San Diego, CA

Kona Kai Resort
Sunday, April 13 - Thursday, April 17, 2025

California Dreaming! Let’s go!

Are you ready for some fresh air and sunshine? Join us for a beach getaway at Kona Kai San Diego Resort in San Diego, California! Escape to a waterfront paradise surrounded and enjoy the beauty of the San Diego marina!

Experience the fabled southern California vibe at THE San Diego waterfront resort

Sun, surf, and sea are the core of the California-contemporary hotel at one end of Shelter Island. With a family pool, a private beach over looking the marina and so much more, there is always something to uncover at Kona Kai San Diego.

WHAT TO KNOW

where

Kona Kai San Diego Resort

Address: 1551 Shelter Island Drive, San Diego, CA 92106

ARRIVAL/DEPARTURE

Volunteer arrival time: Between 1pm - 2pm

Volunteers arrive the Same day as our guest families. We will have volunteer training, prepare for camp, and have an opportunity to get to know one another during the pre-camp gathering/Zoom and at team training when you arrive!

Volunteer departure time: 9:30am EST

COST

Adult volunteers: TBD

(There is a non-refundable application fee of $50/application to cover the cost of the background check.)

Students: TBD

Support is due one week before camp.

Your support helps make it possible for our guest families to come to camp at no cost. Our goal is to bring down the cost of camp for volunteers. Costs continue to rise, but we are doing all we can to hold and hopefully decrease the volunteer expense. If you need help with funding, don't hesitate to contact us. We also have a limited number of partial scholarships available.

We ask volunteers to use the Blue Skies online personalized giving campaign (Givebutter). Our staff will send you super quick and easy instructions for you to create your personal page. When volunteers self-fund their trip, we ask that they reach out to their friends and family through social media, calls, letters, etc. allowing others to know about their trip to Blue Skies so they can pray, learn about Blue Skies, and have the opportunity to give directly to send a child with cancer and their family to camp. So many people are unable to serve at camp yet want to help and are glad to support others who can serve in their place!

Projected camp schedule

MONDAY:

  • 4pm Guest family check-in and camp welcome

  • 6pm SPLISH SPLASH BLUE BASH POOL PARTY and picnic

  • 8pm MILK & COOKIES

  • 9pm Volunteer Gathering

Tuesday:

  • 8:15am Volunteer Gathering

  • 9am Good Morning Blue Skies!

  • 10am Kindred Journeys (Parent Group); all children and volunteers pool and game area (We ask each parent to join us for our first Kindred Journeys session as they introduce themselves and begin sharing their stories.)

  • 12pm Picnic lunch pick up

  • BEACH TIME/POOL TIME Enjoy time with our guests!

  • 6pm Pizza party

  • LOL Show

  • 8pm MILK & COOKIES

  • 9pm Volunteer Gathering

Wednesday:

  • 8:15am Volunteer Gathering

  • 9am Good Morning Blue Skies!

  • 10am Kindred Journeys (Parent Group); all children and volunteers pool and game area

  • 12pm Picnic lunch pick up

  • BEACH TIME/POOL TIME Enjoy time with our guests!

  • 6pm Beachfront Luau/Award Ceremony

  • 8pm MILK & COOKIES

  • 9pm Volunteer Gathering

Thursday:

  • CHECK OUT 10am

your role

Get ready for a week packed with fun mixed with relaxation combined with meeting so many new friends! We will have worship, teachings, and time in the great outdoors. We’ll spend time connecting with our team and the families we are serving to share with one another the hope and joy Jesus brings.

meals

Most meals will be provided for those staying on-site.

housing

Volunteers and guests will stay in rooms at Kona Kai San Diego Resort. Your room assignments will be given at check-in.

Each volunteer family will share a hotel room. (That means mom, dad, and the kiddos are sharing a room together - that might be the greatest challenge at camp but also one of the greatest rewards and fondest memories you'll make as a family). There is great peace and blessing when we sacrifice for the good and benefit of others for His namesake.

travel

The closest airport to Kona Kai is the San Diego airport (which is only 3 miles away).

what to pack

You won’t need much! Pack casual clothes, bathing suits, flip-flops, and your toiletries. Remember to bring all of your family's routine medications like Advil, Tylenol, bandaids, etc. along with any prescription medications, medical supplies, equipment and swim diapers if you have little ones. We are having a Splish Splash Blue Bash pool party on Monday night - bring a blue bathing suit if you have one! On Wednesday night, we are having a beachfront Luau if you would like to bring something festive to wear or luau accessories (leis, hula skirts, etc.).

The resort will provide:

  • Beach towels

  • Beach chairs and umbrellas (available first come basis)

guidelines

Please review our guidelines for volunteering at camp by clicking HERE. We ask all volunteers to abide by these guidelines to ensure we all have an incredible week together!

podcast

Click here to hear Melinda’s heart behind the ministry and the hope Blue Skies brought to the Dryden family as they join Christy Nockels on her podcast!

2025 volunteer manual

Click here to view our volunteer manual with lots of helpful information!

Guest family welcome letter

Click here to read a welcome from Melinda to our guest families to learn more about Blue Skies!

additional info

This will be our inaugural beach camp at Kona Kai Resort!

Cancellation Policy

If for some reason you are unable to attend once your application has been accepted, you are required to raise/give the full amount of volunteer support due to find another volunteer/volunteer family (approved) to take your spot.