K-W YMCA Camp Staff Alumni News
Hello Alumni and Happy Holidays!
MORNING DIP
BELWOOD, KI-WA-Y & WABANAKI
As the 2009 season closes, we look back on another successful year in K-W YMCA camping.
We are happy to report that two mini alumni reunions were held this past fall for Camp
Ki-Wa-Y and Camp Wabanaki. Please read on for details and check out the events in the
pictures below.
DECEMBER 2009
Camp Ki-Wa-Y—September 26-27
We were so pleased to have had so many Ki-Wa-Y alumni from the 80's and early 90's come
back to Camp Ki-Wa-Y. Although we had some unpredictable fall weather (rain, rain and more
rain on Saturday) we had a terrific time reconnecting, sharing memories and creating new ones
with all those who attended. Approximately 88 alumni and family members drove down the
camp road on Saturday, with more than 30 making it a full weekend, staying overnight to enjoy
a second day of camp on Sunday—and we had no rain!
Thank you to those alumni who left pictures for us to scan and add to our camp archives. And a
special thank-you to Tara Mondou (Schippling) who spearheaded the event and got everyone
pumped about coming back to camp! Click here for more alumni pictures.
Camp Wabanaki—September 26
Wabanaki alumni from the mid 80's met and enjoyed a fabulous evening in Toronto at the
Esplanade Bier Market. After 20 odd years since working together at camp, old friends quickly
reconnected, sharing stories, photo albums and memories of camp shenanigans! Good times!
Thank you to Dave Lemmon and Becky Bourque (Boyko) for organizing the event for
Wabanaki alumni. It was a good time for all! Click here for more alumni pictures.
What’s new in the Camping Office?
This new year and coming season we will be launching a new website. We are very excited about this user friendly and highly
interactive site! As we sort through the options available, we hope that there will be only a few bugs to squash and little, if any,
inconvenience to our clientele as we change over. Please check out the site in January 2010 www.kwycamps.ca and let us know
what you think.
All K-W YMCA camp directors will be returning to their posts in 2010. Dave Jackson (Woody) will return for his 8th summer at
Camp Wabanaki, Judith Illidge for her 8th summer at Camp Ki-Wa-Y and Lauren Merrifield returning for her 2nd summer at
Camp Belwood. Regular camp meetings and planning is in progress for a much anticipated 2010 summer season.
As in past years, camp registration will begin the first week of January, so mark Saturday January 2, 2010 on your calendar. For
those of you registering children or grandchildren, this is a friendly reminder of how quickly certain weeks of camp can fill up. So
if there is a particular camp and a particular week you are hoping for, register early to ensure your camper’s spot. Our big surprise
last winter during registration was the L.I.T. girls whose program filled up in just two days...go figure!
A Message from the Manager of YMCA Outdoor Services
Seasons Greetings Alumni!
As we move into the winter season there is a constant busy hum in the Outdoor Services office here at
the Ki-Wa-Y site. Construction is underway with the building of a new picnic shelter at the high
ropes course, footings will soon be set for new straw bale cabins, new curriculum-school based programs are being developed, seasonal site maintenance continues, a new website is being launched, a
camp capital campaign is underway, co-ordination and prep of Wabanaki renewal spring projects is in
progress, and of course, all the administrative and prep work for summer camp! So regardless of what
anyone is telling you, we are not in the office lying in a hammock enjoying a beverage!
I have some very exciting news to share. As you know, the Kitchener-Waterloo Kiwanis Club has been the land owners
of the Paradise Lake site since 1924. In 1972, the K-W YMCA became the sole operator of the site, offering summer camp
programs and then, with the construction of two “state of the art” environmental buildings, year- round programming
attracting schools, community groups and businesses. Because the Kiwanis and the YMCA share the same values and future
vision for this site, the Kiwanis Club has donated the Paradise Lake land to the YMCA to continue our mission of nurturing,
developing and asset building in young people. This generous donation is the largest gift ever received by the Camping Branch
and we are grateful of the trust that the Kiwanis Club has bestowed upon us.
Kitchener-Waterloo Kiwanis Event at Paradise Lake
On Tuesday, August 25, members of the Kitchener-Waterloo Kiwanis Club, YMCA board members and YMCA staff gathered
for a celebration at Camp Ki-Wa-Y. The formal portion of the event was the transfer of the Kiwanis land to the YMCA. The
K-W Kiwanis Club has given us an historic banner which now hangs above the fireplace in the Ki-Wa-Y dining hall to commemorate their established history with us and the site. Also in tribute to the Kiwanis Club, two plaqued arbor stones overlooking Paradise Lake will serve as landmarks.
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MORNING DIP
Camp Stories
Do you have a camp story to share?
In every issue of Morning Dip, we will be putting a question out to you. If you answer the question,
“I was there, I remember when”...please share your stories of the day!
Please e-mail [email protected]
Last issued we asked the question, “What is the name of this Sailboat, what
lake is it floating in, and where is the sailboat now?
Answer: Lady Peddle Burst, Lake Belwood, hanging from the rafters in
the Belwood dining hall.
This Newsletter Question:
What year was the deck built on the Ki-Wa-Y dining hall?
PAST, PRESENT & FUTURE
As we move into the future, we recognize the importance of preserving our past. We continue to actively seek camp memorabilia from our camp staff alumni members. If you have any camp items or photos, we would love to borrow them so that
we can photograph and share them in an electronic catalogue format with all our alumni, and/or display them at our alumni
days. Please feel free to send any photos, or photos of items or historic data to our alumni web address:
[email protected] If you prefer, we can pick up and scan old photos and items and return them to you.
If you are still in touch with camp friends, please have them reconnect with us so we can add them to our alumni list.
“Day is done. Gone the sun. From the lake, from the hills, from the sky. All is well, safely rest, God is nigh”.
DECEMBER 2009
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BUILDING ON TRADITION
A Campaign for the Kitchener-Waterloo YMCA’S Outdoor Services
Overnight camping has been a tradition of the Kitchener-Waterloo YMCA since 1923. Since then, our camps have had more than
100,000 campers pass through the front gates, many of whom loved their time at camp so much that they later sent their children
and grandchildren. We are excited to continue to welcome many more generations of campers who will enjoy the same power of the
camp experience.
Camps provide a rare opportunity for children to spend time experiencing nature and a safe place to play outdoors. Investing in
camping is about ensuring the tradition of camping continues by providing the best quality camping experience—both today and
into the future. We want to keep the tradition of camping alive in our current families, while introducing the tradition into as many
new families as possible.
K-W YMCA Endowment Foundation: Camp Fund—Goal $1,000,000
The Camp Fund was created within the K-W YMCA Endowment Foundation to help ensure the financial future and preservation
of our YMCA overnight camps Belwood, Ki-Wa-Y and Wabanaki. The annual interest from the fund will provide for future
generations of YMCA campers by making available opportunities for camp sponsorships, upgrading site facilities and capital
improvements.
Our goal is to build the Camp Fund from its current level of $200,000 to beyond $1,000,000. This level of support helps to provide
a predictable and steady stream of income - approximately $50,000 annually - to help provide the highest quality camp experience
today, and far into the future.
YMCA Camp Wabanaki Renewal—Goal $850,000
If you have spent any time at Wabanaki, you understand how easy it is to fall in love with it—and likely want to ensure your children, grandchildren and great grandchildren can experience the same. But if you have spent time there more recently, you will also
understand that while it still provides a quality camping experience, the site is at an age where some upgrades and renovations will
be beneficial to enhance the camping environment.
Wabanaki Projects
Development of the waterfront and island—$250,000
Increased Acreage—$200,000
Dining hall and kitchen improvements—$300,000
New Cabins—$100,000
Outdoor Centre Expansion & Renewal—Goal $560,000
In 2006, the Outdoor Centre gained great acclaim by winning a Silver award at the Canadian Environment Awards, in the
Sustainable Living category. The centre was recognized for its operation of sustainable buildings which demonstrate alternative
technologies and materials used to build, heat, power, and dispose of waste. Delivering programs in such an authentic setting is
what has made the K-W YMCA a leader in environmental education. Of course in the summer, the Paradise Lake site operates as
YMCA Camp Ki-Wa-Y and Ki-Wa-Y Days.
Outdoor Centre Projects
Four new straw bale cabins—$300,000
Program Pod—$80,000
School Program Development—$180,000
Click here for full version of Camp Campaign brochure
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MORNING DIP
Thank you to the generous alumni donors who have kicked our
Outdoor Services Campaign into high gear!
Dare Foundation
As past Wabanaki campers and staff, the Dare family has a special connection with K-W YMCA camping. We are so deeply thankful for their
extremely generous donation which is being directed to help
secure additional land, known as “Harvey’s Field,” adjacent to the
Wabanaki site. The purchased land will help create a buffer between
Camp Wabanaki and future development, as well as be used as an
additional programming area. Many thanks to the Dare Family.
Onawaw Ladies
Prior to 1970 the Wabanaki site operated as Camp Onawaw. A
special group of camp folk attended the all-girls camp during the 40’s,
50’s and 60’s, and gather annually each June for a reunion at Camp
Wabanaki. Because the site is so close to their hearts, and their relationship with the present Camp Wabanaki, this remarkable group of past
Onawaw campers have begun their own campaign to help raise funds for
the Wabanaki Renewal. With their 2009 donation, we have started construction of an extensive dock project on the island. With their planned
2010 fundraising efforts, more docks will begin construction next spring.
Thank you Ladies!
Adjusters Canada
We were very fortunate to be the benefactors of a charity golf hole
at the 2009 Insurance Adjusters Golf Tournament in memory of one of
our own, John McHugh. This donation has been extremely helpful in
continuing our ambitious dock project at Wabanaki. Warm thanks to
Nancy and kids for continuing John’s relationship with our camps.
Greb Family
Chuck & Fern, Ross & Shelley, John & Nellie, Paul & Heidi
It’s always been a family affair for the Greb Family at Wabanaki.
Campers in younger years, moving into staff positions and now,
20-30 years later they remain solidly connected. We are so excited that
they wanted to be a part of the Wabanaki Renewal, and grateful for their
generous donation which is being directed at constructing the
Wabanaki boathouse. Thank you Greb Family! A rendering of the
boathouse on the island is attached. Construction to begin
Spring of 2010!
DECEMBER 2009
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Thank you to the generous alumni donors who have kicked our
Outdoor Services Campaign into high gear!
Irv Weber
The Grand Opening of the new L.I.T. site on the
Wabanaki island took place in June 2009. Thank
you Irv Weber for your generous donation which
made this fantastic new area possible! Two
teepees, a yurt, washhouse, and an outdoor meeting area are all connected by bridges of decking.
For the L.I.T.s, it is like a camp within a camp, in
their own little forest, on their own little island.
On site this day were three generations of
Webers - Irv, Don and Wabanaki Assistant
Director, Taylor (Brent’s son) were in attendance.
A few pictures of the big day are attached. the
ribbon cutting ceremony; Irv Weber and grandson
Taylor; inside the yurt; and the outside meeting
space.
If you have not seen the area yet, make sure you
drop by on the alumni weekend in June 2010.
K-W YMCA STAFF ALUMNI WORK/SOCIAL
DAYS AT BELWOOD & KI-WA-Y
SPRING 2010
Please join us for the day! The Alumni work/social day will provide you
with the opportunity to see how much camp has changed, and stayed the
same, since the last time you were here. Who can forget how much fun it
was to help get the camp open for the summer! Here is a chance for you to
give back to your camp, enjoy time with your family, and reconnect with
your old Camp Friends! Snacks and Meals included.
Camp Ki-Wa-Y
Season’s Greetings
From
The Outdoor Centre
June 20, 2010
Camp Belwood May 29, 2010
For more information or to rsvp, please contact [email protected]
K-W YMCA STAFF ALUMNI
FAMILY WEEKEND AT
WABANAKI SPRING 2010
Join us for a Family Fun Weekend!
June 4-6, 2010
This June, bring the family and join us for an exciting weekend adventure!
Each family stays in their own cabin, and all meals and snacks are
provided, just follow the sound of the camp bell!
For more information or to rsvp,
please contact [email protected]
DECEMBER 2009
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