Our Adaptive Winter Sports Program is well underway and our campers and families are enjoying every minute of it. This weekend was our first family sleepover weekend and it was truly amazing to see how much our families benefit from the program. We had 18 families join us for a Circus themed winter weekend.

It always surprises me how quickly the families bond and start to share their life experiences with each other. Double H is a place of acceptance and the families pick up on this and know that everyone who is at Double H has a story to share and is willing to listen.

One of my favorite moments of the weekend was during our Talent Show. We had a variety of acts: origami making, hula hooping, singing, dancing and a theatrical version of Sleeping Beauty. Towards the end of the show, Marc, one of the ski instructors took the microphone and expressed how impressed he was with the talent in the room but that he knew of someone else that had talent but wasn’t able to perform it in the lodge. He explained that Juan, the student he was skiing with, was here at Double H learning to ski for the first time. Marc then shared that earlier in the day on the mountain Juan had learned to ski backwards. He asked Juan to stand up and take a bow. Juan, slightly embarrassed, took a bow in front the crowd while everyone cheered and screamed. As Juan sat down a smile crept across his face and he looked so proud.

The next day Marc came over to me with a hand written note from Juan. It thanked Marc for helping Juan learn to ski and for announcing at the talent show that he could ski backwards. It was amazing to see the relationship between Marc and Juan grow throughout the weekend. Marc was able to teach Juan how to ski; however, Juan was also able to teach Marc something much more important.

We talk a lot about magic here at camp and how we are able to accomplish the unimaginable. The magic of the Double H is brought on by our campers. They bring their energy, love and joy to camp and that’s what creates our magic. Juan’s pride in himself provides us all with magic and keeps us working hard to make Double H a place of comfort and support for our campers and families. We are excited for the next four family sleepover weekends and for those little moments that inspire us.

The end of summer is such a bittersweet time. I am so happy and thrilled that we served over 800 children at Double H this summer but I am also sad that has all come to a close for the year. We have poured our lives into this program and worked tirelessly to make it a success for all of our campers. Our counselors, volunteers and year-round staff are in a state of joyful exhaustion. It is truly a remarkable feeling.

This summer has been filled with magical moments that will stay tucked within the Adirondack air and remain in the hearts and minds of our campers and staff. I can’t reiterate how impressed I am with the our 2011 team, the love they showed for our campers is astonishing.

As staff pack their suitcases, they need a little bit more room for their 2011 staff shirt, their cabin photos, their nature shirt, their warm fuzzies, and their camp magic. The thing that they may not realize is that they will also leave something behind. They leave a little piece of their heart here. To the fabulous 2011 staff, we will miss you here at camp. We will miss your cheering, your laughter, your commitment to the program, your smiles and your love. Keep that camp magic with you in the “real world” and we will see you soon. Magic happened here.

Written by: Kate Walsh, Programs Director

The Partners of Saratoga was founded in 2006 to raise funds and create awareness for the Double H Ranch in the Saratoga Springs area. We are proud to say that year after year, we are fulfilling this mission! Although this year has been very challenging for many organizations, 2011 has brought us many new faces, both at our events and on our planning committees. With every new face, there is a new circle of friends that we can make aware of this magical and FREE OF CHARGE place we call “The Ranch”.

In April, the Partners hosted their 4th Annual Eggstravaganza at the Great Escape Lodge and Indoor Waterpark. Guests enjoyed a fabulous breakfast and a day of fun-filled children’s activities centered around a spring theme with complimentary admission to the Waterpark. In June, we hosted our Boogie Off Broadway Black & White themed dance party. Guests came dressed to impress and enjoyed an Open Bar, Dancing, and Tapas at the Saratoga Polo Club.

Save the date for the Partners upcoming fall events – the family friendly Monster Mash and the ever-popular House Crawl! The Partners of Saratoga have announced that the Monster Mash will be held on Oct 9 at the Saratoga Airport and will include Arts & Crafts, Pumpkin decorating, a trick or treat trail, airplane rides and more. The Partners are also excited to announce that this year’s B&B themed House Crawl will be held on Oct 27. Tour some of the finest B&Bs in Saratoga and enjoy great food, drinks and live music at the Union Gable. For more information visit our Events Calendar.

If you are interested in getting more involved in our community, would like to meet new people or simply share a love for children, I encourage you to join one of our event committees! For more information on Partners events or how to become a member please visit our Partners page.

Written by: Allison Meyers, Partners President

It’s the middle of Session 3, which is themed Space Week here at Double H. I just returned to my office after an amazing cabin night in which campers participated in an activity planned just for them by their counselors. Some campers participated in Astronaut Training Camp and were able to safely return all planets to the night sky. Another group of campers transformed our van into a rocket ship and traveled to distant planets to defeat aliens. It was amazing to see how creative our staff and campers are and how they are all embracing space during Session 3!

I’d like to share with you a little moment I had at camp last week, so that you can experience for yourself what happens here at Double H. Last week was the 4th of July and we were lucky enough to have an amazing fireworks show put on for our campers. As all campers were arriving at the bottom of our ski hill to watch the show, a 13 year-old boy came up to me and started asking me all about the fireworks. Questions like, “Where will the fireworks be shot from?” and “Will we see them high in the sky or low?” I answered all of his questions and was curious as to why he had so many when he said to me, “This is the first time I have ever seen fireworks and I’m so glad I get to see them at camp”. I was so excited that we were providing this camper with the opportunity to see his first fireworks show and then I began thinking about all the other firsts he had experienced here at camp. It probably was his first time doing a ropes course, riding a horse, being away from home, shooting an arrow at archery or his first time feeling completely accepted by his peers.

I was reminded in that moment as the sky filled with light from those beautiful fireworks that summer at Double H is like a firework; very noisy, filled with color, a little scary, exciting, beautiful and fades quickly. While not my first firework show, it was my favorite and I’m so thankful I got to spend it with such inspiring children.

Magic exists here at Double H and I’m so glad to be a part of it!

Written by: Kate Walsh, Camp Program Director

This past week we were asked by fellow not-for-profit, Silver Bay YMCA to give a presentation about the Double H Ranch to their members and guests. Camper Morgan won over the audience with her heartwarming stories about her experiences at the Double H. At the end of the evening we asked the attendees to write down a wish and place it on a wish boat we made (Session 1 Talent Show & Wish Boat ceremony were actually taking place as we spoke). Here are just a few of the wishes that Morgan inspired that magical evening.

“I hope all of Morgan’s dreams come true.”

“Morgan’s continued health and spilling over happiness in the future!”

“I wish more children and teens had the personality, energy and dedication that Morgan has.”

“The enthusiasm you show is contagious; I wish more people, including myself, could reflect joy like Morgan does.”

The feedback we received from the presentation included these words ― inspiring, motivating, amazing, encouraging, Wow!, joyful, awesome, I thank God for such a camp!

Our Double H campers are our greatest ambassadors! They are the true magic that keeps the spirit of the Double H alive. Keep sharing your stories.

Together, we will Blaze A Trail to the Double H Ranch this summer.

For more information on having a speaker attend your group’s meeting or on Blaze a Trail please call the Ranch Development Office at 518-696-5921.

Written by: Linda Smith, Individual Programs Officer

Join us for a good old fashioned Fourth of July barbeque as we celebrate our 20th Anniversary Gala at Six Flag’s Great Escape & Splashwater Kingdom on Friday, July 1 from 5:30-11:00pm. There is no better way to kick off your Fourth of July festivities than with delicious food, private fireworks, rides and games in the park, all while benefiting the campers of the Double H Ranch.

New for 2011- Caricature artists during cocktail hour, entertainment featuring Rick Bolton, pie tasting before dinner, live grill stations by Glens Sanders Mansion, fabulous munchies in the park and private fireworks by Alonzo Fireworks.

Our fabulous live auction items include “The Outlaw” Sculpture by Frederic Remington donated by Charles R. Wood Foundation; 2011 Ford Fiesta Sedan with Sports Package (2-year lease); Adirondack carved wooden bear; A private party for 50 people catered by Glens Sanders Mansion followed by a private firework display from Alonzo Fireworks; and a custom Garden Studio.

At the Double H Gala even the youngest attendees are guaranteed a great time. Guests can bring their children and the Double H will provide qualified volunteer chaperones to ride the rides with them while the adults enjoy themselves.

Click HERE for more information on the night’s festivities, details on our Live Auction or to register online. To register by phone call the Corporate and Special Events Manager at 518-696-5921 ext. 228.

I can’t believe that summer is already here! The other day I was walking around camp and it was so nice to hear screen doors slamming, people talking and seeing summer staff. Our first wave of staff arrived on June 3rd and since thenthere’s been an ongoing welcoming of new staff and returning staff to Double H.

Last night at our ‘Meet the Board’ night I was so inspired by staff members telling their stories about why they are here at Double H and why they are excited to make magic happen. I thought back to what my reasoning was for continuing to work harder and do better for the children and families we serve. As I reflect on the summers I have been a part of Double H, I am able to pick out a memorable moment from each that I hold close to me.

Working at Double H isn’t your typically 9 to 5 job, it requires a commitment like I’ve never experienced before and challenges me to be stronger than I ever thought I could be. I’ve met so many amazing people through this job and I’m so excited to work with not only our year-round team but also the 95 staff members we have hired to care for our campers throughout the summer.

Our staff have bonded quicker than ever before and are working hard to create the magic for our campers. We have an astonishing group of young adults who combined have 601 years of childcare experience and are ready to embrace the challenges, joys and surprises that Summer 2011 will bring. I’m extremely proud of our team and the commitment they have to changing the lives of our campers. Get ready, because Summer 2011 will officially start once that first camper arrives at camp on June 24th! Magic is happening here and we are excited to share it with our campers, families and volunteers.

Written by: Kate Walsh, Camp Program Director

We are excited to announce that online registration for the 2nd Annual Camp Challenge Ride planned for September 10, 2011 is OPEN. Through Team Hole in the Wall, participants can register to help raise funds and awareness for the campers of the Double H while cycling through the beautiful Adirondacks. Participants can choose from a 15 Mile, 30 Mile or Metric Century (62 Mile) ride.

Whether you are a casual rider or a seasoned cyclist, all levels are welcome! We invite you to ride in honor of or in memory of a loved one, or maybe encourage teambuilding at your place of business by forming a team.

New for 2011
Friday Night Pasta Dinner and Pre-Ride Registration
for riders who raise a minimum of $250 prior to the ride.
An opportunity to stay in a Double H Ranch Cabin
for riders who raise a minimum of $1,000.
New 2011 Cycling Jersey for all participants that raise a minimum of $750.
Riders who raise a minimum of $500 will receive a custom Windbreaker.

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 and a goodie bag. The day will begin with a pre-ride breakfast and end with a post-ride BBQ with entertainment all at the Double H Ranch.

Become a part of the TEAM today! Visit http://www.doublehranch.org/team-hole-in-wall.html to register today as an individual or as a team.

We have had an amazing Spring here at Double H and have welcomed so many families and campers over the past two months. For those of you who have joined us for our Spring Family Programming we thank you for making our spring season so successful. Spring sneaks up on us at Double H, we are just finishing up our winter season and our minds are already thinking about summer; however, we have four family weekends to plan, organize, and facilitate.

Here are some fun camp stats for Spring Family Programming 2011!

35 volunteers helped our families make memories to last a life-time.
36 families participated in our 4 weekend programs.
65 individual participants came to a family weekend.
4 campfires were held.
22 meals were served.
12 bags of marshmallows were roasted.
8 games of kickball were played.
And a total of 215 people joined us for a Double H Spring Family Weekend!

Thank you so much to all who assisted with these weekends, it wouldn’t be possible without a strong Double H year-round team and such amazing volunteer support!

Moving right along, summer is almost here!! As many of you have seen on the countdown clock, we are quickly approaching the busiest season at Double H. We have less than two weeks until our leadership and program team arrives!

Last week I walked into to my camp house here on site to check things out and I was greeted with remnants of last summer. My nametag was sitting on my dresser, there was an Alumni Session schedule tacked to my wall and a pair of flip flops were sitting on the floor- it was like I had never left and yet so much has happened in this past year. While brushing some of the cobwebs out of the way I began to think of how this summer will challenge us, inspire us and motivate us to keep doing the work we do. The excitement for Summer 2011 is in the air and we are all ready to make magic happen!

Written by: Kate Walsh, Camp Program Director