We ask for a minimum of 10 students and 2 chaperones and can bring out a maximum of 100 students. If you have more than 100 students we ask that they come our to camp over separate camp trips. As we grow our program we will expand the number of students we can bring out at one time. Starting Fall 2023 we will have a maximum capacity of 200 students. Please note for larger groups our cabin capacity is 150.

We will book your boat transportation to and from Catalina Island and that is included in the price per person. You are responsible for arranging transportation to the boat terminal. At this time we use three different boat companies, they either leave out of San Pedro or Long Beach, we are not able to accommodate Dana Point. The total number of passengers traveling that day, will determine which boat company (and therefore location) we use.

We offer 3-day/2-night, 4-day/3-night, and 5-day/4-night options. Trips are offered Monday through Friday in the Spring (late March until Memorial Day) and Fall (Labor Day through mid-November).

Unfortunately, we are not able to offer summer trips because the camp is used for Boy Scout summer camp.

We work on a rolling 12-month calendar, so if it is spring and you would like to book for the following spring, we are able to help you out. Otherwise, please reach out to us and we will try to work with you as best we can.

You get to customize your trip from our selection of offered classes. Classes are in 2-hour long blocks, which allows our instructors to provide safety information, demonstrate a new activity such as kayaking, provide class instruction and discussion, and clean up. See our course descriptions page for more information. Don’t see something you are interested in? Contact us and we will try to arrange it.

In general, the weather on Catalina Island is favorable. The early fall weather is beautiful with warm temperatures and warm water. The spring has cooler temperatures and water, but beautiful green and flowering plants. However, in the late fall months and late winter/early spring months, rainstorms are possible.  We recommend everyone pack clothing for all types of weather and take the season of their trip into consideration.

When notified in advanced, we do our best to accommodate any special dietary needs. Our kitchen is able to regularly accommodate vegetarian, gluten-free, or dairy-free needs. Please let us know of any additional needs and we will work with you to find an accommodation that best suits your needs. Please fill out the Special Request Google Form at least 2 weeks prior to your trip to inform us of any dietary needs. You can find it at the bottom of our Planning Tools page.

All camp staff are trained in CPR and First Aid. Camp Emerald Bay has an emergency first responder on staff who is on-site during programs. In addition, Emerald Bay is within a 15-minute response time from Two Harbors, which is the nearest site of Los Angeles County Fire & Rescue. While medical emergencies are dealt with swiftly, our programs and courses have safety measures in place with the goal of preventing emergencies before they occur.

Schools are responsible for the storage and management of all student medication. Emerald Bay staff does not administer any medications for participants, however we are able to provide a secure refrigerated location should that be required for a medication.

All Emerald Bay staff are first aid and CPR certified. However, it is our policy that the school provide first aid to their own students. Any illness or injury that cannot be treated with first aid will be referred to LA Fire and Rescue.

Student illness is assessed on a case-by-case basis. Chaperones should monitor the health and symptoms of students to identify any potential needs. If a student presents with symptoms of an illness such as cold, flu, or Covid-19, the Trip Coordinator and Program Director will work together to develop a plan. This could include isolating the student in separate housing, requesting further assessment by LA County paramedics, transport to the Avalon clinic, or arranging for transportation home.

Our Wet Courses take place in Emerald Bay and Doctor’s Cove, which is adjacent to the bay. Both are naturally protected areas with mild conditions and crystal-clearwater. Here are additional precautions that we take for our activities:

•All students take a float test on the day of their arrival. They will wear a life jacket and jump into the water feet first. This allows them to demonstrate that they are comfortable in the water and able to follow instructions, even if they are not a strong swimmer.

•All water activities have a lifeguard ratio of no more than 1:16 with an additional Waterfront Manager on duty.

•All students, chaperones, and staff wear life vests while kayaking or paddle boarding

.•All students, chaperones, and staff wear full wetsuits while snorkeling to provide flotation.

The largest animal on Catalina Island is the American Bison. However, it is very rare that a bison will be seen in camp because they are confined to a different part of the island by a gate. The mammals that students may see in camp include mule deer, Catalina Island foxes, and ground squirrels. In the water, participants can expect to see a wide array of fish and invertebrates. The most common sharks are small and docile bottom dwellers such as the leopard or horn sharks which can also be touched in our touch tanks! Large sharks have never been spotted in either Emerald Bay or Doctor’s Cove.

If parents or administration would like to send mail to their students, it is recommended that it is mailed a week prior to their arrival in camp to ensure delivery. Please address mail as follows:

Letters:                                                                                Packages (USPS):
Student Name –Camper                                                       Student Name –Camper
Name of School                                                                    Name of School
Camp Emerald Bay                                                              Camp Emerald Bay
PO Box 5066                                                                       1 Cove Road
Avalon, CA 90704                                                                Avalon, CA 90704

Students enjoy three warm meals a day from our kitchen with covered outdoor dining. Vegetarian options are always available, and gluten free, vegan, or other special diets can be accommodated with notice provided via the online special request form. In addition to the main entrée and sides, breakfast always has a cereal and yogurt bar option while lunch and dinner also have a fresh salad bar option. Between meals there is always fruit available as a snack. Here is a sample menu of a typical day. This sample menu does not guarantee that these will be the exact meals served.

Breakfast: Scrambled Eggs, Biscuits, Gravy, Country Hash Browns, Oatmeal, Yogurt & Cereal Bar

Lunch: Chicken Nuggets, Mac & Cheese, Canned Fruit, Cookies, Salad Bar

Dinner: Pasta, Meat Sauce, California Mixed Vegetable, Cheesy Garlic Bread Sticks, Italian Ice, Salad Bar

Yes! The Ship’s Store is our camp shop which sells snacks, souvenirs, apparel, and outdoor supplies. The Ship’s Store is open each night after dinner and students are welcome to bring spending money if they would like to pick up a snack or souvenir.

To view a photo gallery of our facilities, please click here.

A camp map can be found in the Planning Tools section of our website.