Camp Trinity on the Bar 717 Ranch

Who We Are

Founded in 1930, Camp Trinity on the Bar 717 Ranch is a co-ed overnight summer camp for kids ages 7-16. For generations, we’ve built our summer camp philosophy around cooperation, resourcefulness, and respect for the land. Our free-choice, tech-free program empowers campers to connect deeply with nature, build confidence, and form lifelong friendships. Family-owned and operated, we take great pride in welcoming campers into our home to live, work, and play as a community. 

Our Program

In a world of structured schedules, our free-choice program gives kids the freedom to choose their own adventures every day. Kids can choose to try something new, or dig into their passions under the guidance and supervision of skilled staff members. Activities range from horseback riding, backpacking and hiking, gardening, archery, and river swimming to crafting, ceramics, woodworking, rock climbing, campfires, music, and much more. 

Throughout it all, life on the Ranch remains at the heart of our program. In addition to the many opportunities for creativity and play that our activities offer, campers can pitch in with the meaningful, everyday work of ranch life: feeding animals, milking goats, loading hay, or mending fences. By taking time to appreciate the beauty of the land, by swimming in rivers and climbing mountains, by growing gardens and raising our own food, we create a hands-on connection to the environment and foster in campers a sense of purpose and belonging unique to life at the Bar 717 Ranch. 

Life At Camp

Located in the Shasta-Trinity National Forest, the Bar 717 Ranch spans 450 acres of mountains, meadows, and creeks just 16.8 miles west of Hayfork, California.

Campers sleep on open-air platforms nestled in the forest; each platform hosts 4-10 campers and 1-2 counselors. These comfortable spaces offer beautiful views, a cozy place to rest, and the convenience of an on-platform sink and bathroom, with shower houses just a short walk away. 

Family-style meals at main camp bring everyone together three times a day—breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Our kitchen team serves up a variety of tasty, wholesome options, often featuring fresh produce from our gardens, with healthy snacks always available for a midday pick–me-up.

Our Sessions

We offer four two-week sessions of kids’ summer camp, as well as one session of Family Camp. An average session of camp has 130 kids enrolled, and our campers and staff come from all over the country and around the world. We work hard to create an inclusive and respectful environment, and believe that children thrive in an atmosphere where both individuality and community are nurtured with warm, seasoned leadership. The best thing about camp is that it is a place where kids are free to be themselves – and at the end of each session, campers return home with a newfound sense of self-reliance and lifelong friendships.