Berkeley Tuolumne Family Camp

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Berkeley Tuolumne Family Camp is a 14.5 acre family-friendly destination in California, located near the west entrance of Yosemite National Park, on the south fork of the Tuolumne River in the Stanislaus National Forest. First opened in 1922, BTFC has become a relaxing get-away for generations of families. The official season being from late June to late August, some activities, like the weekly Theme Day, vary from week to week while services such as Kiddie Kamp and activities that include archery, many forms of arts and crafts, fishing, hiking, ping-pong, badminton, volleyball, basketball, and much more remain available all season.

Tuolumne Family Camp

[edit] History

BTFC's first season was in 1922, where it has been operated by the City of Berkeley ever since. Originally it started out with just 13 "tent-cabins," hybrids where a wooden frame is covered by canvas and surrounded by a wooden deck. Since then, the number of tent-cabins has increased dramatically to 76. The summer of 2007 will be BTFC's 85th year, and for all that time it has been a secluded hide-away from the world where thousands have come to enjoy.

[edit] Services and facilities

BTFC has become relatively famous for the myriad services it provides its guests. Every tent-cabin is equipped with a lockable pantry for guests to store food, a dresser where random items can be placed, a broom and mirror for proper maintenance of both cabin and guest, a garbage can, as well as three or four cots complete with mattresses (bringing sleeping bags is still recommended, and additional matresses or cots can be attained upon request.) Standard cabins do not have electricity, however one or two do to accommodate guests with special needs. Additional non-standard items include rocking chairs and benches. With the exception of benches and electricity, most non-standard items are available upon request.

There is a snack shack, where snacks can be charged onto the cabin between meals. In the dining hall, there is cocoa and coffee available 24 hours a day (although after 10:15 PM, you need to bring your own lantern or flashlight). You can sign up for bag lunches to take with you if you are to be hiking, exploring Yosemite, or just relaxing.

The staff of BTFC is mainly comprised of high school and college students that stay in cabins separated from the cabins of the guests. They work tirelessly to make three square meals a day, daily cleaning of the bathrooms and watering of the local foliage, setting up and maintaining the day's activities, ensuring the safety of the guests, taking luggage to and from your car to your cabin, and countless other chores. As if that weren't enough they reward their guests with a weekly staff show, which is generally a compilation of parodies from Disney movies and some other famous shows (i.e. Romeo and Juliet).