The Friends are excited to announce that, with matching support from a National Forest Foundation grant, 22 Richmond, CA high school students are participating in Stewardship Weekends at Camp this year!

22 rising seniors from Invictus High School (a public charter school) came to Berkeley Tuolumne Camp over Memorial Day to participate in Work Weekend. They had ample time to enjoy traditional camp activities such as playing in a volleyball tournament, swimming in the river, hiking in the forest, tie dying, and just enjoying being in nature.

The students also learned a whole lot . . . and made a significant contribution toward the ongoing work that will be required to bring the forest back to Camp.

Janet Sowers, FOBTC Board Member, environmental educator and Trails Committee member taught the students about local native plants, as well as how to identify and remove the invasive ones. Instead of just “weed whacking” the area, the students worked to reduce the impact of aggressive weeds (by removing them from their roots) while leaving intact beneficial species for erosion control and wildlife.

The students removed over 90 large bags of weeds! . . . and all the Camper volunteers who were present for Work Weekend sent them “Around the Hall” in appreciation of their efforts!

We’re excited to report the students had such a great experience that they will be returning for Closing Weekend (September 13 – 15).

We’re also thrilled to report that, after being introduced to Camp, some of the students applied for staff and CIT positions this summer!

Special thanks to Janet Sowers for working with the students and to FOBTC Board Member and DEI Committee Chair Meka Tull. Meka works at Invictus High School and coordinated the students and two paid staff chaperones.

Thanks, too, to the National Forest Service for providing matching funding to help pay for bus transportation, food, housing, incentives to succeed, and all the necessary supplies. We are deeply grateful for the Foundation’s efforts to spark an interest in forest stewardship among traditionally overlooked youth populations.

Last, but not least, thanks to all of YOU generous FOBTC supporters! Because of YOU, our Camp community is growing and the trees we all love are growing.

Here are the students at the end of Work Weekend! And one of their students made friends with a local snake!

Join Friends, Campers and Staff as we celebrate that Camp Tuolumne is back in our lives, and we have so much to be thankful for!

Music, dinner from Banderas Latin Kitchen, and excellent wine from Urban Legend, and all of our camper community to celebrate the summer ahead!

This event is outside, under the stars and on the waterfront, with views of SF Bay!

Lets raise The Tuolumne Spirit and raise funds for transforming Lower Beach into a space with new badminton courts!

As we enter year 3 of the New Era of Camp – there’s so much great news about the direction we’re headed into, as well as lots to do to enhance the experience at camp.

Thank you to everyone who came out to help get Camp open for the summer season!!

Here’s our RECAP of all of the accomplishments everyone did!

Looking forward to an awesome summer ahead –

Scotty and the Board of FOBTC

Hey Friends and Campers and Staff!!

We’re so excited to be able to do our yearly amazing 4 day, 3 night camp weekend over Labor Day!!

We plan this out with 4 former Recreation Directors at Camp – so it is packed with every activity and tradition you could possibly want – as well as some really fun new twists (Pub trivia night was a HUGE success last year!)

Cocktails and appetizers on the Island every night, and the end of summer vacation is as relaxing as it gets!

Join us! Register today!

Hi Campers, staff and friends! It’s Feb 2023, and we turn our attention already to making our Summer Plans for Camp! The City has some new programs and plans for 2023, so check out their website for all their latest information. To register for Camp, you need to go onto their Registration Portal and sign in or make a free account. Registration rolls out in phases…

February 2, 9am: Registration opens for scholarship recipients

February 9, 9am: Berkeley resident registration opens for week-long sessions (includes Family Camp, Youth Camp, Leader-in-Training, and Counselor-in-Training)

February 13, 9am: Berkeley resident registration opens for all overnight camp sessions

February 17, 9am: Registration opens for non-residents

Work Weekend is Memorial Day Weekend in May (27th and 28th) and FOBTC Labor Weekend is in the plans. We look forward to a GREAT summer ahead together!

Berkeley Camps are Hiring

Camp is where you will meet amazing friends, enjoy the outdoors, learn job skills, and create lifelong memories while positively impacting the lives of both children and adults. We are now accepting applications for the summer of 2023.

Don’t wait. Apply Today!  You will find the application for both Berkeley Echo Lake Camp and Berkeley Tuolumne Camp on our Seasonal Recreation Jobs Page.

Send completed applications to camps@cityofberkeley.info