RESIDENT CAMP

At our summer resident (overnight) camps, girls get a taste of independence in a safe and fun environment. Campers enjoy the best parts of being a kid, learning and playing in groups where everyone belongs, trying new and different activities and exploring nature hands on. Camp sessions are broken into themes to suit every interest. Songs, skits, campfires, laughter and friendship are all part of each girl's experience.

• Held at Camps Winacka and Whispering Oaks near Julian
• Open to all girls in grades 2-12
• Sessions are five, seven or 12 days long
• Campers are supported by caring and enthusiastic, trained camp counselors

Each group of campers and staff plans its own activities based on the girls' interests, including arts and crafts, hiking, archery, nature activities, swimming, challenge course, sleep-outs and cookouts. Additional activities are offered based on the camp session's theme. Choose a theme with your camper by looking for activities she already loves, or has always wanted to try!

Camps Winacka and Whispering Oaks are located on the same 700-acre oak woodland site near the mountain town of Julian, 60 miles east of San Diego. Bus transportation is available (for $15 fee) from Balboa Park (Presidents Way parking lot) in San Diego and the Escondido Program Center in Kit Carson Park.

Camp Winacka

This traditional camp's living units are tucked in the trees surrounding an open meadow. Girls sleep either in open-air cabins with built-in bunks, tent houses or on cots under the stars. All accommodations have modern bathrooms with showers and luggage storage areas. Activities center around the lodge, dining hall, swimming pool areas, environmental center and boast miles of hiking trails and natural sights.

Camp Whispering Oaks

Camp Whispering Oaks offers all the comforts of modern cabins in the beautiful outdoors. Living and activity areas are connected with paved lighted pathways winding through natural vegetation of Manzanita, oak and pine. The sports field and playground are popular destinations for campers. Each living unit includes three modern cabins with bunk beds and a nearby program shelter with modern bathroom facilities.

Resident camp staff

All counselors are at least 18 years old and are selected for their maturity, enthusiasm and experience. Many return year after year. Each summer, they participate in an intensive, week-long training program in child development, group management, camping skills, conflict resolution, bullying prevention, CPR/First Aid and specialty areas. A health care supervisor remains on-site 24-hours a day.

Camper Communications

Parents have various options for communicating with their campers. They can write and send letters to camp, drop notes off at the bus to be delivered throughout the week or sign up for Bunk1 to send one-way e-mails to campers. Campers communicate back to parents through old fashioned postal mail. In the case of an emergency, call the Camp Information Hotline at (619) 610-0808 for recorded messages about camp property status, evacuation sites and pick up information.