Business Details
50+ Years
experience
Empowering Youth Through Adventure & Inclusion
Camp Fire San Diego Camp CaHiTo has been a leader in youth development since 1910, providing safe, inclusive spaces for children to explore nature and build essential life skills. Our programs emphasize outdoor education, social-emotional growth, and community connection through age-appropriate activities like archery, hiking, STEM projects, and creative arts. We operate year-round with a focus on accessibility, offering traditional day camps, specialty camps, teen leadership programs, and resident camps on a 7.5-acre reserve in Balboa Park.Our trained staff prioritizes safety while fostering environments where children develop confidence, form friendships, and engage in hands-on learning. We uphold values of inclusivity, environmental stewardship, and youth empowerment, ensuring equitable access to transformative experiences. With a legacy spanning over a century, we continue to adapt our programming to meet modern needs while maintaining our core mission of connecting young people to nature, others, and themselves.
Services
Traditional Day Camps
Lil Stars Day Camps
Specialty Day Camps
Teen Leadership Programs
Resident Sleepaway Camps
DASH/CIT Counselor Training
Details
- Year established: 1910
Highlights and features
- We offer over 100 years of experience in youth development programming.
- Our staff provides trained, caring supervision in a safe outdoor environment.
- We prioritize inclusive programming for children ages 3 and up.
- Our diverse activities combine STEM, arts, sports, and nature exploration.
- We operate year-round camps with flexible scheduling options.
Services
Traditional Day Camps
Structured day programs for ages 3+ featuring hiking, archery, arts and crafts, and team-building games. Activities promote physical activity, creativity, and social skills in a natural setting. Counselors design age-appropriate schedules balancing structured learning with free exploration.
Lil Stars Day Camps
Half-day or full-day options for ages 3-5 introducing foundational outdoor skills through play-based learning. Activities include nature walks, simple crafts, and sensory exploration to build confidence in young children.
Specialty Day Camps
Focused programs on specific interests like STEM, art, or archery for ages 6-12. These camps combine skill development with recreational activities in a supportive environment.
Teen Leadership Programs
Two-phase program teaching leadership skills to teens through staff training and practical camp operation experience. Participants learn youth mentoring, activity planning, and teamwork.
Resident Sleepaway Camps
Multi-day camping experiences with canoeing, night hikes, and team challenges. Designed to build independence through structured activities and supervised social interactions in a natural setting.
Questions
What age groups do your camps serve?
We offer programs for children ages 3-18, including Lil Stars Camps (ages 3-5), traditional day camps, teen programs, and resident camps.
Are scholarships available for camp attendance?
Yes, we offer Campership financial aid applications to ensure accessibility for families needing assistance with program fees.
What safety measures are in place?
Our staff undergoes rigorous screening and training. We follow strict safety protocols for all activities, with medical staff available during programs.
What happens during inclement weather?
We have indoor facilities and alternative activities planned for rain or extreme heat, ensuring camper safety and engagement.
Can parents visit camp facilities?
We host orientation sessions before camp starts and welcome parent volunteers. Contact our office to schedule visits.
What should campers bring daily?
Campers need sunscreen, water bottles, appropriate clothing, and any required gear listed in our pre-camp communications.
Reviews (6)
Josh B.
Aug 13, 2021
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My Kids love this camp. The staff is so helpful and friendly. We love they come home exhausted and in need of a long bath to get the dirt off of them. As the staff has animal nicknames I'd like to give a special shout out to "Rattlesnake". He does an amazing job knowing the kids and being a positive influence.
J. L.
Jun 19, 2021
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When I picked my son up from Camp Cahito today, he was having a good conversation with the director Newt who had personally walked him out. My son said he had an "amazing" three days at camp. Despite the Covid challenges, he had a great time as he did when he attended Camp Cahito years ago. Every staff member I encountered was very professional, and it appears the director runs a tight ship. Would definitely recommend.
Gena G.
Dec 06, 2019
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I'm following up on my last review. Another 5 Stars for this camp! My son loves it here and can't wait to go back in January. The staff, location and security are top notch. Kids have a blast here. I can't say enough good things about camp CaHito!
E. F.
Dec 02, 2019
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My sons (ages 5 and 7) spent their entire summer at Cahito. They came home dirty and exhausted every day. I wouldn't trade this camp experience for any other in San Diego. Plus, it's in the middle of Balboa Park! The staff are helpful and kind. Go Cahito!
Mary D.
Aug 07, 2019
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I would have rated four stars for the overall experience, yet I needed to ding two stars because of the customer service. Details as follows:
Overall experience ( 4 stars): My son has attended 3-4 different camps with Camp Cahito. We have a membership with the YMCA and have chosen to return to this camp because of a few things: availability, ease of scheduling, fun/quality of program. I'll specify that the camp is a very fun experience - not academically focused which is fine for our needs. My son comes home dirty and happy. The employees I've interacted with have been very nice and
Overall experience ( 4 stars): My son has attended 3-4 different camps with Camp Cahito. We have a membership with the YMCA and have chosen to return to this camp because of a few things: availability, ease of scheduling, fun/quality of program. I'll specify that the camp is a very fun experience - not academically focused which is fine for our needs. My son comes home dirty and happy. The employees I've interacted with have been very nice and
Mary Dorsey
Jul 30, 2019
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The experience my son has had at Camp Cahito has been very good. So far he's attended 3-4 different sessions and he's loved all of them. They're outside all day and get access to the snack shack (pay-as-you-go, sugary foods). I don't mind this arrangement but some might. My summary:
Good (4 stars): Nice program, nice people, happy kid, reasonable prices, and availability /flexibility of time.
Not-so-good: cancellation policy is really strict. I cancelled two months in advance, within 24 hours of booking. They made an exception and refunded part of the tuition - usually they take the whole thing
Good (4 stars): Nice program, nice people, happy kid, reasonable prices, and availability /flexibility of time.
Not-so-good: cancellation policy is really strict. I cancelled two months in advance, within 24 hours of booking. They made an exception and refunded part of the tuition - usually they take the whole thing
