Since its founding in 1949, the purpose and philosophy of the Camp Unalayee Association has been to operate a non-profit summer camp for young people from all racial, religious, economic and social backgrounds. It is our goal to bring diverse groups of young people together to live cooperatively with each other in a wilderness setting in order to foster understanding among people from different backgrounds. It is this experience that forms the foundation of the Unalayee experience. The need to live at peace with one another and the earth are fundamental needs that Unalayee works to fulfill through our unique program and wilderness setting.
Camp Unalayee Goals
• To teach cooperative living in small groups working and playing together in a primitive outdoors environment under the guidance of experienced leaders.
• To develop a knowledge and appreciation of nature, conservation principles and simplified living.
• To develop self-reliance.
• To teach an appreciation of basic values and high moral standards, and to inculcate a desire to live rather than merely pay lip service to one's religion or philosophy; these objectives are to be promoted by the example set by staff members and through discussions.
• To develop leadership potential and a desire to serve the community and society as a youth and later as an adult.
• To develop an appreciation and understanding of the customs, views and individual qualities of persons with different national, racial, religious, economic and social backgrounds.
• To foster international understanding and world peace by drawing foreign campers and counselors into the summer camp program.
• To provide a source of experience and to serve as an inspiration and example for others to organize summer camps with similar objectives.
Program Goals and Outcomes
General: The overall goal of Camp Unalayee is to provide an environment where young people can learn about, appreciate, and enjoy simple living in a positive, safe, outdoor environment.
Recognizing that most Americans rarely, if ever, have a true wilderness experience, one important facet of this program is simply to expose campers to diverse floral ecosystems (e.g., riparian, forest, alpine, lake, grassland) and wildlife (e.g., rodents, deer, raptors, reptiles/amphibians, etc.), within a natural physical environment (e.g., so they can see unmanaged watersheds, stars, etc.). The primitive camp setting in the Trinity Alps Wilderness automatically meets this goal, because the region is ecologically, faunally, and florally diverse, and its remoteness and ruggedness mean that campers will encounter streams and lakes, varied fauna, etc., and be able to see more stars than in any municipal area. A related goal is to expose campers to diverse cultures and ethnicities, in order to promote multicultural and multiethnic tolerance. Camp U's policy of hiring counselors from other countries, and having them present songs, stories, crafts, etc. native to their culture again automatically achieves this goal.
Camp Unalayee additionally promotes 3 more specific goals, targeted at camper development, with specific expected outcomes and achievement levels.
Because there is such a range of experiences and wilderness training in campers, expectations are organized according to proficiency levels, rather than age groups. An 11 year-old camper whose siblings have already attended Camp U may be far more proficient after a single session than an inner-city 17 year old after several years. The purpose of assessment is not to "grade" individual campers, but rather to gauge the health of the camp's program in promoting and meeting its goals. It is expected that by the end of a session, a majority of campers will be in the intermediate and advanced levels of proficiency in all 3 goals.
Goal 1: To develop self-reliance in a primitive environment (respect for self)
Outcomes: Campers will be able to select appropriate clothing and gear for wilderness backpacking, considering different weather possibilities, assemble a well-balanced backpack, and manage personal chores while in the wilderness.
Proficiency Levels/Assessment:
Low: At a loss for what to take and how to pack (will not ask counselor for help), and requires close monitoring while on the trail in meeting personal needs (e.g., must be asked if they have blisters, repeatedly admonished to put on rain gear, etc.).
Intermediate: Knows basics of what to take and how to pack, and requires little personal monitoring on trail (e.g., will tell you they have blisters), but needs checking and advice on several clothing/gear choices.
Advanced: Can choose clothing and gear, and pack with minimal supervision. Is proficient in caring for self on trail (e.g., will identify hotspots and either self treat or approach counselor in anticipation of blister problems)
Goal 2: To teach cooperative living in small groups (respect for others)
Outcomes: Campers will be able to work together doing tribe chores (food prep., cooking, washing dishes, taking care of garbage, chopping wood, fire building, etc.). Campers will be able to communicate clearly to other campers and staff by expressing their opinions and their needs. Campers will help plan hikes, activities, and campfires/Vespers. Campers will be able to demonstrate conflict resolution by practicing listening skills, having discussions, and participating in group meetings.
Proficiency Levels/Assessment:
Low: Shirks camp responsibilities and must be closely monitored for compliance. Will not resolve conflicts. Frequent complaining about camp chores. Avoids groups meetings and offers no opinions or ideas for campfire/Vespers. Resists participating in activities.
Intermediate: Will do camp chores if asked without serious complaint. Will attend meetings and occasionally offer opinions and ideas for campfire/Vespers.
Advanced: Takes on/volunteers for camp chores and/or helps motivate other campers. Active participation in campfire and/or Vespers. Helps resolve conflicts.
Goal 3: To develop and appreciation for the natural world (respect for the environment)
Outcomes: Campers will be able to practice "no trace" procedures while backpacking. Campers will demonstrate safety and good sanitation practices on the trail. Campers will participate in recycling and clean up endeavors. Campers will leave plants and animals alone.
Proficiency Levels/Assessment:
Low: Unclear on low-impact procedures and needs frequent reminders and/or close supervision. Chooses inappropriate toilet sites (e.g., near streams or camping areas), despite frequent advice and reminders. Shirks or frequently complains about recycling/garbage responsibilities. Damage and/or kills plants and benign wildlife (i.e., not mosquitoes)
Intermediate: Basically follows camp rules regarding no-trace backpacking procedures, recycling, garbage and wildlife, but may have occasional lapses. May complain about "special" procedures designed to protect the environment.
Advanced: Follows camp rules without complaint and helps other campers to minimize environmental impact. Exhibits clear understanding of the importance of natural spaces (e.g., talks to other campers or counselor).
Camper Proficiency Assessment
For your tribe, please estimate the number of campers in each of the following proficiency categories (respect for self, others, and environment):
1. Self-reliance in a primitive environment (respect for self)
Proficiency Levels/Assessment:
Low: At a loss for what to take and how to pack (will not ask counselor for help), and requires close monitoring while on the trail in meeting personal needs (e.g., must be asked if they have blisters, repeatedly admonished to put on rain gear, etc.).
Intermediate: Knows basics of what to take and how to pack, and requires little personal monitoring on trail (e.g., will tell you they have blisters), but needs checking and advice on several clothing/gear choices.
Advanced: Can choose clothing and gear, and pack with minimal supervision. Is proficient in caring for self on trail (e.g., will identify hotspots and either self treat or approach counselor in anticipation of blister problems)
2. Cooperative living in small groups (respect for others)
Proficiency Levels/Assessment:
Low: Shirks camp responsibilities and must be closely monitored for compliance. Will not resolve conflicts. Frequent complaining about camp chores. Avoids groups meetings and offers no opinions or ideas for campfire/Vespers. Resists participating in activities.
Intermediate: Will do camp chores if asked without serious complaint. Will attend meetings and occasionally offer opinions and ideas for campfire/Vespers.
Advanced: Takes on/volunteers for camp chores and/or helps motivate other campers. Active participation in campfire and/or Vespers. Helps resolve conflicts.
3. Has an appreciation for the natural world (respect for the environment)
Proficiency Levels/Assessment:
Low: Unclear on low-impact procedures and needs frequent reminders and/or close supervision. Chooses inappropriate toilet sites (e.g., near streams or camping areas), despite frequent advice and reminders. Shirks or frequently complains about recycling/garbage responsibilities. Damages and/or kills plants and benign wildlife (i.e., not mosquitoes)
Intermediate: Basically follows camp rules regarding no-trace backpacking procedures, recycling, garbage and wildlife, but may have occasional lapses. May complain about "special" procedures designed to protect the environment
The following statement is available for download as a .pdf document
back to top