OUR HISTORY
Camp Trinity on the Bar 717 Ranch was founded in 1930, when Grover and Erma Gates first welcomed campers into their ranch family.
Since then, thousands of campers have spent their summers living, working, and playing as part of a ranch family in the mountains of Trinity County. Rooted in cooperation and tradition, this model continues to guide Camp Trinity’s programs and values. As California’s oldest accredited co-ed summer camp—still owned and operated by the Gates family—Camp Trinity invites you to be part of our traditions and experience the community, connection, and joy of summers on the Ranch.
Early Years
The Bar 717 Ranch began as three separate homesteads. Moses Williams settled the first in 1884, now known as Emily’s Place. In 1906, William Shules homesteaded the land that would become Main Camp, and by 1919, Robert McKay had added what is today the Bar 717 Ranch.
In 1901, Alfred and Delia Gates purchased the first homestead and moved in with their five children, later growing their family to seven. Grover, their son, spent his childhood immersed in wilderness life—tending animals, walking nearly seven miles to school, and learning the values that would later define Camp Trinity.
BUILDING A DREAM
After attending college and working as a teacher, Grover returned to the ranch in the late 1920s with his wife, Erma. Together, they purchased the neighboring homesteads and established the Bar 717 Ranch, named for Grover Allen Gates' initials.
What began as a working ranch soon became something more: in 1929, Grover and Erma welcomed their first camper, Erma’s nephew Bob. The following summer, more children joined, and Camp Trinity was born. The camp’s mission was simple but powerful: live and work as a family, share the responsibilities of ranch life, and embrace the joys of nature and community.
THE SPIRIT OF CAMP
From the very beginning, campers helped shape the ranch—building sleeping platforms, mending fences, and tending to animals. They also swam in the river, rode horses, gathered around the campfire, and formed lifelong friendships. This balance of work, play, and community continues to define Camp Trinity today.
A LIVING
TRADITION
For more than 90 years, the Gates family has carried forward Grover and Erma’s vision. Camp Trinity remains family-owned and operated, led by their grandson, Kent Collard. The ranch has become a living, breathing tradition that teaches independence, fosters belonging, and connects every camper to the beauty of the land and the people around them.