Archive for the ‘Recreation’ Category
Monday, June 13th, 2011
The conference in house this week, scheduled free time for this afternoon. Many of the group members headed out for hikes into Desolation Wilderness. Others chose to take to the water or relax on the boat dock with a book.
 Springtime at the boat dock The kayaks available at the boat dock are stable and a good way to get out on the water and stay relatively dry.
 Returning to the dock in a double kayak When I headed out to the volleyball court, it was empty with balls scattered across it, so I decided to practice my serve. A guest who had just finished shooting some baskets snapped a couple pictures for me.
 Ace! We also have a couple tennis courts with great views of Fallen Leaf Lake. We have a few tennis racquets at the front desk available for guests to use and the Fountain sells tennis balls. When planning your visit to Stanford Sierra, remember to pack your sporty clothes!
Posted in Recreation, Uncategorized | No Comments »
Tuesday, April 26th, 2011
May 12 through the 15th, we will host the 17th Annual Healthy Living Retreat for Women. This outstanding program with speakers from the Stanford School of Medicine and Bay area provides the latest information on women’s health and wellness. Featured lectures include Christopher Gardner, PhD, Stanford nutrition researcher on “Solutions to the Omnivore’s Dilemma”. Christopher’s work is at the forefront of nutrition research and he is a popular repeat Healthy Living speaker.
 Christopher with his wife Melissa at the 2005 retreat The weekend also includes workshops on more specialized topics. Dr. Margaret Deanesly is another popular return speaker and will share facts on aging. Dr. Margaret has an amazing ability to present important health information with clear and humorous delivery.
 Dr. Margaret at the 2007 retreat Four 45-minute hands-on workshops to fine tune or update your healthy habits round out the structured program. Check the website for topics and descriptions.
Normally we have about half return participants and half new. The weekend is a wonderful opportunity to treat yourself and maybe pick up an idea or two of easy changes you could make to your lifestyle. There are about 10 spots remaining for the upcoming Healthy Living retreat. For more information, visit the website or call Gracie Gurganus at 530-541-1244.
Posted in Recreation, Uncategorized | No Comments »
Tuesday, March 29th, 2011
Congratulations to Brant Bishop, our new assistant director! Brant worked for us this past summer and fall and proved to be a reliable, thoughtful and mature employee. Brant graduated from Stanford University last spring with a degree in Sociology.
Brant was two months into a planned year of around the world travels when he got word the assistant director position was open. Within 24 hours of accepting the job, Brant was on a plane back from the heat of the Australian summer to winter in the deep woods of Fallen Leaf Lake.
During his two months of traveling, Brant covered about 1,100 miles on the East coast of Australia from Sydney to Cairns by bus. He was fortunate not to encounter any of these friendly critters on his travels. Brant’s best experience was scuba diving the Great Barrier Reef. He said “It was a whole different version of reality. An underwater 3D world of vibrant colors, plant and animal life.” He was really amazed by the great variety of the coral.
 Brant at the Maheno shipwreck on Fraser Island Brant is happy to be back in the mountains and living at Camp. Growing up in Missouri, Brant tried to convince his family to move to Colorado because he loved the mountains. He is looking forward to the upcoming spring conference season and having people at Camp. Brant said “The energy and spirit at Camp is amazing, not only the people that work here, but the guests that come visit. It’s an optimal environment with the mountains, lake and all the outdoor activities.”
Brant’s favorite fall activity at Camp was to go on long hikes. Every week he went on a 15 mile plus hike. He would pick a lake and set it as his destination. His favorite lake is Lake of the Woods.
For groups visiting Camp this spring, Brant recommends soaking up as much of the natural environment as possible. Taking a Hobie Cat or kayak out on the lake, he says “it’s incredible to get out on the water.” Also be sure to plan a hike, there are easy hikes into Desolation Wilderness, or if you have an afternoon and are up for a more strenuous hike, according to Brant “The view from Mount Tallac is incredible, and it’s a good milestone activity.”
 Brant and fellow staff on Tallac with Fallen Leaf Lake and Lake Tahoe in the background
Posted in Event planning, Location, Recreation, Uncategorized | No Comments »
Friday, November 19th, 2010
Brittany Smith did. After listening to friend and fellow Buckeye Kim Grabo’s urgings for two years, Brittany packed up her things in North Olstead, Ohio and headed West!
 Arrival day in Lake Tahoe - not bad! Hired as an “all-purpose staff”, Brittany’s job duties included the basics you would expect at a conference center; washing dishes, housekeeping, serving meals, plus some unique shifts like boatster cruises. Boatster is our 22-person pontoon boat. Groups can rent boatster with a driver for an hour cruise for $100. Brittany was trained and scheduled for boatster cruises which quickly became her favorite shift.
 Captain Brittany Brittany loved the younger guests on the cruises yelling, “Faster, faster!” and when fellow staffer, Luna rode along to share the history of Fallen Leaf’s formation by glaciers.
 A young, unruly boatster rider When she wasn’t working, Brittany spent her time kayaking, disc golfing and taking photos. You can see a selection of Brittany’s photos on our Facebook page.
Brittany is staying in Tahoe for the winter and working in the daycare at Heavenly mountain resort, then she plans to return to Fallen Leaf Lake for our spring conference season.
Visit our career opportunities page for information on working at our conference center this spring. Brittany’s advice for prospective staff, “Pack warm clothes, especially for evenings. Yes, it’s California, but we’re in the mountains!”
Posted in Employment, Recreation | No Comments »
Tuesday, May 11th, 2010
This past weekend was ‘Faculty Staff Weekend’ when we offer individual and family reservations to the faculty and staff from Stanford University. As always the weekend was a sell out with 155 guests total. Over the weekend the families enjoy quality time together, outdoor activities, delicious meals and comfortable accommodations.
The best outdoor activities at Camp are boating and hiking. At our boat dock choose from kayaks, rowboats, peddle boats or sailboats.
 Preparing to kayak Fallen Leaf Lake And of course funyaks. Our staff led activities for kids ages 5-12 including a paddle over to the beach for the older group.
 Funyaks are stable boats for new paddlers We also offer guided hikes for the adults in the faculty and staff group.
 A guided hike on Angora ridge At higher elevations in spring, snow is still covering trails, and it’s a great time to hike to see the melting snow rushing down our two nearby waterfalls.
 The Lower Falls in spring Saturday afternoon, Victor Babbit from Tahoe Fly Fishing Outfitters brought some fly rods and fellow guide Pete for a fly fishing demo for the group. For many, this was the highlight of the weekend.
 Casting on the boat dock The kids were busy at “the Patch” our playground.
 Wheeee! Most attendees headed outside for an active weekend, others like Eleanor Laney took the time to relax, “I just sat, read and looked at the beautiful views.”
 Fallen Leaf Lake The attendees gave the weekend rave reviews with many requests to add a day for next year like Mary Hansen’s , “Since relaxing is a great part of the weekend, my only suggestion is to add another day”. If you’re looking to get away from every day distractions and hold a meeting with free time to get outside or just relax, give us a call!
Posted in Recreation, Uncategorized | No Comments »
Tuesday, March 2nd, 2010
Did Lindsay Vonn and her fellow Olympic skiers pique your interest to get out for some winter fun? Then come on up to Tahoe! Stanford Sierra Conference Center is closed for the winter, but our sister property, the Stanford Alpine Chalet in Tahoe City, is hopping busy with skiers and snowboarders. The Chalet has 14 comfortable rooms and is the closest you can sleep (in a bed) to Alpine Meadows Ski Resort.
 The view of Alpine Meadows from the Chalet Wake up at the Chalet to chef Ron’s delicious, hot, cooked-to-order breakfast to fuel your mountain adventure. Make sure those skis are waxed and edges sharpened, then take the 5-minute shuttle ride to fresh air, sunshine and fun on Alpine’s trails. Warm up on the smoothly groomed slopes, then head for the NASTAR course, and run those gates like Lindsay! (hopefully without the spills) When your legs have turned to rubber, head back to the Chalet for a soak in the hot tub and relive your best turns with your front row view of the mountain.
 Hot tubbing at the Chalet Midweek is the best time for a ski getaway to the Chalet with no crowds and plenty of deals. Call Geoff or Dusty at 530-583-1550 or email chalet@stanford.edu and ask about the chalet’s excellent midweek package including Alpine Meadows lift tickets. Think snow, don’t forget the sunscreen, and visualize those turns like gold medal winner Lindsay Vonn!
Posted in Recreation | No Comments »
Tuesday, February 9th, 2010
Bring your walking shoes or hiking boots on your visit to Stanford Sierra Conference Center. You can head out on your own, or we can provide a friendly guide to lead your group on a hike.
 Memorial weekend guided hike Less than a mile from the main lodge on a paved road, the Lower Glen Alpine Falls cascade 60 feet in step like fashion.
 January 2010 shot of the Lower Falls by Brian McClintock The falls are most impressive in the spring with the run off from the melting snow.
Behind our lodge, Cathedral peak provides a spectacular backdrop and a more strenuous hike with rewarding views.
 Photo by Brian McClintock. Before you hike to Cathedral check in at the office for directions and a hiking permit. Then head back through the parking lot for a moderately difficult 2.5 mile hike to Cathedral Lake where you will be rewarded with a spectacular view of Fallen Leaf Lake and Lake Tahoe. Read more about hiking around Fallen Leaf Lake.
 The view from the hike to Cathedral.
Posted in Recreation | No Comments »
Monday, February 1st, 2010
Welcome to the inaugural blog for Stanford Sierra Conference Center on Fallen Leaf Lake. We will share pictures and information, so you can get to know us and our breathtaking natural setting better.
 The entrance to Stanford Sierra after a recent snowfall As the seasons change, so do our operations and recreation. Our center is closed for the winter, so our staff is focused on projects to make our lodge and cabins more functional and comfortable. This winter, the crew is putting a fresh coat of paint inside all 52 of our cabins and 12 lodge rooms.
 Freshly painted Lodge Room E When the workday is over, many of us strap on skis or snowshoes and head out into the snow-covered mountains for adventure. A favorite spot is Angora Ridge just a short walk from Stanford Sierra.
 Fallen Leaf Lake, the lodge and Angora Ridge After a fresh snowfall, skiing through fresh powder overlooking Fallen Leaf Lake and Lake Tahoe is an invigorating and inspiring experience!
 That's me, on the hike up Angora Ridge We feel fortunate to have access to such a beautiful, serene mountain playground. If you have comments or photos of your visit to Stanford Sierra and Fallen Leaf Lake, please share.
Posted in Lodging, Recreation | No Comments »
|
