Camp Wildcat was born! Richard Shogren, a graduate student in urban planning, came to the University of Arizona from the University of California at Berkeley in the fall of 1964. He had been very involved at Berkeley´s "Cal Camp" and decided that Arizona needed a similar program. He worked hard all semester and succeeded in getting the student senate´s backing in the spring of 1965.
The Student Senate at the U of A extended Camp Wildcat a $1,000 loan and gave a gift of $500. Alpha Phi Omega, a UA service organization, donated $500. There was such enthusiasm and participation in the newly formed Camp Wildcat that they decided to hold the first summer camp that summer, a year ahead of schedule. The first camp was held in early June of 1965 at Rancho de los Cerros. It lasted an entire week. There were twelve student counselors and 72 campers, ages 8-11. It was a huge success!
Camp Wildcat held three reunions with the campers from its first camp, a picnic at Himmel Park, a Christmas party, and a get-together at the Texas Western football game.
"Camp Manzo" - 70 kids
80 kids for weekend camps
Camp Wildcat held a "computer dance" fundraiser in February where $2300 was earned. Over 2000 students attended; Mary Lou Anderson was crowned Queen and Dave Archibald was crowned King.
Camp Wildcat received a generous donation of $500 from Inter Fraternity Council (IFC)
During the week of March 15, the "Ugly Man" Contest was held as a fundraiser. Camp Wildcat earned $347.32
A Fall Fashion Show, sponsered by Lambda Chi Alpha Fraternity, was held in the Student Union ballroom. All proceeds went to Camp Wildcat.
The second annual summer camp was held at Tucson YMCA´s Triangle Y Ranch Camp. The site provided food, transportation, cooks and wranglers. There were 96 campers and 18 student counselors, eight of which were returnees from the first camp. An in-camp training session was held two days before camp started.
October 24 A Camp Wildcat Kids reunion was held at Randolph Park.
UA president Harvill declared "CW Week" November 18-22, 1968 "All are urged to donate"
Fundraiser "Two Bits For CW" held in UA Student Union
Two summer camps were run simultaneously, one at the Salvation Army´s Camp O´Wood, and the other at the YMCA´s Triangle Y Camp.
Rites of Spring started by Camp Wildcat as a fundraiser
CW´s first Girls Camp-Out took place in November
Camp Wildcat received a desk in Student Union 106 and met there every Sunday.
CW Bike-a-Thon (the "El Tour To Tempe") started in November - raised $5000 with 323 riders
Dave Schneider´s first involvement with CW is noted on June 3
CW is executing 2-3 camps each semester (including "Snow Camp")
A work day (not necessarily the first) is held at Rancho Los Cerros
The original CW office in the basement of the Student Union is occupied (until it is destroyed in 1999 as part of SU remodeling)
ASUA officially begins "Spring Fling" (a spin off of "Rites of Spring"); all profits conintue to go to Camp Wildcat
Camp Wildcat runs a Marriage Booth on the first night of Spring Fling and a Fish Pond the next night. Proceeds from 70% of profits from all rides, $20 from each booth and the total profit from the two booths ran by members went directly to CW.
110 students and 40 counselors attend Spring Big Camp
CW does not run a booth at Spring Fling, but instead sells raffle tickets in advance and donates 60 man-hours in exchange for 17.5% of SF´s net profit
The first Old Pueblo Triathlon, OPT, is held in April (continued for a decade)
The CW logo (with the two dudes) is created
CW Bike-a-thon nets $13,000
Showers Point is first used for CCI
100 children attended Camp Wildcat´s Summer Camp in May
Camp Wildcat took fifteen campers from a Tucson "Head Start" program to see Barnum and Bailey´s Circus in August at the Tucson Community Center
CW holds three camps, a CCI, and a Triathlon during Spring semester alone.
The first "Progressive Dinner" is held in April
Summer Camp occurs in August for the first time. Previous Summer Camps were held in May.
The Old Pueblo Triathlon nets $8500 for CW
CW membership drops to a dangerously low level.
The outgoing ´87-´88 Board of Directors, recommends to the new members that the organization (which was thousands of dollars in debt) be dissolved over the Summer of ´88.
A number of CW underclassmen worked to rebuild the organization, which would remain in the red for several years.
Camp Wildcat wins the "Outstanding Community Service Club Award" from Project Volunteer
NCAA disallows alcohol-related sponsorships (Bud Light) and triathlons become unreasonably expensive and burdensome, causing the last Old Pueblo Triathlon to be held in April.
CW´s membership numbers rebound to a respectable level of about 45 people.
One-week Summer Camp was held at Roper Lake State Park. This was the first Summer Camp since 1983 (or 1986?).
The first CW Handcar Race is held on the Trolley tracks of 4th Avenue in conjunction with the Old Pueblo Trolley Association
Camp Wildcat operates in the black and becomes free of debt for the first time in several years.
Camp Wildcat is the second U of A club to have a web presence. Student access is provided primarily through telnet using Lynx (text-only browser).
Camp Wildcat wins the "Edgar Goyette Award" for Outstanding Philanthropy (1995-1996)
A mandate for costly $1,000,000 liability insurance temporarily halts CW camps
Camp Wildcat wins the Spring Fling "Wildcat Sweepstakes Award"
Camp Wildcat holds its First Annual Auction
The Camp Wildcat Endowment Fund is established through the U of A Alumni Association
Camp Wildcat wins the "Edgar Goyette Award" for Outstanding Organization Of the Year (1997-1998)
Charlie the Bear, who is awarded to "special members" for helping out or ´going above and beyond´, joins the happy Camp Wildcat Family
Summer Camp is cancelled because of adverse weather conditions.
In March 2004, Ashley Furey and Vivian Levy direct the first-ever on-campus camp (an adventure camp). In May 2004, Carmie Banasky and Olga Feingold direct the first Grand Canyon camp in years, a four-day camp. Summer Camp 2, Candyland Camp, (in August) is cancelled because of a lack of campers and problems with site reservations. Director Missy Hendrick instead holds the Candyland Camp day activity.
Spring CCI "Rain Rain Go Away" was held on-campus on a Saturday afternoon due to flash flooding at the campsite that had been reserved, the Double V Ranch Campground.
The first camp of the fall semester, "So You Wanna Be a Rock Superstar?", showcased jam sessions, breakout dancers, and lots of grooving from all 75 CW members as well as co-directors Garrett Hoxie and Katie Paulson.
Camp Wildcat held its 40th Reunion over October 21-23. Events over the weekend included dinner at Las Margaritas, gathering of alumni on the UA Mall, cocktail hour at Tucson alumnus house, and breakfast cooked by current Camp Wildcat members.
The inaugural "Friends of Camp Wildcat" meeting was held over Homecoming weekend on Saturday, November 11th. The first board of directors was elected, including Jim McGeorge as President. Particular individuals were honored at the Friends of Camp Wildcat dinner: Jim McGeorge, Kevin Scott and CW Advisor Dan Adams.
The Camp Wildcat office in the CSIL is relocated from a room with a door to a large corner cubicle.
Camp Wildcat was selected as the recipient of the 2nd Annual Yribar Golf Tournament sponsorship after aggressive campaigning by fundraising directors Ashlee Jones and Andrew Leonard and chair Laura Ory. The fundraiser netted over $15,000.
Camp Wildcat Advisor Dan Adams secures a $10,000 donation to CW to be distributed in two $5,000 checks during the 2007-2008 and 2008-2009 school years.
The Camp Wildcat office in the CSIL is relocated from a large corner cubicle to a smaller cubicle next to Pride Alliance.
Adrienne Hoxie and Calvin Knutzen introduce the M.I.L.K. song to CW
ASUA awards Camp Wildcat the 2006-2007 Club of the Year award.
With the help of ASUA, Camp Wildcat takes 25 members to the University of Phoenix Stadium in Glendale, AZ to staff the 42nd NFL Superbowl as a fundraiser. Adrienne Hoxie spent part of the day in the hospital after she fainted due to standing at the stadium gates for several hours.
Camps Coordinator Kara Farnsworth begins on-camp recycling efforts.
Kseniya Efremova and Jessica Blaire introduce the "Peanut Butter and Jelly" song to CW.
Lucy Patterson starts the day activities penpal program with the KARE family center.
Camp Wildcat is recognized as the "Golden Group" by the U of A concessions department for the first time.
Fall CTC, "The Wizard of CW" directors Lucy Patterson and Adrienne Hoxie decide to buy a fire extinguisher and bring it on camp for the first time. Future "campfires" prove that it was a good idea.
Camp Wildcat is recognized as the "Golden Group" by the U of A concessions department for the second year in a row.
Ashlee Jones and Andrew Leonard introduce the "Baby Dinosaur" song to CW.
Dan Adams is promoted to a new job (go Dan!) but can no longer serve as Camp Wildcat advisor. Camp Wildcat is lucky to select Steve Holland, the Director of Risk-Management and Safety at the University of Arizona, as their new advisor.
Friends of Camp Wildcat presents a plaque in memory of Camp Wildcat founder Rick Shogren to Rick´s family and to the University of Arizona Center for Student Involvement and Leadership, where it currently hangs.
Camp Wildcat board elects to strengthen their insurance policy that requires all members to undergo the same fingerprint background checks that school teachers must undergo and to offer accidental medical benefits to campers while on Camp Wildcat Activities.
The annual auction fundraiser is reorganized as a team trivia and auction event. Team Orange-head wins the trivia contest.
Greg Porter introduces the "Little Red Wagon" song to CW.
Elyse Pincus creates a private CW facebook group which proves to be an excellent new way for the club members to communicate.
Camp Wildcat celebrates its 45th anniversary!
Camp Wildcat is recognized as the "Golden Group" by the U of A concessions department for the third year in a row.
Camp Wildcat holds its first annual 5k run, "Go Cats Go" on the U of A campus.
Camp Wildcat welcomes Peggy Bower, mother of CW alumni Quin and Garrett Hoxie, and current member Adrienne Hoxie, as a guest speaker on Spring CTC, "As Seen on Camp", directed by Adrienne Hoxie, Dan Pike, and Zak Rome. Mrs. Bower introduces the subject of working with children with special needs, an untapped demographic that fits Camp Wildcat´s mission statement.
Charlie the bear is retired from circulation and the Camp Wildcat board introduces a new bear friend at the general meeting on Sunday, February 27, 2011.
For the first time ever, Camp Wildcat awards a $1,000 scholarship in honor of Sarah Beard to an incoming University of Arizona freshman who demonstrates financial need and is active in the community. The first recipient is Sarah Hefferan, who plays club soccer, volunteers with animal care agencies, and plans to pursue a degree in Engineering.
The Camp Wildcat website gets a much needed update and re-design. As a result of the pandemic, the updated website serves as a vital resource and contact point for members, alumni, and board members alike.
Camp Wildcat reaches its 60th year! We celebrate with alumni and current students at the 60th Gala with food, prizes, past stories, and golden plate awards.