Drop a hero image - the mountain campus at golden hour
San Bernardino National Forest · 35+ years of impact

Three experiences.
One extraordinary mountain.

On 274 acres in the San Bernardino National Forest, Pali Mountain is a family of brands - a summer camp, an outdoor school, and a retreat center - united by one belief: the most powerful learning happens outside the classroom.

Trusted, accredited, and recognized
ACA WAIC WASC
ACA, WAIC & WASC Accredited
Accredited by the American Camp Association, WAIC, and the Western Association of Schools & Colleges.
Newsweek
Newsweek Top Camp
Named among the best summer camps in the United States.
NGSS
NGSS Aligned
Institute curriculum built to Next Generation Science Standards.
In the Press
Featured by The New York Times, Forbes, NPR, ABC News, NBC News, and CBS Los Angeles.
Three pillars of experience

One mountain, three distinct ways to belong to it.

Each division serves a different audience and pursues a different mission - yet all three draw from the same land, the same standards of care, and the same conviction that immersive experience is the best teacher there is.

Play & Discovery

Pali Adventures

Overnight summer camp
"Camp where every day is an adventure."

A one-of-a-kind overnight camp for ages 8–16. Campers choose their own adventure from 25+ specialties - from flying trapeze to filmmaking - and come home proud of who they are becoming.

Ages 8–16 27 specialties ACA accredited
Visit paliadventures.com
Pali Adventures

Learning & Growth

Pali Institute

Outdoor & STEM education
"We bring textbooks to life."

Field-based outdoor education where textbooks come to life. Schools choose from 30+ modules across science, leadership, and outdoor ed - hands-on, immersive, and aligned to Next Generation Science Standards.

Grades 4–12 30+ modules NGSS aligned
Visit paliinstitute.com
Students in a field-science module outdoors

Gathering & Renewal

Pali Retreat

Retreat & conference center
"Leave different."

A retreat and conference center for groups of every kind - corporate offsites, faith and nonprofit retreats, and gatherings of up to 850 guests. Every group that leaves Pali leaves more connected, more aligned, and more alive than when they arrived. The mountain does what four walls never could.

Up to 850 guests All-inclusive 90 min from LA
Visit paliretreat.com
Pali Retreat
Our story

It started with one idea, and one mountain.

For more than 35 years, Pali Mountain has created transformative outdoor experiences for young people, educators, and communities. What began as a single camp has grown into a family of brands sharing one mountain, one philosophy, and one 274-acre home in the San Bernardino National Forest.

Each year we serve more than 40,000 children and young adults across our campuses. Every brand has its own focus - but all are connected by one belief: the most powerful learning happens outside the classroom.

Wide view of the forested 274-acre campus
35+
Years of impact
40K+
Served each year
274
Acres of forest
3
Distinct brands
As seen in

Pali Mountain in the press.

NPR
ABC News
CBS NEWS
NBC NEWS
CNN
The New York Times
Los Angeles Times
Forbes
Variety
Newsweek

And many others across national and local media.

Executive team

The people behind the mountain.

A mission-driven team - many of them a decade or two deep - keeping every part of Pali Mountain running with care.

Portrait
John Johnson
COO, Pali Mountain

Has led sales, marketing, and operations at some of North America's most iconic resorts.

Pam Orr
Pam Orr
Chief Financial Officer

Twenty years at Pali, overseeing accounting, payroll, and HR - the operational backbone that makes everything else possible.

Emily Balcome
Emily Balcome
Director of Pali Institute

Came for a single season in 2014; twelve years later, she runs the place.

Chase Lopez
Chase Lopez
Director of Operations, Pali Retreat

Rose from outdoor-ed instructor to rebuilding the retreat program from the ground up.

Portrait
Jim Welch
Director of Media

A former firefighter who never stopped shooting, editing, and chasing stories.

Matt Furness
Matt Furness
Site Manager

Fourteen years keeping every system on the property running - power, heat, water, and everything in between.

Portrait
Bailey Pierson
Manager of Creative Brand Marketing

Leads brand strategy, content, and creative direction across five distinct brands.

Brionna Green
Brionna Green
Human Resources Manager

Believes the best organizations make great experiences a priority - for guests and staff alike.

Amy Davis
Amy Davis
Sales Manager, Pali Adventures

Eighteen years owning the full parent journey for Summer Camp, from first inquiry onward.

Bridgette Janes
Bridgette Janes
Director of Sales, Institute & Retreat

Leads sales across the Pali Institute and Pali Retreat brands.

Staff team on the mountain
Careers

Build your career on the mountain.

Whether you join as a counselor, educator, or full-time team member, working at Pali means real impact. We hire across maintenance, facilities, kitchen, housekeeping, and many more.

View staff info & apply
Visit us

Come see the mountain for yourself.

Office hours
Mon–Fri · 9:00 am – 5:00 pm
90 minutes from Los Angeles