Base  Camp Activities


  • ARCHERY

    Make your mark at camp and shoot like The Arrow!

    Qualified instructors and state of the art equipment are used to teach basic archery skills. For beginners we use a standard target range of 50 feet.
    Of course, you can feel comfortable knowing that Camp Wawona always puts an emphasis on range safety.

    Pathfinder Honor: Archery and Advanced Archery

  • ART

    Bring creativity to life in Camp Wawona's Art Class!

    Nothing beats painting masterpieces, forming ceramics, or tie dying fabrics to the sounds of nature and fun. Camp Wawona’s art activity offers instruction from inspiring young people who share a passion for creative expression and believe it a useful tool to enhance their sense of self. This activity is not just about cutting and pasting, it is about teaching young people to “see” the world in a new way. Everyone can create artwork, so choose Art, because you can make just about anything! What are you going to make?

    Pathfinder Honors offered

  • BASKETBALL

    Nothing but Net!

    Camp Wawona’s basketball program is made up of drills, scrimmages and games. Whether you’re a beginner or advanced player, our experienced instructors ensure you will have the time of your life. Designed to bring out the best in participants, this activity will also teach players about self-esteem, teamwork, and the value of hard work. With an encouraging, fun and safe environment you’ll be doing lay ups and three pointers in no time!
    - Sign up now and shoot some hoops!

  • CHALLENGE COURSE

    Experience Yosemite from above!

    Take a first class seat on our newly expanded Zip Line while enjoying the best view of Wawona Dome. And don't forget to enjoy our other elements as well--the Giant Swing, the Pamper Pole, the Rock Wall, and lots of other team building activities. This activity fills up fast!

    *Campers are outfitted with ACCT (Association for Challenge Course Technology) approved certified safety helmets, harnesses and rope.
    **Our challenge course complies with ACCT safety standards
    ***Our Challenge Course Director holds a minimum of level one certification through ACCT, and our staff are well-trained--they literally know the ropes!

  • COWBOY  CAMP

    Want to become fast friends with a trusty steed?

    The Old West may be long gone, but at Camp Wawona the fun and excitement of sleeping in wagons under the stars to the sound of neighing horses is alive and well. Through practical daily instruction, cowboys and cowgirls alike will learn the fundamentals of feeding, watering and handling a horse. With the combination of qualified staff, experienced horses, and excellent facilities, campers will quickly gain confidence and increase their understanding of riding.

    Pathfinder Honor: Horsemanship

  • DRAMA

    Starring... YOU!

    This activity explores all the elements of drama. Whether you want to write, perform, or just listen to stories, skits, and poetry, there is sure to be a drama activity that you will love. Throughout the week we will share, write, and perform stories, play improvisation games, and have a blast of fun while experiencing the creativity of drama. At the end of the week, your class will be given the opportunity to share something you have created with the whole camp during our evening program. This class is designed to allow you to spread your wings at your own pace in a positive, caring environment. Join us as we explore the freedom of imagination!

    Pathfinder Honor: Christian Drama


  • FOOTBALL

    Ready? Set... Hike!

    Score touchdowns and pull flags at Camp Wawona's newest activity! Your experienced instructor will teach you everything you need to know about passing, receiving, and blocking, all on our new artificial turf field! It might not be football season, but it's always time to play football!

  • GEOCACHING

    Find hidden treasure!

    Hone your navigation and orienteering skills under the guidance of our experienced staff as you search for geocaches hidden inside Yosemite National Park! While you're at it, you'll get to see rare scenery that most visitors to Yosemite never see... If searching for hidden treasures sounds like fun, then geocaching is for you!

  • GUITAR

    Learn to play guitar in the middle of the forest!

    Encouraging staff will provide significant exposure to new techniques, styles and musicianship skills all in a friendly, creative, curriculum-based environment. Whether you are an absolute beginner, or a more advanced player, take this opportunity to learn and improve your skills on guitar.
    You’ll be all tuned up for next summer!

    Students do not need to know how to read music to attend this camp.

    If you have your own guitar, we encourage you to bring it so you can increase your skill using the instrument you are comfortable with.

  • GYMNASTICS

    Experience the power of tumbling, acrobatics, balance, and flexibility!

    Whether a beginner or advanced gymnast, our focus is to develop our campers as gymnasts and as people. Camp Wawona’s experienced instructors share a passion for college acrobatics and understand the importance of trust and teamwork. At Camp Wawona, we combine great gymnastics training and fun recreation for the ultimate gymnastic summer camp experience. So, what are you waiting for?

    Pathfinder Honor: Tumbling and Balancing

  • INDIAN CAMP

    Experience Yosemite like it was 200 years ago!

    Spend a night in an umacha with nature’s symphony in your ear, learn what plants you can eat, discover how to start fires with nothing more than a stick and a block of wood and make yourself disappear into the scenery by camouflaging yourself! This attraction provides a safe, challenging week of summer fun that builds participants’ confidence through a broad range of unique skills and activities. Come and experience life in our Miwok Village!

  • JUNIOR CHEF

    Bring some flavor to Camp Wawona and become a chef!

    Camp Wawona offers a cooking class that encourages discovery and creativity all in a safe environment. Our staff of highly qualified teachers, chefs and nutritional experts carry out our mission to provide an interactive learning experience that gives young adults the opportunity to develop a life-long love for the culinary arts. Jr Chef is a great opportunity to sharpen life-skills and stir-up creativity! Parents will love the benefits as their "young chef" grows with confidence and knowledge as they create these scrumptious recipes at home for them! So what are you waiting for? Allow Camp Wawona to take the fear, mystery and the unknown out of cooking.

    Pathfinder Honors Offered!

  • MOUNTAIN BOARDING

    Learn to conquer any terrain on Camp Wawona's Mountain Boards

    A cross between a skateboard and snowboard, Camp Wawona's mountain boards are equipped with straps for your feet and a hand-held safety break to control the speed. Experienced instructors will teach you the basics (riding, carving, pushing, and stopping) in a progressive manner, building your skills and confidence. Before long you'll be maneuvering at different speeds over our more advanced terrain. Best part is, with a mountain board your terrain is limitless and you can ride all year long!

  • NATURE

    Where the wild things are...

    Discover the wonders of nature and animals with hands-on activities. Balance your time between learning about magnificent creatures and holding them. Have fun playing environmental games, making nature crafts to take home or just relaxing with a furry, scaly or hairy creature. Our staff are packed full of information and love to share the joys of nature and its inhabitants.

    Pathfinder Honors Offered

  • PHOTOGRAPHY

    Take a shot at capturing some awesome moments!

    Capture the perfect shot while mastering a digital SLR camera. Campers will explore landscape photography, portrait photography and photo journalism. Once you have learned the basics, your instructor will show you how to use the industry’s latest sophisticated editing tools in Photoshop,  to put the finishing touches on your photos. At the end of the week, you will have a complete portfolio of your work. Already own a digital camera? Bring it to camp to discover what it can really do. The best part is, you can take these skills home and teach your parents!

    Pathfinder Honor: Digital Photography

  • RC CARS

    Ever wanted to be a Race Car Driver?

    You won’t fit in it but you will love to race your very own Remote Control Car. Come check out our RC car track, complete with jumps, hills, bumps, and plenty of dirt! And while you're at it, you'll become a RC car mechanic! Well, you'll at least know how to change the battery... Zoom on over this summer and rev up your engines! Space is limited, so sign up fast!

    * RC Cars included
    * If you have your own – bring it on!

  • SOCCER

    GOOOOOOOAL!!!

    Camp Wawona's new turf field is a ideal place for any soccer enthusiast! Join our skilled instructors this summer and prepare to work hard, improve your skills and practice teamwork. Our mission is to provide athletes with the tools to improve and to enjoy soccer for life! Throughout the week, in training and in games, you will develop confidence in speed, kicking with power, corner kicks, dribbling, defending, attacking, goal keeping, ball control, passing! You'll even learn hydration strategies used by premiere league players. Offering a safe, healthy and fun learning environment for all ability levels, this activity will knock your cleats off!

  • S.I.T (Staff in Training)

    Want to work at Camp Wawona someday? Start here!

    Camp Wawona Counselors and Activity Staff will mentor you and teach you skills that can be used throughout your life and enable you to work more effectively with children. You'll be assigned to a cabin to assist with counseling and experience a variety of activities from the staff’s perspective. Join our team as a valued addition to our cabin family and make a difference in campers’ lives!

  • SWIMMING

    Go and make a splash in the cool pool!

    That’s why Camp Wawona offers a fun and innovative program that promotes physical development by setting and achieving personal goals. Swimming is a fun, social activity and an excellent form of exercise that develops aerobic endurance and superior coordination. It is also an important life skill. With sunny weather and glistening water, Camp Wawona is a great place to learn the basics and improve stroke techniques, starts, turns, and overall performance. So grab your swimsuit and towel and join our Lifeguards as we follow the sounds of splashing and strokes to our Junior Olympic size pool.

    Pathfinder Honors Offered!

  • VIDEOGRAPHY

    "Take 1 - Videography"

    Spend a week this summer learning about multimedia and video making. Friendly staff lead campers on a journey filled with artistic possibilities. This is the perfect opportunity to immerse yourself in the world of cinematography, audio, lights, directing and effects. Once your camera stops rolling, our instructors are excited to share post production tips and tricks as well as picture and sound editing techniques. Create your own movies and take home the knowledge to keep capturing the world around you.  Lights, camera, action!

    Pathfinder Honor: Video

  • VOLLEYBALL

    Ready to Spike the Ball?!

    Learn the basics and play some matches or work on your setting, hitting, serving, spiking or libero skills from experienced instructors. Either way, you will have a blast of fun with friends while learning valuable skills! If you want to bring your game to the next level, sign up now!

    Pathfinder Honor: Volleyball