Each fall, UUCCSM members and friends make our way to Camp de Benneville Pines for a Friday, Saturday, Sunday getaway to our idyllic rustic retreat just 2 hours east of Santa Monica (if you leave before noon on Friday). A weekend of reveling in nature, hikes and quiet contemplation, ping pong, conversation, s’mores, swimming, tie-dye, and singalongs: sign up now for September 15, 16, and 17, 2023
All UUSM members and friends are are invited to join in the fun! Singles, couples, and families young and old enjoy clean mountain air, lots of informal activities, Nature, and fellowship. Rustic, yet heated, cabins are clean and comfortable, with beds, indoor plumbing, and hot showers for “roughing it, gently.” We bring our own bedding and towels, hats and sturdy walking shoes, and clothes for warm days and chilly nights. There will be workshops and time for solitude. Games and talent night are a big draw. Worship Under the Pines on Sunday morning is always insightful and moving.
Persons with disabilities most welcome and often easily accommodated, though wi-fi and cellular service are limited. Note that proof of COVID vaccination will still be required for all participants. Send us a message or make a note the comments section at the end of the registration form if you have special circumstances. We want to hear from you!
If you have not been to camp, ask around at church; probably the first person you ask will share a fun story. And take a look at the article and tons of photos from our weekend last fall. UUSM’s family weekend is also a great way to check out camp yourself, if you are considering sending your kids (or yourself) to sleepaway camp there in the summer or winter.
Camp de Benneville Pines is shared by the UU congregations in Southern California and Arizona where all-ages weekends for art, music, yoga, and ideas happen, as well as programs for elementary, middle school, and high school kids take place. Our weekend is organized by UUSM volunteers, but the camp staffers are spectacular. The food is excellent with no cooking or cleanup! Come enjoy the spaciousness of the trees and sky.
Questions? Bring them to the de Benneville table on Sundays after Worship Service, or send us a message.
Let’s go!
Ready to sign up? Register online HERE. These are the prices for 2023, including all programs and meals (Friday dinner through Sunday lunch):
|
Room / Bed Type |
Price |
|
Adult Bunk in Cabins 1, 3, 5, 7, or 8 |
$190 |
|
Kid’s Bunk (child or teen) |
$150 |
|
Double Bed (Cabin 5, 7 o4 8) |
$400 |
|
Adult Bunk in Craig’s Cabin |
$230 |
|
Room in Craig’s Cabin (sleeps up to two + an infant) |
$420 |
| Help a UUSM community member go to camp who could otherwise not afford it ($85 provides a 50% subsidy for an adult or 100% subsidy for a child). |
$ Priceless |
We want everyone who wants to go to camp to be able to do so. Please ask us about scholarships or other assistance. Alternately, if you’re fortunate, you could contribute to the campership fund, which would help even more campers make it to de Benneville in September. A full camp is a happy camp, and we aim to be very happy.
The best way to pay is online at UUSM.org/donate; be sure to choose “de Benneville Pines Camp.” (Remember, your login for the Vanco secure payment portal is different from your UUSM.org login.) You may also pay by sending or dropping off a check, remembering to write “de Benneville Pines” in the memo line.
We collaborate to create the weekend’s activities ourselves, and encourage carpooling. If you need help or have something special to contribute, please talk to us.
The mountains are calling, and we must go. Let’s go together!
— Amy, Karl, Judith, Chela, Larry, Greg, Linda, Joyce
