Enchanted Hills Camp for the Blind and Visually Impaired
Napa, Ca
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We headed to Napa to visit dear friends we had not seen in 3 years! We knew we would be driving into a part of our country that had been devastated by fires and we felt prepared to witness empty lots where houses had been, where towering redwoods had stood and now lay chopped into movable logs laid by the side of the road. It was difficult to witness. The fire seemed to have moved so quickly and jumped so randomly - it was very hard to understand.
And yet, I do not think either of us was prepared to witness how beautiful these hills would turn out to be…… in both their landscape and in the power of the individual - and the community - spirit that thrives on these magical hills.
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Olive trees line the driveway to upper camp
Enchanted Hill Camp
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Our friends, Janet and Donny, are the “boots on the ground” managers/caretakers at Enchanted Hills Camp for the Blind, 311 acres of pristine beauty located on Mount Veeder. Part of Lighthouse San Francisco, EHC offers a full summer schedule of immersion and specialty camps for children through adults and is a vibrant part of the community here in Napa. The camp lost half of their structures (guest and staff housing, out buildings, and facilities) in the fires. With amazing support they are re-building/re-configuring and moving full speed ahead to open camp, once again, this June!
Portable saw mill turning the downed redwoods into lumber
Enchanted hills Camp, Napa, CA
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We drove up into towering redwoods perched on the hills overlooking Napa. Along the winding road we encountered various crews cutting and removing trees and debris. At what seemed to be the top of the hill we turned into camp and made our way down again into a valley where upper camp stood. We passed the spring feed creek which provides all the water for the camp. We passed the camp's saw mill turning downed redwoods into lumber... for the camp. We passed the the camp's wood shop and gallery. And then, as we headed to the main office/meeting house, we were met by a roaring 4 wheel drive ATV Polaris helmed by our friend Donny, who then waved us forward and along roads I thought were much too small for our POD. Within minutes we were settled at the base of the small hill leading up to their MOST adorable cottage! Ahhhhh........
Breathe in.....
Janet and Donny's cabin in the woods
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The camp is exquisite. Upper camp has a pond, created by the natural spring that feeds it, with paddle boats, a vaulted ceiling dining hall with a large fireplace and gathering areas both inside and under the porticos outside, guest cottages (6 structures that remain), an art building, some staff housing, a media and music building, yoga yurt, ropes course and athletic field, swimming pool, and stables - currently occupied by 2 beautiful goats, St Christopher and St Nicholas. The stables will welcome 2 miniature donkeys into the fold within the next few weeks and then horses arrive each summer as part of the program activities. Even amid all the apparent destruction - this camp is shaking with life!
St Christoper and St Nicholas
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Janet and her goat baby
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Lower camp was the hardest hit in the fires. All of the camper cabins and bathrooms were destroyed. One counselor group cabin remains along with @ 75% of the outdoor amphitheater.
Tim and Donny at the amphitheater in lower camp
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lower camp counselor cabin
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We were amazingly fortunate to be here at the camp while two very important things were happening, First, a team of AmeriCorps kids were there for a number of weeks as part of their service contract. This group of 12 from around the country came here after their stint in Houston mucking out mold and water damaged houses. Their job here was rebuilding, painting, anything that moved the needle forward. I cannot say enough about this group of 18 - 24 year olds - committed, hard working and well spoken - each came with their own expectation for their year of service and, I'm sure, each will walk away with a different lesson. Bravo to them and the AmeriCorps experience.
Also, the camp was hosting it’s first program since the fire. It was a small group of 8 blind and visually impaired individuals who had come for a wood-turning workshop. Yes! The camp has an gorgeous wood shop outfitted with 8 lathes, saws and every other woodworking tool needed to produce art, bowls, and furniture. The class was taught by George Wurtzel, a resident woodworker and craftsman who is blind, and Jerry Kermode, a master turner.
George Wurtzel and I
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Watching these blind individuals maneuver themselves around the camp - from their housing to the dining hall, to class up the hill and back again 3 times a day - that itself was astounding for me. And then to hear their stories - that they each worked a lathe to turn their wooden pieces into small bowls! Not to mention the stories that simply got them here to this enchanted camp in the first place !!!!! I was so humbled to share their table, to laugh and to hear their take on the world. There are sooooo many realities! Sometimes maybe we miss so much because we think we are seeing clearly.
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serving lunch on our last day in camp
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Janet and Donny were afraid that maybe our time together would be too disjointed/interrupted by all the activities going on at camp while we were there. Hell no! I think it made our visit much more focused, and definitely more purposeful. It allowed us to truly understand what they were doing and to feel the magic of the hills. On our last day there, Tim and I helped prepare and serve lunch to our woodworking guests. It felt so comfortable and right.
Truthfully, we felt we could have both put on aprons and stayed through the summer. It was like being home - and it felt so good.
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