Great staff, great vibe, and great experience. Been going here for years. Fam always looks forward to it

Skylake is a 5-star, sensational camping experience. Our three children have been attending for several years now, and consider it their "home away from home." They typically attend for a two week session and have consistently returned thrilled, having tried many new activities, having loved their counselors and made many new, great friends. Activities include: Horses, Archery, Paddle Boarding, Swimming in the Lake, Banana Boats, Biking, Rock Climbing, and Tomahawk Toss. Our kids report that the food is great, the songs and campfires are fun, the activities are great and there is nothing about it that they don't love. As a parent, it is easy to stay in touch...the Director (who is wonderful) posts a detailed summary each day on their password protected website of what is happening at Camp each day, and about 100 candid photos are posted each day to show what is going on around the Camp. The pictures are a great way to (sometimes) see candid shots of your kids and still feel in touch. The kids are able to get letters everyday and larger "care packages" once a week so you can stay in touch. We have interacted with the owners, nurse, and camp management on several occasions and have been impressed every time. These folks are great professionals! We will continue to send our kids to this remarkable Camp and commend Skylake for being such an oasis. Keep up the great work! Skylake is a dream...a 5-star camping experience! read more

My 13 year old son just spent 2 weeks at Skylake, and reports that the camp is lots of fun, and he wants to return next year. This was his first time at Skylake. We were attracted to this camp by the waterfront program, the opportunity to ski/wakeboard, and the various trips they take to Yosemite. He did get to try wakeboarding, and signed up for a trip to Yosemite, but didn't get to go (and doesn't understand why not). He spent lots of time at the waterfront, using the paddleboards, kayaks, and swimming. He also loved the banana boat. He even enjoyed the food! As a parent, I was a bit nervous about this camp. Most of the kids take charter buses to camp, so the parents do not have to make the long drive to drop them off or pick them up. Logistically, this may work well for Skylake, but psychologically it doesn't work for me; I need to see where my kid will be spending 2 weeks. So I drove my son there, seeing just a few other doting parents that Sunday. The check-in process seemed a bit too relaxed and disorganized, compared to what I have seen at other camps my son attends, and maybe some help with the baggage would have been nice. But they more than made up for it, by posting news on the camp blog for parents (almost) every day of those 2 weeks, with lots of photos. They had a great group of energetic campers and enthusiastic staff, which is, by far, the most important part of any summer camp. read more

Was a camper for 4 years, a counselor for another 4-5 years, family camper for at least 12 years and now I send my children there - the place is magic! My favorite activities as a camper were tennis, archery, canoeing and campcrafts. As a counselor I tended to drift towards watersports - waterskiing, canoeing, kayaking, paddleboards... As a family camper my favorite activity is anything where my kids are having fun and I'm in the sun! Skylake is a magical place where friendships are born that sustain through your lifetime, a time of meaningful personal growth away from the "you" you are at home, where you are free to explore who you are, who you want to be and what is important in the world. Highly recommend giving it a shot if you can! You won't be sorry. read more

The BEST camp on earth - according to my 13 years old son. He looks forward to this camp every year and 2016 will be his third years at Skylake. From the parent's point of view, Skylake is a very organized camp as compared to other overnight camp. You get daily update and photos of the camp's activities. They post hundreds of photos every day and I will try to spot my son in those pics. :) I love reading their daily blog also. My son loves all of the counselors and they are all college kids from all over the world. They seem to truly love their time at Skylake as well. A word of cautious though, your kid will start counting the days to return as soon as you pick them up at the end of camp. It is a bitter sweet! read more

As a camp counselor at Skylake, I can say with confidence your camper's summer experience, mental health, and day to day needs are top priority. Skylake offers a wide variety of daily activities, trips, and traditional camp experiences that rival most other sleep-away camps on the west coast. The addition of being on Bass Lake and being only an hour away from Yosemite adds to the uniqueness and exposure to nature that this camp offers. My concern as a counselor stems from the behavior of other staff, both in and out of camp. Although most campers are not aware of what counselors do in their time-off, the line is blurred once campers reach their Senior year in camp. Some counselors who are being offered returning positions at camp next year, have come to back to camp over the legal 0.08 BAC level. Without much reprehension so much as scheduling a different day off, these counselors are offered positions back at camp to take care of your children, drive campers around a busy lake on a boat, an take campers on hikes in the wilderness. These stories seldom reach the majority of camp, but many other instances of counselors going to casinos, partying, and getting in trouble, do get to the older campers. There is also a lack of support from administrative staff for counselors. We had an incident at camp where a child was injured on a hike, causing the entire trip of 20 or so campers to return to camp 4-6 hours after scheduled. While these events are often inevitable, the counselors of the cabins were not given any information on why their kids had not returned to camp. Counselors are almost always the last to receive information about either situations involving their own campers, or the assigning of cabins for a new session. This is a huge issue for me, as you have entrusted me with the wellbeing of your child and I am not given the resources by camp to fully carry out those responsibilities. read more

My kids have been attending Skylake for 8 years. They call it their "second home". They have made ever lasting relationships & friendship. This is an east cost type of camp. It's back to basics with just having fun and being active. There is a no electronics rule which I love, the kids are forced to unplug and enjoy their time in this amazing place. read more

See all

I was a camper from the ages of 6-14 and looked forward to it every year. This camp is what camps should be. Warm temps, sports (H20 Ski, Tennis, Horse Riding, Archery, swimming, boating, hiking, etc.), evening campfires, afternoon activities, and a huge dining hall were some of my memories. This is from their website and fits the camp to a 'T': "Skylake is a camp in the East Coast tradition...in a pine forest...on a beautiful warm-water lake...and with all the traditional waterfront and "land" sports activities, crafts and nightly campfires. Some of our camp songs have been a tradition for 60 years. A fundamental philosophy of Skylake is that today's young people are in a very fast paced and highly competitive school and life environment. Skylake believes and practices that young people need a vacation just as adults do. While the days at Skylake are busy and structured, they are designed to be noncompetitive, relaxed, and very flexible to the campers' individual needs. " I even took a quick trip there this year, when visiting Yosemite, to see if it really held the magic I remembered. Yes! It still gave off the same vibe of lazy summer days spent with your friends (and family). Thanks for the memories! read more

Sadly this used to be a place of magic but no more. My child was bullied and a death threat happened. So terribly sad that this is no longer a place of magic but now horrible memories my child will carry with him for life! read more

I have been attending this camp for 6 years and I absolutely love it. From a campers point of view, this is my happy place. All of my camp friends and I have countdowns on our phones that tells down to the minute we get to come to this magical place. I can't even express how much I love this pace. Here are some points that I will bring up : WATER: Bass lake is beautiful and Skylake gives you the perfect way to experience it. Other than being able to kayak,canoe,swim,paddle board, SUP, etc. you can swim the width of the lake or the length. I have done both. They are both optional early morning swims , the width is a 1-2 mile swim where you wake up at 6:30 and get to swim well the width. The length is a bit more prestigious, a 4:30 in the morning which is 4-5 ( maybe longer) mile swim. During activity periods there are maybe more than 5 lifeguards watching in two medium sized space..safety is not a concern. The lifeguards are all counselors (who are lifeguard/first aid certified) who interact with you and do not just stand and watch you. I have grown to absolutely love Bass Lake! LAND: The space is amazing. Big enough you don't feel crowded and people are watching your every move,but small enough that you always have supervision (don't worry). You can do ropes,climbing wall,horses,handicrafts, ceramics, sports, tennis, games,lodge,guitar,video, etc. All of the activities are amazing and led with counselors that you have instantly fell in love with them. At Skylake you force YOURSELF to try new things. STRUCTURE: Different from other reviews, as a current camper I think the structure is perfect. You have a main structure; flag,breakfast,activities,lunch, siesta (rest hour), Cabin Group Activity/Swim call, shower hour, dinner, twilight sports, campfire,tapes, and then probably a Pow-Wow ( a cabin candy party banding thing?). But you have so much freedom in this structure. This camp is perfect. I (personally) wouldn't change a thing. PARENTS: Don't be worried about sending your kids here. I promise your kids will always be in expert care. Besides from your kids cabin counselor there are two head counselors, head girls and head boys. I remember in one of my first few years I was so homesick I didn't know what to do ( I don't get homesick anymore. When I am at home I am skylake sick). I remember my counselor took me out of the cabin and we headed to the head girls counselor. I remember her handing me her stuffed animal pig and letting me sleep with her. For someone reason she knew just the way to make me happy, and that was that. I STRONGLY advise Thai camp. OVERALL: this is my favorite palace on earth. I love this place this so much I can't describe. If you want some real camp "magic" go to Skylake. read more

Skylake Yosemite Camp - Summer Camps Near Me - Wishon, California

I camped here for three years from the age of 14-16. The first two years were absolutely amazing and left me with wonderful memories. I fell in love with the area and decided I would one day be married on Bass Lake. When I met my now-husband and introduced him to the area, he too fell in love with it and we were married at The Pines Resort in 2011. It is beyond beautiful, the lake is warm, clean, and clear. The camp itself seemed very well run with great activities both on the water and off. The first year I was a "Senior" camper which is the highest age group other than CILTs. I enjoyed the many activities including tubing, wakeboarding, kayaking (became an instant favorite of mine and I now own my own kayak!), archery, horse back riding, and arts/crafts among many others. The next year I was a CILT or Camper in Leadership Training. For that program, campers choose to have a Wilderness focus, Water focus, or Wrangling (I think?) focus. I chose Wilderness which meant we spent the majority of the two weeks hiking and I was able to do Dome in a Day hiking Half Dome in Yosemite. It was amazing and something I've always wanted to do again. We did several backpacking trips as well which were a lot of fun. Then I went back for my third year as a Junior Counselor and I wish I hadn't. I wish I could go back to my innocent view of the camp with my special memories not being tainted by the realizations I came to as someone behind the scenes. As a JC, I saw the lack of responsibility of many/most of the college student counselors, the inappropriate ways they interacted with the older aged campers (something I was oblivious to while there as a Senior and CILT), the alcohol drinking, pot smoking, and generally upsetting behavior. In actuality I'm glad I went that third year because now I know I would never send my children there, but I do still wish I had only the memories of my first two years there. read more

My family and I have been going to Skylake's family camp sessions for over 25 years. It's our place for our annual family reunion every Memorial Day weekend. Skylake is amazing for every age group, and we will be sending our kids here once they're old enough to go to camp! read more

I have 13 and 10 year old daughters who are currently at Skylake making this their 5th and 3rd year, respectively. They absolutely love Skylake! The delicious food, all the activities, the serene setting of Bass Lake, the friendships and bonds they make....I can go on. The kids look forward to going to Bass Lake every year. We've also attended family camp and hope to go back again. Also, the Skylake website is organized which helps keep me stay organized to make sure both of my kids have all the forms filled out that are needed. From the site, we appreciate the newsletters of the days' happenings as well as all the photos. The children all look happy and relaxed. Skylake is amazing! read more

My daughter is headed back to Skylake for her 3rd year. She goes for the month, doesn't want to leave and spends the rest of the year counting the days until she goes next. She has made friends of all ages and from all parts of CA. She keeps in touch with her entire cabin (talking with people almost everyday), older girls, her JCs and counselors. Skylake creates a truly special environment and she has a Skylake connection wherever we go - at sports, at museums, skiing in mammoth, at the movies, new year's eve, and even walking the dog. I can't think of a better camp experience. read more

DO NOT SEND YOUR CHILD HERE!! This past summer, they had an outbreak of the stomach flu which almost got the camp shut down by the health department. The camp did nothing whatsoever to deal with this outbreak, besides implement a rudimentary hand washing system that should have been in place to begin with! Children were forced to throw up in trash bags or in the cabins, as cabins were not even provided with buckets. The health care center is a joke, and can hold a maximum of 8 children and is cared for by a woman who is not even a registered nurse. Almost 10 children were sent to the ER last summer alone, mostly due to dehydration and negligence on the part of the camp and its director. All the counselors are college students obsessed with partying and fooling around with eachother and are NOT interested in the welfare of your child. Many are still drunk from the previous night's activities! Do not let the brochures and website fool you, this camp is not where you want to send your child! read more

Mine is an update. I reviewed the camp several years ago. My son is finishing his last year here this summer. Still a really great place. He goes for a month because he can. The place is like a summer camp you think about from the movies. You know you will not hear from your children because they are having too good a time. They do make them send one postcard but that all most of us get. If you want your kid to have great memories of summer camp this is the place! read more

I have been a camper at Skylake for two years and in three days, three years. I was appalled to see bad reviews. My first year, within five minutes, I was already best friends with everyone in my cabin and felt like I had known them my whole life. The counselors are great, young enough to understand things that might be going on, old enough to be responsible and tell us to go to bed. There are so many activities, and there is enough time to try them all. Last year, my cabin mates and I took a day trip to Yosemite and had the time of our lives. The lake is beautiful, clear and warm. The staff are excellent. Last year, a girl in my cabin sprained her ankle and knew EXACTLY what to do. I realize some parents don't like the charter bus option, but it is great. I made SO many friends on the bus ride up. read more

Skylake is the best gift my parents could have given to me as a kid. I have spent 5 years as a camper at Skylake, and the past 2 summers on staff. This camp is where I have met my best and lifelong friends. Skylake has so much to offer in terms of activities and learning new skills (swimming, photography, rock-climbing, etc). Food is great, even when you're there the whole summer! The best way to describe the camp dynamic is one big unique family. This is not to say that there are never issues between campers, but the staff spends so much time learning how to handle situations like these, that almost anything can be solved by the time dessert comes around. The directors make it clear that safety is the #1 priority at camp, both physically and emotionally! Skylake is such a special place and will always mean so much to me! read more

It is the BEST camp EVER! ALL the counselors there are NICE and some of them have went to the camp before, so they aren't totally clueless. This summer, I went, and it was amazing and just... awesome. You make awesome/crazy friends. Really, I felt tears leak out when I was on the bus to return. I thought about how much I would miss my friends and this place. I look forward to it. There is also time to just hang out with friends or even taking a little nap. Best place ever, thanks Skylake. read more

I have gone to this camp for the past five years. While i had an okay experience as a young camper, it was not in anyway attributed to my counselors. I continued to return only because my parents liked to have two free weeks and i wasn't given an option. I can only remember the name of my co-counselor from my first year as my main counselor would always be hanging out with other counselors and spent minimal time with our cabin group which failed to provide a context in which the advertised family bond could be created. the activities were okay but the counselors were often similarly checked out and not helpful. my following three years i made a couple good friends but the majority of the girls in my age group continued to request and have their request granted to be in the same cabin, though each year one or two would end up in my cabin. those girls would be rude and pissed of and my counselors never did anything to work it out. thought the attitude of campers is not the camps fault, it is their responsibility to provide context in which the campers have an enjoyable time. by allowing the same group of girls to be in an exclusive cabin they set up a terrible dynamic among my age group. in my fifth year, my counselor and co actually talked about how drunk they had got on their nights of and much like Mellissa E. stated, the magic of the camp began to fade. My counselors acted like campers and i feel i would have been much better off without them. my fourth year is the only year in which i had a genuinely nice counselor and really enjoyed the camp and the two star rating can be almost entirely attributed to that. I finally was able to convince my parents i wasn't going back and though i had some nostalgia for the traditional camp lifestyle, I am glad that I didn't spend the hour of siesta for two weeks wondering why the hell i was in that camp. So if you want to send your child off and hope they get the 1/5 good counselors go ahead, but in less they are very social and befriend the counselors as one or two campers do, they will pretty much be ignored. read more

My daughter just finished her second year at Skylake and loves it. She goes with her friend from home but has made new friends both years. During the year she kept in touch with her closest new friend and they made an effort to see each other. The counselors both years have been really good and engaged and addressed conflict when needed. In terms of photos and communication, the camp seems to have gotten the message that it is better to have kids look in the camera (her first year there were lots of pictures with kids not looking in the camera and looking very hot (it was 105 degrees!)) The daily postings give a good glimpse into what the kids are up to. There is a great range of activities and they have flexibility to do what they want and there are lots of cabin activities including the banana boating which they all seem to love. My daughter swam the width of the lake in beautiful warm bass lake and her cabin did an overnight which I was happy to see. While for me I had to get used to how rustic the camp facilities are she is comfortable and loves that it is a real camp experience. I asked my daughter if there is anything in particular I should point out and she said that I must mention that there is really good food! Now my younger daughter wants to go (and we are going to need to mortgage the house to pay for it!:)) read more

My kids (11 and 12) just returned from their first year at Skylake, where they did a two week session. To sum it up, they both declared it "the best place in the world." They loved the lake, all the activities, their counselors, the kids, everything. From start to finish, I was impressed by the camp and its management. Everything I read from them-- the brochure, website, emails-- was intelligent and well-planned. I like their philosophies about just about everything, and I get the sense that the camp attracts a lot of nice, well-rounded, considerate kids. To be clear, this isn't a camp with air-conditioning and a swimming pool. They have great cabins and an incredible lake instead, and they are smack in the middle of some of the most incredible wilderness in the country. The kids have options to take day hikes or even overnights into Yosemite. I wanted to address one issue I know I was concerned about when I was researching the camp-- my kids did not attend with friends from home and they did just fine (even though almost everyone I know thought it was weird to send them "alone"). It didn't sound like many kids came in pairs or groups, either. Many knew each other from previous years, but both my kids said it was "easy" to make friends. One of them even said she preferred to meet new people. I really feel this is part of the camp experience-- I'm not just sending them to do activities, but to gain independence. It's not an inexpensive endeavor, but we will be making it a priority to send them again next year. read more