Foothill Horizons Summer Camp

Foothill Horizons Summer Camp includes activities such as swimming, pool time, playing capture the flag, pancake catching, an adventure course, group games, creative classes, campfire skits, and evening activities. Campers take part in nightly adventures into the week’s plot, climb through the boulder caves, visit the creek, go on hikes, hike to the top of the Sky Tower to see the stars, and sing together at Campfire. Campers from 2nd grade to high school join group games, creative classes, pool time, campfire skits, and nightly adventures into the week’s plot.

• Ages: 7–17 years old

Since opening its doors to campers in 1980, Foothill Horizons Summer Camp has welcomed generations of families from California, across the United States, and from around the world for over 40 years, and Foothill Horizons has over 60 years of tradition. The camp is owned and operated by the Stanislaus County Office of Education and is part of a residential outdoor school, summer camp, and site rental facility that is California Outdoor School Association (COSA) certified. All facilities are ADA compliant and have heating and cooling.

Foothill Horizons Summer Camp is described as a one-of-a-kind summer camp for fun, friendship, imagination, and independence, where campers live their favorite stories each week. Campers bunk in dorms with kids their own age and may request to be bunkmates with friends who enroll with them for the same session, and they also have the opportunity to interact with other age groups for activities. Campers from 2nd grade to high school enjoy 143 acres of forest, meadows, and creeks in the foothills of the central Sierra.

Foothill Horizons offers a 4-year progressive program for high schoolers, with Counselors in Training (CITs) and Junior Counselors (JCs) who learn leadership skills, responsibility, independence, and program creation. CITs and JCs support campers by supervising, leading classes, and building scenes for the theme of each week. Over 600 high school students each school year volunteer to be counselors and role models for overnight programs, providing overnight supervision in the dormitories and helping get their group to activities on time. Each counselor is coached throughout the week and receives written feedback on performance that may be used as a letter of recommendation for future employment.

Foothill Horizons selects at least 5 outstanding candidates each school year for a 9-month Naturalist Internship cohort. The Naturalist Internship teaches student management skills, how to teach in the outdoors, best practices for writing lesson plans, and includes teaching students on the trail. Students experience a minimum of 5 hours of science instruction a day, which is described as equivalent to 5 weeks of science education in the average classroom in California.

The Foothill Horizons Outdoor School mission states that it inspires connections to nature and one another, provides an interactive outdoor science experience, a collaborative learning environment, and personal growth opportunities through individual challenges, and develops respectful global citizens dedicated to stewardship in their communities and beyond. The leadership team includes Jessica Hewitt, Director III, Outdoor Education; Clare Olson, Administrative Assistant; Peter Zucca, Summer Camp Director; Diann Rastetter, Assistant Director, Outdoor Education; Alexander Frierson, Naturalist Coordinator; David Josephson, Lead Custodian; and Edward Wynimko, Facilities Lead, Outdoor Education.

Last updated June 22, 2026.