Choosing the right summer camp for your child is an important decision that will shape their experiences and growth during the break. In today’s rapidly changing world, exposure to science and technology is more valuable than ever. Summer camps for kids that focus on these areas can help children develop problem-solving skills that will benefit them for years to come.

AstroCamp stands out as the optimal choice, offering the best value overnight camps with creative electives and outdoor activities. Discover why this organization is the perfect summer environment for your child.

What Is AstroCamp?

AstroCamp is an overnight summer camp in Southern California where children and teenagers can enjoy fun and enriching activities. Located in the San Jacinto Mountains, it offers a beautiful, natural landscape where campers can admire nature, partake in new adventures and connect with like-minded individuals.

The 80-acre campus features modern facilities and labs, providing a safe environment for exploring the natural world. Dormitories accommodate four to six campers in bunk beds grouped by age. Additional amenities include clean bathroom facilities, a lodge-style dining hall and a clinic where campers receive medical care.

What Are Creative Electives at Summer Camp?

The camp offers structured and customizable outdoor education experiences. While most organizations only offer day camp experiences, AstroCamp has an immersive, 24/7 community experience and a range of nature adventures. Discover its three main programs.

Specialty Week

Specialty Week lets campers choose electives that match their interests. It offers six tracks, which are kept small so groups can build closer friendships, share experiences and create lasting bonds in a supportive environment.

Here are your options:

Camp CHOP

Camp CHOP is a summer camp where campers ages 10-17 learn baking, cooking and kitchen safety in a supportive environment. Lessons are led by professional educators and chefs who provide detailed descriptions of cooking activities and expert guidance. This is an ideal program if your kid loves exploring different flavors or wants to learn more about preparing food.Campers can also enjoy evening activities, such as team-building exercises, elective nights, campfires, space night telescopes and costume parties.

Overnight Summer Camp

AstroCamp provides one- and two-week overnight summer camp programs for children and teens. The one-week program is for ages 8-13, featuring STEM-focused activities, social events, creative arts and mountain adventure. Meanwhile, the two-week program is designed for individuals aged 12-17. Here, campers create their own schedule and choose from over 40 activities.

What Outdoor Activities Are Typically Offered at Overnight Camps?

Overnight camps leverage their natural surroundings to offer a range of outdoor activities. The goal is to build skills, encourage an appreciation for nature and foster teamwork. Typical activities include hiking, overnight campouts, water sports, target sports, ropes courses and classic field games.AstroCamp incorporates its mountain setting into its program, offering a diverse range of outdoor adventures that complement its science curriculum. Depending on your child’s age and selected program, they can experience the following activities:

• Night stargazing: Your child will learn how to use a digital telescope camera and appreciate deep-space objects.
• Nature hikes: AstroCamp leads immersive hiking experiences, allowing them to learn about local wildlife.
• SkyCoaster: The camp’s ropes course option sends campers sailing through the air, making it one of the most thrilling outdoor experiences.
• Archery and axe throwing: Campers learn the fundamentals of target archery and axe throwing in a safe and controlled environment.
• Power pole: The thrilling rope course helps campers overcome their fear of heights.
• Wilderness survival: Campers learn how to search for food, build a shelter and explore the woods in an immersive nature experience.
• Mountain biking: Teens learn the basics of this sport and ride on nature trails.
• Adventure overnights: Off-site camping trips provide stargazing and camping opportunities.
• Geocaching: This course allows campers to hunt for hidden geocaches throughout the camp.
• Advanced rocketry: Campers learn how to build and launch combustion rockets — an ideal activity for children who love scientific experiments.
• Engineering activities: AstroCamp can help your child think outside the box with construction and design challenges that involve making robots and launching ballistic machines.

What Are the Benefits of Sending Your Child to Summer Camp?

AstroCamp does wonders for your child. It can help build your kid’s hard and soft skills in a safe and supportive environment. Discover the benefits of enrolling your child in a camp experience.Immersive, Educational ActivitiesAstroCamp champions experience-based learning. When your child learns through real-world experiences, they often gain a better understanding of their passions. Camp activities allow them to develop their strengths and discover new interests. Studies have found that this type of learning positively affects a kid’s motivation, engagement and well-being — factors that underpin academic success.

Customer Review

“AstroCamp provides me a home away from home; it allows me to be my most authentic self… I’ve made some of my closest friends, explored passions like ceramics, ax-throwing, and geocaching, and created memories to cherish. The sense of family and community keeps me coming back.” - Lucky, 7th Year Camper

Inclusive Nature

Every staff member and camper deserves to feel safe, accepted and empowered to be themselves. Acknowledging a child’s feelings can improve emotional well-being, resilience and sense of self-worth. AstroCamp’s counselors undergo a rigorous training program that covers child development, team-building and sensitivity to individual children’s needs and life experiences.The camp accommodates dietary restrictions and medical needs. To support economic diversity, the organization offers financial aid and scholarships.

Customer Review:

“What I love about AstroCamp is it’s a small camp of awesome ‘nerds.’ It’s inclusive of kids from different backgrounds, abilities, and identities. It’s a nurturing, welcoming community where we can escape and detox from our phones. I learned ASL, blacksmithing, Dungeons & Dragons, and photography.” - Jake, 4th Year Camper

Friendly Staff

AstroCamp’s staff members have a genuine desire to work with children. All counselors live and sleep in the dorms near their campers, spend cabin time with them and guide them in their activities. Parents frequently highlight the impact of the counselors, noting how they make an effort to get to know the kids.

Customer Review:

“My son Lance had such a great time—it was his first time away from home, and thanks to your amazing staff, both of us felt at ease. I appreciated the clear pre-camp communication and the warm welcome. Thanks to that single week, Lance came back more confident, social, and vibrant.” - Nina, 1st Year Camper Parent 

For more information, visit AstroCamp.com.