Camp Campbell — Local services in Boulder Creek

This summer was my third summer at camp. All three years, I have loved camp and many campers love it so much that they come back year after year. The first year, I was a trekker and did a one week camp, second year, I did TAC classic, and the third year, I did TAC waves and whitewater. The one week camp was a great way to get used to camp for my first overnight sleep away camp. There were plenty of activities to choose from and I enjoyed all of the activities I got to do. I did high ropes, climbing wall, and hiking. I stayed in the treetop cabins. They have a beautiful view of the redwoods, are heated, and have hot water showers in each cabin.

I love the TAC program which stands for teen adventure camp, but please keep in mind that it is quite an intense experience. It’s mainly suited towards active campers who enjoy outdoor activities. We backpacked the skyline-to-sea trail in 4 days, went rock climbing at castle rock state park, did the high ropes course at camp, and had an epic rafting trip down the American river. We slept on tarps under the stars. The backpacking was the hardest thing I’ve ever done (40 ish miles with a 20 pound backpack) but it was a chance for me to push myself even when it was hard. If you do this camp, please bring hiking shoes!

A few weeks ago, I did the TAC waves and whitewater camp. This camp would be perfect for a teenager who loves being in the water. We got to try surfing, rafting, and kayaking, as well as some other traditional camp activities like hiking, high ropes, low ropes, and archery. A pair of water shoes would be great for this camp. Every year, I find the camp incredibly relaxing and a nice retreat from all the stress that I have in my day to day life. It was nice to be away from electronics for two weeks and I realized I don’t need my phone that much. I met a lot of people and made so many friends. There were not many kids doing this camp, meaning a high counselor to camper ratio. All the counselors were incredibly fun, funny, and always caring. I want to give a special shoutout to my counselor Francesca. She really cared about our cabin and wanted to make sure we always were ok. One night, we were all feeling quite sad, and she allowed us to talk about our feelings and also gave us some valuable life advice. I’m so glad that I had her as a counselor. I would love to come back again next year. If you are planning to register, you should do so before January since you will get a 10% discount and also a free t-shirt.

All in all, camp has been a magical place for me in the last three years. If you are considering sending your child to a sleep away camp, I highly suggest...

Camp or sorrows and despair💔/Diary of a Wimpy Kid:Old School pt2 This place was the worst. First thing, every day when we would get our food during science camp, they forced us to stand in the rain repeating songs before allowing us to eat food, while the camp counselors stood dry under the awning. Some tables of kids don’t get adult supervison, resulting in some kids getting to eat a lesser amount of food than others because other kids take most of the food brought to the table and nobody does anything about it. The system for the bathroom/getting out of your seat during eating times is completely ignored by most children, leaving others sitting at the table while like 4 kids are in the bathroom at a time. Also, there was such a short amount of time to get ready in the morning that multiple people had to crowd around the sink at a time. If you weren’t able to get ready in time because others were taking too long, the counselors would blame you. I don’t know if it was only my time here when they did this, but they gave us THREE minutes to shower, yelling at us if we went over the time limit by just a few seconds. But they only made showers mandatory for one day, and so some kids despite being covered in mud decided to not shower except for that one day. I personally cried during my time there, and I also heard about three other kids also cried because of rude adults. They also incorrectly put the blame on kids who didn’t do anything, and all in all they just treated us unfairly and unequally. If one kid misbehaved, the whole cabin was blamed. My friend has an allergy to chocolate, and so when she saw that the desert they were serving contained chocolate she asked a counselor if there was anything else she could have. The counselor told her to just deal with it and sent her away. But another kid with an allergy asked the same question, and was given a popsicle. When we hiked, it was in heavy rain, making the path up the mountains slippery and muddy, getting our food wet once we get to the top to eat. During the night walk, they didn’t allow us to bring flashlights (which they put on the list of stuff to bring..?). I’d say the best part of my science camp expirience was the bus ride. Kids who didn’t have water bottles were given water bottles that had been left behind by previous kids. It cost hundreds of dollars, just to get treated like this. Over all, do NOT send your kid here for their sake😭

P.S: we thought we saw someone...

I can’t express enough how touched I was by the warmth and charm of our stay at the cabin. It felt like a true home in Redwood, California. The beautiful iron woodwork added a heartfelt touch, making the space feel even more inviting. The tall ceiling glass windows and doors allowed for plenty of natural light. The built-in bunk beds were a delightful surprise—cozy and thoughtfully designed, complete with shelves, lights, and charging plugs for our devices. Through the small window, we enjoyed a lovely view of the majestic redwoods, enhancing our experience and creating lasting memories. The serene setting took my breath away, and it was heartwarming to see how much my family treasured every moment together.

The meals were prepared with genuine care and consideration, turning our dining experiences into something truly enjoyable and bonding. I appreciated the clean-up system in place, which encouraged everyone to contribute by sorting scraps for compost and trash. This fostered a beautiful sense of teamwork and shared responsibility, making the experience feel more like a family affair.

Our property tour was enlightening and offered new perspectives, though I’d suggest experiencing it during the daytime so everyone can fully appreciate the surrounding beauty. It was comforting to have a full schedule of planned activities, with my family's favorite being archery. Engaging options like wood burning, pottery, shelter building, crafts, and tie-dyeing shirts made every moment feel special. We’re already looking forward to returning for more adventures, including the climbing wall, swimming pool, ninja rope course, seesaw floor, and slingshots. There’s so much to explore, and the wonderful sense of togetherness we enjoyed was truly special.

I highly recommend this place to families seeking a warm getaway from the city. It really is camping made extraordinary, with thoughtful details that make everyone...