Enrollment is generally filled on a first-come, first-serve basis. However, Camp Chrysalis reserves the right to make admissions decisions on other bases, such as maintaining an even gender balance in the sessions.

A depost of $100 is due at the time of sign-up, and the tuition balance is due by April 1. Upon receipt of the application (see "Forms" page) and deposit, we will contact each camper family to confirm their space and with further details about preparing for camp.

To Veteran and Prospective Campers and their Families,

This is our 28th year! When we first talked about starting a camp for the students in our schools, Michael and I never expected to have such an amazing and satisfying run. Though much has grown familiar to us, the experience of working and learning with children in an outdoor setting continues to be exciting and rewarding. With the camp now much older than its campers, we have become a local institution, a well-kept Berkeley “secret”. Although Michael died over one year ago, his passion and spirit continue to move us to learn to read the land and to look under every rock to discover the wonders and mysteries that surround us. His love of nature and inquiry motivate us to inspire the next generation of young people to also become stewards of the Earth.

This summer, we are pleased that many of our experienced staff (David Siegel, Ashley Daley, Estrella Nash-Tempkin and Becca Nash-Tempkin) are returning. We have also hired Nolan Deloison Baum, Jamie Lent, and Lucas Briffa, veteran campers who have transitioned to junior staff, to enrich the camp. In addition, we have hired Phoebe Bryson-Cahn to join us this summer. You can find out more about the staff on our web site at www.campchrysalis.com. With this amazing staff, Camp Chrysalis maintains its low camper/staff ratio of 5/1 to allow us to give every child the individual attention that they deserve.

Our central emphasis continues to be on natural science, as we explore each environment intimately — hiking, swimming, meandering, focusing on the uniqueness and beauty of the land, wherever we are. Over the years, other activities, not originally foreseen — folk-singing and guitar instruction, woodworking, jewelry making, canoeing, archery, marble etching, T-shirt painting, backpacking trips — have come to enrich the camp experience. Most importantly, our sense of group dynamics and our skills in helping children grow in cooperation, independence, and responsibility for themselves and to the group have shaped the camp experience. Although we’re still learning and growing ourselves, we know that we run a special kind of camp — one that nurtures the whole child in many different ways.

This summer, our first session returns to Pfeiffer Big Sur State Park. This session is ideal for younger, beginning campers. Our second session is near Mendocino at Russian Gulch State Park with the best tide-pooling conditions of the year and ample time for leisurely exploration of this stunning part of the California coast. Third is our Sierra session, again at our base camp in the Tahoe National Forest. We expect spectacular wildflowers, beautiful lakes, and warm days. Last, for our older high school campers, is our backpacking session with enough days to allow us time to explore a spectacular location in the Sierras. This session is for campers with prior backpacking experience only.

We’ve raised our fees about 5% from 2009 to cover increased site, gas and staff costs. Nevertheless, Camp Chrysalis’s fees continue to be significantly lower than other science-oriented camps, while providing a unique program for your children’s learning and growth. In these stressful economic times, we continue to offer financial assistance to families who need it and a payment plan when requested.

Much of our joy in running this camp is the satisfaction of watching children grow and mature as they explore new situations and challenges and discover much about themselves in the process. We would be delighted to have your children and their friends join us to explore new or familiar environments. However, be sure to return the application form and the deposit promptly. Some sessions filled up in March last year and we had to turn away several old friends as well as other potential new campers. As a small “family-style” camp, our advertising depends mainly on positive word-of-mouth. Please share our brochures with friends, relatives, neighbors, and business associates. And if you know a place to distribute our brochures or post our web site, please tell us.

Thanks, and have a wonderful spring!

Lee Tempkin, for the staff