Nature Walk Through Monte Toyon

The slowness at Monte Toyon allows for a nature walk through camp when normally times are too busy to see the beautiful splendor. We caught this busy bee at work pollinating this gorgeous bloom. The Albino Redwood and cave tree never disappoints and reminds us that time stands still when we stand in wonder at how long this tree has stood still and seen the world through many revisions.

Premier K-12th Grade Outdoor Education Program Expands Training on Diversity, Equity, and Social Justice in Education

United Camps, Conferences & Retreats Premier Outdoor Education Program, WOLF School, Leads the Way into its 30th Year of Environmental Education.

APTOS, CALIF. (PRWEB) NOVEMBER 28, 2019

WOLF School is celebrating 30 years of leading Outdoor Science School programs for students and their teachers with a renewed focus on Leadership. WOLF School, formally known as the United Camps, Conferences & Retreats (UCCR) Web of Life Field (WOLF) School, is a residential outdoor environmental education school serving K-12th grade. Both teachers and students engage in WOLF’s dynamic programs at our outdoor classrooms in the redwoods, and across California at UCCR managed camp, conference and retreat facilities. 

This school year, WOLF School educators are focusing on leadership and professional development in order to increase their knowledge of scientific concepts taught during WOLF programs, and to learn how to better create equitable access for all. “We are making it a priority to learn best practices for creating positive social learning opportunities for our students.” says WOLF School Director Heather Butler. WOLF’s staff continue to pursue a variety of trainings and incorporate these seeds of leadership into their teaching and program to benefit all who attend WOLF. This school year: 

• WOLF School Associate Director Desiree Gant currently participates in an 8 month Inside Education Program sponsored by the Santa Cruz County Office of Education that will result in her being able to help WOLF educators better understand the different schools and students that WOLF serves. 

• WOLF Educator Halli Boman recently attended Project Aquatic Wild, a nationally-recognized workshop focused on planning and delivery of hands-on activities on aquatic species and habitats and will present a workshop based on these activities for fellow educators in January.  

• WOLF Lead Naturalist, Tyler Feld, attended the 2019 LGBTQ Outdoor Summit in October where he learned methods to improve equity and representation of the LGBTQ community in outdoor settings. Tyler brought his new knowledge to WOLF’s November staff training and shared new ways to help make WOLF School more welcoming to LGBTQ students, staff, and teachers. 

• WOLF School Staff also attended events on Diversity, Equity, and Social Justice in Education, and Marine Biology and Sustainability. Butler also attended a California State Parks Foundation “Pathways to Parks” Conference that addresses ways to help California’s youth increase their health and get access to parks and the outdoors. 

WOLF School staff meet monthly to share their experiences at their leadership workshops and work together to improve the program, teaching practices, and the WOLF School community. WOLF School’s goal is to help children enjoy and engage with science and the outdoors through hands-on activities. WOLF School’s Mission is to build respect, appreciation and stewardship within the web of life. WOLF School is a program of UCCR, a nonprofit facility, program, and management organization. 

For information or to attend one of WOLF Schools programs in STEM/science, history, or teambuilding, contact us at WOLFSchool.org. For information about UCCR please visit UCCR.org

United Camps, Conferences & Retreats (UCCR) Celebrates 28 Years of Hosting California Coast Music Camp (CCMC)

UCCR and CCMC acknowledges long term partnership for music camp in the foothills of California

PETALUMA, CALIF. (PRWEB) JULY 31, 2019

In 1992, the California Coast Music Camp (CCMC) began a partnership with United Camps, Conefrences & Retreats (UCCR) that continues today. The music camp, which welcomes up to 125 musicians for 2 weeks each summer at a UCCR camp facility, began their California camps in 1992 at Monte Toyon in Aptos. After a few years they moved to Camp Gualala, a camp that was managed by UCCR at the time, for 16 years. When Camp Gualala was sold, the musicians moved to the Community of the Great Commission, a UCCR camp in the Sierra foothills. 

Janet Peterson, who directs many music camps each year throughout the west, says, “My favorite thing is watching people discover their creativity, to take the time for themselves to actually do it. It’s great to come to a site where people take care of you. You can spend time with yourself. Will people really enjoy making music? Will they feel good about themselves? Absolutely!” 

The camp has a staff of teachers and assistants numbering about 40 plus 85 students each week. Classes happen throughout the day. Evenings are for special events such as teacher and student concerts and a dance. Staff arrive a few days early to set up the many screen tents and chairs for outdoor classrooms around the large camp. Participants can take a break from classes by taking a walk through the forest or enjoying a swim in the pool. 

“The camp experience is powerful… We spend so much time in isolation, behind our computers and such. We used to spend way more time in social community. What we’ve got here is that you feel someone cares about you,” continues Peterson. 

The CCMC music camp attracts a variety of musicians which include violinists, guitarists, celloists, banjo and ukulele players and more. The skill level is from beginners to advanced, so there are opportunities for everyone. 

The partnership between CCMC and UCCR is significant due to the longevity of the relationship. “Camp programs like CCMC are exactly the kind of groups UCCR enjoys long-term relationships with. The benefits for the sites and the participants alike embody real mutuality. They really are able to utilize the site and enjoy the wonders and peacefulness of the outdoors,” says Tina Heck, UCCR Director of Reservations and Communications. 

“We look forward to many more years of hearing the music through the trees from CCMC musicians. We would love to have more music camps like this at our other sites across the country. All of our camps and retreats are really ideal settings for gatherings like this,” continues Heck. 

Music camp coordinators can call UCCR directly at 800-678-5102 to explore opportunities for UCCR to host your next musicians gathering, workshop, or camp experience. 

UCCR, a non-profit cooperative formed in 1970, manages 13 camps, conference and retreat centers throughout the United States. For a list of all facilities available to rent visit UCCR.org

United Camps, Conferences & Retreats (UCCR) Recoginizes Grandparent Camps Encourage Adults and Children to Spend Time Together in Nature

With a growing number of programs offered around the country for Grandparents and Grandchildren, organized camps are seeing more young and old spending time together.

PETALUMA, CALIF. (PRWEB) JULY 31, 2019

United Camps, Conferences & Retreats (UCCR) encourages and supports innovative programs to get adults and children to spend time together in nature. With a growing number of programs offered around the country for Grandparents and Grandchildren, organized camps are seeing more young and old spending time together. 

These programs offer a variety of programs with different types of activities planned. Many camps and retreats can be found through local churches and regional denominations. With connectivity in this digital age, many who lived prior to the internet are seeing the need to get kids disconnected from their screens to spend time just being together with each other in a natural setting. 

Some programs offer a spiritual component while others focus on traditional camp and outdoor activities. Many programs offered around the United States last two to three days and may include visiting neighboring attractions. 

UCCR is an active member of the American Camp Association (ACA). ACA also promotes Grand Camp as a great option for families. ACA offers a great list of helpful to Grandparents planning on attending camp with their grandkids. "As baby boomers reach retirement age,the need for these kinds of opportunities for families is increasing. It is estimated that there will be be 70 million Americans in the elderly age group by the year 2030," say UCCR Director of Reservations & Communications Tina Heck.

United Camps, Conferences & Retreats manages 13 facilities throughout the US, many which are available for small groups to rent all types of accommodations from simple cabins to lodges. UCCR also offers meal service or guests can rent their own kitchen to make their own meals at some facilities. 

Visit UCCR at http://www.UCCR.org