San Diego, CA

The Oaks Retreat Center
Friday, October 2 - Sunday, October 4, 2026

Thank you for signing up to bring hope and Blue Skies to the Oaks!

Please read the information below - everything on this page is here to get you ready for camp!

WHAT TO KNOW

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

COST

Price Per Room: $1100 (if more than two people per room, $100/additional person) covers housing, food, and activities.

Application Fee: $50 (non-refundable; covers background check)

Why is there a cost?

Every Blue Skies camp costs between $40,000 and $75,000 to make happen. That’s because 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 have a limited number of scholarships available. Just ask!

Fundraising Made Simple

We’ll send you an email with a link to your personal fundraising page and easy instructions to get started. Many volunteers share their page on social media or through email and letters as these are great ways to invite friends and family to join you in making a difference. Plus, it spreads the word about Blue Skies and the hope we bring to families.

Payment Details

Support is due one week before camp. (Check out our cancellation policy for details.)

The Impact of Your Volunteering

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.

Even if you can’t attend, you can still make an impact by sponsoring a volunteer or donating to send a family to camp. Every gift matters. Every act of service changes lives.

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!

GET YOUR CAMP T—SHIRT

Stay tuned for information about how to order your shirt for camp!

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! 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).

travel

San Diego International Airport is about an hour from The Oaks. Please let us know your travel plans. If you are flying in, Lyft and Uber are not readily available to get from The Oaks back to the airport. We are happy to try to help with transportation if possible.

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)

  • 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!

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!