Tribal Wisdom Academy

Key Highlights

• ✓Exceptional repeat attendance, with children returning for 4-5+ years and multiple sessions per summer, indicating high satisfaction.
• ✓Strong emphasis on outdoor exploration and active, hands-on activities like building (e.g., forts), crafting, and tinkering unique creations.
• ✓Provides a completely device-free and electronics-free environment, promoting alternative skill development and engagement.
• ✓Fosters a strong sense of camaraderie and social interaction among campers, enhancing the fun.
• ✓Owners, specifically Claire, are highly responsive, helpful, and caring, readily available for parent questions and nurturing campers.
• ✓Offers a sense of adventure and mystery with a 'secret camp site' drop-off, adding to the children's excitement.
• ✓Children often keep tangible creations and 'coins' made at camp, extending the experience and memories throughout the year.

Standout Features

• ⭐Entirely device-free and electronics-free environment.
• ⭐Engaging hands-on activities including building forts, various crafts, tinkering, and a unique bartering system.
• ⭐Develops practical, outdoor-oriented skills that are 'hard to come by otherwise in our urban lives'.
• ⭐Highly responsive and caring owners (Claire mentioned by name) who are accessible to parents.
• ⭐Cultivates a strong sense of camaraderie and social fun among participants.
• ⭐Intriguing 'secret camp site' aspect adds an element of mystery and adventure.
• ⭐Convenient commute for families living in or near Los Gatos (approx. 10 min).

Perfect For

Ideal For

🍎Food Policy

• • Big Kids, Graduates, and Alumni: Pack a large lunch and two snacks. Bring 2 or 3 water bottles. Campfire BBQ available to warm up full-cooked meat (hotdogs or chicken nuggets). No nuts, no peanut butter.
• • Wild Kid or Wiz Kid: Pack a regular sack lunch and two snacks. No campfire option for warming food, but staff provide one marshmallow for cooking near the end of each week.
• • No selling food or drink nor any items from home as part of Tribal Coins rules.

🛡️Safety Policy

• • All staff are vetted with Child Safe Training, extensive reference checks, California Department of Justice LiveScan Fingerprinting, and national F.B.I. background checks.
• • All staff are trained in First-Aid and CPR, Youth Protection, tool and fire safety.
• • Parents are responsible for allowing their children to possess and play with items made at camp (waiver applies).
• • Digital devices (Apple Watches, cellular devices) must be deeply kept inside child’s backpack and NOT used during camp or in the parking lot. AirTags are permitted.
• • Children needing to contact parents can ask Directors to call directly on the camp phone.
• • Parents are required to read the NEW 2025 Student Behavior Contract with their child before camp. Separate contracts for Big Kids/Alumni/Graduates and Wild Kids.
• • Outdoor woodshop tool programs are not safe for children with known behavioral issues; staff/student ratio is not one-on-one for behaviorally challenged children.
• • Medications: Must be in a ziplock with doctor’s note (usage, child's full name) and given to TWA Parking Lot Staff (confirmed into an orange box). Note should specify if medication stays overnight/week/summer. Locked medicine chest is not refrigerated, but stays under 78 degrees.
• • Tick prevention: Parents should spray children daily at home with Picaridin or DEET repellent. Staff will lightly spray campers with non-chemical “Nantucket Brand" Organic Insect Repellent if parent didn't apply or pack repellent (as per registration waiver).
• • Weather preparedness: Dress children in long pants, solid shoes, and bring a jacket/layers all year for cold mountain days, possible rain or hail.
• • Traffic Safety: Follow one-way traffic signs. Immediately and safely leave the parking lot after drop-off/pick-up. Do not park in Hwy-17 turnout. Parents may not park and tour the camp or visit farm animals.
• • Emergency services available: Ambulance (911) to '1 Los Gatos Farms Drive, Los Gatos' (1 mile from Redwood Estates Fire Station). Redwood Estates Fire Station (21452 Madrone Drive) is 4 minutes by car for severe emergencies. Ben has an AED in his car.
• • Urgent Care: Sutter Urgent Care - Los Gatos Center (15-minute drive), 15400 Los Gatos Blvd, Los Gatos, CA 95032, open daily 8am-8pm, (408) 730-6200. Kaiser Skyport Minor Injury Clinic (non-urgent, 25-minute drive), 1721 Technology Drive, San Jose, CA 95110, M-F 8:30am-5pm (closed 12:30-1:30pm for lunch), (408) 436-6900 (call first).

📅Booking Policy

• • New families can join the Camp Announcement Email List or register directly.
• • Flexible choice of 1-week or 2-week camps.
• • Camps can begin on any Monday of your summer vacation.
• • Standard Single Week Camps are $690, available with an automatic 3-pay plan of $230 with no added fees.
• • Check payment-in-full for registration form must be postmarked within 5 days. Returned checks incur a $50 service charge.
• • Zelle payment-in-full for registration form is due within 24 hours (48 hours if transfer limits require splitting).
• • Parents receive a text from Claire approx. the Wednesday before their first camp day to confirm the camp time (9am-2:30pm or 8:30-4pm). Arriving at the wrong group time is not allowed.

🚗Parking Information

• • Location: Parking lot at 1 Los Gatos Farms Drive, Los Gatos, CA 95033.
• • Express Lane system for drop-off and pick-up.
• • Drop-off for Big Kids (ages 8-12) and Graduates: Arrive 10 minutes BEFORE scheduled 8:30am or 9am. Follow BLUE SIGNS to the blue-zone Express Drop-off.
• • Drop-off for Wild Kids (ages 5-7), Wiz Kids (ages 3-4), or mixed groups: Arrive at EXACT camp time. Follow GREEN SIGNS to the Green Zone Express Drop-off (far end of parking lot) for younger kids FIRST, then drive older kids to the Blue Zone Express Drop-off.
• • Parking Lot parking available ONLY if needing time to prepare kids or if Express Lane is too full. Kids must stay seated and safe from traffic. Then drive to Express Lane when open. Kids are not allowed to walk in the busy parking lot.
• • Late Drop-off: Inform parking lot staff. If no staff visible, stay in car and text Claire (408-898-8177) for staff assistance. Do not send children to walk alone.
• • Pick-up for older kids (ages 8-12) and Graduates: Arrive 10 minutes BEFORE scheduled 2:30pm or 4pm. Follow BLUE SIGNS to the Express Pick-up Zone. Alternative: park in the first half of the lot if extra early/late and talk to TWA staff.
• • Pick-up for Wild Kids (ages 5-7), Wiz Kids (ages 3-4), or mixed groups: Arrive at EXACT camp time. Follow GREEN SIGNS to the EXPRESS PICK-UP Green Zone (far end of parking lot) for younger kids FIRST, then drive to the BLUE ZONE for Big Kids.
• • Early Pick-up: Available only at 2:30pm. Text Claire (408-898-8177) before 10am on the requested day with child's full name.
• • Late Pick-up: Remain in car at drop-off spot and text Claire (408-898-8177). Staff will pick up child from your car.
• • No parking available before or after student drop-off or pick-up; do not linger to avoid traffic flow issues.
• • Do not park in the Hwy-17 turnout.
• • Parents may not park and tour the camp or visit farm animals.
• • When re-entering Hwy 17, stay to the far right to avoid blocking incoming driveway traffic.
• • Summit Road Overpass is 300 yards up Hwy-17 for return to Los Gatos/beyond (turn right).