WOLF School Partners with Camp Arroyo to Bring Exciting Opportunities for Outdoor Environmental Education

LIVERMORE, CALIF. (PRWEB) MAY 30, 2019

Camp Arroyo, a facility of the East Bay Regional Park District, establishes new partnership with the Web of Life Field (WOLF) School and United Camps, Conferences & Retreats.

Beginning June 1, 2019, WOLF School (Web of Life Field School) will partner with Camp Arroyo to provide Bay Area students and teachers with even more excellent outdoor environmental education and STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Math) opportunities. WOLF School, a well-known outdoor school where classroom teachers take their students to experience the wonders of Science Camp and hands-on learning, is celebrating 30 years of delivering high quality science camp programs to youth. In addition, WOLF School is beginning a new partnership with Camp Arroyo, part of the East Bay Regional Park District located in Livermore, CA. 

For the last 30 years WOLF School has provided engaging outdoor education experiences to over 4,000 K-12 students and teachers each year at overnight science camps in the California redwoods, near the beach, and in the Sierras. This new partnership will allow WOLF School to continue building Camp Arroyo's traditions as well as reaching more students to fulfill their mission of "building respect, appreciation, and stewardship within the web of life." 

“We are looking forward to working with the staff at Camp Arroyo to continue to deliver high quality programs to their students,” said WOLF School Associate Director Desiree Gant. Gant continues, "We've enjoyed working with Camp Arroyo staff in our professional organization, AEOE [California Association for Environmental and Outdoor Education], and we are super excited to work with Camp Arroyo's students and teachers!" 

WOLF School believes in the transformative power of outdoor experiences and is committed to designing programs that connect youth with nature, empower individuals, and strengthen communities. Through lessons and activities that make learning fun, WOLF School gives teachers the opportunity to enhance classroom curriculum and gives students that chance to gain knowledge, awareness, and respect for their environmental, their community, and themselves. 

From visiting the garden and tasting organic vegetables, to studying aquatic invertebrates at the creek, to participating in the legendary Cresta Blanca hike and learning about California’s early peoples, there is a lot to explore, discover, and learn at WOLF School Camp Arroyo. WOLF School is looking forward to supporting classroom teachers through this new connection and making life-changing experiences at camp for students in Livermore, CA and the San Francisco East Bay Area.

To find out more about coming to WOLF School at Camp Arroyo contact Desiree Gant at (831) 684-0148 or visit wolfschool.org 

WOLF School is the outdoor environmental education program of UCCR—United Camps, Conferences & Retreats. UCCR begins management of Camp Arroyo on June 1, 2019.

Camp & Retreat Center in S. California Celebrates Diversity

OAK GLEN, Calif. (PRWEB) April 30, 2019

Pilgrim Pines Camp & Retreat Center, owned by the United Church of Christ Southern California-Nevada Conference is intentional about welcoming a wide variety of diverse nonprofit organizations.

Pilgrim Pines Camp & Retreat Center located in Oak Glen, California hosts groups of 10-262 people on its 152 acre campus. The site is home to many groups who rent lodging and enjoy meal service in a beautiful outdoor setting.

Pilgrim Pines Camp & Retreat Center is managed by United Camps, Conferences & Retreats (UCCR), a property management organization that promotes acceptance and diversity at all of the 12 sites they manage across the USA. The rules for acceptance and participation are the same for everyone who makes a reservation for an event or retreat. “We honor diversity and welcome guests without regard to age, race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, disability or national origin,” says Tina Heck, Director of UCCR Reservations and Communications.

“We want to extend our invitation to the community and let them know we welcome all types of groups here at Pilgrim Pines Camp,” says Site Director Connie Clark. As a full-service camp and retreat facility, Pilgrim Pines has multiple lodging options from lodges to cabins to apartments. The dining hall seats 225 guests and there are plenty of indoor and outdoor meeting spaces for groups to meet. Occasionally the facility offers special discounts, Clark recommends staying tuned for upcoming announcements for fall and winter specials in 2020.

With miles of hiking trails and plenty of recreational opportunities, this site is a serene setting ideal for youth, adult and family camps. Look for fall/winter specials.

California Camp Perseveres After 1960 Forest Fire to Celebrate 60 Years of Residential Experience

The Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) in Northern California-Nevada celebrates the Community of the Great Commission's 60th anniversary at region's Annual Gathering

MICHIGAN BLUFF, CALIF. (PRWEB) APRIL 30, 2019

The Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) of Northern California- Nevada recently held their Annual Gathering in Sunnyvale, CA. A time of celebration included a cake for the 60th birthday of their camp and retreat center, The Community of the Great Commission.

In 1959, John Holland and Josh Wilson, ministers with the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) in Northern California-Nevada, began to search the California foothills for land to develop a camp for youth and adults to enjoy the great outdoors and participate in the unique aspects of residential camp and conference experiences.

They found a property located in Michigan Bluff, near Foresthill, CA, in the California Gold Country, at an elevation of 4000’. After negotiations with the land owner, the members of the Christian Church Region voted to purchase the land.

Even as they began development, in August 1960, almost exactly one year after the purchase of the camp property, a devastating forest fire swept through the foothills of Foresthill and severely damaged the camp forest. Nearly 80% of the trees were a loss and in some areas, the ash was 2 feet deep.

Nonetheless, the people of the region persevered and began building in earnest. In 1963, the retreat house, known as Claar House, which was named after Adelaide Claar, a laywoman from the San Jose Christian Church who made a sizeable donation, was begun. This building served as the indoor kitchen and dining area for more than 30 years until a larger, more commercial style dining hall was built in the late 1990’s.

In 1965 and 1966, respectively, eight cabins and a lodge were built, giving groups an indoor meeting area and sleeping quarters. Since then, many amenities have been added such as a swimming pool, amphitheater, and a variety of recreation areas.

The impact of these camp and conference centers that were built across the United States by church denominations in the 40’s, 50’s, and 60’s have had an everlasting impact on those who participated in this center of teaching, learning, and relaxing in a natural setting, set apart from the daily grind and technologies of life “down the mountain.”

Sixty years have passed since John Holland took church members up an old logging road to explore this forest on the ridge. American life has changed significantly with a much faster paced life than might have been imagined in 1959. Perhaps now more than ever, camps such as these offer modern people an opportunity to unplug and experience a simpler surrounding.

The Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) of Northern California- Nevada recently held their Annual Gathering in Sunnyvale, CA and celebrated the 60th birthday of their camp and retreat center, The Community of the Great Commission, with a cake.

The Community of the Great Commission is managed by United Camps, Conferences and Retreat, a camp and retreat management cooperative.

"On behalf of United Camps, Conferences and Retreats, we congratulate the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) on the 60th Anniversary of their beautiful camp and all of the people that have had wonderful experiences there," writes Mike Carr, President of United Camps, Conferences, and Retreats.

Unique Crystal Lake Lodging in Frankfort, MI Makes Family Summer Vacations and Reunions Memorable

Crystal Conference Center announces a new variation on vacationing for summer travelers. The popular site is now open for reservations for summer 2019.

While Crystal Conference Center hosts groups in the many lodges and dorm options, the Missions House is a charming option for family get-togethers. Missions House sleeps up to 13 guests and offers a full kitchen for guests to have the option of cooking their own meals. Crystal Conference Center is the perfect place to host a summer family reunion at the perfect time of year 

We offer a unique blend of event space, overnight lodging and retreat space for groups of all types.

This site offers lodges & dorms that can accommodate larger groups such as schools, churches, youth events, and family reunions. One of the lodges named Cedar Lodge has four large bedrooms and sleeps 4-8 guests, two bathrooms, a common area, and a kitchenette.

Oaks Lodge is our newest building and accommodates up to 10 guests and features a common living area & bathrooms.

With three separate dormitories aptly named Beeches, Pines and Birches, each are available to book individually or as a unit. Beeches has four dorms, which sleeps 10 guests each; Pines offers a set of five dorms, each sleeping 6-8 guests, and Birches sleeps 6-8 in each of its five dorms.

Guests can do their own cooking in our commercial kitchen or enjoy the delicious meal service provided by our staff. 

Site Director, Eric Strommer shares, “What better place to have a family vacation? Being right on Crystal Lake gives such a peaceful and enjoyable stay. Imagine waking up and seeing the lake right there. It is so easy to want to rest and relax at Crystal Conference all day but we are close to so many wonderful natural and cultural attractions for day trips. Crystal Conference Center is just about close to perfection.”

Right now is the perfect time to book a summer get away at Crystal Lake. The camp & conference center is situated on the shores of Crystal Lake in Michigan. Guests enjoy the benefits of the private beach, with tennis courts, basketball, volleyball, disk golf, horseshoes and a nature trail. As always the staff is happy to provide information on local happenings to guests.

To book at Crystal Conference Center, call 800-678-5102 or visit the website for more information.

Crystal Conference Center is managed by United Camps, Conferences & Retreats (UCCR), a camp and retreat management non-profit cooperative organization with 14 locations across the United States.