Hello Gilboa Families!
A huge question for so many of our campers is how will they get to camp?! Well, look no further, because we've got you covered on the basics for how to get the show on the road and you to Gilboa!
Transportation is coordinated from LA and Northern California airports, occasionally also from San Diego. Families are welcome to bring their children to camp - please let us know if this is your plan by updating the travel form in your online Gilboa account.
This form was due in May and buses have now been booked. If you haven't filled out the form yet, you are not guaranteed a spot on one of the buses. We will do our best to add late campers to the bus (log into your account here)
Preparing for the journey to camp:
The mountain road is winding - if you get motion sickness, take Dramamine right before bus leaves so it kicks in right as we get to the twisty part. For campers who are flying, give Dramamine to the flight escort - you should take it right as you get on the bus.
We will provide snacks and water on the buses. You can bring your own snacks, as long as they are nut-free! Please only bring an amount of snacks for the bus ride - food is not allowed in cabins.
This year, because of road restrictions in Big Bear, we are using smaller buses and for most of the buses, luggage will be loaded into a U-Haul. Please arrive 45 minutes ahead of bus departure to sign in and load luggage.
Bring your backpack on the bus, don't load it on the U-Haul! We'll be doing orientation activities at camp before you have access to your luggage. Make sure you have your water bottle, a sweater, and anything else you might want access to on that first day before we move into tzrifim (cabins) in the evening.
When you sign in at the bus or airport, give your kupa envelope to the check in person.
Travel from Southern California
This summer, there will be buses departing from the Gilboa office in Los Angeles (Westside JCC at 5870 W Olympic Blvd), San Diego for 1st session only (Lawrence Family JCC), and Ontario for 2nd session. See your online travel form for specific locations & times.
Confirmed departure times will be sent to families in the next week -- buses leave around 8:30-9am, but please contact us to confirm timing for your session and pickup location if you are unsure.
An email will be sent to parents to notify of the safe arrival of the buses to camp.
After camp is over, drop off at the end of each session is at the same location around 1-2pm. Parents will be given the phone number of the staff person meeting the bus and can text to request an ETA later in the morning.
Travel from Northern California
Parents are responsible for booking their children's flights - group flights can be found here. Group flights all include a counselor or parent escort.
Instructions for booking flights for campers under 12: If your camper is under 12, we will provide the information for the flight escort or an older camper to attach to your child's itinerary - please do not book them as an unaccompanied minor! Email registrar@campgilboa.org to get this info before booking.
Instructions for booking flights for campers age 12+: You will be able to book the flight for campers 12 and older - they are considered “Young Travelers” by Southwest Airlines. When you click purchase you will be asked if the Young Traveler will be with someone 18 or older. Click NO and then enter parent contact info (to be clear we'll be providing an escort over 18). The system will then let you book without linking your child to another itinerary.
Please book flights separately as one-way itineraries. It won’t change the cost of the flight and makes it easier in the event that there are any changes to be made in the future.
Once you book your flight:
Forward the confirmation to registrar@campgilboa.org
Log into your camp account and enter the confirmation number in the travel form.
Once you've booked a flight, or decided on another travel option, please update your choices on the Travel Form in your online Gilboa account and forward the confirmation email to us.
Before the flight:
If your camper is new to camp, and you would like us to pair them up with a travel buddy prior to camp, please let us know.
Southwest does not require an ID for minors, but it's recommended to have a photocopy of an ID (student ID will suffice). Place one copy in your camper's backpack and a second one in the luggage (for the way back).
Parents will all be added to a Whatsapp group with camp staff to be updated as the group travels to camp.
Procedures at the departure airport:
Please arrive at the airport to allow ample time to check in luggage and get to the gate 40 minutes prior to departure time.
A parent flight coordinator or counselor will be at the gate 40 minutes before departure time and will make sure children board the flight safely.
Parent coordinator and/or counselor names and contact info will be sent about a week prior to the flight. The parent coordinator or counselor will receive a list with all travelers and your contact information.
One adult per minor traveler can receive an escort pass to accompany a child to the gate at the check-in gate.
Make sure to have an ID. You will be required to present it at the ticketing desk to receive the pass.
Note that non-traveling siblings will not be allowed to accompany you to the gate.
If your child is younger than 12, you may be required to escort him/her to the gate.
If your children are experienced travelers and you feel comfortable sending them to the gate on their own, please ask them to check in with the travel coordinator and stay with him/her at the gate until it's time to board the flight.
Procedures at the arrival airport:
The flight coordinator will notify the camp once the flight departs.
Counselors wait at the arrival gate to meet the campers.
A bus will pick up campers and counselors from the airport.
The camp staff accompanying the group will update the parent WhatsApp chat once everyone is on the bus and again when the bus arrives to camp.
You will also be notified via email once the buses arrive at camp.
A $100 travel discount will be applied to each camper's balance if you are traveling from outside of Southern California. This should already be applied to your camp invoice - if it is not, please email registrar@campgilboa.org.
If you have any questions or need any help, reach out to Kit (registrar@campgilboa.org) or Elana (elana@campgilboa.org)
Campers Living Far From the Meeting Points
If you have not done so already, please contact the office so we can help coordinate campers getting to one of the meeting points where they can join the bus.
Thank you so much for reading! We know it is a lot to take in, so we appreciate your timely submission of your travel forms and keeping us in the loop with all of your plans. We can't wait to see first session campers in less than one month!