FOBTC awarded UC Chancellor’s Grant to bring Berkeley youth to Camp!

Great news campers!
The Friends of Berkeley Tuolumne Camp has been awarded a $20,000 grant from The University of California Chancellor’s Office for the summer of 2019!

The grant has 3 objectives:
1. Provide more Outdoor Engagement opportunities for Berkeley youth who don’t know about Camp or cannot afford to attend camp as campers.

2. Open up teen CIT opportunities to Berkeley teens who cannot afford the program to create more diversity in the staff of the future and have them come from different parts of Berkeley.

3. Fund UC Berkeley students to come to The Rim Fire Recovery Zone and area surrounding Camp Tuolumne to plant trees next March, paying for their weekend expenses and involving them in the replanting efforts with the Forest Service, and with the future of Camp Tuolumne.

How we will accomplish these objectives:
A. We will be working with Berkeley schools and City staff to promote their programs to a wider audience of Berkeley youth, and provide 100% scholarships for more youth and teens to experience a week at Camp next summer!

B. We have partnered with The California Coalition of Outdoor Engagement at UC Berkeley to bring Cal students to the Stanislaus National Forest next Spring!

Thank you to the UC Chancellor’s Office for this opportunity for Berkeley youth to have more Outdoor Engagement!

Camp Tuolumne in the movies!

Following the Rim Fire tragedy of 2013, two local documentary filmmakers have been tracking Mega-Fires and the change of our landscapes due to climate change. They wanted to tell the story of Camp Tuolumne as the biggest human loss in the Rim Fire, and interviewed FOBTC Executive Director Scott Gelfand for their documentary at camp.
The Berkeley premiere is next Monday. Come join us for this powerful story.
Wilder than Wild: Fire, Forests, and the Future will be screening Monday, May 21, at 7pm at the Brower Center Theatre in Berkeley followed by a discussion and Q & A with Berkeley City Councilmember Kate Harrison, UC Berkeley fire scientist Scott Stephens, Firefighter Mike Shuken, and filmmakers Kevin White and Stephen Most.
Four years in the making, this one-hour documentary reveals how fuel build-up and climate change have exposed Western forests and wildland-urban landscapes to large, high intensity wildfires – and explores strategies to mitigate the impact of these fires.
Tickets are selling fast ($15). All proceeds will go towards the outreach and distribution of the film.
The Brower Center is at 2150 Allston Way, Berkeley – Directions
For more information on Wilder than Wild, visit https://www.wilderthanwildfilm.org
To see the trailer, visit: https://vimeo.com/184561279
Synopsis:
We are experiencing now the fires of the future.” – Ken Pimlott, CAL FIRE Chief
Wilder than Wild: Fire, Forests, and the Future reveals how fire suppression and climate change have exposed our forests and wildland-urban landscapes to large, high intensity wildfires, while greenhouse gases released from these fires contribute to global warming. In this one-hour documentary, filmmaker Kevin White takes us on a journey from the Rim Fire of 2013 to the wine country wildfires of 2017. Along the way, we learn how the proactive use of prescribed fire can reduce reliance on reactive fire suppression, we see a California tribe renew their tradition of cultural fire, and we meet stakeholder groups working with scientists and resource managers to build consensus on how to restore and manage the lands we love and depend on.

Upcoming 2018 Events! Plant Trees near Camp, Summer 2018!

Announcements, announcements.. announcements!

Great news campers – we have the green light from The US Forest Service to come back for the 3rd Annual Tree Replanting Party near Camp Tuolumne!

Saturday March 10, 2018 9am – 4pm
at Rush Creek Lodge

We stayed at the beautiful Rush Creek Lodge just outside Yosemite on Friday and Saturday nights last year, with great food, cocktails, hot tubs, etc… it was a fabulous get-a-way weekend! They are once again generously supporting our efforts, and offering us a 50% discount again, which can be used for Lodge King Rooms and Villas.

Please email our Volunteer Coordinator Katie Whitty if you’d like to join us this year and she can give you the discount code for online reservations and answer any questions you have. No experience necessary, families are welcome, and the USFS will provide everything we need (trees, shovels, etc..).

 

It is a marvelous experience, and the trees that we planted last year are growing well (photo below!) Last year we had over 40 volunteers join the Americorp support team and plant over 3000 trees in one day! They make it SO easy for us to do this work, and it was SO healing and wonderful to put trees into the ground!

Registration is open for Summer 2018 at Echo Lake Camp!

The City of Berkeley office has been busy getting registration available for this coming summer –
and families are signing up!

Check out their availability calendar to make plans to get some Family Camp time in..

Labor Day ‘Friends Weekend’ Registration is Open!

For more information and to register click here

The Final Summer Get-a-Way to the Mountains!
Fri Aug 31st – Mon Sept 3rd

 

The 34 yr. tradition continues for the

Friends of Berkeley Tuolumne Camp

to host an amazing long weekend over Labor Day!

*Special Family Activities
* Boating on Echo Lake
* Hiking for the whole family to waterfalls
* Arts & Crafts – special activity with popular Artist-in-Resident Heather MacDonald
* FOBTC hosted Happy Hour at sunset overlooking 8000 ft. view over Lake Tahoe
* Tournaments, traditions, Campfires, BINGO, and more..

Oct 2017: City of Berkeley hires Siegel & Strain Architects!

Great news everyone – we are moving forward!!!

On October 17, 2017, the Berkeley City Council approved a resolution on the consent calendar that marked a huge turning point in our rebuilding effort – the hiring of Siegel & Strain Architects to take us from today to the opening of camp.  This firm won the bid with experience and the City staff knowing they’d be the best firm to build our camp! FOBTC submitted a formal letter of support to the Mayor and Council, and have had past experience with this firm. FOBTC Board Member Ari Vared worked with them to rebuild Camp Newman, and couldn’t say enough great things about them.

Check out their work: http://www.siegelstrain.com/

Here’s the formal resolution:

Contract: Siegel & Strain Architects for Architectural and Engineering Services for the Berkeley Tuolumne Camp Design
From: City Manager
Recommendation: Adopt a Resolution authorizing the City Manager to execute a contract and any amendments with Siegel & Strain Architects in an amount not to exceed $4,300,000 to provide architectural and engineering services for the Berkeley Tuolumne Camp Design Project.
Financial Implications: Playground Camp Fund – $4,300,000
Contact: Scott Ferris, Parks, Recreation and Waterfront, 981-6700

The quick picture at this point looks like this:

1) Insurance money continues to roll in – and the City continues to negotiate with insurance and FEMA for all the remaining funds.

2) Siegel & Strain take the proposed zoning designs done by 2M Architects and begin a new design phase – what Camp might REALLY look like in reality. This phase will have a public informational process, likely at the 60 % design stage – in 5 – 6 months. The City will keep us updated and we’ll be sure to let everyone know. This phase will tell us what can be rebuilt, what insurance and FEMA will cover, etc.. and will also inform us as to what will NOT be covered. That gap is what FOBTC is looking to support so we can have the camp we all want.

3) The USFS NEPA (The National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) requires federal agencies to assess the environmental effects of their proposed actions prior to making decisions) process is continuing, and City staff are confident they’ve addressed all the issues.

4) The timeline to opening day is 2021! We’ll keep pushing and supporting that timeline!

In May 2017, the City Manager briefed Council on the Berkeley Tuolumne Camp reconstruction, and in particular, the City’s ongoing negotiation with insurance and the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), the primary funders of the reconstruction of Berkeley Tuolumne Camp (BTC). In addition, this memo provides information about camp and recreation program scholarships and outreach efforts.

Click here to read through the City’s timeline for rebuilding, and the update:

2017-05-02 BTC Status Update 050217

FOBTC is actively engaged in every part of this effort to get camp rebuilt as soon as possible. Thank you for joining and supporting our efforts! Your contributions and support of this non-profit is helping us stay on top of this every day, and will also help close the gap of what we want to build at Camp that will not be funded by insurance, FEMA and the City.

 

2017 Gala: a sold-out memorable event!

For the first time in its history, FOBTC created “An Evening Under the Tuolumne Stars”, a Gala dinner and auction to celebrate the success of the past 4 years and the rebirthing of camp.

It was a magical evening, as the tickets all sold out, every auction item was bid on, campers were thrilled to come together, former staff were stoked to volunteer to serve dinner, and the Camp Spirit was strong and flowing, equally as much as the wine and house cocktail, ‘The Tuolumne Ranger’! California Rose Catering in Berkeley created an abundant feast, served family-style, and dinner began as always with the third bell and staff singing to “check the seating chart”!

         

 

Dinner and dessert (thanks to Lisa Kirkby (smore cupcakes!) and Jessica Ahlstrand (check out that camp cake!) were incredible.  We sang to the caterers and they came out of the kitchen to run around! It was awesome!

Then our gracious hosts were presented with our ‘2017 FOBTC Friend of the Year’ Award for going above and beyond as amazing volunteers to help the organization and the rebuilding of camp.

Bill and Christie Booth receiving applause and appreciation from all the campers.

We were treated with live music from the Tuolumne House Band – the Tamsen Donner Blues Band – who have hosted Tuolumne Blues weekend for decades at camp. Old friends and family members had a reunion, and celebrated the next phase of this journey we are all on, the rebirthing phase of rebuilding camp!

      

Former staff and families reunite

After a hilarious live auction featuring vacation homes and the comedy of Jim Whitty, we all gathered in the green chair circle and with an open fire, and under the starry night, sang the closing song..  a great night!

You dream of me, and I’ll dream of you…..

“A Night Under the Tuolumne Stars!” A Gala and Epic Night!

Sat Oct 7th 5pm – 9pm Tickets and Info

A special Gala in a private vineyard in Moraga
at the beautiful home of long time campers

An amazing elegant dinner by California Rose Catering of Berkeley,
served family style all by former staff,
with live music by Tamsen Donner Band, fine wine,
and the house cocktail (The Tuolumne Ranger!)

A celebration of the work we’ve accomplished
together and the rebirthing of Camp Tuolumne!

Night time at Camp – photo by Zac Rymland
This amazing photo will be available in the auction!

To give you just a taste:
Dinner includes appetizers like Sashima Ahi Tuna and Full Belly Farm Corncakes, dinner includes both Red Wine Braised Beef Short Ribs (Rib NIght!) and Pan Seared Wild Salmon with shitake mushrooms and green onion Miso marinade – along with Red Egyptian Quinos with toasted pumpkin seeds, a summer freshly picked salad and sauteed Brussel Sprouts and Wild Yellowfoot Mushrooms
in a lemon/shallot/olive oil/parsley sauce

Wow!!!
An epic feast – FAMILY STYLE – along with all the fine wine you desire, and for dessert – 2 remarkable ‘donated by camper’ treats – professional cake maker Jessica Ahlstrand’s delicious cake and Lisa Kirkby’s homemade Smore’ Cupcakes!!!

Buy Your Tickets Here!

Get Rejuvenated with some Camp Spirit this Summer!

Camp Traditions Continue!

Join the Friends Weekend at beautiful
Echo Lake Camp!

Friday Sept 1st – 4th

Grab your book and have a seat in the Green Chairs Circle!

Extend your summertime with a fun-filled
weekend in the mountains!

Reservations are now available!

The activities schedule includes:

* Classics: Campfires  Bingo  Tournaments  Swimming   Boating   Archery
* Arts & Crafts – Lanyards, Friendship Bracelets, Nature Art
* Happy Hour Wine Tasting and Appetizers with a VIEW!
* Sat night special dinner!
* Desolation Wilderness Hiking
* Special Day hike for families to see the magnificent falls
* Echo Lake Boat Tour with the Chalet Staff

A 40 yr tradition brought back: A Saturday Night Happy Hour Silent Auction! Fine wine, vacation packages, get-a-ways, Tilden Park Golf, Great Books, Pet Services, Feng Shui Consultation, and more!

FOBTC donates $50,000 towards Rebuilding Camp!

The 4th annual Camp Tuolumne Night at the Freight & Salvage was a huge hit! Almost 200 people came to support camp, meet The Mayor of Berkeley Jesse Arreguin, hear about the plans for camp, and sing our songs and celebrate the rebirth of Camp!

Thanks to everyone who came out to the Freight on Monday – it was awesome. The Camp Spirit was flowing and The Mayor of Berkeley was inspired by our stories, and thrilled for our contribution towards the rebuilding of camp. FOBTC donated $50,000 towards the rebuilding fund on the heels of the unanimous passing of the April 4th City Council vote.

Thank you all for your contributions towards our camp. For those who couldn’t make it on Monday, check out the video we made as we move from the grieving cycle to the next phase of this journey, dreaming of a rebuilt camp and returning. The rebirth of camp, and the hard work ahead, begins now.

Video: https://youtu.be/DE63D5MDftQ

City Council Votes YES for Rebuilding Camp Tuolumne!

Announcements, announcements, announcements!
“There’s No Place Like Camp Tuolumne”

Tonight, The Berkeley City Council voted to approve the funds needed from the city’s catastrophic fund to continue down the path to rebuild Camp Tuolumne!


Thank you to everyone who wrote letters, called their council person, and especially came out tonight! It made all the difference!

We’ll have a lot more information for you in a week or so from the City staff regarding the timeline and expectations.

In great appreciation for your camp spirit,
Scotty and the Board of FOBTC

Berkeley City Council – Critical Vote on April 4, 2017

Dearest Campers,
Since the Rim Fire in 2013, many campers and The Friends of Berkeley Tuolumne Camp, along with City of Berkeley staff, have been working tirelessly to rebuild camp.

We are now at the crossroads of this effort!

We have just been informed that on Tues April 4th 5:30pm, at a special worksession on Camp Tuolumne, the City Council will be making a critical decision to set aside City funds in the FY 18-19 budget to help pay for the next phase – the design and reconstruction of camp.

A YES vote means we stay on track, with design and reviews in 2018, construction starting  in 2019 and finishing in 2020,  and Camp could be open as early as summer 2021.

A NO vote means the project gets delayed, the City prioritizes other needs and we come back to appeal for funds in a year and camp is further away from reality.

                                                                                 Big Picture:
The city is negotiating with insurers, FEMA and the state of California for funds that will pay over 90 percent of the estimated $60 million cost to rebuild camp. The federal government requires the city to pay a small share of the total cost; this share is estimated to be about $3 – $5 million.

To get the camp rebuilding process going in 2018 – 2019, the city needs to invest for design and some initial construction. If the city makes this investment, then we are well on our way to having camp reopen by 2021!

What You Can DO!
Here are the three CRITICAL things we need you to do in the next two weeks:

1. Activate All Campers! Ask all Campers you know to get on the FOBTC Distribution List. We need to gather as many campers in our database, so we can activate our community when needed.

2.  Write and/or Call Your Council Member: Find contact info for your council member HERE:  Tell them how much camp means to you and how important and imperative it is to you that camp be rebuilt ASAP. The more council members hear from their constituents, the more they’ll feel compelled to support camp! They MUST feel how much support there is for Camp. If you live outside Berkeley, please send an email to the entire City Council at council@cityofberkeley.info.

3.  April 4th 5:30pm  Attend the City Council Meeting!
We must show up at this meeting!  This is IT! The critical moment for camp. Please bring as many friends and family as you can to this event.  It is imperative that we pack the house, to demonstrate our passion and commitment to the new Council.

 This is our opportunity to stay on track and take one critical step closer to being back by the river…with a gorgeous new camp!

Please let them hear from you before April 4th
and we’ll see you at the City Council Meeting!

In Camp Spirit and Appreciation,
Scotty and the Board of FOBTC