Class of 2016 alumna Sandra Ngo ties a red flannel around her khaki shorts as she prepares for an early morning bike ride up the San Bernardino mountains with the volunteers and campers of UCLA UniCamp. Surrounded by the tall trees and the tranquil sounds of a nearby river, they continue to enjoy the week.
For the past two years, Ngo participated as a volunteer at UniCamp, which lasts from late June to early August.
At Camp River Glen, volunteers plan a week-long program for the underserved youth, where over a thousand children and teens have the opportunity to surround themselves with nature and form new friendships.
“The best part about being a volunteer with UCLA UniCamp is the community that I’ve become a part of,” Ngo said. “I simply love every part about it, from the people I’ve met, to the purpose behind what we’re doing and how much fun we have doing it.”
Activities include swimming, mountain biking, arts and crafts and archery. There are also special activities such as a talent show, a dance, a morning hike or a campfire. After every meal, everyone is required to perform daily tasks, such as cleaning the bathrooms or collecting trash.
“Our role is simply to help them have a fun week of camp, a week of just being a kid,” Ngo said. “Some activities that we have, such as climbing the alpine tower, are a life-changing experience for our campers because they accomplish a task that they have initially been afraid to do the year before.”
Ngo participated as a volunteer in AcademiCamp, which is one of the nine branches of UniCamp. The session, which specifically works with middle and early high school students, focuses on education and social emotional learning. AcademiCamp will last from July 28 to Aug. 3 this year.
“One of the biggest challenges I think volunteers go through is the frustration of wanting to create a perfect week for our campers, but sometimes not being able to,” Ngo said. “Sometimes, things don’t go as planned. Some of our campers may be having off days or may not get along with each other. Navigating through these experiences can be challenging and frustrating because all we want is for the week of camp to go smoothly!”
To support Ngo’s goal of fundraising at least $450, email sandrango98@gmail.com to find out how you can donate to make UniCamp a reality.
TCHS School Newspaper