SUMMER 2026
At The Banyan Tree, we believe that everyone deserves the joy, play, and discovery of summer camp. We have summer camps for kids (Camp Banyan), outdoor exploration for teens (Banyan Backpacking), and weekend retreats for adults!
Camps for All Ages
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Camp Banyan
Ages 5 - 13 | June 15 - August 7
Explore your passions through the lens of South Asian history, from dance to music, STEM to sports, fashion to cooking, and beyond. Every day is rooted in fun, friendship, and creative expression. Every week is a new experience. Campers are grouped into age-based cohorts with activities designed for their developmental stage!
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Banyan Backpacking
Ages 14-18 | August 3 - 7
Take a trip in the Sierra Nevadas. Come home with memories and friendships for life. During this beginner friendly trip, you will get to cook and eat yummy Ayurvedic food at our campsites, do daily hikes and yoga, hear South Asian stories by the campfire, and learn about the significance of this land for indigenous communities.
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Camp Banyan Natyam
Ages 18+ | July 2-5
Explore bharatanatyam for individual expression and community building. Dance, do fun choreography, and learn about the history of bharatanatyam from different perspectives, including gender, caste, and more. All experience levels are welcome.
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Camp Banfam
All Ages | September 4-7
Say goodbye to summer Banyan style, with your friends and family of all ages. This 3-night, 4-day Labor Day camp will leave you feeling rejuvenated and refreshed. Stay in a comfy cabin in the Santa Cruz Mountains, enjoy healthy food, yoga, campfires, and tons of South Asian games, trivia, crafts, music, history talks, and more!
A Banyan Summer
Find out what makes summer at The Banyan Tree so unique and special.
The radical power of worldbuilding
During our non-summer lives, we navigate worlds that weren’t always designed for our youth, our cultures, and our communities to thrive. But during summer camp, we at The Banyan Tree get to create a magical, fantasy world that was made by and for South Asian Americans to thrive. From the food to the space to our library to our activities, every moment of summer at The Banyan Tree is designed to leave you free to express yourself, your purpose, and your power. So when summer comes to an end, you will feel fired up and ready to take action in this fraught, beautiful world.
Know our past to know our present and future
Everyday, in hidden moments, we encounter South Asian history in America. Did you know that the sport of polo (like the symbol you see on Ralph Lauren shirts) is originally a ritual from Manipur, India? British tea planters encountered it and turned it into a sport of royals and millionaires. Did you know that the word orange (like the color of this box) comes from the Tamil word naranga. We bring South Asian history to life through hands-on activities and games, so that you are empowered to see the hidden forces that have shaped our families and lives—and make choices for your present and future.
Build your village of warmth and support
For us, South Asian communities are defined by the warmth and the love that can permeate our time together. From the grandma who makes sure you have eaten thirds and fourths, to the family friend who calls you at just the right moment, feeling the love of South Asian communities can be touching. At The Banyan Tree, our space and our staff embody the warmth and care that we so love about being South Asian! We also know that for many people, some of our spaces have been exclusive, hurtful, or even harmful—and we root ourselves in building a secular, inclusive vision of what South Asian communities can be.
Want to learn more?
Schedule an introduction call with one of our team members to learn more about our programs, our organization, our staff, or any questions you may have!