What are the core missions of Campybara? 

Our camp has four core missions that center around nature, community, creativity, and independence.  

How do we connect with nature?

To encourage connecting with nature, we have several talks within each session that focus on the specific ecology of that session. Of course we also go beyond the academic, by exploring, usually through hiking, the different eco-systems that surround us. We further encourage this connection through our choice of arts and crafts, journaling, and allowing nature to inspire our subject matter.

How do we build community?

Building community starts with getting to know each other, and continues with fostering clear communication. We acheive the first by engaging campers in constructed conversation in our many daily group meetings. We encourage campers to speak their mind, and listen when others do. For example, during dinners, we ask campers the question of the day. This could be "would you tell us something you learned about yourself this year?" The answers could be long or short, but they often ending up as the starting point to our conversation around the dinner table. We find that by modeling this type of communications the conversation between campers that we hear on the last day end up being deeper and more meaningful than the ones we hear on the first day.

How do we promote creativity?

While we are not primarily an art camp, we do incorporate art in a daily manner. We provide each camper with their own hard-bound bare book. We take time each day to journal about what we did and learned, and to make sketches of elements from our surroundings with pencils or water colors.

Aside from working in our bare books, we also have other crafts that campers can choose from: jewelry making, wood-working, linoleum cutting, t-shirt printing, and more.

How do we promote independence and personal growth?

We realize that many of our campers are camping without their parents for the first time. Therefore, any push we have towards independence, is done in a gentle way. Generally speaking, we believe campers should be self sufficient and contributing members of our community.

In the realm of general camping, campers learn to set up and take care of their own tents, separate laundry to bring back home, make sure to hang up wet clothing, and learn how to arrange their tents. Of course, we also remind campers to brush their teeth and change their underwear daily.

In the kitchen, campers learn to cook with our guidance. They stir, chop and serve their fellow campers. They also wash their own dishes in a way that makes sure they are clean and dry for their next meal. 

In the realm of arts and crafts, we teach campers to always work in a clean environment and always put back their tools. By the end of the week, we barely have to say anything to them. 

Do I need to drive my child all the way to camp?

No. We arrange for transportation to and from camp. We have a truck for gear, and depending on enrollment, either a car or a van for campers. Parents drop off their children at 9 am the first day of camp, and collect them at around 5 pm on the last day of camp. We announce last minute updates via emails. For our Sierra session, the drop-off and pick-up location is 1958 Wild Oak Lane, Chico, CA. For our Cascades session, it is, 5754 SE 21st Ave, Portland, OR.

How do we divide camp tasks?

Campers are divided into three groups of mixed ages and genders. Each group has a different task throughout the day: Cooking, Cleaning, and Fire. We rotate the groups each day to make sure everybody has a chance to do everything. 

How do meals work at camp?

Camp meals are kid-friendly with organic and fresh ingredients whenever it is feasible. We are dependent upon our large coolers and block ice to keep food fresh. Staff eat with the campers and like to teach their small groups to cook. We are able to accommodate most food needs easily including gluten-free, vegetarian, allergies and kosher (to an extent).

Breakfasts rotate between pancakes, french toast, eggs and potatoes, and hot and cold cereal. Each breakfast is accompanied by fresh fruit, and on extra cold mornings we also serve hot cocoa. 

Lunch usually consists of a sandwich buffet with options of sliced meats, cheeses, baked tofu, lettuce, tomatoes and onions, as well as PB&J, and a variety of breads and. When we go on hikes we bring bagels and cream cheese. 

Campers are always hungry, so each day we offer mid-day snacks in addition to meals. Snacks consist of fresh fruit or carrots with pretzels or chips and salsa.

Dinners are served at around 6pm. The serving involves asking campers the question of the day, which often guides our conversations throughout dinner. Campers are required to have salad or carrots before they are served the main dish, which changes daily between: hamburgers and hot dogs, spaghetti bolognese, chicken burrito bar, pesto pasta, homemade macaroni and cheese, chicken burrito bar, vegetarian stir-fry, and black bean chili. 

Desserts are served at campfires, and rotate between oreos, home-baked treats sent by parents, as well as the obligatory marshmallows and S’mores.

What’s a typical daily schedule at Campybara?

Staff begins making breakfast at around 7:00. Campers who have been awake might come and help us with the preparations. We wake up late-sleepers by 8:00. After clean-up, the day will either consist of a full day activity with packed lunches and snacks, or two half day activities, where, for example, we’ll work on crafts in the morning, have lunch, then go to a lake in the afternoon. In both cases, we aim to arrive back at our campground by 5:00, so we can start preparing dinner. After eating and cleaning, we join together for our campfire at around 8:00. We have dessert, sing songs, play music, and talk about our next day. After brushing our teeth, we go to sleep. Quiet hours begin at 10pm and last till 7am.

How do you incorporate “Leave No Trace" principles in your camp?

One of our goals is to make environmental stewards of our campers. A useful set of principles that guide us trough this goal is the "leave no trace" principles. (https://www.nps.gov/articles/leave-no-trace-seven-principles.htm). We teach these to campers which allows us to move through the natural world in a way that impacts it the least. That said, we are not zealots of these principles. For example, we do teach campers what plants they can munch on and we do allow them to use the natural world as a source of ingredients for their artistic creation.

What do campers bring home from camp?

We hear from parents that campers come back home slightly transformed (and slightly dirty).  They'll bring home a walking stick they made, notes about photosynthesis they learned about, a t-shirt they printed, a wooden sculpture they created, a bunch of sketches they made, and maybe even singing a new song the learned at campfire. Aside from these physical things, campers will come home less addicted to screens, less concerned about getting dirty, more confident about making a fire and building their tent, more willing to try new food, and more confident about social interactions.

Mail Delivery

There is no mail delivery at camp. If you want to communicate with your child, enclose a note in his/her duffel bag. We do offer postcards to campers, midway through the session, and encourage them to write a note home. We do not require this.

Phone Access

There is no phone service at camp. Most sessions do not even have cell phone service. You can try calling us and leaving a message at 707-583-9627. Emergency phone contact numbers:

• Plumas Eureka Campground, CA 530-836-2388

• Mt. Adams Ranger district, WA 509-395-3402

Do you allow cell phones at Campybara?

No phones are allowed. Our camp not only offers the opportunity to spend a week in nature, it also offers the opportunity to spend the week off our phones. Both our staff and campers have expressed an appreciation of both. There are also the practical aspects of having no service, no way to charge your phone, and no way to keep it safe and dry during our week of activities. 

What else is not allowed at Campybara?

Aside from phones, please also do not bring tablets or other electronics. Cameras are the exception for this rule. Don’t bring snacks. The wild animals get to them and we provide campers with daily healthy snacks. Lastly, drugs of any kind, legal or illegal, are prohibited. Please hand us any medication your child must take and we will make sure they will take them.

Can my child bring a pocket knife to camp?

Yes! Camp is an excellent place to learn to use a pocket knife safely. The kind we recommend is a lock blade pocket knife. It reduces the risk of closing on your fingers when you use it. You can also bring a hatchet if you want. Please do not bring sheath knives to camp.

Any other questions?

Email us at CampCampybara@gmail.com