San Diego, CA

The Oaks Retreat Center
Friday, May 1 - Sunday, May 3, 2026

Thank you for serving with us to help bring hope and Blue Skies to those who need it most!

Please be sure to read all of the information below:) Everything on this page is here to get you ready for camp!

VOLUNTEER INFO ABOUT CAMP

This page is just for you! We will keep it updated with all of the information you need for camp! THANK YOU for serving with us! Camp isn’t camp without YOU!

where

The Oaks, A Southern California Retreat Center in the Ballena Valley

Address: 27224 HWY 78 Ramona, CA 92065

ARRIVAL/DEPARTURE

Volunteer arrival time: TBD

Volunteer departure time: TBD

Fundraising

THANK YOU! THANK YOU for not only giving of yourselves to serve, but for also giving financial support (or raising support) so that our special guest families can spend a few days away from the chaos of cancer at no cost! Our hope is to serve more and more families - 47 are diagnosed everyday! The best way for us to spread the word is when you share your story of coming to camp. So, please share on social media so that your friends and family can learn about Blue Skies and have the opportunity to give. Fewer people are able/willing to come and serve but more and more are happy to give so that others can serve! If you pay your support rather than share the fundraising link, we hope you’ll share on social media and let people know about Blue Skies!

Every Blue Skies camp costs between $50,000 and $75,000 to make happen. Volunteer support typically funds about 25-50% of what it actually costs to host a retreat. If you know of a church, company, or individual who would be willing to help sponsor part of camp to bring hope, that would help immensely! We want families walking through pediatric cancer to experience camp completely free of charge—a place where they can rest, laugh, and reconnect. Your contribution helps make that possible. We work hard to keep volunteer costs as low as we can, and if you need help, we are here to help! Also, we have a limited number of scholarships available. Just ask! If you are coming by yourself and need help finding a roommate to share the cost, let us know!

When you volunteer, you’re not just helping with meals or activities, you’re giving families a break from cancer. You’re creating space for laughter, rest, and joy during one of the hardest seasons of their lives. Parents get to breathe. Kids get to play. Families get to feel hope again.

SUPPORT IS DUE ONE WEEK BEFORE CAMP. (If you need extra time, please contact us.)

schedule

Here’s our projected schedule:

FRIDAY

  • 2:30pm Volunteer Orientation

  • 4pm-5pm Guest Checkin

  • Camp WELCOME!

  • Dinner

  • Splish Splash Blue Bash

  • S’mores around the campfire!

  • Volunteer Gathering

sATURDAY

  • 7:30am Breakfast Prep

  • 8:30am Breakfast

  • 9:30am Good Morning Blue Skies (Chapel)

  • Kindred Journeys (Parent Group)/Soaring (Kid’s Activities)

  • Lunch

  • Swimming; Tennis; Pickleball; Games; Crafts

  • Dinner

  • Sunset Hayride

  • S’mores around the campfire!

  • 9pm Volunteer Gathering

sUNDAY

  • 7am Breakfast Prep

  • 8am Breakfast

  • Benediction

FaceBOOK GrouP: JOIN TODAY!

Click here to join the Oaks official Facebook group that will be a great way to get to know one another and hear updates before camp starts!

YOUR CAMP T—SHIRT

We have fun camp t-shirts designed uniquely for our west coast California camps. You will receive a text with a link to a google form along with a picture of the shirt to let us know if you would like one and your preferred size. (We get it, not everyone is a t-shirt person OR you may not see yourself wearing this year’s shirt. No worries! Just click on the link to the google form and select, no thank you. It will help us be good stewards to give shirts only to those who would like one:))

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.

Each volunteer will serve as a Family Host. You/your family (and possibly more volunteers depending on the size and needs of the guest family) will be paired with a guest family to help them feel welcome and host them throughout camp, befriend them and be available to help. You will find out your guest family the day of camp. We hope you will meet and get to know all of the guests (and volunteers). Along with serving as a Family Host, there are opportunities to serve at camp by helping to set up/breakdown for each activity (pool, meals, theme nights, etc.)

meals

All meals will be provided at camp! We will have light, continental breakfast; sandwiches/salads for lunch. Pizza on Friday night and BBQ on Saturday night. We will also have snacks/drinks throughout the day and s’mores ‘round the campfire before bed.

housing

Volunteers and guests will stay in varied lodging on the property from bunkhouses to cottages. Your room assignments will be given at check-in. The property was once a student camp and they have transformed it into a beautiful adult retreat center. Only the guest families will have their own bathrooms. All other rooming shares a bathroom with at least one other person/family. The bunk rooms share bathrooms (men/women).

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 are having a western night and hayride on Saturday! You may want to throw in a bandana, jeans, and boots!

We will provide:

  • Bedding and linens (by the resort)

  • Pool towels (by the resort)

  • Meals, snacks and drinks

  • 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!

podcast

Click here to hear Melinda’s heart behind the ministry and the hope Blue Skies brought to the Dryden family as they join Christy Nockels on her podcast!

volunteer manual

Click here to view our volunteer manual with lots of helpful information!

Guest family welcome letter

Click here to read a welcome from Melinda to our guest families to learn more about Blue Skies!

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.

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!