Family Reunions

After spending the weekend celebrating the holiday with immediate family, we spent a little time discussing how nice it would be to be able to get all the extended family together in one place.  Family Reunions can be a fun and memorable way to reconnect with loved ones. There are plenty of families that look forward to these events each year with excitement. What truly can make the difference between success and failure is your choice of venue.   But where can you go that will not only fit all your extended family, but provide entertainment for all the generations?

Think about it for a moment.

Your cousin Steve has three “adorable” kids who want to show you how excited they are to see you by attaching wet lollipops to your arm hair. When you try to detach yourself from this sticky prison, they twist themselves around your legs like some new biotech gravity belt device (that actually sounds kind of cool). When you resort to your Tae Kwon Do training to free yourself, old Steve-O loses it and starts yelling at you AND the kids, proving to everyone why grandma wrote the lot of you out of her will years ago and left everything to her nine cats. Then Steve leaves in a huff, and nobody else will talk to you for the rest of the weekend.

Where did we go wrong? How could this fiasco have been prevented?

The answer is camp.

Yep, you heard me.

Those three little angels were desperately trying to adhere themselves to your skin through corn syrup because they had nothing better to do. They were bored. And what’s worse, they were bored in an unfamiliar environment.

But what does just about every kid like? What is it that kids have been doing since the dawn of time, that makes them more tired and happy and fun to be around than any other activity? What keeps the kids out of their parents’ and uncles’ and grandparents’ arm hair?

CAMP!

Kids of all ages feel at home in a camp setting. They can be themselves, and their parents can let that happen because it’s not an environment that has to be protected from children. Then a funny transformation takes place: the parents start to relax. They were kids once too. They like to breathe in the fresh air. They enjoy a walk in the woods or a story by the campfire.  Sharing cabins is a bonding experience that can’t be recreated in a sterile hotel environment.  Before you know it, kids and adults alike are taking it easy, enjoying each other and the space they have to be themselves without worry.

Camp Paivika is the ideal rental venue for your family reunion. Located in the San Bernardino mountains, it holds the honor of being a Los Angeles accessible venue, without being a “Los Angeles” venue. No traffic jams and overpriced food to put a strain on family budgets. Camp Paivika has it all in one place: great food, comfortable accommodations, spacious and inviting gathering places, endless activities and the friendliest staff you’ll find.  They even offer high-speed internet for those of us who want a more modern camping experience, or just need to stay in touch.  Camp Paivika is the most versatile rental venue around, and can make your reunion a relaxing and enjoyable experience for every member of your family. The facility is also fully accessible to wheelchair users and others with special needs, so everyone can participate.

To see pictures of this amazing rental location, learn more about camp rental, or to reserve Camp Paivika for your next event, visit our Rentals page. If you have any questions or would just prefer to make your arrangements with a live person, our friendly staff is available! Just contact Camp Paivika Director Kelly Kunsek via email, or by phone at (909) 338-1102, ext. 5001.

We look forward to seeing you here! Bring the kids.

AbilityFirst Camp Paivika

Camp Rental Facilities

First-Time Camp Paivika Experience

Register for Camp Paivika and receive a $50 early bird discount. If you have friends or family members who have concerns about attending camp, share Connor's first-time camp experience with them. http://conta.cc/1MgaNgO 

Located in the beautiful San Bernardino National Forest, AbilityFirst Camp Paivika offers overnight summer, winter and spring programs for children and adults with disabilities. These programs provide a traditional camp experience with nurturing support and an emphasis on fun. It is one of the first fully accessible camps in the United States. Camp Paivika has helped thousands of children and adults with disabilities make friends, try new activities, and become more confident and independent. 

"I was able to meet new friends and play basketball.  This is my first time away from home this long and I am so happy to have so much fun"! - Camper Jasmine

Register or learn more at www.camppaivika.org 

(909) 338-1102

Camp Fun Fact #2: The Camp Paivika parking lot was once a revered launch pad for hang gliders.

Throughout the early to mid- 1970’s, hang gliding was picking up traction in the San Bernardino area of Little Mountain. Launching from the Camp Paivika parking lot out into Devil Canyon was a thrill conquered by only the most daring pilots, but difficult access to nearby Pine Flat made it a tempting option for many others!

In 1976, facing the threat of their beloved sport being banned in the area, these hang gliders and others joined together and organized the San Bernardino Hang Gliding Association (SBHGA) to put pressure on city officials. In 1978, however, they lost the fight, and hang gliding activities were declared illegal within the city limits.

With the option of launching from Camp Paivika closed to them, pilots relocated to a site known to locals as Teddy Bear – the current location of the Crestline launch site – which was outside of the legal “no-glide” zone. Late in 1979, Pine Crest Air Park was also developed at the entrance to Devil Canyon. Over the next few years, the SBHGA persisted with efforts to persuade the U.S. Forest Services of the legitimacy of the sport, and to allow the continued use of the land for its practice. The pilots worked hands-on to build the required infrastructure to satisfy the permit requirements, even in the fog and rain, and up to the permit deadline. This time, they succeeded.

Today the SBHGA is known as the Crestline Soaring Society, and they continue to support and facilitate the sport of hang gliding in and around Crestline. They were instrumental in relocating hang gliders to a new area when the previous site was claimed by the Department of Water Resources; the new area – the Andy Jackson Airpark – has been in use since 1994.

Over the years these hang-gliding enthusiasts have also pulled together to host fundraising events for Camp Paivika; in the past, pilots have held “fly-a-thons” that raised money to support the campers. Along with food and entertainment, the events featured numerous hang-glider launchings that guests could enjoy – sometimes 15 or more gliders floating through the sky. Pilots even included the women’s world distance record holder, a resident of the nearby city of Tujunga.

Camp Paivika has made a home in the San Bernardino Mountains for more than 65 years. We are proud to have strong relationships with our local community, and fortunate to be able to offer such a diverse selection of activities for our guests – whether on our grounds or through neighboring businesses. If you are looking for a rental venue for your next retreat, wedding reception, or other event, consider allowing us to host it at our beautiful mountain location. There is so much to do in and around the camp that you and your guests will be talking about your experience for years to come.

To learn more, give us a call – or even better, drop by! Our friendly staff is available to answer any questions you may have, or to help you book your facility rental – just contact Camp Paivika Director Kelly Kunsek via email, or by phone at (909) 338-1102, ext. 5001. Act now and SAVE BIG – get 15% off when you mention this article!* We look forward to showing you what makes Camp Paivika so special!

AbilityFirstCampPaivika

Camp Rental Facilities

http://camppaivika.org/rental.htm

*For a limited time only. Restrictions apply. First-time renters only. Offer expires December 31, 2014.  

Camp Fun Fact #1: The word “Paivika” is a word in the Cahuilla Native American language that means “dawn.”

A contest among the first campers to stay at Camp Paivika decided the name, way back in 1947. It was at that time that AbilityFirst (known then as the Crippled Children’s Society of Southern California) was granted a permit from the U.S. Forest Service to build a camp in the mountains of Crestline. Working in tandem with Lucia Laufeld - an LAUSD special education teacher who first envisioned the camp – and several others, AbilityFirst developed the first camp in the U.S. to be built specifically for children and adults with disabilities.

At the outset, campers and counselors stayed in tents. Over the ensuing years and decades, however, the camp would construct many new facilities which allowed them to offer the bountiful services they do today. With comfortable dormitories housing up to 130 overnight guests, swimming pool, craft center, health center, and much more, Camp Paivika has become a desirable location to host events and retreats, as well as the ongoing camps that started more than 65 years ago. It was in 1990 that camp rental became available in the off-season, and since then Paivika has emerged as a unique Los Angeles rental venue and outdoor retreat option.

1998 saw the completion of a new lodge, which only materialized

after 20 years of planning and fundraising. That lodge today is host to beautiful wedding receptions, family reunions, business retreats and much more. The heartfelt efforts of Camp Paivika’s founders, along with the involvement of all the donors and community members that have grown it into what it is today, can be seen in the warm details and friendly faces that abound at the camp. Paivika has proven to be the perfect name for this place – whether you are watching the dawn softly rising through the pines, or reflecting in the warm, sunny smiles of people around you, its presence is inspiring.

If you are looking for a rental venue for your next event, give us a call – or even better, drop by! Our friendly staff is available to answer any questions you may have, or to help you book your facility rental – just contact Camp Paivika Director Kelly Kunsek via email, or by phone at (909) 338-1102, ext. 5001. Act now and SAVE BIG – get 15% off when you mention this article!* We look forward to showing you what makes Camp Paivika so special!

AbilityFirstCampPaivika

Camp Rental Facilities

http://camppaivika.org/rental.htm

*For a limited time only. Restrictions apply. First-time renters only. Offer expires December 31, 2014.  

AbilityFirst Camp Paivika Summer Camp Programs

Summer is the time for fun!  At Camp Paivika, we know that having disabilities never gets in the way of both children and adults having fun at summer camp!  A typical day in the Camp Paivika Summer Program is full of exciting activities for everyone!

Swimming

·         Fenced in, heated pool with 2 shallow ends and wheelchair ramp.

·         Supervised by American Red Cross Certified lifeguards.

·         Non-instructional program.

·         One-on-one, in-pool support is available for campers who need it.

Horseback Riding

·         Experienced gentle horses led and walked by trained staff.

·         Riders protected by helmets and safety belt and supported on either side by staff.

·         Inclusive program accommodates non-ambulatory campers requiring extra support.

·         Those who are unable or prefer not to ride can still safely pet, feed and groom horses in modified corral areas.

Adaptive Sports and Recreation

·         Designed to improve physical coordination and strength: archery, baseball, bowling, obstacle courses, broom hockey and Frisbee golf.

·         Designed to enhance concentration and promote socialization: Bingo, board games, card games.

·         Activities adapted for accessibility and for different age groups according to ability levels.

Creative Arts and Crafts

·         Tie-dye and beading projects, ceramics, painting and other traditional camp crafts.

·         Campers explore their artistic side and experience a sense of accomplishment with activities encouraging self-expression and hand-eye coordination.

Performing Arts

·         Creative movement, acting games and music making.

·         Staged musicals are performed in outdoor amphitheater with entire camp in attendance.

·         Grand finale of each session is the camp talent show where campers have the opportunity to share their talents on stage!

Nature Studies

·         Games and crafts incorporate elements of the beautiful surrounding mountain and forest environment.

·         Guided hikes on safe trails accessible for wheelchair users.

·         Explored themes of wildlife, trees and conservation give campers a deeper appreciation for nature.

Evening Program

·         Brings full camp together.

·         Activities include campfires, Game Show Night, carnivals, dances, karaoke, scavenger hunts for children, and casino nights for adults.

Other Activities

·         Trips to nearby Lake Gregory (adults only).

·         Overnight forest campouts under the stars (adults only).

Please check out our Camp Paivika website to see more about our summer programs, beautiful facilities, and caring staff!

Camp Paivika creates transformational life experiences for children and adults with disabilities and their families.

AbilityFirst stands for, and alongside, people with disabilities and their families.  We offer a broad range of programs and services to help children and adults with developmental disabilities reach their personal best.

www.abilityfirst.org

AbilityFirst’s Camp Paivika: an exceptional special needs camp for people with disabilities.

Going away to camp can provide some of the most memorable experiences for both children and adults.  Having disabilities shouldn't prevent anyone from creating these cherished memories.  That’s why Camp Paivika exists: it offers children, teens, and adults with disabilities a traditional camp experience delivered with nurturing support.

Camp Paivika offers a broad range of recreational and socialization programs for children and adults with physical and developmental disabilities.  Our programs allow campers to make friends, try new things and become more confident. Families are often surprised to find loved ones returning home with a new, can-do spirit, independently choosing clothes for the day, tying their shoes or brushing their teeth without assistance. And, of course, families appreciate the respite they can take from the rigors and challenges of providing 24/7 care.

The quality and variety of choices we offer is second to none.  AbilityFirst provides continuity of age-appropriate programs, appealing to diverse individual interests and needs - beginning in childhood and continuing throughout an adult’s life.

Please check out our Camp Paivika website to see more about our wonderful camp, which is located in Southern California’s beautiful San Bernardino Mountains, and has been operated by AbilityFirst since 1947.  We’ve helped thousands of children and adults with disabilities make friends, try new things and become more confident and independent. And, as campers enjoy their Paivika experience, families can rest assured knowing that their loved ones are safe, cared for and occupied with a full slate of fun.

AbilityFirst stands for, and alongside, people with disabilities and their families.  We offer a broad range of programs and services to help children and adults with developmental disabilities reach their personal best.

Camp Paivika – offering children, teens and adults with disabilities a traditional camp experience delivered with nurturing support.

www.camppaivika.org

Day 2 was full of excitement as the last dance of the summer was about to happen. The day went well with four full rounds of activities. In arts and crafts, campers painted their own tribal mask. Nature went on a nature hike. Sports and Rec had fun with races and obstacle courses, and the action in the pool was full of splishing and splashing. The dance began with high energy. As the night progressed, the music played on until the very end. Tonight was also camp out night, where campers were treated to the movie Monsters University, and then fell asleep out under the stars.

Don't forget to click on the word photos to check out the rest of the session and summer photos.