Camp Sturtevant Contra Dance Weekend Memorial Day weekend, May 22-25, 2026

We are sorry to report that we have had to cancel this event

The oldest Ranger station in the Forest Service at Camp Sturtevant welcomes you.

“Ridiculously magical fun!!!” -Jerry Wheeler

Established in 1893, historic Camp Sturtevant is the only camp from the Great Hiking Era still in operation in the Angeles Forest. Nestled in Southern California’s San Gabriel Mountains, surrounded by the largest virgin stand of Big Cone Spruce Trees in the United States, Camp Sturtevant provides a unique opportunity to experience the wilderness. Leaving the Los Angeles bustle, crowds, and roads behind, the shaded and lush four-mile hike in leads campers through the breathtaking Santa Anita Canyon.

We strive to create a Contra Dance Camp community that is welcoming, inclusive, and safe for all dancers. We do not gender balance our roster, and have both gender free and gendered accommodations. We appreciate feedback on ways to make our dance space safer and more welcoming for everyone.

Camp Sturtevant uses gender free calling, and we encourage campers to dance any role, with any partner they choose. Our goal is to create an environment where dancers feel safe and comfortable both in asking for a dance and in declining one. Ask partners kindly, and accept their answers graciously.

Jacqui Grennan Our Caller

Jacqui Grennan started contra dancing in Los Angeles, CA, in 2009. Since then, she’s taken a deep dive into folk dancing, first as a contra caller, then choreographer, then English Country Dance caller and choreographer, and now taking on the challenge of learning modern western square dancing. These experiences of trying new things at different skill levels has enhanced her ability to consider different ways of teaching and learning. She is known for her clear and caring teaching with a stage presence that is a blend of calmness and dynamism. She knows what dancers want, and knows how to make it happen, seeing herself as the host of a party who wants to help everyone have a good time. When Jacqui calling or dancing at contra dances and English Country dances, she likes to travel the world by planes, trains, automobiles and ferries, and visit with friends.

Silas Hamilton and Annie McDougall Our Band

Silas Hamilton and Annie McDougall Our Band

Silas and Annie are spirited young old-time musicians that love playing Contra, not so old-time. Silas’ contra groove guitar and feet and Annie’s frighteningly tasty fiddle give us swingy tunes to modal vamps and they never quite play the same thing twice. Young music voices steeped in rich tradition.

Accommodations & Amenities

Six Dancers showing their fashion in the dining hall

Complete with heated bunk-bed cabins, tent and hammock spaces, bathhouses with hot showers, and dining and dance hall, Camp Sturtevant is an intimate location for 40 campers. Gender free and gendered cabins are available. There is a bath house with hot showers.

In addition to dancing, campers may enjoy the 30-foot tree swing, volleyball and badminton court, plethora of hiking trails, and late nights spent singing and telling stories by the fireplace, complete with milk and cookies.

Meals

There will be nine nutritious, delicious, and filling meals provided over the course of the weekend, specially prepared in modern kitchen facilities by our chef Brenda Goodwin. A variety of refreshments will be provided throughout the days and evenings. Please indicate any dietary allergies or restrictions on your registration form.

The Hike

Camp Sturtevant is only accessible by footpath. The hike itself is mostly shaded by trees, with the trail winding alongside a running creek. It is a fun, leisurely hike, with only 1400 feet of elevation gain over four miles.

We will meet at the Chantry Flat trail head at 1:45 PM on Friday, May 22nd for a 2:00 PM departure. You should expect to return to the trail head by 5:00 PM on Monday, May 25th.

The parking lot at Chantry Flat Trail Head fills up quickly in the mornings, so carpools are encouraged. Weekend parking passes are required and available at Adams’ Pack Station near the trail head. Parking is not included in your registration.

Pack Train Portage

A pack train of mules and donkeys will haul our food, fuel, equipment, and supplies up the canyon for us. The pack train will haul 15 lbs of your personal items round trip, included in your registration (additional weight may be added at $1.25 per lb. each way)

Items must be delivered at a drop off point (2 or 3 throughout the L.A. area) by Wednesday night. Out of town campers can send their gear ahead of time for inclusion in the pack train or take it directly to the pack station by 7 am Friday.

Registration

Registration costs $495
There are a limited number of Work Scholarships available at $395. Check with Dan Vilter, the camp organizer about availability.

Contact us:

Camp Organizer – Dan Vilter
dan@vilter.us or (626)422-4364

Camp Registrar – Lynn Ricketts
lynn_ricketts@yahoo.com

Callers and Bands through the years

1994 Chris Miller with Screaming Earwigs- Tom, Sauber, Jerry Frakes, Chris Cooper
1995 James Hutson with Spin Cycle- Frank Hoppe,…
1996
1997 Susan Michaels with The San Gabriel Mountain Boys– Frank Hoppe, John Light, Tom Sauber, Chris Cooper
1998 Mary Devlin with Laura Light, John Light, Ken Shaw
1999 Becky Hill with Michael Mendelson, Suzie Richmond
2000 Cis Hinkle with Jump Fingers– Suzie Richmond, Paul Johnson, Dave Allen
2001 (cancelled due to drought): Kathy Anderson with Growling Old Geezers- Jim Mueller, James Bolton, Amber Roullard-Mueller

2001-2009
• Cancelled due to low water reserves
• Hiatus between camp organizers Rich Cageao & Dan Vilter
• Event changed from 2-nights to 3-nights.
• Event weekend moved from October to May

2010 Cis Hinkle with Avaunt Gardeners– Laura Light, George Paul
2011 Susan Petrick with Toss the Possum– Rob Zisette, Laura Zisette, Bonnie Insull
 2012 Kathy Anderson with The Growling Old Geezers– Jim Mueller, Roullard-Mueller, James Bolton 
2013 Cis Hinkle with Roguery– Dave Bartley, Anita Anderson, Shira Kammen 
2014 Carol Orman with Avant Gardeners– Laura Light, George Paul
 2015 Kathy Anderson with Notorious– Larry Unger, Eden MacAdam-Somer 
2016 Susan Michaels with Rodney Miller, Jeff Spero 
2017 Susan Petrick with Playing with Fyre– George Paul, Rob Zisette 
2018 Deb Comly with Drive Train– Ed Howe, Ben Konesni 
2019 Dana Parkinson with Audrey Knuth, Amy Eaglesberg 
2020-2024 Canceled due to Covid and the Bobcat Fire
2025 Susan Petrick with Uncle Farmer– Ben Schreiber, Michael Sokolovsky
2026 Jacqui Grennan with Annie McDougall and Silas Hamilton