I have a bunch of Firefighter badge stickers that I give to kids to help break the ice and welcome them to the camp. CalFire, our neighbors up the hill are very kind and provide me with swag for the little ones. This year, I thought I'd get a real Schoolhouse sticker made to pass out for the kids to stick on their shirts. I was thinking that many of the return children and regulars might be getting sick of the same old CalFire badge.
As I was designing the piece and thinking about the kinds of things I liked when I was a little kid, I realized that there is something way cooler than a sticker. That's right, tattoos! I loved tattoos when I was little. It seemed that I always had some sort of half-faded partially peeled tattoo on my arm.
So I switched gears and found a place that created an excellent quality temporary tattoo of the Schoolhouse Canyon logo. If your kids ask nicely, I would be happy to give them one. I'll even help put it on if you like. These are really good tattoos and will last up to about two weeks so I think I better have parents permission before giving these out. I don't want somebody's mom or dad mad at me. Also- no sticking them on necks or hands. That's a bit scary. Have fun and come see me for a Schoolhouse tattoo.
Sticker for your car?
I also have a beautiful 4" bumper sticker of he Schoolhouse logo that looks really great on a dark car window or cargo carrier. These cost me quite a bit more than the tattoos so I'm a bit more selective in giving them out.
Here is the criteria: if you are willing to stick it on your car where it can be seen by the public, I will give you one. I don't give them to people to stick on a coffee cup however. Please feel free to stop by the office if you would like one for your car and thank you very much for camping at Schoolhouse!
How to get a last minute campsite at Schoolhouse Canyon - Reservation or Walk in
Here's a secret: even when the message on the phone says I'm full, I often have a campsite open at the last minute. Why, you might ask? Because the reservation system at Schoolhouse is ever changing and organic, not hard fast or solid. People get sick, cars break down and a myriad of other things pop up that opens a site at Schoolhouse at the last minute, even on a weekend.
Your chances of getting a site as a walk in:
Monday through Thursday - no problem, just come. You don't need a reservation and I will probably have a site for you. July and August can be busy so you will not be able to be too picky about your campsite during this time.
Friday - I often have a site but I'm trying to fill it for the weekend so I'll likely be looking for a two night minimum. Also understand that I would have already upgraded my campers with reservations so I may not have one of my best sites, but you will still be in the best campground on the Russian River.
Saturday - this is the most difficult night of the week to get a site as a walk in. Come early if you are going to try.
Sunday - can be hit or miss. Sunday is more popular than weekdays but not so popular as Friday and Saturday.
How to get a site as a walk in:
Be pleasant and be right for the campground.
Know that I'm not going to let a college frat party with two kegs of beer and monster trucks into the campground. It just would not be a good fit. If you are two couples or a small family, Schoolhouse is right for you. I'm looking for quiet, well behaved, people that get along well with others. I try to fill the camp with happy people that are here for nature and the Russian River valley experience.
Be here early. Like most other successes in life, the important part is to just show up. Come in the morning or early afternoon and just say "hi". Be present. Most last minute openings on a weekend go to someone that is present, pleasant, and persistent. Things can change for me even over the course of an hour or two so if I don't have a site at the time, leave your cell number. I'll do my
best for you.
How to get a site with a last minute reservation:
Be aware that all reservations, even last minute reservations, require a two night minimum. Be ready to answer the phone if I call with an opening. I don't usually leave a message when I call from the wait list. I will only have one site and leaving messages can cause problems as the site could book quickly. You may want to add Schoolhouse Canyon's number into your contact list. It may help you to take the call if you know it's me calling. Know that if you are a regular and I know your party, you will be high on my list if an opening happens. Be ready to come camping if so. I can't tell you have many times people ask to be on the wait list, then can’t get it together to come when I call because they didn't think it would happen. Most of my cancellations happen just a a day or two before so it can work out for someone willing to come last minute.
Finally, know that I run the camp mostly by myself and I am not typically able to answer the phone when calls come in. This is especially true on weekends. If you are in the area and need a campsite, your best bet is to come in and see me. Even if I am unable to accommodate you, I will help as best I am able. I know several of the owners of other campgrounds in the area and sometimes hear of availability elsewhere. I will do my best for you either way.
Get on the wait list by leaving a message and letting me know the details about your party. If you are willing to take one of the lower sites at the bottom of the canyon nearest River Road and can tolerate some traffic noise from River Road, your odds of getting a site just doubled.
Finally finished the new road sign. I’m so darn picky, it took forever to find inspiration that I could use as a springboard. The signs of today are all computer cut and corporate looking. Definitely not what I was looking for. I wanted something that reminded you of when you went camping as a kid. Kind of familiar.
The result is a retro, National Park / US Forestry - feeling sign that I’m at last happy with. I had to recruit camper Jimmy, who is a cabinet maker from Texas to help. He hung around so long that I found something for him to do. Check out the Yogi Bear style jagged edges on the cross members.
OK, so I’m not a big fan of computer cut vinyl signs that are so popular today. Problem is, there are not that many people still doing hand lettering and the camp needed tons of markers and signs. I found a great guy named Dusty on craigslist who is affordable. See me if you want the referral. Dusty did a nice job on the site numbers, trail markers and a bunch of other things. They are hand lettered, perfectly imperfect, and real. Much like Schoolhouse Canyon Park.
One of the better hikes in the area is out along the hills at the mouth of the Russian River. The views of the Pacific and the River entering the sea at Jenner are spectacular. The hike begins at Pomo Canyon Campground which is at the time of this writing, closed for budgetary reasons. If you have not yet visited this camp, you are in for a treat. Pomo is one of the really pretty camps in Sonoma County. If you like Schoolhouse, you will like Pomo. It’s tiny and full of towering Redwoods. Corina, Colton and I recently hiked one of the two trails with some friends and had a great time. The first part of this hike has quite an incline so I’m recommending this for healthy people familiar to hiking. It is well worth the effort.
Begin your day by heading west from the campground on River Road which becomes HWY 116 after Guerneville. The trip to the coast is 17 miles and a pretty drive along the river through the small towns of Monte Rio and Duncan's Mills. When you hit HWY 1 at the end of the road, turn south which is a left and pass over the Russian River. Take the first left on Willow Creek road for 2.6 miles. Park outside the gate and your hike begins!
Walk past the gate along the gravel drive into the campground about ¼ mile. The David Joseph Memorial Pomo Canyon Trail is clearly marked as you begin your ascent. The trail climbs right up and through the 13 or so primitive campsites and Redwood grove. I love the Ferns and Sorrel that are one of the few plants able to thrive in the heavy shade of Redwood trees. As you continue to climb, the trees change to Fir, Oak, Madrone and Bay before finally turning to the open grassy headlands of the Sonoma Coast.
Just around the point you break through the trees and into open space, you will have a decision to make. The Pomo Canyon Trail continues on the right and the Red Hill Trail is to the left. These two trails will meet again at the top of the bluff and you can loop back to your car at the next junction or continue down towards the Pacific and beautiful Shell beach. On our hike, we chose the Red Hill trail and continued up and then along the bluff which looks out over the ocean and the mouth of the Russian as it reaches its destination.
Your destination however is still a bit of a hike back down into the canyon and finally to the well-deserved snacks waiting for you in your car.
