Camp Chrysalis
2434 McKinley Avenue
Berkeley, CA 94703
| Phone: | 510.843.6157 |
| Info: | http://www.campchrysalis.... |
| Email: | lee@campchrysalis.com |
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About Camp Chrysalis
Now in its 30th year, our program has developed a distinctive approach to environmental education, offering children rich experiences that combine recreation, learning, and personal growth. We camp in splendid natural locales, exploring the rich and diverse natural environments of California as a family of learners together. Our purpose is to explore and learn, as well as to play and enjoy. Campers cultivate an ethic of respect and responsibility for the ecologies that support life on earth. Equally important, attention to ecological interdependence inevitably places our focus on the human communities that sustain us as individuals. Free from the pressures of popular culture, Camp Chrysalis gives young people the opportunity to create friendships grounded in kindness and respect
Around camp and on side-trips, we focus often on active study of the environment and wildlife, to develop natural science skills as well as appreciation, and on basic camping and wilderness skills. Our campers extend themselves in hikes and loaf at the swimming hole. Back at camp, they play chess and Capture-the-Flag, learn to whittle and start a fire with flint and steel, sharpen knives, make jewelry, create art, play Connect-Four, and just hang out together. Their exploration is as much of their own developing abilities as of what the world has to offer.
One learns how to put his fork away and find it again; another, that she can make a tough climb. All learn to make new friends. On the cooking crews, they enjoy working together, taking care of us all. They deepen their feelings and friendships around the campfire with skits, stories, and songs from our rich heritage and complement their nature study with leaf painting on T-shirts, marble etching, wood working, jewelry making, and other craft projects. Group singing is a special pleasure, and campers take home our camp songbook and a rich introduction to our folk song heritage. We bring many guitars, and offer beginning instruction.
As a mature staff, well experienced working together, we’ve developed a rich context. Within it, the children learn as much from each other as from us. We enjoy helping them do both and pay close attention to group dynamics and individual needs for support. We’ve come to be particularly concerned with helping children locate and pass through appropriate transitional experiences, that leave them recalling camp, not only as a pleasant time but as a special place where they grew more mature.
Each main session includes 32-36 campers (12 for backpacking). Fully half are girls; we strongly encourage their attendance. Big Sur is recommended for children new to camping or being away from home and many attend twice. It's the most relaxed session. Mendocino is often second and is the most varied session. Sierras is in the Tahoe National Forest with the largest site and fairly primitive accommodations. In our backpacking session, older experienced campers develop additional wilderness and community building skills with solo time built into the trip. At all our sessions, the environment and experiences are so rich that many attend twice or more before moving on to a different sessions. In addition, Chrysalis veterans at 15-17, through our Counselor-In-Training option, return to camp as staff helpers.
Sibling Discount: 10%
Multiple Session Discount: 10%
Promotional Discount: Financial Assistance Available
| Dates | Session Name | Ages | Hours | Cost | Ext Care | Save |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Big Sur | Ages 8-14 | Overnight | $870 | |||
| Mendocino | Ages 10-15 | Overnight | $1300 | |||
| Sierras | Ages 11-15 | Overnight | $1325 | |||
| Backpacking | Ages 14-17 | Overnight | $980 |
