Camp Nawakwa

Camp Nawakwa provides more than just a scenic getaway in the mountains, it provides those who visit with the opportunity to take part in unique programs not often found at home.

Outdoor Journeys, a registered 501(c) 3 non profit, was formed in the Fall of 2014 by our Founder & CEO Johnny McLaughlin. Even though Outdoor Journeys, or OJ for short, has only been existence for a just few years, we are staffed with highly experienced and passionate individuals who throughly believe in the positive impact in surrounding youth and extended communities with positive role models while connecting them with the great outdoors. In recent times we have seen a growing disconnect within our society from nature. We therefore felt that it was imperative that OJ would be adaptive in identifying vehicles to meet the needs of our local communities in connecting them to being outside, as seen in the growth of our Family Camp programs.

In September of 2015, Outdoor Journeys took over the management of Camp Nawakwa, located in the San Bernardino Mountains, which had been under the stewardship of Camp Fire Inland Southern California since it was built in 1947. Through our Day Camp program, Camp Blue Sky, and other community programs we have expanded our services already to youth and their families throughout the region.

Camp Nawakwa is located in the San Bernardino Forest's Barton Flats area at an elevation of 6,860 feet. The beautifully wooded site is adjacent to the Mount San Gorgonio wilderness area. Operating since 1947, it is owned and operated by Outdoor Journeys, a non-profit who endorses the camping tradition that the outdoors is an exciting place to be enjoyed and respected. Camping is a radical change from the home and school environments where all may experience feelings of adventure, wonder, and joy. The natural environment is a model of inter-dependency at the highest level.

Inspiring individuals through engagement and education to connect with the natural world.

Traditional Camps
Our Traditional Camps offer campers ages 8-14 the opportunity to enjoy an experience in which they will develop their social skills, friendships, and self confidence in an outdoor setting. Programs offered include Archery, Climbing Wall, Teambuilding, Paintball, Tomahawks, Swimming, Canoeing and more!

Adventure Camps
Our Adventure Camps offer campers ages 8-14 the opportunity to learn how to "survive in the wild" while getting an up close and personal experience with the natural world. Campers will experience Orienteering, Shelter Building, Rope Making, Fire Building, Water Filtration, Astronomy, and more!

Teen Academy
Our Teen Academy programs offer teens ages 14-17 the opportunity to focus on "What's next?" for them in their lives. Through Career Development, Teambuilding, and Leadership Development, our teens get real world experience that they can use when they return home. They can also receive CPR/First Aid Training and up to 90 community service hours!

Family Camps
Our Family Camps offer families the opportunity to spend a weekend at camp, exploring the natural world while taking part in various camp programs (Archery, Climbing Wall, Canoeing, Swimming, and more!). Enjoy a break from the hustle and bustle of city life and spend time bonding with your family members in a fun, relaxed environment! As a bonus, you will go home with new friends!

Swimming
Take a dip in our refreshing pool! Whether you are hanging out in the shallow end or jumping in off the diving board, you're sure to cool down on a hot day! Lifeguards are always on duty.

Canoeing
Grab a paddle and lifejacket and set sail on the beautiful Jenks Lake! OJ Staff will help teach strokes and maneuvers to those looking to master their canoeing abilities. Lifeguards are always on duty.

Fishing
Head out to Jenks Lake and try your hand at fishing! Use our provided fishing rods and bait and see if you can reel in a big one!

Archery
A classic camp tradition! Our Certified Archery Instructors will first guide you through the basics of how to shoot a bow and arrow and then will help you fine tune and improve your shooting techniques. You'll be getting a bullseye in no time!

Rock Climbing
With both a "Challenging" and a "More Challenging" side, our Climbing Wall provides a great challenge for all ages. OJ Staff will safely belay you up the wall, with clear back and forth communication to help you progress through the course. Make it to the top, ring the bell, and don't forget to look around for one of the best views at camp!

Paintball
Start by designing your own target to hang up in the range. With safety glasses on, use a slingshot to propel your paintballs across the range and onto your target! Splat!

Tomahawks
Safety glasses on? Check! Tomahawk in hand? Check! Fire!
Launch tomahawks end over end towards large targets with varying point values!

Nature
Learn about the beautiful wilderness and animals that surround you during your stay at Camp Nawakwa. Lesson plans include the structure of the food chain, nature themed games, and the occasional live animal viewing.

Outdoor Living Skills
Learn the basics to survive in the outdoors from our knowledgable staff. Lesson plans include fire building, orienteering, shelter building and more!

Hiking
Enjoy many beautiful hikes throughout and around the Camp Nawakwa property. Highlights includes the Santa Ana River Trail or the hike out to Jenks Lake.

Evening Programs
Enjoy one of our many evening programs, including Night Hikes, Astronomy, Camp Dances, Star Gazing, and more! Sing along with catchy tunes, laugh along to funny skits, and roast some yummy marshmallows for S'mores during a Camp Nawakwa Campfire Program.

The natural beauty of Camp Nawakwa inspires the creativity in all of us and what better way to channel that than Arts & Crafts? Make a friendship bracelet, dabble with watercolors, and design your own Camp Nawakwa Tree Cookie!

Drama
Ever wanted to let your inner actor shine? Step into the Drama circle and learn how to act, do some improv, write and create a scene and more!

The pool, dining lodge, several clusters of fully enclosed cabins, bathroom facilities with running water, an infirmary, wilderness trails, archery, tomahawk, and paintball ranges, a climbing wall, a nearby lake and lots of tall trees make up the campsite. Cabins have bunks and mattresses. Campers bring sleeping bags and pillows. Boys and girls live in separate areas of camp and interact during activities, meals, and campfires. Standards for acceptance and participation in all camp programs are the same for everyone without regard to race, color, national origin, religion, age, sex or handicap providing program requirements are met.

Each camper MUST submit a completed and signed Health History form before attending camp available through the online registration system. A Camp Nurse will oversee the health care of all campers and staff, and provide care according to a physician's standing orders. Pool and lake activities are always supervised by Red Cross Certified Lifeguards.

• Shorts - comfortable for hiking
• Underwear
• Closed-toe shoes
• Socks Shirts (long and Short sleeved) 1 for each day of stay
• Long pants
• Warm sweater, jacket or coat
• Swimsuit. One-piece bathing suits are required for girls. If not available, please send send non-white shirt to wear over top.
• Washcloth and towels (1 swim and 1 bath)
• Warm sleeping bag & pillow
• Old warm blanker (for sleeping and for sitting around the campfire at night)
• Soap, comb, brush, shampoo, toothbrush (in a container), toothpaste & other personal hygiene items
• Chapped lip protection
• Rain jacket
• Refillable water bottle or canteen
• Mosquito repellant and sunscreen
• Flashlight & extra batteries (be sure to label all equipment with child's name!)
• Bag for dirty clothes (a pillow case will do just fine)
• A favorite stuffed animal (for our stuffed animal contest)

OPTIONAL: Camera, day/backpack, autograph book, songbook, story book, compass, hiking boots, hat, sunglasses, alarm clock, slippers, sandals, sweatshirt and sweatpants.

CAMPER MAY NOT BRING THE FOLLOWING: Food or snacks, cell/smart phones, radios, MP3 players, iPods, electronic games, expensive watches, jewelry, gum, candy, money, pocket knives or sharp objects, or other valuables. Such items will be confiscated and then returned at the end of camp.

MEDICATION: Make sure your child brings their prescribed medications and that they have enough to last their time at camp. Any child that does not bring their medication or enough supplies will be sent home, no exceptions.

• Warm sleeping bag and pillow
• TARP (No bigger than 10 x 10 feet))
• Cloesed toe comfortable hiking shoes (Tennis shoes or sneakers will work also)
• Shorts comfortable for hiking (Two pairs)
• 1 warm sweater, jacket or coat
• Knit cap (for evenings)
• Underwear Socks Shirts (long and Short sleeved) 1 for each day of stay
• 1 pair long pants
• Baseball cap or sun hat
• 2x refiillable water bottle or canteens (At least 24 ounces each)
• Rain jacket
• Swimsuit. One-piece bathing suits are required for girls. If not available, please send send non-white shirt to wear over top.
• Wash cloth and swim towel
• Day pack (For Day Hikes, school backpack works well, but remember it will get dirty)
• Soap, comb, brush, shampoo, toothbrush, toothpaste & other hygiene items
• Chapped lip protection
• Mosquito repelent & Sunscreen Flashlight & Extra batteries (be sure to label all equipment with child's name!)
• Bag for dirty clothes (a pillow case will do just fine)
• A favorite stuffed animals (for our stuffed animal contest)

OPTIONAL: Camera, compass, sunglasses.

CAMPER MAY NOT BRING THE FOLLOWING: Food or snacks, cell phones, radios, ipods, MP3 players, iPods, electronic games, expensive watches, jewelry, gum, candy, money, pocket knives or sharp objects, or other valuables. Such items will be confiscated and then returned at the end of camp.

Coming from Redlands, take Highway 38 towards Big Bear. Once you turn onto Jenks Lake Road East (not West) continue until you see the Camp Nawakwa sign and make a right onto the dirt road. Please note…if you turn on Jenks Lake Road West, you will take the long road around the lake and may miss the camp turn off. More often than not satellite navigation devices will send you down West, not East. Camp is about a 0.5 mile back on the dirt road. Once you pass through the Camp Nawakwa gate, proceed to the upper parking area near the Dining Lodge, approximately 300 more yards. The speed limit in Camp is 5 MPH.

What if someone is injured or becomes sick while at camp?
Our medical staff are on call 24 hours a day. The local hospital in Big Bear is only 25 minutes away and EMS can be on site in less than 20 minutes.

How are staff trained?
Before your child arrives at one of our Camp programs, every Camp staff member has successfully participated in mandatory staff training. During this time, staff are led through a series of interactive workshops that fine-tune their leadership skills and knowledge. The primary workshops that staff attend include: Camp Health, Camper Management & Supervision, Conflict Management & Communication, Emergency Procedures, Leading Camp Activities, Personnel Policies, and Risk Management. Additional training incorporates staff bonding, teamwork, learning about working with today's youth, leading skits & songs, and learning about specific camp activities.

What payment methods do you accept?
All major credit cards are accepted for online registrations.

What are the differences between Traditional and Adventure Camps?
Traditional Camps are a typical, week-long cabin group experience. At Camp Nawakwa, we split our Traditional Camp programs into different themed sessions, such as Space & Adventure or Splash Down. For all campers attending these sessions, they have a chance to experience all of our Camp Programs, with the only subtle difference being the theming of each program. For example, during Space & Adventure, our Climbing Wall becomes the Rocket Ship. We encourage campers to bring clothing that represents each theme, such as a Hawaiian shirt for Splash Down (but this is not required).

Adventure Camps are a more rustic experience in which our campers learn to "survive in the wild." For most of Adventure Camp programs, our campers design and build their own shelters, which they will live in for part of or the whole session. They participate in many of our regular Camp Programs, but we offer additional options such as Orienteering, Survival Skills, and Preparing/Serving their own meals. Please see the packing list for Adventure Camps so you know what additional items to bring.

How do I get my child to camp?
You will drop-off and pick-up your child from Camp Nawakwa.

Are bed linens and towels provided (Camp Nawakwa Programs)?
Camp Nawakwa (overnight camps) participants are responsible for bringing their own sleeping bags or bed linens, towels (swim and shower) and personal toiletries.

Do you cater to special dietary needs?
Yes, but only if a camper has a medical condition and requires a special meal, or if a camper is requesting a special meal due to food intolerance(s) or other medical reasons. Food preferences are accommodated only within reasonable requests.

What age does my child have to be to attend summer camp?
Day Camps: 6-14 years old
Overnight Camps: 8 to 14 years old
Teen Academy: Ages 14 to 17 years
Family Camps: Open to All Ages

How many kids go to camp each week?
We will have an average of 120 campers per session. Each cabin will be assigned no more than 16 campers. We maintain a camper to staff ratio of 8:1 in accordance with American Camp Association guidelines.

Can my child call me?
Phone calls are only allowed if there is an emergency. If you call us and demand to speak with your child, we will of course allow that, however, if due to that call your child becomes homesick you will have to pick up your child immediately and no refund will be permitted. An important part of the summer camp experience is for our camper's to learn self-reliance and independence. Having to remove campers from activities to speak with a parent can significantly impact their experience. If you wish to know how your child is doing at camp, please follow Outdoor Journeys on Facebook and Instagram. We make every effort to update parents on their camper's experience through our social media.