Santa Cruz Overnight Camp

FAQs

Choosing the right summer camp is a major decision, and we honor the trust you place in us. We are eager to speak with you so don’t hesitate to contact us.

Don’t see your question? Speak with a Kennolyn Director!

Can we buy insurance in case camp is forced to close?

Yes and we strongly suggest you do.  If you follow this link to our insurance partner you will be able to see what is available. For the ‘Cancel For Any Reason’ benefit, your payment for this plan must be received within 20 days of the date your initial payment or deposit for your program is received.

We're from out of state or the country. Can you pick up my child from the airport?

Yes. We regularly pickup from San Jose International Airport (and can make arrangements to pick up from San Francisco for $150). Visit our Transportation page for details.

Does my child need a friend to come with him/her to Kennolyn?

No. The majority of Kennolyn campers do not come to camp with a particular friend. We think of camp as one of the best and easiest places to make new friends. Our counselors are trained to include all campers in activities and create cohesive cabin groups regardless of whether campers know each other outside of Kennolyn or not.

Can we come to camp and take a look around?

Yes! We are here year round and would love to show you around. Click here for some options.

What are your cabins like?

Our cabins are simple, yet modern. Each cabin houses 2 staff and 6-8 campers. Some cabins have bathrooms and some cabins use a communal bathroom near by. All cabins have proper windows and electricity. 

How many activities are in each day?

Campers are assigned 6 activities and each one is 55 minutes long. 3-4 days every week are dedicated to these activities. We offer over 30 individual activities.

What is your policy on campers and personal technology?

One of our published program goals is that campers “Learn how to make the most of free time without using technology.”  Here is another excerpt from our comprehensive Parent Packet: “We continue to believe that kids very much need a period of time unplugged from the electronic world. We also have a duty to regulate what your camper watches and plays with while in our care.”  For these reasons, we do not allow campers to have phones or devices that connect to the internet.  We do allow basic music players without internet access and kindles.  We reserve the right to disallow any device that is a distraction or can access content that we cannot control.  Campers who travel by plane can bring devices which will then be collected and stored safely during camp.  The device will be returned to them, charged and ready to use, for the journey home.

Are there any other campers who live near me?

Probably, especially if you live in the San Francisco Bay Area. It would be hard to imagine a neighborhood where you would not run into a current or former Kennolyn camper! If you’d like to meet campers from your area, contact us and we would be happy to put you in touch with other camp families.

Where do your staff come from?

About 60% are from the US and 40% are from countries around the world. Interacting with staff from other cultures is an eye-opening and powerful experience for our American campers and staff alike.

How do you hire the staff?

Very carefully! We are fortunate to have a very strong reputation, so we have far more applicants than open positions. US staff apply to us directly and go through the interview process, reference and background checks before being hired. International staff apply through an agency, which conducts the interviews, handles reference and background checks, provides us with verifications, and facilitates special working visas for the summer. We select candidates via the agency database, as well as through in-person job fairs in Europe. We also interview each candidate to ensure a good fit for Kennolyn.

Who runs the camp?

Kennolyn is operated as a family business by the children and grandchildren of our founders, Aunt Marion and Uncle Max. Read the Kennolyn story here.

What makes Kennolyn such a good camp?

Too many things to mention! History, location, facilities, depth of program, quality of staff, and commitment are the things we hear the most compliments about from our happy camp families.

How long have you been around?

Since 1946, under the same family ownership at the same location.

What is the ACA or WAIC?

ACA is the American Camp Association, and it offers the only nationally recognized accreditation program for camps. About 25% of the camps in the USA decide to pursue this standard. Kennolyn is proud to be an ACA accredited camp. WAIC is the Western Association of Independent Camps, a professional network of the very best camps in the western states.

What are the medical facilities like?

We have a modern health center staffed with 2 health professionals, 24 hours a day. A local doctor is on-call all summer, and Dominican Hospital is just six miles away.

Is Kennolyn religiously affiliated?

No, we have no religious component to our program and are not affiliated with any religious organization.

We've signed up, what next?

We will reach out with emails and announcements as the summer draws near. Want to get ahead? Visit our Enrolled Families page.

Ready to get started?