Camp Gilboa Open House &
Work Weekend 2023
Family Camp: Sunday May 28th-Monday May 29th
Work Weekend: Friday May 26th-Monday May 29th
at Camp Gilboa in Big Bear Lake, CA
Gilboa opens the camp season each year by bringing together the whole community! New and prospective families, current camper families, alumni, board members, and friends are all invited to join in!
This year we have combined these weekends in a new way - Work Weekend will begin Friday May 26th and Family Camp begins Sunday May 28th.
This weekend is our classic work weekend, with a twist. It combines fun, recreational, and communal programming, such as medurah (campfire), with the community working together to prepare the campsite for the summer. It’s a great opportunity to get out of the city with the family, build community, have future campers get to know Gilboa, and give adults the chance to experience the magic of camp!
Who is invited?
Open House (Sunday May 28th 11-4pm)
New and prospective families are invited This includes families who have never been to camp, families with children younger than the summer camp ages, families of returning campers - please join us!
Programming is provided for children aged 4 and older. You are welcome to join with younger children, but we are unable to provide childcare for them.
Veteran campers 6th grade and up can join family camp without parents and will have counselors assigned to care for them throughout the weekend.
Work Weekend (Friday May 26-Monday May 29):
Alumni, tzevet, board members, volunteers, and veteran families are invited to spend the weekend getting camp ready for summer! It has been a tough winter and there will be plenty of repair and clean up to do around camp.
Veteran families who are coming for family camp are invited to join early for the work portion of the weekend, but please note there is not childcare until Sunday morning when family camp starts.
What do we do all weekend?
Have fun & get camp ready!
Throughout the weekend, there are blocks of family activities, such as kayaking, hiking, or art, and blocks where kids are with their counselors and parents are free to relax, explore, or join in on any of the site projects going on.
Families are welcome to join with kids of any age. During the kids-only blocks, programming is provided for children aged 4 and older, and parents of younger kids are responsible for their supervision.
We all come together for meals and evening activities by the medurah (campfire)!
Housing & Facilities
Space at Camp Gilboa is limited and will be reserved on a first-come, first-served basis. The campsite is recently renovated, yet designed to be rustic in nature. The cabins do not have electricity and are lit by solar lanterns. The main lodge has a lounge, a kitchen, and other facilities that all are welcome to use
Depending on the ages of children in your family, you can choose between spacious cabins, to be shared with another family, and small private rooms inside the main lodge. The cabins do not have electricity and are lit by solar lanterns. Bathrooms are a separate building, close to the cabins. The main lodge has a lounge, a kitchen, and other facilities that all are welcome to use.
If you have children in 1st grade and younger, we encourage you to choose the cabin option, especially if you are coming with another family that you would like to reside with. There are very few private rooms in the lodge with more than 2 beds.
Note that if you are only one adult, you may be assigned to a shared room with someone of the same gender.
Campers 2nd grade and older are invited to sleep in cabins with other kids and counselors to get a taste of what camp feels like! If you plan to have your camp-aged child stay with you instead, please let me know so we can be sure you are assigned to housing with enough beds. We are happy to be flexible according to your child's comfort and accommodate last-minute changes.
If we cannot accommodate your specific choice, we will contact you.
Schedule & Arrival
Arrival for Family Camp is 11am-12pm Sunday May 28th. We will wrap up by 12pm on Monday May 29th.
Detailed schedule coming soon.
Can't make it for the full weekend but still want to visit camp? You can join us for the day Sunday! You don't need to fill out the registration form, but please let us know of your plans by emailing Alison.
Meals
Vegetarian meals and snacks will be provided throughout the weekend. This will include lots of kid-friendly food, coffee and tea, and alternatives for people with dietary restrictions.
Cost & Registration
Family Camp is $185 per person, capped at $600 per family.
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This means the cost for a family of 2 is $370, a family of 3 is $555, and a family of 4 or more is $600.
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Children 3 and under are free, but please still include them on the registration!
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Space is limited and housing is reserved on a first-come, first-served basis, so register ASAP!
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Camp Gilboa is committed to lowering financial barriers and offers financial aid for all programs - please contact us if you are in need of assistance.
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Veteran families can join work weekend early for no extra cost. We ask that work weekend volunteers consider a donation of $50-100 to offset the costs.
Cancellation Policy
Refunds will be given until April 1st. After April 1st, any tuition paid for family camp will remain on your camp account to be used as credit for future Gilboa programs (summer camp or other weekend events).
Contact us for additional information.
See you at camp!