What it is

CFMS Camp Paradise is a week-long residential lapidary and jewelry-arts workshop camp run by the California Federation of Mineralogical Societies, Inc. (CFMS) as its Earth Science Studies program. The official Camp Paradise page and 2026 registration PDF describe hands-on instruction at a rustic church-camp facility in Strawberry Valley / Plumas National Forest (near Clipper Mills), California — bunk rooms and cabins, communal bathrooms/showers, limited RV hookups, and room-and-board bundled with class access. Curriculum on the page and PDF includes Beginning / Intermediate / Advanced metalsmithing (silversmithing), Basic and Advanced Lapidary (including hard-stone carving), Casting (lost-wax), Intarsia, Wire Wrap, Enameling, Beading, Chain Maille, Cold Connections, Soft Stone Carving, Gem Trees / Ming Trees, and related media. It is not a jewelry retail storefront and not a local membership gem club with monthly meetings as its primary identity (though CFMS is a federation of societies).

Who it’s for

Adults and returning artisans who want immersive week-long Earth Science Studies sessions with lodging and meals included; beginners through advanced students of cabochons, hard/soft stone carving, silversmithing, casting, intarsia, wire, enamel, and related crafts; RV campers using the limited hookup spaces; and rockhounds connected to CFMS-affiliated clubs (club affiliation is collected on the registration form). The camp page notes: if you have your own tools and supplies, bring them (marked); careful use of instructors’ equipment is appreciated. Camp owners strictly prohibit alcohol, firearms, and pets.

Why it’s listed

This is a first-party lapidary workshop (week-long curriculum with room and board) with a printed LaPorte Road campus address, a published two-session 2026 calendar, official $600/week room-and-board pricing plus kit/materials fees, check-in rules, and a first-party fillable registration PDF on cfmsinc.org — not a scraped directory card and not Amazon / jewelry-mall retail.

Campus / contact framing (2026 registration PDF + Camp Paradise page — checked 2026-09-17): 12725 LaPorte Rd, Strawberry Valley, CA 95930. PDF: approximately 50 miles east of Marysville; elevation about 3,500 ft; rustic church camp; bunk beds in rooms and cabins; bathrooms and showers communal in each building; housekeeping is each guest’s responsibility; limited cabins for 6+ persons; limited RV spaces with hookups; room assignments by staff. Page framing: Camp Paradise is in the Plumas National Forest near Clipper Mills, California. Page banner checked today: “See you next year!” / registration closed after the 2026 sessions.
2026 sessions (registration PDF header — checked today): Session One: August 16–22, 2026; Session Two: August 23–28, 2026 (Session Two follows a revised schedule noted on the form). Check-in: noon–4:00 p.m. Sunday (Session 1: 8/16; Session 2: 8/23); no late check-ins without prior arrangement; Monday make-up check-in 7:00–8:00 a.m. if needed. Session 2 class time on 8/23 begins 6:00 p.m.
Cost (registration PDF — checked today): $600 per person / per week includes room and board. Classes have a kit and materials fee, typically $5–$25. Registration deadline printed: Saturday, August 1, 2026; no refunds for cancellations after that date. Applications accepted starting March 15, 2026. Payment options on PDF: Zeffy online ticketing or check payable to CFMS Earth Sciences mailed to the registrar’s Verdi, NV P.O. Box (no Lapidary Plaza contact or payment was made).
Sample class kit fees from the Camp Paradise page (checked today; instructors/fees may change year to year): Advanced Silversmithing lab fee $5 consumables; Intarsia materials fee $10; Soft Stone Carving tool kits $25; Advanced Lapidary / hard-stone carving kit fee approximately $25; Enameling materials fee $10; Chain Maille bracelet project $10 (additional bracelets $5; sterling at extra fee); Cold Connections kit $20; Wire Wrap sample cabs $5 each from instructor stock. Class catalog on PDF/page: Beginning, Intermediate & Advanced Metalsmithing; Lapidary; Casting; Beading; Enameling; Cold Connections; Intarsia; Gem Trees; Hard & Soft Stone Carving; Wire Wrapping; Chainmail.
Accommodation preferences on the 2026 form: Dorm (Couples / Women / Men), Cabin, or RV.

Session dates, $600 room-and-board, kit fee ranges, and check-in rules above are what the official CFMS Camp Paradise page and 2026 registration PDF showed on the check date. Future seasons’ calendars and prices change. Use the live Camp Paradise page and current-year CFMS registration PDF before treating any figure or seat as fixed.

Official URL

https://cfmsinc.org/camp-paradise/

CFMS home: https://cfmsinc.org/

2026 Camp Paradise Registration PDF (fillable): https://cfmsinc.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/CFMS-2026-Camp-Paradise-Registration-Fillable-2026-1.pdf

Location

CFMS Earth Science Studies — Camp Paradise — 12725 LaPorte Rd, Strawberry Valley, CA 95930 (Plumas National Forest / near Clipper Mills; ~50 miles east of Marysville per 2026 PDF). Week-long residential workshop campus with dorms/cabins, communal baths, and limited RV hookups.

This is a residential workshop / class camp address, not a jewelry retail counter and not a monthly gem-club meeting hall.

Notes

Category is Workshops. Week-long Earth Science Studies curriculum with on-site room and board and published session pricing. Not a Clubs local membership gem society (though hosted by the CFMS federation) and not a Suppliers equipment/rough shop.
2026 Session One Aug 16–22 / Session Two Aug 23–28, $600/week room+board, $5–$25 typical kit fees, Aug 1 registration deadline, and noon–4:00 p.m. Sunday check-in are transcribed from the official CFMS registration PDF and Camp Paradise page checked on 2026-09-17 and may change for future seasons. Page checked today already showed post-season “See you next year!” / registration closed.
First-party CFMS logo saved beside this listing as cfms-camp-paradise.png (from cfmsinc.org uploads cropped-cfmslogo-1.png).
Not affiliated with Lapidary Plaza.
No Lapidary Plaza contact, purchase, booking, or publication action was taken.

FAQ

Q: What does a week at Camp Paradise cost?
A: 2026 registration PDF (checked 2026-09-17): $600 per person per week includes room and board. Classes add a kit/materials fee, typically $5–$25. Confirm live rates and any instructor material fees on the current CFMS Camp Paradise page / registration PDF before registering for a future season.

Q: What subjects are taught?
A: Official Camp Paradise page and 2026 PDF list Beginning/Intermediate/Advanced metalsmithing, Basic and Advanced Lapidary (including hard-stone carving), casting, intarsia, wire wrap, enameling, beading, chain maille, cold connections, soft stone carving, gem trees, and related arts. Instructors and exact class rosters change by year — confirm the live Camp Paradise page.

Q: Is this a jewelry store or a local gem club?
A: No. Camp Paradise is listed here as Workshops — a week-long residential Earth Science Studies teaching camp with curriculum, lodging, and meals. It is not a retail jewelry shop and not a monthly membership club meeting as its primary identity. For club meetings, see Clubs; for equipment/rough mail-order, see Suppliers.