Camp Cazadero, the music camp that has had a partnership with Berkeley High School since 1957, has suffered extensive damage due to storms this winter, knocking over trees and taking out buildings in the process. Cazadero music camp is set in Cazadero, California, a small town in Sonoma county, and is surrounded by lush redwood trees and the Russian River. The 50-acre plot was first purchased by the city of Berkeley in 1929 for $25,000, and it was not until after the then-BHS Band Director Robert Lutt presented the idea of turning the campsite into a music camp that Camp Cazadero gained its footing. Now, Cazadero hosts over 1,300 campers a year and has over 30,000 alumni.
Though the storms in Sonoma County were only expected to have a maximum wind speed of 54 miles per hour, the high ended up being 79 miles per hour. These long gusts of high-pressure wind, in addition to the constant, pouring rain, ended up causing multiple trees to crash into Tent Platform #1 in the Family Camp, over 20 tent frames, the pool cabin roof, one of the kitchen sheds, and one of the camp trucks. Luckily, the camp was unoccupied during the storm, and there were no injuries.
The damage at Camp Cazadero has affected many BHS students and staff, especially the people who are in band, jazz lab, and orchestra, who have gone to Cazadero through various programs. Camila Babij-Ross, a BHS sophomore violinist who went to Cazadero in middle school, was saddened by the news. “I thought it was sad because it’s just a really well known, popular camp,” Babij-Ross said, “I think people should continue going.” Babij-Ross also described Cazadero as a unique experience, saying that “it’s hard to find a camp that’s as well funded and well organized and in such a beautiful place.” Even though Babij-Ross does not currently attend Camp Cazadero’s summer camp, she still feels a deep connection to it, proving how special the memories made at Camp Cazadero are.
Lucy Wilmore, a senior violinist at BHS who has attended Camp Cazadero through BHS’s program, was very disheartened by the news of the destruction. “It’s a really big bummer,” Wilmore said, “(Cazadero) means a lot to some people. I mean, me included … I love the place. I think it’s really great. So I’m sad that it was kind of really messed up by that flooding,” she said. Students not only get to practice music at Cazadero, but also get to enjoy its cozy atmosphere. The combination of getting better at music, making new friends, and creating new memories is what makes Cazadero so special. “It’s so beautiful,” Wilmore said, “so if it’s kind of destroyed, it takes away a little bit of that magic.”
As someone who has gone to Camp Cazadero three times, sophomore BHS trumpet, guitar, and piano player Ando Powell has nothing but positive memories of Cazadero. When hearing about the effect on the camp from the storms, he was stunned. “I’m shocked, kind of sad,” Powell said, “(Cazadero) is super nice, and it would suck if it got destroyed in any way.” Powell has seen immense progress since going to Cazadero his first time due to the amount of music that campers play. “Going to Cazadero, just for like a week or two benefits your music playing by 10 times,” Powell said.
Although the damage on Cazadero is severe, it is not unfixable. According to the Camp Cazadero website, with the help of volunteers, the camp can be rebuilt. They are accepting donations that go towards their “storm recovery fund” and also have a Facebook page dedicated to volunteering information. On the bright side, Cazadero has already raised $96,000 and is getting closer to their $200,000 goal daily. With dedication and hard work, Camp Cazadero will be on track to open camp back up for the summer of 2026.