Caritas Creek
CYO Camp and Caritas Creek Alumni

Welcome to our unified alumni community!

 

If you are looking for the former CYO Camp Alumni Advisory Group or the Caritas Creek Board of Directors, you have found your home: our collaborative leadership activities have officially come together under the banner of the CYO Camp and Caritas Creek Alumni Association.  

 

Who We Are: We are the internal leadership group and alumni network operating directly under the legal and financial framework of the Caritas Creek 501(c)(3) corporation.  

 

Our Shared Mission: By bringing our alumni advisory groups under one roof, we streamline our fundraising efforts to provide camperships, protect the Song of Caritas curriculum, and directly support the youth, staff, and traditions at the CC-CYO Camp Retreat Center in Occidental.  

 

Whether your roots trace back to the early days of Camp Don Bosco, Our Lady of the Redwoods, the decades of CYO Camp, CC-CYO Summer Camp or the transformative journeys of Caritas Creek, your legacy is preserved here.

 

Welcome back to camp!   ​

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CYO Camp Alumni Advisory Group (2011-2022)

Inspired by the profound 80+ year history of CC-CYO Camp, nestled in the picturesque coastal redwood camp in Occidental, California, on the CC-CYO Camp and Retreat Center property, the CYO Camp Alumni Group emerged in 2011 with a mission to reconnect and share experiences among generations while giving back to this cherished place. The Alumni mission was simple - Making a Difference, One Child at a Time.

 

Committed to ensuring the viability and sustainability of Camp for generations to come, the initial chapter of the Alumni Advisory Group undertook notable projects, including rebuilding the outdoor chapel/amphitheater, commemorating milestone anniversaries, hosting Annual Alumni Days and Milestone Weekends, supporting capital improvement projects, and contributing to staff training and camper activities.

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In 2021, CYO Camp Alumni Advisory led by alum Caren Normandin and in collaboration with the Caritas Creek Board of Directors and the CYO Camp Golf Day, orchestrated an unforgettable weekend-long family camp-style event to celebrate CYO Camp's remarkable 75th year. This momentous occasion brought  generations of camp enthusiasts in a joyous celebration reminding everyone of the enduring spirit of CYO Camp and Caritas Creek. The culmination was marked by the dedication of "David's Chapel" in memory of Caren Normandin's brother, David Normandin, serving as a lasting tribute to the camp's rich history and its profound impact on all who have been a part of it.

 

In 2022, Combing efforts with the Caritas Creek board of directors, the CYO Camp and Caritas Creek Alumni Association merged. The streamlined group has collectively raised over $500,000 in camperships since 2011, providing essential tuition support to ensure all youth have a chance to come Caritas Creek and CCCYO Summer Camp.

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Immersed in over 200 acres of breathtaking redwoods, CC-CYO Camp and Caritas Creek have been a haven for over a hundred thousand of youth since1946. CC-CYO Camp offers am array of outdoor activities ,fostering a vibrant atmosphere for swimming, canoeing, archery, exploration, hiking, campfires, nature hikes, craft making, gaga ball, team building challenge course, soul food, serendipity, and more. As staff of both programs have found a home and career working with youth in the outdoors, the Caritas Creek curriculum and spirit have become infused with the CC-CYO Camp ethos and traditions. And many alumni staff have joined our leadership voluntarily managing the CYO Camp and Caritas Creek Alumni Association. 

 

The spirit of our diverse and generous camp Alumni, who span multiple generations and share an unwavering passion for our beloved camp, dutifully keep the campfire burning. We pass on the cherished stories of history, tradition, and camp community values. The incredible dedication steeped with the enrichment of childhood memories foster an everlasting camaraderie, ensuring that friendships, like the warmth of the campfire, endure a lifetime.

🌲🔥🏕️

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For more information about CC-CYO Camp, visit https://catholiccharitiessf.org/cyocamp/.