Berkeley Echo Lake Camp Summer 2018 End of Season Report Introduction The summer of 2018 marked the 96 th summer the City of Berkeley Echo Lake Camp has provided opportunities for Berkeley residents and non-residents to experience a High Alpine adventure in the Sierra Nevada. This report will share season events and highlights, several facilities improvements, and a look forward towards our upcoming Summer 2019 season. Summer 2018 Echo Lake Camp Programs and Program Attendance Echo Lake Camp continued to provide a variety of programming options during summer 2018, serving a total of 2,171 campers. Program Review and Camper Feedback Echo Lake Camp offers a traditional array of camp activities including canoeing, swimming, hiking, arts & crafts, sports tournaments, campfires (with s mores), and others; during a variety of programs provided for Families, Youth, Seniors, City of Berkeley Recreation Division Programs, and Private Group Rentals. This year, we experienced some staff turnover, as many of our veteran staff had been with us for more than six seasons! While we are thankful for their contributions, we were also excited to welcome several new staff to our community, train them to complete their jobs, and show them what the Berkeley Camp Spirit was all about. Nearly half of our staff this season were new to Echo Lake Camp. 1 P a g e
We are proud of the work our Camp Staff put in this season, and the programs they provided. Overall, our season was a success! Programs were well received and attended, and we saw a continued rise in first time campers, bringing new participants into the Echo Lake Camp community. We work hard to ensure all of our campers have a memorable and positive experience, and we encourage our campers to give feedback at the end of their stay. Below are several feedback comments we received from campers: General Counselors and Staff were amazing and we had so much fun!! Thank you!! Camp has never looked better! Love that the far bathhouse is finally open! And I met a few new families with little kids (the next gen!) who were at camp for the first time and loved it, and I met a few families on their return visit who had made positive memories and were happy to return. Lots of enthusiasm. Camp is always great! The improvements to the bathrooms and office were great. The staff is the best! So young but so good! This was our first time at Berkeley Family Camp, and it was amazing! Parents and kids alike had a blast! Staff was so helpful and supportive and kept Camp going well and tons of fun. Show was awesome due to their great enthusiasm My family had a great time at camp hiking, canoeing, crafting, etc. Staff How do (the staff) do it? Keeping up the enthusiasm and energy and joy the whole time? Fabulous job. Staff as always are a highlight especially for the kids. Too many wonderful individuals to mention but the staff are really incredible. The staff were all very helpful and friendly. Counselors were A+ very kind, thoughtful, energetic and courteous. They are the BEST! Food Service The meals are GREAT! I appreciate the salads in particular. Was happy that we could go over at 6am and get some coffee / cereal since we are early risers so the official breakfast is very late for us. Too much salt/spice in some dinner dishes but otherwise very impressed Nice variety, always something for everyone Activities Archery always a standout, more for the 8-12 year olds always welcome. Staff show and campfire and theme day done with such enthusiasm! Loved the new songs and new staff at campfire. Best campfire ever! Shira is the bomb! Loved the staff play, loved the fire! Activities are well organized. Activities staff is helpful. Kids have a lot of fun. Staff reach out and make relationships with the kids and know them by name and interests. They never hesitate to join. 2 P a g e
Program Attendance Summer 2018 programs were well attended, and several programs reached full capacity. Overall, program attendance increased 3.5% from 2017, and we served a total of 2,171 campers. Echo Lake Camp Attendance 2012-2018 Season Total Campers Summer 2012 947 Summer 2013 968 Summer 2014 1,965 Summer 2015 2,100 Summer 2016 2,185 Summer 2017 2,099 Summer 2018 2,171 Below is a breakdown of Summer 2018 attendance by program and age: Echo Lake Camp Summer 2018 Attendance By Program Program Youth Adult Total (age 0-14) (age 15+) Campers Work Weekend 0 22 22 Fish Camp 0 12 12 Family Camp (includes AIR) 452* 605* 1,057* Youth Camp 396-396 Counselor In Training (CIT) 70-70 Teen Weekend 30 15 45 Pre-K Weekend 35 15 50 50+ Camp - 95 95 Runner's Workshop 19 107 126 Blues Weekend 6 70 76 FOBTC Labor Day Weekend 19 53 72 Wedding Weekend 9 141 150 Totals 1107 1122 2,171 *Requires Verification 3 P a g e
Scholarships This year, the City of Berkeley provided 136 full camperships to attend our Family Camp, Youth Camp, Teen Weekend, and Pre-K Weekend programs. Of those, 33 scholarships were given to Youth Campers, a 57% increase from 2017. BELC SCHOLARSHIPS 2018 Program Participants 100% Scholarships 50% Scholarships 100% Scholarship Value 50% Scholarship Value Combined Scholarship Value by Program Work Weekend 22 0 0 0 0 0 Fish Camp 12 0 0 0 0 0 50+ Camp 95 0 0 0 0 0 Private Group Rentals 407 0 0 0 0 0 Family Camp: 1,057 8 0 $5,949.00 0 $5,949.00 CIT: 70 0 0 $0.00 0 $0.00 Youth: 396 33 0 $ 17,325.00 0 $17,325.00 Teen Weekend: 45 45 0 $14,776 0 $14,776.00 Pre-K Weekend: 50 50 0 $11,092 0 $11,092.00 TOTALS 2154 136 0 $ 49,142.00 $ - $ 49,142.00 General Camp Maintenance and Facility Improvements: In 2017, Echo Lake Camp faced damage to our observation deck fences, outlying structures, and 35 of our 42 tent cabins due to extreme snow loading from the well above average snowfall we received. We are pleased to report that we completed extensive cabin and facility repairs in 2017, and that we experienced average snowfalls in winter 2018, leading to a more manageable opening season. This allowed us to focus energy on completing several key deferred maintenance projects, begin planning for facility-wide accessibility improvements scheduled for construction in the next two years, and continue to work on improving our systems and facility operations plans. 4 P a g e
South Bath House Septic System Repairs Our South Bath House, which has been offline for the past few seasons, received a new leach field and septic system and was opened for use during our first week of Family Camp 2018. In addition, this building received several exterior upgrades, including refurbished siding, new doors and shutters, new windows, and updated shower stalls and fixtures. New Swimming Pool Heater Our swimming pool was replaced this season with a more efficient and reliable unit. This is expected to reduce fuel costs and lead to greater reliability. 5 P a g e
Shutters and Doors Camp Staff worked to fabricate new shutters and seasonal winter doors for several buildings. This work continues to beautify the property, and ensure buildings are secured from bears and winter weather, improving our seasonal startup and shutdown of the facility. Pathway Improvements Improvements included adding new pathway lighting and grading and widening several key paths of travel throughout the heart of camp, including pathways along the ridge from the recreation lodge, near the Ridge Bathhouses and showers, and from the Dining Hall to the office. These pathway improvements increase night-time visibility and accessibility. 6 P a g e
New Signposts and landmarks Several new sign-posts were installed throughout camp, assisting campers with navigating our property 7 P a g e
Front Office Improvements Our Front Office received a makeover, including the addition of a new partition wall providing our Camp Staff with an area to complete administrative tasks; a new camp store shelving and storage area, a fresh coat of paint, and several new storage solutions. These improvements were greatly appreciated by staff! Recreation Lodge The recreation lodge received a fresh coat of paint, improved storage solutions, several new couches, and a new arts & crafts station. Archery supplies and equipment were moved to a new permanent home near the archery range, and the Recreation Lodge was reorganized to better accommodate and define spaces for campers to relax and enjoy the fire, read, or take part in arts & crafts activities. Archery Range The archery range received a new equipment storage cabinet fit for Robin Hood himself! This area is scheduled to receive extensive upgrades in Spring 2019, including a new backdrop, grading and railing work, and new archery equipment. Dining Hall The Dining Hall received new buffet line, a new cereal and sandwich bar storage cabinet area, and a new salad bar. These improvements created better storage for our Dining Hall staff, and improved our ability to offer a wider variety of menu choices to our campers. 8 P a g e
Stage Area This year the Stage received new stage lighting and a new sound system! These improvements improved programs such as our Saturday Staff Show, Table Night, and Youth Camp Talent Shows. We are looking forward to continuing to improve our stage area next spring. Tent Cabin Improvements Over the past several seasons, we have worked hard to maintain our tent cabins, with the understanding that several tents are in need of maintenance, including painting and replacement of worn wood materials. This summer, we introduced five new canvas tent tarps, twenty (20) new metal bed frames, and forty (40) new mattresses into rotation. In addition, our Camp Maintenance Mechanics completed major 9 P a g e
maintenance on six tent cabins, including foundation work, new railings and flooring, replacements to new decks, and improvements to interior storage areas. In addition, we completed minor maintenance, including painting, repairs, and storage improvements on more than twelve (12) tent cabins. While these are great improvements, we are continuing to emphasize tent cabin repairs over the next two seasons to ensure all of our campers have an enjoyable stay. Staff and Community Engagement During the summer of 2018, the city employed 51 seasonal camp staff, including Camp Staff Supervisors and Camp Staff Leaders, Camp Maintenance Mechanics, Medical Staff, Youth Camp Cabin Counselors, Recreation Staff, Food Service Staff, and Administrative office staff, most of whom lived on-site throughout the summer season. The staff community was very positive throughout the summer, in large part due to an experienced group of returning staff, and highly energetic and capable new staff. 10 P a g e
Some notable Summer 2018 changes and accomplishments include: Additional Youth Camp Session: 50+ Camp Sessions shifted back one-week on our program calendar, to the last full week of August. This allowed us to add a 4 th session of Youth Camp. This addition provided opportunities for an additional 40 youth campers and 8 CIT s to attend our program, and led to a 16% increase in Youth Camp attendance this year. Increase in Overall Camp Attendance: Youth Camp, Family Camp, and our Private Group Rental programs were very well attended this season. 11 P a g e
Wedding Rental: We hosted a large, end of season wedding the weekend of September 15 th. The wedding was beautiful, attended by 150 guests, and was a great way to wrap up our season. 12 P a g e
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Looking Ahead Our summer 2019 program calendar has been finalized, and includes the following program dates and information: Work Weekends AGES 15+ This FREE program is a volunteer opportunity to help setup Camp before our season begins! Date Jun 7-Jun 9 Fee Free Family Camp ALL AGES Enjoy beautiful alpine views, rustic tent cabin accommodations, delicious meals, and incredible onsite and nearby recreation opportunities. Family Camp has something for everyone, including a rotating weekly activity schedule, arts & crafts, sports & games, nature programs, Artist-In-Residence program, heated swimming pool, world class hiking, canoeing, archery, and more! Ages: Adult (15+) Youth (7-14) Child (3-6) Under 3 Fees (res/non) $98/$108 $65/$72 $49/$54 Free Session Dates Session #1: Jun 18 (Lunch) Jul 21 (Breakfast) Session #2: Jul 27 (Lunch) Jul 29 (Lunch) Session #3: Aug 16 (Dinner) Aug 18 (Lunch) 14 P a g e
DRAFT 10.15.18 BELC 2018 End of Season Report Youth Camp AGES 7-14 Campers ages 7-14 will enjoy a fun filled week of traditional resident camp. Imagine it a week in the high alpine with a cabin of friends, great counselors and staff, hiking, campfires, s mores, and more! Round-Trip Bus Transportation included. Online Registration! Session Date Fee (res/non) Session #1 Jul 29-Aug 2 $525/$577 Session #2 Aug 5-9 $525/$577 Session #3 Aug 12-16 $525/$577 Session #4 Aug 19-23 $525/$577 Counselor-In-Training (CIT) AGES 15-16 This program provides fun, engaging opportunities for campers to develop their leadership skills, gain hands-on experience at Camp, and learn more about what it s like to work with children in a recreation setting. CIT s will live and work at Camp for a week. During Family Camp, CIT s rotate through each department and gain valuable insight into how camp operates behind the scenes. During Youth Camp, CIT s will work alongside and assist Cabin Counselors as they supervise campers throughout the week. Each of these programs is designed to encourage real-life leadership development, and incorporates a CIT feedback process and opportunities for CIT s to spend time together as a group. Note: Round-trip bus transportation is provided for Youth CIT Sessions #6, 7, 8 & 9 only. Session /Program Date Fee: $250/$275 (res/non) Session #1/Family Jun 15-22 Session #2/Family Jun 22-29 Session #3/Family Jun 29-Jul 6 Session #4/Family Jul 6-13 Session #5/Family Jul 13-20 Session #6/Youth Jul 29-Aug 2 Session #7/Youth Aug 5-9 Session #8/Youth Aug 12-16 Session #9/Youth Aug 19-23 15 P a g e
DRAFT 10.15.18 BELC 2018 End of Season Report 50+ Camp Adults Want an opportunity to enjoy camp with other adults? This is your chance! Don t let the name fool you - the age of 50 is more a recommendation than a rule. Whether you choose to relax in the Green Chair circle with your favorite book, lead a drawing class or group discussion, prepare an act for the talent show, or venture out on an all-day hike, this program offers something for adults of all abilities and interests. Registration opens Feb 11, 2019. Sess. Date Fee (res/non) #1: Aug 23 (D) 26 (L) $183/$201 #2: Aug 26 (D) 30 (B) $229/$252 Artist-In-Residence (AIR) and Guest Chef Programs AGES 18+ Are you an Artist or professional Chef? Do you want to highlight and share your skills with adults or youth at Camp? We are now accepting applications for Summer 2019! AIR s teach unique, camp arts, crafts, or activities such as drawing in nature, felted gnomes, Tie-Dye, or ceramics, in exchange for a free stay and reduced rates for their guests. Our Guest Chef Program unites professional chefs with our on-site Camp Food Service Team to create unique meals highlighting the expertise of the Guest Chef, and teaching our young food service staff new skills. We are now accepting applications for each of these unique programs! Visit our website for more information. Private Group Rentals ALL AGES Summer 2019 will see the return of the Runner s Workshop, FOBTC Labor Day Weekend, BLUES Weekend, and several other potential private group rental programs. 16 P a g e
Summer 2019 Program Goals As we look ahead to Summer 2019, we will be focusing our attention on the following program goals and improvements: Continue to offer high quality recreation, education, and leadership opportunities for City of Berkeley residents and non-residents. Increase opportunities for diverse user group attendance and facility use. Increase opportunities for underserved youth and families to attend camp programs. Further develop our Teen Leadership and Counselor-In-Training (CIT) programs Develop a more extensive list of vegan, vegetarian, sugar free, and gluten free entrée options for Campers. Continue to offer a Family Camp program as an option for displaced Tuolumne Family Campers to maintain important family traditions. Continue to respond to and address the changing financial landscape in the Camps Fund after the loss of Tuolumne Camp. Continue to build enthusiasm and investment in the Echo Lake Camp community. Continue to complete deferred maintenance projects throughout the camp facility. Continue development of ADA Pathway improvements throughout the property. Continue to complete seasonal maintenance and improvements to camper and staff tent cabins. Partnerships Berkeley Echo Lake Camp Association (BELCA) The Berkeley Echo Lake Camp Association (BELCA) has graciously offered financial support to the City of Berkeley to support Echo Lake Camp programs. For summer 2018, the City gratefully accepted assistance from BELCA of $4,665.00 to provide Teen Weekend and Youth Camp scholarships, as well as support the provision of bus transportation for our Teen Weekend and Pre-K programs. This assistance allowed teens, youth, and families with young children to enjoy camp experiences this summer. The City appreciates the continued generosity of BELCA, and is thankful for their support of the Echo Lake Camp experience. 17 P a g e
Friends of Berkeley Tuolumne Camp (FOBTC) FOBTC supports Echo Lake Camp programs through volunteer assistance, donation of supplies and equipment, and through education and outreach about the City of Berkeley Camps programs. In addition, FOBTC collects donations from Camp participants, which supports an end of season staff celebration dinner to acknowledge the hard work and dedication from our talented summer staff. We appreciate the generosity of FOBTC as they continue to support our Camps programs. Conclusion Echo Lake Camp had another memorable summer season, and we are so thankful to all of the campers and staff who joined us this year. With the addition of some amazing new staff who intend to return next summer, we are looking forward to continued improvements in Summer 2019. Our Family Camp program was well attended, we expanded our Youth Camp Program to include four (4) Sessions, which all reached capacity, and we hosted a beautiful Camp Wedding to complete our season. Several key facility projects were completed, and we are looking forward to continued improvements in 2019, including the development of improved pathways, restroom improvements, and continued tent cabin improvements. Most importantly, we are thankful for the wide variety of programs and the wonderful community Echo Lake Camp fosters. Thank you to all of the campers, staff, volunteers, board members, and neighbors for another great Summer at Echo Lake Camp. We hope to see you all again next year! Craig Veramay City of Berkeley Recreation Program Supervisor 18 P a g e