A few highlights for the many who wished us well, sent donations and/or volunteered. It was truly a magical and successful week.
* Counselors. For the first time, we had professional community-building exercises during training, a handbook was developed, a fair wage paid for their time. A debrief meeting with Alberta Buller was part of each day. A lounge was provided for their breaks, with their own food. The result was that the counselors developed a camaraderie earlier and worked at a higher level of teamwork and leadership, with a strong emphasis on the safety of our campers. They wrote thoughtful evaluations with suggestions for how they might make camp even better next year.
* Artist/Teachers. All four of our teachers had been at Create before and all are extraordinary. A collegiality, cohesiveness and control in the classes was evident. The campers tried new things, created at inspired levels, learned about water (this year's theme) and were respectful.
* Volunteers. Camp Create had the largest number of volunteers than in any previous year with many newcomers. Many have already asked to return in 2017 when we have plans for more shifts.
* Congregational support. Members of our church donated a record amount to support this ministry. With large and small donations, we had the largest number of financial donors than in any previous year.
* Institutional support. Grants provided 68% of the costs of the camp. A very special thank you to the Kimball Foundation and the Marin Community Foundation, our largest benefactors. Without them, truly there is no Camp Create which must raise funds each year to operate.
* The campers. Adventurous and well-behaved from different cultures and neighborhoods. See their many faces in the many places of Camp Create on a link that will appear in Tidings and on our website. All photos are by Rev. Alberta Brown Buller. More are at
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WaterWays. With much gratitude to...
Volunteers who worked 5 days or more during the week. Wow! Anne Brown, Ginny Doyle, Olive DePonte, Anne Hammer, Ken Hammer, Jo Ann Haseltine, Mary-Ann Milford, Pam Martori
The legion of volunteers who worked a shift or several: Molly Arthur, Bruce Auld, Frances Barbour, Linda Berg, Barbara Berling, DeWitt Bowman, Bill Brinkman, Dave Buller, June Campbell, Lois Cannady, Beverly Healey, John Hirten, Jane Jacobs, Tucker MacLean, Lilian Murray, Ginny Preston, Zebiya Rigby, Jeannie Richards, Sally Williamson, Judy Wilson and Kathy Winkler.
The Rev. Alberta Buller who was extraordinary as part of the Camp Create paid staff, as Chaplain and in charge of our counselors and their training, and as a volunteer as the camp photographer and chronicler of the magic of the camp.
The Rev. Wendy Cliff who left exceptional notes and lovingly prepared a first-time lay team to direct the week of Camp. All are still standing - and smiling.
Volunteer Helen Sandeman for her beautiful design used for tee shirts and this year's logo.
Volunteer Molly Arthur for coordinating the lovely Friday night hospitality and pot luck dinner.
The parent volunteers from the Canal. Two parents each day worked long, hard days in the kitchen and a small army helped with dishes and clean-up after the festival.
The St. Stephen's staff who endured, with grace, a week+ of disruption and gave an assist to us in many ways.
Our in-kind donor ExtraFood.org (Kathy Carver) for weeks' worth of milk and yogurt, a million blueberries, baked goods and farmers market fruits and vegetables - all delivered to us at no cost.
The Planning Committee for a year's worth of meetings, inspiration and planning: Anne Brown, Wendy Cliff, Olive DePonte, Jo Ann Haseltine, Sharon Hilpert, Marisa Jennings, Pam Martori and Anne Moffet.
The many donors who supported this event, in large and small ways. You made a big difference.
We humbly apologize if your name has been omitted but thank you too.