center, 340 E 2nd St, Los Angeles, CA 90012
About
Camp Woodcraft offers outdoor education programs, school retreats, an Eco Warriors youth leadership retreat, sleepaway camp, and family camp. The program is part of Woodcraft Rangers and includes year-round outdoor education programs and experiences that use an experiential, nature-based curriculum.
• Ages: 7–18 years old
• Price: Over half of campers attend through heavily subsidized or free programs.
Camp Woodcraft is a program of Woodcraft Rangers and follows a Camp-4-All model that supports heavily subsidized or free programs for over half of campers. The program includes a groundbreaking inclusion initiative for youth with intellectual and developmental disabilities, including autism and ADHD, and partners with the California Department of Developmental Services and local Regional Centers to expand access for these youth. Inclusion specialists enhance access for neurodivergent youth and youth with disabilities, and the program is all-gender welcoming, following recommendations set forth by Scouts for Equality. Campers may elect which cabin they most identify with and feel most comfortable in, individual shower stalls are provided for privacy, and mixed gender activity units combine bunk units for all daytime activities.
Camp Woodcraft’s year-round youth development staff reflect the diversity of the students served, and the program offers culturally responsive programming that integrates diverse perspectives. Programs are aligned with Social Emotional Learning (SEL) and Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS), and the experiential, nature-based curriculum is structured to spark curiosity and build resilience. Camp Woodcraft was founded in 1902 by author and naturalist Ernest Thompson Seton, launched its scouting and camping programs in Los Angeles in 1922, and has operated for over a century.
The leadership team includes Helen “Curly” Morales, Director of Camp Woodcraft & Outdoor Education; Natalie “Selfie” Pinedo, Manager of Outdoor Education; and Diana Gonzalez, Outdoor and Environmental Educator. Helen Morales brings 16 years of experience in youth development, serves on the board of the Association for Environmental and Outdoor Education (AEOE), is a national trainer, and serves on the DEI committee for the American Camp Association (ACA). In 2024, Helen was recognized as Outdoor Educator of the Year for Southern California by AEOE, and under her leadership, Camp Woodcraft was honored by the American Camp Association (ACA) with the Eleanor P. Eells Award for Excellence in Research in Practice. Diana is a credentialed educator who specializes in designing and implementing dynamic science curricula that integrate Next Generation Science Standards with essential 21st-century skills, and Natalie is a graduate of the University of Phoenix with a BA in Human Services.
Camp Woodcraft, a program of Woodcraft Rangers, has a stated mission of fostering inclusion and access in the outdoors since its founding in 1902. Woodcraft Rangers states that it eliminates barriers to participation and empowers young people to explore pathways to purposeful lives with positive mentorship and a supportive community, and that Camp Woodcraft blends tradition with innovation while offering accessible experiences in a safe and inclusive environment.
Last updated July 1, 2026.
• Ages: 7–18 years old
• Price: Over half of campers attend through heavily subsidized or free programs.
Camp Woodcraft is a program of Woodcraft Rangers and follows a Camp-4-All model that supports heavily subsidized or free programs for over half of campers. The program includes a groundbreaking inclusion initiative for youth with intellectual and developmental disabilities, including autism and ADHD, and partners with the California Department of Developmental Services and local Regional Centers to expand access for these youth. Inclusion specialists enhance access for neurodivergent youth and youth with disabilities, and the program is all-gender welcoming, following recommendations set forth by Scouts for Equality. Campers may elect which cabin they most identify with and feel most comfortable in, individual shower stalls are provided for privacy, and mixed gender activity units combine bunk units for all daytime activities.
Camp Woodcraft’s year-round youth development staff reflect the diversity of the students served, and the program offers culturally responsive programming that integrates diverse perspectives. Programs are aligned with Social Emotional Learning (SEL) and Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS), and the experiential, nature-based curriculum is structured to spark curiosity and build resilience. Camp Woodcraft was founded in 1902 by author and naturalist Ernest Thompson Seton, launched its scouting and camping programs in Los Angeles in 1922, and has operated for over a century.
The leadership team includes Helen “Curly” Morales, Director of Camp Woodcraft & Outdoor Education; Natalie “Selfie” Pinedo, Manager of Outdoor Education; and Diana Gonzalez, Outdoor and Environmental Educator. Helen Morales brings 16 years of experience in youth development, serves on the board of the Association for Environmental and Outdoor Education (AEOE), is a national trainer, and serves on the DEI committee for the American Camp Association (ACA). In 2024, Helen was recognized as Outdoor Educator of the Year for Southern California by AEOE, and under her leadership, Camp Woodcraft was honored by the American Camp Association (ACA) with the Eleanor P. Eells Award for Excellence in Research in Practice. Diana is a credentialed educator who specializes in designing and implementing dynamic science curricula that integrate Next Generation Science Standards with essential 21st-century skills, and Natalie is a graduate of the University of Phoenix with a BA in Human Services.
Camp Woodcraft, a program of Woodcraft Rangers, has a stated mission of fostering inclusion and access in the outdoors since its founding in 1902. Woodcraft Rangers states that it eliminates barriers to participation and empowers young people to explore pathways to purposeful lives with positive mentorship and a supportive community, and that Camp Woodcraft blends tradition with innovation while offering accessible experiences in a safe and inclusive environment.
Last updated July 1, 2026.
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