Echo Hill Ranch is celebrating its 60th Anniversary summer as a family owned and operated children's camp located on 400 rustic acres in the beautiful Texas Hill Country.   Echo Hill is a child centered non-competitive camp for boys and girls ages 6 to 15, and offers a Teen Leadership Program for 16 to 17 year olds. The camp is owned and directed by Dr. Roger Friedman, PhD and his wife Roz Beroza Friedman, MSW who have over thirty years of professional experience in working with children, families and residential camping. The camper to counselor ratio at Echo Hill is 4:1, 90% of staff are former campers and have been trained in the teen leadership programs, and 60% of the campers are second generation.

All children can find success at Echo Hill because we creatively adapt our extensive programs to fit the needs of campers, limit enrollment to 110 campers a session, welcome communication with parents, and provide personal attention to each child’s development.

At Echo Hill, relationships are at the heart of camp---through bunk projects, daily activities and all camp evening programs, a close community forms where all children and staff come to know each other. Horseback Riding and learning how to feed & groom the horses and Arts & Crafts with an extensive Studio Art programs for all ages are popular activities. Our “back to basic” activities include daily swims and kayaking in the river, American Red Cross swimming lessons, archery, riflery, fossil hunting, hiking, fishing, gymnastics, ceramics, pottery, watercolors, camp outs, basketball, tennis, soccer, softball, chess, gardening, astronomy, baking, leadership training/team building.

We have a unique Expressive and Literary Arts program with a camper-operated radio station (ECHO Radio), camper-run newspaper & literary magazine (The Ranch Review), camper-produced videos and dramatic productions.

Echo Hill was founded by Dr. Tom and Min Friedman in 1953 and is now owned and operated by their children Kinky, Roger and Marcie Friedman. About 60% of our campers are second generation and 90% of our staff are former campers and Counselors-in-Training. Our Executive Directors, Dr. Roger Friedman and his wife Roz Beroza, MSW, combine years of experience as mental health professionals with their work in children’s camping to continue Echo Hill’s fine tradition of being a fun, safe and nurturing community for your child to spend the summer.

ANNOUNCING: THE 60th ANNIVERSARY
ECHO HILL RANCH ALUMNI AND FAMILY REUNION
July 20-22, 2012
GENERAL SCHEDULE FOR REUNION:
• Registration begins at 3:00PM Friday, July 20th.
• Reunion concludes after lunch on Sunday, July 22nd, with guests leaving by 2:30PM.
• Reunion activities will include: Friday night services, western hoedown, campfire, horseback riding, hill climbs, nature hikes, free swim, archery, riflery, sports, fried chicken Sunday lunch, special awards for Charter Ranchers and second & third generation families, raffle and auction of Echo Hill memorabilia, as well as plenty of time to reconnect with old friends. We’ll produce our own version of ‘Story Corps,’ so you can tape your favorite camp story for the 60 Years of Memories Audio & Video DVD.
ACCOMODATIONS AT THE RANCH:
• To stay in a cabin, it’s best to register online (www.echohill.org); any remaining cabin vacancies will be first come first serve when the Reunion starts. We plan to have cabins reserved for men and boys where fathers, sons and single men will stay, and cabins reserved for women and girls, and single women. If several families or a group of friends wish to bunk together we’ll try our best to make it happen. Note: Bring linen, towels, a small personal fan, water bottle, sunscreen, bug repellant and a hat!
• Recreation Vehicles & Trailers will be allowed and can be parked at the north end of the ranch near the corral. No hookups are available. Camping isn’t allowed.
• Special Note: Everyone under 18 must be accompanied by an adult over 21 who will be responsible for their behavior and safety while at the ranch.
• Alert: Possession or use of alcohol, drugs or tobacco of any kind is not allowed and will result in your being asked to leave the ranch immediately.

ACCOMODATIONS IN KERRVILLE:
• We have arrangements at the following Kerrville hotels for double, queen, or king size non/smoking rooms at $99.00 per night plus tax. Reservations must be made before 6/20/12, but we suggest making them as soon as possible as the rooms are limited in number.

• ALL RESERVATIONS MUST BE MADE BY PHONE DIRECTLY TO THE HOTEL, and ask for the ‘Echo Hill Ranch Anniversary’ room rate. Using the internet will not get you this rate. Hotels are:
• Y.O. Ranch Resort Hotel, 2033 Sidney Baker, Kerrville, 78028, 830-257-4440, 1-877-YORESORT
• Holiday Inn Express Hotel & Suites, 2114 Sidney Baker, Kerrville, 78028, 830-895-9500.
• Comfort Inn and Suites, 2001 Sidney Baker, Kerrville, 78028, 830-792-7700.

TUITION FOR REUNION:
• If you stay in town, per person Reunion cost is $40.00 a day or $120.00 for the three days, which includes all meals, activities and DVD. $25.00 non-refundable deposit per person is required to register.
• If you stay at the ranch, per person Reunion cost is $65.00 per day or $195.00 for the Reunion, which includes staying in a cabin for two nights, all meals, and activities for three days and DVD. $25.00 non-refundable deposit per person is required to hold space in the bunkhouse.

• Special discounts:
o College age participants, between 18-23 years of age, who stay at the ranch or in town, will be charged the discounted rate of $30.00 a day or $90.00 for the Reunion.
o Children under 6 years of age will be free whether staying in town or at the ranch.
o Charter Rancher, who attended camp for the first summer in 1953, with friend or spouse, will be Guests of Honor and are welcome to attend at no charge. Please call us 830-589-7739 or email Deonna Heath at ehranch@aol.com

TO REGISTER:
• Go to www.echohill.org, click on “Register here for the 60th Anniversary Reunion” and follow directions. If you need help contact Deonna Heath, Administrative Coordinator at ehranch@aol.com or 830-589-7739, or send your registration info via email to ehranch@aol.com or mail to Winter Address; Echo Hill Ranch, 8601 Georgia Ave, Suite 810, Silver Spring, MD. 20910

Echo Hill Ranch is a legally designated Wildlife Management Area, which means that campers learn about and participate in restoring animal habitats for birds, wild turkey and fish, as well as encouraging growth of native hardwood trees and  plants such as sycamore, elm, oak , tall grasses, yucca cactus, and mountain laurels.   Programming includes Friday night dinners, prayers, homemade challah for each bunkhouse, everyone wearing whites and  camper led, creative outdoor services with singing, Israeli folk dancing, and story telling.  Bar/Bat Mitzvah tutoring available by counselors for no additional charge.