Berkeley Tuolumne Camp

CIT review experience from a first time CIT. Will never do this again. This might have been different from your experience but here it is anyways. 1. It is HOT. A high of 95 and a low of 77. Insane. All medications WILL melt so give it to nurse. 2. Speaking of the nurse, the nurse will either always be there when you DON’T need it or never be there when you need the nurse. Very inconsistent. 3. MAKE A DIETARY CARD IF YOU NEED IT! Or else the food is not only gross, but you aren’t able to eat it! 4. NOBODY likes the CITS. You don’t have much authority but you have enough responsibility to let little kids win and do anything. 5. In CIT city, there are 5-6 individual bathrooms but only 2 have mirrors, a sink and paper towels IN that room so a lot of people hog it. 6. GET A CANDY SHOP ACCOUNT BEFORE HAND. The weather is HOT so it’s best to cool off at the water OR getting a snack. But I warn you that it IS expensive. Around 3-5 dollars for each thing but otterpops are great because they’re only 25 cents when I was there. 7. Shifts start soon. The shifts are Kiddie Kamp, attend to kids; Maintenance, clean trash and toilets; D-Hall, serve people in Dinning Hall; Nature center, chill things where you do nothing; Activities, make crafts; and last AND least, Kitchen, where you prepare food for campers OR wash dishes 8. Kitchen is SO gross. You trip, you get dirty dish water on yourself, music is PUMPING IN YOUR EARS, and it’s very stressful. Unless you’re into stuff like that, this is not good. 9. The washing machines are weird so you might have to dry your clothes twice. Set an alarm so your clothes don’t get stuffed in a random bag. 10. D-Hall has a chant where you sing a song and interlink your arms. Very cheery and obnoxious. 11. Speaking of chants, there are a LOT of chants in this camp. It’s a very Kid centered camp. 12. Campfire happens at the end of the first week. It feels like you got the worst sleep and your back hurts. Also the tent set up is impossible. 13. Small Falls trip is where you hike to a waterfall. When you hike, it’s bumpy and dust WILL get in your eye. But once you get to the scene you have to swim to get to the waterfall. 14. At night, it is FREEZING. In the day it is BURNING. 15. THE WASPS ARE CRAZY!!!!!!!!!!! 16. No service for CITS 17. Tuck-Ins are where you go to a random Family cabin, read kids a story and give cookies. Then you sing the Tuolumne camp song It’s just a terrible experience for CITS.

An amazing family camp for all ages! The camp was originally opened in the 1920s and burned down in the rim fire, but has been rebuilt! Accomodations are tent cabins. There are ADA cabins and a few with electricity for medical needs. Currently, shade is an issue but the water in the swimming hole is a perfect temp. Sitting in the river with a good book is another way to cool down. You get three family style meals a day and as much as you can eat. The food is always really good. Tons of arts and crafts to do like basket weaving and tie-dye. Each week there is a camper talent show and one put on by the staff. The river is stocked with trout and there are plenty to catch. The kitchen will cook them for you. There is an archery range and a multi use sport court for basketball, volleyball and badminton.

We liked swimming in the area directly downstream of the camp. Once they started to rebuild they stopped all access to the public. Not sure why either because the map shows the land situated down river is national forest. Anyways.. made some great memories with my family here while we could.

Thank you for the three days of food, fun and volunteer work. I’ve made it home to Canada, and I’m considering very much helping you break down camp in October. Lovely meeting so many nice people.

The camp is newly rebuilt, so everything is in good working order. The tent cabins are in great shape, the layout of the camp makes things easily accessible, and the staff are friendly and helpful. The tree cover was destroyed by a fire, so bringing shades to add to the tent cabins is helpful. Also, there's a little less privacy as a result, but that will improve over time. Cabins are 10 feet apart. Beds are old-school cots. I recommend bringing at least a foam topper, if not an alternative like an air mattress or hammock. Bring zip ties if you want to make a double bed. I had one cool shower, so there's obv a limited hot water situation. No A/C at the camp, but the dining hall porch has misters, and the swimming hole is right there and the perfect temp for a refreshing dip. Food is what you'd expect, and coffee's available 24/7. In short I can say this camp is beautiful, in good condition, and perfectly placed in relation to Yosemite. Definitely recommend!