Montecito Sequoia is a member of the Camp Archery Association, and is entitled to award CAA diplomas and awards to Summer Family Camp campers who complete our archery program. "Sight method" is taught, and archers of all abilities can enjoy our staggered targets to test their skills. Novelty shoots, like our popular balloon shoot, are also offered to add to the fun! Ages 7 and up are welcome on their own, or with their group. Ages 5 & 6 may attend with a parent, or with their age group.

Indulge your creative spirit at camp! From tie-dye to beaded jewelry, leather-stamping to stone-carving, stepping stones to glazing, batik and more. Our Arts & Crafts counselors will be there to guide the way, and teach you new ways to express your creativity!

Our Outdoor Adventure Staff can get your heart racing, especially at an altitude of 7,500 ft! Montecito offers morning, afternoon, or full-day guided mountain bike rides, on trails in the Sequoia National Forest. We have plenty of professional mountain bikes to rent or buy, or bring your own bike and join our guided rides for free. Sign up for each ride the night before at dinner. We also offer the opportunity to compete in a Biathlon (biking & riflery), if enough guests have interest.

We just recently added some new kids' kayaks to our boating area, and they love them! Like all of our boats, children under 9 must be chaperoned by an adult while kayaking, and ALWAYS wear a life jacket!

Our instructors will teach adults and children (9 years old and up) to handle an air rifle safely, correctly, and accurately. 7 & 8 year-olds may attend the "Parent-Child Shoot," if accompanied by a parent or guardian. Air Rifles use air as a propellant, and are safer than 22 caliber rifles.

Join a naturalist for a guided hike into the glorious Sierra Nevada. Scheduled hikes range from easy to strenuous, and explore various locations throughout the Sequoia National Forest, Giant Sequoia National Monument, and Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks. Some hikes depart directly from camp. From Giant Sequoias, to granite-topped mountains, verdant meadows and sparkling waterfalls, we are surrounded by some of the most spectacular wilderness scenery in the world! Go HIKE!

Each week at Family Camp, we strive to have a featured "Artist-of-the-Week," or a Fine Arts Counselor. These artists will offer fine art classes during 2 activity periods each day, and a class during Free Choice Night as well. Watercolor is the most popular class offered, but some of our artists will introduce you to other mediums as well. Come find your inner ARTIST!

Go climb a ROCK! Our outdoor adventure team is ready to teach you the art of bouldering. It may look hard, but with our instructors, even our young campers can do it! We bring the safety mats and the expertise, so everyone can be successful!

There may be nothing more peaceful than a quiet canoe ride on our private lake! Make sure you practice your technique, so you're prepared for our family canoe races at our weekly Beach Party! Adult supervision is required for ages 9 and under. Life jackets are required for everyone while on our lake in any of our boats: canoes, kayaks, paddleboats, Stand Up paddleboards, and sailboats.

Wanna be a ROCK STAR? How about challenging yourself by joining our outdoor adventure staff on one of our climbs, or, better yet, a bike & climb! Oh, and the views...spectacular! Way better than a rock wall!

En garde! Montecito Sequoia offers instruction in fencing techniques, positions, and terminology. Let our experts teach you to parry and thrust! We provide all of the equipment you'll need to have a safe and successful fencing experience.

Come to Montecito and learn about the cosmos with the guidance of one of our astronomy counselors. Montecito has a high-powered telescope to get you even closer to the heavens and explore stars, planets, constellations, meteor showers, shooting stars, satellites, and maybe a UFO!

NOTE: Due to an exponential increase in the year-round costs associated with our horse program, we have had to put the program on hold starting in Summer of 2024 Family Camp. We are very sorry to our guests who enjoy riding while at camp. The Grant Grove Stables in KCNP are open to family camp guests who would like to ride amongst the Sequoias. Click Link below for Grant Grove Stables website.

Music is a very important aspect of Montecito. Our evening Coffee House, or Variety Show, is often the first opportunity our campers get to share their talent, and perform in front of a supportive audience. We like to encourage a love of music by offering classes in guitar, ukelele, songwriting, and other instruments, depending on our counselors' expertise. Just remember, you are never too old to start playing an instrument for your own enjoyment. Our staff will teach you how!

One of the more popular boats available on our private lake, is our paddleboats. Each boat can accommodate up to four, but adult supervision is required for boaters under age 9. Life jackets must be worn by all boaters, no matter their age! Happy paddling!

Paintball is very popular at camp, especially with our Dads and teens. Our forested paintball field is open to ages 12/13 and up (parents or guardians must sign a waiver for children under 18). We provide all of the equipment necessary for a great day at the range. Our staff will lead "games" to keep things interesting! Bears will participate with their group.

Want to take better pictures? Whether you are using your iphone, or a professional-grade camera, let our photography counselor share tips and techniques to help your photos be more artistic. You'll be glad when your vacation photos are worth framing or posting to impress your friends and family. Say "cheese!"

Whether your kids love to play in the water, or you like to swim laps during our early morning Polar Bear Swim, the whole family is sure to enjoy using our heated seasonal pool with a fantastic view of the Great Western Divide! Everybody in the pool!

The latest addition to our waterfront boats are the newly popular SUPs (Stand Up Paddleboards). The kids love them, the parents love them, and they love to share them! What better way to tour our private lake, than while enjoying this new trendy water sport? Adult supervision required for children under the age of 9, and life jackets for everyone while on any lake boats.

Ahoy mateys...want to sail the open waters of Lake Homavalo? Sailboats are only available during scheduled activity periods, when an instructor is present. Our 2-person sailboats are a great beginner boat for young and old, but everyone must wear a life jacket at all times while boating! Children under age 9, must be supervised by a parent, or another responsible adult. Want to put your sailing skills to the test, race in our sailing regatta at the end of your camp week -- thar she blows!

We're all trying to achieve better balance in our lives, so how about giving slacklining a try? Sort of like a tight rope, but much closer to the ground. Don't worry, our Outdoor Adventure experts will help you learn the ropes! Besides, you'll be doing it lakeside, with sand beneath your feet, and a blue sky above, with our helpful instructors there to lend a hand. Sounds like a nice way to spend an afternoon by the lake!

Ultimate Frisbee has become a fastpaced and fun game for our older kids' groups, teens, adults and staff members. Come join us for an exciting team game!

Take a lesson on Montecito-Sequoia's rustic tennis courts. Our instructors can help players at all levels improve their game. Beginners will learn to love the sport, and experienced players can enjoy playing in our singles or doubles tournament! Playing at 7,500 feet above sea level will test your endurance! We've also added Pickleball equipment in the last few years for those guests looking for learn or play Pickleball!

Montecito has a large, ground-level trampoline, that our young campers adore! Our counselors love teaching our campers trampoline games and skills, while keeping safety always on the forefront. Our youngest campers, Minnows & Tadpoles, enjoy our Tot Yard, where their counselors teach and play with them, while ALWAYS having fun! Adult supervision is required while children are on the trampoline and in the tot yard, while not with their groups.

Did you know that with only a few chords on the Ukulele, you can play many of your favorite tunes? Let us teach you the basics, and you'll be able to play some songs right away! Much easier to learn than guitar, and so much fun, you may decide to perform at our Coffee House night to impress your friends and family! Bring a little "Aloha" into your life by playing the Ukelele!

Just say "Namaste" to yoga! Yoga has become so popular at camp that we offer it several times daily, at various skill levels, beginner to intermediate/advanced. We even offer it to our kids' groups! Want to combine hiking and yoga? We've got you covered. Our yogis offer two Yoga hikes during camp: a Sunrise Hike to Big Baldy, and a magical hike to a circle of Giant Sequoias in Muir Grove. What better way to melt your stress away than Yoga with a view? Come on, try it -- you'll like it!

Massage by the beach? YES PLEASE! Although we cannot guarantee a massage therapist during Family Camp, we do our best to hire at least one. There is an additional charge for a massage, and we ask that you tip your therapist directly at the end of your session. You must sign up the night before. Please don't forget though, we still have our outdoor hot tub with a spectacular view, to soothe your muscles and help you relax!