FAQ

Here, we hope, are the answers to some of the questions you may have. Please let us know if you have any more.

How much will it cost to attend?

The total fee to attend Camp Oo-Koo-Lay-Lay is $849/adult, $569 for teens (13-17), $459 for youth (9-12), $429 for kids (5-8), $299 for little kids ($299), and free for kids under 2.  Needless to say, all campers under the age of 18 must be accompanied by at least one paying adult.  However, we also have a Flex Stay, where you can come for any number of days or nights.  Please see the Camp Fees & Registration page for more information.

What does the registration fee cover?

Your Camp Oo-Koo-Lay-Lay registration fee covers your stay at Camp Oski (at the Lair of the Golden Bear)  in one of our tents, three hearty meals a day, all Camp Oski activities (including age-specific activites for kids) AND at least two ukulele workshops each day with professional instructors, participation in the Ukulele Slam Jam, open mic night, nightly campfire jams, ukulele social hour, the coveted Camp Oo-Koo-Lay-Lay T-shirt, bragging rights, and more.

Where will we stay?

Attendees of Camp Oo-Koo-Lay-Lay will stay at Camp Oski, in a cozy, tent cabin.  The cabins have wooden sides and floor, a snug canvas top, twin beds with mattresses and metal frames, one shelving unit, one overhead light, and one electrical outlet with two sockets. Bunk beds can be requested if you need them.  A modern bathroom and shower building is conveniently located just steps away.  We hope that campers will take every opportunity to decorate their cabins and the tent circle appropriately. However, there are more “luxurious” accommodations available at  if you so desire. (Please, see below.)

What time do we check-in and check-out?

Check-in for camp begins at 2:00 pm on Saturday, August 18, and you will need to check-out by 11:00 am on Friday, August 24.  

Do I have to stay in a tent cabin?

No! Camp Oski has an additional lodging option (Bosch Hall) for folks who would prefer to sleep in a small motel-style room with bathroom nearby for an extra $195 per room per week. For even more deluxe accommodations, you can choose to stay at Pine Crest Chalet, just down the road, with fully furnished studios, cottages, and townhouses available. Prices start at $914 for the week. If you’re interested in sharing a cabin, we can help you find a room-mate.  Pinecrest Chalet also has motorhome hook-ups. If you stay at Pinecrest Chalet, or anywhere besides Camp Oski, you will still need to register for Camp Oo-Koo-Lay-Lay in order to attend.

What types of cabins are available at Pine Crest Chalet?

Here are a few examples:

• One-room cottage -  microwave, small refirgerator, gas burning fireplace, 1 queen bed, 2 twins in loft accessible by 7-foot ladder, shower bathroom, barbeque, fire pit,  $914/week (includes tax) – suitable for single, couple, family with small children
• Studio townhouse -  full kitchen, 1 queen bed & 1 bunk bed, shower bathroom, barbeque, picnic table, $1008/week (includes tax) - suitable for two singles, couple, or family
• Mini-chalet- fully equipped kitchen, gas-burning fireplace, 2 queen beds, shower bathroom, $1229/week (includes tax) – suitable for two singles, couple, or family

What if we want to bring our motor home?

Pine Crest Chalet (also owned by the Cal Alumni Association) has a limited number of sites for motor homes.  Rates are $39 per night.  15 amp electric is available, but water and sewer are only available in some sites and there are no public bathrooms or showers. Please contact Pine Crest Chalet for more information and to check on availability. 209.965.3276 

Can we camp nearby?

Yes. There are a number of camp grounds within the Stanislaus National Forest.  The closest one is Pinecrest Campground.  It is right on the lake and very popular. So, if you’re interested in this option, you should book as soon as possible. 

What is “Flex Stay” and how does it work?

It’s like a “day pass,”  and you can choose to come for as many, or as few, days as you’d like.  And you can choose to come as a full-fledged camper (staying at Camp Oski) with all meals and activities provided for as little as $189/day  or you can stay elsewhere and join us for meals and camp activities for as little as $93/day.  Please check the Camp Fees & Registration page for more information.

And what do you get for $93/day? 

• Meals at Camp Oski and other camp activities
• Two or three workshops each day with Jim D’Ville, Elaine de Man, and other guest instructors we’ll be bringing in.
• Ukulele campfires every night (with s’mores)
• Open mic opportunities on our own very own stage
• Unlimited opportunities to make new friends, learn new songs and techniques, and jam the night away
• Charter membership in an exclusive group initiating an annual tradition
• Braggin’ rights

Is the camp geared for beginning or advanced players?

Our goal is to create a fun, learning environment for players of all skill levels, including kids, those who have never played ‘ukulele before, and the really skilled players among you. We’re also hoping more advanced players will make themselves available to teach others, lead song sessions, and/or initiate jam sessions through-out  the day and night.

How’s the food?

Your fee includes three hearty meals a day (with vegetarian options at every meal) served family-style in the Camp Oski Dining Hall.  It’s all-you-can-eat and typically includes a hot entrée with various side dishes. Lunches offer a full salad bar, homemade soups, and breads. If you’re heading out of camp for the day, you have the option to make a bag lunch in the morning. And if that’s not enough, you can bring your own food and beverages to store in your cabin, provided you have a way to keep the critters from getting them before you do. But, if you’d prefer to bring or fix your own meals, you can opt for the “Flex Stay” and  the cost would be just $60/day.

I’d love to bring my grandchildren. What is there for them to do while I’m attending ukulele workshops?

Plenty! All activities at Camp Oski are separated into age-appropriate groups that are fully supervised and include arts and crafts, hikes and nature games, swimming, sports of all kinds, boating, story-telling, dances, and movies. (Even two to four year-old diaper graduates enjoy crafts, games, and music.) Consider it free, built-in babysitting. We will also have ukulele workshops for kids who are interested. There’s a reason the Lair of the Golden Bear has become a family tradition for generations of campers, now it can become one of your traditions, as well. 

I see there are actually three separate camps at the Lair of the Golden Bear.  Which one will be ours?

Camp Oski will be the home for Camp Oo-Koo-Lay-Lay. A little smaller than the Blue and Gold camps, it still offers the full range of camp activities and has the added bonus of Bosch Hall, a lodging option for those folks who’d like to pay a little more ($195 per room per week) and sleep in a small motel-style room with a bathroom nearby. 

Just how “rustic” is the Lair of the Golden Bear?

Even though you are at summer camp (and will get dirty), you will still have a few of the conveniences of home, including free wi-fi, washing machines and dryers (bring your own detergent), and ice. Mail delivery and pick-up is scheduled daily and fax service is offered for a small fee. Each camp has pay phones (pre-paid calling cards recommended) and cell reception is typically OK if you use Verizon.

What will there be to do besides playing the ukulele?

Lots!  Arts and crafts, swimming, high-country hiking, lake kayaking, athletic programs, and tournaments.  The Lair Wellness program offers daily yoga, Pilates, boot camp workouts (not gentle), and fantastic massages (available at additional cost). Or you can just hang out in a hammock in the shade on a beautiful summer’s day and read a book. While we’ll have our own ukulele activities going on each night, on Sunday and Tuesday nights, the Lair features popular presentations by a prominent Cal alum or a member of UC Berkeley’s esteemed faculty or administration. Whether or not you play the ‘ukulele, the week will fly by!

Can I register after February 14?

Absolutely! But the sooner you do so the better.  We could fill up at any time.  

I would very much like to register for the Camp OoKooLayLay. However, I do need to stay in one of the chalet rooms with bath. Just tell me how to proceed and I will be there.

Check with Pine Crest Chalet directly and take care of your reservation there.   (You can call them at 209.965.3276.)  Once that’s settled, you can send in your Camp Oo-Koo-Lay-Lay Registration Form to us, signing up as a “walk-in.”