Registration is OPEN! Family Camp & Work Weekend 2025

Hello Gilboa!

Shosh & Arlo here - this year’s amazing Techni (technical director) team! We are so excited to announce that registration for Gilboa's Spring Work Weekend and Family Camp is open! REGISTER HERE to join us for either - or better yet, both! - up at our beautiful campsite in Big Beard in just over a month.

Work Weekend will begin the morning of Saturday, May 24th, and will end May 25th. But don’t get too sad, because we will be going straight into Family Camp May 25th through Monday, May 26th!!

1st session and 2nd session families: we encourage you to attend Work Weekend/Family Camp especially since Visitors Day this year will be during intersession for Full Summer families only. Work Weekend/Family Camp will be a great opportunity for you to spend some time with your camper(s) at our beautiful site in Big Bear!

REGISTER HERE!

Who’s invited?

Work Weekend

Saturday, May 24th - Sunday, May 25th

Alumni, tzevet, campers, volunteers, and returning families excited to give back to camp are invited for Work Weekend to help out with site projects and get camp ready for summer! While there will be kid-friendly projects, there will not be child care throughout the weekend. Campers rising grade 9+ can attend alone with parent/guardian approval. Younger minors should come with parents or other approved guardians who agree to be responsible for them throughout the weekend.
Ma'apilimot are invited to join work weekend early on Friday 5/23. All other work weekend participants are asked to arrive on Saturday 5/24 as early as possible, and by noon at the latest. Work weekend will end with Sunday at lunch.

Family Camp

Sunday, May 25th - Monday, May 26th

Join us for a weekend of fun and learning at our beautiful campsite in the mountains of Big Bear! Families with young or future campers - this is a great way to ease your child into camp! Veteran families - join us and play host for new families!
Programming will be provided for children ages 4 and older. You are welcome to come with younger children, and they will be able to participate in all family programming, however we are unable to provide childcare for them. Teens (starting at current 8th grade) can come without parents/guardians. Current 8th graders are campers, 9th-10th graders are madatz (CITs), and 11th grade and up are staff! Any counselors under the age of 18 need to fill out this form with a parent signature.
Family camp participants are asked to arrive on Sunday 5/25 between 11:30am-12pm. Family camp will end with lunch on Monday.

Family Camp combines fun, recreational, and communal programming (such as medura - 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! See the seder yom (schedule) below for a more detailed weekend schedule.

Housing & Facilities:

Space at Camp Gilboa is limited and will be reserved on a first-come, first-served basis, and assigned by camp staff. The campsite was 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. Note that if you are only one adult, you may be assigned to a shared room with someone of the same gender.

General Seder Yom (Schedule):

Friday & Saturday (work weekend): Arrive when you can and be ready to work! We will be providing meals, snacks, and housing for work weekend volunteers starting with Friday Shabbat dinner. Saturday morning: Work Weekend arrival & check in

First meal we'll serve altogether is Saturday lunch
Saturday we'll work all day
Saturday night we'll have havdallah and maybe a medurah (bonfire)
Sunday we will continue work projects until lunch
Work weekend will officially conclude with Sunday lunch, but if you'd like to stay longer and keep working you can!

Sunday at 11:30am-noon: Family Camp arrival & check in

First meal we'll serve together is Sunday lunch
Sunday afternoon: family camp activity and programs for kids, parents can relax or join projects
Monday morning: wrap up activities, opportunity to explore the campsite
Last meal we'll serve together is lunch

Cost

Work Weekend:

While we are not charging for work weekend, we ask that you make a donation of $36-$180 per person via our website if you are coming for the weekend.

Donations can be made for Work Weekend can be paid by going to campgilboa.org/give and dedicating the donation to Work Weekend.

Family Camp

Family camp participants are asked to pay tuition of $150-$200 per person depending on your ability. If housing fills up and parents/families choose to camp onsite or stay at a nearby motel, you will be charged a reduced rate of $75 per person staying off camp/camping. Total charges per family are capped at $550. Madatz and Tzevet attend for free.

Payments can be made by going to campgilboa.org/give and dedicating your payment to ‘Family Camp’.

Cancellation and Refund Policy:

Refunds for Family Camp will be given until May 11th. After May 11th, 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).

Transportation

We will be coordinating carpools for high schoolers/maapilimot. In your registration form, you will indicate if you need a ride or have space. Those who are driving, we will need your extra seats so please help out if you can!

Participants flying from the Bay or elsewhere, please contact Alison to discuss - alison@campgilboa.org

COVID Safety

While we wish that we could control every possible risk, and while we will use our best efforts to keep your family safe from the Covid-19 virus, we cannot promise or guarantee that this or any other pathogen will not enter the camp. By registering, you acknowledge that you understand this risk. We recommend testing before coming and ask that if you are feeling sick (regardless of covid test result) you stay home.

If you have any questions, feel free to contact Rebecca (rebecca@campgilboa.org) or Alison (alison@campgilboa.org) or give us a call at 323-653-6772.