May 2008 News

The May Work Weekend was a huge success. Thanks to the efforts of Pam and her team of volunteers, 60 elderberry bushes were planted to help protect the wetlands.
The Chinese Culture Weekend has hired Cai Xi from the Asian Cultural Center in Brattleboro to come and teach.
Camp Kaleidoscope filled up at the beginning of April and we have started a waiting list for it.
Camp Common Ground is almost full. For more information on staff each week click here.
Volunteers for Peace will be here all three weeks of Camp Common Ground and this year it's an entirely female crew with women from Germany, South Korea, Spain and France.
The small stream beside the road leading down to the creek now has a number of small pools to help slow and filter the water before it reaches the creek.
The path to the Haybarn has been completed and bushes were planted along it by volunteers from South Burlington High School.
The solar panels are up and should be connected to our power system any day now.
The farmhouse got a facelift. The exterior was painted along with the library and the kitchen cabinets. The farmhouse also got new windows and some more insulation to help make us more energy efficient.

March 2008 News

The Spring 2008 Newsletter is available as a PDF file here.
We have decided to have a public walking of the labyrinth that will be here for the Women's Weekend. Join us on Sunday, June 1st from 4-6pm to learn what labyrinths are all about.
Kitchen Renovations have begun. By spring we will have a new drink cooler, a wider door into the dining hall and a new system for returning dishes. No more bottlenecks!

The pond is finished and is now filling with water!!
We are planning a new special week for families who are in high conflict divorce situations.
Staff is being lined up for all three weeks of Camp Common Ground. See updates here.
Registrations are pouring in.
We were awarded a Markel's Safety 1st Designation for 2007. This recognizes our proven safety record and our commitment to inspections and staff training.
The Winter 2008 Newsletter is available as a PDF file here.

We were awarded a grant from the Doug Flutie, Jr. Foundation to support Camp Kaleidoscope!

We're looking for volunteers for Camp Kaleidoscope - extra hands, campfire builders, photographers, etc.
Camp Kaleidoscope, our newest camp, is almost full!
Jim Mendell and Angela Timpone did a brief segment about Camp Kaleidoscope on WCAX on May 28th.
The newspaper the Shelburne News made Camp Kaleidoscope the lead story in their camp section on May 10th.
We received a grant from the South Burlington Kiwanis to help with Camp Kaleidoscope.
We hired Pat Hendee to be our new caretaker! He'll move into the Breen House with his family on July 1st.
The new bathroom in the Dining Hall is finished.
The Butterfly cabin is finished.

We received a grant from the Vermont Developmental Disabilities Council to help with Camp Kaleidoscope.
The Summer 2007 newsletter is now available with lots of new about camp. Click here for the pdf version.

We received grants from the Chittenden Bank and the Merchants Bank to help with scholarships for Camp Kaleidoscope: Celebrating Families with Kids on the Autism Spectrum.
We received a grant from the Agnes M. Lindsay Trust which will pay for the cement floor in the new "Old Workshop."
We were once again chosen by Budget Travel as one of their Top 50 Family Camps. See the 2007 list here. (It's alphabetical by state so we're at the end.)
The Camp Brochure is finished and can be downloaded here. A larger version of the registration form is here.
Camp Kaleidoscope: Families Celebrating the Autism Spectrum will be one of our new programs this year. We have many ideas and a lot of help. We have hired Sarah Nestor to be the kids' program director. Elin will be the camp director
Rick Davis is buying a house in Starksboro, so we are looking for a new onsite caretaker. The job description is here if anybody is interested.

Common Ground Center News

Open Pages Spring 2008 (file size: 3.8mb)
Open Pages Winter 2008 (file size: 2.6mb)
Open Pages Summer 2 2007 (file size: 9.6mb)
Open Pages Summer 2007 (file size: 5.4mb)
Open Pages Spring 2007 (file size: 14mb - yes it's huge - lots of photos)
Open Pages Winter 2007 (file size: 1.9mb)
Open Pages Fall 2006 (file size: 3.6mb)
Open Pages Summer 2006 (file size: 1.8mb)

YEAH! We've been chosen by Budget Travel Online as one of the 2007 Top 50 Family Camps in the country. See the 2007 list here. (It's alphabetical by state so we're at the end.)
CampDepot.com
Toronto Vegetarian Association