WUULF Youth and Young Adult Programs

WUULF is first and foremost a friendly, intergenerational camp seeking to build a close-knit community in which we can live out our UU principles and purposes -a place where participants of all ages could spend time focusing on their own interests, as well as spend time together. For all of our safety and enjoyment, there are some minimum standards of conduct that must be maintained. For families who bring children to WUULF, we co-schedule children's classes and adult activities three days a week to provide a time for adults to pursue their own activities (see descriptions in this catalog). On the remaining days, you can "build your own adventure"-- take side trips, hike on the trails around WUULF, visit local museums, and the like. If you brought children with you to WUULF, this is a chance for you to spend time with them in this fabulous environment. We ask that WUULF participants take full responsibility for the children they bring to WUULF at all times when children are not in scheduled, supervised activities. It is stressful and potentially dangerous when unsupervised children, especially those who are elementary school aged or younger, are present at WUULF activities without a responsible adult to guide them. At Ghost Ranch, we are surrounded by miles of wild areas. Bears, snakes and other wild animals are frequently spotted on ranch property. At night, near total darkness descends. And as adults, we are sometimes so consumed by the incredible setting and the wonderful company that we may let our guard down and assume the community that provides us with so much, will also provide unsolicited, spontaneous child care. We will all be safer and happier if we try to avoid this scenario! Failure to comply with WUULF and Ghost Ranch guidelines may result in expulsion from WUULF activities, or from Ghost Ranch itself.

SUPPORT

A great way to fulfill your volunteer committment, parents are encouraged to volunteer to help in youth programs at least 2 ours during the week for each child or youth in the program.  SIGN-UP IS REQUIRED AT THE TIME OF CHILDREN'S REGISTRATION ON MONDAY.

All youth MUST be either in their designated program or with their parent/guardian at all times.

Parents and youth MUST attend the orientation session on Monday evening.

WUULF Cub Program
(K to entering 2nd)

One of the many wonderful aspects of the WUULF Camp at Ghost Ranch is the Children's Program, available from 9:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. on Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday. Kids and parents must attend the orientation Monday evening. Each child will need to bring a backpack, towel, swimsuit, sunscreen, water bottle, and bug spray each day. The children enjoy a number of different activities, including hikes, storytelling, swimming, playing in the mud (always a favorite!), visiting museums at the ranch and doing arts and crafts. Those who are in the campground will need to either bring a packed lunch daily, or sign up and pay for dining hall lunches for the week. Specific procedures will be discussed at the Parent Orientation. Parents are always welcome to join the children for all or part of a day's activities. We've found that a small day pack can be an indispensable help in keeping contained the equipment they'll need to participate in a full day of fun at WUULF.

WUULF Coyote Program
(Grades entering 3rd to entering 5th)

The Coyote program is tailored for children entering grades 3 to 5. This program will be on Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday, from 9:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. The coyote members and their parents are expected to attend an orientation regarding program and procedures with the youth staff Monday evening. The youth enrolled in the Coyote program should have sturdy shoes, a daypack with a towel, swimsuit, sunscreen, water bottle and insect repellent, and lunch if not participating in the dining hall lunches. Their activities will include hiking, a project, crafts, swimming, low-ropes course, etc. At the end of the week there will be a Teen Passage ceremony. This ceremony involves personal and group spiritual exploration and a formal acknowledgement and welcome to the WUULF Pack program and beginning the transition into the adult community. This has been a powerful and emotional event for teens, parents and other community members in previous years.

  Children's Choir, 3:45-4:30 p.m., Tuesday and Thursday

Join Laurie Simmons for a fun-filled adventure in music!

Kindergarten - 5th grade children (WUULF Cubs & Coyotes) will work up 2 songs for the Talent Show on Friday evening.  One song will involve many animal puppets and the other a variety of percussion instruments!  Parents are welcome (and encouraged!) to participate as well.

Laurie Simmons is a singer/songwriter from Fort Worth, Texas. She has worked with children and youth for over 30 years. She has written and performed several programs for the FW Symphony Kinder Concert series and teaches private piano and guitar.

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WUULF Pack Program
(Grades entering 6th to entering 8th)

The WUULF Pack program is community in action. Our staff facilitates activities designed to promote learning, sharing, and growing in a UU oriented environment. Pack members will have the opportunity to hike, swim, share feelings, explore their spirituality, and just hang out. Parents and their teens are required to attend an orientation on Monday evening. WUULF Teen Staff will brief parents and teens on expectations, responsibilities, and guidelines for participation in the program.

WUULF TRIBE Program
(Grades entering 9th to completing 12th/18yo)

Like a verbal version of Las Vegas, what's said in the Tribe stays in the Tribe. This group of older teens meets every other morning to talk about love, work, community, and music - all with the freedom to speak, well, freely. We'll even discuss research that suggests that "bad apples" in community can be neutralized with listening. Hmmm... In the spirit of supporting the greater WUULF community, the Tribe will create and present the Summer Solstice Celebration at Echo Amphitheater. Be sure to bring all your favorite celebration ideas! And be sure to bring a piece of music that is meaningful to you to share with the Tribe during our first morning. We're going to create community with music, sharing, and energy.

Youth and Young Adult Chaplain

Canyon Bosler will serve WUULF as our first Youth (Cub, Coyote, Pack, and Tribe) and Young Adult Chaplain. Canyon is a life-long UU, and this will be his 15th year at WUULF. He has served as Chaplain for UUA General Assembly Youth Caucus and Pacific Southwest District Senior High Camp, and has trained UU Youth across the country in Chaplaincy and Leadership for the UU Continental Youth Office. Canyon is a rising junior at American University in Washington, D.C. studying International Relations and Economics. He will also be facilitating a Wisdom Circle discussion on "Grassroots Peace Activism" focusing on the Arab/Israeli Conflict.

WUULF Young Adult Program
(Finished with high school, Ages 18-24)

WUULF is excited to add a Young Adult Program to our line-up for the first time in 2010. We are delighted that we have a growing group of amazing young adults at WUULF, and we have created a program that we hope will appeal to their interests while keeping them integrated with our intergenerational community. Deanna Reyna, who has attended WUULF for over a decade, and advocated strongly for a YA Program, will facilitate. The format allows for participation in theme, afternoons for co-creating activities of interest to the group or joining any event on the WUULF schedule, evenings with the whole community, and a new "Late Night" timeslot just for Young Adults.

Details of the schedule will be decided on after Young Adult Orientation on Monday Late Night. If you are a young adult who has an idea for a discussion group, activity, hike, or workshop you'd like to lead, add it to the schedule. In this way, the group will build a week that appeals to the participants. Some events may be two or three people, others may involve the whole group. It will be up to you to design the week you want within the framework provided. Deanna will have some ideas and options ready, and the rest will build on that. You can begin to share ideas and plans on the WUULF Facebook site before camp if you'd like. Just join the group "WUULF" and click "discussions".

We are offering a Young Adult Dorm option, also for the first time. This housing is for those in the Young Adult Program only. Young Adults are not required to stay in the dorms, and can opt to stay with their families in Corral Block or the campground. The dorms are on the Mesa, are bunkstyle, and share a shower block. Roommates will be assigned by the registrar, though you can request roommate(s) on your registration (all parties should make the request) and we will attempt to accommodate such requests as space allows. A special Young Adult rate of $350 for room and board applies to the Dorms. There will be no chaperones in the dorms (both YA facilitator and Chaplain will reside in the dorms). Alcohol is not permitted in the dorms as some participants are under 21. No one under the age of 18 is permitted in the dorms.