Tag Archive

Youth

Young Blind People and Old Ships on October 26

Join your friends at the LightHouse as the Youth Program explores the old ships of San Francisco. On Saturday, October 26, we will head down to the San Francisco waterfront for an exclusive tour of the historic ships docked at the Hyde Street Pier, and take a tour of the Maritime National Historical Visitor’s Center.  Deadline to sign-up extended to October 23.Image of the Balclutha, a three-masted, steel-hulled, square-rigged ship built to carry a variety of cargo all over the world – visit the Balclutha with the LightHouse on October 26

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Who: Low Vision or Blind Transition Age Youth (ages 8 to 18)
What: Tour of the Maritime National Historical Visitor’s Center & Tour of the old ships of San Francisco at the Hyde Street Pier
When: Saturday, October 26, from 11:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
Where: Hyde Street Pier and the Maritime National Historical Park of San Francisco
Transportation: We will meet at LightHouse San Francisco and take MUNI to the Hyde Street Pier.  Please bring money for the bus to and from the park, $0.75 each way for a total of $1.50.

Waiver: Each participant must submit a LightHouse Youth Program waiver form, if they have not done so for a previous outing.

Cost: FREE! The cost of this tour has been waived for our participants; however, each participant must bring $1.50 for the bus and bring their own lunch.

RSVP: Jamey Gump, Youth Services Coordinator, at jgump@lighthouse-sf.org or (415) 694-7372. Please register early! RSVP by October 23.

We’ll begin the fun by meeting at 214 Van Ness Ave (San Francisco’s LightHouse) promptly at 11:00 a.m. Together, we’ll take MUNI to the Maritime National Historical Visitor’s Center.

For more information or to RSVP for this event, please contact Youth Services Coordinator Jamey Gump at (415) 694-7372 or email jgump@lighthouse-sf.org.

Things to Bring:
Bag lunch (each participant is responsible for bringing their own lunch)
Bottle of water
Hat or visor
Sunscreen
Jacket/Hoodie
Cane or mobility device
$1.50 for the bus

Explore the Whitewaters of the American River with the LightHouse on September 21

Join the LightHouse and Environmental Traveling Companions (ETC) as we go whitewater rafting on the South Fork of the American River. Youth ages 14-24 are invited to attend this thrilling rafting trip and overnight campout at ETC.A raft full of passengers midst the foaming white water of the American River

 

 

 

 

 

 

Note: This event is full, but we have started a waiting list, so please contact Youth Services Coordinator Jamey Gump by Tuesday, September 10 if you are interested: (415) 694-7372 or at jgump@lighthouse-sf.org.

We will leave early Saturday, September 21st to arrive at the South Fork of the American River by midday for an exciting afternoon of whitewater rafting. Once we finish our river float, we will go to ETC’s overnight camp where we will cook dinner together. After dinner, we’ll enjoy socializing around the campfire with old and new friends. The next morning we will pack-up camp and return to San Francisco by noon, traffic permitting.

Who: Low Vision or Blind Transition Age Youth (ages 14-24)
What: Whitewater Rafting and Overnight Campout
When: Depart 8:00 a.m. Saturday, September 21st and return 12:00 p.m. (noon) Sunday, September 22nd
Where: South Fork of the American River & ETC’s Overnight Camp
Transportation: Transportation from the LightHouse will be provided

Waiver: Each youth participant must submit 2 waiver forms, one from The San Francisco LightHouse AND the other from Environmental Travel Companions. Please contact Jamey Gump to receive the waivers. Spots will only be reserved when payment and signed waivers are received.

Cost: The cost of the event is $60.00 per participant. LightHouse will cover overnight costs, transportation, dinner, and breakfast the following morning. Spots will only be reserved once payment and the two signed waivers are received.

RSVP: Jamey Gump, Youth Services Coordinator at jgump@lighthouse-sf.org or (415) 694-7372.  Space is limited to 8 participants. This event is full but we encourage you to get on our waiting list. Please contact us no later than Tuesday, September 10.

Please Bring:
Bottle of water
Hat or visor
Sunscreen
Sleeping bag
Change of clothes
Swimsuit
Water shoes
Jacket /hoodie
Cane or mobility device
Any necessary medication
Personal toiletries (for the overnight campout at ETC’s campsite)
Two signed waivers for LightHouse and Environmental Travel Companions

Climb to Your Heart’s Content at Indian Rock Park in Berkeley on September 7

LightHouse for the Blind and Visually Impaired invites you and your friends in the LightHouse Youth Program to a day of exploration and climbing at Indian Rock Park in Berkeley. Please sign up by Friday, September 6.

Come explore the crazy rock formations at Indian Rock Park along with your friends in
the Youth Program. Have fun in an accessible, challenging setting that will inspire you to enjoy nature that is almost in your own back yard.

Who: Blind and Low Vision Youth, ages 8 to 18
When:
September 7, 11:00 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.
Where:
We will meet at the Downtown Berkeley Bart Station at 11:00 a.m., and then take AC Transit #1 to Indian Rock Park
Cost:
There is no cost to participate; you will need money for public transportation
Waiver:
Each participant must submit a LightHouse Youth Program waiver form, if they have not done so for a previous outing
RSVP:
Jamey Gump, Youth Services Coordinator, at jgump@lighthouse-sf.org or (415) 694-7372. Please register by September 6.

Volcanic in origin, Indian Rock is the largest of a number of similar rhyolite rock formations in the vicinity. These rhyolite formations include smaller rocks on the east side of Indian Rock Avenue. Remains of acorn-grinding pits carved into solid rock can be found in these outcroppings, especially the aptly named Mortar Rock. These pits were made by the local indigenous people, the Huichin band of the Ohlones.

If you would like more information, or to RSVP for this event, please contact Jamey Gump, Youth Services Coordinator for the LightHouse, at (415) 694-7372 or jgump@lighthouse-sf.org.

Things to Bring:
Water bottle
Hat or visor
Bag lunch (there is no place nearby to purchase food, therefore, please bring a bag lunch with you)
Sunscreen
Wear comfortable hiking clothes
Comfortable hiking shoes
Cane or mobility device
Jacket or hoodie

Climbers on Indian Rock

The Perfect Event Space Is Waiting Just For You

Are you tired of holding your get-together in the same old space? Do you have an upcoming staff retreat, workshop, reunion or wedding that needs an exceptional place to make it the most talked about event of the year? Well, look no further because Enchanted Hills Retreat is the place to be.Main Lodge and dining hall at Enchanted Hills as seen from a distance.  Lokoya Lake is in the foreground.

Book your winter event now and receive 20 percent off your daily rate!

Enchanted Hills sits atop Mt. Veeder Road in Napa and sprawls across 311 acres of redwoods, creeks, trails and some of the most breath taking sites Napa has to offer. Surrounded by nature, Enchanted Hills offers a most unique and relaxing place to hold your event. From a wedding to a reunion, our retreat space can provide you with an intimate and exclusive place to celebrate that special moment in your life. We can accommodate groups from 20 to 120. Best of all, we offer rates that simply cannot be beat.

Book now for an event between November 2013 and February 2014 and receive a 20 percent discount on your daily rate. All rental proceeds support the unparalleled programs of Enchanted Hills Camp for the Blind. During the summer months, Enchanted Hills Camp is a place for blind campers to explore and create, gain courage, try new things, learn about the environment and make lifelong friends. By celebrating your special event with us you not only have an exceptional place to work or play, but you help give an exceptional summer camp experience to blind and low vision youth and adults.

So…experience the charm of Enchanted Hills this winter! To reserve your space or get more information, call 415-694-7310 or go to www.enchantedhillsretreat.com.

 

Take Me Out to the Ballgame! Register Now for August 8th Giants Game for Blind and Low Vision Youth

If you’re a blind or low vision youth between the ages of 8 and 18, we’d like to invite you to join us as we head over to AT&T Park on August 8th for a fun-filled afternoon of World Champion Giants Baseball. Help us cheer on Buster and the boys in orange and black as they take on the Milwaukee Brewers.

Space is limited to 6 Participants. Please RSVP by August 5.

For more information, or to RSVP for this event, please contact Jamey Gump, Youth Services Coordinator at (415) 694-7372 or by email at jgump@lighthouse-sf.org.

Giants logo

Who: Blind and Low Vision Youth, Ages 8-18
What: San Francisco Giants vs. Milwaukee Brewers game
When: August 8th, 11:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. (game time is 12:45 p.m.)
Where: Meet at LightHouse San Francisco Headquarters at 214 Van Ness Ave and travel to AT&T Park, 24 Willie Mays Plaza.
Transportation: We will leave the LightHouse at 11:00 a.m. sharp and travel to AT&T park via Muni line KT.
Cost: Tickets are $20.00 per participant and must be paid in advance to reserve ticket. Additional cash is recommended but not required for snacks and/or memorabilia at the Park.
Waiver: Lighthouse Liability Wavier must be filled out and submitted for each participant.

RSVP: Jamey Gump, Youth Services Coordinator at jgump@lighthouse-sf.org or (415) 694-7372.

Things to Bring

  • Bottle of water
  • Hat or visor
  • Sunscreen
  • Cane or other necessary adaptive device
  • Jacket or hoodie

 

Are You Looking for a Cool and Wet Outdoor Adventure this Summer?

Fabian Cardona kayaking on a sunny day.

Come enjoy an exciting kayak excursion at the Willow Creek Recreation Area with LightHouse for the Blind!

We’ll meet on Saturday, August 10th at 8:30 a.m., in front of the LightHouse at Ed Roberts Campus located at 3075 Adeline St. in Berkeley. Please arrive on time. At Willow Creek Recreation Area in Folsom, we’ll meet our experienced kayak guides for a lesson that runs from 11:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. We’ll learn kayak safety, paddling techniques, equipment prep and clean up. After a full day of kayaking, we’ll join former LightHouse Board Member Margie Donovan at her home near Sacramento for a barbecue before heading back to the Bay Area. We expect to return to the Ed Roberts Campus in Berkeley at approximately 7:00 p.m.

Please note: Space is limited to 8 participants, and the deadline to register is August 5.

For more information or to RSVP for this event, please contact Jamey Gump, Youth Services Coordinator for the San Francisco LightHouse at (415) 694-7372 or by email at jgump@lighthouse-sf.org.

LightHouse Kayak Trip
Who: Blind and Low Vision Youth, ages 8-18
When: August 10, 8:30 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. (Kayak Lessons 11:00 to 3:00 p.m.)
Where: Meet at LightHouse at the Ed Roberts Campus, 3075 Adeline St. in Berkeley, shuttle to Willow Creek Recreation Area near Sacramento
Transportation: Shuttle to will leave promptly at 9:00 a.m. from Ed Roberts Campus
Cost: $40.00 per participant. Cost includes kayak rental, transportation, and barbecue. Note: We must receive your payment to guarantee your spot.
Waiver: LightHouse Liability Waiver must be filled out and submitted for each participant.
RSVP to: Jamey Gump, Youth Services Coordinator at jgump@lighthouse-sf.org or (415) 694-7372. Space is limited to 8 participants. Please register by August 5.

Things to Bring

  • Bottle of water
  • Bag Lunch
  • Hat or Visor
  • Lots of sunscreen
  • Extra Change of Clothes (In case you get wet)
  • Water Shoes (no flip flops)
  • Cane or other necessary adaptive device
  • Signed Waiver
  • Jacket (for the unlikely event that it might get chilly)

First Ever Family Camp for Napa Families Breaks New Ground

Last month Enchanted Hills Camp hosted an intensive three-day/two-night retreat for fifteen primarily Spanish speaking Napa Valley families with blind or low-vision, multi-disabled youngsters. It was the first time the LightHouse specifically sought to have a camp session at Enchanted Hills for families living only in Napa County. The result: incredible community building and support.

For the first time ever, local Napa boys enjoy paddling in our lake in paddleboat


The retreat was made possible through a generous grant from the Napa Valley Community Foundation. The LightHouse collaborated with the Napa Valley Unified School District, Parents CAN (a Napa-based family support organization) and Blind Babies Foundation to offer recreation such as hiking, arts and crafts and sports for the children while at the same time offering workshops for their parents.

It was our goal to make these campers feel comfortable while providing information, resources and the chance to bond in the “enchanted” setting of our beautiful camp. It was life-changing for these kids and their parents who live with little connection or support. Almost none of them had ever met a parent of a blind child before, and the community-building was palpable.

LightHouse volunteers and staff, many of whom are bilingual, guided the children as they played and translated presentations for parents into Spanish. Among a number of offerings, San Francisco State Special Education Professor Amanda Lueck talked about how to develop individual education plans (IEP) for the children; Adaptations Store Manager Isabel Arreola made a presentation on adaptive aids; we formed a peer support group for parents to share their stories about raising children with disabilities and Camp Director Tony Fletcher lead a walking tour that focused on the camp’s long history.

While the parents attended the workshops, the children enjoyed activities such as boating on the lake, bowling, archery, horseshoes and arts and crafts. Later parents joined their children for swim time at the Enchanted Hills pool, a demonstration of solar cooking and nature hikes.

Feedback from the families was extremely positive and as the session concluded there were tears, hugs and joy at the connections made. One of the fathers was heard to say, “I’ve been harvesting grapes for forty years, in the vineyards right around the camp. All that time I’ve focused only on my family’s income and making money. I never realized how close I was and how profoundly I would be moved by this beautiful place.”

Tony Fletcher said, “Our overarching goal was to connect families with each other and to services that they might not be aware of, and to also let them see how Enchanted Hills can be an ongoing resource. It was very humbling to be around so many grateful recipients of our services. I felt proud to be part of a LightHouse team that offered this wonderful opportunity for these families.”

 

Family Fun Day and BBQ at Golden Gate Park

Last month LightHouse and San Francisco Parks and Recreation’s Project Insight held a gathering for blind and low-vision youth and their families at Golden Gate Park. Here new families got to mingle with families already a part of our network. The weather was beautiful and kids and adults alike enjoyed activities such as hand painting and competitions such as the one where you race while balancing a cup of water on your head (predictably, this turned into a fantastic water fight). And we congratulate Shahzar Qureshi and runner-up Melissa Hadiyanto, winners of the freeze dance competition.

LightHouse staffers Molly Irish and John cooked hamburgers and hotdogs for the crowd while Project Insight’s (Big) Ben Oude Kamphuis and his team contributed a huge salad made of organic vegetables grown in the Project Insight garden. And finally, the teenage contingent, most of them friends from Enchanted Hills Camp, took advantage of the moment to catch up with each other long after the rest of their families were worn out.

Did you miss out? Be sure to join us next time. Check the LightHouse website calendar regularly for upcoming events like this, or sign up for Beth Berenson’s weekly Community Services Activities and Events List at info@lighthouse-sf.org A hearty thank you to all who attended! Kindergartner Mikey Piper has his hand painted by San Mateo County V.I. teacher Shelly Viviani

Register Now for Summer Day Camp – Your Kids Will Love Exploring the Bay Area with the LightHouse

You may have heard of Enchanted Hills Camp for the Blind. Now the LightHouse presents a Day Camp led by our experienced staff. This summer, the San Francisco LightHouse is offering three summer day camp sessions for blind and low-vision youth based out of San Francisco.

Each camp session promises to be exciting, educational and fun-filled. Before and after care is also available (see cost below).

Camp Hours: 10:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m.
Child Care: for day camp participants only, is offered from 8:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m. (computer/technology activities and adaptive cooking classes) and 4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. (creative arts activities).

Space is limited, so register now! Attendance is by RSVP for an entire week of activities. Unfortunately, we cannot accommodate single day attendance or drop-ins.

Application deadline is Wednesday June 5, 2013.
$175.00/week for onsite activities and field trips (from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.) $275.00/week for onsite activities and field trips plus a.m. /p.m. childcare.
Each child will receive a LightHouse Summer Camp t-shirt.

Payment must be received prior to attendance. To apply or for more information, contact Jamey Gump, Youth Services Coordinator at jgump@lighthouse-sf.org or 415-694-7372 or John Liang, Director of Community Services at jliang@lighthouse-sf.org or 415-694-7334.

Summer Day Camp Schedule

  • Session 1: Discovery Camp – Science and Technology for Grades K-8 (ages 5-12) June 10 through June 14, 2013
    • Monday 6/10: Lawrence Hall of Science
    • Tuesday 6/11: The Exploratorium
    • Wednesday 6/12: NASA Ames Exploration Center/Walking tour of Google
    • Thursday 6/13: Lindsey Wildlife Center
    • Friday 6/14: The Tech Museum
  • Session 2: Urban Explorer’s Camp for Grades K-8 (ages 5-12) June 17 through June 21, 2013
    • Monday 6/17: Planet Granite and Presidio Bowl
    • Tuesday 6/18: Chinatown/Chinatown Ghost Tour and Dim Sum
    • Wednesday 6/19: Kite Flying at Ocean Beach
    • Thursday 6/20: Fisherman’s Wharf, Pier 39
    • Friday: 6/21: SF Cable Car Ride and Tour of the Cable Car Museum
  • Session 3: Adventure Camp for Grades 9-12 (ages 12-18) June 24, through June 28, 2013
    • Monday 6/24: Six Flags Marine World
    • Tuesday 6/25: Boomers
    • Wednesday 6/26: Lands’ End Hike (walk the San Francisco Water Front)
    • Thursday 6/27: Horseback Riding
    • Friday 6/28: Santa Cruz Boardwalk

    Smiling young girl in mid-air on trampoline, with two House of Air staff members spotting her