About
Irvine Ranch Outdoor Education Center offers fieldtrips, day science camps, overnight science camps, and customizable programming for select schools. The program also offers Cub Scout resident camp, Scout Campout experiences, tent camping, group retreats, group summer camp experiences, and Open Program Days. Participants can take part in adventure activities such as quad zip lines over the canyon, a climbing tower with nine routes of varying difficulty, rappelling, swimming in dual pools, using a water slide, a zip line experience, and shooting ranges, as well as working on merit badges and Nova Awards.
• Ages: 5–18 years old
The stated mission of Irvine Ranch Outdoor Education Center is to be “The best place in Orange County for youth and groups to explore the outdoors, learn leadership skills, and become stewards of the environment.” The program is owned and operated by the Boy Scouts of America, Orange County Council, and is associated with the Orange County Council, Boy Scouts of America. Accreditations and affiliations are listed, though specific accrediting bodies are not named.
The facility includes an Adventure Hill area with quad zip lines over the canyon and a climbing tower with nine routes of varying difficulty and the capacity to rappel. Lodging options include a bunkhouse with four rooms (9 bunks, 7 bunks, 5 bunks, 3 bunks) and a common room with a couch and sofa chairs, storage cabinets, and a sink in the counter, as well as a bungalow building with 2 suites and 6 bungalow rooms, each with a restroom with shower and included bedding and towels; suites have a mini refrigerator. The Mountain Lions Den in the bungalow building has a full-size refrigerator in the common room with a sink and microwave. The site includes Harrison Lodge dining hall, an aquatic area with dual pools and a water slide, pavilions available to rent hourly, propane fire pits, water fountains throughout the facility, and igloos at program areas. The kitchen is not available to rent, and the kitchen facility is nut-safe with a no-fish menu, with meals reserved first for those booking the bunkhouses and the bungalow building.
Once an event is booked, a gate code is provided and the “#” must be entered first to enter the property. Only electric or gas grills are permitted, and wood or charcoal are not allowed; fire pits are propane and should not be used for cooking, and guests may bring propane-fueled cooking supplies. Pavilions must be reserved prior to arrival, quiet time is from 10:00pm to 7:00am, and guests are asked to return to sleeping areas by that time. For bunkhouse stays, it is strongly recommended to bring a sleeping bag, pillow, towel, and toiletries, as these are not provided, and bunkhouses have heating but no air conditioning, with a box window fan provided in each bunk room during summer or warm periods. Bottled water is allowed in all lodging spaces, reusable water bottles are recommended, and water fountains and igloos are available, but cups are not provided with igloos. Snacks are allowed in bunkhouses but should be kept off the floor and sealed, and doors should be kept closed.
Groups must arrive at the start of meal times (8:00am, 12:00pm, 5:30pm) to be guaranteed meal service, and groups are not permitted to store food in the kitchen refrigerator. Dietary restrictions must be shared at least 14 days before the event; vegetarian options are provided, but gluten-free, non-dairy, sugar-free, or vegan meals are not guaranteed. Third party companies and vendors are not allowed on-site without approval from the reservations department at least two weeks in advance, and additional fees and vendor documentation are required. All groups and guests must check in at the administration office, and medical forms for each guest are collected at check-in; participants may be dropped off in the roundabout, and parking is in the main lot. Tours of the facility are scheduled on Wednesday mornings from 10:30am to 1:00pm, and Irvine Regional Park has automatic gates with specified summer and winter gate hours.
The bunkhouse can sleep up to 48 people and is not shared with other groups when rented, except when Irvine Ranch Outdoor Education Center staff run programs and counselors are staying in the bunkhouse. Guests may bring reusable water bottles since cups are not provided with igloos. Third party vendors require prior approval and documentation.
Testimonials from guests describe “absolutely breath-taking mountain scenery at IROEC” and refer to “excellent staff who loves nature and wants to share the beauty of outdoor lives with children.” Other comments note that “the meals were excellent” and that “the staff was amazing to work with,” and one parent reports, “My son said it was so much fun.”
Last updated May 14, 2026.
• Ages: 5–18 years old
The stated mission of Irvine Ranch Outdoor Education Center is to be “The best place in Orange County for youth and groups to explore the outdoors, learn leadership skills, and become stewards of the environment.” The program is owned and operated by the Boy Scouts of America, Orange County Council, and is associated with the Orange County Council, Boy Scouts of America. Accreditations and affiliations are listed, though specific accrediting bodies are not named.
The facility includes an Adventure Hill area with quad zip lines over the canyon and a climbing tower with nine routes of varying difficulty and the capacity to rappel. Lodging options include a bunkhouse with four rooms (9 bunks, 7 bunks, 5 bunks, 3 bunks) and a common room with a couch and sofa chairs, storage cabinets, and a sink in the counter, as well as a bungalow building with 2 suites and 6 bungalow rooms, each with a restroom with shower and included bedding and towels; suites have a mini refrigerator. The Mountain Lions Den in the bungalow building has a full-size refrigerator in the common room with a sink and microwave. The site includes Harrison Lodge dining hall, an aquatic area with dual pools and a water slide, pavilions available to rent hourly, propane fire pits, water fountains throughout the facility, and igloos at program areas. The kitchen is not available to rent, and the kitchen facility is nut-safe with a no-fish menu, with meals reserved first for those booking the bunkhouses and the bungalow building.
Once an event is booked, a gate code is provided and the “#” must be entered first to enter the property. Only electric or gas grills are permitted, and wood or charcoal are not allowed; fire pits are propane and should not be used for cooking, and guests may bring propane-fueled cooking supplies. Pavilions must be reserved prior to arrival, quiet time is from 10:00pm to 7:00am, and guests are asked to return to sleeping areas by that time. For bunkhouse stays, it is strongly recommended to bring a sleeping bag, pillow, towel, and toiletries, as these are not provided, and bunkhouses have heating but no air conditioning, with a box window fan provided in each bunk room during summer or warm periods. Bottled water is allowed in all lodging spaces, reusable water bottles are recommended, and water fountains and igloos are available, but cups are not provided with igloos. Snacks are allowed in bunkhouses but should be kept off the floor and sealed, and doors should be kept closed.
Groups must arrive at the start of meal times (8:00am, 12:00pm, 5:30pm) to be guaranteed meal service, and groups are not permitted to store food in the kitchen refrigerator. Dietary restrictions must be shared at least 14 days before the event; vegetarian options are provided, but gluten-free, non-dairy, sugar-free, or vegan meals are not guaranteed. Third party companies and vendors are not allowed on-site without approval from the reservations department at least two weeks in advance, and additional fees and vendor documentation are required. All groups and guests must check in at the administration office, and medical forms for each guest are collected at check-in; participants may be dropped off in the roundabout, and parking is in the main lot. Tours of the facility are scheduled on Wednesday mornings from 10:30am to 1:00pm, and Irvine Regional Park has automatic gates with specified summer and winter gate hours.
The bunkhouse can sleep up to 48 people and is not shared with other groups when rented, except when Irvine Ranch Outdoor Education Center staff run programs and counselors are staying in the bunkhouse. Guests may bring reusable water bottles since cups are not provided with igloos. Third party vendors require prior approval and documentation.
Testimonials from guests describe “absolutely breath-taking mountain scenery at IROEC” and refer to “excellent staff who loves nature and wants to share the beauty of outdoor lives with children.” Other comments note that “the meals were excellent” and that “the staff was amazing to work with,” and one parent reports, “My son said it was so much fun.”
Last updated May 14, 2026.
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