Camp Wildcraft is a welcoming space
of discovery, fun, wonder & growth through an immersive exploration of arts and nature
of discovery, fun, wonder & growth through an immersive exploration of arts and nature
Curious about what we do all day?
Click here for "A Day in the Life of Camp!"
Click here for "A Day in the Life of Camp!"
Summer 2025 Details coming soon!
OUR TWO LOCATIONS
- CALABASAS: MUSE Global School, 1666 Las Virgenes Canyon Rd, Calabasas
- MALIBU: The Sycamore School, 3504 Las Flores Canyon off Pacific Coast Highway (at the corner of Dukes)
CAMPER AGES:
- Campers ages 4.5 and up, entering grades PreK-5. Campers are in mixed age groups.
- NOTE: Not every 4 year old is ready for the full day Camp Wildcraft program--which includes daily hiking, focused art making and being a part of a mixed aged group. Please call Shari at 818-489-3862 to discuss whether our program is a good fit for your little one this year.
- Middle School Junior Guide leadership program for campers entering 6-8th grade. Middle Schoolers are automatically placed in this program. See details below.
- Volunteer Guide in Training (GIT) programs for HS students entering grades 9-12. Separate application required--No fee--see details below.
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JUNIOR GUIDE MIDDLE SCHOOL
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We are enthusiastically committed to creating a pathway for our older campers to thrive and grow at Camp Wildcraft. Campers entering 6th through 8th grade are part of our Junior Guide program. In addition to participating in all Wildcraft programs, Junior Guides are mentored by our team to identify and channel their strengths and interests. Junior Guides build leadership skills by developing and leading special projects and programs for all our campers. As part of a Junior Guide cohort, they connect with other campers their age. Please schedule a time to talk with Shari if you would like more information on this program. CLICK HERE FOR MORE DETAILS ABOUT OUR JUNIOR GUIDE PROGRAM
ANNUAL JUNIOR GUIDE CAMP OUT: Sign up for our optional Camp Overnight for all our Middle School Junior Guides (in grades 6-8 in September) and campers who will be in 5th grade in September. Open to all campers who have signed up for ANY week of camp at either location.
We'll be camping out on the MUSE field supervised by Benny & Shari and our team of Guides. Expect lots of fun and adventures and great camp memories for our older campers. Open to our High School GITs as well! Sign up when you register!
Our Middle School Junior Guides!
Our High School Guide-in-Training (GIT) Program
Our Wildcraft Guide-in-Training Program (G.I.T) provides opportunities for high school students entering grades 9 through 12 to volunteer at camp for community service hours. There is an application process, but if accepted no fee to participate. Prospective GITs must apply and commit to a minimum of two full weeks of camp. GITs bring their interests and skills to Camp Wildcraft each day, help set up and lead activities with our counselors, are caring and attentive guides for our young Wildcrafters.
High School Students: Please complete application here to apply.
Parents: Please complete the parent waiver here
Question? email Shari at [email protected]
High School Students: Please complete application here to apply.
Parents: Please complete the parent waiver here
Question? email Shari at [email protected]
WHY WE HAVE MIXED AGE GROUPS....
A unique aspect of life at Camp Wildcraft is our mixed age groups. At Camp Wildcraft we’ve experienced that having groups of campers of different ages creates a more natural camp community. Older campers are reminded of how they once experienced childhood–not so many years ago–including the spontaneity and imaginative play of their younger selves. Additionally our older campers benefit from knowing they are role models for our younger campers. With our guidance, they develop empathy, patience and leadership, whether by sharing their skills on the sports field, their discoveries on the hiking trail, or when making art or telling a story, building a fort or playing a game. Our younger campers benefit by being around and watching older campers model these behaviors--and sharing their own discoveries, ideas and ways of playing! Social skills for both are boosted as younger children watch older kids navigate challenges, explore in different ways or share their ideas in our opening circles. During "choice activities" campers group by their shared interests, rather than age. We also support and encourage kids in making friends with their age-mates, and there is a natural pull in this direction, within an environment where we are one big camp community.
At Camp Wildcraft we strive to find a balance between these mixed age experiences and activities that are responsive to the developmental needs of our different aged campers. For this reason, this year we will also have some activities and staff dedicated just for our youngest campers. Additionally, our Middle School Junior Guide program enables our oldest campers to have some activities each week just for them, so they can build connections with each other, along with leadership skills this program is designed to develop.
At Camp Wildcraft we strive to find a balance between these mixed age experiences and activities that are responsive to the developmental needs of our different aged campers. For this reason, this year we will also have some activities and staff dedicated just for our youngest campers. Additionally, our Middle School Junior Guide program enables our oldest campers to have some activities each week just for them, so they can build connections with each other, along with leadership skills this program is designed to develop.
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LEADERSHIP: Camp Wildcraft was created by husband and wife team Benny Ferdman and Shari Davis in 2016. As co-founders of the arts and education organization Creative Ways, they have worked together for over 25 years creating and teaching art, designing hands-on educational programs and museum exhibitions, developing interactive curricula for schools and camps, and leading field trips exploring nature and culture. Benny Ferdman also served as the Founding Arts Director at deToledo High School in West Hills, CA. Shari served as Director of Education and led the Focus on Teen Wellness at the Jewish Federation of Greater Los Angeles. Their collaborative projects can be seen on their website www.creativeways.org
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OUR WILDCRAFT GUIDES(AKA Counselors) are caring, creative and safety-minded and participate in an intensive staff training, They guide our campers to make friends, explore the arts and discover the wild wonders of our natural world. We have a camper to staff ratio of at least 1 guide to every 8 campers. Our Guides are supervised by our Leadership Team at each location.
Our 2024 Wonderful Wildcraft Guides!
