Sneak A Peek of Camp Chrysalis

Camp Chrysalis: Growing Curious Minds in Nature

Camp Chrysalis has developed a distinctive approach to environmental education, offering children rich experiences that combine learning, play, and personal growth. We camp in wonderous natural environments as a family of learners together. In each environment, we focus on active study of the plants and ecosystems around us, and on basic camping and wilderness skills. Our campers develop an appreciation for and responsibility toward caring for the natural world.

Big Sur

Camping at Pfeiffer Big Sur State Park, beneath redwoods and bay laurels, we explore the Big Sur River looking for crawdads and lizards. We learn about the wildflowers, trees and magnificent redwoods in this unique ecosystem and the challenges that it faces. We swim in glorious pools on the river, hike up a canyon to gaze at a water- fall, and spend a day at a beach building driftwood houses and swimming in a lagoon. At base camp, we create wooden jewelry, design our own T-shirts, and sketch in our Bare Book journals.

Mendocino

We camp in a group site at MacKerricher State Park, near the finest tidepools on the Pacific coast, and rise at dawn to investigate the rich invertebrate and algal life of the inter-tidal zone. We visit spectacular sand dunes to study their unusual ecology, hike coastal terraces to a pygmy forest, and catamaran five miles up the tidal estuary of Big River to a rope swing. Beach games, locally harvested treats (berries, algae and fish), jewelry making and wood working highlight our base camp activities.

Sierras

Near our base camp in the Tahoe National Forest, we swim in a “warm” pond, explore a beaver marsh and scramble down a creek to water slides and waterfalls. We practice archery, carve hiking sticks and and enjoy time in the sweat lodge. We hike through meadows of wildflowers to water-filled glacial cirques and up to the wind-blown crest of the Sierra Buttes. At the end of the session, we set off on a gentle backpacking trip for three days, camping and playing beside a small mountain lake.

Backpacking

This year, snow level permitting, our session will be to the Mineral King area of Sequoia National Park with high peaks and views, marmots, and cold lakes. We always hope for bear sightings and do carry bear cans. This session will include an afternoon of solo time, lots of wildflowers, sleeping out under the stars, and games and activities to deepen our friendships and understanding of each other and ourselves. This session is for campers with prior backpacking experience.

Pinnacles

This year, for the fourth time, we are offering a spring break 6-day camp at Pinnacles National Park for sixteen campers from Tuesday, April 7 - Sunday, April 12.

We’ll be hiking each morning through canyons covered with wildflowers and up towards peaks to look for falcons and condors. We’ll explore and learn about the unique geology of this area and go underground through natural cave formations. In the afternoons, we’ll open our crafts and woodworking stations and also visit the camp swimming pool.

Sierras

From early morning swimming in a frigid creek to hiking past flower-studded lakes and up to the highest peak in the area, the Camp Chrysalis Sierra session is an ideal introduction to experiencing the wonders of a mountain environment.