California Songwriting Camp

May 30th – June 3rd, 2019

A Songwriter’s and Music Makers Haven

Dive deep into your creativity

Learn, grow, expand

About CA Songwriter’s Camp

Formerly known as Summersongs West, our newly named CA Songwriting Camp was founded in 2003 by our dear friend, singer/songwriter/teacher/mentor, Penny Nichols. Penny built a songwriter’s community and family that spans across the states and created a safe haven for creative inspiration and artistic growth.

CA Songwriting Camp is a retreat from the hectic hubbub of everyday life. You will dive deep into your creativity. Camp is an uplifting experience for songwriters of ALL levels — whether you’ve written 100 songs, are looking to write your best song, or haven’t written one…yet! Our musical community continues to cherish Penny’s vision of a “music camp for grown-ups” that allows each person’s artistry to shine and for us all to gather to have fun, sing, create, dance, learn and share our hearts.

Join us at camp to listen and learn from nationally-known touring artists; our teachers are handpicked and are among the very finest of songwriters and instructors. Each day we offer a variety of workshops to strengthen and hone your craft as a songwriter/musician. We encourage collaboration among attendees and teachers for writing, singing and performing.

Every evening we have concerts, coffeehouse performances, song circles, and jams that go late into the night. Being at CA Songwriting Camp is an exciting, life-expanding experience. Located on 13 acres of pristine coastline, Camp Ocean Pines is nestled in Cambria, CA, above the cliffs along the Pacific Ocean. Come connect with your own passion and creativity and you’ll have the opportunity to make lifelong friends and be a part of an ever-growing musical community with folks from all corners of the globe. You will study and harmonize with some of the world’s best songwriters and musicians and have a fabulous, fun, inspiring time!!

Our Founder Penny Nichols

Penny loved all of us, students & teachers, old & young, newbies & regulars. We all felt accepted and encouraged in our songwriting, performing, and creativity. She created a place where all musicians and songwriters are welcome and where we all can grow and become everything we are aspiring to be. We all came to camp because of one person who believed in each of us & took a chance on us, so that we would in turn pass on all that we've learned along the way......and in doing so, she created a family. Read more about Penny here.

Click here to download 2018 Class Schedule

2018 Outstanding Teachers:

Kristina Olsen - Songwriting class & slide guitar, http://www.kristinaolsen.net/

Merlin Snider - Travis Pick Guitar Class & Songwriting, https://www.merlinsnider.com/

Severin Browne - tricks of the trade/performance class, http://www.severinbrowne.com/

Mark Dann - Bass, guitar tech, garageband 101, https://www.markdann.com/

Stan DeWitt - harmony class, guitar/mandolin class, http://www.standewitt.com/Stan_DeWitt/Welcome.html

Dale LaDuke - Harmony class, UKE class, https://www.facebook.com/dale.laduke

Susan Marie Reeves - co-writing, performance class, vocal recording techniques, https://susanmariereeves.bandcamp.com/

Rebecca Troon - vocal class & banjo, https://www.reverbnation.com/rebeccatroon

Ed Tree - Recording, Play Well w/ Others, vocal recording techniques, https://www.dailynews.com/2013/01/10/paying-homage-to-producer-ed-tree/