Spring at Stanford Sierra provides a quiet & serene setting for your group to focus on your important meeting content.  During free time, enjoy hiking to nearby waterfalls or paddling Fallen Leaf Lake on a kayak, stand up paddle board or rowboat.

Early morning at the lower falls. Lynette Kent photographer

A peephole view of the boat dock in spring

Check available dates online or submit a request for proposal.  Your meeting participants will thank you for choosing our comfortable conference center on beautiful Fallen Leaf Lake!

On the north shore, Northstar opened last week and Friday, November 23 Squaw Valley Resort will open.  If you’re planning a Tahoe ski trip, our sister property, the Stanford Alpine Chalet, is ready for winter guests!  You can contact Geoff Armstrong, marketing manager at 530-583-1550 or chalet@stanford.edu.

Geoff and Dusty at the Chalet and ready for winter!

There are are a few available rooms at the Chalet for Thanksgiving weekend.  Chef Ron will be cooking up a fabulous Turkey day feast if you’re that last-minute kind of person and still looking for a place to land tomorrow.

Cozy, mountain view room at the Chalet

Alpine Meadows, neighbor to the Chalet, has set an opening date of December 10, “weather and conditions permitting”.  The exciting change this year, Alpine is now sister resort to Squaw Valley!  Through November 30, you can purchase a season pass for $439 that is good  at both mountains!  Another option is a six pack of tickets for $399.

Happy Thanksgiving from all of us at Stanford Sierra Camp, and we hope to see you on the slopes this winter!

St. Francis Chapel at Fallen Leaf Lake

The lake is calm and glassy, so I really want to be out there on my paddleboard!

Something missing in the middle, isn't there?

Instead, I went for a little walk and took some photos.

Gorgeous, isn't it?

Many of the aspens and other annuals haven’t even turned yet and with mild weather in the forecast, colors will be vibrant for the next week or so.  If you are in the area, come on out for a hike, paddle on the lake, or just to sit and take in the fresh air and amazing views.  If you’re not in the area, contact me to schedule your fall 2012 meeting at Stanford Sierra and enjoy the serenity and beauty of Fallen Leaf Lake firsthand.

Cory whipping up a latte in the fountain

We keep an eye out for applicants with job experience that might come in handy during the season.  For a few conferences in the fall, we will offer kids’ groups, so we will be looking for applicants who have run or supervised children’s programs.

Captain Brittany keeping her young crew happy

Many groups also enjoy yoga classes, so it’s always nice to have a yoga instructor or two, as we did in the spring with Caroline and Melissa, on staff.

Melissa teaching yoga in the Cathedral room

Staff live on site and are assigned to cabins.  If you love the outdoors, Fallen Leaf Lake is a great place to be in the fall.  During free time you can hike into Desolation Wilderness, take a boat out from the boat dock or just relax.

Luna and Molly on the paddle boards fall '10

If all this sounds appealing, fill out an application and submit.  Brian will be in touch!

Brian McClintock, conference staff director

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!

Cute, furry resident at the Point cabins

Fallen Leaf Lake out our front door provides incredible scenery and a home to assorted waterfowl.  A mallard couple are regulars here in the spring.  (I don’t know if it’s the same couple each year. I do know, Make Way for Ducklings was a favorite book of mine and my son Oscar when he was a toddler.)

Mr. and Mrs. Mallard

More unusual, Brandon got this great photo of a pair of megansers hanging out at the boat dock.  Female megansers are a common site on Lake Tahoe.  It’s very entertaining to see a mom and her gaggle of ducklings with their mohawk-looking hairstyles bobbing along then all disappearing under the water and popping back up yards away.

Mr. & Mrs. Meganser

We’re hoping for a large batch of Meganser ducklings to show up soon!

Squirrels are a common site pretty much year round.  Once weather is warm and we’re leaving the sliding glass doors to the lodge open, the squirrels make their way inside.  I’ve found them in my office, but most often, they go for the dining room.  Guests are surprised to see the squirrels inside, but staff become quite adept at corralling the squirrels back outside.

Western Gray Squirrel

Thanks to Brandon for sharing these excellent photos of some of our local furry friends!

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.

Tina Seelig (right) with fellow Write Retreat presenter Alyssa O'Brien

The Creative Camp aims to coach, inspire and awaken the authentic creativity of participants.  Tina Seelig kicks off the program Thursday evening with “Levers for Unlocking Creativity”.  Friday’s workshops include a design project presented by Bay area creative and branding guru Dennis Boyle of  IDEO and Peggy Burke.  Instructors from Stanford’s Institute of Design, Forrest Glick and Leticia Britos Cavagnara will teach digital photography and improv respectively.  Two of the Creative Camp workshops cover writing.  Elise Bauer, creator and author of successful cooking blog Simply Recipes will cover blogging, and Professor Terry Castle from Stanford’s English department will lead Life into Art: Finding a Voice in Memoir and Autobiography.

The Creative Camp will include studio time to develop your creativity through charcoal drawing or watercolor painting and free time to explore the creative path of your choice.   There are also opportunities for movement to get those creative juices flowing.  Participants can start the day with yoga then after breakfast, Stanford Dance lecturer Aleta Hayes will lead a dance warm up.  Space is still available for alumni or non alumni to register for the Creative Camp.  For more information and to register visit the website or call Gracie Gurganus at 530-542-5600.

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

Antja arriving at her send off party

We will miss Antja’s unfailing enthusiasm and high spirits. In addition to excelling at her work,  Antja is a talented musician and during impromptu performances and the summer music hour, she entertained countless guests with her fiddle playing and amazing singing voice.

Antja practicing music with a guest on the Old Lodge deck

Antja was active in the day-to-day operations during all seasons and would jump in to help whenever needed.  She is knowledgeable about the area and regularly led nature walks for interested groups.

Antja leading a nature walk

Antja is staying within the Stanford community and will move to Palo Alto to work on campus with Stanford Athletics in the Outdoor Education Program as the leadership and training coordinator.  (Sounds like the perfect position to organize a student, staff or alumni trip to Fallen Leaf Lake!)  Thank you Antja for your hard work and dedication and good luck in your new role.  We look forward to seeing you on campus and here at Camp.