What is Lark Camp?
Lark Camp is 8-days. It is a creative reset for your body, mind, and soul. It is a place where music, movement, creativity, and cultures come alive, deep in the magical redwoods at the Mendocino Woodlands.
Because Lark Camp isn’t just a camp—it’s a fully immersive, weeklong celebration of global performing traditions, where song, dance, and community unfold across three distinct “camp villages” nestled within one breathtaking park.
3 camp villages, 1 Lark Camp
Each “camp village” has its own musical flavor, offering a rich mix of workshops, jam sessions, and evening dances. You’ll choose one as your home base for the week—but you’re free to explore them all. Wander scenic forest paths, hop on a free shuttle, or ride your bike as you move between camps, discovering new sounds and connections along the way.
Most people stay for the full week to soak it all in, but flexible options make it easy to join for a “half-camp” experience—either the first four days or the last four.
Days are filled with hands-on workshops for a range of skill levels, welcoming adults and young adults alike. Families are warmly invited, too.
In Camp 1, kids can dive into their own creative world with supervised programs like instrument building, arts and crafts, and the beloved camp play—the kids write, rehearse, build props and sets, make costumes, and perform their unique production in a joyful finale on the final night of Camp.
The Mendocino Woodlands Camp Association also enriches the Lark Camp experience with environmental education programs that connect children to the natural world around them.
Whether you come to learn, reinforce skills, dance, network, or simply to be surrounded by music and community, Lark Camp is the kind of thing that stays with you long after it ends.
Camp Themes
There are three camp villages divided roughly by the following criteria. Each has workshops, sessions, dances, and events related to these themes.
Camp 1
IRELAND, BRITISH ISLES, GREECE, EASTERN EUROPE, AND SWEDEN
Camp 2
LATIN AMERICA, NORTH AMERICA, SPAIN, AND FRANCE
Camp 3
THE MIDDLE EAST, GREECE, ASIA, AND AFRICA
Decide which camp is for you based on your workshop preferences:
Check out the list of workshops & instructors. What interests you? A particular instrument, or style of music? If you lean toward one style, you might like to choose the camp dedicated to that theme. (Hint: The themes are listed above!)
Then choose how you’ll camp:
The Mendocino Woodlands is a WPA-era campground with rustic wooden cabins. Each of the three camps has cabins or tent-cabins and in most cases are shared by four people. All are equipped with cots and mattresses, but no bedding and none have electricity. Each camp has designated tent camping areas for a pre-assigned number of tents. Each camp has limited, designated space for camping vehicles.
Getting to Lark Camp
Try Carpooling! Sign up here: https://groupcarpool.com/t/usfk0v
Directions:
Lark Camp’s weeklong home is the Mendocino Woodlands State Park in California. It is located about nine miles east of the town of Mendocino via Little Lake Road.
Do not rely on phone connectivity! Most people will lose connection well before arriving at camp. If these directions are important to you, print them out at home and bring the printout with you.
For The Eternally Hopeful
Here’s a Google Maps link to the Mendocino Woodlands State Park entrance. Good luck!
https://maps.app.goo.gl/ZRb6c6Mh9daZaQzq7
GPS co-ordinates are: 39.317772, -123.708384
That point is 9.1 miles by road east of the town of Mendocino. Along Little Lake Road and then Thompson Gulch Trail.
Step-by-Step Directions
Here are turn-by-turn directions from the junction of Highway 1 and Little Lake Road, just east of the town of Mendocino. How you get to the start point depends on where you are coming from.
•●》Start Point《●•
![[1st of 5 pictures] Looking east on Little Lake Road at the junction of Highway 1 and Little Lake Road](https://www.larkcamp.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/Picture1-1024x768.jpg)
Reset your trip odometer. Drive east on Little Lake Road for 5.0 miles (9 minutes).
Junction of Road 409 (aka “Caspar Little Lake Rd.”)
and
Little Lake Road.
•》Continue on Little Lake Road!《•
![[2nd of 5 pictures] Intersection of Road 409 ( aka "Caspar Little Lake Rd.") and Little Lake Rd.](https://www.larkcamp.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/Picture2-1024x768.jpg)
•》Veer Right on Thompson Gulch Trail《•
![[3rd of 5 pictures] the intersection of Little Lake Rd and Thompson Gulch Trail with sign saying "Mendocino Woodland State Park 3.3 miles" and arrow pointing right](https://www.larkcamp.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/Picture3-1024x768.jpg)
•》Don’t Panic. Almost There!《•
![[4th of 5 pictures] A picture of the road with a 15 mph sign on right. This means you are almost there!](https://www.larkcamp.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/Picture4-1024x768.jpg)
•》Arrived At Check-In《•
![[5th of 5 pictures] Arrived At Check-In. A picture of the caretakers house where the registration check-in starts.](https://www.larkcamp.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/Picture5-1024x768.jpg)
Camp Layout (maps)
Camp Layout at the Mendocino Woodlands (above).
| View and download printable Camp Maps | |
|---|---|
| Camp 1 | |
| View | Download |
| Camp 2 | |
| View | Download |
| Camp 3 | |
| View | Download |
Lark Camp Rules & Restrictions
- CODE OF CONDUCT — Lark Camp does not tolerate any form of harassment. Please read our code of conduct so you understand what constitutes harassment and how to help anyone who is being harassed.
- THE CAMP ONE MEADOW (Tent Area A) IS THE EMERGENCY HELICOPTER LANDING AREA — In the unlikely event of a medical air evacuation, it has to be cleared. Available campers/staff must pull all tents and their contents to the side of the Meadow within 15 minutes.
- STATE PARK FIRE RULES — You may only cook if you’re camping in a vehicle with a built-in kitchen. NO portable white gas or propane stoves or lanterns are allowed in the park. NO cooking is allowed in cabins. These are State Park fire rules; if you break them, you’ll pay a $250 fine and be ejected from the campground!
- ALCOHOL, SMOKING, & DRUGS — You may only bring alcoholic beverages for your own consumption if you are 21 or over. All smoking or vaping is strictly allowed only in designated areas. If a participant is found taking, selling, or possessing any illegal drug or substance, or if they supply such drugs, substances, or alcohol to minors, they may be fined and/or expelled from the event without warning or refund. LTA will report such action to police if required by law. Cannabis clarification—In California or California State Parks, it is illegal to use cannabis in any form in public. Legal cannabis may be consumed only by flame free vaping or edibles, in private lodging spaces. It is illegal for anyone under 21 to use or possess cannabis.
FAQ – Frequently Asked Questions
Is Lark Camp family-friendly?
Definitely. Lark kids are basically the coolest kids in the world. Workshops are offered for a variety of experience levels for adults and young adults; families with young, supervised children are welcome. In Camp One, there are kids’ programs that include instrument making, art projects, and a wonderful Kid’s Play that is rehearsed, costumed, and performed on the last night of camp. The Mendocino Woodlands Camp Association also offers environmental education programs for children.
Can minors attend?
Minors (anyone under 18) must attend Lark Camp with a parent or guardian who is at least 21 years old. Special paperwork is required for minors who attend with a guardian rather than a parent or legal guardian. It must be filled out by the parent, guardian, and minor.
Are my fees or tuition payments refundable?
- Lark Camp recently changed our refund policy. Going forward from May 21, 2026 onward, we will have a $150 non-refundable deposit if cancelled before June 20th.
- If you paid with PayPal, the processing fee is also non-refundable.
- PLEASE NOTE: as we continue to update this change in our admin forms, you may see that our terms of registration may still state your 50% deposit is non-refundable, going forward. This is the old policy, and the new policy stated above is current and correct.
- If you need to cancel, please write us at registration@larkcamp.org and confirm that this is what you want to do. We can refund you directly to your original payment method if you paid via PayPal. Check refunds take 6-8 weeks to process.”
- $60 non refundable fee for all crew (even partial pay)
- You cannot sell the deposit to any other camper, and it cannot be applied to make up the balance on another deposit for a friend or family member. Deposits cannot carry over to the following year.
Please consider purchasing trip insurance if something could prevent your attendance.
Is there phone reception? Wifi? Electricity?
Phone receptivity is extremely limited at Lark Camp; some Verizon customers may be able to get a phone call out, but even then, there’s not enough reception to read email. There is NO Wifi at all. There is NO electricity in the cabins. There are outlets in most camp common buildings where you can charge a device, but they’re popular; some folks bring battery chargers or solar chargers to avoid discharging devices that double as recorders. (The Camp One Administration Office has resources for real emergencies.)
Can I carpool to Lark Camp?
The Mendocino Woodlands asks us to carpool when possible to reduce the number of cars in the park. Use this link to add your offer to drive a carpool and/or find a ride with someone to Lark Camp. (NOTE: Lark Traditional Arts can’t be responsible for any problems that may arise from carpool arrangements you make for yourself.) We’d like to suggest that you offer to help pay for gas, or maybe buy your driver lunch?
What discomforts & health hazards should I know about?
Life at Lark Camp is rustic and hilly. The Mendocino Woodlands have mosquitoes, yellow jackets, dust, and poison oak. Bring whatever repellent works best for you, allergy medication if you have dust allergies, and learn how to identify poison oak. Nothing in the State Park is paved – be prudent and bring comfortable footwear for walking on dirt paths! BRING A FLASHLIGHT OR HEADLAMP! Contact registration@larkcamp.org if you have questions.
Also, please be aware the the Mendocino Woodlands is the natural home for several types of animals, including Black Bears and chipmunks, that will smell and find any unprotected food items, and destroy your belongings to get it. Keep your community, yourself, and your things safe by storing snack items and other fragrant items in a hard, secure bin or in your car.
What if I can’t afford camp?
We offer a limited number of work-trade positions – where campers work in exchange for some portion of their camp fees. We have positions on the registration crew, setup and teardown crews, or cleaning crew. Contact volunteer@larkcamp.org if this interests you for more information. You can reduce meal cost – trade work for eats in one of our kitchens doing food preparation, service, or dishwashing. Visit Lark Kitchen for details about kitchen work trade positions.
Lark Traditional Arts
In 2019, Lark Traditional Arts was formed as a nonprofit organization to manage Lark Camp. Thanks to its Board of Directors, you can look forward to many more years of music in the redwood forest of the Mendocino Woodlands! Donations to Lark Traditional Arts will help the organization build programs for scholarships and bring instructors from far away to enrich our workshop program.
Mendocino Woodlands
Located in traditional Pomo territory near the village site Bu’ldam, Mendocino Woodlands National Historic Landmark State Park is a year-round group camping facility and environmental education center nestled in the heart of the redwood forest, just northeast of the town of Mendocino. The Mendocino Woodlands Camp Association nonprofit runs the campground; its mission is to ensure a Mendocino Woodlands experience for future generations.
History of Lark Camp
What began as a simple gathering of friends grew into something far more enduring. When Mickie Zekley’s annual music party swelled beyond a hundred guests, he made a bold move—relocating the celebration to Camp One at Mendocino Woodlands and inviting others to share in both the cost and the experience. That decision, in 1979, quietly set the stage for a cultural tradition that would span generations.
Surrounded by towering redwoods and the handcrafted cabins of this Mendocino Woodlands National Historic Landmark—built during the era of the Works Progress Administration—the gathering began to evolve. What started as a weekend rooted in Celtic and American traditions gradually expanded in scope and purpose, transforming into a weeklong, immersive exploration of music and dance from cultures around the world.
This evolution reflected a deeper vision: not just to celebrate music, but to learn it, share it, and keep it alive. Workshops in instrumental, vocal, and traditional dance forms became central, turning participants into students, teachers, and collaborators all at once.
Mickie’s influence extended beyond the camp itself. As founder of Lark In The Morning Music Store, he helped connect countless musicians with instruments and traditions from across the globe. The camp took inspiration from that spirit—and its name—from the store, eventually becoming known simply as Lark Camp.
In 2019, stewardship of this thriving cultural community was passed to Lark Traditional Arts, ensuring that its mission continues: to foster learning, preserve tradition, and bring people together through the universal language of music.
From a crowded living room to a living tradition, the journey of Lark Camp is a reminder of how one person’s passion can grow into a shared legacy—where education, culture, and community meet.
Mickie always kept a Lark Camp Music Library. You can find recent PDFs of music taught in our workshops.
Allen ‘Mickie’ Zekley, born October 19, 1946, passed away peacefully on October 28, 2022 at Saint Helena Hospital in California. He is survived by his wife Elizabeth, his adult children Marina and Corwin, his ex-wife Kristina Almquist, as well as many, many hundreds of admirers and friend who will remain ever grateful for the gifts he so generously gave during his life. You can read about Mickie’s life in his blog, Adventures of a Street Musician.
Lark Camp T-Shirts on our Etsy Store!
Each year, we have a special commemorative Lark Camp T-shirt. This year’s shirt (on the left) was created by Melissa Fischbach. Past graphic artists we have worked with are: Lila Burns, Marina Zekely, Jack Gilder, Alina Larson, and Rainbow.
All ETSY sales go directly to LTA’s Educational Program to support our mission of presenting, promoting, and preserving traditional instrumental music, song, and dance from around the globe.