PROJECT LEAD

College Camp 2023

Sept 8 – 10, 2023

Camp Nawakwa

Angelus Oaks, CA

Countdown to UVSA College Camp...

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UVSA Project LEAD Camp is proudly hosted by UVSA SoCal. You don’t want to miss it!

WHAT IS CAMP ALL ABOUT?

đŸŒ±ABOUT PROJECT LEAD CAMPSđŸŒ±
Project LEAD (Leadership, Education, and Development)
hosts two camps annually, one aimed at high school students and another for college students. We provide our campers the knowledge and tools to become effective leaders in their schools and communities.

❓WHY CAMP❓
Our camps continue to impact hundreds of high school and college students every year by focusing on the importance of community, cohesion, and unity. The camps also provide an opportunity for students to network with each other and establish skills that reinforce mutual collaboration and instills an appreciation for the Vietnamese American identity, cultural heritage and a sense of belonging.

🔰OUR CAMP STAFF TEAM🔰
Our team’s goal is to create and foster a safe and comfortable environment for your student to learn, grow, and connect with their community. With members of our team who were once campers themselves, we value the fun to be had, the friends to be made, and the memories to be treasured. Therefore we are excited to share this experience with you! Volunteer staffers with Project LEAD Camps are trained to work with minors and run our camps over the course of several months. We will have individuals trained in health and safety onsite at all times. For more information about how we prepare our staff to care for our campers, please contact us.

✹CAMP IMPACT✹
Overall, the results of Project LEAD Camps on students are highly positive, contributing to their personal growth, social development, physical well-being, academic enrichment, and the cultivation of important life skills. By offering a unique blend of educational, recreational, and social experiences, Project LEAD Camps have a lasting and transformative impact on students’ lives. This year marks the 20th annual UVSA Camp and 17th annual High School Camp (formerly VAHSA Camp) and we are proud to continue bringing together students from throughout Southern California to build an alliance of young leaders with a common vision of strengthening the Vietnamese community.

CAMP INFO

Camp Location & Address

Camp Nawakwa
4650 Jenks Lake Rd E
Angelus Oaks, CA 92305

Registration Details & Pricing

Early Bird: July 23 – Aug 13 ($100 + processing fee)
Regular: Aug 14 – Sept 3 ($120 + processing fee)

Registration includes:
🚌Transportation from the UVSA Office to the campsite on Friday morning
🚄Transportation from the campsite to the UVSA Office on Sunday afternoon
đŸ›ïžHousing (3 days, 2 nights)
đŸœïžMeals (breakfast, lunch, and dinner)
🎯Activities (games, workshops, speakers, etc.)
👕Camp Gear (t-shirt, name badge, program booklet, etc.)
đŸ’«And SO MUCH MORE!


Camp includes:

  • 3 days, 2 nights of lodging & meals (breakfast, lunch, and dinner)
  • Camp shirt, name badge, program booklet
  • Fun, educational, cultural workshops
  • Weekend of memories, new friends, and much more!

Scholarships available

We are offering scholarship opportunities.
Opening soon

Transportation

Transportation is provided in the form of buses departing from and returning to the UVSA Office

🏠UVSA Office
12831 Western Ave, Unit B
Garden Grove, CA 92841

FAQs

General

What is Camp?

Project LEAD (Leadership, Education, and Development) hosts two camps annually, one aimed at high school students and another for college students. We provide our campers the knowledge and tools to become effective leaders in their schools and communities.

 

Our camps continue to impact hundreds of high school and college students every year by focusing on the importance of community, cohesion, and unity. The camps also provide an opportunity for students to network with each other and establish skills that reinforce mutual collaboration and instills an appreciation for the Vietnamese American identity, cultural heritage and a sense of belonging.

When is Camp?

High School Camp (formerly known as VAHSA Camp)

Friday, July 28 – Sunday, July 30, 2023

Camper Call Time: 8:30 AM PT

Campers will return to the UVSA Office between 1 PM – 3 PM PT on Sunday.

 

UVSA Camp

Friday, September 8 – Sunday, September 10, 2023

Camper Call Time: TBD

Campers will return to the UVSA Office between 1 PM – 3 PM PT on Sunday.

 

UVSA Camp

Friday, September 8 – Sunday, September 10, 2023

Camper Call Time: TBD

Campers will return to the UVSA Office between 1 PM – 3 PM PT on Sunday.

How long has Camp been around?

This year marks the 20th annual UVSA Camp and 17th annual High School Camp (formerly VAHSA Camp) and we are proud to continue bringing together students from throughout Southern California to build an alliance of young leaders with a common vision of strengthening the Vietnamese community.

Can I attend Camp if I am not Vietnamese?

Yes! While Project LEAD Camps are curated to recognize and amplify knowledge and cultural practices surrounding the Vietnamese identity, our camps are open to all individuals interested in learning more about this community. In the past, we have had many campers and staffers from different nationalities, backgrounds, and communities, and we look forward to offering this same inclusive, enriching experience for a new generation of students.

How are camp staffers selected and trained?

Many of our camp staffers were/are students from the affiliated Vietnamese Student Associations within Southern California. Their experiences range from staffing 4+ camps to first-time camp staffers. Some of our staffers were even once campers themselves! 

 

While our team is made up of volunteers, they go through a detailed application and selection process, overlooked by the Executive Board of UVSA. Once accepted as a staff member, they are trained over the course of several months to meet the high standards we have for Camp Staff. In addition to onsite health & safety personnel, staff members are trained to work with minors and certified to handle food safely. 

 

Our team’s goal is to create and foster a safe and comfortable environment for your student to learn, grow, and connect with their community. If you have more questions about how we prepare our staff to care for our campers, please contact us at [email protected].

How can I contact my camper while they are at Camp?

Camp Nawakwa is in Angelus Oaks, in the San Bernardino National Forest. Between spotty cellular service and campers being asked to keep their electronic devices in their cabins during activities, your camper will have limited contact with you.

 

Should a situation arise in which you need to contact your camper and they are not answering their personal devices, you may contact our staff by sending an email to [email protected], which will be checked periodically throughout the weekend. If you need to contact your camper urgently, a contact number for our camp staff will be provided after the registration process. 

 

In the event of an emergency at camp involving your camper, we will contact you as soon as possible. During the registration process, you will be asked to fill out a waiver that includes your contact information. We will use this information as needed to keep you informed about necessary developments with your camper. 

Where do campers stay/sleep?

Camp Nawakwa amenities includes several cabins in which our campers and staffers will be staying. They will be provided with beds, but will be asked to bring a pillow. There are various restrooms located throughout the campsite that are gender-specific. Pictures of the amenities are available at Camp Nawakwa’s website here. 

Sleeping arrangements will be designated families. Each cabin will have 2 staff members, with  at least one being one of their Family Heads. For the comfort & safety of our campers, we will be separating families by gender. Gender neutral and/or mixed gender housing available upon request. These will be determined after registration closes. For a detailed overview of the arrangements, please contact us then.

What do campers need to bring?

A detailed packing list will be shared with registered participants in the weeks leading up to Camp! To stay up to date on information regarding Project LEAD Camps, please follow our Facebook and Instagram pages. 

Project LEAD Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/UVSAProjectLEAD

Project LEAD Instagram: @uvsaprojectlead

Registration

How much does Camp Cost?

The cost for the high school camp is $100 for early bird registration and $120 for regular registration. Early bird registration is from June 11 to June 30 and regular registration is from June 30 until July 16. At this time, the cost for UVSA camp has not yet been announced. To keep up to date with this information, we encourage you to follow our Facebook and Instagram pages. 

What does the cost of Camp cover?

The cost of registration covers:

  • Transportation from the UVSA Office to the campsite on Friday morning*
  • Transportation from the campsite to the UVSA Office on Sunday afternoon*
  • Housing (3 days, 2 nights)
  • Meals (breakfast, lunch, and dinner)
  • Activities (games, workshops, speakers, etc.)
  • Camp Gear (t-shirt, name badge, program booklet, etc.)
  • And SO MUCH MORE!
Can I get a discount?

Unfortunately, no. We are a nonprofit organization made up of student volunteers and cannot afford to provide discounts at this time. However, we do offer early bird registration, and we encourage you to take advantage of that pre-sale opportunity as prices for High School Camp will go up after June 30th. Additionally, there will be scholarship opportunities available for students to apply for. To keep up to date with this information, we encourage you to follow our Facebook and Instagram pages. 

Project LEAD Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/UVSAProjectLEAD

Project LEAD Instagram: @uvsaprojectlead

Why is there an additional fee for Camp?

In order to ensure your transaction is safe and secure, we use a third party platform to handle these transactions. The fees are associated with this platform. We thank you for your understanding.

Can I pay for Camp by cash or chheck?

Yes! We will be accepting cash payments on a case-by-case basis. Although we prefer card payments, we understand that this option is not readily available for everyone. 

If you would like to pay by cash or check, please reach out to us at [email protected] ASAP.

Is there anything I or my camper need to do between enrolling and showing up for the first day of Camp?

We’ll be sending out emails regarding important information to know before arriving for the first day of Camp. We also highly recommend following our social media to stay informed of any important updates! 

Project LEAD Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/UVSAProjectLEAD

Project LEAD Instagram: @uvsaprojectlead

What is your refund/cancellation policy?

We’ll be accepting refunds and cancellations throughout the open registration period, which ends July 16th at 11:59 PM PT. To move forward with that, please send an email to [email protected]. 

Should you or your camper need to cancel their registration at any time after that window, unfortunately we are unable to give refunds for cancellations after the registration window closes. If there are extenuating circumstances to your cancellation, we can work with you to determine the best course of action on a case-by-case basis. Please email [email protected] as soon as possible in order to start that conversation. 

Health & Safety

What is your COVID policy?

We value the health and safety of our campers and staffers. You’ll be asked to sign a waiver regarding our COVID policy. This can be viewed here. 

I / My camper has allergies / dietary restrictions. What do meals look like at Camp?

We understand that different campers have unique dietary needs, and we strive to accommodate these at our camp. All meals at camp are prepared by our dedicated Hospitality committee, who have extensive experience in creating nutritious, enjoyable, and allergy-friendly meals.

Whether your camper has allergies or certain dietary restrictions, our team is committed to providing safe and delicious meals for everyone. We request that you provide us with detailed information about your camper’s dietary needs during the registration process. This will allow our team to plan appropriately and ensure that we have alternatives available.

In the past, we’ve catered for a range of dietary requirements including gluten-free, dairy-free, nut-free, vegetarian, and vegan meals. Additionally, our kitchen staff are trained in safe food handling procedures to prevent cross-contamination and have their Food Handler’s License. Please rest assured that we take all dietary requirements very seriously and do our best to ensure each camper can enjoy the meals at camp while staying safe and healthy. If you have any additional questions, comments, or concerns regarding the meals at Project Lead Camps, please contact [email protected] for more information.

My camper has medication they need to take. Do they need to turn in that medication to Camp Staff?
My camper has special needs and needs additional accommodation(s).

While we do our best to be accommodating to the various needs of our campers, we may not have the staff capacity available to support your camper. Details regarding campers who may need additional support and attention will be determined on a case-by-case basis and we ask that you contact us at [email protected] at the earliest opportunity so we can work together to see if Project LEAD Camps is a good fit for you and your camper!

What happens in a medical emergency at Camp?
Do you have protocols in place for an emergency situation, such as a fire?

Do you have protocols in place for an emergency situation, such as a fire? 

Yes! Our staff as well as Camp Nawakwa staff have protocols in place for situations such as a fire. You may contact us for the detailed procedures regarding possible emergencies at [email protected].

Programming

What happens at Camp?

Each day of camp is programmed to promote bonding and empowerment through various games and activities! Campers are first assigned into different families who they participate in most activities with, including our biggest game, TrĂČ ChÆĄi Lớn (TCL)! TCL is composed of a series of games that are all connected back to one objective, all involving parts of Vietnamese culture. All camp activities promote cultural immersion, leadership, teamwork, and social bonding! Aside from games, campers also have the opportunity to attend fulfilling workshops based on their interests and learn more about Vietnamese culture. 

If you’re wondering what happens at camp, feel free to take a peek at some past programs! But don’t worry, we still have some surprises in store!

VAHSA Camp Program 2019

UVSA Camp Program 2022

Do campers choose what activities they’d like to do?

Campers are free to choose the workshops they want to participate in! However, other games and activities are designed to be played in groups, and we would love for all campers to take part in them! Aside from choosing workshops, the larger activities are already pre-planned for campers.

How are campers assigned to Camp Families?

Campers are assigned into families based on their answers in the registration form! We’ll do our best to assign our campers into families that best match their interests, personalities, and the group dynamic.

What are Family Heads and how are they selected?

Family Heads are the “older sibling” to our campers. They will be the mentors for our campers throughout the weekend, and ensure that everyone has a fun and safe time. All of our Family Heads are students or graduates of surrounding colleges and universities who are here to volunteer their time to guide the next generation of leaders! All applicants interviewed and were thoroughly vetted by the Family Committee. Those who were accepted completed various trainings to ensure that their family was going to get the best experience possible!

Scholarship

Are there any scholarships available for Camp?

Yes! We currently have scholarships available for HS Camp, submission form accessible here (https://bit.ly/HSCampScholarship23). For each camp, there are a total of one (1) full and two (2) half scholarships offered! We’ll be adding scholarships along the way, so please keep checking out social media to be up to date on all camp-related information!

Project LEAD Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/UVSAProjectLEAD

Project LEAD Instagram: @uvsaprojectlead

How will scholarships be disbursed?

The Project LEAD Camp Scholarships will be disbursed to recipients as a check on the last day of Camp (July 30th)! You MUST be present at Camp to receive the scholarship.

Can I offer a scholarship for Camp?

We’d love to pass along such an opportunity to our community. Please contact us at [email protected] to start this process!

Attendance

How many people will be at Camp?

For High School Camp, we expect between 30-60 campers and 60+ staff members. For UVSA Camp, we expect between 60-100 campers and 60+ staff members.

Who can attend Camp?

For High School Camp, campers will range from incoming 9th graders to incoming college first-years. For UVSA Camp, campers must be 18+ years old and affiliated (or interested in being affiliated with) UVSA and the Vietnamese Student Associations of its member schools. A list of the member schools can be found here. Please direct any questions about attendance to [email protected] and/or [email protected].

What is the camper to staffer ratio?

For High School Camp, at minimum, there will always be at least one staff member to each camper. For UVSA Camp, at minimum, there will always be at least 3 staff members to every 5 campers.

Can campers arrive at Camp late and/or leave early?

Because campers will be arriving and departing Camp Nawakwa by bus, we unfortunately cannot accommodate for transportation for any campers arriving late or leaving early. Please arrive at the UVSA Office by the designated Call Time on Friday morning. 

However, should campers be able to arrange their own transportation to Camp Nawakwa, we can make arrangements in order to allow them to participate in activities. If this is the case, please contact [email protected] and/or [email protected] as soon as possible as there are many moving parts that need to be assessed before confirming whether or not it is possible to arrive late and/or leave early. 

Transportation

How will transportation work?

Transportation is provided in the form of buses departing from and returning to the UVSA Office. For transportation questions, please contact us at [email protected]. 

Where is the UVSA Office?

Where is the UVSA Office? 

The UVSA Office is located at the following address:

12831 Western Ave, Ste B,

Garden Grove, CA 92841

Where is Camp Nawakwa?

Where is Camp Nawakwa?

Camp Nawakwa is located at the following address:

4650 Jenks Lake Rd E, 

Angelus Oaks, CA 92305

Sponsorship

How can I support Project LEAD Camps? What are the tiers of sponsorship?

How can I support Project LEAD Camps? What are the tiers of sponsorship?

You can donate to Project LEAD with cash or check, made payable to UVSA. The tiers of sponsorship are Bronze ($100-200), Silver ($200-500), Gold ($500-1,000), and Diamond ($1,000+). If you have any questions, please contact us at [email protected].

What does my sponsorship go towards?

Your sponsorship goes towards food, supplies, and other means of support for the campers.If you have a particular request for what part of Project LEAD Camps you’d like to support, please let us know. If you have any questions, please contact us at [email protected].

Do you accept gifts in-kind?

Yes, we accept any in-kind donations. If you have any questions, please contact us at [email protected].

What do I receive as a Camp Sponsor?

Bronze sponsors receive a social media thank you post. Silver sponsors also receive a program book placement. Gold sponsors also receive a website logo & link placement for 1 year. Diamond sponsors also receive a t-shirt logo placement. If you have any questions, please contact us at [email protected].

OUR MISSION

OUR HISTORY

Founded in 1990 as a general Vietnamese summer culture camp, TraÌŁi Hè VĂȘ̀ VÆĄÌi Non Sông brought together youth from across Southern California to enjoy a weekend of fun and excitement. Twenty years later, a new generation of leaders stepped up in UVSA. In 2001, these leaders transitioned away from an open camp to UVSA Camp which specifically targeted collegiate VSA leaders. In 2003, UVSA legends Mike Vu and Vu Dinh wanted to take what they had been learning at prior UVSA Camps and expand on camp programming to give back to our younger brothers and sisters in high school. They founded Project LEAD (Leadership Education and Development) which would be the umbrella project to UVSA Camp and then newly introduced VAHSA Camp.

Mission – Sứ MáșĄng

Our mission is to bring together Vietnamese American youth including students from different colleges and high schools throughout Southern California to build unity, to serve our community, and to advocate for social justice issues that affect our community domestically and in Vietnam. We represent the diverse and dynamic Vietnamese youth population by encouraging interaction, participation, and activism in the community. We promote awareness of the Vietnamese culture, language, and history. Through leadership and service, we strive to advance the Vietnamese community in areas of social, educational, cultural, and civic participation.

CONTACT

Katie Bui, Camp Chair

(949) 229-5404

[email protected]