A Message From Manuel Ramirez
My name is Manuel Ramirez and I am involved in a student organization called UCLA UniCamp! UCLA UniCamp strives to provide a week-long camp experience to underserved kids from the Los Angeles area, who might otherwise never experience a summer camp. My involvement in UniCamp has allowed me to grow as a leader between multiple roles, including camp counselor, my current position as a study coordinator, and incoming ucla grad student!
I first joined UniCamp in 2020 as a new transfer student but, unfortunately, COVID-19 slashed through our summer. Nevertheless, I decided to volunteer again for the upcoming year. It was challenging. And with the pandemic, some campers were more homesick than in previous years. One camper in particular was not having a good time. She refused to eat and would stubbornly attend camp activities. She even kicked a pinecone to one of the counselors! Because I held a leadership position that year, I was asked to intervene and find the root of the problem. As best as I tried to engage her and talk with her, however, I felt as if I wasn’t making any progress.
Towards the end of the week, her mood had improved but not as much as we had hoped. It was disappointing, but unexpected news came on the ride down the mountain back to LA. After a moment of hot-temperedness, the camper exclaimed that “the only one I like was Manuel!” I was still up at the camp wrapping things up and I got very emotional. I thought I hadn’t been able to get to her but in the end it looks like I was able to make her experience a little better! As I had a leadership position, I didn’t get to interact too much with the campers but if I was able to make a minor difference in one camper, I’d like to think I made a difference in some of the other campers as well!
This summer I’m hoping to make a difference once again and this is where I need your help! I am volunteering through UniCamp’s Core Lessons In Mind and Body (CLIMB) program for older campers. As the name suggests, we work with our campers and empower them to push themselves to heights (quite literally) not previously imagined. As a future health psychologist, I am particularly passionate about this because I know how intricately linked the mind and body are. As we train and prepare for camp this summer, I’m so excited to show the ropes to younger adults this summer… assuming I reach my fundraising goal of $1400.
ALL of the proceeds go towards bringing 14-17 year old campers from the Greater LA area up the mountains for a week of summer camp. Our week includes a one-day climbing excursion to Holcomb, where I get to teach them Core Lessons in Mind and Body through rock climbing. Your contribution will allow me to run activities that encourage socioemotional growth, mentor older campers as they approach adulthood, all while teaching them how to belay one another so we can all safely climb towards the stars! Whether you can contribute $5 or $500, I deeply appreciate you taking me closer to reaching my fundraising goal!!
