About
Cazadero Music Camp offers a Summer Music Camp with large ensembles such as Concert Band, Orchestra, and Jazz Band, along with a Piano Program, Guitar Program, and an All Camp Choir. Campers take part in Summer Camp Performances and a final performance, and also have access to traditional camp activities including a campfire, creek, and pool. The camp also runs JumpStart in Music, a three day, condensed immersion program that serves as a weekend retreat version of the Summer Music Camp.
• Ages: 9–18 years old
• Schedule: JumpStart in Music is a three day, condensed immersion program
For over 60 years, and for more than 65 years overall, Cazadero Music Camp has brought together youth from a broad range of backgrounds and music abilities in a dynamic sleep-away camp program that balances in-depth music education and summer camp fun. The camp’s mission is to inspire a love of music and learning in youth by providing a nurturing, inspirational environment for young musicians ages 9–18. Cazadero Music Camp and JumpStart in Music together reach over 1,400 youth each year, and Summer Music Camp brings together a diverse and talented student body from across the Bay Area and beyond.
The camp reports that 97% of campers say their playing improved at Cazadero Music Camp, and 100% of parents would recommend Caz to a friend. Large ensembles have a new guest conductor every week who introduces challenging, interesting, and diverse repertoire, and students rehearse two to three times a day for 60–90 minutes to prepare for their final performance. A scholarship program helps hundreds of young musicians with financial need take part each year.
JumpStart in Music is described as a low-cost, high-impact weekend version of the Summer Music Camp that supports public school music programs. It brings Bay Area public school students, their music teachers, and high school mentors together for a three day, condensed immersion program.
Cazadero Music Camp operates on a rustic campsite owned by the City of Berkeley, set on 33 acres under a canopy of redwood trees, where campers rehearse, sleep, and play outdoors and enjoy the creek, pool, and campfire. The leadership team includes Music Camp Director Carolyn Niehaus-Owen, Executive Director Emily Wainacht, Assistant Camp Director Jonathan Knight, Camp Registration Manager Emily Brockman, and Bookkeeper & Office Manager Debbie Buracker.
Letters to campers are sent to the camper’s name at Cazadero Music Camp, P.O. Box 140, Cazadero, CA 95421, and packages are sent to the camper’s name at Cazadero Music Camp, 5000 Austin Creek Road, #140, Cazadero, CA 95421. Families are advised to allow four days for letters sent via U.S. mail to travel in either direction, and mail is delivered and distributed daily at camp, with Express Mail arriving later in the day.
Last updated May 13, 2026.
• Ages: 9–18 years old
• Schedule: JumpStart in Music is a three day, condensed immersion program
For over 60 years, and for more than 65 years overall, Cazadero Music Camp has brought together youth from a broad range of backgrounds and music abilities in a dynamic sleep-away camp program that balances in-depth music education and summer camp fun. The camp’s mission is to inspire a love of music and learning in youth by providing a nurturing, inspirational environment for young musicians ages 9–18. Cazadero Music Camp and JumpStart in Music together reach over 1,400 youth each year, and Summer Music Camp brings together a diverse and talented student body from across the Bay Area and beyond.
The camp reports that 97% of campers say their playing improved at Cazadero Music Camp, and 100% of parents would recommend Caz to a friend. Large ensembles have a new guest conductor every week who introduces challenging, interesting, and diverse repertoire, and students rehearse two to three times a day for 60–90 minutes to prepare for their final performance. A scholarship program helps hundreds of young musicians with financial need take part each year.
JumpStart in Music is described as a low-cost, high-impact weekend version of the Summer Music Camp that supports public school music programs. It brings Bay Area public school students, their music teachers, and high school mentors together for a three day, condensed immersion program.
Cazadero Music Camp operates on a rustic campsite owned by the City of Berkeley, set on 33 acres under a canopy of redwood trees, where campers rehearse, sleep, and play outdoors and enjoy the creek, pool, and campfire. The leadership team includes Music Camp Director Carolyn Niehaus-Owen, Executive Director Emily Wainacht, Assistant Camp Director Jonathan Knight, Camp Registration Manager Emily Brockman, and Bookkeeper & Office Manager Debbie Buracker.
Letters to campers are sent to the camper’s name at Cazadero Music Camp, P.O. Box 140, Cazadero, CA 95421, and packages are sent to the camper’s name at Cazadero Music Camp, 5000 Austin Creek Road, #140, Cazadero, CA 95421. Families are advised to allow four days for letters sent via U.S. mail to travel in either direction, and mail is delivered and distributed daily at camp, with Express Mail arriving later in the day.
Last updated May 13, 2026.
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