The Delta Gamma Alumni Association is hosting a Kentucky Derby Party to benefit the LightHouse for the Blind, and you're invited!

Where: The Republic at 3213 Scott Street,  

Lombard Street in San Francisco
When: May 4th from 1:00 to 5:00 p.m.
What: Wear you best derby hat and be ready to bet on your favorite horses! Best dressed male and female will win a gift certificate

If you are a blind or low vision youth, you and your family and friends are invited to join LightHouse and San Francisco Recreation and Parks Project Insight for a fun-filled day of food, games, family and friends. Festivities include a raffle for SF Giants and 49ers gear, beep kickball, sack races, and a wonderful opportunity to meet other blind and low vision youth and their families.

Picnickers in the park

When: Saturday May 18, 11:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.

Where: Sharon Meadows, Golden Gate Park, 320 Bowling Green Drive

What to bring: The LightHouse and Project Insight will provide hot dogs, hamburgers, snacks and drinks. Attendees with dietary restrictions are welcome to bring their own food.

What to wear: We encourage all attendees to wear their favorite San Francisco Sport Team's apparel or colors. Because weather can be unpredictable in the park, layered clothing is suggested.

RSVP to Jamey Gump, LightHouse Youth Services Coordinator at 415- 694-7372 or jgump@lighthouse-sf.org.    

Join the LightHouse of the North Coast at the upcoming Disability Resource Fair hosted by the Tri-County Independent Living Center. This year's fair will be about information and tools.  

When: Friday, June 7, from 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. 
Where: Vicker's Hall, on the Redwood Acres Fairground, in Eureka, CA, at 3750 Harris Street.  Redwood Acres is in the Myrtletown Neighborhood on the Green Route of the Eureka Transit System.   

For more information about the fair, formerly called the Respectability Fair and the A.T. Expo in past years, please visit www.tilinet.org or call 707-445-8404.

Jiselle swimming in EHC pool

Come to beautiful Enchanted Hills Camp and see the magic for yourself!

When: July 27, 11:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.

What: Camp Tours, Swimming, BBQ, Paddle Boating, Wine Tasting

Where: Enchanted Hills Camp, 3410 Mt. Veeder Road, Napa, CA

Who: Anyone who loves BBQ, Biking, or Swimming and wants to experience the wonders of Enchanted Hills
Tickets: $20.00

A bike ride too? Yes! Start the day with a 9:00 a.m. cycle on Mt. Veeder with the Eagle Cycling Club.

RSVP to lmartinez@lighthouse-sf.org or 415-694-7350.

Are you finding it difficult to do the simple day-to-day tasks you've always been able to do? Is it Time to do Something About Your Vision Loss? The LightHouse can help.

Our next one week immersion, for adults new to low vision or blindness, is at Enchanted Hills Retreat from June 9 through 14. Enjoy the outdoor beauty and warm welcome you'll receive at Enchanted Hills, while learning new ways to continue living your life to the fullest. To find out more information, please visit http://bit.ly/changinglifeatehc2013.

EHC is the place to be!

Enchanted Hills Camp is still accepting applications for the following sessions:

• Family Camp III: July 24 - July 27
• Kids Session (Kids 3rd through 8th grade): July 15 - July 21
• Teen Session (Kids 9th through 12th grade): July 28 - Aug 3
• Deaf-Blind Session: August 15 - Aug 18 (for information about this session contact Sook Hee Choi, Deaf-Blind Specialist at schoi@lighthouse-sf.org
  or Video Phone: 415-255-5906.)  

There also is limited space left for these sessions:

• Adult/Alumni: July 5 - July 10 
• Adults with Special Needs: June 29 - July 3

Please join us for a fun filled summer! For more information or to download an application, visit the Enchanted Hills Camp 2013 page on our website. For questions please call us at 415-694-7310 or email us at EHC@lighthouse-sf.org.

Do you have a special skill you'd like to share, while enjoying time spent in the beautiful outdoors? Would you like to teach a sport or an art class or take a group of campers out hiking? Enchanted Hills Camp is looking for volunteers for this summer's camp sessions. 

Volunteer Bo Diaz teaches archery to Enchanted Hills camper Ian Snow

Camp Director & Cycling Hero Tony Fletcher Holds Team LightHouse Trophy

Saturday, April 20 blossomed into a beautiful blue-sky Napa day, perfect for wine tasting, food, and most importantly, a good long bicycle ride with over 2,000 other cyclists, all part of the 2013 Cycle for Sight fundraising event for Enchanted Hills Camp. Rotary of Napa hosts the event each year, and proceeds are split between our camp and the Napa Veteran's Pathway Home.  

This year, Team LightHouse had the largest number of team participants of the event, including an astonishing 40 tandems. Those who stayed the night at Enchanted Hills Camp were treated to a carbolicious spaghetti dinner the night before and a hearty breakfast that morning.

Team LightHouse members Sarah (left) and Mellissa Fullmer on a tandem

After the ride cyclists and their friends and family enjoyed food, drink and music at the Cycle for Sight Wine and Music Festival. LightHouse maintained a table which served as a meeting place for the Team members who shared their camp stories and memories. Lucky raffle winners picked up special hydration backpacks donated by Osprey.  

Cycle for Sight Water/Food Station covered with platters of our famous freshly-baked Enchanted Hills cookies

"My family and I rode 15 miles along the beautiful and scenic roads in Napa and had a blast! We were one tandem in a group of forty tandems--plus a handful of single bikes--that hit the road in a united effort to make a difference in the lives of blind kids this summer in Enchanted Hills Camp. "--Lisamaria Martinez

We thank the riders and supporters of Enchanted Hills for their enthusiastic participation and for making this year's event the best Cycle for Sight so far. To see photos from the event go to our Cycle for Sight 2013 Facebook photo album. 

Hands holding keyboard labels

In today's world of constant change, it's nice to have a simple, tried-and-true system that makes life just so much easier. An example of this is our embossed, self-adhesive computer keyboard labels. All computer keyboards are not the same, and at times we find ourselves wondering where, on a particular keyboard, is that very important key. A new personal computer, a spouse's computer or a work computer may have a layout just different enough to throw us off.

These black on yellow, embossed, large print labels make all the difference. They're brilliantly high contrast, comfortable to read and easy to apply to your Mac or PC desktop or laptop computer. They'll help you recall where those important keys are and they're ideal for the new explorer of technology, the young or young-spirited, who wants to learn the computer keyboard. They're also perfect for the person who just can't tolerate the tediousness of having to touch-type on a screen or endlessly correct their dictation software in order to send an email, or text message. Once you're familiar with your keyboard, the labels can be removed, returning the keyboard to its original appearance.

The labels are also available in black on white, and white on black. Note: Black on yellow is recommended for individuals who have been diagnosed with age related Macular Degeneration.

A set of labels sells for $25.00 and can be purchased by visiting the store or calling 415-694-7301.

Dr. Connie Conley-Jung

Do you think it would be helpful to work with a qualified counselor on the issues that might hold you back from living your life more fully?  

LightHouse has added the wisdom and clinical expertise of Dr. Connie Conley-Jung, licensed clinical psychologist and former special education teacher, to our staff.  For more information on how counseling can help you, visit:  http://bit.ly/LHcounselingservices.   

How do blind and visually impaired kids learn the life skills their sighted peers pick up visually? Last month our three-day workshop during a beautiful, sunny weekend at Enchanted Hills Camp provided another enriching and educational experience for youth ages 16 to 25 years old who are interested in how to be successful in their vocational, academic, and personal lives.

"I'm so glad I came to Transition Summit again! It's been so helpful in my career pursuits, especially in learning leadership skills." --Micah Aveno  

Teams of youth use their critical thinking and creative problem solving skills as they race against the clock to build an overnight shelter with found objects

The young people were placed in teams and challenged with hypothetical problems that they worked together to solve. One such challenge was to imagine that they were out hiking alone, lost, with a storm coming in and 20 minutes of daylight left. They were tasked with building a shelter that would keep them warm and dry, with just the things they found around them. Though overwhelmed at first, the young people quickly learned how to break down the challenge into more simple, solvable steps - a skill that will serve them well in the workplace and in life.

As an extra added bonus, keynote speaker and graduate chemistry student and Chemistry Camp leader Hoby Wedler talked to the group about maintaining enthusiasm and a positive attitude, cultivating professionalism and how to solve problems creatively.  

"Do they have Transition Summits for sighted people? They should! This is so helpful. I have sighted friends who could benefit from all of this information."--Eduardo Mendez

If you are interested in attending next year's Transition Summit program contact LightHouse Community Services Director John Liang at jliang@lighthouse-sf.org or 415-694-7334.

Talking BART maps? Yes, talking BART maps. The technology to produce BART maps that audibly describe BART stations is just around the corner and the LightHouse is helping to make this happen.  

Hand holding a Smartpen against a BART map

A stream rushes through Enchanted Hills Retreat

Enchanted Hills has been pleased to notice an increased demand for our picturesque retreat facilities by groups reserving the entire facility just for themselves: for fall weddings, conferences and family reunions. But there are still some dates available in autumn when the grapes are in harvest and when locals know the best weather of the year usually comes. Would you like to get your group together in the fresh air and sunshine of Enchanted Hills?

Conveniently located on scenic Mt. Veeder, just 8 miles from downtown Napa, Enchanted Hills is a beautiful place to get your group of 30 to 120 together away from it all. Enjoy a campfire under the redwoods, a workshop in our spacious kiva, a swim in the outdoor pool, visit a local winery or take a ramble through 311 acres of wooded countryside. Fresh meals are specially prepared, the Wi-Fi is free and so is the relaxing atmosphere.

Experience the magic of Enchanted Hills! All proceeds benefit Enchanted Hills Camp for the Blind. To reserve your space or get more information, call 415-694-7310 or go to www.enchantedhillsretreat.com. 

Illustration of a San Francisco home

Donating real estate, such as a personal residence or vacation home, commercial property, or even vacant land, can be a creative way to make a significant gift to the LightHouse for the Blind or Enchanted Hills Camp for the Blind, and at the same time receive substantial tax benefits and even income. The benefits include a charitable income tax deduction, avoidance of sometimes-staggering capital gains taxes at the time the gift is made, and removal of the property from your estate, potentially reducing estate taxes and probate costs. A gift of your real property can also relieve you of the burden of managing or selling the property.

Your benefits from an outright gift of real property would be an income tax deduction for the property's full fair market value, and the reward of seeing your gift go to sustaining the LightHouse's programs for blind and low vision individuals to improve health, wellbeing and independence. If you would like more information on planned giving from bequests to charitable remainder trusts, please contact us at 415-694-7333 or jsachs@lighthouse-sf.org.