Alumni of the University of California, Davis, may soon get their own family camp in the Sierra Nevada similar to UC Berkeley's Lair of the Bear. The Cal Aggie Alumni Association is considering a 210-acre preferred site at Crystal Lake in Nevada County, near Yuba Gap Road off Interstate 80, for an alumni family camp and environmental education center.  

"An alumni camp is a unique way to bring alumni and their families together to make new friends and build stronger connections with each other and with UC Davis," said Rich Engel, assistant vice chancellor for alumni relations. "The CAAA’s mission is to preserve and promote Aggie Pride in all who connect with the UC Davis. This camp will allow us to do that in a way that has never been possible before."

UC Davis released an initial study of the preferred site today (June 12). The initial study is the first step in considering the possible environmental impact of the project, in compliance with the California Environmental Quality Act.

The proposed camp would promote alumni engagement as well as host athletic camps and educational programs such as university conferences, retreats and workshops. The site provides ample opportunities for UC Davis' world-leading expertise in environmental sciences and ecology.

In collaboration with the CAAA Board of Directors, the UC Board of Regents acquired the Crystal Lake property in March 2014 as the preferred site for a family camp to be built, owned and operated by the UC Davis alumni association. The nonprofit association is bearing the costs of acquiring, developing and operating the camp under the guidance of its board of directors. No funds from student tuition or fees or state general funds will be used to support the purchase of the property or costs associated with building and operating the camp.

The initial study envisages building a dining hall, lodge, craft center and cabins. When fully developed, the proposed camp would host up to 350 visitors in the peak season from mid-June to August and employ about 70 staff. The 210-acre site already includes a 5,500 square-foot home and private lake that can be rented for vacations or events by UC Davis alumni, faculty and staff.

Documents about the project will be available for review at the UC Davis Office of Environmental Stewardship and Sustainability, 436 Mrak Hall, on the UC Davis campus; in the Shields Library Reserves on the Davis campus; at the Nevada County Public Library, 980 Heling Way, Nevada City; at the Placer County Public Library, 350 Nevada St., Auburn; and online.

A meeting for the public to comment on environmental issues or concerns will be held at 6 p.m. Thursday, July 9, in the Nevada County Contractors Association conference room, 149 Crown Point Court, Grass Valley. Comments on the initial study must be received by 5 p.m. July 13 and can be emailed to environreview@ucdavis.edu.