Teen Retreat
A one-of-a-kind experience to bring you closer to what gets you EXCITED about living, with tools to help you navigate life’s challenges and friends who want you to succeed.
What can you do on a teen retreat?
Connect With Yourself
Learn more about what makes you tick and discover how to live life on your terms.
Take A Break
Guidance from our amazing mentors to recover and recharge—whenever you need to.
Make Best Friends
An opportunity to have exciting new adventures and hang out with people just like you.
Explore Fun Workshops
Join in on special activities to make music, create art, talk about teen issues, and more.
Become The Person You Want To Be
MTS retreats help teens and young adults reduce stress and cope with school, life, and social demands while taking a break from outside pressures.
They’re about reconnecting with your own natural confidence and ease—your inner spark.
We use curiosity to help you understand yourself, your skills, and your thoughts and emotions so you can handle ANY challenge, for life.
Who Is This Camp For?
Our camp is designed for teens aged 12 to 17 who are curious, creative, and eager to explore the depths of their emotions while having a blast! Whether you are looking to make new friends, learn more about handling your feelings, or simply enjoy a summer filled with fun and adventure, our camp provides a safe and supportive environment for you to thrive.
Our program emphasizes emotional literacy, fostering self-awareness, empathy, and resilience through engaging activities and thoughtful guidance. Parents seeking a nurturing place that values personal growth as much as play will find our camp to be the perfect summer solution.
Join us for a summer of meaningful connections and joyful memories—where teens don’t just grow, they flourish!
This Is Not Your Average Summer Camp
Welcome to a summer experience where fun meets emotional growth, and every day is an adventure in self-discovery! At our camp, we believe in doing things a bit differently. We’re not just about campfires and talent shows—though we have plenty of those—we’re about nurturing the heart and expanding the mind.
Interactive and Engaging
Our activities are designed to be hands-on and interactive, ensuring that every child is engaged and involved. From art projects that explore feelings to team games that build empathy, our campers learn crucial emotional skills through play and collaboration.
Expert Guidance
Our staff are not just camp counselors; they include mentors trained in emotional literacy and child development. They provide personalized support to each camper, helping them navigate their emotions and relationships effectively.
A Safe Space to Grow
We create an environment where it’s safe to express feelings and take risks. Here, every child is encouraged to be their authentic self, which fosters growth, confidence, and resilience.
Endless Fun and Freedom
While emotional learning is at our core, we never forget the joy of summer camp. Every day brings new opportunities to laugh, play, and explore the great outdoors.
This isn’t just any summer camp—it’s a place where children learn, play, and grow into their best selves. Join us to see how we make every summer unforgettable!
Our Camp Location
YMCA Camp in Wrightwood, California
Immerse yourself in the natural splendor of YMCA Camp, nestled in the scenic heart of Wrightwood. Our camp offers a serene, breathtaking setting, surrounded by towering pines and expansive mountain views.
Explore and Adventure – Whether hiking through verdant trails, rock climbing, shooting arrows into the treeline, our camp provides endless opportunities for outdoor exploration and exciting adventures.
Rich Community and Traditions – Beyond the beauty of our surroundings, our camp is a vibrant community rich in tradition. Here, campfires, storytelling, and group activities foster friendships and create cherished memories.
How To Get to Our Camp
Embark on an Adventure to Our Mountain Retreat!
Nestled high in the serene embrace of the mountains, our camp promises an unforgettable experience surrounded by nature’s beauty. To ensure your journey is as smooth as possible, please follow these detailed directions to reach our mountain retreat.
As you approach the camp, you’ll see a sign for “Motivating the Teen Spirit- Teen Retreat”
The road will start to incline. Drive carefully and be prepared for winding turns and steep grades.
Follow the signs for approximately 45 minutes up the mountain. The road is well-maintained, but please drive cautiously and watch for wildlife.
Important Tips:
- Vehicle Preparation: Ensure your vehicle is in good condition for mountain driving. Check your brakes, tires, and fuel level before starting the ascent.
- Weather Conditions: Mountain weather can change rapidly. Check the weather forecast before your trip and be prepared for varying conditions.
- Drive Safely: Take your time driving up the mountain. The road can be narrow and winding, so maintain a safe speed and stay alert.
Contact Us:
If you have any questions or need assistance during your journey, please do not hesitate to contact our office. We are here to help and ensure you arrive safely.
Join Us In 2024
Frequently Asked Questions
21280 Big Pines Hwy, Wrightwood, CA 92397
Check-in is on Monday, July 29th at 3pm. Check-out is Friday, August 2nd by 2pm- 3pm.
**must be picked up by 3pm due to camp rules**
We suggest getting to graduation at 12pm PST for a tour of the camp and light refreshments and appetizers. Graduation will begin at 1pm PST.
Ontario/San Bernardino (ONT) Airport which is 20.9 miles away. Other nearby airports include Burbank (BUR) (42.7 miles), Long Beach (LGB) (47.8 miles), Santa Ana (SNA) (49.1 miles) and Los Angeles (LAX) (53.2 miles).
We will be providing a detailed policy in the weeks before retreat – which will include some combination of testing before and during retreat, and masking while indoors. Policy will be based on local COVID numbers and whatever the latest variant is throwing our way. Please review our COVID-19 Policy before applying.
The daily retreat schedule includes periods of guided sitting and walking meditation, mindful movement such as yoga, small group activities, sports activities such as archery and swimming, workshops and free time for socializing or resting. We move into and out of periods of silence throughout the day. You should be prepared to attend all of the activities each day. We also serve three tasty meals a day and a late night snack to keep you going.
The age range for teen retreats is 12–17.
There is no “typical” MTS participant. Our participants are a diverse group in many ways. Some are not religious, others are Buddhists, while others may identify Christian or Jewish or Muslim. Some are musicians, others are artists and theater fans, some are athletes, others are outdoorsy types. About 1 in 3 of our participants identify as LGBTQIA. About 1 in 4 of our participants identifies as being a person of color, biracial, or multiracial. The thing tying all of our participants together is that they are all humans looking to de-stress, connect more with themselves, and create community with like-minded peers.
You can plan on about 3-5 hours of silent meditation spread throughout each day (2-3 hours in the morning, and 2-3 hours in the afternoon/evening). Don’t worry though, you won’t be expected to meditate for two hours straight! Each meditation session is about 20-30 minutes. The meditation time includes a mix of sitting meditation, walking meditation, and other mindful movement. Some form of mindful movement, such as yoga, is offered on a daily basis, usually for about an hour at a time. If you are excited to practice more meditation or more yoga there are often workshops during the week that allow you to deepen your practice.
This is a really common concern! A lot of people say, “I think too much. There’s no way I can still my mind. Meditation might work for other people but it’s not for me.” If you think this you are not alone! The objective of meditation is not to “space out” or clear our minds until they are completely of thoughts. With practice, you may find that when you are meditating your thoughts and emotions are still present but you won’t be so consumed by them. Meditation and mindfulness are about practicing awareness and acceptance towards ourselves, our thoughts, and strong emotions – not making them go away!
While our retreat schedule is fairly structured, there is some free time built in. There is usually about an hour of free time following each meal. If you don’t have a mindful clean-up job scheduled during that time you are welcome to exercise, go for a hike, etc. There will be some guidelines around going for hikes and runs depending on the specific retreat location but we are usually able to accommodate these kinds of needs.
Yes, provided they meet the age requirements of the retreat, friends, siblings, cousins, etc. are welcome to come on retreat together. There will be lots of time to talk, connect, and hang out with each other – during meals, free time, workshops, etc. Please be prepared, however, as friends or siblings may be assigned to different dorm rooms and different small groups. We encourage all participants to “stretch outside their comfort zones” by interacting with new people and not just hanging out with a friend or sibling for the whole retreat.
Once you purchase a ticket to camp, you will be put into out email list and will receive information as the date to the camp gets nearer.