What Direction Should UCLA UniCamp Take?

2012 Annual Report

UCLA UniCamps Mission Statement:

For over 75 years, UniCamp student volunteers have harnessed the healing power of the wilderness to improve their community by providing a unique outdoor camping experience for at-risk children from under-served neighborhoods. Through a creative, well-rounded, and proven program, UniCamp delivers challenging new experiences that foster education, personal growth and transforms lives. Campers and students learn that they can reach their full potential, often beyond what they thought possible, and make a positive impact in their community. To achieve this result, we emphasize building relationships, staying in school, leadership and character development, and just plain fun.

Biking Specialists teaching a camper how to ride a bike.

UCLA UniCamps Contact Information

900 Hilgard Ave. Suite 301 Los Angeles, CA 90024 Wally Wirick, Executive Director Jason Liou, Associate Executive Director Jamie Garza, Director of Programs Connie Lau, Program Enhancement Director phone: 310-208-8252 www.unicamp.org fax: 310-824-1949

wwirick@unicamp.org, ext. 105 jliou@unicamp.org, ext. 106 jgarza@unicamp.org, ext. 107 clau@unicamp.org, ext. 104

A Letter from our Board President

Thanks for reading this . You may already be asking yourself - how much longer will I continue? Knowing that many of these introductions sound the same. Let me save you from the typical; 2012 was the year that or Looking back on the last 12 months and tell you a camp story. At a campsite far, far away where about 500 UCLA student volunteers continue to play host to kids (nearly 200 each week, approximately 1200 for last summer) with plenty of promise, but not much else there was a day in August when a visitor arrived. He wasnt tall, powerful or famous. He wasnt old, but old enough to have grey hair and grown kids and has great big heart. This was the first time he had ever been to UniCamp. Years ago, when he was a student at UCLA, he wasnt able to volunteer because he worked all summer long. However (and heres where it gets good) He volunteered to be the President of a giant three day event at UCLA that raised the funds necessary to send nearly a whole season of campers to UniCamp. It was called Mardi Gras, and it was BIG. It was such a big event that each sorority and fraternity at UCLA played a role by creating and manning a booth or ride or food stand or whatever it took to help raise fund for camperships. Mardi Gras is part of the history of funding kids and giving them a UniCamp experience. While unfortunate circumstances about 25 years ago brought about the demise of Mardi Gras, our friend Randy played a big role when Mardi Gras was the leading fund raising college fund raising event in the country. It was truly a privilege to watch Randy and Nancy as they toured UniCamp, visited with the kids, watched the programs, participated in the activities and shared some lunch. We even had time to enjoy some sailing on Big Bear Lake. What I will not soon forget were the smiles on the faces of both Randy and Nancy as they, for the first time and decades after chairing Mardi Gras, gained some real understanding of why they worked so hard, spent so much time, and led so many others. They were amazed to finally see the results of their efforts-Kids experiencing UCLA UniCamp. Giving is a wonderful thing, perhaps the best of things. Seeing the gift being enjoyed and put to use in such a meaningful way is priceless. I hope you will help this years UCLA student volunteers create the gift of UniCamp for more kids this summer. I know youll be proud of the way your gift is invested. Moreover, anyone on the board would be happy to accompany any of you up to UniCamp to see the results of assistance. Sincerely

Brad Schy (Termite), Chairman of the Board, UCLA UniCamp Board of Directors

UCLA UniCamps Board of Trustees

Officers Mr. Brad Schy, President John Reilly, Esq. Vice President Trustees Peter J. Rich, Esq Mr. Ashwin Batra Mr. Rey Cano Mr. Randy Sheinbein Mr. David Clausen, CFO Ms. Claire Schlotterbeck, Secretary Mr. Olaf Kilthau Mr. Fred Schector Ms. Grace Yeh Mr. Randy Chia

In

FY2012, UCLA UniCamps revenue increased $127,000 from the previous year. The change is attributed largely to the receipt of private and governmental grants not received in the prior year. These increases included grants from the Weingart Foundation - $85,000 , the Alcoa Foundation - $23,000, the South Bay Regional Training Consortium - $29k, and an additional $27,000 due to other grants received. An additional increase of $23,000 was realized due to favorable markets. These increases were offset by decreases in Board of Trustees fundraising efforts, ($51,000), due to large campaigning efforts to renovate UniCamps pool in the prior fiscal year, without a similar campaign in the current year; and a $25,000 decrease in participant fees due to a reduction in funding from LAUSD sponsored sessions.

Decreased Expenses, Increased Campers

Direct Program Expenses refers to the costs of equipment, fees, bills, of camp but does not include salaries of any seasonal summer staff.

In FY2012, UCLA UniCamps expenses decreased $4,000 from the year before. This decrease resulted from lower payroll expense, ($28,000), due to a reduction in sessions from 8 to 7. This decrease was offset by increases in volunteer training and camper program expenses related to the creation and operation of the SAIL program, $24,000.

2012 Revenue Increased by:

$127K

1 Summer. 7 Sessions. 1181 Campers.

2012 Camper Ethnicity Breakdown:

Average Cost Per Camper:

$595

2012

was a record breaking year for UniCamp. LAUSD adjusted their school calendar to start in the middle of August, leaving only seven weeks of shared summer vacation between UCLA Student Volunteers and LAUSD students. Faced with this challenge, UniCamp decreased the number of sessions from eight to seven but with the generous support of $85,000 from The Weingart Foundation we were able to complete the River Glen Expansion Project and add four additional cabins to our site. This expansion enabled UniCamp to serve 1,181 campers. The most we have served in a seven week camping season.

Three campers performing at the weekly talent show.

UniCamp volunteers may be the most trained camp staff in the world. By the time the first camp session begins our 475 UCLA Student Volunteers (the most we have ever had in one year) have invested over 75,000 hours of training, planning and preparation to make camp a possibility. This year our volunteers combined to raise over $239,000, 25% of UniCamps annual budget.

Average $$$ Raised by Each Volunteer:

$475

Silly All-Camp photo taken at On-Site Orientation, 2012

The Camp-a-thon is the students annual fundraiser. The Camp-a-thon acts as a checkpoint for students to gauge where they should be with fundraising & is also a social training opportunity.

$239,035

2012 Total:

What Direction? Survey Results

In 2013 LA Times & the McCormick Foundation redefined their grant guidelines and will focus on academic and literacy programs. While these are admirable goals, they are different from what UniCamp has traditionally done in the past. We issued a survey to ask our supporters what steps they felt we should take. Over 400 people participated in the survey and here are the highlights.

74% of individuals who responded said we should keep UniCamp as true to its current mission as possible. We asked them how they would make up the $200,000 in funding that we might lose if we do not stay relevant with current foundation funding goals.

One funding option UniCamp hasnt explored in the past are Pay for Play activities where participants pay a small fee. We were interested to see which of these programs our supporters thought would be a good fit for UniCamp.

Lastly, we plan on making 2013 the year to reconnect with Woodsey Alumni. UniCamp wants to have more opportunities for Alumni to be involved with camp and we were interested to see how our alumni wanted to be involved.

2013

offers many unique challenges but UniCamp will remain as scrappy as ever and successfully navigate the choppy waters. We find ourselves looking at a deficit of $200,000. That is 300 campers who wont be able to attend UniCamp this summer unless we can make up the gap. Our first reaction was to run in fear of the insurmountable goal but we have begun to embrace the challenge and we think that UniCamp will emerge stronger and healthier than it has ever been before. After spending countless days processing the results of our What Direction Should UniCamp Take survey we have developed what we think is the best plan for UniCamp over the next few years. Woodsey Alumni Association: It is no secret that UniCamp hasnt done a great job engaging alumni Woodseys after they stop volunteering, and that needs to change. Previously, UniCamp has programmed for two populations; the campers and the student volunteers. From this point on UniCamp has decided that it must program for three populations; the campers, the student volunteers and the Woodsey Alumni. This year we are starting many programs that will re-engage Woodsey Alumni with UniCamp. Keep an eye out for more information about a Board of Advisors, Guest Woodsey Alumni Trainers, Networking/ Social Events, Family Camp Weekends and the Kids 2 UniCampaign. Chairmans Campfire Circle Division (3CD): This year the Board of Trustees are taking on a challenge that has never been asked of them before. The Board of Trustees will begin an advanced fundraising campaign, personally calling all previous donors of $500 or more and anyone who has donated to UniCamp before the River Glen generation. AcademiCamp: Even though the LA Times is no longer funding summer camperships, they are funding academic camp programs. UniCamp applied for and has received a grant from the LA Times & the McCormick Foundation to run a summer Academic Camp (AcademiCamp). The program consists of a 3 week long literacy intervention day camp program, located in Los Angeles and supervised by credentialed teachers. The payoff for these students will come in the form of the Classic UCLA UniCamp summer residential camp experience during their fourth and final week in the program. This program will greatly benefit the participants academically while still providing a classic camp experience.

Girls unit participating in an I-games rotation.

Family Camp Weekend: Family camp weekend allows individuals, groups and families the opportunity to escape from the city and its distractions and enjoy nature while reliving many of their UniCamp memories. At this weekend camping trip, reconnect yourself with friends and family or simply lose yourself in our campsite. Your participation will directly help us in our fundraising efforts to send more under-served youth up to UniCamp. For more information regarding Family Camp Weekend please visit: www.unicamp.org/familycampweekend Camp Woodsey: Look forward to Camp Woodsey in 2014. UCLA UniCamp plans on creating a pay for play opportunity that would allow families who can afford to pay for a camp experience to give the gift of UniCamp to one of their loved ones. Camp Woodsey will mimic a traditional UniCamp experience but may have a few extra bells and whistles added to it. Kids 2 UniCampaign: Over the past decade UCLA student volunteers have taken on a large part of our annual fundraising budget. In 2012 the student volunteers raised over $240,000. This Camp River Glen Generation stepped up to the plate when the Golf Tournament, UniCamps large annual fundraising event at the time began to decline and we are hoping that Woodsey Alumni of this generation can once again step up to the plate and help us make up some of the difference. Campaigners will receive a ton of perks. Woodsey swag, Woodsey Alumni Association membership and of course the warm fuzzies you feel knowing that you are helping support the current generation of student volunteers and campers. If you would like more information on the Kids 2 UniCampaign please visit www.unicamp.org/k2u to sign up. To summarize, 2013 is going to be a busy and different year for UniCamp. We have a large funding gap to make up and a lot of exciting new programs that we hope will help us make up the gap. We are looking forward to reengaging our Woodsey Alumni in both fundraising and programming opportunities all while pushing our programming to offer the best experience for our campers. In 2013 we plan on working with UCLAs Institute of the Environment and Sustainability, Boys and Girls Clubs of Los Angeles, UCLAs School of Dentistry community service club, and C5LA to offer new and innovative programming that our campers and volunteers will benefit from. For more information on UniCamp visit: www.unicamp.org.

Kitchen Staff serenading the session at closing campfire..