Courtesy of Kevin Kitsuda

Welcome to the Lair of the Golden Bear

Plan your summer adventure and create unforgettable memories surrounded by nature’s beauty. Submit your 2025 booking request today and let the countdown to your best summer yet begin!

Book Your Stay Now!

New Campers, Plan for Summer 2025 Now!

Discover what Lair campers have known for generations: this is a magical place where you will connect and recharge under tall pine trees and gorgeous blue skies. Your whole family will have the time of your lives and make mountains of memories. We are happy to answer your questions and share more information.

Learn about the Lair

Photo by Kevin Kitsuda

Summer Family Camp

With a backyard of incomparable beauty and stellar staff-led programming for campers of all ages, the Lair of the Golden Bear is the perfect place to make family memories. By the time departure day arrives, you will have fallen in love with our special corner of the Sierra Nevada—and you will be counting down the days until you return next summer.

Specialty Adult Sessions

Unwind, recharge, and create unforgettable memories with friends at our exclusive adults-only retreats! Whether you choose the Women’s Wellness Weekend for relaxation, fun, and renewal or Club Lair: Food, Wine, and Recreation Retreat for a perfect blend of indulgence and adventure, you’re in for a memorable Lair experience with a stunning backdrop. Discover more today!

See Our Specialty Camps

Group of women pose at a vista at the peak of a hike

Photo by Nancy Rubin

Summer 2025 Updates

Bigger Comfort, Brighter Shows, Yummier Treats, and More!

Get ready for an unforgettable summer at the Lair! From bringing back beloved Dream Bars to upgrading your nights with brand-new mattresses for the best sleep yet. Plus, so much more. Click below for all the exciting details!

2025 Updates

Four teens dressed and ready for Disco Bingo, standing outside the Blue Dining Hall.

Photo by Kevin Kitsuda

College Prep Camp

June 8 – 11, 2025

Designed for students who will be high school seniors in the fall, our program focuses on the application process and essay writing—with some Lair fun, too!

Prep for College

Lair College Prep Camp

Support the Lair and Rock with The Martyrs

Join Lair community members and supporters Friday, July 11 at Sacramento’s Limelight Bar & Cardroom for an electrifying outdoor rock show that’ll shake the block! The Martyrs hit the stage LIVE, bringing the noise for a great cause.

🎸 A portion of the proceeds will benefit the Lair of the Bear.

For tickets and more information

Work Weekends 2025

Join the Lair Crew for a Weekend of Work, Friends, & Fresh Air!

May 30 – June 1, 2025

Are you ready to roll up your sleeves, breathe in the mountain air, and make a real difference for the Lair? We’re calling all Lair devotees (that’s YOU!) to help us get camp ready for another unforgettable summer.

Learn More & Sign Up

A group of volunteers standing with tools outdoors at the Lair

Oski Science Camp

The Lair’s 4-day, 3-night immersive sleep-away camp for 5th and 6th grade classes teaches the science, nature, and history of our land.

Visit Science Camp

science campers wearing goggles and gloves prepare for an outdoor science activity

Bear Music Fest

September 11-14, 2025

Ready to experience a unique, all-inclusive, immersive and soulful weekend of music, nature, and community at the Lair? We are ready for you!

Learn more about Bear Music Fest

Lair - BMF Lodge music, 3 sisters, from 2022

Oski Year-Round Cabins

The Lair has fifteen heated cabins for year-round use at Camp Oski. Each cabin sleeps up to six guests with a queen bed, bunk bed, and two single beds in the loft. Cabins have their own private bathroom, coffee maker, a mini-fridge, and more. Meals are included! Join us for one of our fall or winter weekends, and enjoy a cozy stay!

Check out the Oski cabins

Winterized cabins at the Lair of the Golden Bear.

Camp Oski's winterized cabins allow campers to make memories at the Lair year-round. / Cal Alumni Association

Visit the Lair's Online Store

Missing the Lair? Looking for a holiday gift? Excited for summer 2025? Visit our online store for Lair stickers, cozy blankets, license plate frames, apparel, and more. We have a fabulous selection of Lair items ready to ship to arrive before the holidays!

Shop Lair Now!

Four adults wearing Lair tshirts and hats

Photo by Kevin Kitsuda

Camp Calendar

Start planning now to join us in the summer!

View Details

A Lair staffer instructing archery to a younger girl with her bow raised.

_{Photo by Kevin Kitsuda}

Camp experience for the corporate world: How a summer at the Lair builds success stories

Lair veteran staffer Jessie Fisher's Daily Cal article spotlights the highly desirable soft skills staffers hone through their hard work at the Lair. Working at the Lair opens doors and helps prepare college students for a range of careers both in and out of the corporate world.

_{Photo by Charles Poloka}

TAAP Scholars take on the Lair

Last summer, an incoming cohort of The Achievement Award Program (TAAP) Scholars and Alumni Scholars Program staff traveled to Pinecrest for a weekend at the Lair of the Golden Bear. The result—a weekend of bonding, hikes to the lake, sunshine, and of course, s’mores.

Private Events and Group Rentals

The Lair of the Golden Bear provides a beautifully forested and private venue for your special event in the Sierra Nevada mountains. Our forested setting and welcoming atmosphere allow guests to celebrate, recharge, play, and focus on what’s important. Fall wedding packages include full access to two indoor and outdoor event spaces, fifteen cozy heated cabins, sports courts, complete meal service, and no corkage fee! We are currently booking special events for fall 2025.

Lair Updates

_{Suz McFadden / Cal Alumni Association}

Lair of the Golden Bear

Top 5 Reasons to Visit the Lair in the Non-Summer Months

Fall, winter, or spring, Cal alums and friends can stay at the Lair of the Golden Bear at any time of the year to explore nearby nature and enjoy the Lair’s different offerings.

_{The Lair of the Golden Bear hosted LUSD middle school students at Oski Science Camp in the spring of 2023. / Cal Alumni Association}

Lair of the Golden Bear

Middle School Students Experience the Lair through Oski Science Camp

The Lair hosted hundreds of middle schoolers at Oski Science Camp over the course of several months, resulting in learning, spreading Cal love, and creating long-lasting memories.

_{Chancellor Lyons and his wife, Jen, smile big, with Pinecrest Lake sparkling softly in the background.}

Lair of the Golden Bear

Chancellor Lyons Talks Lair of the Golden Bear

Chancellor Lyons, who’s known for carrying his guitar around camp, shared his personal stories, reflected on how the Lair fuels Cal spirit, and offered some words of wisdom for the staffers and campers to come.