Established in 1949, R.M. Pyles Boys Camp is a FREE Summer Camp that gives deserving boys a once in a lifetime opportunity to experience a multi-year challenging wilderness camp experience in the Sequoia National Forest. Our organization serves out of five counties throughout Southern California. We provide leadership and year-round mentoring programs for young boys and men. Services that include, employment opportunities and a scholarship program for students who attend an accredited college or trade school. Our goal is to promote productive men that contribute to their families and communities.

 

 

Daring Boys to Become Men, Since 1949

Believing that nature has the power to both inspire and challenge, in 1949 Robert "Bob" Pyles created a place where boys from disadvantaged backgrounds could acquire a new vision of their potential to succeed. R.M. Pyles Boys Camp, nestled among the redwoods of the Sequoia National Forest, has been transforming the lives of young men for 75 years.

R. M. Pyles Boys Camp is a youth leadership and character development program for selected boys 12 to 14 years of age. Youth from Kern County and other southern California counties are recommended by teachers, counselors, and community volunteers to attend one of our first-year sessions. 

Our unique two-week wilderness camp experience in the Sequoia National Forest is the first step in our award-winning, nationally recognized Youth Development Program.  We seek to help our youth through a focus on building self-confidence, setting goals, developing decision making abilities and learning that success comes only through significant personal effort.  Summer camp sessions are supplemented by year-round mentoring and reunion activities. Pyles is a place transformation, positive choices, new beginnings and possibilities.  

This year Pyles Camp celebrates 75 years of changing lives! The change in attitude and outcomes for youth in our program has a positive impact not only for the individual, but for their families and communities.  All of us benefit!

Pyles Camp is supported by special events - including our Kern County BBQ - and the generosity and investment of individuals, private industry and foundations in Bakersfield and other communities we serve.  Thank you!

Pyles Camp is accredited by the American Camp Association (ACA) and meets over 300 health and safety standards.  In 1992 the Pyles Camp was honored with a personal visit from President George Herbert Walker Bush who designated Pyles Boys Camp as one of his Thousand Points of Light.  In 2018 Pyles received the Program Excellence Award from the Southern California/Hawaii section of the ACA.  In 2019 Pyles received national recognition as recipient of the Eleanor P. Ells Award for Program Excellence.   

Who We Are

Daring Boys to Become Men, Since 1949

R.M. Pyles Boys Camp promotes long-term positive behavioral change for low-income, disadvantaged boys by providing a multi-year wilderness camp experience supplemented by year-round mentoring that builds life skills and instills the values of hard work, education, and positive choices.