Mountainside Summer Camp

June 16 to July 11, 2025, serving children ages 7 - 12

  • Our 15th summer of fun and adventure for youth ages 7 to 12

  • Hiking, swimming, an overnight camping trip, field games, crafts, storytelling, campfire music, and beach days.

  • Led by experienced teachers Geoff Ramsey-Ray and Ben Moran with 30 years between us raising children, teaching, and wilderness education.

  • 3 camp counselors will be joining us, all of them trained in wilderness education, first aid certified, fine crafts, and childcare.

  • Low child to teacher ratio

  • Wholesome afternoon snacks provided, children bring their own lunch and morning snack

  • Nonviolent conflict resolution practiced with the children

  • Opportunities for wilderness creativity, building resilience, rest and relaxation, building lasting friendships

Who We Are:

Ben and Geoff have been friends in fatherhood, teaching, and love of wilderness for two decades. Ben, father of seven, is a long-time teacher at the Sequoyah School. He has helped lead Sequoyah’s wilderness education, camping, field games, and PE programs for decades, introducing hundreds of young people to hiking, camping, and land stewardship. Geoff, father of three, is a cofounder and teacher at Village Playgarden, Altadena’s forest and farm-based Waldorf early childhood school located on 2 acres of land at the base of the San Gabriel foothills where he spends his days creating community with children and their parents, taking care of farm animals, growing food, hiking in the foothills, and building things.

Hikes and Beaches

We hike and beach at these locations depending on current conditions:

  • Switzer Falls

  • JPL’s Hahamonga creek trail

  • Millard Canyon southern trail

  • Hansen Dam floodplain

  • Eaton Canyon Falls

  • Monrovia Canyon

  • Chantry Flats

  • Leo Carrillo Beach and Tide Pools

  • Angeles National Forest: Manzanita campground, Buckhorn campground

  • Malibu Canyon  

  • Malibu beaches: El Pescador, El Matador, Zuma

Fees

  • Four week cost: $2250 includes healthy snacks, craft materials, travel costs and fees.

  • Three week cost: $1700 includes healthy snacks, craft materials, travel costs, and fees.

  • Two-week (minimum enrollment) cost: $1360 includes healthy snacks, craft materials, travel costs, and fees.

  • Week 2 will have overnight camping on Thursday. If your child attends the overnight, there is an additional $50 fee.

  • Deposit: $750 due now to hold your spot. Deposit is non-refundable after April 15.

  • Priority will be given to those who enroll for three or four weeks.

  • Parents drop off at 8:30 AM and pick up at 3:30 PM from a local park (to be determined) 

  • We transport in 15-passanger vans

How to Enroll

To reserve a spot for your child fill out the enrollment form at the top of the page and email it to: admin@villageplaygarden.org

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  • “Our two children have been in Mountainside with Geoff and Ben for the past three years and they always come away with expanded confidence, knowledge of the natural world, and a deep appreciation for outdoor fun. What sets Mountainside Summer Camp apart is the quality of its instructors, both of whom have extensive experience in safely leading children in outdoor settings, and in creating group cohesiveness and teaching about the natural world.”

    Mike Murashige

  • “Mountainside was a fantastic experience for my two kids, they learned a lot and enjoyed themselves so much! We are definitely coming back this year.”

    Birla Hood

  • “Our son Finley could hardly wait until he was 7 and able to join in the fun of summer camp with Geoff and Ben. He had the time of his life and he will return this year! Challenging hikes, physical activities and games, group singing and crafts, as well as healthy, delicious snacks. The camp-out at the end of two weeks was the highlight, it was magical. I would recommend this camp for any child who loves to be active and loves to be a part of nature.”

    André Martin

Summer Camp Fees

Hours of care: 8:30 am - 3:30 pm.

Summer 2024

*Enrollment priority will be given to three- and four-week enrollment

  • $775 (including food, transportation, and fees)

    • $1360(including food, transportation, and fees)

    • $50 fee for overnight camp

  • $1700 (including food, transportation, and fees)

    • $2250 (including food, transportation, and fees)

    • $50 fee for overnight camp