This is my daughter and I second time coming to Camp Oakes. Chef Mike made it special both times…read more Great job with the chow Chef! His Let's Eat program is super special as well. The Camp itself is phenomenal. Tons to see and do. Loved the sledding and rock climbing in particular. I look forward to going again. Thank you!

DO NOT WORK HERE. -…read moreThe workplace culture at modern Camp Oakes was extremely toxic during my time there (4/8/23-5/2/23). It felt like a mob-mentality environment where interpersonal drama often took precedence over professionalism. In my experience, if a single staff member took issue with you--for any reason (in my case, I suspect it was related to my spiritual background)--they and their peers could create a hostile environment that made it impossible to remain. - In my situation, someone even contacted law enforcement. I was never informed of what was said, but it appeared to be an effort to pressure me into quitting. Whatever was reported triggered a traumatic and unnecessary investigation that led me to resign under duress. - I've since filed a lawsuit for defamation, constructive discharge, and other related claims. While employed, I raised concerns about staff harassment directly with manager Samantha Rosenburg ("Wizz"). However, my personnel file appears to omit those complaints entirely--raising serious concerns about whether there was an attempt to obscure institutional awareness of misconduct. Afterward, several individuals in upper management and HR resigned, which I believe may have been an effort to avoid accountability. - In my view, this organization failed to provide a safe or supportive work environment. I've worked in summer camps, childcare, elder care, and recreation across multiple U.S. states. Nowhere else have I encountered treatment this hostile or damaging. - This staff requires serious reform and retraining if this camp is to remain in operation. - DO NOT WORK HERE.

CAMP UNDER NEW OWNERSHIP!!! I've been taking my student groups to Camp Wasewagan for the past…read morethree years. We really enjoyed it under Crazzy's ownership, but it was recently sold to new owners who have done a GREAT JOB of making some improvements. Everything at the camp is wonderful, from the food, to the cabins, to the activities...the new owners have really stepped their game up! My group consisted of 35 teenagers and 5 adults. We were greeted kindly by the young couple who live on site (Sofia and Isaac), who were so attentive the entire time we were there. Sofia made so much delicious food for our group and Isaac helped run all the activities, including serving as the lifeguard. They were so good with my teens! The little touches in the dining hall are appreciated (nacho bar, cold drinks, ice machine, pool tables, etc). The adults definitely appreciated the free WiFi (they have Starlink!!) so they were able to get some work done while chaperoning the kids. As for the bunks, in past years at Wasewagan we've had to sleep on old, thin camp mattresses, but the new owners purchased memory foam mattresses for all the bunks!! WHAT CAMP HAS MEMORY FOAM MATTRESSES?!? . We loved it and I slept like a baby! The camp is LOADED with fun activities! My kids particularly enjoyed the bicycles, basketball hoop, volleyball court and the archery! (See pics) But without a doubt, the highlight of the camp was the pool! My students had a blast escaping the heat in their giant pool! Volleyball, bellyflop contests, and more! The pool is clean, refreshing and HUGE so it easily fits large groups! Other reviews have mentioned the bumpy ride into camp. The dirt road has a few rough spots and two river crossings. Mind you, I have a regular sedan and had no issues. I spoke with one of the new owners who was up there (Jeff, I think) and he mentioned that they are in the process of building a bridge over the river crossing and improving the roads so it won't be quite as bumpy! Again, the new owners really seem to want to improve the experience! As someone who's been to the camp for three years, I can tell you they are DEFINITELY off to a great start!! I can't recommend Camp Wasewagan enough! The staff is kind and work hard. The food is delicious! The beds are the best I've ever slept on at a camp! And the activities and pool are AMAZING!! Take your group here, you won't regret it!!

My daughter went this weekend with girl scout troop to Wasewagan. This review is to warn anyone…read morethat drives a sedan and not SUV/truck as i dropped off my kid and you have to drive thru two rivers. The one in picture in a past post is the easier one closer to camp. The first river tho is a danger, it is all loose big rocks and hidden dips. Water was not so deep but no flat grounding. I had a sedan and rock punctured my transmission pan. Now my car is stuck in big bear for few days at a auto garage to replace pan. Unless u have at least 8" clearance i wouldnt drive to this camp, wish i knew as its a costly repair and car stuck on mountain. I can give feedback from the girls as there was alot of complaints but really just wanna warn others in sedans.

I came here for Camp Matador , CSUN's freshman and first time transfer transition into university…read moreto build connections, memories and fun. The staff was amazing. They were kind and Chef Rob was funny lol. I've never been camping ever in my life and this was a great first experience. Everything was clean and the food was pretty good! I learned to play ping pong. I saw deer. I went ziplining and went down a big slide!

It was amazing. The speakers are always amazing! They have fun activities and keep you busy all…read moreweek. I wish it was longer than 4 days but besides that I had the best time ever these past 2 years :)

Awesome place to have a retreat was just there Oct 9-11. Food was excellent and great service by…read morestaff

My son and nephew went camping and the place was fun, they loved spending the week there and we…read morehighly recommend the cabins, service and the place in general

Camping in the summertime is absolutely a must! And with Alpine Meadows Retreat Center in Angelus…read moreOaks, California near the city of Big Bear Lake it's a place I trust! Alpine Meadows Retreat Center which borders Camp Mountain Chai (pronounced Hi) is a larger spacious multi-level and terrain center as well as site has several bunk cabins, buildings and a main lodge center with tons of ammentinities including soccer field, basketball court, fire circles, mini amphitheater, ropes courses, swimming pool, gathering spot cabin filled with board games, sound system, tv monitors, snacks, popcorn machine, etc. There's a main theater for announcements, shows, classes, etc which is connected to the kitchen and dinning areas not to mention several other facilities. Water areas for refilling bottles or jugs and usually cold water and beverages filled by staff daily. Vending machines with mainly soft drinks only. Plenty of restrooms throughout the entire space in cabins or various rooms and buildings. I was able to attend 9 day event for 4 days with an organization that rented out the area for the duration of 10 days (including set-up and clean-up/breakdown) with the Community of Men enjoying Naturism group and had probably the best vacation getaway gathering retreat camp experience ever especially as an adult lol The group organized some many great events, contest, activities (both in and outdoors), daily hikes, sporting, classes (including zumba and hip hop line dancing - I did both!) and much much more. The meals were amazing including the vegan and vegetarian options that were made available. Tons of BYOB/D made for a huge supply for any and all during social hours and throughout the evening. Everyone at Alpine Meadows, Camp Mt Chai and the C.M.E.N. group did such an amazing job accommodating and providing services through the duration that I can't thank every enough. I'm pretty sure I attended this site in my early teens for a youth leadership and development camp with the Red Cross of America back in 2001/2002 as I had such a sense of nostalgia the entire time including climbing up those massive steps on both the "treacherous" O.O and not so treacherous inclines from the bunk level up to the recreation and rope course areas. Unloading and loading vehicles can be easy as the paths and roads are wide enough for most vehicles to maneuver around, just try not to block the main road for the parking area so vehicles can pass going in or out simultaneously. Enjoy this retreat experience with your group to the fullest, soak of the stars, memories, human interactions and connections and cherish you semi-vacay. Looking up at the stars, spotting beautiful blue jays and breathing in fresh mountain air... It's easy for me to say... 7000+ ft up and away is the way!

Nestled in the mountains, this is a decent retreat center…read more There are a lot of cabins and meeting halls to accommodate multiple groups. The cabins can sleep up to 20 people, but it's not the most comfortable. It's very bare bones and feels old, but everything works. All the beds are bunk beds with a basic sleeping pad; make sure you bring your own sleeping bag and pillow. The bathrooms run on a septic system, so be judicious about what you flush. All the cabins are left unlocked for the duration of your stay, and that's a bit unsettling. We spent 2 nights here, with 30 people across 3 cabins, and didn't have any issues with theft. The meeting rooms come with coffee machines, a giant cooler of water, a fridge, a microwave, and as many chairs as you'll need. There's also a projector, speakers, and a control panel to hook up instruments and microphones. Microphones and accessories are provided by the staff. A wide range of activities are available to help with team building or alleviate cabin fever. There's a basketball court with a bunch of balls, but a vast majority of them are deflated and/or have no grip left. Tackle the rock-climbing wall or the ropes course to overcome your fear of heights. Work on your aim and hunting skills in the archery range, or run around the synthetic turf ball field to improve your conditioning. There's also a pool, some swings, a small jungle gym, and a life-sized foosball table. Meals are buffet style and offered 3 times a day. Breakfast has a cereal bar, instant oatmeal, packaged yogurts, and fresh fruits. The kitchen whips up some scrambled eggs, French toast, pancakes, soy based sausage, and potatoes. Lunch has some pasta, salad, and veggies. Dinner was roast beef and mashed potatoes one night, and rotisserie chicken with rice the other. A full salad bar is offered during lunch and dinner. The food is decent, and I appreciate the effort the staff puts into it, but it's not going to win any cooking awards. Out of everything I ate, the chicken was easily the best. The staff is very friendly and accommodating. A walkie-talkie is provided to your group leader for communication with the staff, and there's someone available at all times. Basic first aid is offered, but anything more serious is 45 minutes away, or 75 minutes to the nearest emergency room. The grounds and facilities are well maintained, but the facilities are in major need of a renovation. The location has very little, if any, cellular service, so communication with friends and loved ones who aren't on site with you can be challenging.

Had the best time when I was a kid!!!! I Made great friends, an experience I'll never forget.read more

Amazing group of people who work really hard to make a wonderful camp for Type 1 diabetics. Great…read moreactivities for kids and excellent medical faculty that help to manage every aspect of the camp experience. Also very useful place to learn about new and upcoming treatments for diabetics such as insulin pumps and continuous glucose monitors.

A wonderful week-long experience with well-kept grounds, clean facilities, and good food - all…read moretainted by incomprehensibly bitter interactions with their AV Tech, Michael Smith. We endured three days of poor EQ in the chapel before I walked up the stairs and offered my assistance. My help was greeted with a terse and annoyed "We've got this," and hand-wag. Sure, I've mixed professionally for fifteen years myself and had my fair share of unhelpful helpers, so I gave him some space and rooted for him to figure out how to EQ out bad frequencies. Unfortunately, the previous two days and the next ninety minutes proved to be insufficient time for the task. We had a full band the next night, and Michael was not present. One of his underlings was present and quite accepting of my help with EQ'ing, setting levels, compression, etc. He was forthcoming in that he was only recently trained on how to use the mixer (Allen & Heath GLD-112). After a brief moment behind the mixer with him, I knew exactly where a lot of these problems were coming from: the mixer is in a terrible spot for listening. Several large beams sit between the FOH (A pair of QSC KLA lines) and the mixer. Fortunately, there's an iPad loaded up with A&H's AP for EQ'ing the mix from the audience down below. Unfortunately, I never once saw anyone but myself use it. The tech that night was extremely appreciative of my help. His mixing aesthetics knowledge was minimal, but to his credit, he was eager to learn. That evening, I used the iPad and mixed from the floor, tweaking levels and EQ when needed. The local tech babysat the mixer and helped me out with the nuances of their setup. It was win-win. The next morning was more of the same. I worked with another underling of similar skill and willingness to learn I taught him how compression and gates work, how to properly set a HPF, and showed him how to EQ out bad frequencies. The band was happy, the audience was happy, and most importantly, the camp's organizer was happy. That evening, I helped out with the first practice before dinner, made adjustments for the band, added another vocal mic and set levels/EQ for it per their request. All was well - it sounded better than ever! After a quick dinner, I went back to the chapel to prep for the evening session and mister mixer himself was there, perched smugly atop the Dunning-Kruger curve and prepared to tell me off, having gotten word that I had been helping his minions. I was ousted after being told that I messed everything on the mixer up (LOL), and that this was his show to run. The organizer relented in order to avoid any confrontation, and I stepped down to assist him in that. Back to more feedback and assaulting EQs we went. Fortunately, our audience wasn't picky. Most people expect sound to be about as bad as it was, so all's mediocre that ends mediocre, I guess. That said, someone really needs to teach that poor fellow that channel levels relative to master levels are arbitrary on a digital mixer. He seemed pretty bent up about it haha.

My church's youth groups came for a 4 day stay. We had 162 middle school and high school students…read morewhich were easily accommodated at these large campgrounds. Facilities: We had several dorm rooms with bunk beds and locker-like cubbies which help keep your stuff out of the aisles and off the floors. The rooms are toasty warm, even when it is below 45 degrees outside. The dorm bathrooms have 5 showers with piping hot water (praise God!), around 8-10 bathroom stalls, and 6 sinks with a large and well lit mirror. The vents in the dorm bathrooms worked well and kept our dorms stink-free. The camp has an awesome recreation room with 3 pool tables, 2 fooseball tables, 2 ping pong tables, 1 air hockey table and 2 other tables similar to pool tables but have these mushroom-looking obstacles in the middle. There's a snack area where the staff sell nachos, sodas, and all kinds of candy at very, very cheap prices. We didn't use the pool (despite kids wanting to jump in!) but the area was clean and had it's own restrooms. We did use their snow inner tubing area and had a GREAT time. There are two runs available; a winding run that has a nice slow pace, and a straight drop run that is fast and fun! The incline is steep and has a long plateau at the end, but the camp staff use an inner tube to bump you in a different direction to prevent you from falling off the side of the mountain. There are plenty of inner tubes to go around and the kids get a workout from lugging the inner tubes up to the top of the runs. The chapel is built like a beautiful, steepled cabin with gorgeous wood work and huge glass windows. The light shines in through the front and the view of the snowy landscape outside is breathtaking. The chapel has standard stage lighting, a projector for videos/lyrics, and a great sound system. There are restrooms in the chapel but are limited to 2 stalls each. The cafeteria area has a very wide and large dining area. The kids eat "family style", where one gets a tray of assorted foods to bring to the table of 8 and everyone shares. There is a salad bar, a fruit bar, several juices from dispensers, hot cocoa, coffee, and assorted teas. There is also a soup station as a side to your main meal. The staff are all very friendly and eager to serve. The camp only looses one star for the food. Yes, the different sides are great accompaniments to your main meal, but our main meals were nothing out of this world. From frozen taquitos that have been heated in the oven, well-done burgers on cold buns, to waffles that have gone stale, I wasn't really satisfied with the food. I may be biased, as I've been served shrimp Alfredo and BBQ ribs at Camp Commerce... Pizza night was good, as was the Chicken Tortilla Soup (best thing I had). Breakfast the last day consisted of cinnamon buns, cereal, and yogurt. I understand that really finicky kids come to camp if we're honest, I didn't starve, but a little more effort into the food would be appreciated. My sentiments were shared by the chaperones, and no, none of the kids complained. Overall, we had a FANTASTIC experience and it looks like our church will be back next winter. Great job, CC Christian Camp!

My first time coming to this place back in August. My husband and I came here with a group of…read morepeople. They provide the meals and necessary toiletries and maybe cleaning? Anyway when we got there, there are cabins with bump beds. It s the size of twin. I disinfect and OmG IT WAS DIRTY!! The beds are plastic type of cover there are not normal mattresses. Inside the cabin you will think it nice and clean but no it is not. Is like a hotel when they only clean where their in laws sees. That is nasty. The meals comes with the package and the meals are good the staff are nice. Overall experience it was nice and you should try it one time. Do I recommend here? I hope that cleaning the cabins the places also the chairs as well. but really cleaning them like clean the bump beds inside and out, the windows fixing them have good air central and clean the carpet not only vacuum it but also sanitize it as well. I'm saying before someone comes in and takes over. Not cleaning it only the surface and let someone else take over. The showers really deep clean them and sanitize them. Toilet bowls where clean. If they fix all that it will be recommended constantly. Up to you if you want to stay here with your group for few days. It was fun I don't like camping but coming with our group it was fun and worth it.

Had a blessed and wonderful time at Camp Cedar Crest. Came here with my church group as our summer…read moreretreat around a week ago. Last day was apple pie and steak w/baked potatoes. which was a whole different experience, every other day was regular cabin food. Can't be too picky, with the absolutely phenomenal price and amazing spacious rooms. We were the only groups here so everything was so peaceful and wonderful! the staff were also very accommodating, nice, and amazing people will come here again!!!!!!!