OVERNIGHT CAMP
A Small Camp That Dares to Dream Big
The magic of Project Ember lives at the intersection of daring creativity and inclusive collaboration. We challenge kids to take big creative risks without guaranteed success and to work together to accomplish something more significant than they could imagine doing on their own. Vulnerability is an essential piece of meaningful creative output, personal growth, and teamwork, so we work tirelessly to create an environment where all campers feel a sense of belonging. With our industry-leading staff ratios (almost 1:3 at overnight camp), your child will be known and supported as the individual they are.
At Project Ember Overnight, your kids will unplug, focus, and connect.
When was the last time your child had a chance to spend a full week focused on a single project? Kids today are growing up with unprecedented competition for their attention and few opportunities to be at rest. Study after study shows children benefit as much from uninterrupted focus as they do from actual downtime. At Project Ember, they’ll get both. Our camp structure is simple: build sessions in the morning and afternoon followed by small group meetings and relaxed community time in the evening. With a spacious routine, kids can take on complex projects right at the edge of their abilities, step away when they get stuck, and learn and recover from their mistakes. And the time we spend hiking, swimming at the river, playing games or simply taking in the sunset is all a vital part of creative renewal.
Healthy Risk Exposure and an Unwavering Commitment to Safety
“Risk perception is a muscle that needs to be developed and flexed.” Project Ember is founded on the idea that doing something extraordinary requires taking risks and that learning to manage those risks effectively is a crucial life skill. Every session of camp begins with safety. At Project Ember, this means setting our camp culture with co-created group agreements for both emotional and physical safety, followed by comprehensive tool training and practice. Throughout the program, kids will learn strategies for assessing and managing the risk of any given situation, from tool use to their first test of a rapidly built prototype.
Safety is an ongoing, ever-improving commitment at Project Ember. If you have concerns about any aspect of the program, from tool use to our hiring practices, we're here to answer your questions. Schedule a call to speak with one of our camp directors today.
Continued Program Hiatus
Project Ember is on the hunt for a new home for our overnight camp. As renters, we have moved several times since our founding and are concentrating on finding a long-term home we can grow in for years to come. We're sad to miss another summer with our camp family. We hope you have a fantastic summer filled with new adventures and creations!
Check out our list of recommendation programs here.
Last updated February 2024
Who: Middles: Rising 5th - 7th Graders
Uppers 1: Rising 8th - 9th Graders
Uppers 2: Rising 10th - 12th Graders
Where: We’re searching for a new home!
2021 Tuition: (left as a reference)
Standard Tuition: $3900 for two-week sessions, $1950 for the one-week session (total cost of programming including room and board )
Scholarships are available on a first-come, first-served basis. Directions for how to apply are detailed on our scholarship page. Alumni families, please review the process as steps may have changed since the last time you submitted an application.
If you'd like to contribute to our scholarship fund, you can make a (non-tax-deductible) donation at the end of the registration process.
Bunk Options: All campers will share a room with others in their age cohort. Bunking options include gender-specific rooms (separated by girls and boys), and a gender-inclusive room. Families may select the room their camper will feel the most comfortable in. Both non-binary and cis-gender campers who want to break down gender stereotypes are welcome to indicate their preference for our gender-inclusive room. Non-cis-gendered campers are also welcome to request placement in our gender-specific rooms. All rooms will have adult supervision.
We are committed to creating an inclusive environment, in celebration of all identities. Send an email to our Director of Community if you have any concerns for your child or questions about our gender-inclusion policy.
Overnight Logistics
Head on over to our Overnight Logistics page for a weekly overview, packing lists, travel information and everything else you need to know to prepare for camp.
our summer 2021 location
The CYO Retreat Center in Occidental, CA
The CYO Retreat Center is located amidst 216 acres of towering redwood forest and open meadow in historical western Sonoma County, just six miles from the Pacific Ocean and a short walk away from the town of Occidental. CYO's modern and expansive campus is ideal for implementing Covid-19-safe program adaptations while also providing access to traditional camp activities to enjoy during our longer programs like archery, canoeing, and more. It also proudly an ACA accredited facility, and we couldn’t be more excited to collaborate with their leadership team.
