SFFMC Summer Gatherings!
Since 2021, we have held summer holiday weekend gatherings at Camp Herms, a 20-acre camp high in the El Cerrito hills, on the weekends of Memorial Day, “July 4”, and Labor Day. Many have come to our gatherings at Camp Herms, mostly for day use, and they loved it!
In 2024, we will return to Camp Herms for our “July 4” and Labor Day weekend gatherings, which will run from July 5 to 8 and from August 30 to September 2.
More info about our Camp Herms gatherings is below.
DATES:
Our 2024 July 4 weekend event will go from 1 pm on Friday afternoon, July 5 until 2 pm on Monday, July 8. (Those who come early on Friday or stay late on Monday are asked to help with setup/breakdown.)
Our 2024 Labor Day weekend event will go from 1 pm on Friday afternoon August 30 until 2 pm on Monday, September 2.
Directions to Camp Herms: The camp address is 1100 James Place, El Cerrito. From the “Circle” in Berkeley, follow Arlington Blvd. for about 2+ miles. Pass Arlington Park in El Cerrito, about 0.6 miles north of Moeser Lane, then turn right off Arlington Blvd. onto Thors Bay Road, then right into the camp at 1100 James Place. (Or use directions from Google Maps.)
RATES for 2024 are: Adults: $25/night per person. Day use rate for adults: $15/person per day. Kids under 15: $10 for day use, $10 per night.
REGISTRATION: We strongly encourage all who come to camp to be fully vaccinated and boosted for covid-19.
There is no pre-registration or pre-payment. Please bring cash or checks made out to SFFMC. Registration will be inside the Lodge (Main Hall), which is the large building to your left as you enter the gate. Parking for registration is in the parking lot across from the Lodge.
You don’t need to be a club member to attend, but you’re welcome to join before or at camp! Membership forms (new members and renewals) will be available at the registration table and are online at https://www.sffmc.org/join-us .
Please note that changes in our plans for these gatherings might be necessary if the air is unhealthy due to smoke. If that happens, we will put out the word as widely as we can. We encourage you to occasionally check the website for possible changes.
ACTIVITIES: Workshops, open mics, and informal singing and playing sessions. We will have a potluck dinner on Saturday night. Please bring your own food and you can use the kitchen both for preparation and storage. There is a large walk-in refrigerator and freezer, plates, cups, utensils and cookware available but you need to clean up after yourself when using the kitchen and its supplies.
WORKSHOPS: Anyone can lead a workshop. Hour-long workshops will go from 11 am to 6 pm on Saturday and Sunday with some extra time in case they run a bit over: 11-12:30, 12:30-2, 2-3:30, 3:30-5, 5-6. There will be two workshops in each of these time frames. We now set up some workshops in advance of camp. Email Daniel Hersh at hrshsand@earthlink.net if you are interested in leading one. Please include subject and time preferred. These will be posted on our website and advertised on the Harmony e-list. One workshop per person please.
You may also sign up to lead a workshop after you get to camp if there are spots left. A sign-up board will be located near registration.
Workshops scheduled so far for our “July 4” weekend gathering:
Saturday, July 6
12:30 -2 Humorous Songs of Alan Sherman and Tom Lehrer, led by Danny Hirsch
Here are some examples of workshops that were scheduled in the past:
Slow jam including waltz book waltzes; Quebecois tune session; Old-time (and more) tune session; Irish tune session; Animal songs workshop; In Harmony’s Way song circle; Songs of John Prine; Songs of Alan Sherman and Tom Lehrer; Jokes workshop (and more!)
OPEN MICS: Sign up at registration to perform or emcee. No outdoor music after 10:00 pm except at the fire pit.
JAMS: Around camp during the day, at the fire circle at night.
THE LODGE: The Lodge will be a shelter for day use in case of inclement weather or a good place to jam. A disabled access ramp is located at one end of the Lodge deck. The lodge has the following facilities:
• The Main Hall is a large room with a stage. Evening open mics will be held in this room; it is available for other activities at other times.
• The North Room has a capacity of about forty-five and available for jamming or other activities at all times.
• Two restrooms.
• There is an additional, smaller third room by the restrooms which might work for small music gatherings or quiet activities.
• A large kitchen, with large stoves, microwave, refrigerators and a freezer. We can use the plates, pans, silverware and serving utensils. WE MAY USE THE KITCHEN, BUT WE MUST KEEP IT CLEAN. Two propane barbecues are available behind the kitchen.
RV CAMPING: RVs are welcome; they can park in the parking lot across from the Lodge, but no hookups are available.
TENT CAMPING: There is space available for tents in all the following areas:
• The Redwood Grove: a large fairly even lot about the size of a football field on a residential street in the El Cerrito Hills, down a hill from the camp lodge. There is a bathroom building at one end. You may drive in to unload or load, but please move your car to the parking lot as soon as possible. Do not drive on areas with wood chips or you may get stuck.
• The Archery Range: at the back of the Quarry, this is the only tent camping area that’s on the same elevation as the lodge. (One streetlight in the Quarry stays on all night, but it is not by the Archery Range.)
• The Rim Campsites: These six campsites, well up the hill from the lodge, are unimproved and somewhat level areas with no toilet facilities. They are located along the Camp Herms property line and some are quite close to nearby houses.
SPECIAL NEEDS: There will be camping spots available adjacent to the parking lot. Please let us know in advance if you need specific accommodations so we can be prepared to make your stay as comfortable as possible.
NOTES:
• Access to the Rim sites is by either a footpath or a fairly steep unpaved maintenance road. We may not drive on the maintenance road or footpaths.
VERY IMPORTANT: The camp has neighbors along the borders of the camp, so all music after 10:00 p.m. must be inside the Lodge with the windows and doors closed or at the fire pit. Any conversation and activity after 10 pm must be quiet outdoors.
PLEASE NOTE: Since this camp is in a developed area adjacent to streets and houses and it has no gate, it is not a secure location. Neighbors use the camp as a walking area and may wander through while we are there. Because of this, we strongly recommend that instruments and other valuables not be left unattended at camp.
REGULATIONS: Since this is a Boy Scout camp, we must follow their rules, including: no pets, no alcohol, no smoking, no sleeping in the Lodge, outdoor music after 10:00 pm only at the fire pit. All required chores must be done before we leave. A list will be at camp.
CHORES: Attendees are asked to sign up for a chore. Chores include registration, cleanup of Lodge, kitchen, Lodge bathrooms and all campsites, and other duties as needed. We need to clean up the camp before we leave.
Day use attendees who come for more than a few hours will be asked to contribute ½ hour of time per camp.
Overnight campers over 12 years old will need to do at least an hour of duty per camp: registration or cleanup of Lodge, kitchen, Lodge bathrooms and all campsites, and other duties as needed. (Extra hours are appreciated, especially for cleanup.) Please sign up at the registration table right after arriving. If you can’t show up for your chore, leave a note at registration so we can cover the time. Last-day cleanup help is especially needed. You can park in the lot until you are finished with cleanup; just vacate your campsite on time.
Since Camp Herms is not a fully secure location, we ask that you please do not publicize this event outside folk music circles.
Questions about camp? Email Hali Hammer at halih@yahoo.com .