Casti Camp Summer 2024

Grade: Girls entering grades 2-6

Hours: 8:30am-5:00 pm | Extended day 4:00 - 6:00 pm (additional fee)
Program: 2 and 4 week sessions

Casti Camp is all-day, all-girl fun! Girls who come here experience the true meaning of summer, with dedicated time and space for play, creativity, exploration, and discovery. For many new campers, this is their first camp experience, and we immediately see them develop confidence as they settle into making decisions for themselves and building new friendships. For returning campers, we notice them stand a little taller and smile a little wider the moment they arrive.  Casti Camp is a wonderful combination of cherished tradition and exciting activities, creating a world that is both relevant and inspiring for girls today. Our camp is available to rising 2nd-6th graders, and we offer a vibrant Counselor-in-Leadership-Training (CiLT) program to rising 7th-9th graders. These older mentors offer valuable and lasting lessons in leadership to our younger campers. 

Girls Rule! Our campers have a wide range of camp activities from which to choose, and we empower them to select the activities that spark their interest and encourage growth. The choices are wide and varied and are designed by our counselors to inspire creativity, risk-taking, relationship-building, and responsibility. The camp day balances independence, as each camper follows her unique schedule of activities and reflection, with time spent in small counselor-led groups to give a consistent place to start and end each day. Attending camp for two-week sessions, campers also enjoy special activities on Fridays, including camper showcases, and all-camp carnivals. 

Casti Camp is located at Castilleja School in Palo Alto, and our facilities include gymnasiums, art rooms, a swimming pool, classrooms, a stage, a field, and more! A delicious lunch and snack is provided every day. Extended Day Care is also available. 

Small Group Philosophy
Camp is a wonderful opportunity for each camper to expand their friendships. With this in mind, each camper is assigned to a small group of 12 to 15 girls led by a dedicated counselor. Camp groups are formed by grade level and consist of girls who are roughly the same age. We understand that many girls attend camp with their friends; however, we are not able to guarantee that they will be placed in the same group. Instead, we encourage friends who want to spend time together throughout the camp day to register for the same activities. As the majority of their days are spent in activities, not group time, girls will have plenty of time with old friends and still have opportunities to meet new friends. In the event that there is an extreme need for friends to spend group time together, please contact the Camp Director. 

Camp Day & Hours 
8:30-8:45      Campers arrive & meet with Counselor Group
8:45-9:00      All Camp Morning Meeting
9:05-9:45      1st activity period
9:50-10:30    2nd activity period
10:30-10:45   Snack - Camp provides
10:50-11:30    3rd activity period
11:35-12:15     All Camp Extravaganza*
12:15-1:00      Lunch - Camp provides
1:00-1:25       Silent Reading & Story Time**
1:30-2:10       4th activity period
2:15-2:55      5th activity period
2:55-3:35     Free Time***
3:40-3:55     Camp- Closing Meeting
3:55-4:00     Campers dismissed to pick-up locations
4:00-4:30     Campers depart
4:00-6:00     Extended Day Program - Snack is provided

*All Camp Extravaganza is an opportunity for all campers to gather together and engage in camp-wide activities that vary daily. Activities include relay games, small group games, and talent shows.

** Silent Reading & Story Time: Each day, campers take a break after lunch to read silently or to listen to a popular chapter book read by a counselor. Campers are encouraged to bring a book from home, and we also have a small library of books.  

***Free time: At the end of each camp day, girls can pick from a variety of supervised free-time activities. Activities may include swimming, group games, dance, crafts, or reading.

Camp Program 
Casti Camp empowers young girls to real-life decisions as they create their own daily schedules. Before camp begins, campers will submit a list of top choices for activities in the five activity periods. We try to enroll our campers in different types of activities so that their days are balanced, but we also work hard to ensure that campers are enrolled in as many of their top choices as possible.

We offer a wide range of activities - from swimming, arts, and crafts, dance, science, engineering, computers, theater, cooking, to a wide variety of sports and games. The activities are designed to generate joy, curiosity, and confidence in trying something new. The offerings change slightly from year to year and from session to session. What makes our program unique and engaging is that our counselors design the activities based on their areas of interest and expertise. Their enthusiasm and ownership for what they teach inspire the campers to engage, explore and learn new skills. 

Here is a list of just some of the activities we have offered in the past:

    Hip Historians
    Palo Alto Poets
    Creative Cardmaking
    Lanyard Madness
    Budding Artists
    Geodesic Dome Making
    Rube Goldberg Machine Making
    Mad Scientists
    Casti Chronicle
    Pool Games
    Double Dutch
    Games Galore
    Slurpin’ Smoothies
    Dance Around the World

Grade: Girls entering grades 7-9
Hours: 8:30am-5:00 pm | Extended day 4:00 - 6:00 pm (additional fee)
Program: 4 week sessions

Our Counselor-in-Leadership-Training program is for girls entering seventh through ninth grades who want to bond with girls their age while developing important their leadership skills--like listening, flexibility, problem-solving and public speaking. Please note, this leadership program runs for four weeks rather than the two-week camper program. We ask for this longer commitment because it allows our CiLTs to time to evolve and grow to reach their fullest potential as leaders and role models. At Casti Camp, we are always so proud of the growth we see in our CiLTs over the course of the summer, but even more important than that, our CiLTs end the summer proud of themselves.  

At Casti Camp we strive to create activities and experiences for young emerging women to begin to define who they are and what is important to them in a safe and supportive environment. The CiLT program is designed to be intimate in order to foster relationship building, yet big enough to be able to learn from a wide range of girls in the group. 

CiLTs attend leadership and planning sessions during one part of the day and support counselors in their classes during another part of the day. Each CiLT is assigned to a counselor and small group of campers. CiLTs help their counselors with tasks such as keeping their group together, playing games, and leading their group in activities.  

CiLTs are never asked to supervise campers without an adult present, but they are given roles that allow them to exercise their leadership skills. CiLTs come to Casti Camp with a positive, inclusive spirit and enjoy working with children.

Can I request that my daughter is placed in the same counselor group as her friend?
We strive to foster an environment where new friends are made; therefore, we do not place friends in the same group. There is time throughout the day when friends can be together, such as during snack, after they have finished lunch, reading time, and during free time. If friends want to spend more time together, they are encouraged to sign up for some activities together. Please contact the Camp Director if your daughter has a situation where being with her friend is imperative; otherwise, campers are placed in groups by grade and in a random fashion. 

Are accommodations made for those on a special diet?
Snacks and lunch are served each day at camp and on field trips. We offer a wide variety of food in order to accommodate a range of dietary needs. While we do not serve dishes with nuts, please note that our kitchen is not nut-free (and peanut butter is available to campers who would like it). You are welcome to send a snack and lunch with your daughter. You may contact the Director of Food Services  for more specific information. 

Can you accommodate my daughter if she needs to take medicine throughout the day?
Please bring your daughter’s medication on the first day of her session. We will store her medication in the camp office for her to take when needed. Please contact the Camp Director to discuss in more detail if needed. 

What should my camper bring to camp each day?
Your daughter will be assigned an unlocked locker for her stay at camp. Please do not send valuables to camp. Please label all of her possessions. Each day she should bring a book for reading time, a swimsuit and flip-flops if she plans to swim, a water bottle, and a hat for the sun. Please apply sunscreen in the morning before camp and send her with some to apply during the day. 

Will my daughter be offered enough liquids to stay hydrated through the day?
Yes, we have jugs of water and drinking fountains around camp. Please send her with a water bottle so that she may drink when she feels thirsty. 

Who do I reach out to if I have a questions regarding registration, financial aid or the camp program?
Please contact casticamp@ngskmc-eis.net if you have any questions regarding Financial Aid or Casti Camp registration.

Casti Camp for Girls entering Grades 2-6
Grade: Girls entering grades 2-6
Hours: 8:30am-5:00 pm | Extended day 4:00 - 6:00 pm (additional fee)
Program: 2 and 4 week sessions

Four-Week Session  $3,500*
Session 1 June 10 – July 5 (no camp June 19 to honor Juneteenth and July 4 to celebrate Independence Day) - $3,150 
Session 2 July 8 – August 2-  $3,500

Two-Week Session  $1,750* 
1A June 10 – June 21  (no camp June 19 to honor Juneteenth) - $1,575
1B June 24 – July 5  (no camp July 4)- $1,575
2A July 8 – July 19 - $1,750
2B July 22 – August 2 - $1,750

Counselor-in-Leadership-Training (CiLT) program
Grade: Girls entering grades 7-9
Hours: 8:30 am-5:00 pm | Extended day 4:00 - 6:00 pm (additional fee)
Program: 4 week sessions

Session 1 - $3,150 
June 10 – July 5 
(no camp June 19 to honor Juneteenth and July 4 to celebrate Independence Day) 

Session 2 -$3,500 
July 8 – August 2 

Extended Care (for both Casti Camp & CiLT Program)
Extended Care offered every day of camp from 4:00–6:00 pm
$500 two-week session
$1,000 four-week session
$25 per day

The Federal Tax ID number for Castilleja School is 94-0373222.

Fees
All camp fees must be paid online and will be due when registering for camp. Your child's spot in camp will not be reserved until fees are paid in full. We only accept online payments for Casti Camp. 

You will receive a confirmation email as soon as your payment has been received. Please print this confirmation page and receipt for your records. It will also include our Federal Tax ID number. Once you have your confirmation page your child is registered for Casti Camp. In late May you will receive additional information about classes, schedules, and other details.

*Sibling Discount Information
We offer a sibling discount of $100 off the two-week session and $200 off the four-week session. After enrolling the first camper, the sibling discount is automatically applied to each additional sibling camper enrolled. The campers must register at the same time and be in the same immediate family in order to receive the discount. Discounts cannot be retroactively applied.

Refund and Cancellation
Families withdrawing before May 1, 2024 will be charged a cancellation fee of $250 per session. After May 1st, no refunds will be issued. Camp fees are not refunded or prorated for days of camp missed.

Questions
Please contact casticamp@ngskmc-eis.net if you have any questions regarding Financial Aid or Casti Camp registration.

Casti Camp Facilities
Casti Camp is located at Castilleja School in Palo Alto, California.  Our facilities include a gymnasium, art rooms, swimming pool, classrooms, indoor dining room and a stage. A delicious freshly made lunch is provided daily, and extended care is available.

Castilleja School is beginning a multi-year modernization project beginning in June 2024. While we don’t anticipate any impact on our camp program this summer, construction preparation and staging will occur on an adjacent field on the other side of the school grounds during June-August.

Location
Casti Camp will be located at Castilleja School.  To find the campus on Google Maps, please click on our address below:
1310 Bryant Street
Palo Alto, California 94301

Parking
In response to community traffic concerns, Castilleja asks all guests visiting the school to please only make right turns in and out of Castilleja driveways and following parking attendants instructions.

Fees and Financial Aid

Casti Camp offers a limited number of partial financial aid awards to campers each year. To be considered for an award, you must complete the Financial Aid application BEFORE you register your camper. 

Our staff reviews the applications in mid-March and will inform applicants the status of their application at that time. If you qualify for a financial aid award, we’ll send you a code to use when registering for your camper. (Please know that we hold camp spots for all families who apply for financial aid.)

If you have any questions about the financial aid process or camp registration, please email casticamp@ngskmc-eis.net.

The Federal Tax ID number for Castilleja School is 94-0373222.

Each summer Castilleja hosts thirty 5th grade summer students as part of the Peninsula Bridge program.  These highly-motivated students work with teachers and Castilleja high school mentors. Students are offered engaging and enriching reading, math, computer science courses, as well as Castilleja designed, student-led elective programming. 

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