the full 2016 Program Brochure

Camp UniStar
2016
Camp UniStar is a place of natural beauty and serenity nestled on Star Island, surrounded by the clear waters of
Cass Lake. Here amidst the pine forests of northern Minnesota, Unitarian Universalists and like-minded friends gather
to relax and regenerate. The dark, clear nights are perfect for star-gazing, while sunrises and sunsets invite meditation.
Water activities abound and there are miles of trails through the quiet forest. Campers enjoy sailing, swimming,
kayaking, canoeing, hiking, volleyball, horseshoes, crafts, card games, board games, conversing or quietly reading on
screen porches... all on an island with no roads or commercial enterprise.
Camp UniStar was established in 1961 when the Anderson family of Houston, Texas generously donated the
land and rustic buildings to what is now the Camp UniStar Foundation. It is a non-profit, volunteer-managed camp
for people of all ages. Families and individuals come seeking personal growth, community and friendship as well as a
deeper connection to nature. They leave with changed lives, new friends, and lifelong memories of a magical place.
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Program
2016
Youth Weeks
• Youth Week 1, June 18 - 25
• Youth Week 2, June 25 - July 2
These weeks offer youth entering grades 7 through 12 time with peers to work and play while building
community and lifelong friendships. The morning is spent on service projects like painting and landscaping
that contribute to camp. Activities for the rest of the day center on enjoying time on the island: hiking, kayaking,
sailing, canoeing, swimming, playing ping pong, volleyball or games, or just relaxing on the dock.
Youth Week Registration
Youth Week registration is online. There are two dates for registration:
• Returning Youth Week campers may register beginning at noon on March 6, 2016.
“Returning Campers” are defined as those campers who attended Youth Week in 2015.
• New Youth Week campers may register beginning at noon on March 13, 2016.
The fee for Youth Week 2016 is $465 per camper. (Partial scholarships are available.)
To register for Youth Week, go to the Youth Week web page http://www.campunistar.org/youth/registration
and follow the instructions. If you don’t have access to a computer, please call the Youth Week registrar, Abby
Olson at 612-454-0922.
Program Weeks
The week’s leader-facilitated programming runs each day from 10 a.m. to noon. A children’s program for ages 3
to 11 is provided during this time. Parents are responsible for their children at all other times.
Programming for youth ages 12 to 18 is planned each week to meet the interests of those attending. Activities
may include overnight camping, a trip to Cedar Island, evening campfires, baking, canoe or kayak excursions,
and more.
June 11 - 18............................Work Week: Trading Skills
Program Leaders: Sonja Blackstone, Bob Friedman,
Morgan L’Argent, Randall Sanderson
DISCOUNT: Reduced fees this week, plus additional
discounts for young adults (age 18 to 35).
This year, Work Week begins after most schools have
dismissed classes. So, we extend a special invitation
to young people and families to work together on
projects for all ages and abilities. Past Youth Weekers
are especially invited to renew their ties at UniStar.
Major projects include improvements to Cabin 5 and
renovations to our staff building. In addition, there are
things to paint, porches to screen, windows to wash,
firewood to split, sailboats to set up and plenty of minor
repairs to be made to keep our camp going strong. After
morning projects there’s ample time to relax and enjoy
island living. Although there are no formal youth or
children’s programs, enthusiastic young workers are
welcome. Join the UniStar family and participate in
projects that will benefit the camp for years to come!
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July 2 - 9....................................................................Boats!
Program Leader: Greg LaLiberte
UniStar has a wide range of boats available for campers
and this week is an opportunity to learn how to make
the best use of them. For those interested in sailing, we
will learn the basics of weather conditions, boat safety
and points of sail; as well as racing rules and strategy.
Campers can also learn skills for canoeing, kayaking
and stand-up paddle-boarding. For landlubbers, Greg
will also have some radio-controlled model sailboats
for use. Discussions about sailing books (both novels
and practical texts) will round out the week.
Greg has 45 years of sailing experience on lakes
across the country and in international and domestic
competitions. He has sailed boats of all sizes from
Sunfishes to ocean-going yachts. He is also a veteran
of over 50 BWCA canoe trips and has kayaked many
area rivers.
Program
July 9 - 16................................................. Create-A-Game
Program Leader: Eric Joselyn
Game-playing is a time-honored tradition at UniStar.
This week, we’ll reflect on our favorite games and
then imagine, design and create new games based
on common game structures. Eric will bring ideas for
team projects to build community and to devise games
inspired by the camp experience. The week will attract
many game- and puzzle-lovers, so bring your favorites
for the afternoon and evening hours.
A longtime UniStar camper, Eric has returned to Star
Island each summer since childhood. Most of his time
is spent in Philadelphia working as an art teacher and
Folk Arts Coordinator at the Folk Arts Cultural Treasure
Charter School.
July 16 - 23.....................Being Mindful: Yoga & Writing
Program Leaders: Iris & Clara Jacob
Two programs are offered this week; some sessions will be
concurrent.
Enjoy the best of both worlds with yoga and creative
writing each day. Yoga sessions will incorporate
meditation, allowing participants to relax and feel
invigorated. Classes will be rooted in Kundalini yoga,
with some Hatha and Vinyasa mixed in. Some yoga
sessions will be geared toward parents with children
and babies, so the whole family can participate.
Writing sessions will focus on expressing and deepening
both internal and external experiences. We will take
inspiration from Star Island, nature and personal
journeys. The sessions will include (but not require)
sharing writing in a nonjudgmental environment.
Iris has taught yoga for three years, with a focus on
families and using yoga to strengthen family bonding
and build a sense of community. She has a Master’s
degree in social justice education and works at
Teaching for Change in Washington D.C. Clara has
a Master of Fine Arts degree in creative writing and
works professionally as a writer. As a lifelong UU and
UniStar camper, Clara loves Star Island, nature, and
UU spirituality.
2016
July 23 - 30.......... Home Crafts: Felting & Woodcarving
Program Leaders: Sydney Dunitz, Valerie Garber,
Paul Linden
Two programs are offered this week; some sessions will be
concurrent.
Needle felting is like painting on fabric. Let your
imagination go wild making old wool sweaters into
tote bags, pot holders, coffee sleeves and scarves. Then,
use special needles to decorate your new felted project
using colorful wool “roving.”
Woodcarving is an ancient and satisfying craft. Paul
will teach safe knife skills and woodcarving techniques,
and campers will practice them while making several
practical projects. We will make beautiful wood spoons
and other kitchenware and decorative objects.
Sydney Dunitz and Valerie Garber have been knitting
for decades. They are both active in charity knitting
efforts at First Universalist Church in Minneapolis. Paul
Linden works in the Art Department of the University
of Minnesota. He has been an instructor at North House
Folk School for several years, teaching woodworking
and toolmaking classes.
July 30 - August 6...................Old Time Music & Dance
Program Leaders: Nikki Grossman & Joe Hart
Come sing, dance, and play music – or just stomp along
with the beat. Revel in the joy of unplugged fun as
Nikki and Joe lead us in a week of old-time music and
dance, along with discussions on musical history and
styles. At the end of the week we’ll have a dance that
will include square dancing, contra dancing and other
forms, such as waltzing, polka and the two-step.
Nikki Grossman and Joe Hart perform as the singing duo
The Yellow-Bellied Sapsuckers. They are professional
musicians and are knowledgeable about many styles,
while specializing in old-time and country music. Nikki
is also an Appalachian-style clogger.
Continued on next page...
Volunteer Opportunities
UniCorps is the Camp UniStar volunteer program. By becoming a UniCorps volunteer, you can earn discounts
on your Program week fees and UniStar will benefit from your volunteering efforts.
If you’d like to share your talents in cooking, maintenance, or help with other tasks at camp this summer,
please visit http://www.CampUniStar.org/volunteer for more information.
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Program
August 6 - 13......................... Think Globally, Eat Locally
Program Leaders: Maggie & Dennis Montgomery
What we eat is influenced by culture, family, and what
we think is good for us and the planet. Eating habits
are also shaped by where we live. This week, we will
explore the local foods movement (eating foods grown
near one’s home) and ways to prepare Minnesota foods
from scratch. We will talk about the meaning of food,
sustainability, healthy eating, and how we relate to
what we eat. In addition, the leaders plan to start some
ferments such as kimchi, sourdough and sour cream.
Maggie and Dennis Montgomery undertook a year-long
experiment of eating locally in northern Minnesota.
As a public radio producer, Maggie has had the
opportunity during the last several years to conduct
weekly interviews with people involved in Minnesota’s
local foods movement. She presents information on
local foods at workshops and conferences. Dennis is
a community college instructor at Leech Lake Tribal
College in Cass Lake and at Northwest Technical
College in Bemidji.
August 13 - 20............... Listening as a Spiritual Practice
Program Leader: Shay MacKay
Listening is a practice we can cultivate, attuning
ourselves to the deeper rhythms of our lives and our
world, and improving the quality of our listening can
make a profound difference in our lives. The spiritual
practice of deep listening is a way of being in the world
that is sensitive to all facets of our experience - external,
internal, and contextual. Shay McKay will help us
explore this topic through discussion, presentation,
meditation, and music.
Shay has a Masters in Divinity and has been serving
as the 2015-2016 ministerial intern at Unity Unitarian
Church in St. Paul. Since her early years, she has
been involved in musical training, composing, and
performing.
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2016
August 20 - 27................................ Spring Forest Qigong
Program Leader: Bruno Franck
Qigong (chi-gung) is derived from Tai Chi and is about
cultivating life force energy. The physical exercises and
healing movements of Qigong have been practiced
in China for thousands of years and are designed to
increase strength, flexibility, and stamina. We will learn
to detect and remove energy blockages and balance
energy through the easy-to-learn movements of the
Spring Forest form of Qigong. Simple and powerful
meditations will increase mindfulness and focus.
Bruno Franck is a Qigong Master Healer and certified
instructor who works with people of all ages and health
conditions. He is committed to helping people become
their own most successful healer and advocate for better
health.
August 27 - September 3.............................Art & Asanas
Program Leaders: Doug Garder & Velma Wagner
DISCOUNT: $40 discount per person for double (or more)
occupancy; applies to cabin/lodge rooms and tents. We
encourage you to invite friends or family members to join
you for a fun week at UniStar!
Two programs are offered this week; some sessions will be
concurrent.
This week is reserved for adults (age 18+).
Interpret the awesome beauty of Star Island in pen
and ink, graphite, and watercolor. In the Lodge, art
instructor Doug Garder will demonstrate the use of
materials and techniques, and discuss texture, line
quality, and value. On the trails, campers can capture the
panoramic views of Cass Lake or the intimate details of
nature. Guidance on improving your skills is available
throughout the week. Doug has been teaching art for
nearly four decades and is currently an instructor at
Art Institutes International in Minneapolis.
Learn or improve yoga postures with a focus on balance,
strength, and stretching. Velma Wagner will draw upon
over 30 years of teaching yoga, and her yoga studies in
India, to create a welcoming environment for beginners,
continuing students, and all levels and abilities.
Fees & Information
2016
Life at Camp UniStar is simple, rustic and comfortable. Campers share space in one of five cabins,
Anderson Lodge, or pitch a tent near the lakeshore. The cabins and lodge feature a common room, simple
kitchenette, sleeping rooms for each family, and a bathroom with a tub. Campers bring sheets, mattress pads,
pillowcases, and towels. Pillows and blankets are available. The tent area has five tent platforms (bring your
own tent, sleeping bags, etc.) with nearby bathrooms, shower, a basic kitchenette, and screened gazebo.
There is a communal dining hall serving three delicious, healthy meals a day. In addition to the regular
offerings, at each meal we provide gluten-free baked goods, almond and soy milk, and vegetarian and vegan
entrees and desserts. If you have a diet that is very limited, bring some food to supplement the meals camp
provides. For questions or more information about the facilities, visit our website at: www.CampUniStar.org.
Camp Fees
Adults 18 & over
Youth 12-17
Children 3-11
Work Week
cabin/lodge
tenting
$380 *
$290
$150
$280 *
$210
$110
Youth Week
—
$465
—
Program Week
cabin/lodge
tenting
$550
$410
$200
$445
$330
$160
Deposit
Per Person
$200
$150
$100
* Young Adult Discount: For Work Week, the youth fees apply for 18 to 35 year-olds - cabin $290, tent $210.
Please write “Young Adult” after your name on Registration Form.
Some suggestions for increasing your chance of attending camp:
• Choose more weeks. Your flexibility makes it more likely there will be space in one of your preferred weeks.
• Choose weeks early in the season. The late July and August weeks are the most requested.
• Send in your registration form before priority registration ends on March 12, 2016. Registrations received
after that date will have fewer weeks to choose from.
If the weeks you select are oversubscribed, you’ll be placed on a waiting list. If this happens, we’ll notify you.
Deposits are nonrefundable once you have received your registration confirmation. Refunds for cancellations
will be considered only if your spot can be filled by another registrant.
Information:
FGeneral
• IMPORTANT: Campers drive to SailStar Marina and are ferried from there to Camp by pontoon. (See map
on page 8.) There will be three trips to Camp each Saturday at approximately 2:30, 3:45, and 5:00 p.m. If you
live in the Twin Cities or northern Minnesota please try to take the earlier trips, leaving room later for those
coming from farther away.
• Canoes, sailboats, and kayaks are available. Campers may also bring their own, but no jet skis.
• Campers arrive late Saturday afternoon and leave the following Saturday morning. Private boaters should
follow the same schedule.
• A program for children ages 3-11 is available each day 10 a.m. to noon. Parents are responsible for their
children at all other times.
• Pets are not permitted.
• Smoking is limited to outdoors only.
• First aid is available at camp. Medical emergencies are taken to the Cass Lake Clinic or the North Country
Regional Hospital in Bemidji.
• Single registrants may occasionally be asked to share a room.
• Financial assistance may be available. Please contact the Camp Registrar.
• Requests for a second week (not counting Work Week) may be submitted to the Registrar after March 12 or
to the Camp Director after May 28. (See addresses on page 6.)
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Registration Information
2016
Program Registration Notes - Please Read!
• Priority Registration ends March 12 for all Program weeks.
The Registrar must receive your form with deposit by this
date. Postmark does not apply.
• After March 12, you may still apply to attend. Please check
the website, www.CampUniStar.org, or contact the Registrar
(until May 28) or the Director (after May 28) to find out
which weeks have space available.
• Make checks payable to Camp UniStar. Contact the Registrar
to pay by credit card.
• Registration confirmation letters will be sent out in March.
They will include a statement of your balance due, more
information about camp, and may include additional
information about the program. Your balance will be due on
Friday of the program week you attend. Payment by check is
preferred.
Mail completed registration forms to:
Chris Bremer, Registrar
6001 Ewing Ave. S.
Edina, MN 55410-2739
Phone: 612-399-6116
E-mail: Registrar@CampUniStar.org
After May 23, additional requests go to:
Director, Camp UniStar
25816 Star Island SE
Cass Lake, MN 56633-3339
Phone: 218-335-2692
E-mail: Director@CampUniStar.org
• If you require accessible housing or have other special needs, please attach a note.
• We make every effort to accommodate groups who wish to attend camp together. Please see “GROUPS”
instructions on the Program registration form. Use separate form and deposit for each family, please.
Work Week Notes:
• To assist with the planning of housing, those applying for Work Week and wishing to arrive late or leave
early must enclose a letter with their application stating the exact dates and times they wish to arrive and
leave.
• Campers who apply for Work Week may also apply for a Program week at the same time. Please use a
separate registration form and deposit for the additional week.
Page 6
Program Registration
2016
ONLY ONE HOUSEHOLD PER REGISTRATION FORM.
Total # in your party _________
Adult Name(s) ______________________________________________________________________________________________
Address ____________________________________________ City, State, Zip _________________________________________
Phone ____________________ E-mail ________________________________________ Congregation _____________________
Attach same information if registering additional adults. Visit www.CampUniStar.org to print additional forms.
Children:
B-Day
M/F
B-Day
M/F
Name ______________________________ __/__/___ ____ Name _______________________________ __/__/___ ____
Name ______________________________ __/__/___ ____
Name _______________________________ __/__/___ ____
New to UniStar?
Deposit $ ________
Has your contact info changed since last year?
(see page 5)
Week Preferences:
$
$
June 11 - 18 : Work Week
(May register for another week. Use separate form.)
July 30 - Aug 6 : Old Time Music & Dance
Preferred
Good
Acceptable
July 2 - 9 : Boats!
Preferred
Good
Aug 6 - 13 : Thinking Globally, Eating Locally
Preferred
Good
Acceptable
Acceptable
July 9 - 16 : Create-A-Game
Preferred
Good
Acceptable
Aug 13 - 20 : Listening as a Spiritual Practice
Preferred
Good
Acceptable
July 16 - 23 : Being Mindful: Yoga & Writing
Preferred
Good
Acceptable
Aug 20 - 27 : Spring Forest Qigong
Preferred
Good
Acceptable
July 23 - 30 : Home Crafts: Felting & Woodcarving
Preferred
Good
Acceptable
Aug 27 - Sept 3 : Art & Asanas (adults only)
Preferred
Good
Acceptable
Would you prefer to stay in: Cabin/Lodge
Tent
$
If 2 adults, would you prefer: 2 single beds
Double bed
I understand that Camp UniStar is on a remote island with limited services, and I accept responsibility for the safety of
my minor children and myself. In case of accident or injury, I agree to hold Camp UniStar blameless, and I hereby release
Camp UniStar from liability for accident or injury resulting from my own actions. Each adult please sign below:
Signature(s) _______________________________________________________________________________________________
GROUPS: If you wish to attend camp with another household, all households involved must agree on one “group name”
and must then write that group name on each registration form here: Group Name _________________________________
If one party is paying for the group’s deposit fees, please write a separate check for each household.
If your group has special housing needs, please attach a note.
Diet
Vegetarian
Vegan
Gluten-free
Names
Allergies
Dairy
Names
Peanuts
Shellfish
Vegetarian or vegan meals must be requested when registering. Other (specify)
FIf you have a limited diet, please plan to bring some of your own food to supplement the provided meals.
Page 7
Camp UniStar
c/o Chris Bremer, Registrar
6001 Ewing Ave. S.
Edina, MN 55410-2739
UR
MARK YO
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CALENDA
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March 26t
Priority Registration ends March 12, 2016
Camp UniStar Foundation is a 501(c)(3) organization
serving the MidAmerica Region, Unitarian Universalist Association
Camp UniStar
Mission
The mission of Camp UniStar is to nurture intergenerational
community that lives Unitarian Universalist principles while
promoting personal and spiritual growth and love of nature.
Camp UniStar
Potato Islands
Operating Principles
1.Camp UniStar operates consistent with UU principles for
the enjoyment and enrichment of Unitarian Universalists and
like-minded people.
Duluth
130 miles ➤
Twin Cities
200 miles
5. Camp UniStar has limited rules and regulations. Those that
are established are primarily for the purpose of satisfying legal
requirements, concerns for safety, protection of the rights of
others, and protection of the camp’s natural surroundings.
revised 4/2008
Page 8
Cass Lake
SailStar Marina
➤
4.Camp UniStar’s finances are managed prudently. Fees are
established with the goal of being both affordable to most
campers and adequate to ensure the perpetuation of the
camp. Therefore, the camp will continue to depend heavily on
volunteer help, financial donations and other contributions.
Bemidji
20 miles
M
3.Camp UniStar facilities are developed and maintained to
provide simple, communally-shared accommodations which
blend with the camp’s surroundings, and have a minimal impact
on the area’s natural environment.
Star Island
➤
2. Camp UniStar offers programs, activities and opportunities
for all ages that enhance personal and spiritual growth,
group involvement, and appreciation of nature. Campers
are encouraged and expected to initiate and facilitate camp
activities of interest to them.
Lake Windigo
le
ap
Cass Lake
2
371
1” = 1 mile
★