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Hello Unalayee Friend,
Well, the Mosquito Lake Basin may be covered in snow (and hopefully will be for many more months), and as strange as it is to think of sunbathing at the lake while wearing your scarves and winter coats, it is in fact time to start getting ready for summer camp!
I spent the New Year’s holiday up at our Trinity Alps base camp and I’m happy to report that there is already a good layer of snow covering our basin. As those of you that live in California know, we still need a lot more rain to recover from the extreme drought we are in, but the good news is that we are in a much better place than we were last year at this time. Up at Camp we have already exceeded the total precipitation for the 2013-2014 weather year – and we still have six more months to go!
I’d like to invite you to check out the photos from our trip on Picasa. We have also been having fun comparing the snow levels from New Year’s 2014 and 2015 on Facebook.
Here is one of our recent comparisons: the Mosquito Lake outlet (2014 on the left, 2015 on the right).
Back in the Bay Area we are getting quite busy planning for this coming summer. Enrollment is in full swing, we’re taking applications for summer staff positions, and everyone is starting to gather all the equipment we need for the summer – including an upgrade to our vehicle fleet!
I’m looking forward to seeing you soon and counting the days till we are back together in our summer home.
Sincerely,
Sarah Camp
2015 Unalayee enrollment has begun! We’ve got kids signed up for all our sessions and more are coming in every day! Pay your fees in FULL by March 15th and receive $175 off with our Early Bird Special. Check out our rates and dates for Summer 2015 and then use the button below to sign-up for camp today!
Don’t forget about Family Days! Just like last year we’ll be doing two programs: a 4-night program where families will eat in “tribe” units – just like kids in our regular sessions do – immediately followed by a 2-night program where everyone has meals together. We’ve gotten some great feedback on how we can make both programs even better this year and can’t wait to put the new ideas into action! Use the button below to enroll today!
Reintroducing: Unalayee Urban Explorers!
Meet Unalayee in the Bay Area this Winter
Choosing the best summer camp experience for your child can be difficult. It often really helps to have your questions answered in person. Come meet a Camp Unalayee representative at one of these events, learn more about our programs, and have your overnight summer camp fears put to rest!
Last newsletter’s photo contest was a little different. Not many people actually knew when we became an independent non-profit.The answer: 1956And now for an easier one! Can you identify this lake even though it is partially covered in snow?
Be the first to e-mail us with the correct answer and we’ll send you a tote bag!
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In just 19 short days, 39 staff members, 18 radios with fresh batteries, 15 first aid kits, 6 boxes of t-shirts, 3 camp vehicles, 2 directors, and a myriad of other camp gear and food will be headed up to the Trinity Alps Wilderness to start Staff Training and kick off the 2014 summer season.
As we embark on Camp Unalayee’s 65th year of providing outdoor experiences to youth of all backgrounds, and our 55th year in our beloved Mosquito Lake basin we are ecstatic to report that we are looking at one of the most robust summers in years. All three of our camper sessions have been full since April 15th – including our 33 day Walkabout Program.
Over the last 54 years in our summer home we estimate that our campers and staff have traveled over 341,820 miles on foot! What we can’t seem to figure out – is how many single socks, that clothed those feet, didn’t make it home with their owners! We are so excited for your kids, grandkids, nieces, nephews, and friends to join us this summer and add another 9,260 miles and who knows how many socks to our count!
2014 is well under way, and that means summer camp starts in just a few short months! And, while Mosquito Lake may be frozen right now, we are busy busy at Unalayee signing kids up for camp, organizing our annual reunion for all our fantastic members and campers, and planning new, exciting things for the coming year!
We’re very much looking forward to connecting with you and your friends this winter or spring – whether it be at the reunion, a camp fair, or one of our many recruitment events. We’d also love to hear from you if you have ideas for Unalayee’s future, feedback about our programs, or want to reconnect with the community and get involved. Please drop us a line anytime – we’d love to chat!
Only 156 days till 1st session starts! Hope we see you before then!
Sarah Camp and Yve Susskind
Save the Date: Our Annual Spring Reunion
Enroll for Summer Camp and Save!
We also are extremely pleased to report that we have already raised 50% of our membership fundraising goal for the year – which means we are well on our way to ensuring we can provide camperships to 50% of our campers this year.
Not a member yet? It’s not too late! Click here to Donate and Become a Member Today! A contribution of any size makes a difference in child’s life.
Check with your employer to see if it offers a matching gift program that will match your gift to Camp Unalayee. If you aren’t sure how to find out if your employer has a matching program, e-mail friends@gocampu.com and we’ll help you find out!
Let’s do something totally different… People! How many of these campers, from 2001, have since been on staff at some point?
Bonus question: How many are members of the Board of Directors?
In honor of Earth Day GreatNonprofits is letting everyone know that Palo Alto has the most Top-Rated Environmentally oriented non-profits in California. And guess what? Yup, that’s right, Camp Unalayee is first on the list!
You can help us get on the Top-Rated list again this year by leaving us a Review on GreatNonprofits site!
Check out the press release:
GreatNonprofits Announces Palo Alto Has Most Top Rated Environmental Nonprofits in California
April 22, 2013, Redwood Shores, CA. GreatNonprofits today announced that Palo Alto, California has the most Top-Rated Environmental Nonprofits in the state, with four Top-Rated nonprofits. These nonprofits qualified for the status of Top-Rated based on user reviews submitted during 2012 on the greatnonprofits.org website.
“In celebration of Earth Day 2013 GreatNonprofits is focused on increasing the awareness of leading environmental nonprofits and the cities that host them. These nonprofits achieved Top-Rated status because their clients, donors and volunteers chose to review them and bestow a high rating. There are over 58,000 environmental nonprofits on our site and four of the Top-Rated are based in Palo Alto, California,” said Perla Ni, CEO of GreatNonprofits.
The Top-Rated Environmental Non Profits in Palo Alto, California are:
Camp Unalayee Association: “Camp Unalayee is a wonderful camp that introduces kids to the Wilderness. They bring kids to the mountains who have never walked anywhere there was not a sidewalk before. The provide generous financial assistance, so any child that wants to go can.” 2012 Review
ACTERRA: Action for a Healthy Planet: “I originally joined Acterra because it was an environmental organization with a very local focus and I could see the results of my volunteer efforts in my community. Acterra approaches its work with scientific integrity and a healthy dose of fun – my volunteer time always feels worthwhile.” 2012 Review
Sunwork Renewable Energy Projects: “Sunwork has contributed greatly to clean energy generation, training the green workforce, and spreading the word about improving energy efficiency as a prerequisite to installing solar PV. Staff and management are committed, educated, skilled, and passionate about the environment!” 2012 Review
Environmental Volunteers, Inc: “The EV organization is what every nonprofit should strive to be – effective, well-run, of highest integrity and a beloved pillar in the communities it serves. I’m always delighted to tell people about the EV’s and their tireless, critically important work in teaching kids about science, the environment and conservation — something they simply do not get otherwise in school.” 2012 Review
All nonprofit donors, sponsors, clients and volunteers are welcome to review their favorite nonprofits at www.greatnonprofits.org. GreatNonprofits is currently gathering reviews for our 2013 Top-Rated Award. Reviews are due by October 31, 2013 for your favorite nonprofit to be considered for a Top- Rated Award .
Cities with the most Top-Rated nonprofits include Tucson, Arizona; Palo Alto, California; Denver Colorado; Boston, Massachusetts; Washington, DC; Arlington, Virginia and Seattle, Washington.
About GreatNonprofits
Since its founding in 2007, GreatNonprofits has grown into the leading provider of reviews and ratings of nonprofit organizations throughout the U.S. Its review methodology takes into account the diversity of the nonprofit sector by hosting reviews of groups of all different shapes and sizes and types from the smallest grassroots groups operating on the local level, to the large regional, national and international organizations. This represents the largest database of first-person stories about nonprofit organizations ever assembled — over 140,000 reviews. These are stories submitted by clients, donors, volunteers and others who have experienced the impacts of nonprofit work up close. “GreatNonprofits focuses on helping people make great giving decisions through socially sourced feedback and reviews. Increasing the amount and quality of information available to donors will ultimately make giving easier, more effective and rewarding.”(Bill Gates, Gates Foundation). GreatNonprofits is a 501(c) (3) nonprofit organization itself, which is funded by foundations and individuals who believe that we provide a vital resource for nonprofits, volunteers and donors. www.greatnonprofits.org.
Media Contact: Jerri Barrett, 408-204-7229, jerri@greatnonprofits.org