SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA'S NEWEST YEARBOOK CAMP

IT JUST
HITS
different

Yearbook 2027 Starts Here

ABOUT THE EXPERIENCE

It just hits different when your yearbook is planned before the school year even begins.

SoCalYbk yearbook camp Southern California is a high school yearbook workshop designed for students and advisers who want more than inspiration — they want a strategy.
Four days. One immersive skill session. A complete plan for your year.

WHY THIS YEARBOOK CAMP HITS DIFFERENT

The path to better planning

You don’t leave with notes.
You leave with a blueprint.

EXPLORE THE EXPERIENCE
A Fully Developed Yearbook Theme

Not just a vibe — a complete theme system. You’ll leave with your concept, messaging, visuals, and coverage alignment locked in and ready to carry your entire book.

Coverage & Content Strategy

No more scrambling for content in October. Build a clear ladder, intentional coverage plan, and storytelling structure that keeps your book balanced, inclusive, and on deadline.

Leadership Systems That Prevent Chaos

Strong books don’t run on panic. Learn practical workflows, communication systems, and production timelines that keep your staff aligned and your year on track.

Creative Direction That Feels Current (Not Recycled)

Move beyond trends that already feel dated. Develop a modern, cohesive visual direction that reflects your school’s real story — not something pulled from last year’s Pinterest board.

Choose your learning track

Because real growth happens with focus, every attendee at our yearbook workshop chooses one learning track for the full camp experience.

Theme Masterclass

Leadership & Logistics

Advanced
Design & Coverage

Theme Masterclass

Leadership & Logistics

Advanced
Design & Coverage

Yearbook CAMP Summer 2026
DATES & LOCATION

Vanguard University in Orange County, CA
Summer 2026 Dates: 
July 17 - 20th
Who Can Attend:
High school yearbook students and yearbook advisers (all skill levels)
Our SoCalYbk Camp Summer 2026 sessions are intentionally capped to keep Learning Tracks personal and high-impact.

Spots fill early and space is limited — especially for Theme Masterclass
EXPLORE THE EXPERIENCE

Built for Students

Designed for Advisers

SoCalYbk Yearbook Camp is designed for:

Student Leaders
Editors-in-chief. Section editors. Designers. Photographers. First-year staffers ready to level up.


Yearbook Advisers
New advisers building structure. Veteran advisers refining systems. Programs ready to scale.

This isn’t busywork.

It’s strategic planning time that changes the entire school year.

Ready TO PLAN YOUR BEST YEARBOOK YET?

The best yearbooks aren’t rushed.
They’re planned.

Don’t wait until September to start planning.

If you're looking for the most strategic and inspiring yearbook camp California Summer 2026 offers, this is your moment.
REGISTER FOR CAMP VIEW PRICING AND DATES
The Experience Page Draft

SUMMER 2026 - SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA

MAKE YOUR
YEARBOOOK
HIT DIFFERENT

Bring you team.
Find your story.
Refine your theme.

THIS SUMMER,
YOUR YEARBOOK...

The best yearbooks don’t happen in March.
They start in July.

SoCalYbk is where your team, your theme, and your entire yearbook get mapped out before the first bell even rings.

Not in September. Not after deadlines start stacking up.

You don’t leave inspired. You leave aligned with a real theme system, a real coverage plan, real leadership structure.

This is where strong books begin.

What is yearbook camp?

Yearbook Camp is a multi-day high school yearbook workshop designed to help students and advisers build their book from the inside out — before school starts.

Through structured Learning Tracks, your team will:
  • Develop a cohesive theme system
  • Build a laddered coverage plan
  • Create leadership workflows
  • Strengthen design and storytelling skills
  • Align expectations across the entire staff
It’s strategic yearbook training for students and advisers who don’t want to “figure it out later.”

WHY choose SOCALYBK CAMP?

There are yearbook camps... And then there’s this one.

Strategy First
We don’t start with software. We start with structure.


Leadership Development
Editors learn how to lead people — not just pages.

Real Theme Systems
Not just a vibe, a flexible, scalable design system that works across 200+ pages.


Adviser Support
Advisers receive real production tools and long-term program strategy.

MEET THE TEAM

It’s all about people

So Cal Yearbooks is led by experienced yearbook professionals, award-winning advisers, and creative educators who understand both the artistic and logistical sides of yearbook production.

We’ve seen what works.
We’ve seen what causes stress.
And we’ve built this camp to help you avoid the chaos and lead with clarity.

Carrie Faust


Theme Masterclass
Smokey Hill High School

Justin Daigle


Theme Masterclass
Brighton High School

Courtney Harper


Leadership and Logistics
OCHSA

Trisha Marciano


Advanced Design & Coverage
Varsity

Liz Doebler


Advisers
Varsity

Robyn Christopher


Advisers
Del Norte High School

What is the camp experience like?

Think: focused during the day, unforgettable at night.

Highly Qualified Instructors
You’ll learn from experienced yearbook advisers, designers, photographers, and industry professionals who understand real production cycles not just theory.


Team Theme Planning Sessions
Your team works together to refine your concept, stress-test your ideas, and apply your theme system so you leave with clarity not question marks.


Dynamic Breakout Sessions
Fast-paced, high-energy breakout sessions keep learning practical, giving students and advisers hands-on strategies they can implement immediately.

Structured Learning Tracks
Participants dive deep into theme development, advanced design and coverage strategy, visual storytelling, leadership systems, and adviser planning — all tailored to their specific role on staff.


Fun Extracurricular Activities
Because creativity needs oxygen. Evening activities and community moments give your team space to connect, recharge, and build the chemistry that carries into the school year.


You’ll work hard.
You’ll laugh even harder.

The story begins with you

It starts in July.

The hallway lockers are still quiet. The gym lights are off. The first football game hasn’t happened. No one knows who’s transferring, who’s breaking records, who’s falling in love, or who’s about to surprise everyone.

But you’re already there.

Sitting at a round table with your team. Sketching ideas. Debating fonts. Mapping coverage. Arguing (politely) about color palettes. Laughing when someone suggests a theme that’s… ambitious.

You don’t have the story yet.
You’re building the structure that will hold it.
You’re deciding whose voices get heard.
Which moments get remembered.
How the year will feel when someone flips back to it five years from now?
Before the first bell rings.
Before the first deadline hits.
Before the first “we’ll fix it later.”

This is where it shifts.

Because the best yearbooks don’t just happen.
They begin with a team that chooses to plan the story, before the story even unfolds.

And that team?
It’s you.

Ready to make YOUR 2027 YEARBOOK Hit different?

Don’t wait until September to start planning.

The best yearbooks aren’t rushed.
They’re planned.

If you're looking for the most strategic and inspiring yearbook camp California Summer 2026 offers, this is your moment.
REGISTER FOR CAMP
LEARNING TRACKS PAGE

LEARNING TRACKS - SUMMER 2026

YEARBOOK TRAINING
FOR STUDENTS
AND ADVISERS

This isn’t random breakout sessions. It’s targeted training that is clear, practical and immediately useful.

Learning track options
at SOCALYBK YEARBOOK CAMP

Each track is designed as focused yearbook training for students and advisers who want clarity before the school year starts not chaos in October.

This isn’t just a brainstorming session—it’s a high-level creative workshop designed for staffs who want to push the boundaries of visual and verbal storytelling. This track is strictly limited in enrollment to ensure experience for every team.
This track is uniquely taught by two National Yearbook Advisers of the Year. You’ll have direct access to the most decorated minds in student journalism, receiving personalized direction and high-level strategy that you simply won’t find anywhere else.

Ideal for: Editors, theme teams, creative directors

Extra Fees Apply: $40

Being an editor isn’t just about having the best design eye in the room — it’s about setting the tone, managing people, and turning big ideas into an actual plan. This Learning Track is built for Editors-in-Chief, Section Editors, and rising leaders who want to run a confident, organized, low-drama yearbook room. If you’re ready to lead with clarity instead of chaos, this is your lane.
We go beyond software and into the real stuff: how to build a year-long roadmap, create a theme-driven ladder that strengthens coverage, establish workflows that actually work, and give clear, compassionate feedback that makes your staff better. You’ll practice leadership strategies, build systems for staying on schedule, and leave with daily routines that support both big goals and small wins — all while keeping the creative energy high.

Ideal for: Editors-in-chief, section editors, team leaders

Design isn’t just about making it look good — it’s about making it mean something. In this Learning Track, you’ll plan your storytelling before you ever open the software, so your spreads are built with intention from the start. We’ll break down how content, hierarchy, and structure work together to highlight the strongest stories of the year — not just fill a template.
Then we go deep. Color theory that actually sets a mood. Typography pairings that feel cohesive, not chaotic. Strategic coverage tools like mods, infographics, and man-on-the-street features that eliminate awkward white space and get more students in the book. You’ll leave knowing how to design spreads that feel polished, purposeful, and fully aligned with your theme — not random or recycled.

Ideal for: Designers, advanced staffers, returning editors

Whether you’re just learning your camera or already shooting in manual, this Learning Track is about leveling up your eye — not just your settings. Beginners will build real technical confidence, master action shots, and learn how to capture authentic candid moments that actually feel alive. We move beyond “point and shoot” into intentional storytelling — so every photo says something.
For advanced photographers, this is where things get serious. You’ve mastered the shutter — now it’s time to master the story. We focus on high-impact, emotionally driven photojournalism that defines a school year and elevates your entire book. This isn’t basic how-to content — it’s elite-level visual storytelling designed for photographers who want their work to stand out, win awards, and actually matter.

Ideal for: Photographers of all levels

This track is the ultimate “bootcamp” for students new to the world of yearbook. We’re going to pull back the curtain on how a blank page becomes a permanent piece of school history. You’ll learn The Art of the Interview & why brainstorming Coverage is important, captions that pop, and design foundations. You will leave camp with the knowledge to be a valuable member of your yearbook team.

Ideal for: First-year yearbook students

Whether you’re stepping into the journalism room for the first time or you’ve been advising for twenty years, this Learning Track is about building systems that work — and protecting your peace while you do it. We’ll map out your first 30 days of instruction (and what comes after), so you know exactly what to teach, when to teach it, and how to get your staff deadline-ready before the first bell even rings. No guessing. No scrambling. Just a clear plan.
We’ll also build a production schedule that actually fits your school using backwards mapping from your final ship date. Along the way, we tackle the real stuff: staff culture and management, working effectively with editors, navigating the grading dilemma, and mastering deadlines without burnout. You’ll leave with structure, strategy, and a calmer year ahead — not just more notes in a binder.

Ideal for: New and veteran advisers

NOT SURE WHICH LEARNING TRACK TO CHOOSE?

Think about your role this year.
  • Are you building the theme?
  • Running the staff?
  • Designing the book?
  • Learning the basics?
  • Guiding the entire program?
Choose the track that will change your year the most.
Still unsure?

Contact us and we’ll help you decide.

Yearbook CAMP Summer 2026
DATES & LOCATION

Vanguard University in Orange County, CA
Summer 2026 Dates: 
July 17 - 20th
Who Can Attend:
High school yearbook students and yearbook advisers (all skill levels)
Our SoCalYbk Camp Summer 2026 sessions are intentionally capped to keep Learning Tracks personal and high-impact.
Spots fill early and space is limited — especially for Theme Masterclass
EXPLORE THE EXPERIENCE

What Makes Our Yearbook Training HIT Different?

We don’t just inspire you for a weekend.
We help you build the foundation for your entire school year.
Students and advisers receive hands-on yearbook training that results in real, usable systems, not just ideas written in a notebook.

Leave with a Completed Yearbook Theme System
Through focused yearbook theme development, teams finalize their concept, messaging, visual direction, and coverage alignment — so the creative vision is fully built before school even starts.

Build a Real Coverage & Content Plan
Students create structured ladders and strategic coverage maps that ensure balanced storytelling, stronger representation, and fewer deadline surprises during the year.

Create Team Workflows That Actually Work
Our yearbook leadership training helps editors and advisers establish communication systems, production timelines, and staff management strategies that reduce stress and increase accountability.

Align Your Entire Yearbook Program Before the First Bell
Instead of figuring things out in September, your team leaves yearbook camp California aligned on goals, expectations, creative direction, and execution — with a roadmap for the full production cycle.

This is yearbook training for students and advisers who want clarity, structure, and momentum — not chaos.

Ready to lock in your learning track?

Spots in each Learning Track are intentionally capped to keep training high-impact.
If you’re serious about planning your yearbook before school starts, it’s time.
REGISTER FOR CAMP
Pricing and  Dates

SOCALYBK CAMP SUMMER 2026

SUMMER 2026
DATES
AND PRICING

Let’s talk investment and what you actually get for it.

So Cal Yearbooks Yearbook Camp Southern California Summer 2026 is a multi-day high school yearbook workshop designed to help students and advisers build a complete plan before the school year starts.
This isn’t just a camp.
It’s your entire year set up in four days.

Yearbook CAMP Summer 2026
DATES & LOCATION

July 17 - 20th
at Vanguard University in Orange County, CA

Stay in on campus housing or commute
Choose what works for your team

Our SoCalYbk Camp Summer 2026 sessions are intentionally capped to keep Learning Tracks personal and high-impact.
Spots fill early and space is limited — especially for Theme Masterclass
EXPLORE LEARNING TRACKS

YEARBOOK CAMP SUMMER 2026 Pricing

We keep pricing simple and transparent.

Student & Adviser pricing

OVERNIGHT STAY

$585

Includes:

  • Full access to your selected learning track and instructor
  • Breakout sessions
  • All workshop materials and digital resources
  • Theme planning sessions
  • Extracurricular camp activities
  • 3 nights on-campus housing
  • All meals provided daily


COMMUTER

$585

Includes:

  • Full access to your selected learning track and instructor
  • Breakout sessions
  • All workshop materials and digital resources
  • Theme planning sessions
  • Extracurricular camp activities
  • Lunch and dinner provided daily


Chaperone

$585

Includes:

  • 3 nights on-campus housing
  • All meals provided daily

optional add-ons

Theme Masterclass

$40

Early Arrival
(Arriving Thursday, July 16)

$120

Adviser, Single Occupancy.

$140

EXPLORE LEARNING TRACKS

PAYMENT POLICIES

Registrations are due June 1, 2026. Registrations or payments received after June 1 will be assessed an additional $50.00 administrative fee. After June 1, space is not guaranteed, please contact Camp Director Alison Jones at 949-292-5680 or alison@socalybk.com for all late registrations. Late registrations which will be accepted on a first-come, f irst-served basis.

CANCELLATION POLICIES

Socalybk requires cancellation submissions in writing. If you submit the request to cancel the registration prior to June 1, 2026, you will be given a refund of 75% of the paid tuition. If the request for cancellation is submitted after June 1, there will be no refund for your camper’s tuition. If you decide to transfer the tuition to another student, there will be a $50 administration fee. Cancellation requests due to illness or accident prior to the session’s start date will require a physician’s written verification. Upon receipt of verification, 75% of the paid tuition will be refunded.

The registration process

Each track is designed as focused yearbook training for students and advisers who want clarity before the school year starts not chaos in October.

1
Email us for payment codes if your school has special payment requirements.
2
Choose your learning track and lodging plan.
3
Submit registration form.
4
Pay deposit or full balance to secure your spot.

Why invest in yearbook camp?

ABOUT YEARBOOK CAMP

This yearbook workshop is more than training — it’s strategic planning time that sets your entire yearbook program up for success.

Students receive focused yearbook training. Advisers gain systems that prevent burnout. Teams leave aligned, confident, and ready to execute.

%
Fewer missed deadlines for schools that implement structured production schedules.
Higher staff retention year over year for student-led programs with defined leadership systems.
Yearbook programs that build a coverage ladder before school starts reduce last-minute content gaps.
Theme-driven yearbooks demonstrate stronger visual cohesion and improved storytelling consistency
%
Of yearbook students show measurable improvement in reading and writing skills

Frequently asked questions

Each track is designed as focused yearbook training for students and advisers who want clarity before the school year starts not chaos in October.

This camp is designed for high school yearbook students and advisers who want structured planning time before the school year begins.

No. While hosted in Southern California, schools from across the U.S. attend our yearbook summer camp.

Students and advisers choose separate Skill Sessions aligned to their roles, but collaborate during designated planning time.

Yes. Individual attendees are welcome, though we recommend attending with at least one teammate for maximum impact.

Housing is included. However, if you live local and want to commute to campus each day, we have options for that as well.

Deposits are non-refundable. Transfers to another attendee may be permitted with written notice at least 14 days before camp.

Registration and payment  is due no later than June 1, 2026. Any registration or payment received after June 1 will be assessed an additional $50.00 administrative fee.

Not sure yet?

Don’t wait until September to start planning.
The best yearbooks aren’t rushed.
They’re planned.

If you're looking for the most strategic and inspiring yearbook camp California Summer 2026 offers, this is your moment.
EXPLORE THE CAMP EXPERIENCE REVIEW THE LEARNING TRACKS

Ready to lock in your learning track?

Don’t wait until September to start planning.
The best yearbooks aren’t rushed.
They’re planned.

If you're looking for the most strategic and inspiring yearbook camp California Summer 2026 offers, this is your moment.
REGISTER FOR CAMP
Registration Page

SOCALYBK CAMP SUMMER 2026

SUMMER 2026
SOCALYBK
CAMP REGISTRATION

Thank you for registering for the Socalybk Camp
Please complete this form carefully and submit payment to be fully
registered. We look forward to seeing you in July!

Registrations and payment are due no later than June 1, 2026
Payment is collected on this form via Zelle, Venmo, or Apple Pay.
School checks are acceptable but must be received by 6/1/26

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So Cal’s newest yearbook camp designed for the next generation of yearbook advisers, editors, designers and visual storytellers.

Coming to
Vanguard University
July 17-20, 2026

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