Absolutely love this swim center! The staff are all wonderful and my daughter looks forward to…read moreevery lesson! As a "retired" swim instructor and swimmer I definitely give this place 5 stars!

Our girls have been taking swimming lessons with Shyra and her family for a few summers. This…read moresummer our girls tried the Harry Potter camp and they are fortunate for all they get to experience in the summers and they keep raving about the Harry Potter camp. Very grateful Shyra and the family are part of our community.

Camp YATC has truly blown us away! Of course, I was not in attendance as the Mom. That being…read moresaid, I can begin by saying that the very FIRST thing my 13 year old son said to me today (after giving me a giant, obligatory hug ;) was: "Mom, I'll do anything if you say I can come back here next summer. I had the BEST TIME EVER!!" We live about 2.5 hours away from the beautiful Mt. Cross campsite in the Santa Cruz mountains and had heard about Camp YATC through a local, dear friend of ours. It had been over a year that my son had been begging me to go I had been in contact with Shawn and Valerie beginning last March with tons of questions. My son has a physical special need and all staff were supportive & compassionate. Shawn and Val both listened graciously to concerns I had regarding this prior, & reassured me during the week by response to a text message I sent; that he was safe, smiling, & thriving. It was at this point, that I felt like their promise to treat all campers as kids of their own -- was genuine & sincere. Sometimes the little things for one person are big things to someone else. My son had nothing but positive feedback to share about his cabin counselor, Ian... that he was attentive, patient, & helpful. Themed dinner evenings seemed to have been all the rage; and surprise on and off Broadway actors participated in mentoring with productive & validating feedback. What a remarkable bonus that was to hear about! The team at YATC has magically blended a smooth structure with room for each individual to be themselves -- simultaneously making it appear easy & joyful. He shared that his most significant takeaway from his time away from home st YATC was a tie. Learning and growing as a performer (in the Musical Theatre track) was at the top - and in large part due to the many experienced, talented, & insightful folks who taught. Right up there were the many new friendships made with campers from all over the world, literally. Upon our return home, I found my son in his room organizing each paper that he had torn off writing contact information for various new buddies -- and also reviewing a notebook chalk full of notes he'd taken during instructional classes. It sounds to me as though they have nailed it at being sure there was equal part "fun" to in "class" - and it stood out to me when I was told that he's never experienced how learning can be FUN in and of itself. Togetherness with other campers whose interests often paralleled his own, he mentioned how fantastic it was to learn from peers simply by getting to know these truly special people. "Mom, I don't know if there were bullet points in the adult paperwork about your child needing to be a kind human being, but I never met anyone who wasn't!" This made my Mom heart especially happy. The showcase held at pick up time was incredible! Each camper has been encouraged (but not forced or required) to stand up in front of the crowd & share their talent. Performers were excited and as an audience member, easy to see how hard they had worked! Something else that stood out was the way campers cheered on one another offering high fives or hugs. If you hadn't known that these kids only met 9 days prior, you sure wouldn't have been able to tell! So sweet to witness this! In my opinion, the sheer number of returning campers year after year says a whole lot about the phenomenal team behind the scenes executing this well oiled operation. It was abundantly evident that the people I came into contact with not only wanted to promote & encourage these kids' passion for the arts // but also, help strengthen self confidence, responsibility, and adventure. I promised my son that I'll do everything possible under the sun to make sure he can return to (what he called his new) "happy place and home away from home." This crew has absolutely nailed it!! BRAVO CAMP YATC! His countdown has begun! My gratitude and appreciation are endless for all they've done in playing an integral role in my son's happiness.

Where do I start!? Well, I was nervous-trepidatious-just not sure if we were doing the right thing…read moreby sending our son to Camp YATC. I must say, we were blown away- and so was our son! He's already a working actor, so sometimes it's tough to find a space that caters to someone like him- he has some experience-but of course-he's a kid! And has SO much to learn and so much growing to do. When they say that you'll feel at home- they are absolutely correct! Our son was nervous and within 5 minutes of arriving, he was waving us off~ from tears of anxiety to smiles and an eagerness to join and play and learn and experience all that camp YATC has to offer! From top notch coaches, teachers, performers, counselors, and the sweetest-most accepting & creative kids! All set in the breathtaking Santa Cruz mountains. It's a dreamy place where dreams grow and kids can be themselves, accepted, encouraged, and nurtured. Thank you Shawn & Valerie & everyone at Campy YATC for creating a welcoming space for these sweet performers to hone their craft, while making new friends in a gorgeous setting. PS-our kid is a mega boy-like plays football & has has a ton of bros- but-he's an artist and loves to meet fellow artists from all walks of life - this place delivered! Oh- yeah- the cabins- well- they're cabins... it's not the Ritz-but-it's safe-comfortable- well ventilated!! And really-so fun-our son tells it like it is and is super picky- he loved his time and can't wait to return. As a mom, I am grateful. Highly recommend for your young performer-actor, singer, dancer, writer, dreamer. Ps... the pool is clean and perfect- the cabins are older, but not moldy- I'm not sure where the bad reviewer below stayed, but it does not sound like this camp. The cost is not "cheap" but I feel that the value is there- the kids are learning & are safe-engaged-encouraged-and really well taken care of.

Oh my goodness, this place is very nice. I must declare coming here for a men's retreat with my…read morechurch was the best decision ever made. There are plenty of sports to play when there is free time and they have a very nice walking trail that is a walk to remember. The owners of this place are very nice and are happy to help at any time. This camp can fit a lot of people. Food is bring your own and make your own. The meeting place is also the cafeteria. It also comes with a bell if you want to let others know if the food is ready. For me personally I like it here because I live very close to the area. Only a 30 minute drive from my flat. Note: during the winter months, the pool is not open so please plan accordingly. Park by the meeting center do not go too far.

We've been coming here in the last 5 yrs or so Father's Day camping . Great place , make your own…read moremeal and with family working together it's more fun. The place is clean , kitchen is huge and people are very professional. We're coming back next week for camp !

it was so much fun! the quality is amazing!!!!! food is so good. all though it was expensive it was…read morevery fun. service was also amazing. 10/10! Service was so good

Stayed here for a family reunion retreat and had the entire camp to ourselves. Overall, we had a…read moregreat experience and would definitely consider booking this place again in the future! Food: The food was mostly really good, especially considering the staff cooks all the meals for the entire camp. Steak night was a bit disappointing since the steak was overcooked, but the chicken was juicy and delicious. They also did a great job with the pizza, loading it up with tons of toppings. There was a good salad bar at every meal, so there were always plenty of vegetable options. Breakfast came with delicious scones, and they even had ice cream sandwiches for dessert. There was also fresh fruit, including bananas and oranges, as well as cold milk, which was especially refreshing. The staff handles all the cooking and cleanup afterward, so guests just need to sort away their utensils and food scraps. I actually thought this was a great practice for the little ones and a nice way to teach them to clean up after themselves. Activities: There were plenty of fun activities to keep everyone busy, including archery, basketball, gaga ball, volleyball, a pool with a super-fast and fun slide, and a rock climbing wall. There was something for pretty much everyone in the family. Cabins: No major complaints about the cabins. My only issue was that I felt a little hot and cold throughout the night, so the temperature wasn't always comfortable. The bathrooms are shared, and I do wish the stalls offered a bit more privacy, but overall they were perfectly adequate for a camp setting. Overall, we had a fantastic stay at Camp Campbell. It's a great place for a family reunion or group retreat, especially if you want a place where everyone can stay together and have plenty of activities to enjoy. We'll likely book here again in the future!

Amazing! It was super clean, the food was delicious and all the staff were super friendlyread more

This is definitely one of the nicer conference grounds/camps that I have been to. I would have…read moregiven it 5 stars except for the lodging above the dining area that feels really old and stuffy. Otherwise, it was a pretty nice experience the weekend I went back in April ! Fortunately, I was at Laurel Lodge, where it felt more hotel-style with each person having their own bed (4 beds a room) and one bathroom per room. There was also ample storage space. The room we all met in for sermons was also really nice and it looked like it was updated - with two 'lounge' rooms on each side of the main room. There is also a nice open field, a big dining area with lots of seating, and it is just pretty to walk around the conference grounds. I also really liked this little lounge area where you could get tea and coffee whenever you wanted.The campground staff was also helpful, and there was also a zipline and bouldering course further up the hill of the conference grounds that was fun to do for both students and youth leaders. I also came to this camp site a little over a decade ago and although I don't remember details of that stay, I do remember having a good time. It is really good quality facility.

Some amazing people bringing community and care to the SLV neighborhood. Excited to see the…read moreprojects and creativity coming out. Congrats on making your dreams come true!

Twin Flames Creative Space is a fabulous resource for the community! So excited that they are in…read moreSanta Cruz County and look forward to my daughter attending further events!

Tracy was so awesome with my son, after just a few days, he reached for her during our drop off in…read morethe morning. It was so comforting knowing he was in good hands and happy and doing a variety of things with different kids. Highly recommended! My son would still be there if we hadn't moved.

We Love Nurture Nature Forest School! My son is having a blast, exploring the nooks and crannies of…read morethe Santa cruz Mountains with his peers. Tracy is an excellent guide for the children. She holds compassionate and kindness in her values, and remains attentive and alert to each child's needs.

It's been a while since the summers I worked here. It's been even longer since I was a camper…read more I remember the drive: a friend in the backseat with me, little sister up front, and my mom navigating Big Basin Highway. I'll never forget the weeks I spent at camp. Even though it wasn't cheap, my parents worked hard so that they could afford to send my sister and I each for two weeks instead of just one (I believe there were three weeks of each age group). Worth every penny. I'll never forget my summer experiences. I honestly think that this was also the time I first decided I liked to write. I had the opportunity to write letters home and every night I sent one. Years later as a staff person, lots of campers wanted to write to me. I wrote back endless letters for years. I remember the death of a camper (not at camp) who I had been very close to. She called herself Little Frosty. (My camp name was Frosty - see my review of Wendy's and it'll explain my camp name :)). It was very difficult to lose a friend I felt like I'd had so much influence on. I can't review the camp in much detail because I'm sure it's changed tremendously, but there were hiking trails, a "flying squirrel" zip line, a pond to fish, a pool to swim, a meadow to play.... cabins, nearby bathrooms, a room for worship and a huge cafeteria hall. We played games and competed. Learned about each other, taught one another. I've always wanted to return. It'd be impossible with work I think - but not one summer of my life has gone by that I have'nt thought about quitting my jobs and trying to work there for 8 weeks. I think the pay was $250/wk when I was there last... perhaps less. But the rewards were everlasting. My eyes water every time I think about camp. The most amazing people I can remember: Thumper, and Sprocket are the two counselors I remember most from my time as a camper. Thumper was my counselor more than once. Sprocket worked with the kids who rode mountain bikes. I remember the Bruner family all lived there and helped with cooking and maintenance. I believe they're in Oregon now. Soleil was a coworker when I was staff. She was from the same City as me and we had a mutual friend at home. We still keep in touch. I remember Albacore during pool competitions. For some reason I remember his wet hair the most! xoxxox

As a music leader for my church, I have had the opportunity to provide music at many youth…read moreministries and churches in the Santa Clara Valley. From my particular locale, that usually means the retreat centers are in the Santa Cruz Mountains - and there are LOTS! This past weekend, I provided praise and worship and Mass music (it was a Catholic youth retreat) at Camp Hammer. In all the years I've been doing music for retreats, I had never done a retreat at Camp Hammer. Admittedly, on the way up the hill, I was a little doubtful of the place as I had heard mixed reviews from folks at my church. But as soon as we got to the facility, all my doubts were erased. The grounds are GORGEOUS! The facility is tucked within the redwoods along the Big Basin Highway. It's lush with vegetation which really promotes an incredible peacefulness - just what I needed! I knew then that this was a very special place. My first stop was the central hall to unload my gear. When I walked in, I was absolutely amazed to see sub-woofers on each side of the stage! No other facility where I've provided music has had that. I turned to the guy who was running sound for the weekend and said, "SUBS?!!! Oh wow! This is gonna be great!" The reason this was so good is that subs provide that low bottom end that gives a band's sound a much deeper texture. Not only that, the room had two HUGE ceiling-mounted mains and the stage was equipped with big monitors, so hearing ourselves while we were performing was going to be great! As a musician, the sound quality of a venue is very important to me, and Camp Hammer really hits the marks on that note. People have complained that the facility doesn't have that much equipment like mics and mic stands. But to be honest, any performing musician worth their salt should have those items. I brought up three mics of my own - my vocal mic is A LOT better than the standard Shure or Sennheisers most venues use. So if you read this and you're a musician, you'll be in for a real treat! As far as amenities are concerned, my room, which I shared with my wife (we both are very involved with the youth ministry at our church), was the best room I've ever stayed in at a retreat center. I thought Mount Hermon's was pretty good, but this room was ten times better! The food was also VERY good. It's not extravagant. But it's healthy, and more importantly, the cooks make it delicious. What was really impressive was the Sunday lunch, which is the last meal of the weekend. They provided homemade pizza! Lots of different varieties as well. Other facilities usually do a build-your-own sandwich bar with kind of cheap cold cuts and cheese. Not Camp Hammer. They go all out. All the staff at Camp Hammer are incredibly engaging and friendly. They go out of their way to ask if everything's going well or if there are any issues that need to be addressed. They want to get feedback! Admittedly, the staff at Mount Hermon do that as well, but I did feel that Camp Hammer's staff goes just a bit further with their support. In a word, the staff is AWESOME! All things considered, I will make sure other people know about this wonderful retreat facility. Oh! Before I forget, here's a really awesome thing that actually has nothing to do with the facility, but it's a big factor: Cell phones don't work there - no network will connect, unless you have a satellite phone. When you're up there, you're disconnected. And that's great. They do have WiFi available, and even as a leader, I probably should've connected just in case, but I didn't bother because I figured that since I didn't have a direct operational role, the likelihood that I'd need to utilize an internet connection would be minimal. So I disconnected from the outside world the entire weekend! That was SO refreshing.