What to Bring to Camp
You’ll be living in the redwood forest for eight nights, and there are things you’ll want to bring. For example, it is imperative that you have a flashlight and replacement batteries – either a headlamp or small pocket-sized version – to walk safely at night in the many unlit areas of camp.
But there are many other things you’ll want to consider, so check out Dana’s List! Thoughtfully and comprehensively compiled over the years by one of our OG campers, Dana Dubinsky.
Mealtimes
- Breakfast is served from 8:00 to 10:00
- Lunch is served from 12:00 to 2:00 pm
- Dinner is served from 6:30 to 8:30
- NOTE: Last Friday mealtimes are different:
- Brunch is served from 8 – 1:30
- Dinner is served from 5:30 – 8:00pm.
- No breakfast is served on the departure day.
There is no WiFi at Camp. It’s both beautiful and frustrating… but mostly kind of wonderful. Phone reception is EXTREMELY limited.
Getting Around
Lark Camp has shuttles running almost continuously from 8:30 am till 3:00 am, so you won’t miss all the late night fun and find yourself walking in the dark. If you have large instruments to haul to workshops, you’ll love the shuttles.
You may bring a bicycle to ride between camps on the main road (but bikes MUST be walked on footpaths). It is roughly one mile between Camp 1 and Camp 3. It is a quarter mile between Camp 3 and Camp 2.
- To prevent dust and shuttle bus encounters, no car driving is permitted once you’re settled in camp. When you arrive, you’ll drive to where you need to unload your gear, and then move to park in central parking areas for the duration of camp. The road is a well-managed, single lane with small passing areas.
Pesky Pests
Lark Camp regularly has these pesky things:
- Large, Medium, and Small Animals: There are annoying ones, like chipmunks (cute) and ravens (cool). But they will take your stuff, and the chipmunks will tear apart wrappers, boxes, and anything not well secured. But more important, there is the scary one, Black Bears. They can destroy your tent, your car, and whatever they want. They are generally not a problem, but please keep your food and scented products (lotion, etc) carefully stored, in your car or in a heavy duty container. We don’t want to draw them into the camp areas.
- Insects are numerous – we cannot lie. The products that work most reliably for mosquitoes is DEET or Picaridin, but many people have good luck with other repellents. Covering up with clothing helps, too.
- Poison oak – Not everyone has a reaction, but poison oak plants have an irritating oil that can produce swelling and blisters where it has made contact with your skin. You’ll want to educate yourself and your kids about its appearance; groups of three leaves can be shiny or dull, and green or red. The most important thing to do if you’ve gotten oil on your skin from contact with the plant, is to wash – use soap (which dissolves the oil) AND friction ASAP. Carefully remove clothing that has contacted the plants and save it to wash when you get home. For some folks, poison oak reactions can be severe enough to warrant a visit to a doctor for a steroid prescription. The best medicine: avoidance!
- Dust – well, you’re outdoors. Dust is unavoidable! The Mendocino Woodlands does its best to minimize airborne dust, but if you’re particularly sensitive, proactively following your regular allergy protocols will keep you comfortable.
Resources
BEFORE AND AFTER CAMP
In the town of Mendocino, there are several restaurants, grocery stores (a bigger one is in Fort Bragg nearby), and shops. But Larkies, as we know, are awfully fond of getting coffee and treats before camp, and absolutely love breakfast the morning we leave camp at the GoodLife Bakery & Cafe. If you realize you forgot your toothbrush or other grocery/sundry items, Harvest Market at Mendosa’s will have what you need, and they own Mendocino Hardware right next door for anything else you might need on the spur of the moment!
AT CAMP
Lark In The Morning (LIM) Music Store
We have the East Bay’s amazing Lark in the Morning music store at camp for you to buy instruments, strings, picks, etc. The LIM store is in Camp 2. Can only take cash and checks at Camp.
The Musical Instrument Library (MIL)
Be sure to check out our partners and friends at the Musical Instrument Library in Camp 3.
If there is an instrument you always wanted to try, or you found a workshop at Camp you think sounds amazing, come to the MIL and borrow whatever you need. “Check out” any of the dozens of different instruments for a couple days or for the entire camp, it’s quick and easy.
And be sure to take advantage of the MIL’s stage to hang and jam, or to check out an evening concert (you can even sign up to play).
As the MIL founder, Jason Cool, says, “(We are) bringing the world together through music.
Learn More at MusicalInstrumentLibrary.com
Mid-Week Swap Meets in Camp 1 and Camp 2
Often you can find instruments, tune books, and almost anything else at both Swap Meets – see Events.
ONLINE RESOURCES
Lark Camp Music Library
You can find music notation and links to audio recordings for tunes that have been taught at Lark Camp in the past, and in some cases before camp. It does not include ALL our instructor materials (often handed out during workshops), but if they’ve told you you’ll be able to find it on the website, dis is da place!