Index:

• History
• Facility Highlights
• Program Possibilities
• Before You Arrive

HISTORY

From a place to graze cattle to tourist attraction to its present use as a year-round camp serving nearly 8,000 people a year, the land that makes up Cedar Lake Camp has had a long and eventful history.

The Talmage brothers bought the land in the 1890’s to graze cattle, selling it again in 1922 to the Bartlett brothers who felt that building a lake on the property would help as a tourist attraction. So a 30-foot dam was constructed in 1929, forming the 5-acre Cedar Lake. Then in 1954 along came the First Congregational Church of Los Angeles, at the time one of the largest churches in the country. Throughout the years, the camp has served as a backdrop for such popular movies as “Trail of the Lonesome Pine,” “Kissin’ Cousins,” and the original “The Parent Trap.”

With FCCLA’s backing, Cedar Lake has gone through many changes including numerous upgrades and additions. Cedar Lake can now cater to groups of all sizes, ages, and interests…How about yours?

FACILITY HIGHLIGHTS

• A private, 5-acre, crystal clear alpine lake…for bass and trout fishing, swimming, canoeing, and other exciting water activities
  
• Sports area for games…sand volleyball, basketball, horseshoes, capture the flag
  
• High Adventure and Team Challenge (ropes) Courses…our wide repertoire of challenging games and initiatives provides an ideal context for individuals to discover new insights and try out new behaviors
  
• An outdoor amphitheater…educate yourselves in the “natural” classroom environment
  
• Nature trails…hike up to Castle Rock and reward yourself with breathtaking views of Big Bear Lake. Learn about the unique ecology or see the diverse wildlife of Big Bear Valley along the way.
  
• Assembly and meeting rooms… relax in Scanland Hall, a meeting place for groups of all sizes
  
• Sleeping accommodations that range from private rooms with baths to bunkhouses or platform tents to traditional campsites…whatever your group desires.
  
• Campfire rings and picnic area, including a BBQ pit mere feet from the lake
  
• A lakeside chapel…experience a worship service in the great outdoors
  
• Fun activities for any group dynamic--soccer, canoeing, fishing, volleyball, arts and crafts, hiking, sledding, and many more!!

PROGRAM POSSIBILITIES

Outdoor Wilderness Adventure

• Explore the Big Bear Valley wilderness and enjoy a truly restorative experience that evokes interest, curiosity, fascination, and harmony with the natural surroundings. You will learn and then have an opportunity to practice such wilderness skills as fire making, shelter building, and tracking wildlife. Take a mountain bike ride or slow down and hike the numerous trails that offer spectacular lake and mountain views.

Ground-based Team Initiatives

• Groups engaged in carefully selected and sequenced activities that incorporate the whole body–physically, intellectually, emotionally, and socially–learn better, enjoy it more, and retain the lessons longer. Explore the 270 acres of Cedar Lake property while participating in initiatives that focus on cooperation, communication, leadership, and decision-making.

High Adventure and Team Challenge (Ropes) Courses

• Cedar Lake’s Challenge Courses containing obstacles or physical challenges offer unique opportunities to develop group support, build self-esteem and trust, and enhance confidence. You will have a chance to learn and practice decision-making skills and prudent risk-taking, develop a sense of community, and have loads of fun at the same time. Through cooperative learning, participants develop more positive attitudes toward people. Working together to solve common problems, they learn the value of diversity; they learn to appreciate the contributions made by others, and they come to experience the joy of supporting other people in their endeavors.

BEFORE YOU ARRIVE

Please review the following information before your trip, and keep it with you during your stay.

Weather and Road Information

Local Big Bear Weather: www.bensweather.com
Road Conditions: www.dot.ca.gov/cgi-bin/roads.cgi. Or call (800)-427-7623

Site Information

Emergency Information