The camp is among the redwoods about a mile from Boulder Creek on Bear Creek Road. A paved road leads two-tenths of a mile from the highway into the camp, going up a hill and ending at the kitchen. On the deck by the kitchen door is an ice machine, with plenty of ice (free).
Outside the kitchen is an outdoor dining area with picnic tables and umbrellas. Nearby are eight tent-cabins with cots, a swimming pool and a bathroom with showers.
On July 4, the weather is usually great for swimming. We plan to have a lifeguard (required) and swimming noon to 4:00 p.m. on the second and third days.
The camp is a linear design, with campsites along the road, room for 100 to 200 people. Many of the campsites have firepits, and often the camp has firewood available.
At the bottom of the hill is a large flat site which accommodates tents, with a parking lot nearby. Near this are bathrooms with flush toilets and running water.
We cannot drive directly into the campsites; we have to park the vehicles in the parking lot or along the paved road and use carts provided by the camp to take our camping gear a short distance to the campsites. RVs must park in the parking lot.
The road is one-lane, with no loop at the end, and we have to keep it clear at all times for emergency vehicles. It is important for everyone to follow the directions for parking. We will have people to register campers and direct parking. Vehicles must back into parking spaces.
The main outdoor amphitheater seats about one hundred or more people and has a stage that can be lit at night. We usually have open mics there the second and third nights of the campout. Signup sheets will be at the registration table.
There will be a community potluck at the outside dining area near the kitchen on Saturday night at 6:30 p.m., followed by open mics in the amphitheater. Food can be stored in the refrigerator or freezer in the camp kitchen; it has to be removed by 11:00 a.m. on the last day.
The kitchen has a stove, pots and pans, also a sink for washing dishes. Please mark clearly all dishes, pans and utensils that you want returned to you. Bring your own plates and silverware to the potluck dinner; paper plates and plastic eating utensils may be useful.
Two hiking trails lead from the camp: one a self-guided historical trail about 3.5 miles long (about one and one-half hours), and the other a nature trail about 1.5 miles long.
We need all adults (except day use attendees) to sign up for an hour of duty: parking, registration or camp cleanup, especially at the end of camp. Kids can be helpful with cleanup.
The camp has neighbors directly across Bear Creek, so any singing after 10:00 p.m.—the usual curfew for noise—near the creek will need to be quiet songs. It would be best if we can locate our singing circle or circles as far from the creek if possible if we plan to sing later than that.
If camping isn’t your style, you could choose to come for the day ($5.00), rent an RV, or stay in a motel nearby.
Although we would love to have you as a member of the San Francisco Folk Music Club, it isn’t necessary to be a member to attend the camp.
Click here for a registration form. A confirmation letter and directions to the camp will be sent to you when you register. If you don’t register ahead of time, come anyway; there will be plenty of room.
We’ll have informal jams in the daytime and around the campfires at night, open mics two nights and workshops on various topics. Workshops are still being planned. Workshop suggestions are welcome, either ideas for topics or offers to lead a workshop. Send suggestions to or sign up for a workshop at camp.
More information is in the May/June folknik, the online and print editions.
