San Diego, CA
The Oaks Retreat Center
Friday, September 6 - Sunday, September 8, 2024
California Dreaming! Let’s go!
Join us for a weekend mountain getaway at The Oaks as Blue Skies heads west! Nestled on 240 acres in the Ballena Valley and located only an hour outside of San Diego and two hours from Los Angeles, The Oaks is a retreat center to help promote rest and renewal and focuses on community and connections.
beautiful views
Enjoy the modern accommodations, hiking trails, tennis courts, a three story water slide and pool, and the amazing gathering spaces that overlook the mountain vistas. There are also 40 ROCKING CHAIRS - Where you sleep is important, but where you rock is even more! Most of their guests say they would sleep in their oversized, outdoor rocking chairs if they could!
WHAT TO KNOW
where
The Oaks, A Southern California Retreat Center
Address: 27224 HWY 78 Ramona, CA 92065
ARRIVAL/DEPARTURE
Volunteer arrival time: Between 2pm - 3pm PST
Volunteer departure time: 12:30pm PST
COST
Adult volunteers (TBA)
Students (TBA)continue to rise, but we are doing all we can to hold and hopefully decrease the volunteer expense
Support is due one week prior to camp.
Your support helps make it possible for our guest families to come to camp at no cost. Our goal is to bring down the cost of camp for volunteers. Costs are continuing to rise, but we are doing all we can to hold and hopefully decrease the expense for volunteers. If you need help with funding, don't hesitate to contact us. We also have a limited number of partial scholarships available.
We ask volunteers to use the Blue Skies online personalized giving campaign (FundraiseUp). Our staff will create a page for each volunteer upon their registration for camp. When volunteers self-fund their trip, we ask that they reach out to their friends and family through social media, calls, letters, etc. allowing others to know about their trip to Blue Skies so they can pray, learn about Blue Skies, and have the opportunity to give directly to send a child with cancer and their family to camp. So many people are unable to serve at camp yet want to help and are glad to support others who can serve in their place!
schedule
your role
Get ready for a weekend packed with fun mixed with relaxation combined with meeting so many new friends! We will have worship and teachings and enjoy the great outdoors. We’ll spend time connecting with our team and the families we are serving to share with one another the hope and joy Jesus brings.
meals
All meals will be provided at camp!
housing
Volunteers and guests will stay in lodges on the property. Your room assignments will be given at check-in.
Each volunteer family will share a bedroom and one bathroom together. (That means mom, dad, and all the kiddos are sharing a room together - that might be the greatest challenge and sacrifice at camp but also one of the greatest rewards and fondest memories you'll make as a family). There is great peace and blessing when we sacrifice for the good and benefit of others for His namesake.
travel
San Diego International Airport is about an hour from The Oaks.
what to pack
You won’t need much! Pack casual clothes, including a sweatshirt in case it’s cool in the evening, bathing suits, flip-flops, shoes to hike in, and your toiletries. Remember to bring all of your family's routine medications like Advil, Tylenol, bandaids, etc. along with any prescription medications, medical supplies, equipment and swim diapers if you have little ones.
We will provide:
Bedding and linens (by the resort)
Snacks and bottled water, canned soda
Games, arts & crafts
guidelines
Please review our guidelines for volunteering at camp by clicking HERE. We ask all volunteers to abide by these guidelines to ensure we all have an incredible week together!
additional info
This will be our inaugural mountain getaway in California!
2024 volunteer manual
Click here to view our beautiful new Volunteer Manual with lots of helpful information!
Cancellation Policy
If for some reason you are unable to attend once your application has been accepted, you are required to raise/give the full amount of volunteer support due to find another volunteer/volunteer family (approved) to take your spot.