Musical productions are a staple of many summer camps, but at Cazadero Performing Arts Family Camp, I could watch my daughters, Lili, 10, and Madeleine, 12, with more than just the usual parental pride. Having spent the past week rehearsing and practicing with them, I could appreciate their work as a fellow camper--and performer.

Located in Cazadero, California, the Performing Arts Family Camp offers music, theater, dance and art classes in the woods near the Russian River, two hours northwest of San Francisco.

Family camps have increased in number 500 percent over the past 15 years, with about 450 American Camping Association-accredited camps now hosting entire families. Most are four- to seven-day adjuncts to traditional sleep-away camps, except parents don't wave good-bye. Many community organizations, such as the YMCA, Camp Fire, and churches and synagogues, also run family camps during the summer and sometimes over long holiday weekends.

My husband, Mark, my daughters, and I became rather partial to this kind of vacation after attending Camp Mather, a family camp near Yosemite operated by San Francisco's Recreation and Parks Department. Without the distractions of telephones and television, camp proved to be the most relaxing, enjoyable week of our year.

Admittedly, small cabins and instant camaraderie among strangers might cause some of you to view family camp with horror. But in many ways, it's an ideal respite. With meals, lodging and activities all included, camp can be quite inexpensive, and there's plenty to do, both together and separately, no matter your ages.

Cazadero turned out to be even more fun than I'd imagined. Chatting in line outside the dining hall before meals, cheering for nervous performers at the afternoon open mike, or joining the percussion section at the late-night jam sessions made it easy to meet the other campers, and we soon felt like we belonged. We stayed busy too--we spent three to four hours daily rehearsing together for the musical. This was on top of circus and dance classes for Madeleine; clowning, violin, and fiddle for Lili; and chorus and African dance for me, plus my regular pilgrimage to belt out show tunes at open mike. By the end of the week, I was so played out that I was ditching dance, and the kids were joining us after lunch for naps in our canvas-tented cabin.

Exhaustion turned to elation, however, as we held hands with the rest of the cast Saturday evening and took our bows on the amphitheater stage, surrounded by thousand-year-old redwoods and an enthusiastic, warm-hearted audience.

Interestingly, the effects of family camp can continue long after one's return. Lili is now in an acting workshop, Maddie has invited her buddies from the show to her recent birthday dinner, and the saxophone is no longer consigned to the basement. My husband now spends his Wednesday nights at rock band class, perfecting his sax solo. As for me, I'm busy planning our next week of family camp.

For more information on Cazadero Performing Arts Family Camp, visit their website or call 510-527-7500. The all-inclusive price is approximately $595 for adults, $545 for children 6-18, $345 for children 2-5, children under 2 are admitted for free. These prices are for a weeklong session.

If you long to return to summer camp but no longer pass for ten, you may be a candidate for family camp. To find the right one for your family, log on to this website to research American Camping Association-accredited camps or contact community organizations for referrals. By the way, all configurations of family are welcome at most, if not all, "family" camps. And don't be discouraged if there are no spaces available at the camp you choose; put your family on the waiting list.



Paula Tevis is a freelance writer in San Francisco.

Please keep in mind that phone numbers, addresses, and prices are subject to change. Updated July 2005.