Jean-Michel Cousteau Family Camp

If you’ve been dying to go sailing, and need to re-learn how to stargaze at night, then here’s your chance to combine a family vacation while learning valuable new skills. It will also help you decide if you aren’t accustomed to sailboats, whether you really want to invest in one in the future. Either way, at the Jean-Michel Cousteau Family Camp, you’ll be staying by their private pier at Howlands Landing, which is at Santa Catalina Island on California’s side, and 22 miles from the L.A. port. If you already have a boat, you can arrange to moor at the Harbor Department in Two Harbors, and find your fee dramatically reduced, i.e. $550.00 per person which includes extensive buffet meals and all the camp program and the recreational equipment except for mooring charges. If you’re flying in, there is shuttle information to get to San Pedro, where you will meet a boat to take you to the camp.

The camp is a coordinated program with the Ocean Futures Society and the Catalina Island Camps, to bring you an immersion in marine biology in a relaxed vacation mode for four nights and five days.

You could be looking at several thousand dollars depending on which cabin and how many people, but if that is no issue, see what you are getting: sailing, kayaking, rope climbing, garden planting, an individual family snorkeling trip to Emerald Bay, a time each day for three to five year olds to be cared for so parents can take off snorkeling or enjoy other activities, night activities and night games, camp fires and all the rest you would hope for at a camp.

The cabins are open air with canvas closures. Bathrooms are shared. This place can book up fast, so look into it quickly if it interests you. You will not be pampered in the true sense but you will have great programs and water sports, a time to spend with your family while learning outdoor activities, and enjoy rustic surroundings. Family camp runs from August 19 to 23. See more at their site catalinaislandcamps.com  And by the way, there are children’s camps here also.