Applications and campership (scholarship) requests are now being accepted for the 2013 Summer Camp sessions of Circle V Ranch Camp near Cachuma Lake, presented by the Society of St. Vincent de Paul. An open house is scheduled May 4, 11 a.m.-3 p.m. with people of all ages welcome to tour the facility and enjoy a barbecue lunch, said Ray Lopez, camp director.Eight sessions each feature six days and five nights of traditional supervised activities for boys and girls ages 7-13. For youth ages 14-17, a Camper in Leadership Training (CILT) program is available. Circle V campers enjoy activities including archery, hiking, swimming in the pool, learning about nature, reading skills, arts and crafts, painting, photography, playing games of baseball, basketball, ping pong, foosball, soccer, miniature golf and of course, campfires, skits and songs. “There is no TV, radio or internet access to affect the experience,” added Lopez.Campers stay in wood cabins or traditional canvas tents. Three nutritious daily meals are served family-style in the dining lodge and provide not only a chance for food but also for more camaraderie and fellowship. The 2013 Summer Session dates and themes are: —June 26-July 1: Wild West Week.—July 5-10: Medieval Times Week.—July 10-15: Games Shows Week.—July 22-27: International Week.—July 27-Aug. 1: Carnival Week.—Aug. 4-9: Olympics Week.—Aug. 9-14: Talent Week.—Aug. 17-22: Mystery Week.“We welcome campers from Santa Barbara, Ventura and Los Angeles counties,” said Lopez, who started as a counselor at Circle V Ranch Camp in 1993 and has been camp director since 2008. “No child is turned away due to lack of funds because we have camperships available.”Founded by the Society of St. Vincent de Paul Los Angeles Council in 1945, Circle V Ranch Camp & Retreat Center has been located on 30 acres in the Los Padres National Forest in Santa Barbara County’s Santa Ynez Valley near Cachuma Lake since 1990. During autumn, winter and spring, the Camp & Retreat Center is available for rental to other non-profit groups and organizations. A special Family Camp for all ages will be offered July 19-21, 2013. In summer 2012, the camp hosted more than 1,200 children for this time-honored experience. The fee for six days and five nights (including lodging, all meals, activities, recreation and supervised fun) is $425 per child. “Camperships” (made by individuals and groups’ donations) are available for qualified campers. For information, contact the Society of St. Vincent de Paul’s main office, (323) 224-6213 or http://www.circlevranchcamp.org. To RSVP for the open house, contact Lopez, (805) 688-5252 or [email protected].{gallery width=100 height=100}gallery/2013/0503/sbcamp/{/gallery}