Activity Areas
We have many areas that offer specialized activities.*
*some activities are seasonal
|
|
Archery
The archery range has eight shooting stations and equipment appropriately sized for children through adults. Our staff will take you through archery safety and procedure rules, demonstrate shooting technique and give you plenty of opportunity to practice your skills. Safety on the range is our number one concern.
Arts & Crafts
Arts & Crafts programs are available for Traditional Summer Camp, Mini Camp, Day Camp and Family Camp. Projects may include: lanyards, friendship bracelets, fuse beads, painting, drawing, tie dye, candle dipping and more. We keep a wide variety of supplies on hand and projects do change out occasionally.
Basketball
Camp Jones Gulch features one blacktop surfaced, full-size basketball court. The court is available for all users, and scheduled time may be required for user groups because this is a shared-use facility. The court was also designed for roller hockey, so bring your skates and sticks!
Campfire
Each of our four cabin villages offers a unique campfire area. Some have a stage with overhead lighting and others have a campfire circle design for a closer atmosphere. Upon request, we will stock fire wood, and we ask that users completely extinguish their fire with the hoses provided at the end of your campfire program.
Canoeing
Our pond is nestled in a beautiful mountain valley and is just big enough for you to splash around in the canoes and sit-on-top kayaks. All participants must wear personal floatation devices (PFDs), which we provide. Participants must pass our deep-water swim test in the pool before using the kayaks, subject to pool availability. Boating activities are available seasonally.
The pond is also a great hike destination and place for reflection or pond study. Get out an explore camp!
Carpet ball
Carpetball is the latest sensation to reach the Gulch. Its appearance resembles a shuffleboard table, but this all-ages games uses billiards balls. Two players face off from opposite ends of the table and attempt to knock their opponent's balls off before their own ball arrangement ends up in the goal.
Games are fast and fun, perfect for tournaments.
Climbing Tower
Choose your challenge on our 42 foot tall climbing tower. We have five "routes" designed to range from relatively easy to "Mission Impossible"! Participants can climb as high as they feel comfortable and our trained staff will encourage them and work to help them find the best way up. The view from the top isn't bad either.
Disk Golf
Our 9-hole disc golf course was installed in 2009 and was designed to entertain players of any skill level. Disc are provided during resident camp programs and available for rent by user group leaders...or just bring your own!
Ga-Ga
Ga-Ga Ball is an intense, low-impact dodgeball game played in our octogon court. All you need is a playground ball (provided) and a bunch of friends. It's every person for themselves and a ton of group fun.
Garden
Built and maintained most of the year by the San Mateo County Outdoor Education Naturalists, the organic Sustainable Living Garden is home to seasonal crops, native plants, chickens, a greenhouse and a strawbale building. The garden is a great environment for relaxation, learning or getting dirty.
Grassy Ball Field
This ball field is located between the climbing tower and North Tolowa village. The backstop allows for great games of softball, while the large outfield makes it easy to play soccer, football or ultimate frisbee.
Hiking Trails
The Camp Jones Gulch property is laced with terrific hiking trails and connected to three local parks for longer excursions. Featured staff led hike destinations include the Valley of the Giants, Buckeye Grove and Pond. All trails are available to registered users anytime during their stay.
Horses*
*available Memorial Day to Labor Day
Our horses return to their summer home at the Gulch in May to prepare for a busy season. All rides are led by our experienced team of wranglers on horses that know our trails well.
Horses are available to Family Camp participants on a first-come first-served reservation basis, Resident Camp Pioneers and Explorers with individual choice times for Questors, Horse Camp participants at the main feature of the program and Group Users by reservation through the group leader.
Leadership Initiatives Trail
Near main camp, we have our leadership initiatives trail, a low ropes course perfect for teambuilding with groups of 8 - 50+. These activities are led by our staff to maintain a safe experience and are available by reservation.
Meadow
The Zip Line Meadow is filled with sun in the middle of the Redwood forest. Here you can enjoy frisbee, lawn games, teambuilding, breakout sessions or just lay out and read.
Music Shell
The Music Shell is a common use facility that groups can request for their stay. It is commonly used for bands (large and small), tai chi, yoga, arts & crafts, talent shows and rainy day space.
Picnic Area
Many of our guests around the summer season will enjoy a bar-b-que in our unique picnic area. The picnic area is nestled among groves of redwood and buckeye trees and is located very near the swimming pool. The picnic area also hosts a campfire with stage and half-circle seating.
Ping Pong
Play Ping Pong on the Dining Hall Deck, right next to Carpetball. Ping Pong Balls are available in a dispenser for 50¢.
Ropes Course
Ropes Course and Teambuilding programs are available for youth and adult groups, non-profit and corporate groups and summer campers (depending on program). The course is located in a pristine 10 acre Redwood and Douglas-Fir forest. Programming starts on the ground with group initiatives and low elements and escalates to high elements as tall as 75 feet.
Swimming Pool*
*available Memorial Day to Labor Day
On a hot summer afternoon, what is better than a splash in the pool. Groups large and small can use our pool, which is divided into shallow and deep sections. A swim test is required for all youth participants who wish to swim in the deep end.
Tetherball
Wasiata Ball Field
The Wasiata Ball Field is available to use by groups staying in Wasiata village. This field has a backstop for softball or kickball and the whole field surface is grass, so all sorts of games will work well for groups of all sizes.
Zipline
Fly down our 200 foot Zip Line, one of camp's most popular activities. Our staff will attach participants to the wire through their harness and send them on their way past a cheering crowd of friends waiting at the bottom. The Zip Line area also features a great meadow for games while waiting for your turn.
