Featuring “I can’t help but take my shoes off and dance” music by the Accents, delicious Caribbean-style food, and of course, never-ending margaritas; the event was an incredible success.

Partners and friends threw on their rain boots, got decked out in Caribbean attire and embraced the rain with fun, laughs and lots of dancing while raising funds to help the amazing programming offered to children and their families dealing with life threatening illnesses at the Double H Ranch!!

We hope that you’ll join us this Fall at our annual Partners Monster Mash and one-of-a-kind House Crawl! For more information on upcoming Partners events visit the Events Calendar. Partners members receive discounts to Partners-sponsored events. For more information about Partners events or becoming a member e-mail partnersinfo@doublehranch.org.

During Session 5 our Muskrat campers were taken on a whirlwind “tour” of the world. Our 6 to 8 year old boys were given a boarding pass every morning which described the country that they were visiting that day. By the end of the week the Muskrats had been to Chile, Ireland, the United Kingdom and the United States. While in Chile, campers learned Spanish songs and phrases while cheering on their friends at the ropes course. While visiting Ireland, the Muskrats received a visit from the King of Leprechauns and followed clues that lead them to a pot of goodies! In the United Kingdom, the Muskrats had tea with Queen Elizabeth. It was amazing to see them have so much fun traveling the world without ever leaving camp.

While the Muskrat cabin traveled the world, the Bobcats were delivering kindness and were pulling nice “pranks”. Our 12 to 13 year old girls were inducted into a secret Bobcat sorority that required them to perform nice and thoughtful tasks for other campers. They made friendship bracelets and necklaces for the Chipmunk cabin, they decorated the halls of the Fox cabin with tissue paper flowers and they snuck into the Deer cabin and gave each camper a stuffed animal, some bubbles and some games to play with. The Bobcats truly enjoyed making so many others happy!!

These two cabins had an amazing week as did the other eight cabins. Each week, our campers and counselors have such unique experiences and it’s amazing to see the growth and the friendships that are formed throughout the six days here at camp!

Many of our summer campers are now home, retelling and sharing their stories from camp with their family and friends, showing off their courage bracelets, writing letters to their new best friend and creating photo albums of their “Week in the Woods”. With only three more sessions to go before the summer season is complete, we are reflecting on the magic that has occurred during Summer 2010 and reminding you that there’s still time to sponsor a Summer Camper.

We are extremely thankful too and have been doing a lot of cheering in celebration of our new donors to camper sponsorship, but we have yet to hear from over half of last year’s donors. We need your continued support to deliver a “Week in the Woods” to our campers. Believe you can still Change the Game for children dealing with a chronic or life-threatening illness by sponsoring a camper. Time at Double H is the kind of time that lives on forever.

Click HERE to Sponsor a Summer Residential Camper.

The Saratoga Springs Rotary Club gave a donation towards new equipment for our Creative Arts Program.

For the third year in a row, the members of the Albany City Lodge of the Knights of Pythius presented monies raised from their yearly fundraising efforts in support of our summer campers. Captured by the magic and the stories told of days spent at the Double H readying the grounds for the next season, their fellow lodge members sponsored an additional three campers for this year’s summer season.

Matt Parker (summer volunteer) and Tim W. (summer camper) partnered for success for their 4th Annual Golden Tee Video Golf Tournament, nearly doubling the monies raised over previous years (and the monies are still coming in).

Ed Pompa, dedicated friend of the Ranch, ‘Raced for the Ranch’ for his 4th year at the ARCA Race at Pocono Speedway, raising an all-time record of $22,650 in Double H camper sponsorships.

Eastern Mountain Sports/The Shoppes at Wilton chose the Double H Ranch as the recipient of monies raised raffling off a kayak package; resulting in a full Winter Sports Enthusiast sponsorship.

Jesse Fish, fundraiser and camper parent raised an extraordinary $8,630 at his motorcycle run/raffle this past Saturday! Over the past 3 years this dedicated group of riders has raised nearly $17,000!

Keep your eye on our Events Calendar in support of upcoming Community initiatives and go to Fundraising by Friends for ideas on how to create your own fundraiser!

Because of your generosity, Emma F. will meet up with her best friend Leah C. during session three; Michael B.‘s dream will come true as he soars down the zip line; Charlotte D. will be reunited with favorite counselor Emma during session four; and Brandon M. will work hard to beat last year’s record catch of 18 fish in one day during session two.

A special ‘Welcome Back’ to those donors who are finding their way back in support of Double H summer campers this year. We take note and celebrate each return with a Double H cheer! We are counting on the continued support from our faithful donors, a Double H hug to all of you who give towards camper sponsorship year after year.

Together, we are well on our way to delivering our Double H campers time at Double H, the kind of time that lives on forever.

If you haven’t done so already, please consider sponsoring a Double H camper for a Week in the Woods or even a day. Imagine the difference you can make!

Click HERE to Sponsor a Summer Residential Camper Today!

This year new to the Gala will be a Live “Country” Auction hosted by auctioneer Kirk Woodcock. The live auction will kick-off with a parade of characters from Six Flag’s Great Escape. Guests will be led to the live auction area before dinner at 6:30pm to bid on fabulous items such as a new Yamaha 550 Grisley ATV with track and accessories from Edinburg Marina and Powersports (donated by the Pompa and LaRoche families); an Italian Night at the Glen Sanders Mansion for 50 people with private fireworks (donated by Glen Sanders Mansion and Alonzo Fireworks); a South African Photo Safari at Ezulwini Game Lodges; an extremely rare set of pear shape ammolite pendant with diamonds set in 18k yellow gold and matching earrings (donated by Agnes Pompa); a catered picnic for 50 at the Great Escape (donated by the Great Escape) and many more including artisan items from the Northeastern Woodworkers Association.

Guests are also invited to purchase items off of our one-of-a-kind Wish Wall. Wishes featured represent a variety of items that we need throughout the year to continue to provide magical experiences to our campers and their families. Guests can purchase items such as supplies for program areas, materials for facilities or even a golf cart to assist with our medical program.

We hope you will join us for A Traditional Western Round-Up all to benefit the campers of the Double H.
Tickets are still available for purchase online!

As we wrap up our Spring Family Programs we are able to reflect on another wonderful season here at the Double H. This year we hosted four fun filled programs to benefit our campers and their families. Our families were able to kick off our spring season with great success and beautiful weather. We were excited to bring themes to our weekend programs as we often do in winter and summer. The Diabetes Family Program was tropical luau themed while the Autism Family Program was a high seas pirate adventure. All of these weekends allow families to create relationships that extend beyond their two day stay at Double H. Friendships and connections that were made at the Diabetes weekend were inspiring, while Bravehearts ladies brought not only their energy and excitement for adventure but also supported the Ranch through their in-kind donations. Cindy’s Comfort Camp was filled with campers and big buddies, each taking the time to enjoy camp activities and reflect on their experiences in dealing with a parent or sibling who has been diagnosed with a chronic illness. While the Autism Family Weekend was action packed with pirate scavenger hunts, swimming, high ropes course and activities to build upon friendships.

In addition to Spring Family Programs the past two months have highlighted how very important the Double H is to our community and our dedicated supporters. Since April 17th, our first Spring Helping Hands Work Day, over 730 volunteers have visited the Ranch in support of our campers arrival by participating in a variety of facilities and housekeeping projects. With the arrival of our summer campers just a few weeks away we value and appreciate the amazing support we have received from individuals, the community and local businesses.

A big Double H hug to all of our Family Program participants as well as our Helping Hands Work Day volunteers! What a truly amazing spring season here at the Double H!

Adventures include a trail ride on favorite horse Tex in the Happy Barn, a thrilling journey through the trees along the 250 foot zip line at the High Ropes Course, the making of ice cream (yum!) and slime (yuck!) in Discovery, or a first time ever performance on stage in Creative Arts. Campers enjoy the telling of a story around the campfire at Outdoor Adventure, the making of a beautiful pair of silver earrings to surprise mom with in Arts & Crafts, a winning goal kicked in the last 30 seconds of the game at Team Adventure, the catching of 18 fish at the Waterfront or a 7:00 am polar bear swim in the pool.

Choose your adventure and believe you can change the game for these kids through your continued generosity and sponsorship(s). Click here to sponsor a camper!

We rely on the support of volunteers to help clear our grounds, paint our cabins and prepare the rooms for our campers. Many of our volunteer groups come back season after season making a difference in the life of a child by picking up a rake or using a paintbrush. “Working at the Double H for me has been an amazing experience. When I first arrived I was unaware of the impact the camp has on so many people. This is truly an amazing place and it is an honor to be allowed to be a part of it!” Target Executive – Helping Hands Work Day Volunteer.

Each work day will run from 9:00am-2:00pm, rain or shine. Projects will include housekeeping, grounds maintenance and a variety of other facilities projects. Bring a bag lunch and join us for part or all of the day. A tour of the Ranch will be given at noon and the gift shop will be open.

If you are available to lend a helping hand, please visit the Double H Ranch Calendar Page for necessary forms or email kchecchia@doublehranch.org for more information.

Ride through the beautiful Adirondacks with 100% of proceeds benefiting the campers of the Double H. Participants can choose from a 15 Mile, 30 Mile or Metric Century (62 Mile) ride. Once registered through Team Hole in the Wall, participants will receive their own personal fundraising webpage, training tips, online discussion groups and training blogs. Each rider will also receive Team apparel. The day will begin with a pre-ride breakfast and end with a post-ride BBQ celebration all at the Double H Ranch.

Visit www.teamholeinthewall.org/rideDoubleH to register today as an individual or as a team.

Additional corporate sponsorship and volunteer opportunities are available. For additional information or questions please email Kimberly Checchia, Development and Communications Coordinator at kchecchia@doublehranch.org or call 518-696-5921 ext. 239.

Become a part of the TEAM today!