Jan 26, 2026
Dear Brentwood Lower School Families!
Even with the date change it is crazy that it is already El Cap time! Wow this year has flown by!
While we’ll be trying out the Spring dates this year, school is requesting that we keep them moving forward, at least through next year and we can re-evaluate then. A Spring trip means they may even be able to work with our schedule and not book conflicting community activities.
As we mentioned in the What’s App message sent out last week, it’s time to start the booking process for our annual Brentwood Community El Capitan Camping Trip - 2026! The trip this year will be held from April 17-19. We are sure this year will be the best ever!
If you are receiving this, it means you were there last year. Even though you are familiar, we’ll recap things anyway, and would love to update you with a few changes…
This trip is a Brentwood Lower School Community event. Children who are currently in Kindergarten (Yes! We’re SO excited to include Kinders this year!!!) through 5th grade may attend, but families with children in this general age group may also bring siblings, especially recent Lower School Alumni. Some Kindergartners may be too young for the trip, but if you have one you know your child, so use your best judgement here. All new Brentwood families will receive the information for the trip this year. If you do have friends that are new additions to the community, please let them know we’d love for them to come and to be on the lookout for info... They can also feel free to reach out to us.
This event is wholly inclusive, all parents/guardians are welcome and encouraged to attend and help plan. The more the merrier.
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Let’s get started! Click HERE to complete the Survey.
BOOKING CABINS
Returning Families:
The cabin you were in in 2024 is already on hold for you starting Friday, April 17th, through Sunday, April 19th. Please call the campsite (No email, only call…) at 805.685.3887 to confirm your reservation and book the SAME CABIN ONLY. *Please let US know ASAP if there was an issue with your 2024 reservation and we will do everything we can to remedy the situation. The El Cap staff will not be able to help with this.
If you would like to change your cabin, please note your request via the SURVEY by EOD January 30th.
As families graduate, some openings become available in highly desired areas. To keep everything fair for all returning families, we will draw from a lottery to fill openings if there are more requests than available spaces.
On Sunday Feb 1st we will process change requests / conduct lotteries. That evening we will reach out with the revised cabin numbers and you will have 48 hours (EOD Feb 3rd) to confirm or adjust.
New Families:
Starting Wednesday February 4th new families may book online - Group code to follow. At that point, all remaining spaces will be available for booking.
Please do not call or email the campsite outside of your booking. Please let us know if you have any questions or requests. The beloved staff at El Cap can not change your cabin, even when you ask super duper nicely…
All Spaces must be booked by February 16th. Starting February 17th, if we are not sold out we are at risk of releasing remaining cabins to the public. Having the entire venue exclusively allows for many desirable allowances, like amplified music, control of specific areas, and the comforting knowledge that everyone on site is a member of our community.
805.685.3887
HEALTH CONCERNS
While we’re all thrilled that Covid is no longer a major concern, no one wants to share your Rhino or A/B flu either. We hear they are all extra wicked this year. Please be courteous to your fellow families and do not attend if you or your child are symptomatic or have had a fever within 24 hours.
VOLUNTEERING & CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE FUND
We need your help to make this a success. We are looking for Volunteers to help as Grade Reps, Talent Show Organizers, Arts & Crafts leaders, or anything else you’d be super excited to help with! We’d love to hear your ideas for making this trip even more amazing. Please note on the SURVEY if you would like to volunteer.
In addition, we want to make this trip as inclusive as possible. Please let us know if you can contribute to the Financial Assistance Fund. We are greatly appreciative of any amount. It all adds up. Please use www.elledici.net/thefund - Credit Cards & ACH Available - or any of the other payment options with a note that it is a donation to The Fund.
For those families who would like to attend, but the cost of the trip is prohibitive, please consider still booking a room. We are usually able to provide some financial assistance to help defray some of the cost. This is kept completely anonymous. Please Email BWSElCapitan@Gmail.com.
ACTIVITIES FEES
The additional costs for this year will be determined shortly as we get a solid head count. This year’s fee will NOT include meals as those will be handled completely by the El Cap catering department/Canyon Cafe.
This fee must be paid before February 16th or your reservation is at risk of being cancelled. As with your reservation, this fee is refundable up to 60 days before the event.
This fee covers:
Shuttle
Amazing Kids Company Activities
Additional Space Rentals
Long House and Area, Meadows, Activity Yurt, etc
Arts & Crafts & Games
S’Mores Supplies
Firewood for the Community Campfires
Beverages & Ice for the Community Areas
DJ & DJ Equipment
Lighting Crew & Equipment
Production Vehicle Rental & Fuel
Additional Crew & Crew Housing
Administrative Costs
LLC Fees, Insurance, Accounting, etc
+++ Misc
All accounting is open book. Please reach out to us for additional information if desired. Any excess funds will be transferred to the 2027 Fund.
For Payments please include a note with the names of the adults & kids you are paying for.
Venmo @Lynda-Robinson | 310.403.5088
Venmo @Andy-Robinson-30 | 310.804.8955
Zelle lyndapribyl@mac.com | 310.403.5088 / Second Star Entertainment
PayPal @lyndapribyl1
www.elledici.net (Credit Cards & ACH Available)
MEALS
Many families last year preferred to do meals outside of the main group. For ease and fairness, this year all meals may be purchased via The Canyon Cafe. Similar to the way Breakfast & Lunch have been handled the past few years, tickets for each meal may be purchased in advance. Links with Menus will be released closer to the trip.
The Friday night dinner will still be served in the Upper Meadow where we will have our Welcome / Karaoke Party.
Saturday’s breakfast and lunch will be served exactly as they were last year (Lower Canyon Store).
The Saturday night dinner will still be served near the Longhouse where we will lead in to Skit Night / Dance Party.
MORE INFO
As we get closer, we’ll send more details which will be updated in this handy GUIDE. Please note any preliminary preferences in the SURVEY .
As a quick reminder, this is a Brentwood Community event, which means school is aware, but in no way connected to the planning of this trip. Any and all questions should be directed to us, not school.
As fellow families, our Community always embraces the Brentwood Core Values.
Also, as a parent/guardian, you are responsible for the safety and well being of your children at all times during the event.
So excited for this one!
Your gracious group leaders,
Lynda & Andy Robinson
