Winter Weekend Builds Bonds

The trips are pure fun. Alisa Ann Ruch Burn Foundation’s (AARBF) annual ski trips mix kids, mountains, volunteers, snow and plentiful activities for a lively weekend where survivors get a chance to connect with friends.

Forty kids and 22 volunteer chaperones and drivers across California made the trek to the Sierra Nevada mountains for AARBF’s March ski trips. Some had never been in snow before.

 “It was awesome. I spent time with my friends from [Champ] Camp who I haven’t seen since August or September, so it was great. We played a lot of games and did a lot of hanging out,” said Maria Melendrez from Los Angeles.

Groups from Southern and Central California met for a weekend at Sierra Summit. Sixteen kids between the ages of 8 and 17 and five volunteers stayed at the Shaver Lake cabin donated by Sharon and Dave Biswell and dined on food provided by Marilyn Erickson. After a day of travel on Friday, the group spent the evening eating s’mores and playing games, including using the cabin’s pool table. Five more volunteer chaperones joined the group Saturday for lift passes, rentals, lessons for skiing or snowboarding, and lunch provided by Sierra Summit. On Sunday, everyone got in some snow play before the ride home.

The Northern California attendees headed to Bear Valley. Twenty-four kids from ages 8 to 17 and 12 chaperones made their first stop of the trip at Stockton’s Fire Station #2, who provided dinner for all Friday night and gave away two bicycles. Then the group headed to a church in Arnold, Calif., where they would sleep. Both Saturday and Sunday morning, a fire engine escort led the group to the Ebbot’s Pass Fire Department where they were fed a hot hearty breakfast. Bear Valley Mountain Resort set the crew up with lift passes, rentals, lessons, and lunch on Saturday. The group spent the last of their energy Saturday afternoon riding snowmobiles provided by the Bear Valley FD, Calaveras County Sheriff’s Department and the Bear Valley Snow Mobile Company. Ebbot’s Pass Fire Department fed the hungry party dinner. While headed home on Sunday, everyone shared a lunch at the Manteca Fire Department.

“Everyone went above and beyond for volunteerism,” said trip coordinator Mike Sanders.

AARBF would like to thank the following volunteers for their time and support: Chris McKeever, Jason Meyer, Sid Chacon, Marilyn Erickson, Mark Brunner, Bret Black, Kailash Black, Scott Sanders, Chris Lewis, Emily Lewis, Amethyst Cirmo, Tiffany Romias, DeWayne Eckerdt, Christie Peterson, Dave Allen, Anthony Sanders, Robert Cotton, Mike Gonzalez, Evie Gonzalez, Stacie Leal, Jeff Martin, Rob Hecocks, Jenna Graham, Tracey Chin, Mark Meiers, and Mike Sanders.

To view more pictures from the 2008 ski trips click here.

Also in this issue:
AARBF Launches Its Largest Prevention Campaign
Grant Sends 45 Kids to Champ Camp