UniCamp Magazine

8/9/2019 UniCamp Magazine

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Camp Executive Director

Director of Program Enhancement

Director of Camper RecruitmentSite Manager

Editorial Director

Designer

Contributing Writer

Board of Trustees

President

Vice President

TreasurerSecretary

Trustees

UniCamp

On the Cover

The entrance to Camp River Glen

is shot during the waning hours of

light in the San Bernadino Hills.

Just past this wooden sign, the dirt

road weaves through tall pines

and dives across a bubbling brook

into the UniCamp campground.

Wally “Pops” Wirick

Jason “Mr. Woooo” Liou

Brad “Huckleberry” OstranderEd Bellante

Michael “Mufntop” Lowe

Yoko “Panda” Sakao Ohama

Summer “Winter” McCullough

Mr. Rey Cano

Mr. Brad Schy

Ms. Lisa PierozziMr. Irwin D. Goldring

Peter J. Rich, Esq.

Ms. Stella Allan

Mr. Ashwin Batra

Mr. Jay Bloom

Jenny Cheung, Esq.

Mr. David Clausen

David G. Ducar, Esq.

Ms. Debra Hunter Holloway

Mr. Olaf Kilthau John Reilly, Esq.

Ms. Clair Schlotterbeck

Mr. Jeff Silver

Mr. Evan Shulman

Mr. Martin Mai

Mr. Jeffrey Lyu

Mr. Cord Green

Ms. Wendy Motch

900 Hilgard Ave. Suite 301

Los Angeles, CA 90024

(310)-208-8252

© 2009 by UniCamp. All rights

reserved. Reproduction or use in whole

or in part without written permission

is prohibited. Please e-mail questions,

comments, or requests for more

information to: [email protected]

ucla UniCamp Online

Read more about UniCamp’s

stories and get involved online.

Visit UniCamp.org for recent

events, past stories and future

happenings.

UniCamp MAGAZINE

A PUBLICATION OF UniCamp

UCLA’S OFFICIAL CHARITY

Long before volunteers meet their campers, they are preparing and

planning day in and day out. Volunteers go through rigorous training

during spring quarter including weekly two-hour meetings, an on-siteorientation at camp and a weekend retreat. Here, during the last days

before camp, volunteers go over last minute preparations, load the bus

and leave Westwood for the mountains.



Ucla unicamp

A Lasting ImpressionWe always say UniCamp is for the kids, and it is.But to say UniCamp only affects campers would beshortsighted. In 2008, over 60 percent of the 26,536undergraduates attending UCLA were from familieswith an annual income of $45,000 or higher. Zero

percent of UniCamp’s campers can say that. UniCampserves a unique demographic—a demographic mostUCLA students don’t interact with on a regular basis—yet year after year, over 300 volunteers travelto the mountains to become mentors, role models andfriends with over 1,000 campers from low-incomeareas around Los Angeles. The result? A mutuallearning process. Campers leave with an unforgettableexperience away from the inner city and volunteersleave with new perspectives about the communitiesaround them. The effects of UniCamp go far beyond

the limits of camp and continue long after each sessioncomes to a close. It may not be apparent immediately,but after 75 years, we like to think we’ve made alasting impression.



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Letter from the Director

I was taught that simplicity is the most difcult thing

to design. Yet, UCLA UniCamp started as a simple

idea and, for 75 years, has made us and those around

us, well, simply stated, better people.

It’s been said that a UniCamp experience is a week

that lasts a lifetime and, once you’ve experienced

UniCamp, I think you’ll agree that the desire for

more is endless. It seems to hold true time and time

again that we need each other more and more each

day and the UniCamp experience reminds us of thepossibilities that may follow once this simple reality is

recognized.

UniCamp is about discovering those relationships

and, simply put, the more we give, the more we

take away. Understanding what the wants, needs

and desires of the campers we connect with is a

study in true compassion and a quest to expand our

relationships through shared experiences.

Every day, relationships are explored betweencampers and volunteers, campers and campers,

volunteers and parents, and between those who

2

are different. But also between those who are

on their way to college degrees and those who

run the risk of being lost, between those who are

willing to share and those who are willing to trust,

between the comforts and complications of the city

and the wonder and freshness of the wilderness.

Relationships create the basis of our understanding

and UniCamp allows us to understand those

relationships in ways we may have never known.

Each year we help UCLA students design and conductUniCamp experiences that challenge us to grasp

what may be beyond our reach trusting that we will

gain the courage, the know-how, the relationships

and the resources needed along the way. We examine

what already is, and how to better it. We learn from

each other and explore the unknown together. We

question and then ask why? And, yes, we work to

build bridges towards better relationships.

Here at UniCamp the possibilities for tomorrow are as

countless as the stars in tonight’s sky. Come join usfor a week that will last a lifetime — and beyond.

Wally “Pops” Wirick

Greetings,



Ucla unicamp

From the

ArchivesUCLA UniCamp has gone

through a few changes since

its rst ofcial session in 1935.

It’s changed locations several

times, it’s expanded its programs

to include older campers and

leadership development and itbecame an independent non-prot

organization.

However, despite its constant

evolution, at the heart of UniCamp

will always be longstanding ideals

and traditions.

UCLA UniCamp’s mission is

to create a continuum of care

allowing kids from underservedcommunities to become campers,

campers to become volunteers,

volunteers to become community

leaders and leaders to contribute

to the success of underserved

communities.

It is a circular investment that

never stops beneting the

community around UCLA and

beyond. It is an investment in the

future.

Campers and volunteers

stand during line up at the

old “upper” site in front of

kthe previous Lodge building.

3A-frames used to be the cabin of choiceat UniCamp. Now, cabins at the new

camp site are going through a face

lift—while still open air they have

BIFFYs that ush and showers, ensuring

full compliance with health, safety and

park standards.

AArts and crafts have always beena classic pastime at UniCamp.

3A vintage-looking bell tower

has replaced this freestanding

model, although the same bell

has remained.



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UCLA UniCamp Hall of FameWoodsey Alumni profiles

4

Woodsey

Alumni

Association

The Woodsey Alumni

Association is a new UniCamp

project that will effectively keep

past alumni of the program

connected with current staff

and student volunteers. The

Association will create a cross-

generational community for

Woodsey’s past and present and

host reunions and other social

opportunities.

Want to get connected? Go

to UniCamp.org and click the

“Alumni” tag.

raymond Cardenas

In 1942, Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Raymond Cardenas was just another excited camper attending

UniCamp for the rst time. Cardenas, who was the son of a Mexican immigrant, was born in 1931 in Lompoc,

California and moved to West Los Angeles as a young child while his father labored on the West Los Angeles

railways.

Cardenas attended camp for three years as a camper and found success as an all-Western high school tailback

and Student Body President, eventually nding his way to UCLA where he would make the transition from

camper to counselor. In 1959, Cardenas graduated from UCLA Law School and after practicing law for 14

years became a Los Angeles Superior Court Judge.

Although Cardenas was one of UniCamp’s rst campers, his story is not dissimilar to the stories of campers

today. Like Cardenas, many campers come from underprivileged backgrounds but, at camp, are given the

chance to explore their potential and experience life outside the city. Cardenas’ outstanding story may be

rare, but the beauty of UniCamp is that you never know what might happen.

Janai Humphrey

Every year, for ten years, Janai “Pinecone” Humphrey made the trek to UCLA UniCamp and for ten years

Pinecone was exposed to college volunteers and college life. “It was almost like osmosis being around that

environment year after year,” said Pinecone. “Their college talk, the way they spoke, learning college terms,

being around that kind of environment, the positive outlook. I just wanted to be like that.”

Pinecone rst came to UniCamp as an 8-year-old from Compton and left destined for University of California,

Berkeley and a student volunteer for UniCamp. Over her ten years of camp and experience as a volunteer, she

would become a sort of icon and more than familiar within the UniCamp community.

After being accepted to the John F. Kennedy School of Law in the San Francisco Bay Area, a fellow volunteer,

Gonzo, helped her with a loan and two former counselors and successful lawyers, Shamrock and Tigger,

helped her with personal letters of recommendation during admissions.

“UniCamp made a really huge impression in terms of me thinking about going to college,” said Pinecone. “I

was able to see it rst hand, see the dorms, see the campus, put a picture to what everyone told me about

growing up. As a youngster, this was the lasting impression of UniCamp—college.”

From left:

Raymond Cardenas

and Janai Humphrey.



Ucla unicamp

UniCamp gives kids a chance to be kids. It’s an escape from the

every day and an adventure into a community unlike any other.

Over the course of 5 one-week sessions, nearly 1,000 kids from

the Los Angeles area and over 350 UCLA student volunteers will

convene at camp and together they’ll discover the possibilities.

Here, in photographs, is a typical week of UniCamp in one

action-packed day, from the rst hints of sunlight until well after

nightfall.

photographs by michael lowe

A Day in the Life of UCLA UniCamp

6:15 AM FIRST LIGHT

A peacefully empty camp is a rarity as,

in just under an hour, the sounds of

counselors and campers will be lling

the air.



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7:01 AM GOOD MORNING

The day begins with the traditionalbell ring in the heart of camp, sending

clanging echoes across the 11-acre

campground.

7:17 AM BIFFY RUN

Campers and counselors get ready

for the day by brushing their teeth at

outdoor restrooms known as BIFFYs,

or Bathrooms in the Forest for You.

6

7:12 AM WORk HORSe

Work never really stops around here.

Even before the camp becomes alive,

Special Ed works on replacing a

window frame for the lodge.



Ucla unicamp

7:40 AM TRAILBLAZeRS

Unit 6 takes the short walk from their cabin to

morning line up. Units can have up to ten campers

and are divided by age group and gender. Behind, a

new cabin is under construction in an ongoing effort

to improve camp facilities.

7:47 AM ROLL CALL

Before each meal and during special

activities, the entire camp lines up in

front of the “Rainbow” Arts and Crafts

deck for roll call, to sing songs and

show off their unit pride and Woodsey

spirit. Friendly competitions (e.g.

dance-offs, best animal impression

and rock, paper, scissors) are held to

determine who goes to meals rst and

just for kicks.

7:55 AM ON THe CLOCk

The kitchen staff prepares around 200

trays of food each morning, afternoon

and night. The staff is usually, if not

always, current or alumni Woodseys

reinforcing the feel of community. On

the menu this morning: cinnamon

buns, peaches and milk.



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8:10 AM BRekkIe

The empty lodge quickly lls with the

clanking of silverware and the chatter

of hungry campers. While half of the

camp eats in the lodge, the other half

enjoys their meal in the open air on

picnic tables.

9:15 AM DUTIeS

For most of the day, campers enjoy nature and have fun, but that

doesn’t mean camp isn’t without its responsibilities. After meals,

units are assigned chores such as cleaning the dishes, sweeping

the lodge or picking up trash on the ground. Although not always

enjoyable, it’s an effective way to teach campers responsibility

while maintaining the pristine nature around them.

9:23 AM LOVING NATURe

Kissing a tree is the harmless and

often entertaining consequence for

campers who throw sticks or let slip

curse words. Counselors are often seen

kissing trees as well after saying a

fellow counselor’s real name instead of

their Woodsey name.

8



Ucla unicamp

9:30 AM SPeeD DeMONS

Unit 12 speeds across the bridge separating camp

and the main road on mountain bikes accompanied

by their counselor and specialists. At least two

specialists are in charge of each rotation activity and,

over the course of the week, each unit gets a chance

to participate at each station depending on age and

ability.

9:42 AM WOODSeY BLING

Specialist Daisy teaches a camper

how to make a yarn necklace. The idea

behind “Woodsey Bling” is simple.

Once you make it, you’re supposed

to give it to someone else reinforcing

the ideas of community, sharing and

generosity.

9:43 AM DeTAILS, DeTAILS

Dee Dee concentrates meticulously on

her friendship bracelet. Arts and Crafts

rotation gives campers a chance to

relax and focus on their own creative

projects. During each camp session,

they will have made everything from

necklaces to sand art or, a UniCamp

favorite, tiger’s eyes.

10:12 AM STReTCH ARMSTRONG

Batman, supported by his unit which is acting as a

counterweight, reaches for the goal; in this case,

a plastic water bottle. Using only a single piece

of wood, they must, as a unit, retrieve the bottle

without letting the plank or more than four body

parts touch the ground simultaneously.



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10:22 AM LeT LOOSe

At the far edge of camp, Mrs. Carter

lets an arrow y toward the target at

the archery range. Campers can earn

prizes for hitting bull’s eyes or an 8 x

10 piece of paper with written goals

on them such as “Make new friends”

and “Get good grades,” cleverly called“Goal’s Eyes.”

10:24 AM IN FOCUS

With the target in sight, a camper

draws an arrow from her quiver.

10:50 AM PLAY BALL

You’d be hard-pressed to nd the Rec

Court not lled with a game of prison

ball during rotation. Here, a unit

challenges a group of counselors and

specialists who rarely show mercy.

11:07 AM GO FISH

Unit 10 drops lines into the Santa Ana

River that runs along the edge of camp.

Every once in a while, a camper will

snag a sh which, if desired, is served

to the camper during dinner.

11:18 AM STeP BY STeP

Campers enjoy a laugh at their

unsuccessful attempts to advance

wooden logs beneath their feet in

unison during I-Games. I-Games

are activities engineered to foster

cooperation and leadership as units

attempt to achieve tasks.

10



Ucla unicamp

2:20 PM TO THe TIPPY TOP

WALL returns from their 4-day, 26 mile hike to the

summit of San Gorgonio Mountain, the highest peak

in Southern California. On their journey, they will

learn how to survive in the wild while testing their

limits, both physically and mentally.

3:07 PM BIG AIR

Panda Express goes big during the belly-op event at

the Water Olympics. Campers look on from outside

the pool area during an array of events including

noodle races and water bottle boat otation

contests. At stake: unit pride.

11:56 AM keePING CLeAN

Mr. Clean Rock is a coveted camp staple who stays

with the chosen cabin of the day. However, if left

unguarded, any other unit may claim Mr. Clean Rock

for themselves.

11:32 AM Be OUR GUeST

Sunlight lters through the trees highlighting the

outdoor dining area before lunch.

11:37 AM CRASH BOOk

A head counselor assistant looks over her crash book

before lunch line up. Crash books are a volunteer’sbest friend as they outline the entire week in detail

and often include inspirational or humorous quotes.

However, lose your crash book and you may end up

dancing to Beyoncé, performing an impromptu rap

or discovering it frozen solid in a basketball-sized ice

cube.



| unicamp.org

3:32 PM SAFeTY CHeCk

An Alpine Tower specialist checks the security of a

knot. For this challenging rotation, specialists receive

extra training to learn the ins and outs of properknots and climbing protocol.

3:44 PM CLIMB ON

An Alpine Tower specialist holds her rope as a camper

begins to scale the fty-foot tower.

3:53 PM IN THe CLOUDS

A camper collapses in relief after making the ascent

to the top platform. While a success ful climb always

feels good,the goal isn’t to make it to the top, but to

challenge the limits of campers and getting them to try

something they normally wouldn’t.

12



Ucla unicamp

3:54 PM AYe AYe!

The Woodsey 3 is hitched to the back of the truck on

the way to Big Bear Lake located just 18 miles from

camp. In 2009, UniCamp incorporated a sailing

program for its Older Camper Program—UniCorps .

4:02 PM HOIST THe MAINSAIL

Snowman, a UniCorps camper, pulls

the mast upright in preparation

for cast off. UniCorps is a servicelearning program for high school-aged

campers who can gain service hours

by assisting in duties around camp.

As older campers, they also have the

opportunity to become important role

models for younger campers.

4:45 PM

ANCHOR’S AWAY

UniCamp’s two of the

ve sail boats shoot the

breeze in Big Bear Lake.



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5:01 PM WOODSeY HA-HA

Volunteers are Woodsey Courted

on the last full day at camp. To the

entertainment of their campers,

counselors and specialists are subject

to penalty by ice cold water for

frivolous crimes such as wearing make

up or thinking they’re too cool.

5:12 PM ON CALL

Angel works on routine paperwork inside UniCamp’s

inrmary, Cloud Nine. Angel, who has been with

UniCamp for the last 10 years, is a school nurse and

treats everything from scrapes to the occasional bee

sting.

5:50 PM TOP DOGS

Each session has a Leadership (fondly referred to as LShip) generally consisting of one head

counselor and several head counselor assistants. Here, they lead a song during dinner line up.

LShip is responsible for providing training for volunteers prior to camp and making sure session

runs as smoothly as possible.

6:12 PM GOOD eATS

Rib Night is easily one of the most

memorable dinners during camp.

Close to 200 pounds worth of ribs

are prepared each session. They are

smothered with a homemade barbecue

sauce and grilled over an open ame

until the meat falls off the bone.



Ucla unicamp

7:32 PM STANDING ROOM ONLY

Joker stands in front of a packed Lodge crowd during

the Talent Show. During the two-hour show, campers

dance, sing and perform skits to the cheers of fellow

campers.

7:40 PM NINJA ATTACk

Two UniCorps counselors perform a skit to introduce

the next act. This session, UniCorps is responsible fo

being the Master of Ceremonies for the entire Talent

Show. Here, they get to show off their creativity and

leadership while having a good time.

7:55 PM BUST A MOVe

Campers from Unit 4 break it down to the latest beats. More often than not,

campers, not counselors, are the experts when it comes to the latest songs and

dance moves.



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8:15 PM FLASHING LIGHTS

Campers and counselors cross

the bridge to the main road at the

beginning of their night hike which is

often a camp highlight. Campers are

taken to areas where they can view the

night sky at its clearest without the

distraction of inner city lights.

8:55 PM BOOGIe NIGHTS

The Lodge is illuminated by green

light as campers dance to the latest

tunes. Tonight is the one night where

campers get to dress up and get down.

However, if campers get too close,

volunteers shine ashlights between

them and remind them to “Keep it

Woodsey.”

16

9:20 PM CLOSING CAMPFIRe

The last night at camp concludes with

the Closing Campre where units

perform skits under the stars. It’s an

exciting yet bittersweet activity. In

the morning, campers and volunteers

will pack up their belongings and head

down the mountain and back into the

city.



Ucla unicamp

10:32 PM WRAP UP

Before bed, units discuss their

high and low points of the day. This

gives campers a chance to reect on

the day’s activities and share theirexperiences with the rest of the unit.

11:28 PM AFTeR HOURS

Once campers are all tucked in,

volunteers attend Counselor Campre

while specialists look after campers.

Normally contraband food (e.g. potatochips, candy and soda) is passed

around the circle and, here, counselors

can slow down knowing their kids are

safe and asleep.

12:17 AM LIGHTS OUT

A single light above the Lodge’s main door glows in

the crisp, still night. Campers peacefully snooze after

a long day and counselors unwind in their sleeping

bags. All is quiet at UniCamp. Until tomorrow.



| unicamp.org

A shot in the Dark

summer “winter” Mccullough

When I rst set foot outside the city and into UCLA

UniCamp, I was 12 years old. I, like many other rst-

time campers, came to camp with a closed mind. I

gured we were going to play in the woods for a week

and come back unchanged, sort of like a vacation.

Now, four years later, UniCamp has become a big part

of who I am today. UniCamp has allowed me to follow

my interests by teaching me to set goals for myself

and has taught me invaluable lessons that may not be

available to us at home in the midst of city life.

In 2009, I would be tested in a way that could only

be done at UniCamp. Our counselors had set up a

challenge for us that year in which we hiked a trail

individually, at night, alone, and without the use of

ashlights (mind you, there are no streetlights in the

woods). For safety reasons, our counselors placed

glow sticks on certain trees along the path so we had

a sense of where we were going, but there was no

other help besides that.

I was petried.

Being in the woods hiking alone in the middle of the

night, couldn’t be good idea. When the sun had nally

gone down and the moonlight shone through the

trees, we began the walk to the beginning of the trail.

Reluctant to enter the darkened forest, I tried my best

to stall by walking slower and slower as we got closer

to the trail.

Slowly, my friends began to fade into the darkness

one by one. It was impossible to tell where they were

going.

I tried to prepare myself but, soon enough, it was

my turn. This was the test UniCamp challenged me

to take. It wasn’t just a big hill I had to overcome

physically, but a big hill I had to overcome within

myself. Each step into the darkness became a test. It

was just me and my thoughts and, with every step I

took, I told myself, “I can do this, one step at a time.”Every glow stick I passed, I congratulated myself. I

had to trust myself and my instincts, and it paid off.

At the end of the hike I was overwhelmed with

triumph. Stepping head rst into my fears taught me

to trust my thoughts and believe in myself. When

nobody else is around, I now know I can trust myself

to do what has to be done.

It’s unbelievable to think about how lucky I am to

have been a part of the UniCamp experience. Thiswas just one of the many life lessons I learned at

UniCamp. It takes a strong program with a strong

group of people to teach lessons like these to

underprivileged kids in the city —UniCamp is that

program.

18

A camper recounts a hike through the dead of night



Ucla unicamp

In 2009, Winter attended her

fourth UniCamp session as a

member of UniCorps. She hopes to

study psychology at UCLA.



| unicamp.org

“I can’t do it. I’m just gonna fall,”

20

said the camper known as Stream as he meekly sidled up to the

edge of the wooden beam. He looked down at his knees—they

were visibly shaking. No way was he about to attempt a jump if he

couldn’t even control his legs.

“Don’t worry,” said his counselor, Pumba. “ We’ll help you

across. Just try!” Stream looked skeptical and continued to hold

his ground. Previously he had made a couple courageous, yet

lackluster attempts, quickly dropping to the wood shavings below.

As a unit, they were to help each other from one beam to the next

without touching the ground or the vertical pillar until they were all

on the next log.

One by one, the campers of Session 2’s oldest unit made the

crossing without much difculty. Stream was the only remaining

camper and was getting restless. The longer he waited, the farther

it seemed.

He looked at his feet, rechecking his footing. The beams weren’t

far off the ground, maybe one or two feet, but that didn’t make it

any less intimidating. It was something Stream had never tried

before—taking a leap of faith—but that’s what UniCamp is about.

Success or failure, it’s making that rst step, pushing boundaries

and exploring limits. It’s taking a deep breath and trusting yourself

and the people around you to pull you through.

With six hands of support and the cheers from his unit surrounding

him, Stream made the leap and achieved something he never

thought he would even attempt. Unit 14 erupted as Stream stood

in bewilderment still holding his breath.

His unit clapped him on the back and dished out high ve’s while

Stream remained in shock. As he began to register what had just

happened, a wide smile slowly started to spread across his face.

It was a smile that seemed to say, “What next?”

Closing Campfire



UniCamp

900 Hilgard Avenue, ste. 301

los angeles, ca 90024

Become a sponsor:

Send check or money order to:

900 Hilgard Avenue, Ste. 301

Los Angeles, CA 90024

Donate Online at:

www.unicamp.org

ASUCLA or UCLA staff payroll deducation:

Have a portion of your check automatically designated to UniCamp

by calling 310-794-8827

Vehicle Donation:

Donate a used car and proceeds will go directly to UniCamp.

Contact Jason Liou at 310-208-8252 ext. 11.

Gifts in Kind:

UniCamp is always looking to improve camp and its facilities. If you

have any construction tools, camping supplies, or arts and crafts

materials you no longer need or use, we would love to take them off

your hands. For inquiries please call 310-208-8252.

All donations are tax deductible and highly appreciated.

How to gt involvd

Send your kid to camp:

For eligibility requirements, camp dates, and application process

go online to unicamp.org or call 310-208-8252

Become a student volunteer:

Applications are released in the beginning of winter quarter and

phone interviews are scheduled towards the end of winter quarter.

If accepted, volunteers must attend weekly 2-hour meetings, an

on-site orientation at camp and participate in fundraising.

For information, go online to unicamp.org and click the “Student

Volunteers” tab.

Become a trustee:

UniCamp’s Board of Trustees is always seeking Woodsey Alumni

that are interested in staying involved. Board meetings are

quarterly with committee meetings intermittent between.

If you would like more information about becoming a Trustee

contact Wally Wirick at 310-208-8252 ext. 16.

UniCamp Magazine

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