Sierra Friends Camp ------------------------------------------- What a rotten experience. Who'd think camp directors would be totally rude? We'd really been looking forward to this camp. It sounded wonderful w/ the lake, film making, etc. We applied last year for it. We could not afford it (cost is $700. for one week) so asked for and got scholarship with $100. left to go. They suggested asking for donation from local group for rest. Since it's run by American Friends (Quaker church) we decided to ask Berkeley Friends for donation & they said yes very generously. The week of camp my kid got sick so i called to tell them. They said call tomorrow but after that it's too late since they were going backpacking & would be gone. He didn't get well so i called to tell them, sadly, that he could not go, but said i'd apply for next year. So now it's next year & i emailed to ask for scholarship. Coleman Watts, director, sent me this rude email accusing us of being no-shows, ''after many people worked so hard to make it work for him, you don't show up. Please do not ask Berkeley Friends again, they were upset about what happened last year & you are not actually a member of that meeting.'' I emailed him that i did indeed call to cancel, @ least twice, &emailed too, so what were they "upset" about? The fact that i did not haul a kid who was too sick to get out of bed up to the sierras to go backpacking? Besides, they obviously benefit from kids going to their camp &learning their ways. Churches around the world welcome kids, even give out food to attract them, so let's not be so naive thinking they are just total do-gooders w/ nothing in it for them. He went on "I also want the name & phone # of one of your son's teachers so I can verify that they think he will be OK here at camp." This wasn't one of the requirements for anyone else; he just wanted to make it hard for us. And what child never gets sick? Because of my kid's illness, he wants some verification that my kid will be "OK at camp"? Furthermore, he raised the amount for us to pay from $100. to $200. (doubled!!) After i emailed him saying i'd called regrets last year, he did not even apologized for his rudeness & false accusations. He said "When we suggested that you ask for support from your church community, it is really better to get help from a community you already know, like a church you already attend or another group you have a relationship with." Doesn't this guy understand that it is really uncool to bother ''family, friends and church that i'm a part of'' for $200 for 1 single week of camp? My family and friends are not made of money. And as for the church, come on now, really. If I am Catholic, Jewish, Muslim, etc., you really think my church is going to sponsor my kid to go a Quaker church-run camp? Do churches pay to let their kids to be persuaded to join other faiths? Think again! I think he should be a little less ridiculous. There are tons of camps to attend all around Northern California. I attended Summer Camp fair at Scottish Rite Temple in Oakland & visited about 40 tables of diverse camps for all tastes and ages up to 18. Why go to a place where they are rude to campers' families? We don't recommend this camp to anyone. Colemann Watts can go jump in that big lake they have out there, belly first. read more