Policies & How to Book
Not Your Typical Church Retreat
Campus by the Sea is like no other Christian Camp and Conference Center you have ever visited. Even getting here is an adventure! Large groups come directly to our pier on a privately chartered Catalina Express boat from San Pedro, for smaller groups tickets can be purchased from San Pedro, Long Beach, or Dana Point. With these departure options, we are an ideal choice for Christian church groups, other non-profit organizations, and public or private schools from all over Southern California. These ports are less than a 90 minute drive from Los Angeles, San Diego and Orange Counties. We even serve groups from the Inland Empire, Nevada and Arizona that desire our unique location: a secluded, private cove just three miles west of Avalon on wild and beautiful Santa Catalina Island CA. CBS serves as an idyllic retreat destination and rental facility for scores of Christian churches, ministries, and schools that host youth, adult, and family conferences. CBS cannot host individuals during guest group season, everyone on site must come with a guest group booked through an organization.
Our facility is ready to host your event March through beginning of November and will comfortably serve groups of 30 to 240. Enjoy three major indoor meeting venues, a huge seaside, outdoor amphitheater, dining room with ocean views, spaces for break-out sessions and 48 separate housing units (for 3-9 people each). Ready to book your group or want more information?
We know every retreat is different, so we ask that you complete the Group Inquiry Form below to get the process started. Once the form has been submitted the Guest Coordinator will let you know if the dates you are requesting are available and the current pricing. You may also review our Guest Groups FAQ page for answers to some frequently asked questions.
Guest Group Bookings Include
Other Booking Policies
Exclusive Use:
Granted to bookings of 160+ for weekday and 200+ for weekend.
Booking Minimums:
Pricing applies to groups of at least 30 total people staying for at least two nights or more. Single night reservations are not recommended, but possible on select weekdays and select weekends. A surcharge for one night bookings will apply. Call camp guest service manager for details. For groups less than 30 contact us to see if their is availability alongside another group. For groups less than 20 boat fare is regular express ticketed price.
Statement of Belief:
Groups agree to do nothing by word or act, or allow any member or speaker to do likewise, that will in any way detract from, or be contradictory to, our stated beliefs. Click here to read them.
Organized Meetings:
For all guest group camps as well as CBS program camps, guests are expected to participate in scheduled sessions and activities. Guest groups in developing their program should include regularly scheduled, instructional meetings with qualified instructor. A copy of your program schedule will be needed by the date of your conference.
Travel to Island:
In addition to San Pedro port, boat passage can also be scheduled from Long Beach, Dana Point and Newport Beach for an additional charge. Groups may elect to arrange their own transport to the island. Please call for details.
Charges for boat fare do not include parking charges at boat terminals (about $20 per night).
Individuals traveling separate from group boat reservation must arrange and pay for own ferry to Avalon and will incur a $25 one-way shuttle fee for transport to camp and may be charged charter fee if minimum has not been met.
Special group excursion to quaint tourist village of Avalon can be arranged via water taxi for an additional charge depending on the time of year and boat availability.
Orientation, Medical Release Forms, and Minor Medication distribution rules.
Your group members will also benefit from this information on our camp and what to bring: Orientation Information
All Guardians of Minor campers and Adult Guests will complete a waiver of liability and medical form within our electronic registration system Campwise. Once contracted the group leader will receive login information and more info on how your attendees to the event will sign these required forms. Paper forms will no longer be accepted except for very few exceptions, everyone must go through the Campwise system to attend the event. For Guest Groups this is just a tool to collect electronic information not individual payments, all individual camp Payments will go through the organization.
All organizations that are bringing minors to a guest group contracted event must bring at least 1 Adult that is legally qualified by the state of California to give medication to minors. This can be a qualified physician, nurse, vocational nurse, or someone who legally has the qualifications to hand out medication to minors. If your organization cannot find someone to fill this role CBS must be notified well in advance so arrangements can be made for a health supervisor to be on site.
All medications must be brought in there original container to legally be distributed to a minor. Please inform your parents of this, as any medication (even over the counter) that is not brought in the originals container cannot be distributed. Find more information on this is in the FAQ’s page.
Securing Reservation:
Dates are reserved by contract for an agreed upon guaranteed minimum and are secured by a non-refundable 10% deposit which can be paid via Campwise or by check mailed to camp.
All organizations must provide insurance of liability for there organization for contracts to be fulfilled. Details of insurance amounts are in the contract. Please read that thoroughly before contracting your organization to make sure it can be provided.
Finance and Payments:
Charges are calculated per person: a product of the number of nights booked multiplied by our nightly camper rate and added round-trip boat fare to Catalina Island. Fee for a night’s lodging includes three meals per night booked midweek. Weekend bookings come with five meals standard.
Final Payment is due upon arrival at camp either paid through Campwise or by check brought to camp. Please plan accordingly so a check can be cut early enough before camp. Guest groups will pay with one check, individuals will not pay via Campwise, all individual payments will go through the contracting organization.
General Information:
CBS cannot host individuals during guest group season, everyone on site must come with a guest group booked through an organization. Looking for a Programmed Individual Family Retreat or a Programed Youth Camp for your Youth Group? Please follow the links for more information.
For more information or to check date availability please contact: CBS Guest Services at 310-510-0015 or fill out the Group Inquiry Form, once submitted the CBS Guest Coordinator will be in touch.
Have questions, visit our Guest Groups FAQ page for answers to some frequently asked questions.
Did you lose an item recently at camp? Please fill out the lost and found form for any item you believe to be left at camp.
When you call, let us know how you discovered camp. Did you google us? Previous visitor? Recommended by a friend? Or did you find us in a directory like on https://christiancamppro.com or the Christian Camp and Conference Association website? Let us know.
Explore our website and discover why many guest groups make Campus by the Sea their annual tradition for:
Outdoor adventure groups
Elementary school outdoor education
Senior class trip
Non-profit organization getaways
Private Christian school orientation week
Women’s conferences
Church group overnighters
Youth pastor retreats
Summer residential camps
Men’s groups
Public school sleep-away camps
Christian club conference events