Yes, camp will happen in 2024! Even though the storm damaged our campsite, we will be at an alternate, nearby location in the San Bernardino National Forest for this summer. We’re still finalizing the details, but we’ll share them when it’s confirmed!

UniCamp has been around since 1934 and we’ve faced a lot of setbacks in that time. Though this is a challenging time, we are focusing on planning for a more resilient future while still making sure our campers have an AWESOME time at camp!

Visit unicamp.org/storm for more information about the storm damage and recovery.

To volunteer with UCLA UniCamp, you must be at least 18 years old and no longer in high school by February 1, 2024.

In addition, you must be either a university/college student or former UniCamp volunteer/camper. Weekly session training meetings are held in-person at UCLA. If you aren’t a UCLA student and don’t live in West LA, you may be eligible to apply for CVP (Community Volunteer Program) that accommodates volunteers who aren’t able to make it to campus every week.

During the school year:

• 2 hours per week for session meetings (not held during 10th or finals weeks)
• (optional) 1+ hours per week for socials or session events
• 1 full weekend per quarter for all-camp events (session retreat and Camp-A-Thon)
• Varies: fundraising and other planning/preparation

During the summer:

• 2 full days for on-site orientation (at camp)
• Varies: planning with your co-counselor for your week of camp
• 1 full week for your session at camp

Don’t worry! It’s early on in the school year and we know you may still be thinking about internships, jobs, or summer school. Internships can often be flexible, especially since this is only a 1-week commitment during the summer. Let us know your tentative plans on your application and we’ll try to work around them.

Nope! We provide all the training needed, based on American Camp Association standards. Depending on the roles you select, you can also learn about lifeguarding, archery, mountain biking, belaying, and more. At camp, you will work in teams with others close by if you need help.

Yes! During training, you’ll learn how to fundraise effectively and will be given opportunities to participate in group fundraisers.

The $450 fundraising minimum is an expectation that you fundraise, and is not a participation fee.

The key to fundraising is asking. If you make the effort and receive a number of small donations but don’t hit your goal, we can often work with you.

Nope! This is a volunteer position for a single week during the summer. There will be opportunities to “float” in other sessions and to apply for a full-season paid staff position at camp if you’d like to be at camp longer than your one week. Info for those roles will be sent out to all volunteers in spring.

Although you don’t have to be at camp for the full summer, please make sure you’re available for your full week of camp!

UniCamp takes place at our campsite in the San Bernardino National Forest near Big Bear. Click here for photos and 360º views of camp.

Camp will take place at an alternate campsite in the San Bernardino National Forest in 2024. Stay tuned for more info about that site once it’s finalized!

As a volunteer, you’ll board a bus to/from camp in Westwood, so just make sure you are able to get to UCLA at the start of your session.

You’ll be sorted into one or both of these roles based on your preference and the session’s availability. Everyone will have a “co-counselor” or “co-specialist”.

Counselor: you’ll be in charge of a group of 6-10 campers for the week, eating meals, sharing a cabin, and going to activities together. You’ll be their primary supervision and your role will be to keep them safe and support their growth throughout the week.

Specialist: you’ll be in charge of an activity and will get to work with campers from all different cabins throughout the week. Specialists often join a cabin where you’ll sleep and you’ll have a chance to work with the unit’s counselors in getting to know the campers. Activities include swimming, archery, arts & crafts, climbing tower, nature/hiking, mountain biking, drama, dance, and more. Training/certifications will be provided as-needed.

About half-way through training, you’ll “pref” the role you’d prefer (including age group and activities) and everyone will be sorted.

Nope! You’ll always have a “co” — a co-counselor or a co-specialist. You’ll “pref” who you’d like to work with (along with the role you prefer) and you’ll be assigned one or more “coze” around half-way through training.

Don’t worry, plenty of volunteers will learn alongside you during training! All we ask is that you’re open to new experiences.

We sleep in open-air cabins, each with an attached toilet/shower/sink and (facilities for summer 2024 will be different from normal, but we’ll still be sleeping in cabins in the forest!) spend the majority of the day outside. You’ll get a packing list before camp, but the only special supplies you need are a sleeping bag and flashlight.

Volunteers do not get paid, but we do have paid full-summer staff roles (e.g. kitchen staff) that volunteers can apply for in the Spring. Meals during your week of camp and transportation from camp to UCLA and back are provided.

If you have any further questions, please email us at ccpds@unicamp.org, send us a message on Instagram, or come to an info session.

Apply anyway! You don’t have to commit to anything until you are offered a volunteer position after your interview. The interview process is a great way to learn more about UniCamp and meet other volunteers to help decide if this is right for you.