Adult Summer Break Camp & Singing in the Pines

Thursday, August 6 to Monday, August 10, 2026

Early arrival: Wednesday, August 5

Deans: Barbara Shields and Cyndy Leigh

Keynote: Peter Bolland

Choir Director: Malcolm Hawkes

Camp de Benneville Pines has designed a camp specifically for adults that we call Summer Break. Take a break from the news, social media, and the monotony of everyday life. Take a break from family demands, cooking, and the heat. Join us in the quiet forest and peaceful mountains where friendships begin and flourish. 

More about our Keynote Speaker: Peter Bolland

The Wisdom of Friendship
 
In this series of morning workshops and afternoon discussions we’ll explore the wisdom of friendship. It was all so effortless when we were kids, but now for a variety of reasons friendship seems harder to find and sustain in our adult lives.
 
Through engagement and deep reflection we’ll examine these dynamics through the lens of insights from the world’s wisdom traditions. What is reality? What are we? If all is one, why do we feel isolated, anxious, and alone? What is the real value of community? What is love, and how do we cultivate it?
 
Respecting all of our boundaries, and recognizing that we’re all at different places on the introversion/extroversion spectrum, this series of workshops and discussions promises to deepen each of us into the wisdom and longing welling up through the cracks of our own lives. 
_________________________________
 
Peter Bolland is a professor of philosophy, religious studies, and mythology at Southwestern College near San Diego, California where he has taught for 35 years. Bolland is also the author of The Seven Stone Path: An Everyday Journey of Wisdom, as well as a frequent lecturer and workshop facilitator at numerous learning communities and spiritual centers around the country. His popular YouTube channel Peter Bolland TV has over half a million viewers and 10,000 subscribers, and he has led over 23,000 people through guided meditations on the Insight Timer app. His Substack “Finding a Way” offers bi-monthly essays on world spirituality, Progressive Christianity, and the nameless longing that animates us all. This will be his third time as the keynote speaker at an Adult Summer Break Camp at Camp de Benneville Pines. Learn more at http://www.peterbolland.com
Camp Description

Daily Morning Events

  • Peter Bolland, philosopher, presents insights and inspirations about the wisdom of friendships. 
  • Malcom Hawkes leads worship and directs Singing in the Pines choir rehearsals
  • Tom Owen-Towle leads group discussions
  • Loretta Solsbery guides morning meditations

Scheduled Afternoon and Evening Events

  • Singing in the Pines Rehearsals—Malcom
  • Water Yoga—Melinda Huhlbein
  • Archery
  • Mountain Dog Rescue—South Paw Preserve
  • History Walk—Anna Thorward
  • Honoring Teddi Boston, Pacific Coast Trail hike
  • The Night Sky—San Bernardino Astronomy Club
  • Herbal Hike and Workshop—Dr. Becky Lyons
  • Arts and Crafts: Colors, Basketweaving, Sun Prints—Amy, Tracy, and Cyndy
  • 5 O’clock Social
  • Singing on the Deck—Tom and Barbara
  • Evening Programs

More information and details will be announced as they become available!

Camp de Benneville Pines has moved to a self-selecting sliding fee scale. Level 1 is our minimum cost, Level 2 is what it takes for us to meet our needs and Level 3 helps to offset costs and supports Camp’s scholarship fund.

Camper TypeLevel 1Level 2Level 3
Camper age 19+$630$650$680

Singing in the Pines: $50 additional fee per person

Pricing includes lodging, all meals, activities, and supplies. A $75 per person non-refundable deposit is required to confirm registration. Full balance due one week before the start of camp. No refunds will be allowed after check-in begins on the first day of camp. Electronic invoices will be sent out periodically, allowing partial or full payment, until payment in full is received.

Accommodations:

Camp de Benneville Pines welcomes you to a peaceful night’s rest in one of seven sleeping cabins. The cabins are scattered throughout our beautiful property, surrounded by forest, and walking distance from all camp activities and other buildings. Each cabin is distinctively decorated with a mountain theme. All offer rustic comfort.

Cabins host between three and nine sleeping rooms and two to three communal bathrooms. Standard accommodation includes twin bunk beds, and there are optional cabin upgrades for cabins with kitchens and living room areas, as well as rooms with double beds, or a combination of the two. Cabin upgrades are limited so register early.

Experience the joy of togetherness in our cozy cabin retreats, where campers are provided space to create their own haven of relaxation. For individual adventurers or friends journeying together, our cabins offer a harmonious blend of community and comfort, accommodating 2-4 guests per room. We understand the value of companionship, so we invite you to personalize your stay by requesting roommates during the registration process or asking friends and family to join you ensuring your camp experience is shared with familiar faces and new friends alike.

Explore our accommodations by selecting About > Facilities > Lodging on the navigation bar above.

Options:

Standard Accommodation: included in Camper pricing

Craig’s Cabin: $60 additional fee per adult, 2 people required

Cabin 6*: $40 additional fee per adult, twin beds only

Double Bed Room*: $25/person, 2 people required

*Cabin upgrades are limited and are subject to availability. A refund will be processed after cabin assignments have been completed for any upgrade fees paid that cannot be accommodated.

Early Arrival:

We will be offering the “Early Arrival” (Wednesday) option again this year for an additional $25. Check-in will only be available from 3 to 6 pm on Thursday. Please make sure to arrive during this period. We will not be able to accommodate campers who arrive before or after this time frame. The first meal provided by camp will be dinner Thursday night so be sure to bring provisions and beverages to sustain you until then.

To make camp affordable, you can even make payments!

A Note about Payments:

After registering, there will be three options to pay: Pay in full via PayPal, Pay a portion via PayPal, or pay by check. PayPal is our payment processor. Although you don’t need an account, our transactions do run through their platform.

To pay via PayPal without having an account, log out of any PayPal accounts and select the option “Try A Different Way” to pay with Debit/Credit Card, which will be under the login button.

To submit payment by check, please make your check payable to: Camp de Benneville Pines and note “Summer Break” in the memo line. The mailing address for the check is:

Camp de Benneville Pines
Attn: Janet James
PO Box 82
Angelus Oaks, CA 92305

It is easy to miss the payment step when registering. Contact the registrar and request an invoice, registrar@uucamp.org

Facilities or General Camp: Contact Janet James, Executive Director, director@uucamp.org, 909-435-6298

Registration: Contact Angela Andiorio, Camp Registrar, registrar@uucamp.org, 909-654-4769

HEALTH UPDATE: Please help us keep the camper community healthy by staying home if you feel unwell.  Camp no longer requires Covid testing prior to arrival to camp.  Camp will continue to offer masks for those who prefer using them and will provide hand sanitizer in the lodge.  Camp will maintain a plexiglass partition on the food line and will limit the number of self-serve food items in an effort to maintain a healthy and safe food service environment. Campers are free to dine outside at the picnic tables where they are close to nature.  Additionally, Camp provides single-use paper towels for hand drying and foamy hand soap in all of its restrooms.  

Camp de Benneville Pines may sometimes need to make the difficult decision to cancel camp due to a variety of factors including but not limited to the following: severe weather conditions, road closures, Covid and other contagious outbreaks, camp volunteer and site staff shortages, and other emergencies. Should the camp have to cancel, refunds will be issued.

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