Upcoming Events

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Save the Dates! We have a few events in the calendar and we’d like for you to join us and bring your Camp Spirit to Berkeley:

Friday Night Campfire sing-a-along in Berkeley:
August 22nd, 5:30-8:00pm 
Codornices Park, Berkeley

Memorial Campfire featuring Janet Sowers and Rec Staff Alumni
Adult Social Hour + Children’s Hour
 
Join Friends of Berkeley Tuolumne Camp, former staff members, and other campers for a special evening commemoration/celebration at beautiful Codornices Park. We will start with an Adult Social Hour from 5:30-7:00 (with Children’s Hour happening simultaneously, of course) and then will enjoy our traditional Friday Campfire from 7:00 to 8:00 or so. Janet, Phil, and other old-timers will lead us in singing all the classics, as we roast marshmallows and keep the Camp Spirit alive.

Because of limited space, you must register to attend this event. Please visit https://www.eventbrite.com/e/btc-memorial-campfire-tickets-12364343083. The password is ‘Beaverhead’.

Candlelight Vigil marking the 1-year anniversary of the fire at Camp
August 25th, 8:00-9:00pm
Martin Luther King Jr. (Provo) Park
Join FOBTC, friends and family to remember and mourn the loss of our camp, but to also find solace in our community, and in the Tuolumne Spirit, as we continue on the path towards rebuilding Camp. Please bring a candle and a friend.

The First Fundraiser: a Golf Tournament and Dinner at Tilden Park!

Fri Sept 5th Tilden Park $150 includes golf and dinner
or just join us for dinner (only $25)

Raffle tickets are available at Camp this summer, or by emailing JimWhitty@comcast.net

Prizes include vacation get-a-ways, expensive wine, an authentic green, adirondack camp chair and more!

Email Jim at JimWhitty@comcast.net for more details or if you are interested in helping or donating.

Action Needed! Save the trees

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** The deadline has passed. A big THANK YOU to all our campers and supporters who took the time to send letters to the USFS. We will keep you updated as we hear more and can determine what must happen next to preserve what we can of BTC and build back what was lost. **

Alert to all Friends of Berkeley Tuolumne Camp: FOBTC board members have been following the US Forest Services Rim Fire Recovery Project and its effect on our beloved BTC and the entire RIm Fire area. We are very concerned that their approach may be to clear-cut much of camp more indiscriminately than we feel is necessary. The deadline to submit letters to the US Forest Service on this issue is THIS coming Saturday, June 14. Please use this boilerplate letter attached to write to them (either email or paper letter) or else use the talking points within the boilerplate letter to write something more in your own words or style. Remember, the deadline to submit letters to the US Forest Service on this issue is THIS coming Saturday, June 14. We need to keep as many trees standing as possible- please help.

 

Draft text for letter to USFS – please copy the text and send it in, then send it along to all your friends and family!

Please send this to:

Postal address: Stanislaus National Forest, Attn: Rim Recovery,  19777 Greenley Road,  Sonora, CA 95370

Or email to: comments-pacificsouthwest-stanislaus@fs.fed.us  Subject: Rim Recovery

 

To the U.S. Forest Service:

As a Berkeley Tuolumne Camper I have been visiting the Stanislaus National Forest for _________ years. Each summer, our family spends many sunny days on the South Fork Tuolumne seeing old friends, hiking, enjoying camp traditions, __________, ___________. Like thousands of other Tuolumne Campers around the U.S. we were devastated by the loss of one of our favorite places in the world in the 2013 Rim Fire.

I am hopeful that we will one day return to a rebuilt camp, and I am encouraged by all the hard work the Forest Service is doing to restore the forest and improve recreation access.

There are a few points in the proposed Rim Fire Recovery Project Draft Environmental Impact Statement that I hope the Forest Service will emphasize in its decision:

1) Recreational Values: At Berkeley Tuolumne Camp in particular, salvage logging can improve fire safety but must also balance the need for recreation experiences and traditions. Since it is just a 14.5 acre site, I hope you’ll develop a “Special Treatment Prescription” that considers the recreational needs in this high-use area. I urge the Forest Service to work with the City of Berkeley, Tuolumne River Trust, and the Friends of Berkeley Tuolumne Camp to plan safe, recreation-appropriate, and science-based salvage logging operations along the South Fork Tuolumne and other developed recreation sites. Berkeley Camp has a rich 91-year history and brought thousands of people into the Stanislaus National Forest each summer, supporting the USFS recreation goals. While there are many hazard and damaged trees that must come down, there are also some trees with only moderate or light burn damage, some that are recommended for monitoring, and some that were unharmed. With a “Special Treatment Prescription” we hope that the Forest Service will leave as many trees standing as possible. Since reconstruction is several years off, access to the camp can be restricted, reducing the hazard which burned trees might pose while allowing time for those that might recover.

2) Wildlife habitat: In the South Fork Tuolumne canyon, and the Stanislaus National Forest as a whole, USFS should provide much greater consideration to the at-risk, snag dependent wildlife. The means to do this is to adopt a modified version of Alternative Four by reducing the number of trees cut and leaving more snags in place. Spotted Owls and Northern Goshawks have been seen at Berkeley Tuolumne Camp, and we would like the Forest Service to protect this vital habitat.

As a longtime camper, hiker, ____________, _____________ in the Stanislaus National Forest, it is important to me that the salvage logging operations in the Rim Fire do not have negative impacts on critical wildlife habitat, and that the unique recreational values and traditions of the Berkeley Tuolumne Camp special-use permit area are taken into consideration. I support salvage logging in the Rim Fire Area, but only if balanced with habitat protection and recreational needs of National Forest visitors. Thank you for all of your hard work since the Rim Fire in helping our National Forest recover, and thank you for inviting public comment on this very important project.

Sincerely,

Tuolumne River Trust Event

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From the TRT, our partner in preserving the Tuolumne River and restoring the forest from Rim Fire damage:

The Tuolumne River needs us today more than ever. The drought is putting tremendous pressure on government agencies to relax protections for water quality and endangered species.  We need to make sure our hard-won victories are preserved.

Last fall, 97% of the Rim Fire burned through the Tuolumne River watershed.  We need to make sure the Recovery Plan places an equal value on ecosystem restoration as it does on salvage logging.  An Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) will be released in the next few weeks, and the Tuolumne River Trust (TRT) will be heavily engaged in making sure it’s based on sound science.

Water conservation, efficiency and recycled water are key to balancing the needs of humans with those of other species that depend on the Tuolumne. In the San Francisco Public Utilities Commission (SFPUC) service territory, where 2.6 million people depend on the Tuolumne, we have reduced water consumption by 15% over the past seven years.  This has created a healthy buffer against the drought, and serves as a good example to others.  We must continue to use our precious water more efficiently.

I’m proud to work for the Tuolumne River Trust, which I believe is one of the most effective environmental groups in the region. Our strength comes from people like you!  Please help us continue to be as effective as possible by joining me on the river for a day or two of paddling, sponsoring my paddle or volunteering for a riverside event.

Many thanks!
Patrick Koepele
TRT Executive Director

http://www.paddletothesea.org/paddle/register.asp

The Event at Freight and Salvage

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Tuolumne Spirit gathering at Freight and Salvage on Monday, April 28, 2014

Scott Gelfand and the Events committee of FOBTC organized an information/Table Night event at the Freight and Salvage in Berkeley. Over 350 tickets were purchased and an excited group of campers arrived to see traditional Table Night skits and to hear about the City of Berkeley’s progress on rebuilding Berkeley Tuolumne Camp.

The highlight of the evening was a short speech by Berkeley mayor Tom Bates announcing that the City was committed to rebuilding Camp, despite many known and unknown hurtles. The mayor received a standing ovation for his pledge. In addition, the mayor presented a plaque from FOBTC to Mike McEneany for his historic efforts to save Camp back in the early 1980’s when it was threatened by a dam project. Mike also was instrumental as a found member of the Tuolumne River Trust who successfully gained a “Wild and Scenic” Federal declaration for the main stem of the Tuolumne River.

Patrick Koepple, Executive Director of the Tuolumne River Trust spoke for 15 minutes on the efforts of his organization after the devastation of the Rim fire to the Tuolumne watershed. One of his most poignant comments was that only 16% of the Tuolumne River water flow was dedicated to fish and wildlife.

The final speaker of the evening was Scott Ferris, Director of Parks & Waterfront for the City of Berkeley. Scott informed the crowd of his many efforts to get Camp cleaned up and his negotiations so far with the City’s insurance carriers, FEMA and the US Forest Service, from whom the City leases the Camp. Many questions remain but Scott continues to be hopeful that BTC may one day be rebuilt. He cautioned that the process would be slow and could easily take up to four years to complete. In the meantime, he encouraged all the BTC campers to take advantage of the City’s Echo Lake Camp as they have opened three weeks of their season to Family Camp.

It was an enjoyable evening with Table night and skits interspersed between speakers and with the excellent MC talent of Scott Gelfand, the creator, along with Board President Steve Geahry, of the many Saturday night Staff shows.

Many thanks to The Tamsen Donner Blues Band who greeted the guests as they arrived with their tunes; Katie Whitty, Patricia and their staff helpers who handled sales; Lisa Bullwinkle and Beth and Rose Gelfand for managing the box office; and the amazing talent of the night, Finn the Magnificent & Miss Direction; Ava Killbourn’s amazing essay on the Rim Fire and Camp; Aaron Bendich who is competing in the World-Championships in Yo Yo Talent, Amy Schaffer with Suzanne Praetzel singing Fields of Gold, and Sophie and Felix Sparling singing and strumming “The Old Man of the Mountain”! What a talented camp we have!

Welcome to our new website!

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Welcome to our new website!

As we move into the new era of camp and re-building, FOBTC has decided to also re-build its website. It’s time: we need a new and better way to stay connected and are hearing that you need a new way to get all the current information about Berkeley Family Camp, current and future, as well as a way to stay connected to the past. Read more →

New Board Members and Executive Committee

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On April 10, 2014 the Board of FOBTC welcomed new members Scott Gelfand and Richard Sheng. David Newell and Chris Ahlstrand, long time Board members, are both becoming Board Members Emeritus. New Board President, Steve Geahry, is excited to be leading the new team into this new era of “re-building BTC” in the tradition of the founders of FOBTC.

When the organization was founded, it was in response the threat of flooding the area for a new dam/reservoir. Joining forces with other organizations, FOBTC was a strong advocate for the area that was preserved from flooding. As wee continue to be a voice for campers, our efforts now are focused on the the camper experience at the temporary family camp at Echo Lake and the re-build of the site in Tuolumne.

The 2014 Board of Directors for FOBTC is excited to be working together as well as with other organizations and the City of Berkeley in this time of transition, planning and building the new future of Camp.

The Ahwahnee Staff Dinner

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The Ahwahnee Dinner

Every year, camper donations and FOBTC send the staffers for an end of the season celebratory dinner at the Ahwahnee Hotel in Yosemite. This year’s staff did not have the opportunity to go to the Ahwahnee but we wanted them to have a special dinner, not only for their own enjoyment but as a thank you for their hard work and efforts during those last days and minutes at BTC.

This year the staff dinner was at the Brazilian Room in Tilden Park. About 20 alumni staff showed up at the beginning of the evening to present the 2013 staff with a commemorative plaque and offer their heartfelt thanks. The evening included dinner and dancing and ended with a closing circle.

Many thanks to our camper volunteer, Katie Whitty, for the planning, time and energy she put into making this an exceptional event.

We also want to acknowledge and thank Campers & Friends who assisted in making this night happen.

 

Donations were made by:
Flowerland – Forest of trees
Lisa Kirkby- Desserts
Lisa and Rick Kirkby- Acme Bread
Ceci Bowman-Tuolumne cards
Valerie Kratzer- luminarias

Set up crew and creative team:

Katie Whitty, Jason
Mike Frauenfelder and Tricia O’Regan
Michael Baum and Tim Veness
Locke Jaeger

The caterers, Serves You Right Catering, were fantastic and we appreciate all of their hard work and great food.

David Maldonado rocked the house as DJ!

FOBTC greatly appreciates your help and vision to make the “Ahwahnee” night a memorable one.  The 2013 Staff raved about it and cheered us in song as we wrapped up the dinner.