FAQ

Transportation and Accomodations

What time should I arrive in camp on the first day if I do not take the bus to Caz?

Please arrive at camp on the first day between 10:30 AM and 11:30 AM. Our program begins promptly at 11:30 AM.

Do I have to stay at camp the whole time?

Yes, campers have to be at camp for the entire session, from the first day through the last. Because of our music program’s focus on ensemble, we cannot accommodate late arrivals, early departures, or breaks mid-session. There are no exceptions to this rule.

What are the camper accommodations like?

Campers stay in large tent decks on platforms above the forest floor. Personal belongings and instruments are stored in the tent. Beds are set up on the outdoor deck where campers sleep at night under the stars. Showers and toilets are in buildings nearby, and tents and changing rooms are available for privacy. Boys and Girls Camps are located at opposite ends of the property.

What items should I pack to bring to Camp?

The Caz Packing List is available in the Camper Handbook.

Please do not bring: portable stereo or audio systems, laptops, video game players, cell phones (they do not work in the canyon), beepers, fireworks (illegal in Western Sonoma County), electric clocks or radios, or snacks. We also recommend you don’t bring anything you would really miss if it was lost or broken.

How much money should I bring to Camp?

There is no need to bring any money to camp. Each camper receives a camp t-shirt the first day, and between meals snacks including peanut butter and jelly, water, and fresh fruit are available. There is a camp store which carries camp merchandise, additional snacks, and toiletries. Most parents open a camp store account through the Berkeley office when registering their child for camp. This allows campers to shop without having to keep track of any cash: a typical amount to put in a Caz store account is $10–$25 per week. Cash is also accepted at the store and parents can easily shop there before or after the camp concerts.

Is there laundry service at Caz?

There are no laundry facilities available at camp. For those campers staying longer than one week, parents can bring a set of clean clothes to replace the dirty laundry to the mid-session concert. Alternatively, parents can take their child’s laundry to Guerneville or another nearby town laundromat after the mid-session concert.

Communication and Visitors

How does mail get to my son/daughter?

For USPS mail service, send your letters and care packages to:

Camper’s Name
Cazadero Music Camp
P.O. Box 140
Cazadero, CA 95421

For UPS, UPS OVERNIGHT & EXPRESS MAIL, send your letters and care packages to:

Camper’s Name
Cazadero Music Camp
5000 Austin Creek Road
Cazadero, CA 95421

Please note: allow 4 days for letters sent via US mail to travel in either direction. While mail is delivered and distributed daily at camp, Express Mail arrives later in the day, so please plan accordingly.

Can my camper use the telephone?

Under normal circumstances we do not allow campers to use the phone to call home, nor allow calls from home to the camper. If parents have a special circumstance that requires a telephone call to your camper, please call the camp office at (707) 632-5159 and ask to speak to the Cazadero Camp Director, and your message will be written down and delivered to your camper. IN CASE OF EMERGENCY, PLEASE DO NOT HESITATE TO CALL THE CAMP DIRECTOR AT ANY TIME, DAY OR NIGHT.

What about visitors?

Because “drop in” visits can create a number of problems, including disrupting programs, diverting staff, or setting off bouts of homesickness in susceptible campers, they are not allowed during the week, except at concerts, when parents are strongly encouraged to attend.

How can I contact the camp?

Our camp mailing address is:

Cazadero Music Camp
P.O. Box 140
Cazadero, CA 95421

To reach our Camp Director, Jim Mazzaferro, you can either email jim@cazadero.org, or call (707) 632-5159, including after hours.

To reach our Administrative office in Berkeley, contact Emily Brockman, our Registrar, at emily@cazadero.org or (510) 527-7500, ext 10.

What if my child becomes homesick?

Missing home is normal, especially for younger campers. In our experience, it’s best not to prolong your departure from camp or suggest that your child might be homesick. We find homesickness typically subsides in 24 to 48 hours. Every counselor at Cazadero is trained to provide comfort and support, and encourage the formation of new friendships at camp. It’s helpful to have family members send funny stories from home, as well as writing encouraging letters (even leaving a few at the camp office). Write often—and please refrain from promising a camper that he/she can come home unless your child is truly ill.

Mail your letters right away—don’t risk having your letter arrive after a child has left camp.

In our 50 years of creating a successful camp experience, we offer these suggestions for you to keep in mind:

• Letters: In rare cases, a very homesick child might stretch the truth in a letter, hoping to gain your sympathy, to have you visit camp or take them home. Rest assured that our counselors are trained to handle most situations—talking with your child to help them feel reassured, and/or to resolve almost any issue that may arise.
• Incoming calls: If you suspect your child is homesick, please don’t call the camp office to ask for your child. Homesickness is aggravated rather than relieved by phone conversations—and can disrupt camp activities.
• Outgoing calls: Children are not allowed to call home. However, if our counselors or staff feel a situation has become unmanageable, we will definitely contact you!

Above all, rest assured that parents’ concerns are important to us! Feel free to contact ourCamp Director, who will be happy to discuss your child’s progress and our strategy for helping him/her adjust to camp.

What happens in case of emergencies?

Cazadero has multiple strategies in place to protect all campers in the event of an emergency. There is at least one full-time nurse who lives at the camp during our Summer Music Camp and acts as a first responder for any injuries. There are plans in place for moving campers to local emergency clinics or nearby hospitals if necessary. In addition, all camp staff are regularly drilled in safety and evacuation procedures and many have both first aid and CPR training as well.

How does Cazadero deal with health and safety issues?

All campers are required to submit a doctor’s signed approval for camp participation. In addition, the information you provide on the Confidential Health Form provides an opportunity for staff to effectively accommodate any special help your child might require. Please share the health information requested and be assured that it is handled in the strictest confidence, and kept with your child’s medical records in the Infirmary. In addition, campers are screened for medical problems at check in.

Occasionally campers do become ill at camp or require other medical attention. Our camp has a well-equipped health facility, complete with dispensary and isolation rooms. A certified nurse or EMT is on-call 24-hours a day while camp is in session.

In addition to our camp’s medical staff, arrangements have been made with nearby physicians and local hospitals for consultation and emergency service. In order to ensure a child’s ability to be treated for any and all medical emergencies, we require the parent’s SIGNED authorization, and a list of ALL HEALTH INSURANCE ACCOUNTS. This paperwork is required for each camper prior to their arrival at camp.

Any time a camper is referred for medical treatment outside of camp, or is restricted from normal program participation for more than 24-hours, we will contact parents. In the event that your child requires medical treatment beyond our medical staff, you will be advised of and billed for such services, through your family accident/health medical insurance, and for any other medical expenses such as special medication and/or supplies recommended by the physician.

All prescription medication brought into Camp must be accompanied by written orders, signed by a physician. Orders must include the camper’s full name, dosage amount, delivery times, and any limitations or restrictions.