Camp Ewin Owen (CEO) is a 65 bed forestry camp for youth aged 14-18, located in Kernville, CA. CEO opened in 1938 as an honor and work camp, and we hold true to that tradition today, as staff and allied agencies provide services which promote discipline, a strong work ethic and individual responsibility. Youth take advantage of essential elements of evidence-based treatment and counseling, participate in vocational assignments, and improve academically. CEO partners with the Kern County Superintendent of Schools (KCSOS), Kern Medical Correctional Medicine, College Community Services (CCS), as well as community resources to meet the individual needs of every youth in the program. CEO is a prosocial, incentive-based, and trauma-focused program centered on developing relationships of mutual respect and trust while rewarding youth for displaying positive behavior and reaching program and personal goals.

Erwin Owen High School (EOHS) serves students academically by helping them improve study skills and catch up on credits. Students have an opportunity to enroll in the Auto/Ag Mechanics course where they can earn an Automotive Services Excellence (ASE) certification. Students receive lessons in career readiness skills, one-stop college registration and testing are conducted on the EOHS campus, and FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) workshops are made available to parents and guardians.

College Community Services provides evidence-based cognitive behavioral treatment groups, including Cognitive Behavioral Interventions for Substance Abuse (CBI-SA), Aggression Replacement Training (ART), Seeking Safety, and Thinking 4 Change (T4C), in addition to crisis intervention and individual, group, and family therapy.

Youth also have the opportunity to participate in service projects throughout the Kern River Valley. Some of these include distributing food with the local Rotary Club, setup and take-down for local events, and serving chili during the Peddlers’ Faire. CEO has been a fixture in the Kern River Valley for decades and residents regularly invite our youth to join in community activities. This gives the youth an incredible opportunity to feel valued, take pride in a job well-done, and understand the benefit of helping others.