Hi everyone —
I am extremely sad to send this note. As those who have been following the road conditions in the area of Camp de Benneville Pines, the conditions are not safe enough for us to go up as planned.
Massive mudslides last week severely damaged Highway 38, which is the main road through Angelus Oaks to where camp is on Jenks Lake Road. This means our only possible way in is a much longer route that is twisty and windy. If we faced a serious emergency and needed to leave camp, we would be in rough shape. We can’t risk that. And there is a lot of recovery work going on. We need to make room for the emergency responders.
UUSM member Judith Martin Straw has generously suggested that to salvage some form of community this weekend, we gather at the beach. Her note is below.
If anyone has questions, please feel free to call me.
Blessed be,
Cynthia Littleton
From Chalice UU, organizer of this year’s Church Cluster Retreat —
Dear Campers,
I just spoke with Janet at Camp, and we are so sorry to share that, due to the current road closures, the possibility of more rain, and the conditions of the roads, we are canceling this weekend’s camp.
We know many of you were looking forward to gathering in our beloved mountain home, and we share in the disappointment of not being able to come together as planned. This brings such hardships on the camp as well as all of us.
But camp is not lost! Janet has suggested that folks can join one of their other upcoming weekends:
October 3-5 with Orange Coast UU. Contact: Maria Goode (MariaGoode@iusd.org)
November 14-16 with Fullerton UU. Contact: Dale Botts (Dale.Botts2@gmail.com)
We also want to invite you, if you are able, to consider donating part or all of your registration fee back to camp. Your generosity will help them cover the unexpected losses from this cancellation and ensure that our beloved camp continues to thrive for many years to come.
Please let us know how you would like to proceed with your refund or donation by emailing clusterretreat@chaliceuu.org.
Again, we are so sorry for camp, for Janet, and for all of us who were looking forward to this weekend. I hope to see you next year or at another future deBenneville Camp.
With warmth and gratitude,
Annie, David & Cynthia
for Camp de Benneville Pines
Here’s Judith’s note:
We are very sorry not to be in the mountains; but let’s take this afternoon to enjoy the beach.
Come and spend some time in community with us on Saturday, September 27 from noon to 3 pm at Venice Beach, on the south side of the pier. This is the beach at the end of Washington Blvd.
Bring your camp spirit and we can spend some time together, relaxing and enjoying each other. We can swim, build sand castles, play games, and eat.
Come with blankets and towels, sandwiches and soda, umbrellas or shade structures – whatever makes a day at the beach for you.
No need to RSVP – We’d love to see you there.
Judith Martin-Straw
