Tell us what you thought!

When you get home, please take a couple of minutes to fill out our online camp evaluation with your child. The things your camper liked best need to be repeated. We also know that there are areas where we could improve, and want your advice on where to put our energies.

Please don't assume we already know something that you've noticed!

To fill out our evaluation, visit

http://www.zoomerang.com/Survey/?p=WEB227U9HBFHHM

or visit

www.camptq.org

view our blog, “live from TQ” for a clickable link.

You're advice and feedback, both good and bad, will have an impact on how we finish this year and prepare for the next.

Volunteer opening weekend a huge sucess!

This weekend we held our annual volunteer opening work weekend at Camp Tulequoia. Not only was the weather amazing, but the turn out and amount of love and energy that was put into the facility was tremendous. More than 65 volunteers turned out to open cabins, clean bathrooms, rake pine needles and begin this year’s facility projects. The facility projects that were started include the women’s Central Restroom face lift, men’s Dinning Hall restroom face lift and multiple others. We will be back at camp next weekend to continue working on the facility projects we started last weekend and start a few others. Thank you everyone who came out to help! Thanks to everyone’s efforts, camp is running and ready to go.

The fish are here

Did you know that Sequoia Lake is stocked with trout every year? Did you also know that the fish come from a hatchery and are shot into the lake out of a shoot similar to the shoot on a cement truck? If you have never seen the fish stocking process, it is a sight to see. Check out the following pictures of our fish stocking experience:

American Camp Association Conference

From April 2-5 the ten directors from YMCA Camp Tulequoia and Element YMCA Skate Camp headed to Las Vegas for the annual ACA Camp West Conference. This year’s theme was “Building Connections,” and connecting they did. At the conference our directors were able to explore a variety of critical camp issues throughout general and interest sessions, experience a community committed to the value of the camp experience, and meet veteran camp leaders. By making these connections our directors were able to create plans and goals for the future of our amazing camps, and now can’t wait to connect with this summer. Viva Camp Vegas.

The Best Counselor's in the World Work at Camp TQ

We have phenomenal news. The summer staff of 2008 is coming from ALL over the world! This year, we have counselors from Scotland, Kenya, Hungary and throughout the United States who will be joining us for a fantastic summer of fun on Sequoia Lake.

Throughout March and April, Nicholas Benitez (the Assistant Camp Tulequoia Director) and Barbra Westfall (the Camp Tulequoia Director) will be touring Central Valley college campuses to recruit and interview additional camp counselor candidates.

If you know of any amazing leaders you'd like to see sharing their skills as mentors and teachers at camp, let them know there are a few counseling positions left for this summer. Once they are interested, they can apply online by clicking the summer jobs link on our website.

Thank you for helping us find the best staff in the world. See you soon in the sun!

Picnic tables for every cabin!

This summer, Camp Royal (Central California's Rotary Leadership Camp - hosted at Camp Tulequoia) will be building a picnic table for every cabin in Camp Tulequoia! This will be a great asset for our campers to enjoy and a natural friend making facility addition to camp. The picnic tables will be funded by various Rotary clubs throughout Central California and will be assembled on site, during Camp Royal this summer. Each table will be “branded” with the sponsoring Rotary clubs seal. Thanks Rotary!

Sequoia Lake Award Recipients

At tonights Sequoia Lake Annual Dinner, two of our long time volunteers received well deserved awards.

Larry Benevento was named the Visalia YMCA’s Camp Volunteer of the year. Larry has been a long time supporter of our camping programs and has worked tirelessly, raising funds for our Campership program, so that no child is turned away from camp for an inability to pay for it. Larry, a former Camp Director himself has also help direct camps strategic vision and raise funds for a variety of facility projects. Congratulations Larry!

Also at the celebration dinner, Ross Irving received the Don Shantz Legacy award. This award is not given on an annual basis, but only when the Sequoia Lake Conference of YMCA board sees fit to recognize someone for lifelong service to Sequoia Lake. Ross has been involved at Sequoia Lake for nearly 60 years and has dedicated his life to Sequoia Lake, its mission and to the young people come to camp. Congratulations Ross!