Guest Group Retreats

Not Your Typical Retreat!

Campus by the Sea is a one-of-a-kind Christian Camp. Our oceanfront location, delicious meals, and unique recreation offerings please all ages. Your adventure begins as you enjoy a one-hour scenic ferry ride to our camp, allowing an expectant transition from the mainland to our private cove. In camp you will experience God’s creation in amazing new ways, including world-class snorkeling, tide pools, hiking, and worshiping at our seaside amphitheater. And we have many additional land and ocean recreation offerings. Whether you are a church, Christian school, or campus ministry group, our private cove and idyllic setting will help foster faith, fellowship, and fun like your group has never experienced before!

Our facility is ready to host your group of 30-200/+ March through early June, and August through November. We offer three major indoor meeting venues, a huge seaside amphitheater, a dining veranda with ocean views, spaces for break-out sessions and 47 separate housing units (for 3-9 people each). Ready to book your group or want more information?

We know every retreat is different, so please complete the Group Inquiry Form below to start the process. Once the form has been submitted, our Guest Services Coordinator will let you know if the requested dates are available and the current pricing. You may also review our Guest Groups FAQ page for answers to some frequently asked questions.

Guest Group Interest Form

Guest Group FAQ

Guest Group Bookings Include

Lodging

Our accommodations are modest, yet comfortable. Our cabins and tent cabins do not have electricity or plumbing, but our centrally located bathhouse has hot showers, flush toilets, and electrical outlets. All guest units have bunk beds with single-sized foam mattresses, and each unit has one double-sized memory foam mattress. You and your groups bring your own sleeping bags, pillows, and flashlights.
Meals

Meals are served buffet-style in a modern, spacious dining hall then eating on the expansive, covered veranda with incredible views of the ocean. Our Cooks prepare a nutritious meal for everyone in your group. We also cater to special dietary restrictions and allergies to the best of our ability.
Meeting

Meeting spaces are included with group rental facilities and feature multi-channel sound systems and video projection. Our largest meeting space, the Main Deck, seats up to 240 people and there are extra rooms for breakout sessions. All guests are expected to participate in scheduled sessions and activities. Guest groups developing their own 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.
Round Trip Boat Fare

Groups 20-99: Have under 100 people, let CBS book your boat passage to and from the island. Price will include passenger ferry to Avalon from the Catalina Express terminals in San Pedro plus water taxi from Avalon out to Campus by the Sea. Direct to camp boat charter options available for groups 55-99 in size. Travel from Long Beach, Dana Point & Newport Beach can be arranged for extra charge. Ask Guest Service Manager for details.
Groups 100-240: Groups that contract a minimum of 100 people get $44 off boat charge plus get exclusive charter of a Catalina Express boat that departs San Pedro and delivers group directly to the pier at CBS, no transfer to water taxi required.
Recreation

Recreation opportunities abound to all rental groups, from our self-serve options like volleyball and basketball to our supervised, lifeguarded waterfront activities like kayaking and snorkeling (Afternoons on your full days in camp). Activities are included in our per person rates.

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Group Interest Form

Other Booking Policies

Exclusive Use:

Granted to bookings of 180+ 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 $22-$25 per night).
Individuals traveling separate from group boat reservation must arrange and pay for own ferry to Avalon and will incur a $30 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 20% 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.
Guaranteed Minimum Payment is due four weeks before event start date, either paid through Campwise or by check mailed to camp. Final payment for any remaining balance will be due upon arrival. 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 (Lost and found items are only kept for 2 weeks).