The Gift That Keeps On Giving

When preparing for the camp season it is natural for us to think back on previous summers and recall the zany skits, the friendships forged, the new skills acquired and memorable moments that we will cherish for a lifetime but there is something else that comes to mind…

The scores of kids that have not ever experienced camp for whatever reason. There is a strong case for camp to be a prominent fixture in youth development. As the American Camp Association (ACA) shares, at a minimum, camp boosts a child’s self esteem, develops twenty-first century life skills, is critical to a child’s education and , above all, is fun!
” The gift of camp is real — giving children and youth real experiences, real opportunities for genuine growth, and unlimited potential.” – “Giving the Ultimate Gift – Camp” www.acacamps.org

If you have shared in fond summer camp memories, tell a friend or family member. If your camper is still talking about last summer in January, register for 2012 today. If you have the capacity to give another deserving child an enriching summer experience, donate online. Camp is not a secret to be kept but to be sung from rooftops around the world!

What I Did Over Winter Break….

It is with much excitement that the full time staff  return from Winter Break to the leafless silence that exists at Camp Collins this time of year. Doesn’t sound exciting to you? Wondering what all the buzz is about? It’s a new year and with a new year comes a new summer, which means we are that much closer to welcoming back staff, campers, parents and leaves!

The excitement and anticipation is doubled as all full time staff took their own Winter Break to recharge for the countdown to summer camp that starts……..NOW! Here is how some of them spent their time:

Haelynne “Zuma” Barron – Camp Program Director
My Winter vacation 2011 highlights:
Finishing the 3^rd and final Hunger Games book
Long boarding, people watching, and laying in the sun at Venice Beach, Cali
Hanging out with my family and friends, including this thing

 “Cheers to a new year and another chance for us to get it right.” -Oprah Winfrey

 

 

Willard “Boo” Burks – Executive Director
“I had a wonderful Christmas break spending it with my family in Arkansas.  Sherri, Makenzi, Clay and I were all together for Christmas and New Year’s and enjoyed playing board games and laughing at all of the funny things we heard and saw over the past year.  I also had a chance to visit with mine and Sherri’s parents and see my grandmother who is 92 years old.  One of my best memories of the Holiday was when I saw into an old high school friend that I had not seen in 30 years. It was great to catch up with him and visit about old times and catch up on what is happening now in our lives.  It is amazing how time flies and how our lives change. The Holidays are always special because of family and friends and this years was especially fun and memorable.”

Sarah “Wicket” LaPointe – Office Administrator
“Ahh stay-cation! All my and my husband’s family live far away so the holidays were a quiet celebration between the two of us….oh and our dog Henry who in fact has his own monogrammed stocking that Santa filled for Christmas morn:) Highlights of my winter break were a snow hike around Trillium Lake on Christmas Eve, acquistion of pin-striped overalls, satisfaction of checking most items off my ‘Winter Break To-Do Around the House’ list, and my Packers beating my husband’s Lions on New Year’s Day resulting in a won bet and him squeezing into my ladies cut Favre jersey! Can you say photo op? Classic!”

Brian “Sporto” White – Group Services Director
“Christmas for our family is a much anticipated time of year.  We enjoy the waiting just as much as Christmas Day itself.  Our time spent at church during Advent, the photo with Santa at the mall, decorating the house and tree, and sending out Christmas cards are part of the holiday season.  Christmas morning was spent at our own home this year, as we are typically frequent travelers during the holiday.  It was relaxing to wake up at home and see the joy in the kid’s faces as they saw what Santa brought them.  Then it was off to Grandma’s house for a few days of family time, football games, great visits, playing with cousins, playing games, and napping on the couch.  New Year’s weekend was spent at Grandpa’s house in Central Oregon; playing with cousins, visiting with family, opening more presents, and eating VERY well.  The holiday season is a great opportunity to reconnect with our loved ones.”

Kristin “Clementine” Cunningham – Teen Programs Director
“I had an adventure-filled winter vacation.  I started my break by heading back to my hometown of Durham, North Carolina to visit with family, friends, and two crazy black lab puppies.  From there, I traveled to Chile where I celebrated New Year’s with a HUGE fireworks show, visited the Atacama desert (the driest in the world…of course it rained while I was there!), saw beautiful beaches and was able to experience the amazing Chilean culture. 17 flights later, I am happy to be back in Portland!”

We would love to hear how you spent your Winter vacation! What traditions are special to you, your favorite gift you gave and received, the unforgetable meal you shared with family and how you best like to celebrate this time of year. Share in the comment box below and your submission may be featured in our next ‘Zine.

Holiday Wishes and Summer Dreams

December has been a busy month getting ready for Camp 2012, getting out to see campers and staff home for the holidays and getting set to take our own Christmas vacation.

Registration for spring break and summer 2012 is now open and we have extended Early Bird discounts to February 1st, so you can spend this time focusing on fun with your family. Program information, camp’s flexible fees and links to online registration and registration forms are all available at www.campcollins.org.

A special thank you to all the campers and staff that joined us for this year’s holiday events – Skate Party at Lloyd Center and Teen Bowling Party at Hollywood Bowl. We really enjoyed reuniting with returning campers and meeting new potential campers. Pictures below are a snapshot of the festive fun we had and hope that you will join us for next year’s holiday events.

Follow camp’s blog in the New Year with our first post on how camp staff spent their Christmas vacation. The camp office will be closed Dec. 24th until Jan. 3rd for the holidays. We look forward to sharing with you all the exciting news we are anticipating in 2012. Happy Holidays from all of the staff at YMCA Camp Collins!

Zuma and camper skate dance

Bimmy shows her mad skate skills

Camper Evan leads in a group skate

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Teens show they are serious about bowling

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Teens "strike" a pose waiting for their turn

Teen Program Expansion

As we get ready to welcome in a New Year at camp we are really excited to welcome a new series of year-round teen programming. Teen Programs Director, Kristin Cunningham, puts the decision to expand our offerings to this population best when she said, ” Summer was just not enough for us when this summer the teens showed us how fabulous and dedicated to camp they were.”

Introducing the year-round Leadership Development Program~ a program for teens in grades 9-12 starting this January. The program will consist of monthly meetings, leadership workshops, overnight retreats, camp and community service projects, a challenge course experience, opportunity to aid in decision-making about camp programs and as always, chances to build on old friendships and develop new ones.

Other new teen programs rolling out this spring and summer are the Spring Break Service Trip and Summer Teen Expedition Camps. You can learn more about these programs from camp’s website but better yet, teens can find out more by joining us for a Holiday Party at Hollywood Bowl on Saturday, Dec. 10th from 6p-8p. Discounted bowling for $8 will include two games and shoes. A Participation Waiver is required and although staff volunteers will be present, adult supervision is not provided.

Got questions? Contact Us!

Give Thanks and Serve

As you sit around the table, feast and give thanks this month for all the people and things you hold appreciation for, YMCA Camp Collins encourages you to lend a hand in service to those less fortunate. Take time as a family during your holiday vacation (which happens to be National Family Week) to seek out an organization that you all would like to devote a little bit of time to make a big difference. Consider service with seniors, people who are homeless, animals, low-income communities or foster children.

During your service share some season of thanks fun facts, like did you know…?
Celebrating a harvest is not the invention of the Puritans. It has actually been going on for hundreds of years before. And rocks have always been areas for thrones for such celebrations.

The Greeks celebrated a harvest festival honoring Demeter, their goddess of agriculture with a 9 day feast. Persephone, the goddess of the seasons was Demeter’s daughter.

The Romans honored their goddess of harvest, Ceres, with a festival called Cerealia and done every Autumn.

Hebrews celebrated the harvest with Sukkoth also known as the Feast of the Tabernacles. This goes on for 8 days.

The Egyptians had their God of Fertility, Min, honored in an annual harvest ceremony by having the Pharoh cut the first sheaf of grain. This act was symbolic to help insure everyone would have plenty because the Pharoh was also considered a God.

The Chinese have their Harvest Moon Festival. The Japanese have field gods. The Hindu have their harvest protector and the American Seneca Indians have “Green Corn Dance” to honor a harvest. The Iroquois have their “Great Feather Dance” as a celebration of thanks for a good harvest.

The ancient Celtic people held a fall celebration the first of November as a feast to the summer’s end.

View this interesting information about the history of thanksgiving and more holiday observances in November at http://www.brownielocks.com/november.html.

Fun – tober!

It is clear that those long, sunny summer days have passed but don’t let a little rain chase your family inside for the season. Fall is a beautiful season in the Northwest and YMCA Camp Collins strongly encourages you to take advantage of all the family fun that is offered in the Portland Metro area and beyond.  In the spirit of camp, try something new and have fun!

We also invite you to join YMCA staff at the Y’s annual Harvest Festival activities this month. We hope to see you at the ~
Clark County Family YMCA on Friday, October 28th from 6-8p. Sponsored by Radio Disney this family Harvest Party event will feature activities, crafts and games with prizes for kids of all ages.

Sherwood Regional Family YMCA October 28th – 30th will transform the Teen Center into a Haunted Teen Center and on Saturday offer a variety of kids activities and host Trunk or Treat. Visit Tricks and Treatsfor more details.

Looking for other ideas for the family in Fun-tober? Here are some of camp staff’s favorite things to do in the fall:

Sauvie Island Corn Maize - through October 31st
Oregon City Halloween Fantasy Trail – through October 30th
St. Helen’s Halloweentown – every weekend in October
Tualatin Giant Pumpkin Regatta – Saturday, October 22nd
Oregon Zoo Howloween & Annual Squishing of the Squash – Friday, October 28th – 30th
Portland’s Faizo Farms Corn Maze in the City – through October 31st

We would love to hear what your favorite things are about fall! Is it the smells and sounds? Is it the comfort foods? Is it a unique family tradition? Share in the comment field below and your submission may be featured in the next Camp Collins ‘Zine.

Take Camp Skills to School

American Camp Association CEO, Peg Smith, shares a reminder to camp parents that your child learned valuable skills while at camp this summer that will serve them well as they return back to school. Take a look at this short video featured on the ACA website about the three “C”s that kids should take to school with them this fall.  
http://www.campparents.org/newsletter/1109/take-camp-skills-school

We invite parents and campers to share with us the skills they learned at YMCA Camp Collins this summer that will help them succeed during the school year. Whether it was how to make new friends, improving your physical fitness for sports or gaining the confidence to face new challenges, we would like to know! Comments posted on the blog may be featured in an upcoming e-newsletter or zine so be sure to include your name in your submission.

Enjoy Live Music for a Good Cause

Mark your calendars for Saturday, August 6th, 2011 for the 3rd Annual Camp Collins Benefit Concert starring Michael McGinnis & Friends.

Join us for an evening of music, stories and fun for all ages with recording artist and member of the New Christy Minstrel Singers – Michael McGinnis. All proceeds from the outdoor concert will benefit the YMCA Camp Collins “Kids to Camp” Scholarship Fund which provides financial assistance to families in sending their child to summer camp.

Michael “Pappy” McGinnis has been active with the YMCA for over 20 years. He is a well-loved and respected part of the Camp Collins summer program where he spreads cheer to all campers and staff through his songs, tales and uplifting spirit.

Click Here for more concert information including how to reserve your tickets today!

Camp Celebrates Cultural Diversity

Each year at YMCA Camp Collins we strive to hire a summer staff that is as diverse as the campers we serve. Celebrating the uniqueness of each individual is valued at camp. We strongly believe there is so much we can learn from others that have different backgrounds and experiences than our own.

Recruiting staff from other countries lends to the camp mission of increasing awareness, fostering acceptance and broadening our campers’ world view. We would like to introduce you to our Summer 2011 International Staff!

 Meet Megan from South Africa! Her position at Camp Collins this summer will be on the Aquatics Team. Hobbies: “I am very interested in sport and music. I played provinsial hockey as well as in the first team for my school. I also played in the first tennis team at school. I got colours for hockey and hald colours for tennis. I play the guitar and sing and lead one of our youth worship bands. I love camping, cycling, hiking, water skiing, swimming and skimboarding.”

Meet Laura from Australia! Her position this summer at Camp Collins will be Questor Cabin Counselor. Hobbies: “I have played soccer for 16 years with the past 3 years being NSW representative soccer. I have been involved in Surf Life Saving since I was 6 years old and have been competing in surf boat for 4 years. I really enjoy anything to do with the water whether it be pool swimming, fishing, boating, snorkelling or surfing. I am also part of a touch and oxtag team which I play once a week year round. Performing arts is another interest. I have played trumpet for 13 years. I was heavily involved in bands whilst I was at school. I was also a regular participant in musicals in school as well as in the community. My final interest is my nursing. I love the job that I do and love that I have the ability to make difference through career. I love coming to work being able to show compassion for what I do.”

Meet Adam from the United Kingdom! Camp name Nottingham, he is a returning international staff and will be one of Camp Collins’ Counselor In Training Coordinators this summer. Hobbies: “Art has always be the one hobby I have always done. Painting and sketching are some of my favourite past times. I also enjoy simply reading and learning particularly history, which is why I do it for degree and I am constantly going to France to practice my language skills. Back home we have an indoor ski centre so me and my friends go skiing even though I am awful. I often visit my family who live in the peak district and south of Wales during the year and spend most of my time there walking, hiking and kayaking.”

Meet Andrew from the United Kingdom! His position at Camp Collins this summer will be Mountain Biking Specialist. Hobbies: “I have several different sporting interest which include rugby, which I play both for the university and a local club, I have also coached rugby at several different levels. I also enjoy playing football socially and watching it, I frequently attend my local gym. I have a very strong interest in several different periods of history, film and comedy.”

Meet Emma from the United Kingdom! Camp name is Pixel, a returning international staff, she will be an Explorer Cabin Counselor this summer. Hobbies: “I have a keen interest in anything creative, design based or arty. I also like to dance and spend time with friends and family.”

Meet the international staff along with all the other fantastic individuals that are employed at Camp Collins this summer!

Like Golf? Love Camp?

Send a child to YMCA Camp Collins this summer by purchasing Tickets Fore Charity!

Tickets Fore Charity allows fans to buy weekly grounds tickets to the 2011 Ladies Professional Golf Association (LPGA) Safeway Classic at Pumpkin Ridge Golf Club in North Plains, OR and designate YMCA Camp Collins to receive 100% of the ticket proceeds.

100% of all donations received by YMCA Camp Collins are awarded to families experiencing economic hardship to allow their child the opportunity to experience camp.

Purchase your tickets for this August 15th-21st, 2011 sporting event online at www.safewayclassic.com and select YMCA Camp Collins as your charity or download a Tickets Fore Charity Order Form.

Enjoy a walk on one of the country’s best fairways and give a child a memorable summer camp experience. Sounds like a hole in one!