Huntington Lake Overnight Camp

Program

Kennolyn is dedicated to making a difference in campers’ lives. We provide a carefully designed program with curated experiences so children thrive. With a small camp of about 60 campers, ALL counselors know ALL campers by name, and what makes them tick. Our tight-knit, flexible, fun-focused environment allows children to develop relationships and learn skills to help them navigate life and adulthood. This powerful combination of program, place, and time provides children a much needed antidote to digital life through active, face-to-face, communal living guided by our well-trained staff.

Daily activity choice, sunrise and sunset skiing, Siesta milkshakes, epic alpine hikes, and yes even a few chores make camp living great. Doing it in an environment where you can be yourself with new and old friends makes camp the best. As campers mature, we provide more options for them to take initiative and grow socially, physically, and mentally.

Traditions and Program for all Cabins

  • Outpost – cabin groups hike a short distance to cook “Foil Stew” over an open campfire and sleep under the stars. Since our start in 1946, campers routinely say this is their favorite event.
  • Campfire – the classic American favorite and the closest thing we have at camp to social media or TV.
  • Open Mic – held in the Caldwell Lodge, campers play a song, tell a joke, or do a magic trick while the audience sits back and sips a little hot cocoa.
  • Color Games – camp is divided into Green and White teams to participate in fun games throughout the day.
  • Group of the Day – each day a group is responsible to raise and lower the flag, tell a joke in the morning, and give a blessing at dinner. Leading these traditions contributes to a sense of belonging and community.
  • Siesta – resting in the cabin after lunch is the favorite “activity” for many campers especially when they get their turn to have the Caldwell Lodge and the milkshake machine to themselves.

 

Senior Camper Program (grades 8-9)

As campers grow there is something new to look forward to. As teens, Senior Campers enjoy increased interaction with their peers in special activities planned exclusively for them like stargazing on the pontoon or spending the night on Thursday Island. They also have a later bed time so they can play pool, cards, or just hang out in the Caldwell Lodge each night without the younger campers around. Throughout it all our specially trained, responsible, young-adult counselors provide wholesome role models that campers strive to emulate.

 

Leaders in Training Program (optional program for grades 10-11)

For decades in the Santa Cruz Mountains, campers have joined our three year Leadership Training Program through grades 10-11-12 (CILT-CIT-JC) which then allows them to be a Freshman Counselor prior to starting college. It’s an amazing program with highly transferable skills for college, work, and life. It’s also designed with an emphasis on training campers to become counselors. At Huntington Lake we offer campers grades 10-11 a different option.

Not all campers wish to become counselors. Some are more interested in personal growth, leadership in general, and continuing the camper experience. So at the Lake, our Leaders in Training (LIT) program offers that balance. And it’s optional. Campers can participate in the program and still choose their activities daily like other campers. LITs are expected to be role models around camp, and to show their commitment to developing the skills that will make them great leaders at camp, at home, and in their communities.  It is a fun introduction to taking on a leadership role at camp or developing more as a young adult. We contact enrolled 10th and 11th graders in the spring to understand their goals and how the program may be a good fit for them. For those thinking of returning to our original camp and continuing the Leadership Training Program, the LIT program satisfies the CILT program but does not satisfy the CIT program.

LITs

  • Choose activities daily like all other campers
  • Participate in challenging group initiatives and discussions
  • Learn more about their own personality and how to become who they want to be
  • Provide servant-leadership to camp in a variety of ways
  • Occasionally assist counselors without taking direct responsibility
  • Receive a personalized evaluation introducing the concept of letters of recommendation and resume growth
  • Live in a cabin or collection of tents for up to 8 campers (for just their group)


Kennolyn Camps, Huntington Lake takes place on a site that is operated under a Special Use Permit from the USDA Forest Service on the Sierra National Forest, California. The camp operates on a non-discriminatory, equal opportunity basis.