Junior Counselor Program
A leadership development program for teens aged 16-17 at a traditional overnight summer camp.
▌ Editor's read Gold Arrow Camp is ACA accredited, with their accreditation expiring in 2025, indicating adherence to industry standards for safety and program quality (ACA website). The camp has a long history, operating for over 70 years, founded by Manny and Jeanie Vezie, suggesting stability and experience in youth programming (goldarrowcamp.com/about-us/). They maintain a staff-to-camper ratio of 1:4, which is favorable for supervision and individualized attention (goldarrowcamp.com/why-gac/safety/). The camp explicitly states that all staff undergo background checks, including fingerprinting and reference checks, demonstrating a commitment to camper safety (goldarrowcamp.com/why-gac/safety/). The website provides comprehensive information regarding dates, rates, and program details, making it easy for parents to understand the offerings.
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ACA-accredited~300 standards audited
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Since 195670+ years operating
Who thrives here Ages 16–17
Junior Counselor Program serves high-school campers, which means the program is competing against summer jobs, college visits, internships, and residential overnight options. The case for a day camp at this age is usually a CIT (counselor-in-training) track, deep specialization in overnight/sleepaway, or a portfolio item parents and kids both value. Programs that don't articulate one of those three usually lose this age band by 9th grade.
Facts & Credentials
- Program type
- Overnight camp
- ACA accredited
- Yes
- Established
- 1956 (70 years)
- Operator
- Private business
- Staff-to-camper ratio
- Published by camp see camp site →
Details
- Category: Overnight/Sleepaway
- Ages: 16–17
- Hours: 24-hour residential
- Address: 69744 Huntington Lake Rd, Lakeshore, CA 93634, USA
- Phone: (559) 893-6621
- Email: [email protected]
- Cost notes: $8000 for a 4-week program.
Runs 24-hour residential, 2 sessions (0 one-week, 2 multi-week blocks), from Jun 15 to Aug 8.
Sessions ⛓
Bookable units published by the camp. Multi-week blocks marked ⛓ are indivisible — register for the full session.
- Session 1 Jun 15 – Jul 11, 2026 · 4 weeks · $8,000
- Session 2 Jul 13 – Aug 8, 2026 · 4 weeks · $8,000
↗ What parents like
- Leadership training
- Red Cross certifications
- Community service
↘ Watch for
- Four-week program only
- High cost
Logistics
- Lunch provided: Yes
- Transportation: No
- Financial aid: No
- Setting: mixed
Frequently asked about Junior Counselor Program
- What ages does Junior Counselor Program accept?
- Junior Counselor Program is open to children ages 16–17. Camps publish their own age cutoffs, and some run mixed-age groups internally; check the registration page for that summer's grouping if your child sits at a boundary.
- How much does Junior Counselor Program cost?
- Junior Counselor Program publishes $2,000/week for the standard session. $8000 for a 4-week program. Final cost depends on session length, sibling discounts, and whether extended care is added on.
- What are Junior Counselor Program's hours?
- Junior Counselor Program runs 24-hour residential. If those hours don't quite cover your work day, check whether extended care or early drop-off is offered separately.
- Is Junior Counselor Program accredited?
- Yes — Junior Counselor Program is accredited by the American Camp Association (ACA) and has been operating for 70 years. ACA accreditation means the camp has been audited against ~300 health, safety, and program-quality standards covering staffing, supervision ratios, emergency response, and program design.
- Who runs Junior Counselor Program?
- Junior Counselor Program is operated by a private business, with 70 years of operating history. The operator type matters for tuition policy (refunds, financial aid eligibility) and for what kind of staff training pipeline the camp uses.
- Does Junior Counselor Program provide lunch?
- Yes — Junior Counselor Program includes lunch in the program. Confirm whether it's a hot lunch, cold lunch, or a snack-plus-bring-your-own setup, and ask about allergy accommodations if relevant.
- How does Junior Counselor Program compare to other overnight/sleepaway camps in Lakeshore?
- Junior Counselor Program is one of 6 overnight/sleepaway camps in Lakeshore that overlap its age range. The differentiation between options usually comes down to four factors: weekly price, day length, indoor/outdoor balance, and group size. Browse same-city alternatives in the directory to compare side by side.
Planning guides
Editorial checklists to use before you compare Junior Counselor Program with other camps.
- How to choose a summer camp · Use the decision checklist before you compare finalists.
- Day camp vs. overnight camp · Decide whether the format fits your child and schedule.
- Packing list and camp prep · Plan gear, medication notes, labels, and drop-off prep.
- Financial aid and scholarship camps · Compare aid policies, discounts, and application timing.
Camps near here
Same city, with age-overlapping options first. Other camps to consider alongside Junior Counselor Program.
- Gold Arrow Camp - Junior Counselor · Lakeshore, CA · Ages 15–17 · $2,000/week
- Camp Fresno · Sierra Nevada Mountains · Ages 7–17
- Gold Arrow Camp · Lakeshore, CA · Ages 6–14 · $2,725/week
- Gold Arrow Camp - 2 Week Session · Lakeshore, CA · Ages 6–15 · $2,725/week
- Gold Arrow Camp - 3 Week Session · Lakeshore, CA · Ages 9–15 · $2,883/week
- Gold Arrow Camp - Mini Camp · Lakeshore, CA · Ages 6–12 · $2,275/week
- Gold Arrow Camp - Watersports Specialty Camp · Lakeshore, CA · Ages 9–15 · $2,275/week