Camp Stevens
Your Weekend
Starts Here
A 256-acre retreat center in the mountains above Julian, California - and home to GMSR every summer.
The Setting
Camp Stevens sits at 4,200 feet in pine-oak woodland east of San Diego. The central campus is compact and walkable — dining hall, pool, lodges, and lawn all within a few minutes of each other. Beyond that, the property opens into hiking trails, gardens, and overlooks. When you arrive, the first thing you notice is the quiet. The second is the sky.
33°04′N 116°35′W
Where You'll Sleep
Blum Lodge
The Basecamp
Blum is where most of the action is. Eight rooms on the lower floor sleep 48 across wooden bunk beds, three to a room. Shared restrooms are across the hall. You're steps from the dining hall and the pool — if you want to be in the middle of everything, this is your spot.
Bishop Wolterstorff Lodge
The View
Four sleeping rooms, each with two bunks and two singles, set above the gardens with a clear line to Volcan Mountain. The wraparound deck is where people end up at sunset. The common room has one of two James Hubbell stone fireplaces on the property.
Lax-Sadler Lodge
The Quiet One
Six rooms, five sleeping five and one wheelchair-accessible room, all with private bathrooms. There's an outdoor patio and a common room with the second Hubbell fireplace, a piano, and a kitchenette. Set apart from the main campus — still an easy walk, just fewer footsteps past your door.
On the Grounds
The Pool
Outdoor and open all weekend. During Saturday's pool party, this is the social center of the retreat. Lifeguards on duty.
Dining Hall
Seats 120, family-style. The kitchen staff cooks with produce from the camp's own gardens and local farms. Six meals are included with your registration.
The Fire Circle
Where the evening goes after the evening ends. Campfire, conversation, and more stars than you're used to seeing.
Trails & Gardens
256 acres of hiking trails, plus three acres of working gardens, an orchard, and a chicken coop. Guided garden tours are available, or just wander.
The Chapel & Labyrinth
The Chapel of the Transfiguration, designed by artist James Hubbell, was rebuilt after the 2007 fire. It's open for private meditation. A labyrinth nearby is available anytime — no schedule, no signup.
Getting There
Camp Stevens is roughly 60 miles east of San Diego, above the town of Julian in the Cuyamaca Mountains. Most people drive up in about 90 minutes — carpooling details go out before the retreat.
33°04′N, 116°35′W
Ready to join us?
See you in 2027. In the meantime, join us at the Beach Bonfire this September.