Alumni Shabbaton

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Alumni Shabbaton

December 12-14, 2025

Calling all Saratoga, Swig & Newman Alumni! Spend a magical retreat weekend at camp complete with Shabbat celebration, your favorite camp activities and lots of reminiscing among the redwood trees. Bring your camp friends and dance the night away to your old-school favorites like Popcorn and Yo-Ya, sing your heart out to the top Shabbat Shira hits, hike, create art, toss a disc, relax around the campfire and enjoy the best camp food you’ve never had thanks to Chef Danny Robinow!

 

Alumni Shabbaton November 15-17

Save $50 when you book by October 13th!

What is a Shabbaton?

A Shabbaton is a weekend at camp for all ages and stages! Celebrate Shabbat with old friends, family friends and friends who you have not yet met and be a kid again while enjoying your favorite camp activities. Art, music, nature, delicious food, comfortable accommodations and a joyful, Jewish community.

Whether you’re a young adult coming with a group of friends, a family with young kids, empty-nester, grandparent or just an adult lover-of-camp there is something for YOU! The weekend will include childcare for kids ages 0-2 and camp-style activities for kids ages 2-12, adult-only workshops, evening happy hours and time to connect, to meaningful community- and family-centered activities.

All-Inclusive Weekend Packages

Our all-inclusive retreat packages cover accommodations as well as all meals and snacks (kids eat less, kids pay less!) as well as all the activities, experiences and fun our staff will create for you. Weekend family packages start at $1080 for 1 adult and 1 child; weekend adult-only packages start at $480 (shared cabin housing). See below in “Design your Weekend” for 3 easy steps to calculate the cost of your weekend at camp!

Pricing is based on the housing option you select and the number of adults (13+) and kids (3-12) in your party. Toddlers and Babies Under 2 are always FREE! 

Design your Weekend

Follow these 3 easy steps to plan for your weekend at camp. When you register, you’ll be able to make your lodging selections, indicate whether you are interested in shared housing and even request friends to live with!

Scholarships for Family Weekends are available through generous funding from the Jewish Federation of San Francisco. Apply here!

Step 1

Calculate Activities Costs

# Adults x $350

# Kids 12 & Under x $275

Children Under 2 are Free!

Step 2

Select Your Lodging
Check out your options below and add the lodging cost to your total activity cost.

The Lodge: $700 per weekend
Motel: $500 per weekend
Cabin: $590 per weekend

Step 3 – Optional

Shared Housing

If you would like to share housing with another family or a group of friends lodging costs can be divided evenly between parties!

The Lodge Accommodations: $700/weekend

The Lodge, also knows as Village 2, is a brand new upscale, hotel-style building with 28-double occupancy rooms that sleep up to 4 people each. Centrally located at the heart of camp, steps from the Dining Hall and all that main camp has to offer. View the Village 2 Room Map >

Each room has:

    • 2 queen beds & a private bathroom
    • Mini fridge, microwave & Keurig coffee maker
    • private small outdoor seating area with rocking chairs
    • Several single ADA accessible rooms available

Cabin Accommodations: $590/weekend
Motel and Cabin accommodations costs are based on single family usage/single occupancy. 

We have several cabin villages with a variety of amenities and all within a short walk to the heart of camp.

Offers:

  • 1/2-cabins sleep up to 8 people and are great for larger families or multiple families together
  • Each suite includes four sets of bunk beds with one private bathroom.
  • All cabins include A/C and heat.
  • Several ADA accessible cabins available.

Camp Motel Accommodations: $500/weekend
Motel and Cabin accommodations costs are based on single family usage/single occupancy. 

Our Camp Motel, also known as Village 7, is located a short 5 min walk from the center of camp near Villages 5 & 6 with a wonderful view overlooking the valley

  • Motel Rooms can sleep up to 4 people and include twin-sized bunk beds in the 6 upper-level rooms and twin-sized single beds in the lower level rooms
  • Each room includes a private bathroom
  • Balcony with incredible views

 

Shabbaton FAQs

WHO SHOULD ATTEND THIS WEEKEND?

Alumni Shabbaton is for all ages and stages: young adults, families with kids, empty-nesters, grand-family. At least one adult in each party is an alum of Camp Newman/Camp Swig. At times during the weekend will be together as one community; at times we will have options for adults only; and at times we will have options for families (parents with children).

This retreat is not, however, a camper weekend for kids to attend without their grownups. 

IS THERE FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE AVAILABLE?

Yes! Scholarships for families to attend Family Camp or Shabbaton weekends are available through generous funding from the Jewish Federation of San Francisco. Apply here!

WHAT SHOULD WE BRING?

We will send you a full packing list in advance of your weekend. Play an instrument? Bring it! And as always, bring your reusable water bottles, hat, sunscreen and sturdy shoes.

IS EVENING CHILDCARE PROVIDED?

We offer late-night supervision (shmira) for all ages 8:30-11:30pm. You put your kids to bed and our staff will monitor them while you relax with friends.  

CAN MY CAMP-AGED CAMPER ATTEND THE WEEKEND WITHOUT ME?

This is not a camper weekend for kids to attend without their grown-ups. If your camper is looking for a bit of camp during the year, check out Fall Camp (for kids in 2nd-5th grade) / West Coast Party Junior (tweens in 6th-7th grade) Nov. 7-9 or  or West Coast Party from January 16-19, 2026 for teens in 9th-12th grade.

I RECENTLY WAS A CAMP STAFF MEMBER OR CIT AND AM INTERESTED IN WORKING THAT WEEKEND? WHO SHOULD I CONTACT?

Terrific! Email Rachel Dubowe at rdubowe@urj.org. 

HOW ABOUT THE FOOD?

Our kosher-style kitchen regularly prepares vegetarian, gluten-free and dairy-free options at every meal. Please share other allergies and dietary needs with us so we can accommodate you. Our menus are delicious and kid friendly.  Coffee and snacks are available at all times!  

Cancellation Policy

All cancellations must either be received in writing or completed following the instructions in your confirmation email. In the event you decide to cancel your registration, the following terms apply:

– Cancellations received up to 1 month before the event start date are subject to a 10% cancellation fee.

– Cancellations received between 1 month and 2 weeks of the event start date are subject to a 50% cancellation fee.

– Cancellations received within 2 weeks of the event start date are not eligible for refunds

WHAT ARE THE HOUSING ACCOMMODATIONS?

We offer 3 choices of housing at 3 different price points. Please see the section of this page titled “Design Your Weekend” for photos of the housing options and prices. Please note that participants can choose to share accommodations to lower their housing cost. If you select a Cabin, we will not house another party in your cabin unless you indicate on your registration form that you are willing to share.

WHAT WILL BE OFFERED FOR FAMILIES? IS THERE CHILDCARE?

However you define a family, you are welcome at Camp Newman! We’ll offer child programming ages 2+ on Saturday morning. Kids participate in fun camp activities while under 2 year olds can enjoy our play space with their parents.  
Enjoy Shabbat and Jewish programming together, get alone time to choose from several optional activities while kids are with counselors, have a glass of wine after the kids go to bed while counselors are on supervision duty and enjoy your meal while counselors play outside with those quick eaters!   

WE ARE NEW TO THE CAMP NEWMAN COMMUNITY AND CONSIDERING CAMP FOR NEXT SUMMER. IS THIS A GOOD WEEKEND FOR US TO COME TO GET A TASTE OF CAMP?

This weekend is designed for alumni and will feature lots of camp nostalgia. If you are new to Camp Newman, check out our Year Round events calendar for other opportunities to get a taste of camp! 

WHAT WILL BE OFFERED FOR ADULTS?

Enjoy Shabbat and a weekend away at camp! Choose options such as hiking, challah braiding, archery, learning with Rabbi Allie, an art project for you, or simply choose to put your feet up! Sing along at a campfire, make deluxe s’mores and connect with other adults. There are specific times during the weekend for adults only as well as specific programming that is designed for those who are at camp with their children. 

I NEED A LITTLE HELP GETTING AROUND THOSE INFAMOUS HILLS AT CAMP. WILL THERE BE MOBILITY ASSISTANCE AVAILABLE?

Yes! We can help you with our golf cart. Ask any staff member with a walkie-talkie and your chariot will await. 

WILL TRANSPORTATION BE PROVIDED TO AND FROM CAMP?

We are not able to provide transportation to camp for this weekend event.  

IF WE ARE FLYING IN, WHAT IS THE BEST AIRPORT?

Oakland Airport (OAK) and Santa Rosa Airport (STS) are the most convenient airports to use when coming to camp!