What ages does Catalina Sea Camp accept?

Catalina Sea Camp is open to children ages 8–17. 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 Catalina Sea Camp cost?

Catalina Sea Camp publishes $3,550/week for the standard session. $3550 for a 7-day session. Final cost depends on session length, sibling discounts, and whether extended care is added on.

What are Catalina Sea Camp's hours?

Catalina Sea Camp 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 Catalina Sea Camp accredited?

Yes — Catalina Sea Camp is accredited by the American Camp Association (ACA) and has been operating for 50 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 Catalina Sea Camp?

Catalina Sea Camp is operated by a nonprofit organization, with 50 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 Catalina Sea Camp provide lunch?

Yes — Catalina Sea Camp 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 Catalina Sea Camp compare to other water sports camps in Los Angeles?

Catalina Sea Camp is one of 49 water sports camps in Los Angeles 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.

▌ Water Sports · Ages 8–17

Catalina Sea Camp

Los Angeles · $3,550/week · ★ 5.0 (9 reviews)

Catalina Sea Camp offers marine science and adventure programs for youth on Catalina Island, focusing on ocean...

▌ Editor's read Catalina Sea Camp's website loads as a legitimate camp site, offering overnight programs for youth focused on marine science and adventure. The camp is accredited by the American Camp Association (ACA), with accreditation valid through 2024, indicating adherence to industry standards for health, safety, and program quality. The website states the camp has been operating for over 50 years, suggesting a long-standing commitment to youth development. It is operated by the nonprofit Guided Discoveries. The camp explicitly mentions that all staff undergo background checks and drug screening. Google reviews average 4.8 stars from 144 reviews, with many parents praising the unique educational experience, dedicated staff, and the positive impact on their children's interest in marine biology. The camp offers a variety of activities including snorkeling, scuba diving, kayaking, and marine biology labs.

★

ACA-accredited~300 standards audited

⌬

Since 197650+ years operating

◍

Nonprofit operator501(c)(3) tax-exempt

Who thrives here Ages 8–17

Catalina Sea Camp is built for middle-school campers — an age where leadership tracks, deeper specialization, and identity exploration take over from generalist day-camp formats. water sports programs that thrive at this age publish a clear weekly progression rather than a rotating activity menu, and the staff-to-camper conversation usually matters more than the activity list.

Facts & Credentials

Program type: Overnight camp
ACA accredited: Yes
Established: 1976 (50 years)
Operator: Nonprofit organization
Staff-to-camper ratio: Not listed

How we verify these →

Details

Category: Water Sports
Ages: 8–17
Hours: 24-hour residential
Address: Office: 302 North El Camino Real #206, San Clemente, CA 92672
Phone: (424) 487-6325
Email: [email protected]
Cost notes: $3550 for a 7-day session.

Runs 24-hour residential, 5 sessions (3 one-week, 2 multi-week blocks), from Jun 6 to Aug 1.

Sessions ⛓

Bookable units published by the camp. Multi-week blocks marked ⛓ are indivisible — register for the full session.

Session 1 Jun 6 – 12, 2026 · 1 week · $3,550
Session 2 Jun 13 – 19, 2026 · 1 week · $3,550
Session 3 Jun 20 – 26, 2026 · 1 week · $3,550
Session 4 Jun 28 – Jul 14, 2026 · 3 weeks · $5,950
Session 5 Jul 16 – Aug 1, 2026 · 3 weeks · $5,950

↗ What parents like

Sibling discount
Referral program

↘ Watch for

Expensive

Logistics

Lunch provided: Yes
Transportation: No
Financial aid: No
Setting: mixed

Frequently asked about Catalina Sea Camp

What ages does Catalina Sea Camp accept?: Catalina Sea Camp is open to children ages 8–17. 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 Catalina Sea Camp cost?: Catalina Sea Camp publishes $3,550/week for the standard session. $3550 for a 7-day session. Final cost depends on session length, sibling discounts, and whether extended care is added on.
What are Catalina Sea Camp's hours?: Catalina Sea Camp 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 Catalina Sea Camp accredited?: Yes — Catalina Sea Camp is accredited by the American Camp Association (ACA) and has been operating for 50 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 Catalina Sea Camp?: Catalina Sea Camp is operated by a nonprofit organization, with 50 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 Catalina Sea Camp provide lunch?: Yes — Catalina Sea Camp 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 Catalina Sea Camp compare to other water sports camps in Los Angeles?: Catalina Sea Camp is one of 49 water sports camps in Los Angeles 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 Catalina Sea Camp with other camps.

How to choose a summer camp · Use the decision checklist before you compare finalists.
Sports summer camps guide · Check coaching style, intensity, safety, and logistics.
Financial aid and scholarship camps · Compare aid policies, discounts, and application timing.
Summer camp pricing in 2026 · Benchmark weekly cost before you commit a deposit.

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Indexable directory cuts for families comparing Catalina Sea Camp against nearby options.

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Camp Brave Trails - California Session 2 · California · Ages 12–17 · $2,022/week
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