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. Papa 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 outdoor structures for children and their families.

Hikes and Beaches

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

• Switzer Falls

• 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

• Three week cost: $1900

• Two-week (minimum enrollment) cost: $1460

• Weekly enrollment fee includes healthy snacks, craft materials, travel costs, and additional fees.

• Week 2 offers an overnight camping trip on Thursday. If your child attends the overnight, there is an additional $50 fee. Parents of younger children are allowed to attend the overnight at no additional fee.

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

• Parents drop off at 8:30 AM and pick up at 3:30 PM at Loma Alta Park in Altadena

• We transport in 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.

Parent Testimonials

Both of our children, Isla and Rhodes, have attended Mountainside Summer Camp in Altadena for years. Mountainside isn’t glorified babysitting—it’s a truly immersive nature experience led by two of our favorite people in the world, Geoff Ramsey-Ray and Ben Moran. It’s the kind of camp where you drop your kids off in the morning and don’t worry for a second, knowing they’re having a magical day. When you pick them up in the afternoon, they’re stretched out on the grass, happily exhausted, listening to Geoff read to them. It feels like something out of another time—no screens, nothing digital—just being outdoors with deeply trustworthy adults guiding children through a summer camp experience they’ll never forget and will want to return to year after year.

-- Kirk and Heather Ward

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 and Laura Pulido

 “Mountainside was a fantastic experience for my two kids, they learned a lot and enjoyed themselves so much! We are definitively 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 and Ed Martin