Cate Summer Outdoors FAQs

Full payment must be made prior to June 1, 2025. If registration sells out prior to June 1st, payment will be required in full to guarantee your child's spot at camp. 

FINANCIAL AID IS AVAILABLE TO THOSE THAT QUALIFY. Participants should apply online and they will receive an email with a FA application. Families will need to return the FA application along with the most recent copy of their tax return. We will announce awards in late March. 

The majority of the dorm rooms at Cate School are doubles. Participants will be placed in gender and age appropriate dorms. We do our very best to accommodate every roommate request. If you have such a request, please e-mail catesummerprograms@cate.org.

We are NO LONGER offering linen rental. To avoid packing additional items, you can ship your child's linens directly to Cate School. Please be sure to follow the mailing instructions below.

Beds are Twin Extra Long. Regular twin fitted sheets will not fit on our dorm beds.

Cate Summer Outdoors

Attn: [Your child's full name and camp week]

1960 Cate Mesa Rd.

Carpinteria, CA 93013

PLEASE NOTE: Mail may take an additional day or two to reach us at campus. This includes Overnight Shipping and Amazon. Please be sure to ship your child's linens accordingly. 

Phones, iPads, laptops, video games, cellular watches, etc. are NOT PERMITTED at Cate Summer Outdoors. There are no exceptions to this policy. We believe Camp provides participants a unique opportunity to make friends with other kids from all over the world. By eliminating electronic consumption during camp, campers are able to focus on the program and create relationships and memories that will last a lifetime! The Camp Cell Phone # will be given out to all parents should they need to contact their child. The camp cell is available for parents 24/7 in case of an emergency. 

Due to our rural location, mail can take longer than usually to arrive.  We encourage you to send letters and care packages prior to your child's check in day to make sure they are received during their camp week. 

To send mail: 
Cate Summer Outdoors

Attn: [Your child's full name and camp week]

1960 Cate Mesa Rd.

Carpinteria, CA 93013

Campers are responsible for their own laundry. There are washers and dryers available in all dorms. Counselors are available to help if necessary. Detergent is available in each dorms laundry room.

After dinner, all sleepover campers will gather for our evening activities with counselors. Each night offers something new for everyone to enjoy!

Monday - Icebreakers

Tuesday - Dodgeball, Kickball or Capture the Flag

Wednesday - Sunset Beach Trip

Thursday - Movie Night on Campus

We understand that homesickness is normal for kids, especially for young children and those new to sleepover programs. We educate and train our staff on how to manage homesickness. Homesickness is most common in the first few days of the week. During this time, our directors and head counselors monitor all campers closely. We believe in open and honest communication with parents if your child is homesick. We will call you, discuss the situation, and create an action plan.

All Cate Summer Outdoors activities are geared towards middle/early high school-aged students. Our outdoors program offers surfing, SUP, kayaking, biking, hiking, and ropes course. Of course, we encourage all participants to give each activity their best effort, but understand there are different levels of comfort and ability. Our counselors and instructors are here to help your child do their best at any activity they try. 

We recommend approximately $50 per week. This can be used for evening snacks, drinks, or souvenirs from our Cate student store, the Blue Ewe. Residential campers also have the opportunity to purchase items on Wednesday evenings during the chaperoned visit to downtown Carpinteria. In order to keep money safe, we suggest sending your child to camp with a Visa or MasterCard gift card. 

The Blue Ewe is open on Opening and Closing Days of each camp session, from 12pm – 1pm Monday through Friday, and 4pm – 8pm Tuesday and Thursday. The store carries emergency toiletries, limited items for class use, snacks, and a broad selection of Cate School clothing. The Blue Ewe gives campers the opportunity to budget and plan for their purchases. We encourage each family to talk realistically with their camper(s) about their expectations for camp store usage.

Starting this summer, Cate's brand spanking new dining hall will be managed by Flik Independent School Dining. The objectives of our food program at Cate: local and organic, reducing waste and recycling, inclusive menu to satisfy our campers coming from around the world.  Lunch and dinner comes with a choice of two hot dishes with sides, and we also have a well-stocked salad and sandwich bar with numerous toppings and condiments. Breakfast always features cold and hot cereal, egg dishes, fruit yogurt, and something from the griddle. We have fresh whole and sliced fruit at every meal, and our beverage bar is soda-free. If your child has a food allergy, please let us know so that we may alert the dining staff by e-mailing catesummerprograms@cate.org.