Southern California Family Camp, Annually Memorial Day Weekend
Contact us if you have any questions!
Camp Fees, Volunteers and Donations make Family Camp possible: Our per person cost to host Family Camp at Camp Marston YMCA went up exponentially this year. We are now charged $180 per per person (YMCA fee per person including all of our volunteers and support staff) ... In addition to the YMCA per person cost we also have the additional costs including but not limited to: t-shirts, snacks, speaker fees, arts & crafts etc. Unfortunately, we had to raise the cost of Family Camp this year including for our volunteers. We appeal to any family who can to make a donation to Southern California Family Camp (no amount is too small) when registering, this help us be able to offer the camp at a rate which is lower than we are charged.
Camp T-Shirt: Traditionally camp shirts have been a part of Family Camp registration however this year we have been forced to charge for adult shirts. Thank you for understanding!
Funding needed: If you have a passion for fundraising, would like to make an in-kind donation, grant writing or if you would like to be a part of the planning committee, please email to discuss.
This Year's Camp Theme is: Adam's Family (with the focus on FAMILY)
Camp Location and Lodging Details
Family camp is held Memorial Day weekend at Camp Marston, a 230-acre mountain retreat in the San Diego County mountains. Each of the lodges has four bedrooms which sleep up to six people each (in some cases two families will be housed in the same room). There is a nice sized community room complete with couches, tables and a wood-stove. Each lodge has a men's and women's bathroom and showers just down the hall, complete with all the modern conveniences.
The grass sports area provides a wonderful setting for our outdoor activities and nearby trails and forests invite families to enjoy the picturesque hills of Julian. Parent meetings are held in the Holmes Lodge, a spacious meeting room that can easily accommodate our growing group.
Registration
IMPORTANT: Registration will close when the cabins are FULL!
To register:
- Register online through Eventbrite
- Select the tickets you need (example: become a member $25 in the donation field and 3 weekend member tickets for a family of 3. This will equal 4 tickets)
- Members of CA H&V qualify for a discounted rate to attend Family Camp. (Family membership rate: $25 annually)
- If you are not yet a member of CA H&V you may become a member during registration and instantly qualify for the discounted rate.
- Make payment
- Payment is made via PayPal on Eventbrite when registering. This is the preferred method of payment.
- To pay by check please select Pay by Check on the registration site. Check can be mailed within 10 business days to:
California Hands & Voices
c/o Cora Shahid
15274 Andorra Way
San Diego CA 92129
- Mail waivers
- You need to submit TWO documents:
- Mail waivers to:
California Hands & Voices
c/o Cora Shahid
15274 Andorra Way
San Diego, CA 92219 - Get ready to have a blast
- A confirmation email will be sent when the two waivers have been received and your registration is finalized.
Camp Fees
Weekend Rate (Check in Starts at Friday 4:00p – Camp Ends on Sunday at Noon)
Adult and Youth
$150 per person (member rate)
$170 per person (non-member rate)
Saturday Day Rate (Sat 7:30a – Sat 8:30pm)
Adult and Youth
$100 per person (member rate)
$120 per person (non-member rate)
Sample Camp Schedule
Friday
4:00 pm—Arrival and check-in
6:00 pm—Dinner
7:00 pm—Orientation & parent’s icebreaker | Children’s activities
8:45 pm—Parent pick-up children
Saturday
7:45 am—Breakfast
8:30 am—Group photo | Family opening circle
9:15 am—Parent sessions | Children’s activities
12:00 pm—Lunch
1:00 pm—Parent sessions | Children’s activities
2:30 pm—Family free time (games, t-shirt tie dying, pool, archery, riflery, crafts, etc.)
5:45 pm—Dinner
6:30 pm—Skit practice
6:45 pm—Campfire program
8:00 pm—Sing for s’mores
9:00 pm—Family night hike
Sunday
8:00 am—Breakfast
8:45 am—Parent sessions | Children’s activities
11:30 am—Slide show & volunteer recognition
12:00 pm—Camp Ends
Please note: Volunteers will be responsible for supervising children during children’s activities only. Parents are expected to be responsible for their children at all other times
Children’s group note: The children’s group director works hard to ensure that all children are placed in appropriate groups and have a great weekend! Children can not be moved to another group once camp has started. It creates a ripple effect and is very difficult to work out on the spot. Thank you for your understanding and support!
Important Information for Southern California Family Camp
Important documents and tips about camp:
- Directions to Camp Marston
- What to Bring to Camp
- YMCA Release/Waiver
- D/HH Camp Waiver
- Information on Camp Marston (meals, facilities, cabins, etc.)
- Camp Brochures: (English) (Spanish)
Volunteer at Family Camp
Thank you for your interest in volunteering for Family Camp. Our volunteers are very important to the success of camp. Each year we are inspired and thrilled by the amount of people who are passionate and want to spend their Memorial Day weekend with us! We will contact the 22-24 volunteers who have been selected in April with a training meeting date. Feel free to contact us if you have any questions.
Thank You!
Job Description
- Organize small group games, (equipment and games provided by camp coordinators)
- Supervise children during scheduled children's activities
- Organize and supervise arts and crafts activities
- Assure the safety and well-being of participating children
- Communicate with and assist other counselors
- Maintain and care for equipment and materials
- All volunteers are required to attend a training and orientation to be held in May.
- Be at Family Camp from 3PM Friday (or, as early as 1pm) through 1PM Sunday
Volunteers will receive
- Free room and meals for the weekend
- Free camp shirt
- Community service letter, upon request
Volunteers Requirements
There are two types of Volunteers: Counselors and Counselor Assistants
- Counselor: In order to apply for this position, you must 18 years or older and have completed High School. College Students and Professionals working in the field are appreciated.
- Counselor Assistant: In order to apply you must be 16, 17 or 18 and in grade 11 or 12. Previous experience as a camper or volunteer is strongly preferred.
Much Needed Donations!
Donations are needed both to cover our fabulous volunteers who help make camp possible and to keep the per-person rate as low as possible for families. Thank you in advance for your support! Generous donation of time, money, and resources from organizations and individuals like you make everything we do achievable.
How to Donate
- If you are interested in making a monetary donation:
- Donate via PayPal
Please select which camp you would like to support, "Southern, Northern, or Inland Valley", in the dropdown field on PayPal.
- Checks payable to California Hands & Voices can be mailed to our business address.
Please note which camp you would like to support, "Southern, Northern, or Inland Valley", in the Memo line of your check.
California Hands & Voices
c/o Cora Shahid
15274 Andorra Way
San Diego CA 92129
- Donate via PayPal
- If you are interested in an in-kind donation please contact us.
The 2023 Family Camp information will be posted here
May 2023
Camp Marston
2023 Brochure: Coming Soon!
The 2020 Family Camp was canceled on 4/9/2020 due to Covid-19.
We hope that you will please save the Date for May 28-30 2021.
May 22nd - 24th 2020
Camp Marston
2020 Brochure
May 22nd - 24th 2019
Camp Marston
2019 Theme
Howdy Spaces Rangers and Cowboys! The 2019 theme is "Toy Story". Dust off your boots and get ready to celebrate the milestone of the 20th Anniversary of Family Camp! To celebrate the 20th camp, we have some extra top secret activities and special guests to support your D/HH families, and as chance to make new friends.
2019 Speaker
This year our Speaker is Anita Dowd. Anita is a mother of two DHH daughters and a DHH adult. She serves on the Hands & Voices Headquarters Board and is the Executive Staff Advisory for Kentucky Commission on the Deaf and Hard of Hearing and we are incredibly lucky she has agreed to be our speaker. Anita is a seasoned presenter including at the Hands & Voices leadership conferences and the Early Hearing Detection & Intervention conference and she has a special skill to paint a picture through story telling and connect with the audience. Be ready to fall off your seat laughing followed by wiping the tears rolling down your cheek! She is the perfect speaker for the 20th Anniversary and we assure you that you are in for a real treat!
Camp updates
We are excited to announce that we just opened up a few more lodges for families! We hope to see YOU there! The lake will be open so we can canoe and fish, too! Join us for archery, lawn games, Inspired speakers, magical memories, great food, and a view of the stars to infinity and beyond every night.
Register soon before Sheriff Woody closes it down!
Yeeeehawwww!
Camp Photo Gallery
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Camp Directors
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Camp is fun for all ages...Infants welcome!
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Sad to leave camp...See you in 362 days!
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Climbing Wall