U.S. Forest Service enlists help of public – planting 90K trees

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Announcements, announcements…..

Campers – do you want to help plant trees in the Rim Fire area??

Here are the first meetings about helping the Forest Service to replant the area.

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Sonora, Calif., (Dec. 31, 2015)…The U.S. Forest Service is enlisting the help of all available stakeholders, members of the public to help plant 90K trees this spring in the Rim Fire burn area.

In partnership with Tuolumne River Trust, the Stanislaus National Forest is hosting public meetings in January to inform and recruit volunteers for tree planting days scheduled to take place seven days per week throughout the spring.

Meeting dates and locations are as follows:
Stanislaus National Forest Supervisor’s Office, 19777 Greenley Road, Sonora, CA:
·         January 14, 6pm in the Stanislaus Room;
·         January 16, 3pm in the Stanislaus Room; and
·         January 23, 3pm in the Stanislaus Room

Groveland Community Hall, 1918 Main Street, Groveland, CA:
·         January 21, 7pm in the main hall (after the GAP meeting).

The Rim Fire of 2013 burned over 257,000 acres on the Stanislaus National Forest. Forest scientists/specialists estimate that without reforestation it is highly unlikely the forest, as we know it, would grow back in our lifetimes.

Anyone interested in helping to reforest the area is invited – Individuals, groups, families – all are welcome.

For more information, please call: the Stanislaus National Forest at 209-532-3671 or the Tuolumne River Trust at 949-533-2346.

Nov Update: The Rim Fire DEIS is now available!

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Hi Campers! Happy Thanksgiving and we hope this finds you well!

The Rim Fire Reforestation Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) is now available. The DEIS describes a proposal for about 48,000 acres of treatments on National Forest System lands within the 2013 Rim Fire including:  deer habitat enhancement; natural regeneration; noxious weed eradication; reforestation; and, thin existing plantations. The DEIS discloses the direct, indirect and cumulative effects that would result from the proposed action, a no action alternative and three additional action alternatives. The Responsible Official has not identified a preferred alternative at this stage.

The DEIS, maps and other information are available online at http://www.fs.usda.gov/project/?project=45612.

Also, a limited number of the printed DEIS and map packages are available by request at this office. The Forest will host an open house with Interdisciplinary Team members available at the Forest Headquarters in Sonora, California from 3:00pm to 6:00pm on Thursday December 3, 2015. The DEIS, maps and other project information will be available at that open house.

This project is subject to the comment process pursuant to 36 CFR 218, Subparts A and B (rule). The Responsible Official is requesting specific written comments during the 45-day designated comment period beginning with publication of the Notice of Availability (NOA) of the DEIS in the Federal Register (expected on November 27, 2015); the Forest will post the actual NOA on the project website address noted above as soon as it is available.

The USFS releases their Scoping Package for Camp Tuolumne!

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Hi dear Campers, Staff and Friends!

Once again we are able to write you with GREAT news and an update as we continue to work towards the rebuilding of Camp at Harden Flat Road!

As you may know by now, The Berkeley City Council voted to support the Special Use Lease Permit, along with allocating money for the environmental review process to begin. The City staff should be commended for doing an amazing job navigating this very detailed process, and the Council deserves all of our support for being behind it.

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Now the USFS has written the next steps – The Scoping Package, the general scope of the project. We get to review that and comment on it within a 30 day window.

The Stanislaus National Forest Supervisor is requesting specific written comments on the City of Berkeley Tuolumne Camp (BTC) Permit during an initial 30-day designated opportunity for public participation from October 28, 2015 through November 27, 2015.  The cover letter, scoping package, maps and other project information are available at the City Camps office or online at:  http://www.fs.usda.gov/project/?project=46690


The Board of FOBTC has reviewed this in detail and has written its comments of complete support for the package. We are thrilled at what the package represents for camp. We encourage you to review it and write your own comments to the Forest Service. 

You can read our letter here:

27 October 2015
Stanislaus National Forest Attn: BTC;
19777 Greenley Road
Sonora, CA 95370

Dear Supervisor Higgins,

The Friends of Berkeley Tuolumne Camp fully supports the proposed scoping package for the City of Berkeley Tuolumne Camp Permit (BTC) project to issue a 30-year permit to the City of Berkeley for 45 acres, and move forward with the rebuilding of our historical home.

We are very grateful for the thoughtful and careful outreach, collaboration, and planning that the USFS staff has invested in this important project.

The Friends of Berkeley Tuolumne Camp is a 501 c(3) non-profit organization founded in 1984 that represents thousands of campers and staff spanning many generations who are mourning the loss of their summer camp. We are excited to be working alongside the City of Berkeley and the US Forest Service to help in the efforts to rebuild this special place.

We note, support and especially appreciate these important elements of the scoping package:
1) Expanding the overall footprint of camp to help move structures away  from the riparian corridor;
2) Keeping camp at the same capacity size as before so that it can continue to serve diverse communities of campers from Berkeley and beyond;
3) Increasing the capacity of parking lots to relocate parking off of Hardin Flat Road;
4) Replanting and revegetating the area within camp.

The value of BTC to the USFS is consistent with the 2010 Stanislaus National Forest Plan:
“Provide a wide range of recreation opportunities directed at various experience levels to meet current and projected demand, including campgrounds, hiking trails, picnic areas, OHV trails, etc.”

In closing, we give our complete support to this plan. Thank you for your hard work and we look forward to the next stages of the rebuilding of Berkeley’s Tuolumne Camp.

Sincerely,

Steve Geahry
President – The Board of Directors

Moving Forward on Special Use Permit and Environmental Reviews

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Update from The City of Berkeley Council Meeting last Tuesday night!

Tuesday night was an important night at the City’s Council Meeting. On the Consent Calendar was the Park and Recreation’s staff request for Approval by the Council for the next steps in the rebuilding process for Camp – the ability to apply for the Special Use Permit with the National Forest Service, and expenditure of money for the state and federal required environmental review process which follows.

FOBTC sent a formal letter ahead of time to every Council Member supporting this, and we attended the meeting. Board Member Richard Thomason, a 22 year Berkeley resident, spoke in person reiterating our appreciation of the City and Council’s efforts to rebuild camp at Harden Flat, and of FOBTC’s continued supportive role in this process.

The action was approved with no dissent or discussion. 🙂

GREAT news. Next week the City staff meet with the Supervisor of the Stanislaus National Forest to move the process forward.

We will continue to monitor and update campers and staff as to the progress of the rebuilding. We will hold more meetings and information nights when needed.

Until then  – we celebrate that things are on track, and lets roast some marshmallows this Sunday!

 

Great End-of-Summer Fun at Friends Weekend and Tee off for Tuolumne!

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The summer of 2015 ended with back to back weekends of campers coming to celebrate what we have, and how we’re going to go forward together! Both events reminded everyone of the amazing Tuolumne Spirit and connection we share, and that our community is as strong as ever.

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Labor Day Weekend at Echo Lake:

A Sold-Out Echo Lake Camp was a buzz all weekend with end of summer fun! Warm days and star-filled evenings was ordered up, and we had social hour on the observation deck and a campfire every night. We played BINGO with amazing prizes, including t-shirts, hats, and a Magnum of expensive wine to the adult winner! Archery, swimming, arts and crafts, volleyball. yoga, ping pong, and great hikes were among the activities during the day, highlighted with a very special 50 person Boat Tour of Echo Lake by the owners of the Echo Lake Chalet!

Sunday night we told our camp stories and memories about Tuolumne around the campfire, and sang our camp songs. The smells of marshmellows and smores filled the air. It was magical and sweet to hear everyone’s camp experiences.

We presented our very first “Friend of the Year” award to honor the volunteer efforts of campers who are committed to the long term success of Camp Tuolumne. The 2015 recipients of the “Friend of the Year” went to Jim and Katie Whitty, who have been tirelessly and joyously volunteering for many years for FOBTC. These two truly exhibit the “Tuolumne Spirit” and we are so appreciative of their work and efforts!

Thanks to everyone who joined us, and we hope next summer those who got turned away because it was already sold out will have a chance to be there as well! A long standing tradition at Tuolumne was brought to Echo Lake, and it was fantastic to be together.

“Tee off for Tuolumne”:

Last Saturday we had about 75 golfers and over 200 for dinner at Tilden Park, and this once a year fundraiser put on by campers Jim and Katie Whitty was once again a fantastic success! We had City of Berkeley staff, Councilman Laurie Capitelli, Camp Manager Craig Veramey, and hundreds of dedicated campers young and old dining together and enjoying the beautiful evening at Tilden Park.

Bruceputting contest winner Bruce Lengacher wins $300!

The day was filled with light hearted golf and staff running around Tilden Park having a blast! “Tuolumne Tim”  – the Yeti of Camp, was seen driving around and taking photos with golfers (the other golfers had no idea what to make of him)

golf cart yeti

The “Hot Mamas” of Tuolumne hosted tee#10 with special cocktails, “whisper announcing and golf clapping”, and unbridled enthusiasm, as well as lots of fur! (again, the other golfers not connected to camp had no idea what to make of them!) Their Camp Spirit is off the hook!

hot mamas

A hole in one on the 180 yard Hole #4 was the most exciting possibility of the day! There was one golfer, Matt Johnston, an ex-professional golfer, who came pretty close!

WIN A CAR

If he had gotten that shot another 2 feet into the hole, he would have won this!

staff at car 2015

(staff not included in the winning! Just the classic Mercedes Convertible!)

At night we had a great Taco dinner for over 200, with a great live auction and over 30 raffle prizes! Vacation get-a-ways, hotel stays, GoPro Camera’s, Art, Wine, Green Camp Chairs…  great donations for a great cause. Everyone contributed and enjoyed their camp community, and we were able to raise some funds for the year long work of FOBTC and the rebuild Camp Tuolumne efforts.

Thank you so much to everyone who came out to play, to dine, to wine, and to bid. Singing the Camp Song arm-in-arm brought lots of smiles and tears to our eyes.

So as we say goodbye to another summer, we are deeply grateful for the memories we made at Camp this summer, and the knowledge that together, a United Camp Community, we have many more years ahead of us of great summer memories.

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

Scott Gelfand

Executive Director

Friends of Berkeley Tuolumne Camp

Staff Appreciation!

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Being on a staff at a summer camp is a rite of passage for millions of young Americans. It often brings a freedom and independence from their family that they have not known before, and a chance to be a responsible working adult for the first time. It is a glorious time of learning many new skills – how to find friends, how to be a competent worker, how to deal with the public, how to sign IRS forms and the joy of receiving a paycheck for hard work. Being at a summer camp far away in the mountains, it is a time for personal growth and connection with nature. It usually hard to work for too many years, as other jobs and growing responsibilities challenges the chance to be on staff again, but they remember those special summers the rest of their lives.

Staff consistency and retention is at the heartbeat of the business and spirit of Camp. At other family camps I have visited, the staff are not always the center of attention or at the core of the experience. Our staff has always been in the front – singing the songs, playing every game, becoming Superheroes every Saturday night in the staff show, cooking special dishes for special diets, serving every table with enthusiasm, and attending to any needs a camper has – whether the staff are off duty or in the department doesn’t matter. Seeing staff return to camp, and happy, keeps everyone feeling like nothing at camp has changed, and makes the administration and running of camp smooth and seamless.

For the past 2 summers, Tuolumne Staff and Echo Lake staff have merged – and have worked through so many changes and physical differences to keep Camp similar for campers. It is a different camp at Echo Lake for sure. But the staff embraced the changes and continued the same joy we are so accustomed to, and this past summer was remarkable after just one year of working out the kinks.

These are mostly the same staff that fled in the fire, lost their belongings, were emotionally scarred, and for them, a part of their youth burned in that fire. We joked in the first week at Echo Lake last year that they are all pioneers at this new camp… figuring it out as they go along. A big thanks and kudos to the City staff (Scott, Denise and Craig) for putting the resources needed to basically sell out the summer of family camp, and also youth camp – and give staff the tools they needed to be successful! FOBTC also contributed resources and support to enhance the camper and staff experience for the past 2 summers, with the goal of sustaining a thriving camp business..

For decades and decades, a great summer traditionally ended in a great thank you dinner for the entire staff, sponsored and paid for by campers and The Friends of Berkeley Tuolumne Camp.

This year and last year were no different.

We now have a welcome packet, with envelopes and a safe to collect any donations at the camp office. This year we offered free “Rebuild Camp” t-shirts to anyone who gave a contribution towards this dinner.

west shore dinner 2015

Instead of The Ahwahnee in Yosemite, they chose The West Shore Cafe in Lake Tahoe. A beautiful restaurant. They dress up in the finest for the only time of the summer. They go from sleeping on cots and the dirt all summer, from back packing and pitching tents on their days off, to elegance and upscale! And they always say it was the best evening of the summer!

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So THANKS to everyone who contributed to this special dinner, and appreciation! Well done! Your donations and contributions mean a lot to the staff, and to the business of camp.

Thank you,

Scotty

Executive Director

Friends of Berkeley Tuolumne Camp

Please Help Us Support Camp With These Upcoming Events!

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Hi dear campers!

Click Here to have an end of summer blast at Camp before the school year kicks in!

Details: Fri Sept 4th – 6th (it is open to come earlier and stay later if you want)
Where:  Berkeley’s Echo Lake Camp (off Hwy 50 above Lake Tahoe)

You can look forward to:

* A private boat tour of Echo Lake with the owners of the Echo Lake Chalet, who know the history and knowledge of the area better than anyone! Should be amazing!

* Wine tasting and Happy Hour on the Observation Deck!

* Morning Yoga with a 10,000 ft view and a Nature Hike with our Naturalist Phil Coffin!

* Swimming in the Pool, Canoeing on Echo Lake, Arts and Crafts, Volleyball vs. the Staff, Campfire, morning coffee in the Green Chair Circle … and much more!

Please reserve your tent before they sell out!
We expect the tents to be filled by Aug 15th.. so reserve early.

E-mail me with any questions. It would be great to be in the mountains with you at the end of the summer and enjoying camp before we turn the page to the busy Fall season.

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Help us Raise Fun and Funds for the Rebuilding of Camp
at the 2nd Annual

“Tee off for Tuolumne” Golf Tourney!


Saturday Sept 12th  Tilden Park Golf Course, Berkeley
11am – $1000 putting contest
1pm Tee off for Tuolumne!
6pm  Dinner  (you can come just for dinner and auction)

Click Here for Tickets/Reservations/Donations/Dinner

A HUGE thanks to all of you who have already signed up to golf, eat delicious tacos, donated raffle prizes, and/or bought raffle tickets!

We need EVERYONE’S help to make this a fun and successful event again this year.

Last year this tournament raised over $15,000!  This money will be utilized to restore, refurbish and replant our beloved camp. Think of it this way…every time you buy a raffle ticket another leaf on a dogwood tree will bloom.  Every golfer that signs up represents another green chair to add to the circle. Every taco you eat represents a smile on a future camper’s face as they jump off Beaverhead Rock for the first time.  So if you don’t golf ask someone who does and sign them up. If you don’t like tacos find a friend that does and send them our way, we would love to have them.

Online registration is now open for both golfers and for the dinner to be held at Tilden Park Golf Course in Berkeley.

PLEASE SIGN UP SOON AS SPACE IS LIMITED!
It would really be helpful to the planning committee to know as soon as possible how many are attending this year to order food and beverages.

EARLY BIRD SIGN-UP BONUS – If you sign up before August 15th for either the golf or dinner we will throw in a FREE RAFFLE TICKET. See the website for the current list of raffle prizes.

All pertinent information and online registration can be made by clicking on the link below and following the directions on the website.

If you are not adept at online registrations please feel free to contact me and I will help you in any way I can.

Scotty

Scott Gelfand
Executive Director
Friends of Berkeley Tuolumne Camp
www.fobtc.com

The latest progress in the rebuilding of Camp Tuolumne

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Hi Campers and Staff! The City has done a series of workshops in this Master Planning process to include your feedback – and as of Friday, updated its web page to include the summaries of the recent BTC workshops and the two attached graphic documents.

More comments are still flowing in, and combined with Forest Service review and technical baseline reports that are now coming in, these documents will change by the time the Scoping Package is complete and released for public comment.

It is a work in progress. Big thanks to the City staff and Patrick and Jane for their excellent work and inclusivity! Here is their update on the progress of camp..

BTC UPDATE_July_2015

BTC Permit and Master Development Plan Concepts_July 2015

Scotty

Executive Director

FOBTC

July 2015

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Announcements, announcements…

“The Tuolumne Spirit!”
keeping you informed, involved and up to date with your favorite Camp!

Here’s your FOBTC July update:

* Amazing sold out summer at Echo Lake

* Join us on Sept 3rd or 4th for Friends weekend at Echo Lake

* The 2nd Annual Tee off for Tuolumne Sept 12th

* The latest Update from the City re; the Master Plan Process
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Echo Lake Family Camp is SOLD OUT!! Way to go campers!
My family was there for a week and it was awesome!

If you missed it, click here to watch the 2015 Staff Show – ET lands at Echo Lake!
The 2015 Staff Show on YouTube

The staff are having a blast, the food’s been great, the pool’s beautiful and refreshing, and there’s NOTHING like Echo Lake and Lake Tahoe for vacation settings!

They’ve done a great job since last year getting Camp right and the City Staff deserves a lot of credit for a fabulous summer at Camp!

Go to: http://cityofberkeley.info/FamilyCampEchoLake
to check out the camp!

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PLEASE JOIN US!
We really want your involvement and support!

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Saturday Sept 12th 1pm Tilden Park
2nd Annual “Tee off For Tuolumne!”

6pm Dinner, auction and raffle follow the golf
Click Here for Details

Amazing Prizes:
Vacation Houses
Ipad’s
Adirondack Green Chairs
Expensive Wine and Art
Tickets to the San Francisco Giants
and lots more..

All proceeds benefit the FOBTC
Rebuild Camp Tuolumne Campaign

Email: jimwhitty@comcast.net
or Click Here for details and registration
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FOBTC Weekend at Echo Lake
Thursday Sept 3rd – Mon Sept 7th
Extended to Beat the Traffic and Come up on Thursday!

Tents with a view

Tents with a view

Labor Day weekend is on with special events for everyone
in the family hosted by FOBTC!

Come up to camp with “Fish Camp” rates!

Breaking News!  We have arranged for a Private Boating Tour of Echo Lake with the Owners of the Echo Lake Chalet! They will take us all around the lake and talk about its history, geology, flora, fauna, and special insider historical knowledge. Awesome!!

We’ll also have a special wine tasting, old-school Arts and Crafts, campfire and table night talent, all organized by 3 former Recreation Supervisors (now on the Board)!

Sign up with a Fish Camp reservation form: http://cityofberkeley.info/uploadedFiles/Parks_Rec_Waterfront/Level_3_-_Recreation/BELC_2015_FISH_CAMP_Registration_Form.pdf

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Update on the Master Plan and the Rebuilding Process!

Theater

The public workshops were well attended and the feedback is in!
Read the comments, and check out the latest news from the City staff.

Click Here to see the latest

information and drawings of Camp!

June 2015 – Get Ready for Summer!

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The Tuolumne Spirit!
It is almost summertime, and we all know
we love to be in the mountains during the summer…

UPDATE on Rebuilding Camp:

Don’t miss the Parks and Waterfront Meeting!
This Wed June 10th 7pm
Frances Albrier Community Center 2800 Park St. Berkeley

click here for more information:
http://www.cityofberkeley.info/Parks_Rec_Waterfront/Recreation/Tuolumne_Camp.aspx

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Sierra Family Camp is open and excited to host your family at Echo Lake Camp!

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There are still some days available early in the summer (June 20th – July 1st), and a few sprinkled throughout July, so click: http://cityofberkeley.info/FamilyCampEchoLake  to check out availability and make a reservation!

The pool is open, the canoes are at the lake for you, and the Staff Show is E.T. the Extra Terrestial (to the music of Michael Jackson and Earth Wind and Fire and Bruno Mars, to name a few).

Of course ET gets to experience Camp, and even though he wants to go home, being a Camper is pretty exciting!

The weather has been beautiful – warm Sierra days and cool nights, with a sky full of stars.

Sign up today, get to the mountains and check out Sierra Family Camp for a few days!

Go to: http://cityofberkeley.info/FamilyCampEchoLake
to check out availability and make a reservation!

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Friday Sept 4th – Mon Sept 7th Labor Day weekend

is on with special events for everyone in the family hosted by FOBTC!

Tents with a view

Tents with a view

Come up to camp with “Fish Camp” rates and get ready for boating on Echo Lake, wine tasting, old-school Arts and Crafts, campfire and table night talent, all organized by 3 former Recreation Supervisors (now on the Board)!

Sign up with a Fish Camp reservation form: http://cityofberkeley.info/uploadedFiles/Parks_Rec_Waterfront/Level_3_-_Recreation/BELC_2015_FISH_CAMP_Registration_Form.pdf

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Saturday Sept 12th 1pm Tilden Park
2nd Annual “Tee off For Tuolumne!”
6pm Dinner and raffle follow the golf

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Amazing Prizes:
Vacation Houses
Ipad’s
Adirondack Green Chairs
Expensive Wine and Art
Tickets to the San Francisco Giants
and lots more..

All proceeds benefit the FOBTC
Rebuild Camp Tuolumne Campaign

Email: jimwhitty@comcast.net
for details and registration