Deer Crossing Wilderness Camp

Deer Crossing Wilderness Camp is an ACA accredited overnight summer camp for youth ages 8-17, located on Loon Lake in California near Lake Tahoe (as the crow flies). Founded on the concept that competence builds self-esteem, Deer Crossing offers a wide variety of activities for campers, with an emphasis on building skills in outdoor activities. Class sizes are small, so each class is taught to a high skill level and is highly personalized. Campers progress at their own rate from one level to the next and return year after year to master windsurfing, kayaking, sailing, rock climbing, technical tree climbing and many other activities.

Deer Crossing’s leadership programs – Counselor-in-Training, Leader-in-Training, and Wilderness Guide-in-Training – are specially-tailored programs that go above and beyond camp’s general activities with leadership, lifeguard and first aid training, wilderness first aid, and instruction opportunities.

Bay Area Parent Magazine called Deer Crossing Wilderness Camp “One of the best children’s summer camps in California.”

Camp is designed around a two-week session, the length of stay for most campers. Being at camp for at least two weeks gives campers a chance to fully settle into the camp routine, participate in a variety of activities, and build stronger relationships with new friends. The second week of each session includes campfire, an optional one-day whitewater raft trip, and out-trips.

The Deer Crossing Difference: A great summer camp experience means that you get a good match between a camper’s needs and what a camp has to offer. A summer at Deer Crossing means:

Lots of personal attention. A maximum of 50 campers per session and our consistently high return rate means we get to know you. By name. Our activity offerings are designed daily, based on the interests and needs of each camper.

Character building. Deer Crossing campers are well adjusted youth who thrive on challenge. One of those challenges is leadership and campers learn that true leaders first learn to lead themselves. Our program is designed to promote character traits associated with leadership: positive attitude, empathy, courage, persistence, and responsibility.

Instructional depth. Using a time-tested system of reinforcing feedback and working with multiple learning styles, Deer Crossing instructors bring out the best in campers. A camper can start, never having seen a windsurfer, and progress to full lake hot-dogging racer. This goes for climbing, sailing, kayaking, canoeing … The depth of instruction allows campers to return year after year and progress in their chosen skills.

Real wilderness. Deer Crossing is the only lodge-based, roadless, wilderness summer camp in California. The camp is only accessible by boat or a 45-minute hike from the nearest trailhead. We enjoy a lake at our front door, peaks rising to over 9,000 feet at the back door, and 100 square miles of national forest around us.

Family. Deer Crossing is a second family for many campers. Those who first come for two weeks find themselves returning year after year. Lifetime friendships are made. Many of our instructors are former campers. Even when campers grow into adults and start their own careers, they often return to Deer Crossing to visit and recharge their great memories.

Inclusivity. Deer Crossing actively promotes inclusion and respect for ALL people. Our culture of inclusivity goes well beyond non-discrimination. We attract campers and staff from diverse backgrounds across the US and around the world. During their time at DCWC, campers and staff benefit and grow from this inclusive community while they develop an appreciation for the out-of-doors, enhance their understanding of their roles and responsibilities toward nature, and simply have fun while building strong outdoor and social skills.