This year was our most successful camp to date as we had almost 100 attendees enjoy 2 days of camping, training, and fun at the Pico Blanco campgrounds.

Pico Blanco camp straddles the Little Sur River, deep in the redwoods of the Big Sur coast, south of Carmel. During most of the year it is used by the Boy Scouts of America for their activities. We are very fortunate to be able to hold our event at this beautiful site and to have the campgrounds completely to ourselves. Attendees bring tents; we provide the meals. In addition to its great natural beauty, the campgrounds offer a large, well-equipped kitchen and even hot water showers!

Open to martial artists of all levels, this annual retreat is an opportunity to study basic and advanced jo, bokken, as well as other traditional weapons (e.g. Japanese bow (kyudo), Tai Chi "Iron Fan", and hanbo). Staff instructors are Sensei Danielle Evans, Dennis Evans, and Julio Toribio. This year's guest instructor Tom Read, Sensei, introduced us to the intricate, beautiful, and powerful forms of his unique system: Aikibojitsu - The Art of the Staff. Other activities included knife throwing, skeet, tai chi, hiking, and campfire.

- Michael Smith