Echo Lake Camp

Welcome to Echo Lake Camp!  On this site you will find general information on Echo Lake Camp and programs including Echo Lake Youth Camp, Family Camp, Counselors in Training, Artists-In-Residence, and Work Weekend. Summer employment, scholarships, and refund and rental information are also included on these pages as well as links to forms and brochures. We look forward to your stay with us, whether it be for one of our programs, as a base for a backpacking adventure, or a special event.

• Map/Directions
• Rentals 

Campers stay in wooden tent cabins, some of which are perched along the ridge with a breath-taking view of Lake Tahoe and Lake Valley. Three hot meals are provided each day, and snacks and drinks are always available in our dining hall. There are a number of recreational options, including basketball, volleyball, badminton, ping pong, soccer, pool, foosball, bocce ball, archery, and other sports. You can also enjoy swimming in our pool or nearby Echo Lake,  relaxing in the hot tub, hiking into Desolation Wilderness, or simply sitting in the Lodge by the fire and reading a favorite book.

Nearby Attractions:  Echo Lake serves as one of the trailheads into the Desolation Wilderness, a hiker's paradise of over 100 miles of marked trails ranging from beginning to very advanced. Hikes will lead you through meadows of wildflowers, dramatic granite formations, waterfalls, and pristine, crystal-clear glacial lakes where you can enjoy solitude and a refreshing swim.

South Lake Tahoe is a 20-minute drive away. Drop in to see a show, a movie, spend time in a casino, or take a walk lakeside.  With a 45-minute drive, you can visit Grover Hot Springs near the old town of Markleeville, wher you can soak in the hot mineral waters and gaze at distant peaks. Beautiful Emerald Bay, Bliss State Park, and other attractions are also nearby.

Employment at Echo Lake Camp: Every winter, we actively recruit enthusiastic, organized, hard-working, and spirited people to work as kitchen, maintenance, recreation, or lifeguard staff.  We also hire nurses, paramedics, or EMT's for the entire summer or shorter stints. If you'd like to receive information or apply to join our staff community, please call or e-mail the camp manager at the information below, or just drop in the Camps office at 1947 Center St. We recruit in January and February and conduct interviews in March and April.

Rentals:  If you are interested in renting Echo Lake Camp for your wedding, workshop, retreat, family reunion, corporate event, or other special event, please call the camp manager at (510)981-5155 or (510)981-5140. We'd be glad to host your group at our stunning alpine location!

• Youth Camp Brochure

 Youth Camp is a five-day overnight summer camp available in six sessions. The goal of our staff is to create an exciting and nurturing environment where kids can develop self-confidence, teamwork, and try fun challenges. We want our youth to get a sense of connection with themselves, their friends, and the environment. Each cabin has a Leader who emphasizes safety, leads recreational activities, and serves as a mentor. Daily activities include: canoeing, swimming, sports, all-camp games, fishing, archery, arts & crafts and hiking. In the evenings campers participate in events like a night hike, campfire, a dance, stargazing, or a talent show.

Session Dates & Fees

Transportation

Supervised transportation for youth campers is provided. Pickup is at 8:00 AM on Monday in front of the Berkeley Unified School District, 2100 Martin Luther King Jr. Way, returning by 5:00 PM, to the same location.

• CIT Brochure 

Our CIT program provides a safe and structured environment for young teens to develop job skills, gain valuable experience, work and bond in a close-knit team, experience Echo Lake Camp from behind-the-scenes, and position themselves for possible employment at Echo. CIT Directors provide daily training and supervision, and the CITs spend several hours each day working with each staff member. With this rotation, the CITs are able to learn a variety of job skills and contribute more broadly to the camp’s success. CIT’s sleep in camper cabins, helping the counselors supervise the youth program.

Fees

Transportation

Supervised transportation for CIT's is provided. Pickup is at 8:00 AM on Monday in front of the Berkeley Unified School District, 2100 Martin Luther King Jr. Way, returning by 5:00 PM, to the front of the Berkeley Unified School District, 2100 Martin Luther King Jr. Way.

• Family Camp Brochure

Campers young and old can enjoy arts & crafts activities, swimming, relaxing in the hot tub, sports, campfires, hiking, and other fun outdoor activities. Or, you can just relax in a sofa by the wood stove in the Lodge and read your favorite book. We are minutes away from stunning Echo Lake and the vast Desolation Wilderness. You can hike, swim, fish, or take a boat ride down at the Lake. You can also use Camp as your base camp for a Wilderness backpacking adventure – or just stay overnight and rest up for your Pacific Crest Trail trip.

Dates/Fees

 *Includes Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Check-In no earlier than 4:00 pm on Friday, and must check out by 2:00 pm on Sunday. Cabins are reserved on a first come-first served basis.

• 50+ Camp Brochure

Echo Lake’s annual 50+ weekend is a worry free escape to one of the most scenic places in California. Transportation is provided to and from the camp and participants are provided with three delicious meals a day. Campers share roomy tent cabins and have access to all our facilities including the pool and jacuzzi. During the day volunteers will provide programs such as arts and crafts, yoga classes, nature hikes, discussion groups and more. We will also have a hike around Echo Lake itself which lasts approximately 3 hours. Evening activities will include a campfire and a talent show. We are currently seeking volunteers to lead programs in exchange for a 25% discount off of their registration fees. If interested, please complete the volunteer application on the registration form. Camp staff will select which programs to include in the weekend, and will notify those selected.

Dates/Fees

• Work Weekend Brochure 

Our annual volunteer work weekend will be held June 18 to June 20, 2010. Come help get camp ready for a busy summer season. We will be cleaning, painting, building, organizing and clearing trails. All ages and skill levels welcome.

**Work Weekend postponed until June 25-27 due to weather conditions.

• Artist-in-Residence

We encourage artists to apply for our Artist-in-Residence Program. The artist may stay for free in exchange for art-related classes for our campers. During Family Camp, class times are flexible, and during Youth Camp, classes will be held on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays from 9:30 AM to 12:30 PM. We are interested in artists who can help campers build crafts they can take home. We are also interested in artists who can teach drumming, theater, singing, martial arts, dance, or capoeira.

• Scholarship information and form 

Berkeley City Council provides a limited number of camperships to low-income families (Berkeley residents only). Scholarships are available for all camps. Scholarships will reduce fees by 50%. Please submit the scholarship applicatrion prior to submitting the Echo Lake registration form. Please allow five business days for eligibility determination.

A full refund will be provided, less an administration fee (per current fee schedule), if the entire reservation is cancelled at least 30 calendar days prior to date of reservation. No refunds will be given if cancellation is made less than 30 days before camp reservation date.

• Cancel: 25% of reservation
• Change: $75 per change