Our History

Empowering Girls Through Music, Mentorship, and the Arts Since 2012

Amplify began in 2012 as a small but mighty summer day camp and after-school program in Santa Barbara. What started as a local space for girls to explore their creativity has since grown into a nationally recognized, award-winning organization—serving over 20,000 youth, raising more than $2 million in scholarships, and building a passionate, lifelong community of girls who know their voices matter. In 2014, Amplify launched its first full-season sleep away camp at Ojai Valley School, where it thrived for a decade before finding its current home just up the road at Besant Hill School in the heart of the Ojai Mountains. Nestled on 500 acres of serene, inspiring nature, this campus is where girls from around the world come to unplug, make lifelong friends, and discover what they’re truly capable of.

We’re a proud 501(c)(3) nonprofit

Amplify is funded by national foundations like the Country Music Association Foundation, National Endowment for the Arts, and California Arts Council, as well as local supporters such as the Santa Barbara Foundation, Hutton Parker Foundation, and the Ventura Community Foundation. We’ve also partnered with major brands including Sonos, Guitar Center, and Zadig & Voltaire, and have collaborated with artists like Billie Eilish and Zella Day. In 2022, Amplify was honored by the California State Senate for creating measurable, positive change in youth development and the broader community.

Read our annual Report

Why families choose Amplify

Real skills, real confidence, real friendships

Amplify combines serious creative learning with the magic of traditional summer camp, giving girls room to try new things, find their people, and become more confident in who they already are.

Confidence Over Competition

We’re not a sports camp. Amplify helps girls find their voice, take creative risks, and feel proud of who they are.

Real Creative Skills

From rock band and songwriting to film, fashion, and photography, campers build real skills, not just pass time.

A Safe, Inclusive Community

Kindness, belonging, and emotional safety aren’t extras, they’re the foundation of everything we do.

Led by Exceptional Mentors

Our staff includes working artists and educators from Berklee, UCLA, and beyond.

15,000+ Campers • 85% Return Rate

Families come back year after year because something meaningful happens here.

What Makes Amplify Different

Amplify isn’t just a camp—it’s a mentorship-based, confidence-building launchpad for girls who are ready to grow. Our staff are more than counselors or teachers; they’re trained mentors who build meaningful relationships with youth and support them through real challenges.Our “secret sauce”? It’s the culture. We actively address gossip, cliques, and social pressure in ways schools often can’t. We help girls lead with kindness, support each other, and build the skills to be inclusive, empowered leaders. Amplify is a place where everyone is encouraged to be fully themselves, and where community is built intentionally—every day.

This environment creates incredible outcomes:
✅ 96% of youth reported gaining respect for peers
✅ 92% developed skills they believe will help in future careers
✅ 98% felt safe to express themselves
✅ 95% left feeling better about themselves and their futures
✅ 96% said they discovered they could do things they never thought they could

In their words

Stories from Amplify families

“I wanted to say thank you. My daughter loved camp. She had gone to a well-known big sleepaway camp 2 summers in a row, and we both came away feeling like something was missing. She didn’t feel connected or herself there. She told me that at Amplify she felt accepted for who she is and fully appreciated and not self-conscious at all. Can’t imagine anything more we could want for her.” — Parent of a 6th grader, Brooklyn, NY • First-Time Camper

“I can tell by Lemi’s response to camp that the investment is exemplary. The first thing she said to me about Amplify was: ‘Thank you so much for sending me there. I have never been so loved by so many people at one time who were not my family.’” — Parent of a 6th grader, Ojai, CA • 4-Week Camper

“THANK YOU! Especially with being able to teach bass this session, I almost cried this afternoon seeing how talented all these youth are, plus the experience of coming full circle around since I WAS them at one point 🙂 I’m so lucky to be on this team after all it’s given and shown me my whole life.” — Gracie, 18-year-old staff, former camper (for nearly 10 years!)

“My daughter has been attending Amplify since she was in 4th grade and is now joining the team as staff at 19. Her three siblings are following in her footsteps and I honestly don’t think our family would be the same without this special community. Whether you are into music or photography / film making – your kid will flourish here. No experience necessary either! The amazing staff meet your kiddo right where they are at. Raising four girls, Amplify is always the first thing I recommend!” Kellie, Parent of Esme, 22, Zadie, 21, Winnie, 15, and Olive, 11

“This is a life changing summer camp!! The camp shows girls how to really support each other and removes the element of competition. The result: campers creating beyond incredible creative projects while making life long friendships and feeling genuinely proud of both their own accomplishments and their peers” Sophie, 22 years old (past camper, now staff)

“My daughter had an amazing week at Amplify Sleep Away Camp these past four weeks in Ojai. Wrote a song with 4 other girls and performed for the parents this morning. She had a blast! We’ll be back next year.” — Parent of a 10th grader, Boston • 4-Week Session

“My daughter attended last year. It was her first time ever being away from home. She was so scared, but excited. I could not ask for a better camp for my daughter to attend.“ — Parent of an 8th grader, Washington, DC • First-Time Camper

“My daughter just played me the song she wrote last week at Amplify. It made me cry it was so beautiful. This camp and these counselors opened a door to her creativity that was closed. What a wonderful gift. I highly recommend this camp for girls who need a moment in a nurturing environment to unleash their creative potential. I’m feeling filled with gratitude right now!” — Parent of a 7th grader, San Jose • Multi-Year Camper

“Amplify has been one of the best experiences of my life… Camp has taught me how to create art that makes me happy and creates an impact. I can’t wait to be part of the staff.” Ciel, 16 years old

“What an incredible two weeks for my daughter! She came home more confident than I have ever seen her. The staff is awesome, they totally rock. We’re so in.” — Parent of a 3rd grader, Santa Monica • First-Time Camper

“i’ve been coming for 3 years and have learned how to express myself through music, write songs, and talk about how i feel inside… I’ve learned so much” Jade, 12 years old

Stories That Stick With Us

We measure success in the big wins—and in the small moments that change lives.
Like Gracie, who learned to play bass at Amplify when she was 8 years old. She’s now our year-round social media manager and a bass instructor during camp, after spending 12 years growing through every level of our program. Gracie originally planned to study engineering at UC Davis, but her passion for digital marketing—discovered through her Amplify experience—led her to change her major and pursue a new path. She attributes her confidence to make that shift to the mentorship and hands-on learning she received at Amplify. And then there’s Tessa, one of our first-ever campers. She was quiet, almost non-verbal, and never dreamed she’d sing in front of anyone—until her band’s vocalist fell ill and she was invited to try. With a little encouragement (and a karaoke version of “Rolling in the Deep”), she took the mic, closed her eyes, and sang. When she opened them, there were tears in her eyes as she whispered, “I’ve never heard my voice amplified before.” The next day, she performed lead vocals and keys at the showcase in front of the entire camp—her first time ever. These are the moments that drive us.

Leadership With Purpose

Amplify was founded by Jen Baron, a musician, youth mentor, and nonprofit leader with over 25 years of experience in youth development. Jen continues to guide the organization with a deep belief in the transformative power of creativity, mentorship, and belonging.

Where Our Girls Go Next

Our alumni have gone on to attend top-tier institutions including Juilliard, Berklee College of Music, Columbia University, UCLA, UC Berkeley, and NYU. They’re pursuing careers in everything from music and arts education to engineering, marketing, and social entrepreneurship—with the confidence to create their own path.At Amplify, we don’t just teach music or art. We create space for girls to discover who they are—and who they’re becoming. 🎸 Come for the music. Stay for the mentorship. Leave with a whole new sense of what’s possible.

Be part of our next chapter! Enroll your camper to join the Amplify story in 2026.

Kellie, parent of Esme 24, Zadie 22, Winnie, 16 and Olive, 12

“My daughter has been attending Amplify since she was in 4th grade and she is now staff at 22. Her three siblings are now following in her footsteps and I honestly don’t think our family would be the same without this special community. Whether you’re into music or photography or fine arts or musical theatre – your kid will flourish here. No experience necessary either! The amazing staff meet your kiddo right where they are at. Raising four girls, Amplify is always the first thing I recommend!”