I have been coming to old Oak Ranch since 1985. My five sons have experienced some great things at…read morethis camp and the memories run deep! The entire staff are incredible and the food is awesome! If your church is looking to have a gathering in the Sierra's you simply don't have to look anywhere else but Old Oak Ranch!!!

We just came back from our 4th grade Gold Rush overnight field trip and I highly recommend Old Oak…read moreRanch. (we stayed here and did the Gold Rush activities/tours at Columbia State Park, but they are thinking of bringing some Gold Rush activities on site in the future). Aaron and Bryan were wonderful hosts. The food in the dining hall was quite good and they were very accommodating for dietary restrictions/allergies. The kids enjoyed the game room (foosball/ping pong/pool tables/arcades). There was another group during the time we were there but we hardly noticed except during meal times (even then, we were eating in separate areas). It unexpectedly snowed a lot on one of the days (mid-April!) and 4WD is really helpful.

I've rented the big party boat here twice for my birthdays, and I honestly can't even describe how…read moremuch fun we had--it was such a vibe both times! Being out on the water with friends, music going, and just enjoying the lake... unforgettable memories every time. We also added jet skis, which made the whole experience even better. Definitely worth it if you want to level up your day on the water! What really stood out to me was the staff. Everyone was so friendly, patient, and made sure we understood everything before heading out. They explained all the safety details clearly and made us feel completely comfortable getting on the water. If you're planning a birthday, group outing, or just a fun lake day, this is 100% the move. I'll definitely be back again!

My group of friends have rented from here a few times. On our recent visit we rented the boat for 3…read morenights. Check in is at 3pm and they say we have to return the boat back by 10am. However we ran into some trouble not being able to start the boat so we didn't return until 11am. There was no penalty. All the staffs were kind. This time we were welcomed with a choice of water, soda, beer or mimosas. Of coarse we opted for the mimosas. Not sure if this is a new thing but we did rent the biggest boat, the 60' Escapade II. We weren't offered drinks in the past where we rented smaller houseboats. They do have a store where you can get some food including ice cream, drinks, apparel and this is also where you check in. They also have an ice and water station. Houseboating is so much fun. The house boat had everything we needed to enjoy our getaway.

We rented a tandem kayak from On the Lake Kayak Rentals for a 4 hour rental. They did a great job…read morewith communicating where to meet and made the experience simple and easy. They also recommended a good place for us to have lunch and suggested the best places to kayak that would be away from the wakes from the passing boats. We definitely would rent from them again.

I had a great time! Amanda and Matt were both great and picked me up from the parking lot and set…read moreup the kayak for me. It was a really good kayak brand new good quality and very comfortable. They also went and got me some water because I forgot to bring mine! I crossed over to the other side of the lake and pulled up the kayak and had breakfast on the bank under a tree. Then I kayaked around, saw the boats and the shoreline to complete my four hour half-day trip I feel it was really good value and I would do this again anytime and recommend otjers to kayak on this beautiful lake with this amazing service !

Very nice park. Very well maintained (old buildings, lots of items). Lots of things to see and to…read morelearn. Highly recommended. Many stores to visit and shop, bakery, restaurants, ice cream, museums and more. Air conditioned store rooms. Some rare book editions on sale in the bookstore! Free parking. Dog friendly.

I come here every year! I walk around and enjoy seeing the old, small town of Columbia that…read moresettlers founded. It is now recognized as Colombia State Historic Park. It has a one-room school house where students of different ages, once sat and listened together to their teacher's lectures, in harmony. I always visit the old cemetery where some members of The Donner family, who survived their perilous journey from Missouri to California during the gold rush, are buried. The old mercantile building and the Blacksmith stable where the horses were shoehorned and cared for, still stands. The countryside is beautiful. The hills and rivers are gorgeous. This is a great place for families and especially for children who should know our great history regarding brave settlers who traveled from far and wide, by horse and buggy (wagon trains of home crafted covered wagons). It is always such a nostalgic feeling going back in history for me. Enjoy this great town!

Super cool !! Trip went well , good way to spend the extra day of our trip exploring the Sierra…read morenevadas

I once knew and had visited this establishment as the Regional Learning Center while a part of the…read moreFresno Unified School District. Before that it was known as the Five Mile Job Corp, and now we know it as Sierra Outdoor School. (Please read the SOS history here: https://sos.cusd.com/History.aspx ) I am happy to report that every time I have been here, (once in as a student back in 1992,) and twice as a chaperone (2016 and 2022), that they continue to uphold excellence science and ecological education. I don't speak for all children, who I have found will roll their eyes to the idea of conserving our world, to students who find traversing hills to learn more about nature as an arduously unnecessary task, that this school is truly a great experience. The Naturalists who teach here are patient, kind, knowledgeable, and inclusive of the every one of the children's differences. They are a forward thinking lot who continuously reflect on our past successes to better contribute to our future. From the life lessons we can learn from Teddy Roosevelt to the deeply rooted connections to nature by the Iroquois and Apache. Our students covered the 2 night camping trip both times and had a slightly different itinerary. (But I've come to learn that some schools are offered 5-day camping experiences to get the entirety of what SOS has to offer.) Classes experienced were as follows: High Ropes: Climb 32 ft while triple suspended and belayed to one of two courses, the Burma Bridge (crossing a wire bridge w/wire hand holds), and the Catwalk (a telephone pole laid horizontally), and cross towards the main zip line podium. The kids were able to experience this at their own preferred levels. A fee kids remained in their comfort zone by zip lining with no hesitation while others would get a strapped in, climb a peg or two, and head back to solid ground. Badger was the main Naturalist for the High Ropes adventure and he was here doing great things with the kids over 6 years ago! Silent Mile: during the first mile and half, we experienced various stopping and learning points in regards to ecology, biotic and abiotic, biome, classifying animals by what they eat, etc. Later on we were able to experience the Silent Mile where each child was separated, 20 seconds at a time, walking and taking in their experiences and the cards placed by the Naturalist, Sequoia, to reflect upon. Chaperones and teachers were inserted every 3-4 students to ensure safety. We followed that up with an experience called Heart Attack Hill. You can traverse it however you would like, but the one we went on was a longer but easier version of the steeper/shorter one that I remembered running 6 years ago. Lastly, the kids were given magnifying glasses and instructions to examine the world around them. Wilderness Survival: We had Foster (Slime Mold) guide us through understanding how better to be prepared in our environment. From a fun compass usage exercise, to building our own shelter in the elements. Night Hike: Shirley (Tiger Lily) was our naturalist for this learning experience. We were able to enjoy a beautifully lit sky once camp had turned off the light pollution. She also taught us about our eyes, red light use, and how important they are to each and every living creature. Roaring Relays: Wide varying challenges across a gym room floor. Campardy: Large groups of kids take turns competing against each other to answer questions about what they've learned so far. Previously we had done Owl Pellet Dissection, arrowhead carving, and Dull Axe Excavation of tree bark and within soil. Some things had changed, but the interactive fun doesn't stop.

This was an amazing place! Great place for the kids to learn the outdoors. When you come, don't…read moreexpect that you will be chilling sitting somewhere. We were here 3 days and on a time crunch. We wake up, eat, and off we go on a hike. Next is lunch, next hike. After that dinner, then night class till 9:00 at night. Up at 6:30am. Why I gave it 4 stars, the food for the most part was good, but you could tell a lot of the food came from a can or was frozen. Which I guess is fine when your feeding hundreds of kids. The salad bar for the adults was awesome!! Thank you! Also, the beds were not very comfortable, but it could have been way worse. The showers are super small and there is only 3 showers per side of the cabin. Plus the walls in the cabin are super thin so you can hear everyone get up to use the bathroom. Other than that this is something your child should experience. Totally worth it!!

I really appreciate SJ Family Camp. Been going since I was a kid, there's been several changes…read moreespecially with climate change / natural weather conditions (ex. the pool being closed due to the water height). I personally think camp is what you make of it: there's a lot to do and explore if you make the time to participate or seek out activities. I also commend the camp staff for making camp entertaining and bringing the whole thing together!

Campers beware! If you an long time SJ camper, you will be very sad to see what camp has become…read more Very few scheduled activities, no store, no pool, no fort, and very rude staff. We have watched a slow decline over the years, but never thought we would experience camp in this way. When activities were scheduled (1-2 for the day) staff was unenthusiatic to be hosting and often ended before the scheduled time. Sometimes the activities started without being announced, so if you were not actively keeping the time, you may miss it. Not once, but twice we had wake a staff member to ask questions during dining. The muched loved amiptheater night lasted 30 minutes with one staff planned skit. My family quickly rallied put on what we could of our beloved skits. One staff couldn't be bothered to stand up from the tree stump and told the audience that she was just "too tired to come up with anything exciting." On our final day we are accustomed to a quick pack up to allow our tent to be turned over to incoming families, but this year all Campers were checking out with no new check ins. So starting immediately after breakfast every 15 min. We were reminded over the loud speaker to vacate camp by 10am. They told us the gates would be locked promptly at 10. In years past, while we have been out of our tent, we have still been able to enjoy the property, activities and say farewell. This year the staff was very eager to be rid of us. I'm not sure if we will return. I shed many tears this year grieving the camp I knew and coming to terms with the end of an era. I sincerely hope SJ PRNS gets camp back on the right track. I have nothing but the best summer memories as a child in the 80s through 90s, and returning with my young children in the 2000s. I hope that I will still get to take my grandchildren as I always envisioned I just could never return while it is in this state. Sincerely San Jose family Camper 1985-2022

Nice way to spend a summer day. Impeccably clean beach area, bathrooms and snack shack. Fun…read morewaterslides, docks and diving boards. Our family enjoyed this spot. The gatekeeper was friendly and knowledgeable regarding the ins and outs of the lake and its rules. The swim test is one of the harder tests I have seen, glad they prioritize safety.

AVOID this small manmade dirty "lake"- esp if you're a POC outsider. The locals and staff were…read morepretty rude and not hospitable to "outsiders". The Locals next to us reported our 8' umbrella to staff. (Tattle). Staff demanded we take the umbrella down, due to not "standard" size. (Define "standard"?) Pretty humiliating and darn hot in 90+ temps. They really don't care that you paid $100 total or $10 pp admission for 10 people, and have no shade in the heat. Even if one friend has a heart condition fr. Heatstroke? We were just so miserable that we left after 1-2 hrs. Yes, Rules are rules. Except for the white kids using the OVERSIZED unicorn floatie. Double standards much? Also, No fishing that day. Lake did not stock fish we learned when we got there. So kids were unable to use their fishing poles, like the umbrella. Does the lake post fishing updates on their website? . Disappointing lake visit all around. not friendly to outsiders. imo. Maybe the 5 star reviews are from locals.