STAR Camp: Where Fun and Adventures Create Opportunities for Growth
Each summer the office of the San Mateo County Sheriff Carlos Bolanos, along with generous donors, sponsors a one-week summer camp program for fifth- through eighth-grade students. Now in its 25 anniversary, the Sheriff’s Training and Recreation (STAR) Camp is held at the YMCA Jones Gulch among the majestic oaks and redwoods of the Pescadero Creek watershed in unincorporated San Mateo County. The Sheriff’s Office Community Policing/School Resource Unit, working with county schools, selects 120 boys and girls to participate. Sheriff’s Deputies and Sheriff’s Office employees supervise the program.
STAR Campers engage in a range of recreational and outdoor activities from hiking, swimming, and boating to horseback riding, wall climbing, and ziplining. Activities are designed to promote teamwork and self-confidence. Campers learn that discipline builds self-respect and self-respect is the first step toward gaining the respect of others. By giving youngsters a close look at law enforcement, STAR Camp also helps build bonds between deputies and the youth of San Mateo County.
In 2019, STAR Camp runs from July 9 to July 12.
Dates and Deadlines
| APPLICATION DEADLINES | |
|---|---|
| Applications available | April 1, 2019 |
| Fee (discounted price $110) | Before May 31, 2019 |
| Fee (regular price $130) | After May 31, 2019 |
| Deadline for application | June 14, 2019 |
| Financial Aid Available | |
| STAR CAMP DATES |
|---|
| The camp runs for one week every year. |
| July 9 to July 12, 2019 |
Resources
Programs/Activities
Programs and Activities STAR Camp activities are designed to promote fitness, teamwork, and responsibility while challenging campers to try new things and develop new skills. Supervised by YMCA camp staff, all activities are conducted in a safety-first manner.
Canoeing
Includes safety rules briefing; supervised by trained YMCA staff.
Climbing Wall
Outdoor wall offers two levels of difficulty. Safety helmets and harnesses provided; supervised by trained YMCA staff. Each participant’s parent or guardian must fill out a waiver.
Swimming
Unheated outdoor pool 25 by 75 feet, 3 to 8 1/2 feet deep. Swim test required for use of deep end (one lap and one minute of treading water). Lifeguard on duty; supervised by trained YMCA staff.
Ziplining
200 feet in length, 15 to 25 feet above ground. Safety helmets and harnesses provided; supervised by trained YMCA staff. Each participant’s parent or guardian must fill out a waiver.
Horseback Riding
Horses provided and supervised by the San Mateo County Sheriff’s Mounted Search and Rescue Unit. Staff members lead horses with riders; safety helmets provided. Horse-drawn wagon rides are also hosted by the San Mateo County Sheriff’s Mounted Search and Rescue Unit
Camp Games
A variety of games such as tug-of-war, obstacle course, and relay races. Campers compete in groups against fellow campers.
Campfire Skits
Campers develop and rehearse brief skits, then perform them in front of the entire camp.
Gang Awareness Seminar
Discussion led by members of the Sheriff’s Office Gang Intelligence Unit and Jericho Project.
Cyber-Safety Seminar
Presentations, videos, and discussion on such topics as cyber-bullying, social media awareness, internet predators, and the responsibilities that come with technology use. Led by a Sheriff’s Office school resource officer with a background in high-tech crimes investigations.
"Hug a Tree" Presentation
Covers basic principles for staying safe in the wilderness and surviving when lost. Presented by the Sheriff’s Office Search & Rescue program / Bay Area Mountain Rescue Unit (BAMRU).
Facilities
YMCA Jones Gulch : A Traditional Summer Camp Experience
Picked up by Sheriff’s Office vans at various locations throughout the county, STAR Campers come together at the YMCA Jones Gulch.
Nestled in the Santa Cruz Mountains amongst the redwoods; with 927 acres to explore, this camp offers endless possibilities of activities for children to enjoy. An abundance of hiking trails and opportunities to enjoy nature up close; this facility offers basketball and volleyball courts, swimming pool, climbing wall, zip line and the opportunity to enjoy canoeing in their pond and horseback riding.
This traditional camp facility features rustic but comfortable heated cabins with bunk beds for up to 12 campers and one or two adults. Meeting areas can accommodate groups up to 400 people. Delicious and well-balanced meals are served in the dining halls. This camp immerses children in a community where making friends is natural, exploring new interests is encouraged, and discovering inner strength is guaranteed.
For more information about YMCA Jones Gulch, please visit the camp’s website.
About Us
STAR Camp: Bringing Young People Together Since 1994
The first STAR Camp was organized in 1994 by the office of then-Sheriff Don Horsley of San Mateo County. Twenty-five years later, it has become one of the Sheriff’s Office premiere programs for the youth in our county.
Inspired by an Indiana State Police program called “Respect for Law Camp,” STAR Camp was designed from the beginning to forge trusting personal relationships between young citizens and law enforcement officers. A natural extension of that mission, the program now engages participants in learning and discussion of timely community law enforcement and security issues such as gang-related conflict, bullying, and cyber security.
Still, the central mission of STAR Camp remains as vital as ever: to give young people of San Mateo County an opportunity to “get away” and enjoy the wonders of tall trees, fresh air, and the camaraderie of competing together in a variety of outdoor games and physical activities.
Staff
STAR Camp Staff
Sheriff Bolanos provides the adult staff, which includes both Sheriff’s Deputies and Sheriff’s Office employees, to supervise the program. Outdoor activities are supervised by YMCA Summer Camp staff. Teenaged youth leaders, selected from current members of the Law Enforcement Explorer program through a multi-step interview process, serve as role models and group leaders for young campers.
For Parents
From Sheriff Carlos Bolanos
Dear parent or guardian,
I would like to invite your child to attend our summer camp program. The Sheriff’s Training and Recreation (STAR) Camp is for selected fifth through eighth grade students. It will be held at the YMCA Jones Gulch in San Mateo County, July 9 – 12, 2019. Sheriff’s Office School Resource Deputies, working with the Sheriff’s Office patrol area schools, will select 120 boys and girls to participate. There will also be limited openings for county employee’s relatives to attend camp.
The activities during the week will provide a unique opportunity for youngsters to get a close look at law enforcement and police community relations. Outdoor activities such as hiking, canoeing, and swimming will round out the program. Deputy Sheriffs and teenage explorers will supervise your child with YMCA summer camp staff providing program activities.
The seventh and eighth grade campers will also participate as counselors in training for the younger campers. This is a wonderful opportunity for students to be role models and gain experience in leadership.
Please download and complete the S.T.A.R. camp application and return it no later than May 3rd, 2019. There is a $110 camp fee if paid before this date; after May 3rd, the fee will be $130. This fee includes a non-returnable $10 fee for the Trading Post. Checks or Money Orders only please, Payable to "STAR CAMP (SAL)" Memo: "STAR Camp" (In the event all available camper spaces are filled, money will be refunded to applicants left on a waiting list.) You may return the application via email to lhramirez@smcgov.org, in person, or by mail at the following addresses:
Drop it off at: Community Policing Unit, 3151 Edison Way, Redwood City, CA 94063
Mail it to: San Mateo County Sheriff's Office, HQ Patrol - C/O Lydia, 400 County Center, 3rd Floor, Redwood City, CA 94063
Upon receiving the attached application and the associated camp fee, we will place your child’s name on the eligibility list for camp. We will be mailing you more details and a medical form in mid-May to confirm attendance. If you have any questions, please call Lydia at (650) 363-4763.
Yours truly,
Carlos Bolanos, Sheriff
REGISTER
Please download and complete the STAR Camp application no later than May 17th and return it via email to lhramirez@smcgov.org, in person, or by mail at the following addresses:
Drop it off at:
Community Policing Unit, 3151 Edison Way, Redwood City, CA 94063
Mail it to:
San Mateo County Sheriff's Office, HQ Patrol - C/O Lydia, 400 County Center, 3rd Floor, Redwood City, CA 94063
STAR Camp Documents Downloads
| S.T.A.R. Camp Application | |
|---|---|
| 2019 STAR CAMP Camper Application - English Version | Click to download |
| 2019 STAR CAMP Camper Application - Spanish Version | Click to download |
| S.T.A.R. Camp Additional Required Documents | |
|---|---|
| Code of Conduct to be signed 2017 - English version | Click to download |
| Code of Conduct to be signed 2017 - Versión en español | Click to download |
| What to bring to camp - English version | Click to download |
| What to bring to camp - Versión en español | Click to download |
| Climbing Wall Ropes Release Form 2017 | Click to download |
| Medical Form | Click to download |
Frequently Asked Questions
1. What are the dates for STAR Camp?
2. What is the age range for STAR Camp?
3. How much does it cost to attend STAR Camp?
4. How do I sign up my child for STAR Camp?
San Mateo County Sheriff’s Office
c/o Lydia
400 County Center, 1st, Floor
Redwood City, CA 94063
5. When is the camp application due?
6. When is the balance due?
“STAR CAMP (SAL)”
In the Memo field, please write: “STAR Camp”
7. How will I know if my registration was received?
8. What kinds of activities will my child participate in at camp?
climbing Wall
swimming
ziplining
camp games
campfire Skits
Gang Awareness Seminar
“Hug a Tree” presentation
For information about these activities, please visit the Programs/Activities section of this website.
9. How do I know my child will be safe?
10. What items does my child need to bring to camp?
11. Who will take care of my child’s medical needs during the camp?
12. What if a camper wants to come home midweek?
13. How do I contact the camp in case I have an emergency and need to pick up my child?
14. Where can I direct additional questions I may have?
Contact Us
The Sheriff’s Training And Recreation (STAR) Camp
3151 Edison Way
Redwood City, CA 94063
Tel: 650-257-3403
Photo Gallery
S.T.A.R. Camp - Summer 2014
Donate
An annual week-long event for youth throughout our county, STAR Camp brings together Sheriff's Office personnel and young campers at the YMCA Jones Gulch. For many campers, it's a once-in-a-lifetime experience. For all, it's an opportunity to experience the great outdoors, away from the pressures of their neighborhoods and schools. It's a time to engage in traditional recreational activities – and also a time to get to know local law enforcement professionals, who can provide positive role models for youth as they transition into their adolescent years.
Please support the goals and activities of STAR Camp. You may donate online or by mailing a check. If donating by check, please click to download the Donation Form, then complete and mail it with your donation check to:
The Sheriff's Training and Recreation (STAR) Camp
Sheriff's Office of San Mateo County
400 County Center, 3rd Floor
Redwood City, CA 94063
Please make checks payable to: “STAR CAMP (SAL)” and write “STAR Camp” in the memo section.
To donate online, please click the DONATE NOW button below.
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