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Enchanted Hills Camp

LightHouse News

Enchanted Hills Camp is now on Facebook – Help us Reach 500 Likes!

There is a new Facebook page especially for Enchanted Hills Camp for the Blind. Help make this page a flourishing community – post your photos and testimonies. This page is not only a repository for photos of camp that bring smiles to our faces but an avenue for campers or friends of Enchanted Hills to make connections and stay in touch until next summer at EHC.

If you’re a camper or a friend of Enchanted Hills, then be sure to go to the EHC Facebook page and like us. While you are there, write something on our wall or post camp photos. And don’t forget to tell your friends about us and encourage them to like our Enchanted Hills Camp page too. EHC is the place to be, so help us get to 500 likes!

new ehc logo

LightHouse News

Six Enchanting Reasons to Hold Your Get-Together at Enchanted Hills Retreat

You already know that Enchanted Hills is a beautiful, relaxing and reasonably priced place to get people together, whether it be for a family reunion, business off-site, religious group outing, wellness retreat or other celebration.

Here are six more reasons why Enchanted Hills is the perfect place for your retreat:

1. Enchanted Hills is the most affordable retreat facility in the wine country.

2. Stay at Enchanted Hills Retreat in the winter and save even more- take advantage of reduced winter rates.

3. The meals are healthy and hearty and home-style, and we can accommodate special requests to meet your needs.

4. The stars are so bright; you’ll try to touch them.

5. It’s so quiet and away from it all (and yet only 8 miles from town) – in this hustle-bustle world we all could use a little rest and relaxation in a place where we can hear the leaves rustle and breathe in the fragrant, clean air.

6. Your gathering at Enchanted Hills Retreat supports the life-changing programs of Enchanted Hills Camp for the Blind, providing opportunities for blind people of all ages to make friends and gain confidence for over 63 years.

To reserve Enchanted Hills for your get-together of 30 to 120, please call (415) 694-7310 or go to www.enchantedhillsretreat.com.

The rustic and comfortable cabins at Enchanted Hills Retreat

LightHouse Podcasts

Hope Sinclair Interview, August 6 2012, Part 2 of 2

The long anticipated continuation to Part 1.

Though thousands of people have enjoyed staying at the LightHouse’s Enchanted Hills Camp since we acquired it in 1950, one  woman has had a particularly special lifelong relationship with our property.  Hope Sinclair’s father bought the land in 1927 and operated a boy’s camp there for more than 20 years.  Hope herself spent much of her girlhood at camp in the 1930′s and 1940′s and developed a detailed love for the nature and history of the place.

In 2012 the LightHouse recorded a lengthy oral history about the camp and we intend to host the interview permanently on this site.

Sitting in the same living room her family once inhabited, Hope Sinclair spoke for nearly three hours with LightHouse CEO Bryan Bashin, Camp Director Tony Fletcher and Development Director Jennifer Sachs.  Those who wish to learn in detail from the woman with the best 80 years of living memory of our site will enjoy the interview.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

LightHouse News

St. Ignatius Sophomores Clean Up Camp

We’d like to express our gratitude to the group of students from St. Ignatius High School in San Francisco who came up to Enchanted Hills in July to work in the beautiful outdoors of our camp while earning service hours for school. Enchanted Hills Camp Director Tony Fletcher stands with students from St. Ignatius High School

During their long weekend at camp they worked on a number of projects. They helped with preparation for the July 27 Open House by cleaning up the camp and setting up tables and chairs. The boys went out on the lake in paddleboats to remove weedy plant life. Using wheelbarrows and shovels they made multiple trips across the camp, moving wood chips to the archery area; these chips will help control erosion and provide footing, making our archery area safer and more accessible.

Perhaps more significantly, the boys participated in team-building exercises with a group of blind and visually impaired kids from our Youth Program. Said Camp Director Tony Fletcher, “Anytime you can bring two groups together and with a similar mission it just builds an understanding of each other’s perspectives on a wide range of subjects.”

LightHouse Youth Coordinator Jamey Gump said, “Thank you to the volunteers from St. Ignatius High School for the long hours they worked alongside our Youth Program participants. Our staff and campers truly appreciated the effort these young men made.”

Thanks go to longtime LightHouse supporter Christina McNair, who was instrumental in organizing St. Ignatius’ visit to camp. Christina is a daughter of the late and greatly missed deaf-blind artist Elva Iacono Vergari, herself a major LightHouse supporter and client.

LightHouse News

Deaf-Blind Gather in Unique Enchanted Hills Session

1 Commenton Deaf-Blind Gather in Unique Enchanted Hills Session

For over thirty years the LightHouse has offered a session at Enchanted Hills specifically for campers who are Deaf-Blind. This year 26 campers attended, most from the Bay Area, making it the largest such gathering in California in 2013.

In addition, 30 volunteer SSP’s (Support Service Providers) helped out with intensive communication assistance. [Support Service Providers are specially trained professionals who enable people who have combined vision and hearing losses to access their environments and communicate. Source: http://www.aadb.org/information/ssp/ssp.html.] SSP’s make sure every announcement or instruction between camp staff and camper is communicated to the camper via tactile sign language.

All the campers were able to enjoy recreational activities such as swimming, boating, games, archery, crafts, hiking, parties during the evening and a presentation on the latest in accessible technology. But because Deaf-Blind people are often isolated due to communication and transportation barriers, the most valuable part of this camp session is that it gives Deaf-Blind campers the opportunity to speak to others using American Sign Language.

Says LightHouse Deaf-Blind Specialist Sook Hee Choi, “Everyone enjoys the camp. Campers meet new friends and also talk with old friends, catching up with news. People who are sighted and hearing take this for granted, but for Deaf-Blind campers, this can only happen when they are physically present and able to touch each other through tactile sign language.”

Volunteer Angelica Medina-Boersma using tactile communication with a Deaf-Blind camper during a nighttime social

Professional Hip Hop dance instructor Christiane Crawford teaches hip-hop moves to Deaf-Blind campers and volunteers, including Angelea Palmer and Mark Mellenger, Brianna Quintana and KimYao, Tony So and Don, and David Powell

Deaf-Blind camper Rick Joy chats with volunteer Suzanne Tierney, who is a Bay Area DOR Counselor

LightHouse News

Retreat for Blind Veterans – November 8 through 10

In partnership with the Veterans Administration, Enchanted Hills is hosting a retreat for blind and visually impaired veterans from November 8 through 10, 2013. The retreat is designed to bring low vision veterans together from the Bay Area and beyond to convene, identify resources and build a community of support.

If you are a veteran or know of someone that may benefit from this retreat please contact Tony Fletcher at (415) 694-7319 or tfletcher@lighthouse-sf.org.

LightHouse News

You’re Invited to V.I.B.E.S. (Visually Impaired and Blind Entertainment Sunday) – a Fundraiser for Enchanted Hills Camp on October 13

Some years after Joyce Cid became blind she made her first visit to Enchanted Hills Camp, in the summer of 2000. There she learned blindness skills, met mentors, and made friends. Joyce fell in love with the beauty and magic of the Enchanted Hills community! She said, “This experience brought home to me that I really could live an active life once again.” Since then she has devoted time and energy to raising over $45,000 to send other blind individuals to Enchanted Hills to experience its magic.

Enchanted Hills Camp Director Tony Fletcher has known Joyce for years and said, “I think of Joyce as one of the most passionate and dedicated fundraisers for camp. She thrives on making it possible for others to share in the experience that she cherishes so much.”

Joyce and the Ruby Red Girls (a branch of the women’s social organization the Red Hat Society) are hosting a fundraiser to send blind and visually impaired youth to Enchanted Hills Camp next season, and you are invited! Don’t miss this rollicking party at fabulous Armando’s in downtown Martinez. Armando’s is “bursting with energy” and gets 4 and a half stars on Yelp. It’s a great place to dance, listen to music, eat good food and enjoy the company of good friends. Joyce is aiming to raise six thousand dollars and knowing how popular Joyce’s parties are, she’ll do it!

What: V.I.B.E.S. (Visually Impaired and Blind Entertainment Sunday) – a fundraiser for Enchanted Hills Camp
Enjoy Live Music, Featuring Talented Blind Performers, Chair Massages, Raffles & More
When: Sunday, October 13, 2013, 1:00 to 4:00 p.m.
Where: Armando’s, 707 Marina Vista, Martinez, CA, 94553 [armandosmartinez.com]

Tickets are $20 at the door. To donate a raffle item or to find out more information about this event, contact Joyce Cid at (925) 890-6651; or to learn more about Enchanted Hills Camp, contact Lisamaria Martinez at 415-431-1481 or info@lighthouse-sf.org.

Joyce Cid her guide dog

LightHouse News

Changing Vision Changing Life Immersion Training at Enchanted Hills Retreat

The intensified and collaborative Changing Vision Changing Life Immersion training brings together up to 18 low vision and blind adults from all over Northern California to learn essential daily living skills; an introduction to braille and access technology; cane travel and mobility basics, and most important, the connection to other students who are also there to learn.

“With the skills, the inspirational role models and the support gleaned from [this] training experience, I feel more determined and confident that I can continue on the path to greater independence.”
-June 2013 Immersion participant, Perla Kohs

Due to huge demand and interest our September 2013 class has already filled it up. We have the following dates available in 2013 and 2014:

• Sunday, December 8 through Friday, December 13, 2013
• Sunday, March 30 through Friday, April 4, 2014
• Sunday, June 8 through Friday, June 13, 2014
• Sunday, September 7 through Friday, September 12, 2014

Would you like to take part in this opportunity to learn new skills while enjoying the fresh air, tall redwoods and delicious, healthy meals at Enchanted Hills? This class is open to all Californians who are DOR clients. Transportation is provided from LightHouse offices in San Francisco, Berkeley and the North Coast.

For more information, please call Debbie Bacon at 415-694-7375 or e-mail dbacon@lighthouse-sf.org. Del Norte and Humboldt county residents may call Janet Pomerantz at 707-268-5646 and e-mail jpomerantz@lighthouse-sf.org.

Terry Wedler works on a map with student Oma at the June 2013 Changing Vision Changing Life Immersion session (photo credit: Lorraine Miller-Wolf)

LightHouse News

Enchanted Hills Camp Open House Celebrates Friendships, Old and New

On a beautiful, sunny, warm but not too warm Saturday at the end of July, we held our first Open House at Enchanted Hills Camp. Over 200 friends, neighbors and campers gathered together to enjoy live music, swimming, paddle boating on Lake Lokoya, and tours of the camp grounds led by LightHouse CEO Bryan Bashin and Camp Director Tony Fletcher.

Here are some photo highlights of the event. We’ll be uploading additional photos to our Facebook page shortly.

LightHouse Board President Josh Miele speaks to the crowd

Playing bluesy rock and roll, the day’s musical entertainment was provided by a group of camp counselors calling themselves “The Funny Hats”. Derek Dittmar offered rousing vocals and played acoustic guitar along with stalwart accompaniment by counselors Rachel Grider on keyboards and Jimmy Cong on conga drums

 

Kathy Abrahamson , LightHouse Director of Rehabilitation (left) stands in the cool shade with LightHouse Board member Chris Downey and his wife Rosa

Open House attendees swim in the Enchanted Hills Camp pool

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

LightHouse News

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.