Lair of the Bear Family Camp

For those of us that never got to experience summer camp vibes (and those that miss them) there is Lair of The Golden Bear, U.C. Berkeleys Alumni (but you don't have to be one!) Camp.

Do you want to work on pottery? Friendship bracelets? Lanyards? Tie-Dye? Yoga? Do you like to hike? Swim (Lake or pool)? Mountain bike? Sloth around in a hammock? Do you enjoy sportsball (we don't)? Do you want your kids to be free range and feral, running in packs of kids they meet up with every year, or have structured camp activities like age-group itineraries, campfire shows, bingo nights and movies at the lake (both are readily available)? Do you not have kids but want to happy hour and do all of the above anyway? Also possible! Do you not want to worry about food? It's covered!

This is the place. This is the vibe. Become a member of the alumni association and you can book a tent at one of their three camps on offer (Gold, Blue and Oski - but be warned, Gold cheats) on one of the many weeks (7 days, from Saturday to Saturday) over the summer.

If you have heard of SF's Camp Mather, it's very similar. But unlike Camp Mather, it's not a crapshoot if you'll get a tent any particular year. The staff are pretty accommodating and want to make it work for you! Once you have a tent, it's yours that week, at that camp, in perpetuity until you decide otherwise. The reward is meeting up with the same folks year after year - finding your people, your kids finding their people, and having a built in community you come back to again and again. Our kids would mutiny if we stopped going. They legit have said they'd pick it over Disneyland.

If the idea of hanging up in the Sierras around a bunch of kids wants to make you poke your eyes out, there are adult weekends! If the idea of a whole week with young kids seems daunting, there are family weekends! Check it out, it is legit the part of summer we look forward to all year.