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Walden West
Where young minds explore nature and create lifelong memories in the heart of Saratoga.
3.2(5 reviews)
Business
$$$
Where young minds explore nature and create lifelong memories in the heart of Saratoga.
Walden West is a premier children's camp located in Saratoga, CA, offering immersive outdoor education and adventure experiences for school groups and youth. With a focus on environmental science, hiking, and team-building activities, we provide a safe and engaging environment where kids connect with nature, build friendships, and develop a love for the outdoors. Our dedicated staff and scenic trails make every visit a memorable journey, fostering curiosity and resilience in young explorers.
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Hands-on environmental education and outdoor science activities for school groups, tailored to grade levels.
Scenic day and night hikes through beautiful trails, offering views and nature exploration.
Overnight stays in rustic cabins with group leaders, fostering teamwork and camaraderie.
Interactive games and challenges designed to promote cooperation and leadership skills.
Catered meals provided in a communal dining setting, with options for dietary needs.
My child enjoyed the hikes, the old friends from other schools, and the "freedom" for the week. BEWARE, for those kiddos that have health issues I would recommend having the teachers administer any medications. I had gone through the trouble of submitting doctor notes and medical authorization but did they even read and understand the letter? Nope. They will not follow doctor's orders and so last second I asked the teacher to do so and she was willing to accept that liability. Due to this particular medication the morning diet had to be exact otherwise it would affect its efficacy. The gentleman in the kitchen was friendly and willing to help, however, I believe he passed on this instruction to the kitchen staff that did not care. I packed breakfast for every day that my child was in attendance with everything labeled. They gave her a frozen waffle and / or no fruit. The water was like toilet water. The majority of the students returned came down with the flu/cold. Beware.
Walden West holds some of my fondest memories with my school friends, and is ultimately what led me to start more hiking. The trails were beautiful, and I especially enjoyed the night hike. My only complaint were the cabins, with creaky beds and an unsanitary interior. Now, I hike and explore nature across the country, and it is probably because of the experiences here. If I had the chance to come back here, I would definitely take it!
My nature name was Tiger and it was a great experience , I went there for science camp at 5 th grade and my field instructor was jellyfish he was a super cool guy ,the night hike was my favorite part because it’s so peaceful and jellyfish brought us to a place that overlooks the entire Bay Area during the night hike .Also not to mention the food there was also great ,the cabins leaders where really nice and was never mean I was in the raccoons cabin and overall this experience at Walden west was a blast
I never want to go back here I cried every night, the vegetarian options sucked so I lost 5 pounds off starving myself. The only good part was the hikes. The water is equal to what toilet water tastes like. Almost everyone got the flu.
I just found an old camera from my 2005-06 trip to walden west when I was in 6th grade. Enjoy! #2005-06 Seven Trees Elementary school. Contact me if you went the same year I can share more pics!
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