Hidden Villa Summer Camp brings together youth from diverse backgrounds to build friendships while exploring our farm, gaining a sense of awe for natural beauty, and developing the confidence to make positive change in the world.
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Summer Camp 2009 Information
2009 Summer Camp Programs
Day Camp | Tipi Camp | Resident Camp | Farm and Wilderness | Youth Leadership Programs
Welcome Packets and Required Forms
Additional information for all camps
Employment Opportunities with Summer Camp
Day Camp $405
Animal Camp – Entering 1st and 2nd Grades
Botanical Camp – Entering 3rd and 4th Grades
In small groups of 7-8, all day campers explore our wilderness trails, meet the farm animals face to face, and learn about life cycles in the garden. Daily choice activities include swimming, cooking, face painting by the creek, singing, storytelling, and arts and crafts. A highlight is the optional Thursday overnight with an evening meal, night activities, and a sleep-out under the stars.
All of these five-day sessions run from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. on Monday through Wednesday. The sleep over is held on Thursday with a Friday pick up at 11:45 am. Optional extended care for $30 is available (Mon-Wed 8:00AM-5:00PM).
Animal Camp
Entering 1st and 2nd Grades
DC 1: June 22 - June 26 DC 6: July 27 - July 31
DC 2: June 29 - July 3 DC 7: Aug. 3 - Aug. 7
DC 3: July 6 - July 10 DC 8: Aug. 10 – Aug. 14
DC 4: July 13 - July 17 DC 9: Aug. 17 - Aug. 21
DC 5: July 20 - July 24
Botanical Camp
Entering 3rd and 4th Grades
DC 1: June 22 - June 26 DC 8: Aug. 10 – Aug. 14
DC 2: June 29 – July 3 DC 9: Aug. 17 - Aug. 21
DC 3: July 6 - July 10
Day Camp with Focus Programs $430
Entering 3rd and 4th Grades
Focus programs give Botanical Campers the opportunity to focus on their favorite part of the farm or try something new. Focus programs take place during the morning or afternoon each day while the rest of the day is filled with swimming and choice activities like arts and crafts or visiting with the animals. These campers have the same opportunity to enjoy the Thursday overnight and daily timing parallels traditional day camp.
All of the following programs are offered during focus program sessions. Please choose one when registering.
Cows & Cookies
Come learn how to bake cookies in a wood fired oven! We’ll turn milk into butter, grind flour and even visit the chickens for some eggs. Then we’ll bake cookies with these farm ingredients. On Friday we’ll wake up early to milk the cow before eating and giving away our delicious treats!
Garden Chefs
Get ready to explore our fields and barns and go on a food-filled adventure. Like detectives we’ll investigate where food comes from and how it gets to our table. Then, we’ll harvest our very own goodies from the garden and cook a delicious feast!
Art-venture
Explore Hidden Villa’s farm, garden, and wilderness – and turn your adventures into art! Pet pigs, hike hills, and gulp down garden treats. Then make costumes and perform in a wild parade! Learn new things, express yourself and have a totally wild time!
Eco-Heroes
Come meet the Lorax and develop your own eco-saving self. This week we’ll explore HV trails and organic gardens while learning about critters that need our help. We’ll set up our own recycling plant to make pulp paper and plant a seed to signify our green beginning.
Goat Kids!
Come spend time with the friendliest animals on the farm! We’ll take a goat on a hike and learn about their skills on trail. In the kitchen we’ll make goat cheese and fondue for a feast. Then on Friday, we’ll wake up early just in time to milk a goat!
Focus Programs
DC 4: July 13 - July 17 DC 6: July 27 - July 31
DC 5: July 20 - July 24 DC 7: Aug. 3 - Aug. 7
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Tipi Camp $550
Entering 4th and 5th Grades
This program is especially designed for younger campers coming to sleep away at camp for the first time. In this 5-day overnight camp, campers begin to build their outdoor skills. Campers will live in the tradition of some Native Americans by sleeping in Tipis and enjoying meals at their own outdoor eating area. Campers will also learn some cool facts about the local Ohlone Tribe, enjoy arts and crafts, archery, swimming, camp fires, hiking on our trails, caring for the farm animals and gardening in our organic gardens.
TC 1: June 22 - June 26 TC 5: July 27 - July 31
TC 2: June 29 – July 3 TC 6: Aug. 3- Aug. 7
TC 3: July 6 - July 10 TC 7: Aug. 10 – Aug. 14
TC 4: July 13 - July 17 TC 8: Aug. 17 - Aug. 21
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Resident Camp $1005
Entering 5th – 7th Grades
Each day of this 12-day camp is filled with a wide choice of activities—swimming, organic gardening, archery, games, goat walks, arts and crafts, singing, skits, ice cream making, and maybe even mudding a pig! In the evening campers enjoy campfires, storytelling, drama, games, and moonlight hikes.
The sustainable Hostel building is camp headquarters—here campers share meals and morning reflections.
Younger campers sleep in separate “Cabin Boys” and “Cabin
Girls” quarters located behind the Hostel. Older campers are in “Bluff” and “Vale” where they sleep under the stars in their own private camp sites. Each group spends a night camping in Hidden Villa’s wilderness, with an opportunity to explore the trails.
RZ 1: June 22 – July 3 RZ 3: July 27 – Aug. 7
RZ 2: July 6 – July 17 RZ 4: Aug. 10 – Aug. 21
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Farm & Wilderness $1005
Entering 8th – 10th Grades
As Farm & Wilderness campers, teens build close relationships within a small group, living at the primitive Hollow Oak campsite at Hidden Villa for nine days and going on a three-day mid-session backpack trip to Black Mountain. While on the trail, campers work toward team-building and achieving group goals.
Campers and counselors care for the farm animals (cows, goats, pigs, sheep, chickens). Each day they choose from a variety of activities—hiking, swimming, archery, arts and crafts, sports, or gardening. Evenings are spent relaxing around the campfire, sharing music, taking a night hike or a moonlight swim.
FW 1: June 22 – July 3 FW 3: July 27 – Aug. 7
FW 2: July 6 – July 17 FW 4: Aug. 10 – Aug. 21
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Youth Leadership Programs
These three programs challenge teenagers to broaden their sense of themselves either by embracing a new outdoor adventure or beginning to lead younger campers. Participants work with mentors and build friendships in an outdoor setting while learning leadership skills that will empower them to make positive changes in themselves, their communities and the world. Participants set up camp in “Frank’s garden,” a beautiful outdoor setting alongside Adobe Creek.
Bay to Sea Backpacking Program $1005
Entering 10th -12th Grades
Explore the wilderness of the Santa Cruz Mountains on our Bay to Sea backpack trip, where you will hike from the San Francisco Bay to the Pacific Ocean! This trip is an excellent introduction to backpacking. Those with or without backpacking experience are welcome.
Campers will learn basic wilderness skills, such as reading a map and camping with minimum impact on the land. They will also build lasting and caring relationships with friends and the environment. Highlights of the trip include watching the sunset from the top of Black Mountain, rock climbing at Castle Rock, enjoying the natural waterfalls of Big Basin Redwoods, arriving at the Pacific Ocean with all of their new friends, and returning to Hidden Villa for one last night on the farm.
B2C 1: June 22 – July 3
B2C 2: Aug. 10 – Aug. 21
ACT I $1005
Entering 11th Grade
This 3-week program is for young people who are interested in and ready for the responsibility of caring for children in a camp environment while passing on the Hidden Villa Legacy of social and environmental justice.
ACT I participants spend time learning some of the skills they will need as counselors, supporting the other camp programs, as well as enjoying some camp fun of their own. Topics covered in ACT I are communication techniques, conflict resolution, and some basic leadership skills to use with groups of campers. Trainees have the opportunity to practice some of these skills and work with experienced counselors in Day Camp program by doing an internship for one week following this training. This program requires an additional application process.
ACT I July 6 –July 17
INTERNSHIP: July 27- July 31 or Aug 3 - Aug. 7
ACT II $255
Entering 12th Grade
ACT II is a 4-week program for those who have completed ACT I. Program begins with two weeks of on-the-job training alongside experienced mentors and camp directors. By designing, implementing, and evaluating large group activities, participants gain proficiency in some of the biggest challenges a counselor might face. They also spend additional time developing age-appropriate activities and public speaking, learning interview techniques and resume-building skills.
Program graduates who successfully complete the training will join fellow staff as paid counselors for the final two weeks of camp. This program requires an additional application and interview process.
ACT II July 27 – Aug. 7
PAID INTERNSHIP: Aug. 10 – Aug. 21
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Additional information for all camps
Scholarships are Available
We provide varying levels of financial aid to make camp possible for everyone. Applications may be completed online at the end of the registration process. All applicants are asked to pay the $55 deposit (refundable only if financial aid is unavailable). Scholarship amounts are based on need (a family’s total income and number of dependents). It is contingent upon receiving income verification (i.e. copy of most recent tax return or combined family W-2s).
Donate to Hidden Villa's Summer Camp Scholarship Fund (online donation through Network for Good - please designate "Camp Scholarships") THANK YOU!
Our Staff
Our counselors are extraordinarily committed people who reflect the diversity of our camp participants. We intentionally hire staff who can create an inclusive, fun environment that promotes self-confidence and a sense of belonging. All staff members participate in an intense hands-ontraining program that includes CPR and First Aid certification to ensure the safety of our campers. We love working with young people, and we take our responsibility seriously. Work for Hidden Villa Summer Camp
Hidden Villa’s Buddy Policy
Camp is a fantastic place to make new friends! Hidden Villa Summer Camp brings youth together from different backgrounds to learn and have fun together! In keeping with our mission and to help create an inclusive atmosphere for all, we do not place campers in groups with requested buddies.
Refund Policy and Program Change Fees
- We require a non-refundable $55 deposit/registration fee per participant.
- Camp fees are non-refundable after May 31! Please notify us before this date if you need to cancel your registration.
- Payments can be made online or by mailed check. Please note that online registrants are scheduled for automatic payment on June 1 (to be charged to the credit used during registration). If you intend to pay by check or with a different credit card, you must do so prior to June 1. If you need to cancel your registration, you must call us to do so.
- Returned checks are subject to a $20 returned check fee.
- Please choose your program carefully. Once registered, session or program changes are possible only as space allows. There will be a $25 administration fee for such changes.
Camp Welcome Packet and Required Forms
- With your registration confirmation e-mail, you will receive a number of important forms in an attached welcome packet. Please complete all the forms and return them to the camp office by May 15.
- The Bay to Sea program requires a physical examination signed by a doctor.
- All campers will need to provide a copy of immunization records.
CAMP WELCOME PACKETS:
Online Registration Begins January 28!
Go to www.hiddenvilla.org to reserve your spot for this summer.
Online registration is the quickest and easiest way to register for camp. If you need a mail-in version of the registration form or financial aid application, e-mail camp@hiddenvilla.org or call (650) 949-8641. Please note that it may take up to two weeks to process your mail-in application.
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Join us for Summer Camp this year!
