Double H Ranch is pleased to announce that the 21st Annual Gala at Six Flags Great Escape on June 29, 2012 from 5:00 – 11:00PM will feature a one-of-a-kind Chuckwagon Challenge – an Amateur Southwest Culinary Competition. This year marks the Double H Ranch’s 20th Year of Making Dreams a Reality for campers and their families. To honor this important milestone, the Double H is looking for the area’s best amateur cooks to compete for a grand prize of $15,000. 5 finalists will be paired with pre-selected mentor chefs, and will participate in a cook off at the Annual Gala. Gala attendees will serve as judges (people’s choice award) and have an opportunity to sample the finalist’s prepared recipes. Prizes will be announced at the Double H Ranch Annual Gala.

Interested applicants for the Chuckwagon Challenge must be amateur cooks and18 years or older with an original southwestern appetizer recipe. Cooks must be able to submit a 3-5 minute video as well as prepare and serve 700 samplings of their appetizer at the Annual Gala. Entry deadline is May 21, 2012. Only online applications accepted. A $100 entry fee is required for each submission, and will serve as a donation to the Double H Ranch.

Contestant prize money is sponsored by Marian and Norman Wolgin, and Amy’s Ventures. A fund created in memory of Amy Wolgin Wiener to benefit children and families.

First: place – Gold Star $15,000
Second place – Silver Star $5,000
Third place – Bronze Star $3,000
Fourth place – Deputy $1,000
Fifth place – Deputy $1,000

Visit http://www.doublehranch.org/chuckwagon-challenge.html to enter to win and for official rules and entry information.

Happy National Volunteer Appreciation Week! We certainly would not be where we are as an organization without the dedication of all of our staff and volunteers. We are SO thankful for each and every one of you, your time, efforts, dedication, and contribution to Double H. Being a volunteer at the Double H Ranch, you witness smiles that stretch for eternity, shrieks of pure joy tumbling from little mouths, and the exuberance of an astonishing increase in self-confidence daily.

The Double H is awe inspiring. We are truly in the business of changing lives. We help these children and families float off our property to go home with a new-found courage, an increase in support for each other, and a level of bonding they may never have been able to achieve on their own. We help to foster a feeling of belonging, camaraderie, and inspiration, which will carry them through the toughest of times. We provide a vessel for their hearts to lighten, and hope to brighten. Through our appreciation, acceptance, and motivation, our children and families are able to love themselves just as they are. We are there for them no matter what each day brings. We don’t give up, and the challenge only makes us work more diligently at whatever task we are after. No matter how we are involved, we provide much more than we can see on the surface.

Thank you for not only giving of your time, but also of your hearts this year, and always. YOU have made a difference in the lives of many, and your heart should be over flowing. Thank you to every volunteer who has made Double H a creative, unique, fun, caring, and exciting community of individuals coming together towards a common goal. We are so lucky to have you as a part of our Double H Family!

Written by: Abby Pinney, Volunteer Coordinator

During opening weekend of our Winter Program one mom expressed it best when she said that while driving from the Catskills it seemed doubtful her son Patrick, would be skiing, due to the lack of snow this season. As they turned onto Hidden Valley Road and climbed the hill to Charley’s Chalet, she saw the blanket of snow covering Robb Run. Both hers and her son’s excitement grew as they knew they were in for another incredible day at the Double H Ranch.

Yes we have snow! In the depths of winter the light of Double H shines brightly on our snowy slopes; building a place of hope and laughter even during winters such as this one, with little snowfall. With the continued support of our volunteers, winter student sponsors and community, it’s shaping up to be another magical season on the slopes.

Please consider sponsoring a winter student and giving a child, like Patrick, the chance to experience the magic of snow. Sponsor a winter student for a day or a season on the slopes for the 2012 season. Student sponsorship opportunities range from $50 for a day on the slopes to $600 for a season on the slopes. Help Give a Child the Magic of Snow!

Written by: Linda T. Smith, Development Team Member

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.

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

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

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

“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

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.

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