OCTOBER 2020

News from the Mountain Top

Dear Campers and Camp Supporters:

Hello from a smoky mountain top as I sit in my office pounding out this newsletter to you.

We all could use some good news, so in this newsletter, we’re focusing on the fantabulous summer we had full of creative Zoom camps! Our volunteer summer camp deans realized that the pandemic would impact our traditional camping season, and they jumped into gear to create a virtual camp experience for so many campers.

My deep thanks to employees Marianne Shuster, Laura Chamberlin, Geoff Anderla, and Marianne Swift-Gifford for heading boldly into Zoom Camp territory. From all of the staff up on the mountain top, we send sincere “thank yous” to the deans and workshop leaders who were key to planning and facilitating the virtual youth and adult camps. Please take a moment to read about the success of adult camps from the deans! Their words will help you see how great these camps were and just how much the participants enjoyed staying creatively connected in our new “normal”.

Summer camps were exceedingly popular, and we want you to continue to enjoy the experience of outstanding virtual camps. Keep an eye out for fall and winter virtual camp adventures. These workshops will be shorter than summer camps and will provide a great way for campers to connect with Camp and one another from home. Virtual camps will be designed for adult campers as well as youth and families. Stand by for details to roll out soon. We hope to offer lecture groups, discussion groups, activities, and games. Please consider attending and connecting; and please raise a hand and volunteer to lead a virtual workshop or activity.  We want to hear from you! Just like our wonderful in person camps, our virtual camps will be volunteer-driven for the most part, and your help and support to make them meaningful and fun is definitely appreciated.  See below if you want to be a presenter.

Be safe and stay healthy. I cherish you all.

Janet James

Executive Director

Your Beloved Camp

  “In the middle of difficulty lies opportunity.” Albert Einstein

There is so much truth in these words as we currently have an abundance of opportunities. Due to COVID-19 and social distancing, you have already had a chance to participate in fun and enriching de Benneville Pines virtual camps. Now you have multiple opportunities to join us for future virtual events.

Everyone has skills, talents, and interests that others would love to learn about. Sign up to offer a virtual workshop and present, demonstrate, or otherwise share a one and a half to two-hour session via Zoom. Contact us at campconnect@uucamp.org with your ideas and dates and times you are available, and we will get back with you to plan the details.

Oh, what a great time we had at virtual summer camps. Hundreds of campers from 11 different states enjoyed sharing time with others, nurturing themselves, and expanding their horizons during de Benneville Pines virtual summer adult camps.

Four adult camps took place during August and September. Read about each one and enjoy pictures from the events by clicking on the camp name. Be sure to read Reverend Owen-Towle’s words, too.

• Summer Break for Adults – That Lovin’ Feeling
• Art Groove – Art Programs for Adults
• Young Adults – Camp Connections 
• Yoga – Building Resilience

Be inspired by Rev. Tom Owen-Towle’s closing words for Summer Break 2020 

Virtual campers are inspired to create

The beautiful artwork above was created by Ellen Rosenblatt in the photography workshop at Art Groove Virtual Camp. Attending Virtual Adult Camp inspired Ardath Schaibly to create this poem for Summer Break.

What creative endeavors are you undertaking from your COVID hide-a-way? You can have your artwork, poetry, photography, stories, essays, and more spotlighted in this newsletter. Send your COVID-era creation to history@uucamp.org. Please include a short description of your inspiration and your contact information.

The El Dorado Fire, along with others throughout the West, has been devastating and traumatic for individuals, communities, and natural habitats. The good news, however, is that many of the adaptations that have occurred through the millennia are still in effect, and some plants on our mountain top will thrive after this wildfire. Click on the links below to access a couple of articles about “fire-followers”.

Pyrophytic plants – Encyclopedia Britannica >>> 

Fire followers -The Guardian 2019 >>>

Watch this video of the One Voice Children’s Choir and be reminded of the blessings you receive from others. Our heartfelt thanks go to firefighters and the everyday heroes who offer financial support, volunteer their time, and send caring thoughts to Camp de Benneville Pines.

Watch the video here >>>

Keep the spirit of de Benneville Pines and yoUUr faith alive in your heart.