right now a beautiful marble sculpture is being created at Camp Ocean Pines. It is to be auctioned next year 2013 when it is finished first to bring attention to the world of the art being created at Camp Ocean Pines and 2nd to finance more art and cultural events. there is also a permanent sculpture on the grounds featuring life from the ocean. A lot of focus at the camp is on the native culture especially when children are present. there is a lot of stress and focus at the camp to make it the best it can be.
Camp Ocean Pines, having hosted our California Sculptors Symposium for 10 years, is the best place I can think of for our event. The high level of staff service and facility accommodations can't be beat. The location, the delicious food and the friendly staff allows my group to always have a great time. The price is right, the view is picture perfect, the food is always terrific, and the tranquility awesome. The Executive Director and the Operations Manager are well organized and serve us in the most friendly and professional manner. All these amenities allow my group of sculptors to relax and create art in the best of environments.
Chris Cameron is an outstanding camp professional, the kind of caring, giving, and honest individual that we all hope our children have an opportunity to be around, learn from, and emulate. As a result of having Chris and his family leading the effort Camp Ocean Pines is an outstanding summer program.
If you had to describe Camp Ocean Pines in 3 words it would be "Art and Nature." Sculptors come each year to create amazing one-of-a-kind stone, wood, metal, and clay pieces. The San Luis Obispo Symphony uses Camp Ocean Pines to inspire and develop the next generation in their annual week long "Youth Symphony Strings" camp, along with several weekend workshops throughout the year. Quilters, weavers, spinners, photographers, mosaic and ceramic artists, Native American flute players, singer/songwriters all call Camp Ocean Pines "home!" Summer campers explore dichroic glass, and school year classes observe patterns in nature and create their own "Andy Goldsworthy" masterpieces from natural materials. This is a beautiful place dripping with creativity from the mosaic benches, to the wall murals, to the Hobbit like strawbale cabins walls.
I fell in love with this camp in the one week when I came here for summer camp, and have come back every year since then! (The last five summers.) Since my first summer here I have experienced: the camp-outs in Big Sur, Yosemite, and Morro Bay, their typical camp experience at the beautiful camp in Cambria, and their teen backpacking trips to both Yosemite and King's Canyon. This summer camp has been by far the most beneficial experiences of my childhood. Couldn't be a greater group of people that just want you to have a great camp experience. i look forward to my next trip here this summer!
Review from Guidestar
When I first became interested in COP it was just thinking about building new cabins, restoring the Cal Poly cabin, having concerts in the dirt to raise money and struggling with everything from Board members, financing, bathrooms, water, sewer and figuring out our goals. Every board member was very dedicated to the camp and little by little miracles happened. Our most powerful miracle was Chris Cameron. His willingness to just keep asking and moving forward in little steps was fantastic. Wow, what a difference a decade makes!!