Bothin

Rental Period

Rental Period: 22 hours, 4:00 PM – 2:00 PM

Shared Use Statement: Bothin is our busiest camp, especially during weekends, regularly accommodating multiple groups who are staying overnight or participating in a day program. Please expect that you will be sharing Bothin with others. Bothin is utilized by a school during the week days. You may notice school supplies, chalkboard, desks, etc in some of the buildings. Please do not disturb the school’s property. For questions about camp properties, contact info@gsnorcal.org.

On-Site Resources & Amenities

• Archery range: available to rent or to book through Outdoor Program Staff. Click here for more information.
• High Ropes available through Outdoor Program staff. Click here for more information.
• Large meadow/field: great area for large group gatherings and games.
• Hiking trails: On-site trail access to Marin Open Space hiking trails.
• Large meadow/field: great area for large group gatherings and games with a Gaga Ball pit available year round. Please bring your own ball. Learn more about the game here.
• Slingshot Range:
• Groups that have a site reservation at Camp Bothin are permitted to use the slingshot range if they adhere to the following guidelines.

• Groups must follow the Slingshot Safety Activity Checkpoints
• There must be a certified USA Archery Instructor present
• Groups should follow Leave No Trace principles and choose ammunition that does not leave permanent litter behind.
  • Ammo such a dog kibble or marshmallows are not recommended because they will attract wildlife. We recommend something like this Biodegradable Clay Slingshot Ammo

There is no equipment available for rental from GSNorCal. Groups may bring their own equipment, or make their own slingshots as part of the activity. There are many tutorials and instructions online for DIY slingshots using household materials like popsicle sticks, pencils and office supplies and printer paper.

Site Information

Total Camp Capacity: 247 people/night

Buildings:

All buildings include indoor showers, shared bathrooms and have access to an outdoor fire pit.

Lyman Hall: Upstairs only. Includes common space, kitchen with stove/oven, pots/pans and refrigeration, dormitory rooms and small rooms with single beds. No downstairs space included.

Manor House: Downstairs has a sun porch common space and full kitchen with stove/oven, pots/pans and refrigeration. All sleeping accommodations are upstairs in dormitory rooms and small rooms with single beds.

Manor Lyman Staff Row (1st floor): Small rooms with single beds.

Manor Lyman Bridge (2nd floor): Small rooms with single beds.

Stone House: Downstairs includes large common room, full kitchen with stove/oven, pots/pans and refrigeration and small rooms with single beds. Upstairs includes dormitory rooms and small rooms with single beds.

Little House: Downstairs includes large common room and full kitchen with stove/oven, pots/pans and refrigeration. Upstairs includes dormitory rooms and small rooms with single beds.

Bay Tree: Outdoor unit, includes 2 rentable yurts – one sleeps 8 on bunkbeds, the other sleeps 12 on mattresses on the floor; one platform that can be used for tent pitching that sleeps up to 4; an outdoor cooking shelter; campfire; bathroom with toilets and showers.

Bush: Bush has three cabins with six beds, one cabin with four beds, three toilets, and three showers. There is a campfire stage, a rotunda cooking shelter with lights, a sink, counter space, picnic tables, and barbecue. Winter Closure November 1 – March 31.

Dining Hall/Commercial Kitchen:

• Fully equipped commercial kitchen and dining hall

• Capacity 225 people

• Food Manager’s Certificate Required

The Commercial Kitchen has a one time $250 cleaning fee per reservation.

Please note: If you have Entire Site rented between November 1 through March 31 please contact property@gsnorcal.org to have the rental fee adjusted as Bush is not available during the winter.

Driving time from San Francisco: Camp Bothin is located west of San Rafael, near Fairfax, about 1 hour from San Francisco.

Local Attractions

Local attractions within 30 minutes:

• Ferry to Angel Island State Park
• Mount Tamalpais State Park
• The Marine Mammal Center
• Muir Woods National Monument
• Sausalito
• Sea Trek: Sea Kayak and Paddleboard rentals and tours in Sausalito. Girl Scouts NorCal approved vendor.

Local attractions within 1 hour:

• Point Reyes National Seashore
• Tomales Bay
• Point Reyes Outdoors: Sea kayak outfitter serving Point Reyes and Tomales Bay. Girl Scouts NorCal approved vendor.

Rates for GSNorCal Member

The Commercial Kitchen has a one-time $250 cleaning fee per reservation, and you need to provide someone who is ServSafe Manager Certified..

Please note: Entire Site rental does not include Ropes Course and Archery Range. Click here to reserve Ropes Course and Archery Range.

Bush is closed for the winter November 1 – March 31 and will not be included in Entire Site rentals during this time. Please contact property@gsnorcal.org to have the rental fee adjusted.

Address

3125 Sir Francis Drake Blvd

Fairfax, CA 94930

From San Mateo & San Francisco:

• Take 101 North across the Golden Gate Bridge.
• Take exit 450B Sir Francis Drake Blvd/San Anselmo.
• Continue on Sir Francis Drake Blvd for about 6 miles, passing through the town of Fairfax. The camp entrance is about 1.5 miles past Fairfax.
• Turn left at the ‘Henry Bothin Youth Center’ sign; reduce speed to 15 MPH.

From East Bay/Contra Costa:

• Take I-580 West across the Richmond-San Rafael Bridge.
• Take exit 2A Sir Francis Drake Blvd toward 101 South.
• Continue on Sir Francis Drake Blvd for about 10 miles, passing through the town of Fairfax. The camp entrance is about 1.5 miles past Fairfax.
• Turn left at the Henry Bothin Youth Center sign; reduce speed to 15 MPH.

Camp Arequipa is located just before Camp Bothin, one mile past Fairfax.

To receive approval for your trip/high adventure request (or in other words, for damage and accident liability to be covered by Girl Scouts, not by you or your volunteers individually), the following requirements must be met: 

All adults who are attending for Girl Scout ratio purposes will need current GSNorCal memberships and fingerprinting, and to have completed the following learning pathways in their gsLearn portals: 

1. Troop Chaperone/Helper OR Trip & Outdoor Advisor, including Mandated Reporter (every two years) 

1. Troop Driver (required if driving on this trip; however, we do recommend all chaperones take the training in case of last-minute change of plans or emergency that requires additional adults to drive scouts) 

Your First Aider (who does count as a chaperone for ratio purposes) is required to have the following trainings from the gsLearn portal IN ADDITION to current CPR/First Aid certification: 

1. Troop Chaperone/Helper OR Trip & Outdoor Advisor, including Mandated Reporter (every two years) 

1. Troop First Aider OR Event First Aider 

1. Troop Driver (required if driving on this trip; however, we do recommend all chaperones take the training in case of last-minute change of plans or emergency that requires additional adults to drive scouts) 

For all reservations: 

• Trip & Outdoor Advisor – required before you leave your regular meeting for any local field trip, day trip, high adventure activity, or longer travel experience. This pathway is also a prerequisite for all other Trip & Outdoor courses. 

For camping trips and overnights: 

• Camp Out – Required for all camping trips at a campground or other outdoor facilities without indoor plumbing and electricity. 

• Sleep In – Required before staying overnight for 1-2 nights in an indoor facility with indoor plumbing and electricity. 

• Sleep Out – Required before sleeping out for 1 night in a backyard or close to home in tents, cabins, yurts, or platform tents at GSNorCal properties with indoor plumbing and electricity available. 

• Campfire – Required before you have an outdoor campfire. 

• Cook Out – Required before youth cook simple meals outdoors such as no cook meals, one-pot meals, stick cooking, and solar cooking. 

• Regional Travel – Required before Juniors and older stay overnight 3- or 4-nights camping, backpacking, or staying indoors in a hotel, motel, hostel, or other approved facility. 

Please submit the trip/high adventure request no later than two weeks prior to the reservation.