Camp Chrysalis

Now in its 31st year, Camp Chrysalis has developed a distinctive approach to environmental education, offering children (8.5-18 years of age) rich experiences that combine recreation, learning, woodworking, crafts, and personal growth. Campers camp in three spectacular environments: Big Sur redwoods, Mendocino coastal tide pools and the Sierra Nevada mountains. Camp Chrysalis focuses on active study of these environments to develop natural science skills as well as appreciation, and on basic camping and wilderness skills. Campers’ exploration is as much of their own developing abilities and each other as of what the world has to offer. In their small groups, they enjoy working and playing together, and taking care of us all. Group singing at campfires is a special pleasure. Each session includes 32 – 36 campers (12 for backpacking) and eight experienced staff. Fully half are girls! Our experienced counselors offer individual attention to campers with a camper: staff ratio of 4:1. This year, Camp Chrysalis is sponsoring its first family camp session, so adults and younger children can share in a Camp Chrysalis experience. Located on the Mendocino coast, campers will hike up a fern canyon to a waterfall, take catamarans up the Big River to a rope swing, explore sand dunes and tide pools and engage in the wood working and crafts projects that are a big draw for campers in core sessions. Singing around the campfire ends fun-filled days at camp. The backpacking session this year is above Hetch-Hetchy Reservoir in Yosemite National Park. There is daily hike of about five miles each day for six days. Campers stop to swim in cold lakes and creeks and camp in wildflower-filled meadows, sleeping under starry skies away from electronics and urban pleasures looking for granite peaks. This trip is for high-school age campers with some backpacking experience.

Camp Overview

There are still openings in our Mendocino and Backpacking sessions and our Family Camp.

Now in its 31st year, Camp Chrysalis has developed a distinctive approach to environmental education, offering children (8.5-18 years of age) rich experiences that combine recreation, learning, woodworking, crafts, and personal growth. We camp in three spectacular environments: Big Sur redwoods, Mendocino coastal tidepools and Sierra Nevada mountains. We focus on active study of these environments to develop natural science skills as well as appreciation, and on basic camping and wilderness skills. Our campers’ exploration is as much of their own developing abilities and each other as of what the world has to offer. In their small groups, they enjoy working and playing together, and taking care of us all. Group singing at our campfires is a special pleasure. Each session includes 32 – 36 campers (12 for backpacking) and eight experienced staff. Fully half are girls! Our experienced counselors offer individual attention to campers with a camper:staff ratio of 4:1.

This year, we are sponsoring our first family camp session, so adults and younger children can share in a Camp Chrysalis experience. Located on the Mendocino coast, we will hike up a fern canyon to a waterfall, take catamarans up the Big River to a rope swing, explore sand dunes and tide pools and engage in the wood working and crafts projects that are a big draw for campers in our core sessions. Singing around the campfire will end our fun-filled days at camp.

Our backpacking session this year is above Hetch-Hetchy Reservoir in Yosemite National Park. We’ll hike about five miles each day for six days stopping to swim in cold lakes and creeks and camp in wildflower-filled meadows. We’ll sleep under starry skies away from electronics and urban pleasures looking for granite peaks, bears and butterflies. This trip is for high-school age campers with some backpacking experience. 

Next winter break, we will once again sponsor a skiing and snowboarding session in the Tahoe area for 14-18 year olds. Contact us nor or in the fall if you're interested. 

Camp Focus

Adventure Camps: Backpacking

Adventure Camps: Environmental

Adventure Camps: Hiking

Arts Camps: Arts and Crafts

All Activities