It’s California, and autumn weather in the mountains can be tricky to predict. Typically in October, days are on the warmer side and nights on the chilly side! What does that mean to your packing list? Daytime shorts AND nighttime sweatpants. Hiking shoes ‘n socks for outdoor activities, of course. But uggs for after-activity kicking back always welcomed.
Basically, if you plan for DIS-comfort, you'll be the most comfortable of all. In October, Patti brings a down sleeping bag to snooze warmly and lightweight jammies if it's cooler than usual. If you have a tiny personal fan, throw that in the car, too.
Remember that massage oil and magical facial potions will also make you slightly grimier. Hey, it's camp! Don’t bother with a hairdryer if a slicked-back ponytail or headband will do. Drink lots of water whenever you are in the mountains, and wearing a hat or visor during outside activities in the sun strongly advised.
Part of the fun of Camp is letting our hair down and being in the moment. Whether it’s picture-perfect weather or a touch on the challenging side, being flexible and prepared will ensure your weekend results in happy memories.
How to Keep Your Cool at Camp
Our Hearts Belongs to Tie Dye
When you attend Camp GetAway, you discover we put our whole heart into the Tie Dye activity. Pack at least one white cotton PREWASHED thing and learn to make beautiful heart designs like these. All it takes is a rather thin fabric (like t-shirt), rubber bands, marbles and patience.
FAQs - We Get Asked Every Camp:
Q. When do registrations sell out?
A. We honestly never know. Every Camp is different; some book up earlier than others.
Q. Can I make a deposit to hold a space?
A. Sorry, only full payment secures a spot.
Q. How many campers in a cabin?
A. Cabins have several configurations, averaging 4 to 6 bunkrooms. Bunkrooms sleep up to 8 campers. We use a secret formula to do cabin assignments that only Fearless Leader is privy to. Believe us, you spend very little time inside cabins, everything FUN is happening throughout Camp. The bathrooms ARE indoors, the showers ARE private and the water IS hot.
Q. I'm lactose-intollerant, will I have a problem?
A. Your registration form asks campers to list any food issues, so that we can accommodate. For "weight loss" focused campers, there are plenty of healthy food choices at each meal.
Q. I don't have anyone to join me, will I fit in attending solo?
A. We always have solo travelers, no worries. And to be honest, once groups get here, they often split in several directions, too.
Q. Can I book spa treatments closer to the Camp date?
A. Sure. Registered campers receive materials in the mail that allow you to add spa treatments later, if available. We add spa staff based on pre-paid appointments.
Q. I have special needs due to a disability. Can you accommodate?
A. Yes, we can. Contact Patti directly at 310-471-3138 x 105 to discuss so the proper cabin, parking, etc. can be assigned.
Q. Are there discounts for groups?
A. Everyone pays the same rate. Keep an eye on the Early Bird Discount deadline.
Q. I'm a brand new mommy, still pumping. Advice?
A. All bunkrooms have electrical outlets, and the lodge has a camper 'fridge, so you can store until time to go home.
Q. We have friends who want to attend, but cannot pay yet. Can we save spaces?
A. Bunks are reserved by paid registration. However, your registration form does ask for a list of requested bunkmates, so we can watch for named campers' anticipated registration to keep groups together.
Q. Our group wants to funnel everything through one contact, how do we do this?
A. Each camper MUST submit her own online registration, for liability reasons. If one person wants to submit payment for the group, have her email Patti@CampGetAway.com for a special invoice. Each paid camper receives her registration packet in the mail.
Q. How can I "surprise" my sister with a gift of Camp GetAway weekend?
A. Every camp, we have a few surprise attendances (last camp, we had THREE). Email Patti@CampGetAway.com to arrange submission of her registration form, and where to mail her registration packet.
Q. When do we know the day and time of our spa appointments?
A. Campers with FRIDAY appointments are emailed a week before Camp. All other appointments are in your welcome envelope.
Q. Can I bring my dog?
A. Only service animals may attend.
Q. What happens if I need to cancel?
A. Our website posts the cancellation and refund policy.
Sing-A-Long Sneak Peek
Guilty!! We've been known to slightly "renoodle" the lyrics of classic songs to suit our needs. Enjoy THIS ditty (best when sung at the top of your lungs):
Now sit right back and let’s tell the tale,
The tale of a well-earned trip.
That started on this Friday night
I packed, and kissed, and SPLIT.
I jumped into an SUV
With sisters, friends and more.
I didn’t seem to want to stay
Camp GetAway’s in store. CAMP GETAWAY’S IN STORE!
The gossip started getting rough,
The tiny truck was hot!
If not for the snacks and the jokes and sweets,
The fun might have to stop.
We found the Highway Thirty-Eight
Up, up our auto climbed.
Say “adios” to smog and cars,
And stress, we left behind. AND STRESS WE LEFT BEHIND!
Then as we settled into camp,
The little girls emerged.
With giggles, jammies, crafts and s’mores,
My “grumpies,” they were purged.
Now as true Campers we all know
The bunks and bathrooms suck.
But what we love when we get to camp,
Is the “spirit” we get back. THE SPIRIT WE GET BACK!
So gimme lots of R and R,
Rejuvenating fun.
I’ll get a good night’s sleep back home
When my slice of heaven’s done.
Camp GetAway will help me cope
With stresses in my day.
This life’s too short, and I deserved
MY GIRLFRIEND GET-A-WAY!!
Tie-Dye Dilemna
OK, you've arrived at Camp, having packed your 3 items to tie-dye, you look at the itinerary and FREAK because there are so much to do, how to get it all in?? Here's a little help:
- Friday nite is the TIE clinic. Relaxing time to twist, knot, rubber band.
- Tieing takes much longer than dying.
- Saturday, we dye practically all day, DON'T WORRY, you have plenty of time.
- Look at your Saturday schedule and decide which other things to do. Then, find an hour in there to drizzle your dyes.
- Don't fret if you cannot get to the craft sink to rinse. Just leave your knotted, colored thing right there and go play!! Come back later to rinse and hang dry. Just PLEASE NO RINSING IN CABINS. Patti has taken full-dye things home and rinsed there.
- Weather permitting, we'll leave clotheslines up over night for more drying. If yours is still damp, remove the rubber bands, stick in a plastic bag and finish at home.
Why Try Yoga at Camp
Camp's mission is to be a place for women to relax and rejuvenate! The practice of yoga embodies this. For many campers, it's their first yoga session ever (out of the watchful eyes of your neighborhood gym); for others it is part of their routine. Yoga Guru, Jennifer, consistently receives high camper points for her sessions. Beyond the stretches and poses, she teaches how to be in-the-moment, admittedly a very difficult skill for busy women to master. Sign up early on-site, classes fill up! P.S., our yoga sessions are INDOORS in a serene, carpeted room. This pix of Jen and two campers just looks cool.
A Good Thing
Registered campers receive a very detailed packing list; two items listed are sunscreen and bug repellant. Have you tried Avon's Skin So Soft SPF 30 + Bug Guard? Yeah, it is a little sticky via the SPF, but Patti brings it to MUCH buggier spots than Camp and gives it thumbs-up. CLICK HERE to buy online.
Make CUTE Tie-Dye Headbands At Camp
Here's the "recipe" -- it's a sleeve from a worn-out man's white t-shirt. (We got the idea from Rosie O'Donnell on the Martha Stewart Show.) One shirt = two comfy headbands. Our massage therapist, Janelle, models for you here.
How Do You Win a GOLDEN PINECONE AWARD?
ANNOUNCING the Golden Pinecone Award — The camper who epitomizes the Camp GetAway Spirit will be awarded the Golden Pinecone at our closing ceremony. How do we judge? It is a secret code between Fearless Leader Patti and Awesome Wing Gal Eliza, so just relax and enjoy your weekend—the honoree will be apparent to the two of US!
Things to Forget
Stressed-out campers, eager for a getaway may want to pack everything including the kitchen sink. And while it is important to remember the essentials, there are some items that are better to FORGET (in other words, leave at home):
Forget laptops. Electronic notepads may have replaced paper ones as something we rarely leave home without. But expensive electronics are the last thing to bring to Camp. Besides being somewhat dirty and grimy outdoors here, hanging out inside a cabin is crazy! Personal electronics, from laptops to blackberries, cut people off from others.
Forget jewelry. Easily lost or damaged during a busy weekend, earrings and rings can come loose and sink quickly to the bottom of a lagoon. Necklaces and bracelets may get snagged on branches during nature hikes or inadvertently drop off after a clothing change for a spa treatment.
Forget treasured accessories. Your new Fendi purse or Oliver Peoples sunglasses are just asking to land in a mud puddle or go overboard when canoeing. Or just as bad, gooped up with the stuff that are part of Camp weekend: massage oil, sunscreen, bug repellant, roasted marshmallows and mosaic craft grout!
Forget posh clothes. Pack wearables that can get dirty or lost, period. As with any vacation, if you pack hoping for the best and planning for the worst, you’ll not be heartbroken.
Forget inhibitions. Not everyone attended camp as a kid. As a result, it may be scary or unpleasant at first. But being surrounded by an army of very excited fellow campers is the perfect time to let your hair down. Try anything and everything, especially if it's something you would not normally try at home.
Worried you won’t enjoy Camp GetAway? Fuggedaboudit!
Are You Ready to Hit the Road? Not Yet….
Your safety and wellbeing are a priority to us. Most of us are city folk, used to having a gas station at the next off ramp, or an AAA truck right around the corner. Guess what… you’re heading up the mountains! Heaven forbid, you have an auto issue that you cannot handle (our last TWO camps each had a flat tire on a campers’ vehicle – ouch!).
Be smart and schedule your next auto service call in advance of Sept. 21 and make sure all is healthy on your vehicle.
1. Steep, narrow, winding roads, high altitudes and unpaved surfaces (such as Camp’s parking lot and on-site roadways) can put a vehicle through rigors it is unaccustomed to. While the Highway 38 up into the mountains is well-paved, hazards still do exist – from blind curves to rocks in the road to critters!
2. Cell reception can be sporadic, another reason to have a vehicle in tip-top shape.
3. Check your vehicle's brakes and replace worn pads to prevent brake fade when descending steep hills.
4. Have the engine, transmission and final drive checked manual to lessen the strain mountain driving will put on them. If fluid service is required, consider using synthetic fluids to protect the engine under variable weather conditions and produce better fuel economy.
5. Inspect the wiper blades and replace if necessary, as mountain climates are subject to sudden, filthy rainfall.
6. Check the battery for corrosion and remaining charge, as high engine temperatures caused by climbing steep terrain with heavy loads can wear a battery down.
7. Open that trunk to make sure you have a spare tire as well as tools for changing a flat.
8. Put a number of bottles of water in your car for drinking and snacks for emergency. If you get into trouble and a service vehicle is called, it may take a while to get there.
Six Tips to Prep for Camp
1. Go thru your Goodwill bag to resurrect shirts for Tie-Dye. Tie-Dye hides a LOT of sins – spots and yellow underarms seem to disappear. 100% cotton is best. Patti is going to try dying her well-worn white Keds, while we’re at it.
2. Patti says down sleeping bags are washable, she’s done it! Hot weather is the best time. Unzip the bag to open completely. Stuff it into your washing machine and run on delicate with a teensy bit of soap in warm water. Open the lid once or twice and shove it all under water if it’s poofing up. Once spun dry, it will still be pretty drippy. Hang outside in the heat of the day (on a clothesline, over chairs or some way for air to circulate), turn it a couple of times during the day. If still damp by sundown, bring inside and re-hang outside tomorrow. It will smell incredibly fresh.
3. Order “Skin So Soft” lotion from Avon – sunscreen, moisturizer and bug repellant in one really good product.
4. Clear out your camera memory card to not run out of space. The mountains are beautiful, and when friends are relaxed and refreshed, photos really reflect it. You’ll get the best shots if you shoot everything and delete at leisure.
5. When was the last time you READ a good book? Ask friends for a loaner, then grant yourself “me time” to gobble up a wonderful story.
6. Bag up magazines to bring. We have a “bring one, take one” table – once you’re done pouring thru yours, feel free to take a whole pile back home at the end of the weekend. Or rip them up right there on-site if you want that article or recipe… we ENCOURAGE it (how many times have you been at the doctor’s office and oh-so-quietly tore out a page? At Camp, let ‘er rip).
Pack Up All Your Cares and Woes
We suggest these easy tips to make your Camp weekend a real success:
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