Group Details

We run summer camp early June to mid August, and coordinate group visits in pre and postseason (late April to mid May and mid-August to early September).

• If we are fully booked for the time you seek, then complete this form or email us (matthew@campaugusta.org) to get put on the waitlist! Priority goes to previous groups if they are returning.

At Camp:

Camp typically has beds for 135 people (if some in your group are willing to stay in tents, we can accommodate about ___ more.)

• Rustic Cabins – We have 18 rustic cabins total. Each cabin holds 6 people. There are 4 groups of cabins – Pine, Manzanita, Oak, and Cedar.  Each has 5 or 4 cabins. What do the cabins look like? The kind of cabins we have are called “tent cabins.”  The top is open on both sides, the “door” to the cabin is a canvas flap and there is no electricity. Each cabin group has its own bathhouse, which has hot water, flush toilets, sinks, and private changing and shower areas. See facilities below for photos. We have recently constructed three modern enclosed cabins (making 5 cabins in each village, and one with 6). These have 7 beds, a deck and offer more privacy than our rustic cabins.
• Platform Tents – We have 10 additional ‘cabin-like’ spaces that are canvas platform tents on an elevated platform (steps leading up to the opening). These are completely enclosed (to light) though insects can still get in them. These have a 2nd layer canvas roof over them, and can accommodate 4 or 5 bunks in each.
• Ground Tents – We do have space for 4-10 ground tent spots as well (in some flat spot on each village). However, much of our terrain is sloped, making it not particularly suitable for ground tents. We have large tents that we offer for our family camps that could be used for groups, or it is also possible to bring your own
• Enclosed Spaces – In addition to the more uniform tents above, we also have some enclosed spaces available in the pre and postseason. For school groups, this is generally the housing for the group admin/staff. This includes:
  • Nurse’s Cabin – (Sleeps 3-4) With a full bathroom, queen and single mattress, electricity, and air conditioning/heat.
  • Small Yurt – (Sleeps 3-4) – an enclosed space with AC/heating and electricity
  • New Cabins – In the villages spaces, we have 3 new cabins that are enclosed with windows. They are rustic with bunkbeds and sleep 7.

Note on Mattresses: We can accommodate about 135 guests on mattresses. We have foam mattresses that are about 6 inches thick and enclosed by canvas. In our opinion, they are very comfortable for the average sleeper (especially after a full day of activity)! We recommend you bring a sheet or sleeping bag so as not to sleep directly on the mattresses.

Note on Electricity:  2 of our enclosed spaces have electricity built in. Basic electricity (extension cord for basic appliances) can be run to several other of our spaces if needed.

In Nevada City/Grass Valley (10-20 minutes from camp):

Ample hotel options can be found in close proximity to camp, if that is desired.

Wifi can be available throughout most of ‘main’ camp (the 40ish acres with the buildings), or we can disable it except in designated areas (we often do this during our family camps and certain groups to help guests connect better with the nature around them). Guests are invited to use computers in our office space if needed. If your group does elect to keep wi-fi on, we can share the password with guests.

Cell reception is not available generally, though wi-fi calling can be used if connected to Wi-fi. We do have a landline connection in the office that can be used.

We can accommodate about 45 cars maximum on-site and about 32 in a squeeze in our parking lot. This includes our staff cars, of which we usually have about 10. If more parking is needed, coordinate with us about nearby shuttling options or day parking options.

Coach buses and school buses can access our property (as can 18-wheelers that make food deliveries).

We Hire Great People: Our staff often write about 12 pages and have 4 hours of interview conversations before being hired. We hire about 10% of staff who apply. Some of the biggest things we are looking for in their application is emotional intelligence, leadership of self, and that they are fun and interesting. Guests very often give feedback that our staff make Augusta the community-feeling, life-changing experience that it is.

We Train them Well: Upon being hired, staff undergo ~60 hours of pre-camp preparation work and then 3.5 weeks of staff training. This includes

We Have Intentional Community Philosophies: Augusta values and ideals have evolved with decades of passionate staff, a strong connection to industry best practices, academically-backed methods, and a dedication to our mission. We are committed to mentorship with a humanistic and empathic approach (we teach our staff skills taught in counseling programs). Read more about What’s Special About Camp Augusta.

A lot! Check out our page about “What’s Special About Camp Augusta” or see the Groups At Augusta for some highlights you’ll find at Augusta that you won’t find anywhere else.

At Augusta, we’ve got endless possibilities of engagement, including individual, small group, large group, structured, unstructured, or any assortment. What do you want to do at Augusta? We’re happy to talk with you to make that hope a reality.

Let’s start with our 150+ Activities – Campers/Guests can choose their favorites to learn, or curated selections and groups can be designed to support the desires of the group. Our possible activity offerings include:

• High Ropes & Climbing – From our zipline canopy tour to our high ropes climbing elements (40-100 ft high, beginner to very advanced) to tree climbing and low ropes.
• Arts and Crafts – From intensive arts like blacksmithing, jewelry smithing, stained glass, and glass torch art to camp classics like candles, tie-dye, felting, and many more
• Skilled Sports – From targets (archery, riflery, ancient weapons, throwing range, etc.) to skilled challenges (mountain bikes/boards, agility course) to foam-weapon battle royale!
• Outdoor and Nature – Join us at our Outdoor Kitchen for breadmaking, lip balm, soap making, and beekeeping, or meet our resident animals and nature of Augusta
• Relaxation – Enjoy yoga, aerial yoga, meditation, or take a walk in nature!
• Music – Learn instruments from guitar and ukelele to native flute and kalimba
• Aerial & Circus Arts – Practice your skills of spinning and circus props, or take to the air in our lyra, aerial bungee, and aerial silks classes

Beyond that, we also have the potential to offer some of our unique camp programs, depending on your interests. These include:

• Special Wakeups – No two wakeups at Augusta are the same. Our summer staff wake up their campers with new and unique ways every morning. Depending on your group, we may be able to offer these for you too!
• Playstation – A whole slew more of activities, including more classic, zany, and playful activities, like Wand Making, Creek Stomping, Monster Making, Magic 8 Ball of Fate, and more
• Story Experiences – Want to get immersed in a storyline of wish, wonder, surprise? Talk with us about unique camp experiences ranging from escape rooms to adventure scenes to scary scenes in the night.
• Evening Embers – Our counselors facilitate small group intentional activities and reflections crafted with a topic relevant to the group. We do these every night in the summer, and they are a core piece of our cabin unity and ‘learning to be human’

Then, we work with your group to make a schedule that fits your needs and desires. We take into account things like:

• What are the goals of your group? (Teambuilding? Bonding? Outdoor Skills? Adrenaline? Art Focused Intensives? etc.)
• What’s the age and experience of your group?
• What other similar outings have you tried? What has worked and what hasn’t? (Let’s build off of that)
• What are your participants wanting?

Here are some example schedules from past groups that we have hosted.

• School EXAMPLE Schedule – 2 Groups – 4 days 3 nights – Pre-selected Activity Rotation Format
• School EXAMPLE Schedule – 2 days 1 night – Pre-selected Activities with Camper’s Choice Blocks
• School EXAMPLE Schedule – High School – 3 days 2 nights – Activity Signup Format
• Family Camp EXAMPLE Schedule – Open Activity Signup Format
• Adult Group Mid-week EXAMPLE Schedule – Open Activity Signup Format

Want something specific? Inquire as to what’s possible!

Yup!

If you’re seeking that, we often recommend incorporating our extensive Low Ropes course, with over 40 unique teambulding challenges. This runs with groups of 4-12, and can run 3 groups at a time. Looking for more adrenaline? Our Pole Course can take 20 participants at a time 20-80 ft into the air where they’re encouraged to work together to complete aerial challenges.

Or, naturally come together with others through shared learning in our 150+ unique clinics, play in our playstations or any of our variety of evening programs (see the drop down).

Camp Augusta has a beautiful commercial kitchen built in 2016. We employ 10 full-time culinary staff in the summer to cook for our 175 people. For most of our non-summer groups, we recommend or require our staff to be the chefs for the group, as they are trained in safe-serv practices and familiar with the equipment and processes of the kitchen. In almost all cases, utilizing our staff for cooking is cheaper, more efficient, and more desireable than catering, as we are connected with vendors that get wholesale pricing for wonderful food.

And when we say wonderful food, we mean it. Local, organic, freshly prepared, full of flavor. You will eat well, and you will love the food.

Read more about our food philosophy and kitchen here: Camp Augusta Food

Our rates vary significantly based on when you are coming, how many people you are bringing, and what you want to do. We compare our rates with other similar programs in the area, and keep them competitive. And, we believe that we offer a tremendous value in comparison to other places, considering the unique array of activities/programs that we offer.

Fill in our survey or reach out directly to office@campaugusta.org and we’ll be able to see if it fits in our calendar and your budget. 🙂

See here for some great data on the weather in our temperate, forested, recreationally wonderful area of Nevada City, California.

Augusta has a variety of options for Evening Programs, including a large variety of special in-house Evening Programs that you won’t find anywhere else. Generally, these include:

• Campfires – These can be structured with skits/songs/performances (like firespinning and aerial silks) or unstructured (smores, hangout and socialize)
• Immersive World Games – Think Capture the Flag meets LARPing meets Murder Mystery Theater. These programs are immersive worlds that include opening and closing skits, costumed characters, various objectives and puzzles, a soundtrack, and more. These can be…
  • Station Games – Like carnivals, participants travel individually or in groups and complete challenges for an overarching goal.
  • Run-around Games – Fuel your adrenaline with dynamic games of Capture the flag or other more inventive running games.
  • Collaborative Games – Have your whole group work together to try to overcome whatever forces you’re at odds against.
  • Hybrid games – A mixture of running elements and station challenges, with something for everyone.
• Showcase – Guests are encouraged to take the stage to perform their mix of talents (and non-talents), while Augusta staff host, encourage, and supplement acts! Enjoy seeing sides of each other you’ve never seen before.
• Camp Scavenger Hunt – Tried and true, work in small groups to explore what creative shenanigans is happening around camp.
• Playstation – From wacky & wonderful to active to water to chill, staff offer a variety of activities for guests to choose in the moment.
• Something else! – Groups have hosted their own trivia, movie nights (projector under the stars), socials, and more. We’ve hosted night hikes, storytelling, contra dancing, story experiences, and more. Let us know what you’re looking for.

Note: We run new programs every year for our summer camp. Special program availability depends on what we ran in the summer.

Look here for more on our Summer Evening Programs.

In 1850-1851, Nevada City was the State’s most important mining town, and Nevada County became he state’s leading gold-mining county. It still maintains a rural, historic charm, and is known increasingly for its pleasant atmosphere, beautiful nature, adventurous outdoor recreation, and more. 

See here for some compiled information about our local area.