In 2013 the LightHouse quadrupled the number of family camps because of their great demand and connection with our other programs. All filled up completely. We thought you might enjoy a few postcards from this summer. Photos by our generous volunteer photographer, Marilyn Bogerd.
In partnership with the Veterans Administration, Enchanted Hills is planning to host a retreat for blind and visually impaired veterans in November, 2013. The retreat is designed to bring veterans together from the Bay Area and beyond to convene, identify resources and provide opportunities to 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@old.lighthouse-sf.org.
We are coming off the heels of the June Changing Vision Changing Life Class with great enthusiasm and can’t wait until September 8 for our next class to begin. Will you be there?
What: Changing Life Changing Vision Immersion training at Enchanted Hills Camp
When: Sunday, September 8 through Friday, September 13
The Changing Life Changing Vision Immersion training brings together up to 18 low vision and blind adults from all over Northern California to learn basic, yet 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.
Throughout the week students have the opportunity to mingle, share and connect with each other, bringing their special skills, professional connections, and personal insights to their adjustment-to-blindness process. The key to this week of training and immersion is the personal commitment and openness to learning each student makes to him/herself and their peers. The fusion of student commitment and the passion and experience of our seasoned teaching staff allow learning and personal growth to occur.
Perla Kohs wrote us a touching letter of appreciation after participating as a student in our June immersion training. She said, “Staff members were always available to us, offering extra help and encouragement at every moment…As my vision has slowly diminished due to retinitis pigmentosa, I have become more increasingly isolated and reliant on others. 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. Now I see that a person with severe vision impairment or blindness has tools and community and can live an active, happy and rewarding life. This is a vision of blindness I don’t think I could have achieved without the week of training and support at Enchanted Hills Retreat.”
Another student, Greg, wrote about his experience: “My time here was informative, scary, exhilarating, tiring, fun, and eye-opening (no pun intended); overall… FANTASTIC! I’m re-energized and looking forward to what’s ahead. I will always be grateful for my experience!”
Take advantage of this wonderful opportunity to learn and connect with other students, while enjoying the fresh air, tall redwoods and delicious, healthy meals at Enchanted Hills. The next Changing Vision, Changing Life Immersion Retreat and Training is September 8 through 13. For more information, please call Debbie Bacon at 415-694-7375 or e-mail dbacon@old.lighthouse-sf.org. Del Norte and Humboldt county residents may call Janet Pomerantz at 707-268-5646 and e-mail jpomerantz@old.lighthouse-sf.org.
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.
Newsletter of the LightHouse for the Blind & Visually Impaired
Employment Immersion New Hires, Superfest 2013, Enchanted Hills Camp Pool Party & Open House, New Staff BJ Epstein and Connie Conley-Jung, and more…
For one week in June, fifteen enthusiastic students participated in a life changing, immersion session at Enchanted Hills Retreat in Napa. Blind and low vision adults from all over Northern California, including five from the North Coast, got a jump start on a life not limited by blindness. Throughout the week, students were introduced to a number of options for living and working independently and each person went home with a unique plan for what they wanted or needed to do next.
The students learned basic essential daily living skills, braille, and dove into access technology solutions. To increase their confidence and safety, they also received a cane and some basic Orientation and Mobility training, enabling them to travel through their home and work environments with skill and grace.
Three of the participants had previous training and were here to gain work experience in their fields of interest: food service, access technology and community advocacy. The three also served as peer mentors to new students while furthering their skills.
The key to the success of this week of immersion was the fusion of each student’s personal commitment to the process and openness to learning, fostered by our passionate and experienced staff.
Our keynote speaker was Margie Donovan, a past LightHouse Board Member and former Visual Impairment Services Team Coordinator for the VA in San Francisco who described her experiences as a blind Enchanted Hills Camper and about connecting with her peers and learning from them. She focused on how embracing challenges and being open to taking risks leads to being as independent as you want to be.
Our other exceptional facilitators included, Julie Bentley, Certified Life Coach; Haruyo Nishimura, Blind Field Services Counselor from the Department of Rehabilitation; and Theresa Stern and Jane Nagli from Guide Dogs for the Blind Student Outreach and Alumni Services. Volunteers Nanako Yamada, Dr. Richard Wolf and Lorraine Miller-Wolf provided their own expertise in the areas of teaching, taking care of the one’s health and exploring creative outlets.
Throughout the week students had the opportunity to mingle, share and connect with each other, bringing their perspective, professional connections, and personal insights to the environment of learning. They came from all walks of life: employed, retired, students and still ‘undecided.’ Represented were artists, chefs, teachers, nurses, entrepreneurs, mothers, partners and friends. They came from as far south as Los Gatos and north to Crescent City.
Despite their diverse backgrounds, the participants discovered common ground. They found they are authors of their own narratives no matter what their eye condition, and no matter what other health conditions intersected their lives. With the adaptive skills and training learned during the week, they are ready to take risks and take charge of their lives.
Another training session is coming up! Join us. The next Changing Vision, Changing Life Immersion Retreat and Training will be held in September 2013, amidst the redwoods and fresh air of LightHouse’s Enchanted Hills Retreat.
For more information, please contact Debbie Bacon at 415-694-7375 or dbacon@old.lighthouse-sf.org. Del Norte and Humboldt county residents please contact Janet Pomerantz at 707-268-5646 or jpomerantz@old.lighthouse-sf.org.
We herald the impact of Enchanted Hills Camp on hundreds of blind youth and their families each year. What we don’t often mention are the countless people who – compelled by its beautiful landscape and amenities – select Enchanted Hills as the setting for their workshop, staff retreat, reunion and even wedding.
Enchanted Hills’ spacious cabins, unique features (including a Yurt, a Geodome, an Outdoor Redwood Amphitheatre, plus Wi-Fi and delicious meals), proximity to the wineries and sights of Napa and its reasonable rates make it ideally situated for your next private event.
You won’t just be doing yourself a favor…all rental proceeds are returned to camp, so that we may sustain Enchanted Hills as a transformative, unparalleled locale for blind and low vision kids to explore, create and learn.
Experience the magic of Enchanted Hills! To reserve your space for 20 to 120 or get more information, call 415-694-7310 or go to www.enchantedhillsretreat.com.
Many thanks to members of the Greater Kiwanis of Napa, who helped us restore our upper camp fire circle in early June.
The streams around Enchanted Hills are going to be a lot cleaner and the fire roads are going to be a lot safer, thanks to a $400,000 grant awarded to the LightHouse by the Napa Resources Conservation District. 
Enchanted Hills Camp Director Tony Fletcher said, “The seeds of this grant were sown back in 2007 when we put together our first formal fire abatement plan. Consultants worked with us on identifying an opportunity to protect our camp from fire. We realized our fire roads needed maintenance to allow access to fire vehicles on parts of our property – to create defensible space on the property. Keeping pathways clean also takes care of our streams by keeping the contaminants out.”
Other benefits from this cleanup effort will include improved access for fire fighters, their vehicles and equipment and better, more walkable trails for Enchanted Hills campers and visitors.
We’d like to thank the following collaborators:
We still have spaces available in our youth sessions:
Kids Session (Kids 3rd through 8th grade): July 15 – July 21 
Teen Session (Kids 9th through 12th grade): July 28 – Aug 3
Our youth sessions are more popular than ever and there’s still room for your child or teen. Remember, for blind or visually-impaired kids under the age of 18 the LightHouse provides an entire session for only a $60 registration fee.
For more information or to guarantee a spot for your child please visit the Enchanted Hills Camp 2013 page on our website. For questions please call us at 415-694-7310 or email us at EHC@old.lighthouse-sf.org.
