California Dance Camp General Info
Location:
Monte Toyon is nestled in the redwoods just over a mile from the ocean It’s calm and shady. Hiking and beach visits are minutes away (click here to go to the Monte Toyon camp website)
located about 2 hours from San Francisco between Santa Cruz and Monterey.
Monte Toyon is nestled in the redwoods just over a mile from the ocean It’s calm and shady. Hiking and beach visits are minutes away (click here to go to the Monte Toyon camp website)
located about 2 hours from San Francisco between Santa Cruz and Monterey.
Getting there:
We do our best to connect people who need a place to stay before and/or after camp, or a ride to camp, with local dancers willing to help. Details will be on registration forms.
Camp Culture:
Are we expected to join in on all the sessions? You’re welcome to, but you’re not required to. Some people sleep in, enjoy an afternoon excursion or nap, or turn in early. Some of us do it all. It’s entirely up to you.
What is the group like? We’re an exceedingly accommodating bunch. We say circle dance is for folks from 8 to 100 but truthfully most of our dancers are from their 40’s through retirement, with a few young folks as well. (A few years ago, one woman did come to camp and danced on her 100th birthday!)
I have little (or no) circle dance experience. Will I fit in? Yes. We teach every dance before we do it, and we’ll have people at all levels of experience. Just relax and enjoy it!
Do you want to get involved behind the scenes with our dedicated team of volunteers? there are many simple but essential tasks that can make everyone, but especially newcomers, feel welcome and can deepen your own experience at camp. To volunteer contact Donna. [email protected]
Food
Served cafeteria style with meat, vegan and vegetarian options. Salad bar every lunch and dinner. The dining hall is open 24 hours with hot beverages available.
Fridge, Centers, Décor, 24-hour beverages
There is a refrigerator in the dance hall for the use of campers.The center usually starts small and simple, then evolves. Bring stuff! We can thumbtackthings to the wooden walls of the dance hall. We’ll bring the tacks and tape; you bring the
bright cloths, flags, posters, whatever.
Hot coffee, tea, and hot chocolate will be available in the dining hall 24 hours a day.
Things to Bring
Flashlight • Camera and/or cell phone • Snacks • Instrument for campfire singing •
Bathing suit if you may go to the beach (1¼ miles)
Accommodations and Dance Space
The Lodge, surrounded by redwoods, is a couple of minutes' walk from the Dance Hall and the Dining Hall. 16 bedrooms have standard twin beds with vinyl covered mattresses.
3 have a double and a single bed. Most rooms are double occupancy. We will match you with a roommate, or come with a friend. We offer a limited number of single occupancy rooms, register early if you want a single.
You can bring you own bedding: blankets, sheets and pillow (some people bring a sleeping bag instead of sheets and blankets) towels and washcloth, or you can rent these items for a $20 fee.
Tent or RV camping is an option. Tents can be pitched anywhere on the grounds, including several secluded redwood dells. Staying off site is also an option.
You can bring you own bedding: blankets, sheets and pillow (some people bring a sleeping bag instead of sheets and blankets) towels and washcloth, or you can rent these items for a $20 fee.
Tent or RV camping is an option. Tents can be pitched anywhere on the grounds, including several secluded redwood dells. Staying off site is also an option.
Dance Space: The Dance Hall is large and lovely, with an excellent wooden floor. We also dance outside in the grassy meadow (known locally as the baseball field).
Timing and Schedule
In 2024, camp begins on Monday, June 17th, 2 PM with a Get Acquainted and Orientation session at 4 pm near the dining hall. Camp ends after lunch on Saturday, June 22th. Please plan to be off the grounds by 2 pm.
Mornings begin with meditation dances in the meadow, followed by breakfast, and then, often, a nature or bird watching walk. The first main two-hour dance session is at 10, followed by lunch. A variety of activities can happen in the afternoon: dance sessions, tai chi, story telling, road trips, hiking, and just relaxing. Each day before supper, we spend a little time with the ancient Stone Age harvest dance, Tulum Havasi. The second main dance session is after supper, and then a variety of possibilities: trance dancing, a cabaret show, campfire singing with 'Smores, etc.
Timing and Schedule
In 2024, camp begins on Monday, June 17th, 2 PM with a Get Acquainted and Orientation session at 4 pm near the dining hall. Camp ends after lunch on Saturday, June 22th. Please plan to be off the grounds by 2 pm.
Mornings begin with meditation dances in the meadow, followed by breakfast, and then, often, a nature or bird watching walk. The first main two-hour dance session is at 10, followed by lunch. A variety of activities can happen in the afternoon: dance sessions, tai chi, story telling, road trips, hiking, and just relaxing. Each day before supper, we spend a little time with the ancient Stone Age harvest dance, Tulum Havasi. The second main dance session is after supper, and then a variety of possibilities: trance dancing, a cabaret show, campfire singing with 'Smores, etc.
Cancelation Policy
We really, really hope every one who registers can come, but we know stuff happens! We offer a full refund minus $25 administrative fee is you cancel by May 1st. This is because payment to Monte Toyon is locked in based on our registration count on that day. We try very very hard to keep the Camp fee as low as possible. All the pre-planning and arrangements are done by volunteers and we operate in non-profit mode. This means we have very little or no money for last minute cancelations. You can request a partial refund after May 1st and before the start of Camp but only if you experience unavoidable extenuating circumstances, Be aware that we may not have enough funds to give you any refund. Please be patient. We will know what funds are available, if any, after camp is over and we can figure in any last minute expenses.
No refund requests will be accepted after the start of Camp.
We really, really hope every one who registers can come, but we know stuff happens! We offer a full refund minus $25 administrative fee is you cancel by May 1st. This is because payment to Monte Toyon is locked in based on our registration count on that day. We try very very hard to keep the Camp fee as low as possible. All the pre-planning and arrangements are done by volunteers and we operate in non-profit mode. This means we have very little or no money for last minute cancelations. You can request a partial refund after May 1st and before the start of Camp but only if you experience unavoidable extenuating circumstances, Be aware that we may not have enough funds to give you any refund. Please be patient. We will know what funds are available, if any, after camp is over and we can figure in any last minute expenses.
No refund requests will be accepted after the start of Camp.
