CAMP WHITTIER

Welcome to Camp Whittier, located in the beautiful Santa Ynez Valley on ancestral Chumash Land that sits across the road from Lake Cachuma and adjacent to Los Padres National Forest. Surrounded by rolling hills with red and white oaks we are open year-round to groups and schools.

Our 94 acres, with rolling hills and oaks, provide an amazing site for a diversity of groups and events. Our specialty is running and developing programs that serve youth, focusing on Next Gen Standards that round out many STEAM programs, they also incorporate concepts of Social Emotional Learning that give participants a lifelong memory.

Our facilities are available for groups to come and run their own programs and can accommodate up to 200 people. However, with our new dining hall plans we will be able to accommodate 300+ participants! We have recently rebuilt aspects of our Challenge course to the highest standards of safety and fun and our staff of professional ropes specialists is available to guide your group to success.

Where Adventure Meets Learning

    • Swimming Pool

    • High and Low Ropes Challenge Course with a climbing wall and zip-line

    • Hiking Trails of varying intensities

    • Archery

    • Basketball/Tennis Court

    • Space for sports

    • Gaga Ball

    • Fire Pits

    • Indoor and outdoor meeting spaces.

    • Full Service kitchen

ELINGS SCIENCE & MATH CAMP

This camp experience is exclusively offered at Camp Whittier and is owned and operated by the United Boys & Girls Clubs of Santa Barbara County. We partner with both private and public school groups to create an interactive and educational experience where kids can follow their passions while exploring the great outdoors. Elings Science & Math Camp can even be tailored to fit your individual educational goals. Educators are invited to choose from a menu of over 20 different S.T.E.A.M. modules that correlate to Next Generation standards. Additionally, our four-day camp can be broken into a series of one-day programs to better suit your needs and schedule.

S.T.E.A.M. (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, & Math)

Science

  • Experience the principles of geology through a series of hands-on, active projects.

  • Use modeling and simulations to gain knowledge of basic astrological concepts, and discuss how humans have related to the nighttime sky for over a millenia.

  • Explore how fires start and spread, how natural systems are impacted by fire, and what can be done to manage fire. A great crash course for Californians!

  • Explore different plant communities and learn about the unique role of plant life all around planet Earth.

  • Learn about the hidden secrets of mammals by studying their tracks and signs, while gaining insight into the more visible behavior of birds.

  • Combine the exciting sport or archery with science experiments that demonstrate the physical forces at play.

Technology

  • Dive into Chumash history from the perspective of technological tool development to see how we got to the present times.

  • Perform a series of experiments involving fire, ice, and the manipulation of air pressure, demonstrating how the invisible forces drive the mechanical and biological processes of our planet. Training is concluded with the launching of miniature hot air balloons.

Engineering

  • Use an engineering design process to build Rube Goldberg machines – an invention that can perform a simple task.

  • Build your outdoor skills by learning how to use a map and compass, focusing on practical knowledge and scientific underpinnings.

  • Develop and practice the skills needed to survive the elements and dangers of the wilderness.

Arts

  • Support successful academic outcomes by delving into innovative art activities in Camp Whittier’s beautiful natural setting. STEAM art integration often results in creative inspiration for many students expanding their future career interests. The camp’s art projects support all learning styles and encourages students to think outside the box.

Math

  • Mathematics is a vital component of all comprehensive STEAM programs, helping to strengthen independent problem solving and basic life skills. Mathematicians discovered many essential mathematical rules in nature through studying light, gravity, and the movement of the planets. These analytical skills. Developed by integrative STEAM learning, will provide students with the tools to be successful in a wide variety of careers and professions.

Leadership & Community

  • Through a series of fun, physical challenges, campers explore the seemingly invisible world of social dynamics, communication, trust, leadership styles, and learning what it takes to become a more effective collaborator.

  • Take part in an adventure with a trendy twist, where groups must find all items on a list and create silly photobomb pictures to be scored by the judges later.

  • Celebrate the end of an active day with hilarious skits, songs, spooky stories, and delicious s’mores around the firepit.