Program Info|

Camp Quien Sabe Youth Overnight Camp

2008 Equipment Lists:
Regular Campers - 2nd grade to 11 yr. | Environmental Team - 12 yr. | Work Experience - 13 to 15 yr.

The Regular Program for younger children, ages 7 to 11 years, is a closely supervised program devoted to teaching children basic camping skills and an appreciation for the great outdoors. "Regulars" spend a week sleeping outside under the stars and learning to live in a natural setting without altering or damaging the environment. A variety of outdoor activities including swimming, hiking, boating, crafts, cookouts, games, nature lore and campfires make this an exiting and memorable week for all that attend.

The Environmental Team is a program dedicated to the young pre-teen of 12 years. "ET's" participate in regular camping activities as well as special activities aimed at developing an understanding of environmental concerns.

The Work Experience Program, for ages 13 to 15 years, combines the fun of camping with the age appropriate task of learning job related skills such as time management and teamwork. In addition to regular camp activities, "WE's" are given weekly projects to complete together. For his/her services, the camper is paid a small stipend for the week and receives a job evaluation that may be of value when seeking employment.
 

Camp Directors, Amy Reed and Susie Klinefelter; oversee full-time experienced staff members, many of whom have been associated with CQS for years. The camp has an excellent cooking staff working in a clean and fully equipped kitchen. Historically, all CQS food is homemade, complete with homemade baked goods.

Campers bring only simple clothing and warm sleeping gear. A complete equipment list will be furnished at the time of registration. Fees include transportation, food, supervision, and supplies. We have a limited number of Camperships available to economically disadvantaged children for the first five weekly sessions of Camp Quien.

For more information about Camp Quien Sabe, call Cindy Vierra, Recreation & Community Services Manager at 646.3866 or send her an email.
 

In 1953, Camp (it did not have a name at that point) moved to Camp Loma in the Santa Cruz mountains. There was plenty of water at Camp Loma, which had a huge, dark swimming pool with more big water beetles than Camp had children. In 1954, Camp moved again this time to the old Boy Scout facility, Camp Esalen, at Big Sur, which was made available when the scouts moved to the new Pico Blanco camp.

In 1954 with the move to Big Sur, Duke Thayer who was Director of Recreation for the City of Monterey gave Camp a name, Camp Quien Sabe. Thayer reasoned that regardless of where the camp program might be located, it would be the same reliable program. Quien Sabe means "who knows" (where the camp might be) in Spanish.

Camp Quien Sabe remained at Big Sur for a few years then moved in the early 1960's to a site in Palo Colorado Canyon, Camp Sweetwater. Remember the rattlesnakes? In the late 1960's, Camp Quien Sabe (by then known affectionately as CQS) moved back to Big Sur and remained there until the summer of 1975 when the County of Monterey opened the youth camping site at Toro Regional Park. CQS has been in Toro Park now for 26 years, just over half of the life of the camp.