How We Began

Our story began in Santa Barbara, California in 1999, where we gathered monthly in different family homes for Community Gatherings. These warm evenings were filled with potluck meals and circle discussions, while children’s laughter echoed through the houses as they played freely. In 2001, we embarked on our first group camping adventure in Big Sur, California. The private campground offered a beautiful river for swimming and an amphitheater where we staged our beloved community plays—each person choosing their character and collaboratively creating stories together. When the Basin Complex Fire affected Big Sur in 2006, we relocated to Camp Loma, which proved to be a perfect fit for our growing community.

Today, many of our adult campers who were children during those early years are now bringing their own children to camp. This generational continuity speaks to the deep sense of belonging our community fosters. Each summer offers a chance to celebrate, reconnect, and strengthen the bonds that have grown over decades.

Family Camp is more than a summer camp—it’s home. Though our in-person gathering lasts just one magical week each year, our community spans both time and distance. Our members come from across the United States and around the world, creating a rich tapestry of experiences and perspectives. Whether you’re a returning member or joining us for the first time, you’re an essential part of our story.

We are already one. But we imagine that we are not. And what we have to recover is our original unity. What we have to be is what we are.

— Thomas Merton

Photos from Big Sur (2001-2005):