Camp Cruz was originally created in 2010 to give underserved youth and families from Santa Cruz County opportunities to connect with nature. Camp Cruz is the base camp for Growing Up Wild, a small nonprofit outdoor education program serving local underserved youth. We have provided outdoor education programs consistently since 2010. If you wish to learn more about our nonprofit outdoor education program, please go to www.growingupwild.org.
It took years to build Camp Cruz into the glampground that it is today. Without significant capital, we relied on bartering and volunteerism as much as possible. One of the first things we built was a sweat lodge that volunteers could enjoy at the end of work days. Camp Cruz withstood many tests. For example, in 2008 we survived a close encounter with a wildfire which sadly, burnt several neighboring homes. Interestingly enough, firefighters said that all the tree work and clearing that was done to build Camp Cruz had undoubtedly saved it from burning in the wildfire.
We made Camp Cruz available for rental in 2013. It has been a fun way to share our space with people while raising funds to support our youth program. What makes Camp Cruz so special and unique for guests is that we only take one reservation at a time no matter how small a group. Guests are pleasantly surprised to find that they get the whole camp to themselves.
It took years to build Camp Cruz into the glampground that it is today. Without significant capital, we relied on bartering and volunteerism as much as possible. One of the first things we built was a sweat lodge that volunteers could enjoy at the end of work days. Camp Cruz withstood many tests. For example, in 2008 we survived a close encounter with a wildfire which sadly, burnt several neighboring homes. Interestingly enough, firefighters said that all the tree work and clearing that was done to build Camp Cruz had undoubtedly saved it from burning in the wildfire.
We made Camp Cruz available for rental in 2013. It has been a fun way to share our space with people while raising funds to support our youth program. What makes Camp Cruz so special and unique for guests is that we only take one reservation at a time no matter how small a group. Guests are pleasantly surprised to find that they get the whole camp to themselves.
