The Camp Recovery Center

This place is a $money$ making scheme. They provide ZERO aftercare planning support unless you agree to their own program. Conveniently they wait until the last minute to even begin discussing a post residential plan. The second you mention the name of a «competing» facility in the area you will receive NO calls or emails back.
Plan B is always to «extend care at The Camp», no kidding — more time = more $money$. My family member attended this program for 30 days and never even saw a licensed psychiatrist. You would think that a person continuing to struggle with addiction would benefit from at least an initial screening to determine whether or not there were a deeper rooted mental illness? Nope! Too much paperwork for The Camp! The only type of medical doctor they saw was a general practitioner.
Family weekends are a joke, it’s basically AA/​Al-​Anon 101, great if you are new to addiction, but if you are at the point of residential treatment you probably aren’t.
Do yourself a favor and listen to the reviews, do some basic research! Get treatment from professionals! Alcoholism and Addiction are A DISEASE and deserve the same medical care as any other life threatening diseases, not just a summer camp in the mountains!

Dude, people’s reviews literally crack me up.
So here’s the deal — it’s rehab. There are things that naturally come along with the whole thing. There is likely a decent chance that at some point in a rehab facility drugs will be around. You know, it’s kind of in the realms of happenings when there are a bunch of drug addicts around. The Camp tries to make sure that doesn’t happen — a locked campus, they search bags before you enter, they do random drug tests throughout your stay. But it still happens, because addicts have a knack for manipulation and learning how to work their way around rules (naturally). The camp is pretty free in terms of open space and not being locked inside, but that itself offers huge benefits.
Also on the note of the whole rehab thing … people relapse. It’s in the nature of the game. With AA, with twelve steps, with whatever — people relapse. The only way any of these programs work is, ah ha … if YOU work them. So if you’re whoever, or you, are doing drugs again I don’t know how much you can place blame on a program. The biggest factor in any addiction program is your personal motivation to stay sober.
Keep in mind too, that this experience is so very determined on who people end up there with. It’s a constantly changing dynamic of people that is completely overwhelming, that’s a challenge for sure.
Anyways, onward!
The positives of The Camp:
–Yoga classes every Tuesday and Thursday that offer a really good work-​out (mental and physical), that could be could for any range of skill. The teacher has been one of my favorites, even from studios.
–Softball/​Volleyball group games. I haven’t played them since elementary school, but bringing back that playground mentality in a bunch of recently sober adults is absolutely hilarious. It’s almost worth it just to see how into a game of kickball a bunch of grown men can get.
–Tim’s groups, weekly. That man has a way with words and can really make you think.
–The smoke pit, because even if just talking nonsense you will remember that place. And it’s one of the few places in the world a bunch of sober people say whatever they want (cuss, yell, complain about the world).
–HIKING. It’s in this gorgeous Santa Cruz mountains, so you can venture up the trail to a view of the valley leading over to the ocean.
–Friday nights you get to eat pizza and watch a movie.
The negatives of The Camp:
–You’re stuck in one place for 30 days.
–You can’t really drink, which sucks.
–Not everyone is there to recover. It’s by parent’s, force, court order, whatever.
–Sometimes sitting through six/​seven groups a day is ruff. And sometimes they get way out of hand.
–People are nuts.
I’m not going to say that this place is the most fantastic place in the world, or that it will completely change anyone’s life around — but I can say that if you put genuine attention into it, it can get your head/​body clean enough to start you off in a better direction. Or if anything, you’ll sure have some good stories to tell when you’re out.

I love this place. the camp literally saved my life. I was 80 lbs and covered in track marks when I came here. I decided between rehab or offing myself. my parents opened their hearts up to let me come here. they paid the money to get me in because my insurance wouldn’t cover it. they’re not supremely wealthy people so this was asking for a lot. but they still did it for me. the only way the camp works is if you work what they teach you there. you can force an addict to admit themselves but you can’t force them to change. if someone doesn’t want to «change», don’t bother spending your money on rehab. this is no miracle. you get what you put in.

The «holistic approach» what a joke. What that means is that none of the intelligent people who’s faces are on the website have anything to do with the actual clients. They hand these «techs» and counselors a stack of paper which is passed around and it has some info on behaviors or triggers or something to kill time. My case manager Glenn was awesome though for real. Sue lied to my face twice and Jeff, well his position should be held by a smarter man. Didn’t get to see Psychiatrist til beginning of my 3^rd week. A tiny fraction of what they teach is 12 steps which is the most successful plan for exiting. Not even 12 steps and traditions books on campus

A close family member recently completed both the inpatient and outpatient programs here. I attended the inpatient family program as well as a couple nights of the outpatient program. I also met separately with one of the therapists. From my experience, the staff really seem to care and be effective at what they do. Are there problems? Sure, some are mentioned in other reviews. But the fact that all of the staff is in recovery themselves and can speak from experience meant a great deal to my family member. Although no one «wants» to be in rehab, I do believe there is hope and friendship at The Camp. If you’re open to it.

The Camp recovery Center saved my life. You get what you put into your recovery and the staff there was so supportive and motivating. I can’t say enough good things about this place.
Deanna Claymore

I found this facility to be WORST I have ever seen in my life they are not capable to
help anyone… NO trained professionals that I seen or spoke to! All about $$$$ and making excuses NO communication skills. My recommendation do not send any one to this so called rehab.
GLM

This place is terrible. They just warehouse people for 25 – 30 days with minimal counseling, from sub par therapists. Then collect $$$ from insurance. Don’t waste your money. Do some research. The director has a BS degree from an online university. Most of the rest of them do too. They are only interested in $$$. I understand that in order for someone to recover they must do a lot of the work themselves. However having trained professionals that can offer real therapy is what you are paying for when you come here. You won’t get that at The Camp. Trust me… research this place first!!!

I attended the camp 2 years and 3 months ago. I learned as much as I could and payed attention as often as possible. I have been clean ever since.
If you are willing to accept the help offered, I guarantee this will work for you as well.
If you aren’t ready to be open, honest, and willing… good luck.

If there we zero stars I would choose that option. There are drugs going around this place! There is clearly some sort of security issue. My boyfriend is there now and he is serious about getting clean and sober and he is a week and a few days from finishing the program. Today he was offered the exact drug that he is addicted to. He is dealing with the situation with the rehab center now, but this is still an outrage. Where is the security? How can an addict feel safe and recover properly if the very thing he or she just got clean from is offered to them.

I wrote a review, which was up for 2 days. It was not complimentary and now it’s missing. I hope it cost the camp some money to have it removed. I convinced my alcoholic sister to get treatment at the Camp. They have allowed her to ban family members from family therapy. They do not work a 12 step program. The alcoholic ends up with a nice stress-​free vacation. If all they teach is white knuckle sobriety what’s gonna happen after release and the person is back in the same environment with the same people they can’t deal with? What an unprofessional approach to treatment. I’d call it guaranteed to fail.

Its been 2years since my wife was at the camp And I still have nothing good to say about the place, What I have leaned out of the experience of my wife being in rehab and going with her to AA meetings, Loving family and friends most be there when they hit rock bottom and ready for help, Don’t send them to rehab unless you are giving up hope for them.
God Bless

I was checked into the camp in feb. 14 2011. They took great care with me. I was extremely fragile. I built up walls. Staff was able to see right through. Learning on a spiritual level. I’m a much better person now. Steve Webb was a caring, and concerned staff member. I wish I could do the program all over again. I have over two years. Thanks to the camps program, I needed to add a few things to my Unilocal review for camp recovery. I’m still clean my clean date is feb 14 2012. All most three years. Ya I didn’t get to climb the wall or zip line. Oh well it was raining. What the camp did was keep a extremely damaged sole until my time was up. I should of been kicked out several times but wasn’t. The reason I m still clean is I was ready to quit. And the constant emphasis on relaps prevention. Sounds like past residents didn’t listen to. With that I’m out

My brother died at the camp while in detox.
Edit (10÷16÷15):
About a year ago I received a message from a business manager at The Camp telling me that I am mistaken about where my brother died. This should clear things up:
Santa Cruz County Sheriff-​Coroner Death Investigation Report
Case Number: 00 – 8 342
Incidentally, I did reply to the business manager’s message with this information. I never received a response.

My son attended the camp in December 2012. He is an alcoholic and he was literally slipping away from me in front of my eyes. He is young, 21, and I was a frantic mess seeing the runaway train heading straight to jail. He was not going to be able to abide by any court ordered DEJ programs because first and foremost he is in alcoholic and needed help. We, by some miracle, were able to get him to go to the Camp. And the Camp through its program, its counselors and its philosophy saved my son’s life.
I read other peoples’ reviews who say it is overrated and a waste of money — that could be true of any recovery center because if the addict is unwilling to change then they will always be an addict.
I saw the change in my son after the first 3 weeks in treatment he, himself, came to the realization that this was not the life he wanted to lead. He made friendships at this camp which will last a lifetime. The groups were supportive and continue to reach out to him. The Camp has an Intensive Outpatient Therapy program whereby the resident transitions to sober living environment and attends these sessions 3 hours a night, 3 nights a week. Their family involvement in seminars and sessions with the patients were eye opening experiences. Parents, loved ones, concerned partners can’t get through this alone. We all needed educating.
I watched the change in my son both mentally and physically, as well as the other residents. To see these young people lose their way only to find it again through the rehab process is nothing short of a miracle.
If the addict wants to change then The Camp Recovery Center is the place to start.
«You can’t save people. You can only love them»
The addict has to want to save themselves.

… this post is long, but we cannot say enough good things about the Camp!
Our experience with The Camp has been stellar. We were particularly fortunate in being able to send our child for a full 60 day treatment program thru Kaiser. Other insurance only covers 30 days which is NOT enough. We would have done 90 if we could have. It does not work to drop off my kid for 30 days, and say: «Fix them». Money alone will not do it. Placing all responsibility on my kid to change does not work. It is a family disease. I and my wife go to our own meetings, which impressed our daughter, and is helpful to her. Please note, our daughter had already been through 8 months of Kaiser outpatient treatment, but she herself knew she had been gaming the system, and could tell deep down she needed residential. Even so, she was not happy about going, and remained angry at us for the first three weeks.
THE STAFF ARE INCREDIBLE. That is the punch line. We loved almost everyone we encountered, and they clearly loved and enjoyed the kids. I assume it was the same in the adult division (which, by the way, is strictly separated from the juvenile division). Many of the «tech staff» of assistants were former patients at The Camp. As always, former addicts are often the most effective monitors since they know every duck and weave routine (read: lying), and have compassion and empathy for the recovery process.
Our caseworker was a wise professional who counseled our daughter thru her unfolding sobriety, knowing how far to push at each stage, and gained her trust. She helped our daughter move thru her phases of emotional detox, and served as a support to us in creating new family interaction patterns, counseling us if we needed it, and believe me, we did. She was an incredibly caring, smart, warm, and light-​handed professional who was finely tuned in to each of her charges. There was respect, love and understanding issuing from every avenue that our child turned to. She thrived. Her natural wisdom and even leadership qualities were encouraged to shine forth as her sobriety increased.
There are also included fantastic family education classes (a two– day class for the parents, not to be missed– changed our LIFE) taught by such compassionate, clear talking licensed professionals who prepared us to better shed our illusions, our minimizing and our own denial, and to steep ourselves in the recovery river. Also, family communication classes that enable the child to talk to the parents (and vice-​versa), sometimes it is for the first time in years. We did that, and saw that happen each time we went down there. Do all you can!
Her therapists at Kaiser were the ones to recommend The Camp as the best fit for our child. From what we have heard and seen from other kids in her group, we know they were correct. We are so fortunate.
The environment is calm and natural in the Santa Cruz mountains, slightly rustic but clean. The food is nutritious and quite decent, and they strive to minimize the addicts’ compulsion for sugar. There are sports facilities plus a few hiking and beach outings if the group is mature enough.
The kids go to at least 2, maybe 3, outside AA or NA meetings a week, a rhythm that is established in the addicts mind. When our daughter returned home, she decided she wanted to try to do 90 meetings in 90 days– she had definitely gotten the message.
The teen group varied from up to a full load of 17, and she learned tolerance and even love for a wide range of kids’ personalities and family backgrounds, with their issues. Appreciating one another is part of the therapy and is about valuing ones’ own self in the end.
The days are filled with group therapy sessions and independent study with a teacher thru the Santa Cruz board of Ed. Most kids are not doing well with the public school system, and this Indy study helps them to get many credits toward completing school, if the student and parents want that — which we did.
We are thrilled with the Kaiser program; it was through their caring conscientious staff that we also connected to The Camp.
She returned to the Kaiser outpatient program after coming home. They coach them to transition back into the world, making sure they are going to 12-​step meetings, working the programs and getting a sponsor.
The Camp was a Godsend — our daughter, who was using opiates, esp Oxycodone (street name: Vicodin), though a poly-​substance abuser — has come home a different person. She is not in denial, she refocuses on the seriousness of her situation, but has some good tools to help manage the times she thinks she will bump into her old user/​dealer ‘friends’, and recognizes that she needs a great deal of support to make it through the next year of sober living. She has matured and is willing to try new forms of family relating and trust. Thank you, Camp.
J and R, grateful parents

Camp Recovery saved my niece’s life As an alcoholic and prescription drug addict, she was in a tailspin of self-​destruction that affected every aspect of her life. We stumbled upon Camp Recovery through a friend of a friend who has stayed sober for ten years since her stay at the Camp. We hung on to hope when my niece (following another DUI) left everything behind in Vegas and made her way home for Camp. Fearful of the unknown, it was comforting to drive up to their lovely, peaceful grounds and a genuine welcome from Yolanda. Even during detox, she immersed herself in all the meetings and therapy (helping her forgive herself, rid her past of guilt, build her self esteem…) kept in daily contact with us excited about what she had learned about herself and the tools they had provided. Family weekend was so enlightening and has helped us to communicate in a more positive way. The most important lesson we learned as a family, is that we are not codependent when helping our loved ones in recovery. It’s been almost a month, and my niece is doing really well. She feels that the Camp has given her a second chance at life. It’s such a blessing to have her back after so many years of addiction and for all of us to live with less depression, preoccupation and worry. My niece’s future is in her hands. Camp Recovery provided her with the tools to continue to live out her life clean and sober… and has given us all HOPE!!!

My partner was recently an inpatient at The Camp in Scotts Valley to receive treatment for alcohol dependence. The «treatment» and «care» she received at the facility were so substandard that she ended up leaving against medical advice and entering another local facility to continue her care, even though this meant risking relapse and having to pay extensive out-​of-​pocket medical fees.
Upon her admission, she was assigned a case manager/​counselor who was on vacation. She thus got no personalized treatment for a full 7 days. This is unacceptable for a fragile individual struggling to deal with an out-​of-​control substance dependence.
Worse, her counselor, the other patients sharing her room, and several of the administrators were overtly homophobic and permitted recurrent verbal abuse and intimidation to occur against my partner. Her case manager, Angelica, actually went so far as to lie and state she had been disciplined for having hugged and kissed me – her partner – on family day (this is when spouses and family come to learn, give support, and yes, hug and kiss their loved ones). When my partner voiced her discomfort, she was told to «learn to deal with it» as it would «better her in the future to adapt to such stressful circumstances». When I and her family launched an inquiry into these «disciplinary actions», Angelica’s boss said she had made them up; it seems they were purely a method for destroying her self-​confidence and intimidation.
My partner was to receive psychological counseling at an offsite facility. The Camp was unable to arrange transportation for her so family members had to do it. This would have been fine except that they (again, the same counselor Angelica and her boss Leslie), threatened my partner with disciplinary action for «leaving the facility without permission».
Finally, upon discharge and transfer to the new facility (Beacon House), the case manager and staff at The Camp refused to allow my partner to review her medical records stating they «did not have time and could not facilitate such requests». This is a direct violation of her patient rights according to HIPPA.
I am a practicing physician in the area and deal daily with patients struggling with drug and alcohol issues. I often refer to local rehab programs. Programs should have well-​trained counselors who do not discriminate on the basis of race, sex, religion, sexual orientation, etc. I can wholeheartedly state that this was one of the most unprofessional, discriminatory, and detrimental rehab programs I have ever had contact with. If you have a loved one who needs inpatient help, I caution you strongly to avoid sending them to The Camp; while they may remain sober there, they will not be given the tools to maintain that sobriety nor the respect of the staff and counselors to help heal their psychological wounds.

Lack of follow up, follow through, communication and supervision were the norm for my friend who’s child attended this rehab for 34 days. While part of Aspen Corp., The Camp is way below the caliber needed and promised for minor child substance addiction issues. The counselors are caring, however, once the child figured out that they just had to tough it out until the 30 days were through… well, that was the end of recovery for them.
If you need a place to ‘hold’ your child until you find a longer term solution, use The Camp. If you’re hoping for a 180 through rehab, do not.
Please see my review of Mount Bachelor Academy.

This place is overrated and over priced. My friends parents spent about $ 20k here. After 30 days in this «recovery camp» hollistic enviroment crap my friend was back on drugs after 1 week. 1 week people! $ 20K literally burned into smoke!
Whatever they’re doing, it didnt work and they are too pricey. This is a case of «NOT getting what you paid for».
Recovery Camp, please retrain your people and try some newer methods b/​c a young lady who was in your institution for 30 days was back on drugs after 1 week and this cost her family $ 20k…