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FAQ
I have misplaced my 2010 Camper Handbook, how may I obtain another?
Click here to download a PDF of the 2010 Camper Handook. (not yet available).
Where
do you get your counselors?
Our unit counselors are from colleges and universities from all over
the United States. We boast a strong core of staff that returns year
after year, often passing up higher-paying jobs to come and work at Cazadero. Our counselors have
a passion for working with children and for making sure that all of our
campers have the musical and social time of their lives!
Are
there any discounts or scholarships available?
Yes, Cazadero does have a scholarship program. If you are interested in
applying for financial assistance there is a scholarship application available for download on the website by clicking here. please contact us. Scholarships are awarded based on need and merit. There is also a 10% discount available
to those who send multiple children from the same family or for those sending one camper to multiple sessions. .
What
is the maximum number of campers per session?
For Summer 2010, the maximum number of campers that we can take per session is 168. Campers are sorted by age and gender and then grouped into tent units of no more than 12. These units are overseen by the same counselor all session and spend much of their day together giving campers a family-like unit inside the larger Caz community.
How do I decide which session is most appropriate for my child?
We want every camper to have the optimum camp experience, often challenged but never overwhelmed. Therefore, Cazadero's camp sessions have some overlap in grade recommendations and it is sometimes hard to decide which session is the best fit for your camper. There are general guidelines on the registration forms in the section to be filled out by your camper's music teachers: if this does not serve to answer the question, the office is always happy to discuss the various options with you. Call to talk to us at 510-527-7500. Is All Camp Choir (Young Musicians and Middle School Sessions) required for the whole camp?
All Camp Choir for Young Musicians and Middle School campers is 45 minutes each day, and is required for everyone. Medical studies have shown that there are no ill-effects from required singing in an instrumental music camp.
What about electives offered at Caz?
During Young Musicians and Middle School sessions, campers participate in All-camp Choir for one hour daily. Campers may also select an additional one-hour elective class such as music theory, conducting, jazz improvisation, chamber ensembles, instrumental techniques, percussion improvisation, sports, arts and crafts, and nature studies. (Click here for more information on the nature program.) Electives offered vary from session to session. Elective assignments are based on camper preference, level of ability level, and class availability.
What time should I arrive in camp on the first day if I do not ride the bus?
You should arrive at camp on the first day between 10:30 AM and 11:30 AM.
Do
really I have to stay at camp the whole time?
Yes, you really have to be at camp for the entire session, from the first day to the last. Because of our music program's focus on ensemble work, we cannot accommodate late arrivals or early departures. There are no exceptions to this rule
What are the camper accommodations like?
Campers live in large tents on platforms above the forest floor. Beds are set up on the decks outside the tent and campers sleep out under the stars at night. Showers and toilets are in buildings nearby and tents and changing rooms are available for privacy when needed. Boys and girls camps are at opposite ends of the property.
What
happens in case of emergencies?
Cazadero has multiple strategies in place to protect all campers in case of emergency. There are two professional, full-time nurses who live at camp during our youth sessions and act as first responders for any injuries. There are plans in place for moving campers to local emergency clinics or nearby hospitals should that be necessary. All camp staff is regularly drilled in safety and evacuation procedures and many have first aid and CPR training as well.
What items should I pack to bring to Camp?
Pack everything in a suitcase or duffel bag and label everything you bring with your full name.
- Sleeping bag & pillow (plus wool blanket if your bag is light)
- Pillow Case*
- Flashlight, with extra batteries*
- Casual clothes for everyday wear
- Swimsuit
- Beach towel
- Rubber sandals or other non-skid shoes for pool & shower
- Well-built shoes for lots of walking around camp: Closed-toe shoes REQUIRED in camp except at pool
- Mirror, towels and toilet articles
- Personal medication (give to the Camp Nurse) labeled!
- Sunscreen
- Insect repellent
- Personal sports equipment (balls, gloves, frisbee, etc.) labeled!
- Musical instrument(s) labeled!
- Camera and film*
- Favorite CDs - labeled! (for our Cazadero Dances!)
*for sale at Caz Camp Store
Theme Clothes to bring:
Fun PJs for the pajama breakfast
Hawaiian or tie-dyed shirts for the wildest shirt contest
Please do not bring:
Portable stereo or audio systems, video game players, cell phones (they do not work in the canyon), beepers, fireworks (illegal in Western Sonoma County), electric clocks or radios, snacks. 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 has access to peanut butter and jelly, water, and fresh fruit at any time during the day. There is a camp store which is supplied with merchandise, snacks, and toiletries. Most parents open a camp account through the Berkeley office during registration. This allows campers to shop without having to keep track of any cash: a typical amount to put on account is $10 - $15 per week. Cash is accepted at the store and parents can easily shop there before or after the camp concerts.
What
is the staff to camper ratio?
The ratio of staff to campers is about 3 campers per 1 staff member. We are always careful to maximize supervision whenever possible. This helps guarantee a healthy and happy camp environment. We also work to encourage campers to mentor and work with one another.
What
about cabin assignments?
Cabin assignments will be made on the basis of age and school grade and are decided the week before the session begins. Campers are welcome to make requests for certain roommates but due to age and space constraints we can't promise to accommodate them all.
Is
there laundry service at Caz?
There are no laundry facilities available at camp. For those campers staying longer than one week, parents should bring clean clothes to replace the dirty laundry, or may take their laundry to Guerneville or other nearby town after the mid-week concert.
How
does mail get to my son/daughter?
Mail is important to a camper. Happy letters from home or better yet, care packages, make for an exciting moment in a camper's day. Your child will be encouraged to write home as well but don't expect to get too many letters since the campers are very busy. Please allow 4 days for letters to travel in either direction. With younger campers, it might be a good idea to pre-stamp and address several envelopes or postcards for relatives and friends.
Send camper USPS mail to:
Camper's Name
Cazadero Music Camp
P.O. Box 140
Cazadero, CA 95421
UPS, UPS OVERNIGHT & EXPRESS MAIL: Parents who send packages to campers via UPS/Fed Ex should not use the regular camp post office address- it will only delay delivery. Please note that overnight packages mailed after Wednesday of the second week may not reach your child before they leave to go back home.
For faster service, address package to:
Camper's Name
Cazadero Music Camp
5000 Austin Creek Road
Cazadero, CA 95421
Please allow this to take a few days to reach camp and your camper. Even though mail is given out each day, Express mail does not come in until later. So please plan accordingly.
How does Cazadero deal with
discipline?
Cazadero staff is carefully trained to work with children in a positive and trusting environment. It is assumed that campers are amenable to normal camp discipline and will conform to the ideals and regulations of our camp program. Click here to see a copy of the camp rules.
Cazadero has a zero tolerance policy regarding alcohol, illegal drugs, theft, weapons, or vandalism. Campers found in violation of this policy will be sent home immediately with no refund of fees.
Can my camper use the telephone?
Telephones are not available for campers: under normal circumstances we do not allow phone calls home during the session. If parents have an emergency that requires a telephone call, please ask to speak to the Camp Director , and your message will be written down and delivered to your camper. IN CASES OF EMERGENCY, DO NOT HESITATE TO CALL THE CAMP DIRECTOR AT ANY TIME OF THE DAY OR NIGHT.
What about visitors?
"Drop in" visits can create a number of problems, sometimes disrupting programs, diverting staff, or setting off bouts of homesickness in susceptible campers. First day check-in, mid-week concerts, and last day concerts are good times to visit with staff and tour facilities, not during the week. If parents are going to be in the area, please make phone arrangements ahead of time. It is important that all visitors check in at the office. When visiting, please do not ask to take other campers from camp unless it has been prearranged with that camper's parents and we have a signed note at the camp.
How
can I contact the camp?
Cazadero Music Camp
P.O. Box 140
Cazadero, CA 95421
(707) 632-5159
Director E-mail: jim@cazadero.org
After hours, please contact the Camp Director at (707) 632-5159
How
does Cazadero deal with health and safety issues?
All campers are screened for medical problems at check in. Occasionally campers do become ill or require other medical attention. 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.
In addition to Camp's medical staff, arrangements have been made with nearby physicians and local hospitals for consultation and emergency service. To complete the arrangement for medical service, we need the parent's SIGNED authorization and ALL INSURANCE NUMBERS. Cazadero must have this signed authorization on file 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, parents will be contacted. Your family accident/health medical insurance will be billed, and you will be advised of and billed 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 that are signed by a physician. Orders must include the camper's full name, dosage amount, delivery times, and any limitation.
The information requested on the Confidential Health Form provides an opportunity for staff to work more effectively with any special help your child might require. Please share the requested information and be assured that it is handled in the strictest confidence and is kept with your child's medical records in the Infirmary.
What if my child becomes homesick?
Homesickness is a normal experience in the process of growing up, and every counselor at Cazadero is trained to help a homesick camper through encouragement, lots of activity, and building new friendships. Parents can help by writing friendly and encouraging letters, writing often, and not promising a camper he/she can come home if they get homesick. Plan ahead with mail; many letters arrive after a child has left camp. If you expect that your child will become homesick, don't delay over your departure from camp. He/she will be in good hands. Refrain from making a fuss over your departure or suggesting that your child might be homesick.
Try not be alarmed at letters your child might write; a homesick child wants to get home and will use any means to accomplish that end. Your child may stretch the truth, hoping to gain your sympathy so that you will come to retrieve him/her. Should you suspect your child is homesick, please don't call the camp office to ask for your child. In our experience, homesickness is aggravated rather than relieved by phone calls home. Please do not promise your child that they will be allowed to call home and conversely do not insist that your camper call you. This is not true and puts the camp staff in an awkward situation.
Contact the Camp Director who will inform you as to your child's progress and discuss with you our strategy for helping him/her adjust to camp.
Is
West Nile Virus a problem at Caz?
All of the advice we have received to date has been that the chance of contracting West Nile Virus in our camp environment this summer is extremely low for campers. As this is a relatively new disease and information is changing, our healthcare and camp staff are working closely with the Sonoma County Department of Health and medical professionals to devise and implement appropriate practices at camp to limit campers' exposure to West Nile Virus at camp this summer.
West Nile Virus (WNv) is a mosquito-borne virus that can be spread to humans through a bite from a mosquito infected with the virus. Not all mosquitoes carry WNv. Mosquitoes contract the virus by biting an infected bird. WNv cannot be spread from one person to another through direct contact like touching, coughing, sneezing or sharing the same cup and has not been found to be transmitted from mammals, such as horses to humans. To date there have been very few infected birds found in our area of Cazadero.
While most people who become infected will experience no symptoms or have very mild illness, for some, the symptoms will be pronounced. For a very rare few, the virus causes serious neurological illness such as encephalitis. Research indicates that approximately four out of five people bitten by an infected mosquito do not have any symptoms that are associated with WNv.
Despite the low risk of contracting serious WNv at camp, we will work to reduce campers' exposure to mosquitoes at camp this summer. Counselors will encourage campers to cover up, we will adapt programs to avoid high levels of mosquitoes, we will closely monitor the state of repair of screening in buildings and dormitories, we will reduce or remove, where possible, standing water on the site, and we will encourage and monitor the use of insect repellent by campers. Parents should ensure that they send along appropriate light colored long sleeve clothing and insect repellent with their children to camp.
Please note: The Sonoma County Health Department recommends those children aged 6 to 12 should not use insect repellent with DEET concentrations greater than 10% and not more than 3 times per day. Please do not hesitate to contact the camp office if you have any concerns.
Administrative
office: P.O. Box 7908 Berkeley, CA 94707
(510) 527-7500 Fax(510) 527-2790 Camp office: (707) 632-5159 fax(707)
632-5260
email: info@cazadero.org Camper
Mail: Box 140 Cazadero, CA 95421
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