DG Educational Services

2009 Afternoon CAMP

DG Educational Services offers afternoon programs at Devil's Gulch Ranch, children will have authentic experiences with agriculture, the natural world, outdoor recreation, and aboriginal skills. They will explore the forest, meadows, and creeks, get dirty, and connect with nature.

Mondays and Fridays programs focus on archery and rappelling

3 Sessions,  Six Weeks Each
Monday, Thursday, Friday, 4:00 pm-6:00 p.m.

·Session 1: Jan. 5, 2009-Feb. 13, 2009
·Session 2: Feb 23, 2009-April 4, 2009                            
·Session 3: April 20, 2009-May 29, 2009

Transportation Information.

Campers will be met at Nicasio Ball Field at 4:00 p.m.

After Camp, Campers will be brought to Nicasio Ball Field at 6:00 p.m..

Devil's Gulch Van Service:
Pick up available at 3:15 p.m. at Wade Thomas Elementary School in San Anselmo.
and at 3:30 White Hill Middle School in Fairfax.
Fee:
12.00/day/session

After Camp Drop off at 6:30 p.m. at White Hill Middle School in Fairfax.
Fee:
12.00/day/session
PLEASE NOTE: There will be a $1.00/minute late fee after 6:30 p.m.

2009 Camp Registration Form

Transportation Form

As many of you know, Brian has been spending much of his time in Bolinas, Santa Cruz, and other outdoor locations learning new and innovative ideas and activities to bring back to DGES. 

He is currently a student in the outdoor awareness program as well as in the cultural mentoring program at The Regenerative Design Institute (RDI),  a non-profit educational organization with the vision that all people can live in a mutually enhancing relationship with the earth. We envision a world in which people, inspired by nature, create and maintain healthy and abundant livelihoods that enhance fertility and biodiversity on the planet.

We are all very excited about the amazing ideas that he has shared with us already! Click on the link below to find out more about this unique and inspiring program, and/or email Brian with your thoughts! 

More recently, Brian spent the last ten days exploring the diverse underwater ecosystem of the Lembeh Strait in North Sulawesi, Indonesia.  He is continuing his education of marine environmental studies and as always, models his lifelong pursuit of learning.

Devil's Gulch Ranch has Split Seasoned Oak Cordwood Firewood. 
Sale Prices Available until December 15, 2008:

While it initially seemed as though the wine grape harvest would be early, "Harvest 2008" wrapped up for us in late October which is fairly normal. Crop size was fair to good, and quality appears to be excellent. In the vineyards, we are now spreading the compost which our furry friends so kindly supply us with. The sheep are back in the vineyard to keep the winter weeds at bay.

We are at the Marin Civic Center Farmer's Market every Sunday with rabbit, pork, and 6 different sausages. Please come by and say "HI". Hopefully, we will soon have Chanterelles, and in late winter look for our delicious asparagus!

Contact Mark for details about special wines which are currently available.
Devil's Gulch Pinot Noirs truly complement your holiday feast!

Call Mark at 415-662-2209 or click below....

I Need Some Pinot!

Thanks to you, our Fundraiser was a success.

For those of you who were able to join us & those who were with us in spirit,

Thank you for a successful, fun-filled day! Even with the misty weather, many visitors arrived at the ranch to see the beautiful, golden vineyards, the sheep, pigs, rabbits, and horses, and the different areas where campers spend their days and nights exploring the outdoors, learning blacksmithing, archery, crafts, & more!

The wine-tasting was also met with an enthusiastic crowd, as tasters sampled some of Marin Counties most delicious wines! As visitors meandered through Druid's Hall, they were met with the savory aroma of rosemary as four talented & generous chefs prepared a gorgeous, savory feast. Stuart Brioza barbecued marinated rabbit with a roasted pepper sauce, Ryan Farr braised a pork belly appetizer & barbecued pork loin, David Hurley barbecued marinated venison loins with his famous spicy plum sauce, & Katy Broomhead from Katy's kitchen in Bolinas prepared a Morrocan lamb stew & tossed a fresh, crisp salad.

The silent auction was also exciting, as bidders took home wines, dinners, a Ritz-Carlton Vacation, and even a hunting expedition! We so appreciate all of this enthusiasm!

Up at the Pasternak's, several children participated in crafts, apple-picking, pizza-making & a movie. We hope to see these fun-loving kids at camp this summer!

Again, thank you all for such warm, positive support. We hope that if you were unable to join us for this event, you will surely be there for the next!

A Word from our Executive Director, Myriam Pasternak

Myriam spoke at the event and shared her passion & excitement over what DGES is all about. "I would like to thank you all for coming today and showing your support. 
It has been an exciting week with the elections and now the official launching of DG Educational Services.
Soon, we will be entering a new year with new leadership and a growing awareness that our future choices will need to change. As our populations grow, life is becoming more about our impact and how the choices we make as individuals affect the global "us". At the root of our global selves is food and thus agriculture. Everything we eat was once alive and thus deserves our respect. Food sustains us, gives us life, supports us and most importantly unites us globally. Not one of us survives without it. 
We have seen what lack of food does to whole populations and we see daily the impact of too much poor quality industrial processed food. Thankfully we are living in a place that is at the forefront of a food renaissance. While sustainable agriculture has its roots in some very old traditions, it is indeed going through a rebirth. Science has lead us down some wild paths, some good and some not so good. With only 1% of Americans still in farming, few people today, especially children, have any relationship with food or agriculture. It became a thing of lore and worse ignorance. Thankfully many among you requested that this change. It is for this reason that Devil's Gulch Ranch has opened its doors and created DG Educational Services. 
DGES, as we fondly call it, is all about sustainable agriculture and nature. Please take some time to talk to Brian and watch our slide presentation and look at our website to learn more. DGES is about all of our futures not just about the kids that come to camp or the adults that share in our workshops. How each of these people are changed by their experience with us will impact what all of us globally see on our plates and put into our bellies for many years to come.
Your financial investment in DGES will touch the minds, the attitudes, the choices and directly impact the health and well being of so many global lives. Thank you. 
And thank you also, incredibly to all the people who have volunteered to help us put on this event."


A Word from Program Director, Brian King
"It has been a pleasure working with children who truly want to be here..."
Six years ago, Mark & I met and discussed the concept of starting a camp at Devil's Gulch Ranch. The first summer started with one volunteer and myself and four weeks of camp. Since then we have grown to point where most weeks are full. We have truly grown into a family, as many of our campers have returned to the camp for our 5 years. Some of them stay the entire summer, and count the days until the next summer begins. I want to thank the community for trusting me to give their children a safe place to be themselves, to get out of their comfort zone and learn new things, to get connected with nature, their food and learn the ways of the old. 

As a teacher, I am honored when children contact me to thank me for what they have learned and experienced at Devil's Gulch Ranch, and I am continually struck by their natural sense of wonder and curiosity.

We are thrilled to continue offering rich, high quality programs and appreciate your support so that we can grow and reach even more children and families.

Just in case you didn't get a chance to buy that special bottle of wine...
There are a few bottles of Dutton-Goldfield, Sean Thackery, Schramsberg and several other wines available! Contact Mark at 662-2209 or email Mark for details.

Thank you again, and we are looking forward to an eventful & successful camp season!

Sincerely,

Myriam, Mark, Brian & Jennifer
DG Educational Services
415-662-1099
Devil's Gulch Ranch Website! 

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