Kanata Roadrace for Sept. 26 cancelled

A new date will be announced at a later time. The open house also scheduled for Sept. 26 is still on.

Upcoming Events on Saturday, September 26, 2009

Please join us at Camp Kanata on Saturday, September 26 for these two events:

6th Annual Matthew Paul West Foundation Roadrace
Registration 7:30 - 8:45 a.m.
Race starts at 9:30 a.m.
Proceeds provide camper scholarships at Kanata.
Come on out and support a great cause!
http://www.setupevents.com/?fuseaction=event_detail&eventID=1120 (click to register online)

Kanata Open House
noon - 4:00 p.m.
Free; no registration necessary.
Please bring a picnic lunch.
Actvities include: Canoeing, archery, riflery, nature hikes.
We hope to see you there! Tell your friends!

Registration for 2010

Some of you have been asking when registration for 2010 will begin . . . keep an eye on our website (www.campkanata.org) in late September--details will be available then. Registration will officially begin in October. This year we will start day camp registration in October as well. We will also email the information to anyone who is on our email list. If you are not already receiving emails from Kanata and would like to, please go to our website and click the link to sign up for emails.

We also offer Mini Camps (weekend overnight camp) at various times between December and April. In May we will offer a Family Camp Weekend. Details for all these events will be on our website as they are available.

It has been a great summer at Camp Kanata! We hope you had a great one as well and we wish you the best for a great school year! Thank you so much for sharing your children with Camp Kanata--we look forward to seeing you again next summer, if not before!

Camp helps us remember the simple things.

So last night our evening program was an outside event and about 15 minutes into the activity it began to rain a little. Some of our staff started to radio in to ask what we were going to do if it continued to rain. Since there was no lightning or thunder I decided lets just "ride it out" and enjoy the rain. What started out as a sprinkle turned into a downpour that lasted for the next 30 minutes. By the end of the evening everyone was soaking wet, some were a little muddy but most importantly everyone was happy and laughing.

I often wonder at what point in our life do we decide that it is not okay to stand outside in the rain? As a almost 40 year old I have to tell you that it is still fun to play in the rain! Next time it starts to rain go outside and enjoy it. Also, forget the rain coat, its more fun without one.

Hope you are having a great summer and we look forward to seeing you soon at Camp Kanata.

Your Camp Director,

Dave

Keys to a successful camp = Keys to a successful life

Summer is for being outside- running, jumping, swinging, skipping, dancing, swimming - you get the idea. Summer is also the time for blogging (it is hard to blog when running, jumping or swimming) and so I sometimes find it hard to sit down at my desk to make time to write about what we have been doing this summer. I thought I would write about some things that make camp special and then maybe you can transfer them into your daily life a little.

• Start everyday with dancing and music When we leave the dining hall every morning we have music playing and there is a great energy to start the day. What a great opportunity every day brings; we should take full advantage to meet new people and try new things.
• Work on skill development At our activities throughout the day our campers get the opportunity to develop lifelong skills and master various activities. Work on something new today. Get better. Master a skill.
• Take time to rest and reflect We always take a rest period at camp! We can change a lot of things but we never change our rest period. It is good for you to sit down everyday and rest or reflect. Don't forget to take time to take care of yourself.
  
• Eat your vegetables We encourage our campers and staff to try everything that is served at a meal. Its a good habit to get into and you never know, you might like it. We need to eat healthier and it starts with our fruits and vegetables.
• Spend time outdoors Take time for yourself or with your family to spend intentional time outdoors with nature. Listen and observe what is going on around you.
• Spend time with positive people Everyday at camp we are surrounded by positive people that love life and enjoy sharing this "positivity" with others. Make sure to find positive friends that build you up and don't drain you of your joy for life.

There are hundreds of other things I could write that are key parts of camp that would make a successful day anywhere but I will save those for another time. Enjoy your day, invest in others and don't forget to smile.

Your Camp Director,

Dave

Change is a good thing...

I began my career at Camp Kanata in 2003 as the Lake Chief and since that first summer I have held the position of associate director, resident camp director and executive director of Camp Kanata. Over the past 7 years I have made some incredible friendships and watched Kanata go through some exciting growing pains as we made staffing changes, facility changes and programmatic changes.

In May of this year I began having conversations with the YMCA of Greater Charlotte for the position of Director of Association Programs. This position has oversight and direction for resident camp, day camp and Y-Guide and Princess programs of the Charlotte YMCA. With a little sadness and much excitement I accepted this position and will begin my new role in Charlotte beginning September 1, 2009.

Okay, enough about me, what I am really excited about is introducing you to the new director of Camp Kanata, Forrest Perry! Forrest began his connection with Camp Kanata as an 11 year old in cabin 10 twenty years ago. He went on to spend 12 summers at Kanata as a camper, staff trainee, staff member and ad-staff member. After leaving Kanata he worked for YMCA's in St. Paul, IN; Chapel Hill, NC and Raleigh, NC. He presently holds the position of Director of Collegiate Programs for the YMCA of the Triangle.

Forrest will spend the rest of the summer getting to know our staff, campers, parents and programs and will begin full time work as the director on Sept. 1, 2009. I could not be more excited about the next leader of Kanata. I love this place and will forever remember my time here, but I know that Forrest and the team at Kanata will make this place better than I ever could.

Please join me in welcoming Forrest (back) to the the Kanata family and we look forward to seeing you this summer.

Your Camp Director,

Dave Bell

Just about halfway there...

Next Wednesday will mark the half-way point of the summer for us out here at Camp Kanata. As Dave posted last time, we've done a lot in a short amount of time. Just today I played soccer, ultimate frisbee, and volleyball with campers and some of my fellow administrative staff members. We did not do very well with soccer (4-0) but we played well in ultimate frisbee and forced a 3rd game with the advanced volleyball class. Needless to say I slept well at rest period!

I've been really impressed with our staff this year. Though we have great counselors every year, this year's group seemed to "get" camp much faster, has taken on new challenges and given new life to some of the things we've always done. It's been rewarding to watch the good stuff unfold and to know that I had a very large part in bringing them together this summer.

"Getting" camp makes me think of a blog post I read by Seth Godin. Seth's blog isn't geared toward camps--he's interested in marketing and ideas--but occasionally I find an insight that helps me articulate something I've been struggling with. This post was about the "fan chasm" and how businesses, organizations, and brands can create an easily accessible and deep experience for their customers. Those of you who understand what Camp is are nodding your heads and saying "Yep, that sounds just like camp." In just a short week our kids are able to tap into a deep well of experiences and friendships that take many people decades to create. Our staff feel it even more after spending 8-10 weeks out here living and working with each other.

So, with the summer almost halfway through, I hope you'll take us up on our invitation to come visit real soon. We're having an alumni campfire Friday, July 24th and I'm hoping to see a lot of familiar and long-missed faces pulling through the gate that evening.

Have a great weekend and we'll see you real soon!

Ryan

How have you been spending your summer?

So far this summer I have:

• listened to "Welcome to the Jungle" by Guns N' Roses 18 times
• eaten 6 hotdogs at Thursday night cookout
• watched 24 separate campfire skits
• sang "bottle pop" three times
• been in the lake zero times
• been in the pool 8 times
• walked approximately 35 miles around camp
• lost in soccer 2 times to teams of campers
• been awake by 6:15 a.m. everyday and not asleep before 11:00 p.m. everyday
• been in a canoe 1 time
• taken 50 pictures
• cheered till I was hoarse 3 times
  
• updated our twitter page about 100 times
• eaten some type of "chicken product" for a meal 14 times
• taken 5 showers (but i was in the pool 8 times which equals clean)
• spent the day with some of my best friends in the entire world (camp staff)
• saluted the American flag at flag raising and lowering 31 times
• drank 112 cups of coffee
  

As you can see it is great to be at Camp Kanata! If I am almost 40 years old and having this much fun imagine how much fun our campers are having!

Hope you are having a great summer and look forward to seeing you at camp soon.

Your Camp Director,

Dave

Using Social Media to Connect to Camp

So this year we have put a great deal of effort into using social media to help connect to participants, parents, alumni and volunteers. We started using Twitter (www.twitter.com/campkanata) this summer as a way to stay connected to parents during the week. It is a micro blogging site that lets us put updates (less than 140 characters) and pictures so people can see and hear what is happening at camp.

Sometimes new technology can be scary to work with, but we looked at it as a great opportunity to use this technology to let parents know what their children are doing at camp. We hope you like the service (its free) and maybe you will become addicted to it like me and start finding other people to follow.

Just so you know we are are having a great time at camp and hope to see you soon.

Your Camp Director,

Dave

If you haven't been here in a while...

We have a few new additions here at camp. Check 'em out!



Full Court Basketball -- With adjustable goals!
















Sand Volleyball!














New Stage on our New Field!



If you haven't been here in a while...come and see us!

Summer 2009 has officially begun!

So we got off to a great start yesterday for the 2009 summer season at Kanata. The first cars started lining up around 11:30 a.m. for a 2:00 p.m. check in. Luckily families were prepared to take part in our first ever "Tailgate Check In". We had live music provided by the "Dancing Elephants", families brought picnic lunches, some grilled out, families were hiking around the lake and playing basketball and volleyball at the new program center near the pool.

I could spend a great amount of time going through every activity, but I think the main thing to know is that we (campers and staff) are having a great time and are so thankful that the summer finally arrived. We will spend the next week making friends, learning new skills, becoming better citizens, singing crazy songs, laughing at skits and getting a chance to meet "Captain KP" in the dining hall. Don't worry about us and we will see you on Saturday!

Your Camp Director,

Dave

The Tradition Continues

Greetings once again from the best place on earth!

Our week of staff training is coming to a close and it will be nice to relax a bit and rest up before the staff come back and the kids arrive on Sunday. This week I've had the pleasure of watching the staff get to know one another and connect to form the Spartan, Daisy, Ranger, Butterfly, Knight and Angel units. I've gotten to meet and get to know counselors from Australia, England, New Zealand, South Africa, Israel and Ethiopia. I've been able to reconnect with old friends and create new friendships as the weeks gone on.

Staff week would have been much less without the wonderful contributions of Jim Cain. His opening games and exercises and the challenges he gave our staff will make a lasting impression on this summer and many summers to come. If you get to play "WAH!" this summer you have Jim to thank.

As I was getting ready to leave today, I happened to check my Facebook messages and this is what I found:

Ryan-

Every time I read your status and see it's about camp/staff week I get a knot in my stomach. Those are the most precious days and I hope you bask and soak in them for every second they last. I just told Abby Hoover [one of our staff this summer] that every year when the girls get together for a Daisy Reunion we all agree camp days are the most golden of our memories. Through graduations, boyfriends, marriages and children and all of the things that make life grand, camp is definitely at the top. So when it's hot and the kids are whiny and you're too tired because you chose to chat with friends instead of go to sleep, just remember: These days are golden and nothing will ever replace them in your heart. Even the sticky, pouty days are better than most when you're in the real world.

I hope you have the most delightful summer ever. I hope staff week and all of the following weeks flow smooth like a river. And remember, there are decades of people who love you and wish they could be out there with you. Good Luck and do your best everyday!!

Much, much love,
Rikki

It was an honor to respond to Rikki, who I remember as a counselor and head female counselor from my days as a camper. When I'm in the moment and running around trying to make sure that trainings and work detail are going well, it's easy to forget the legacy and tradition I get to carry on as a member of the Kanata staff team. As I told Rikki in my response, I am truly honored to continue the tradition this summer.

As I begin my 15th summer here at Kanata I wish you the best. May you have time to relax, reconnect with old friends and make some new ones. May you have time to slow down and enjoy the heat by the lake or the pool. May you be refreshed and renewed over the weeks to come. I hope that you get a chance to visit this summer. There's always space in the dining hall!

See you real soon!

Much, much love,

Ryan

Staff Week @ Camp Kanata

So I have been part of the Kanata staff since 2003 and during this time I have gone through 7 staff weeks. It is very similar every year, the old staff show up on day one of staff training and they are hugging anyone in sight and yelling about how excited they are to be back at camp. The new staff walk in not exactly sure of what they have signed up for, but are eager to "fit in" and be part of what seems like a great place to work.

What is magical about staff week at Kanata, and I'm sure at similar camps across the country, is that we are able to transfer the culture of camp in only one weeks time. We cover daily schedule, first aid, songs, emergency action plans, cheers, discipline, age group characteristics, activity time, devotions, but the most important thing we cover during staff week is Kanata culture. We talk on a daily basis about what it means to be part of camp, how the most important thing we deliver at camp is friendship building. We talk about how we connect with the parents on check in day and make sure that we connect with that camper and then make a point to teaching him or her how to make friends with someone else in the cabin.

I know that corporations and businesses across the country pay large sums of money for consultants to come in and tell them how to fix the culture, but all they need to do is spend one week at Kanata staff week. They would then understand what it means to dig down to what is the most important thing at camp (the people) and then spend as much time as possible focusing on that.

We hire great people, but then we go the extra mile to invest in them and give them the tools necessary to deliver the best camp experience for the child, the family and the fellow staff members. We are excited that the campers will arrive on Sunday and can't wait to start sharing our "Kanata culture" with the campers and their families!

See you this summer.

Your Camp Director,

Dave

Everything I Learned In Life, I Learned At Summer Camp...

My life has changed pretty drastically in the past couple of weeks. I had to pack up and move to Kanata, I now eat the majority of my meals in the dining hall, and I have spent the past week spending the majority of each day with the Kanata Ad Staff. For most people, that would be a lot of changes to get used to in such a small span of time. However, for me, all of these changes just mean that I am that much closer to the beginning of summer at Camp. I am so excited for campers to arrive and for the fun to begin!

I recently found this article and I thought it was appropriate. I think the lines that are the most appropriate are, "...Camp people find comfort in knowing that throughout the whole year, no matter what goes wrong, everything will be ok once you get to camp. Camp people know that when you look your worst, it means you've done your best. But above all, camp people know that regardless if you've spent one summer at camp or fifty, a part of you will be changed forever." I hope for those of you that consider yourself "camp people," or for those of you that will soon be joining me at Camp Kanata, that rings just as true for you as it does for me.

I hope you enjoy the rest of the article and I can't wait to share my summer with you! I hope to see you all at Camp this summer!

Everything I Learned in Life, I Learned From Camp

by Shira Y. Lahav

I've done the math. So far, over the course of my life I have spent 3,150 days in a classroom learning. I've dissected frogs, read Shakespeare, memorized the first five lines in the constitution, and studied my times tables. But if you ask me what I've really learned from my twenty years of life so far, I'd answer you with the following: ketchup could be classified as its own food group, Kings is as competitive a sport as football, and "rock-paper-scissors" is the greatest form of diplomatic resolution.

This coming summer will be my eighteenth "camp" summer. While most of my friends will be working at the mall, taking stubs at the local movie theater, or selling hot dogs at the beach, I will find myself working eleven, twelve, or sometimes thirteen-hour days making sure that "Carnival Day" is run without a glitch, "Color-War" is as memorable for the winning team as it is for the team that comes in last, and that the "Bus Decorating" contest is judged fairly.

The only thing more amazing than how much of an impact camp has had on my life, is that it took me eighteen years to figure that out! It was not until my second summer as a counselor that my director made me realize that I wanted to turn my thirty-nine-day summer experiences into a life long career. But why would I want it any other way? I've been in and seen Broadway comparable productions of Grease and Peter Pan, learned how to hit homeruns like Babe Ruth, and soared through the woods like Tarzan. I've performed as many songs as the Beatles in front of hundreds of people, learned to build a fire in the pouring rain, and made enough lanyard key-chains to get myself into the Guinness Book of World Records. Not too many people I know have accomplished as much in their lifetimes as I have in eighteen summers.

As marvelous as I consider my accomplishments to be, there's one problem with it all. Trying to explain your camp life to an "outsider" is harder than trying to reason with a two-year-old. The truth is people who never went to summer camp simply cannot appreciate how grand it really is. There are some people for whom camp becomes a life-line. It gets into their blood, seeps into their cells, and refuses to leave. These people get misty-eyed whenever they smell campfire smoke in the air. They take a certain pride in their voices being hoarse and in not having showered for four days. Ketchup stains on T-shirts are considered battle scars, instead of just dirt.

Camp people know that being able to drink bug juice without getting a bright red mustache is a right of passage. No matter how many years have passed, a camp person can still remember the exact words the camp director said to them when they were chosen to lead a Color War team. Camp people love construction paper and puff paint, lanyard, and scrap books. To a camp person, Homerun Derby, Four Square, and Kings are not games, they're a way of life. Camp people get hungry, not for lavish meals, but for under-cooked hamburgers and burnt hotdogs cooked over a ten-year-old charcoal grill in the pouring rain. In the winter, they dream not of a sunny beach and the scent of coconut oil, but of chilly July mornings with dew drained grass. Camp people know all the words to "The Littlest Worm" and know that the worm will always wind up in the same person's bed. Camp people have back-up plans for rainy days, even though it never rains. Camp people are comforted by the sound of a child running the bases, the sight of a child climbing the rock-wall, and the smell of the locker rooms.

Camp people understand that school is ten months out of the year in order to make the two months spent at camp more special. Camp people know that hitting a bull's-eye in archery is properly done in silence but must be while surrounded with a group of friends. Camp people usually can't remember what they're laughing about anymore by the time they finally stop. Camp people know that life is just easier when you shout, "YES!!! I made a mistake!" Camp people know the contentment of everyone in sight wearing the same staff shirt. Camp people find comfort in knowing that throughout the whole year, no matter what goes wrong, everything will be ok once you get to camp. Camp people know that when you look your worst, it means you've done your best. But above all, camp people know that regardless if you've spent one summer at camp or fifty, a part of you will be changed forever.

Eighteen months stand between me graduating and hopefully working at a camp full time. Who knows how many more term papers, finals, and presentations I have ahead of me. I can't tell you how many more "all-nighters" I'll have to pull or how many more cups of coffee I'll buy at the library. But, I know this: twenty years from now when I am a camp director, my recollection of Freud's impact on psychopathology will be minimal to say the least, and I probably won't be able to recite the first five lines of the constitution, but if you ask me why I return to camp, summer after summer, year after year, I'll simply smile and say, "Everything I learned in life, I learned from camp!"

Shira Y. Lahav is the special events coordinator at JCC MetroWest Camp Deeny Riback and has spent every summer since she was two years old at day camps, resident camps, and teen travel programs.

Originally published in the 2006 July/August issue of Camping Magazine.

Family Camp rocks at Camp Kanata

So this past weekend I had the great privilege to spend the weekend at Camp Kanata. I had just come off of a week long tent camping trip with my wife on the Outerbanks of North Carolina, but I was excited about meeting some great families.

We assigned a "Kanata Host" to every family so they would have someone to eat dinner with, ask questions and just have a friendly face around if they ever needed some ideas on what to do next. On the first night at dinner I happened to sit down with the McGee family. I got to meet John (dad), Taylor (8 year old Kanata camper) and Cole (5 year old first timer). It was great to talk with them about what they wanted to do over the course of the weekend and I realized quickly they would not be getting much sleep the first night.

Over the course of the weekend I got to observe families trying out the "Giant Swing" for the first time, parents getting in a canoe with their child, kids hitting a bullseye at archery, a large group taking a hike around the lake and even time for making animal tracks on the dining hall porch.

At the closing lunch I was sitting across from Cole McGee (age 5) and as we were sitting there he looked up at his dad and said, "Dad, I don't ever want to leave Camp Kanata!" I couldn't ask for a better endorsement of a camp experience. We are having family camp again next year and you and your family need to be here with us. What a great way to spend a weekend!

See you this summer.

Your Camp Director,

Dave

Third Place...

My wife and I were in the Five Points section of Raleigh last week eating dinner at Lilly's Pizza when she noticed the place beside us was called Third Place. I commented that it was a good name for a restaurant because many people are looking for that third place to find connections in their life. For most people it goes something like this: home, work, church or home, work, civic club or home, work, school.

I began to think about how Kanata is a "third place" for many children in the area. They have their home, they go to school, but that important third place of connection is Camp Kanata. Even though I work at Kanata year round there is something special about the summer season at Kanata. I make hundreds of new friends every year, whether it is campers or staff members and I also get the opportunity to reconnect with old friends from the past. I look forward to check in day so I can greet the parents and feel the energy as the campers are hurrying to get the first bunk in the cabin.

I know that the activities that we do at camp are important and fun, but the most important thing that takes place are the positive relationships that the campers build. I am glad that since 1954 Camp Kanata has been a positive place for kids - that "Third Place" of connection in their life.

We look forward to seeing you this summer at Camp Kanata.

Your Camp Director,

Dave

2009 Christian Leadership Conference

This weekend Kanata hosts the YMCA of the Triangle Area's annual Christian Leadership Conference (CLC). Over 260 YMCA staffers--counselors, leadership staff, directors--will arrive Friday evening for a weekend of learning and fun as we gear up for summer programs throughout the Triangle and the state. Workshops on devotions, health and well-being, games, creating "green" programs, and leadership will help to mentally prepare us for the summer while a messy activity Saturday will prepare us for the playful side of summer we all love. CLC happens in large part because of support from the C.J., Carrie D. and R. Howard Walker Foundation (www.christianleadershipconf.org) which provides materials and financial support to keep CLC affordable for programs and camps of all sizes.

I've had the opportunity to be on the planning committee for this conference for the past two years and it's great to be a part of something larger than myself. I think what I'm most excited about is the opportunity for fellow YMCA staff members to spend a weekend at Kanata. I'm excited that they will have the opportunity to relax, catch up with old friends and make new ones and I hope that our beautiful site gives them a chance to reflect before the hustle and bustle of the Summer takes over.

If you'll be out here this weekend for CLC make sure to stop by and say hello to me or anyone else on the Kanata team. If you're not lucky enough to be here this weekend, we look forward to seeing you soon! Summer's almost here and we can't wait for opening day!

See you soon!

Ryan Eves
Assistant Director

"Camp Kanata might be the best place ever"

That is a quote from a 7 year old camper of ours and I don't think I could have paid a marketing team to come up with a better slogan. I am a little partial to Kanata, but I am being honest when I say we do some cool things out here. Many people know that we do summer camp (Day and Overnight), but you might not know things we do outside of the traditional summer break.

It is a big step for a camper to come here and stay an entire week with us, especially if they aren't used to being away from home for that long. That is why we started doing weekend Mini-Camps. The campers arrive on Friday evening, stay all day Saturday and then leave on Sunday around lunch. Campers get a great taste of the camp experience without staying here all week. They get to try out the activities, the food, the bunks and the counselors.

Another cool thing we do is Family Camp. What better thing to do at camp then to come with your whole family! Canoeing with mom, the climbing tower with dad, archery with your sister, a nature hike around the lake with your brother and then a great evening campfire with the whole family. Our Family Camp is a weekend experience so you can leave work on Friday and be at Kanata for dinner and then spend the entire weekend experiencing the slowed down pace of Camp Kanata.

If you are ever looking for a great experience for you, your child or your family be sure to check out www.campkanata.org

Your Camp Director,

Dave

Kanata Alumni Are Everywhere!!

This past weekend my wife and I traveled to Bath, NC to attend a friends wedding. The day before the wedding the groom had a "boating with the boys" event and several men who were part of the wedding went for an afternoon of boating on the Pamlico River. There were a few boats out there in our group and after we dropped anchor one of the men noticed my Kanata t-shirt that I was wearing. He asked what my connection was and then went on to explain how his children went to camp many years ago and they had the best time. It was great to get a chance to talk with this man who has grown children, yet he still recognized the good work that takes place at Kanata every summer. It was a huge part of his childrens lives and he thanked me for the work that we do. At the rehearsal dinner the night before the wedding a couple of people came up to me and asked if I was "Mr. Kanata". I said yes and they went on to explain how they had been campers at Kanata over 20 years ago. I asked them about their counselors, their cabin numbers and their favorite activities. It was great to hear that after 20+ years these ladies still had fond memories of Camp Kanata and the impact it had on their lives.

As my wife and I were driving home we started talking about the Kanata alumni we had met that weekend. Out of the 120 people who were at the wedding I talked to at least 10 people who had gone to camp as campers or were parents of campers. I always look for opportunities to wear my Kanata clothing because you never know who you will run into that has their own Kanata story. I am thankful I get to work at a place that has such a positive impact on people and I love to hear people tell their Kanata story. Next time you are here please take the time to share your story with us. What was your first cabin? Your favorite activity? Your favorite counselor? What did you learn at camp that you still use today? Tell us in person or send it to us in an email. We look forward to hearing from you soon.

Your Camp Director,

Dave

We depend on you.

Did you know...


We have over 100 acres of property, over 25 buildings (most of which are over 50 years old), two lakes and miles of trails - all of which are maintained by one full-time and 2 part-time staff members! Not only do they manage the "upkeep" of each building - they are charged with improving all of our facilities! This is on top of prepping for and cleaning up after each group.
How do they do it? Volunteers.

In the past year, volunteers have contribute nearly 3000 hours of volunteer work! That is the equivalent of one staff person working 40hrs/week for 1.3 years!

We depend on volunteers.

Maybe you're part of a group that is looking to be giving back to the community. Maybe you're part of a group that should start giving back to the community. Maybe you have a skill that may help us at camp.

However you think you may like to get involved - consider this your invitation. We have projects for all different sizes and types of groups. We have projects that are simple and projects that are technical.

We want you to be part of our team.

All you have to do is let me know when you'd like to come, how many people you will be bringing and how long you will be here. We will take care of everything else.

I'm looking forward to seeing you at camp.

Zach Friesen
zach.friesen@ymcatriangle.org

Volunteer Day at Kanata

This past Saturday we had our annual Kanata volunteer day. I learned a couple of lessons after the day that I will share with you. First, May is a busy month for people and maybe not the best time to have a volunteer day. Second, a small group of people can get a lot done in a short amount of time.

We had 30 volunteers with us this past weekend and our Operations Director, Zach Friesen, had everything ready so when it was time to start we were ready to go! This group was able to finish some painting on the outside of the dining hall, paint the pump house and clear some underbrush near the day camp shelter and Pine Knoll Lodge (the Hilton). I think Zach sums it up best when he says "that we cannot survive without volunteers". That group of 30 people who worked for 4 hours was able to complete 120 total hours of work. It would have taken a full time staff member working 40 hours a week for 3 weeks straight to get the same amount of work done.

If you or a group you are a part of is interested in doing a service project at Kanata please give us a call (919.556.2661). It will feel good for you to give back and it will make a huge difference here at camp.

Look forward to seeing you this summer.

Your Camp Director,

Dave

I am always fascinated by the number of people that I come in contact with that have gone to Kanata as a child, or that have parents that attended Kanata. I love the fact that one little place can unite so many people. I got to thinking about camp and I began to wonder how many recognizable people could be traced back to having their beginnings at a summer camp or even at Camp Kanata. I stumbled across some of these quotes, taken from various people speaking about their own personal experiences at camps or their reason for believing in the camping experience. I am glad that I have the opportunity to share these with all of you!

Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton
"I think in many ways the camping experience gives children the chance to be children, to enjoy a time that really uses their minds and their bodies, develops their spirits, exposes them in a safe environment to other people, lets them learn about themselves. And that is important because I think it really relates directly to the kind of citizens and leaders we will have in the future."
________________________________________

Joan Lunden
Television anchor and author
"In my seven years at camp, I have watched children grow and develop self-confidence and leadership skills and a willingness to explore and challenge themselves. Camp creates a nurturing environment that allows children to gain important “life experiences.” They keep coming back because of the friendships they make, the staff becomes a surrogate family to them, and because it’s a safe environment that fosters healthy values."
________________________________________

Tucker Carlson
Journalist and author
"Our culture doesn’t value as much as it should giving children the space to play. A child’s imagination and creativity is really enhanced at camp. Another important message from camp is that you really grow by giving. That’s one of the most valuable things about camp—respect for others."
________________________________________

Colin Powell
Former Secretary of State General, Founding Chair of America's Promise – The Alliance for Youth
"I want to congratulate all of the professionals of the American Camping Association for your commitment to what I am trying to do with my organization America's Promise – The Alliance for Youth . . . . I admire what you do. . . one of the best alliances, one of the most successful alliances we've created so far is the alliance between America's Promise and the American Camping Association. Camping is a great opportunity for young people. It teaches them a little about themselves. It teaches them how to get along with other people – both other young people as well as adults. It teaches them self-reliance. It gets them away from a neighborhood or situation that may exist in their neighborhoods that isn't healthy. It preserves their integrity. It allows them to avoid the pathologies of drugs and crime and violence and terrible things they might see in their communities.'
_________________________________________

Francis Ford Coppola
Film Director
"If I have to be remembered for something, I want it remembered that I really liked children and was a good camp counselor."


I can't wait to see you this summer!

Jen Baldinelli
Program Director
jennifer.baldinelli@campkanata.org

I was watching the Today Show this morning...

I don't normally watch the Today show when I wake up in the morning. My usual routine involves waking up (before my wife), making coffee (www.larrysbeans.com) and watching Sportscenter (www.espn.com) in the living room. My wife usually has the Today show on in the morning as she gets ready for work and this morning I happened to be in the room when they were doing a piece on summer opportunities that would take the place of camp. Now I realize that not everyone is going to send their child to camp, but summer camp is a very valuable experience for a child, and I think many people don't fully understand all that children gain during that experience.

Every day at camp I get to see children learning to be responsible by cleaning up their area of the cabin, by making their bed and by taking care of their chores for the day. I get to see campers being respectful of the world around them and learning to be better stewards of their environment. At camp Earth Day is not just one day a year: it is every single day. During each summer camp session, I get to observe children from different socio-economic, religious and racial backgrounds live together and become best friends. I get to see children work out their differences in a respectful and caring way. At camp, children have the opportunity to learn all of these skills, in the midst of trying new activities, making new friends, and playing outdoors. Obviously, camp is not the only environment in which children can learn these skills, but the summer camp experience is a great part of a child's development.

At the end of the Today show segment I understood that there are other things to do outside of summer camp, but I was disappointed that they reduced summer camp to a bunch of random activities. Camp is more than activities. It is an opportunity for a child to grow into a great citizen of this world and to become all they were meant to be. Be sure to give your child the gift of a life changing event...send them to camp this summer.

Your Camp Director,

Dave

Scholarship Update

Each fall Camp Kanata volunteers raise money to send kids to camp the following summer. These kids would otherwise be unable to afford a camp experience. Last fall sixteen volunteers plus staff raised approximately $95,000. Because of that, this summer about 41 day campers and 164 overnight campers are receiving a scholarship to come to Kanata. That is fantastic!

Currently there are about 20 kids on a Camp Kanata wait list for scholarship because all the money for 2009 has been awarded and the list will get longer.

How can you help send more scholarship kids to Kanata?

• If you have already made a donation, thank you so much! Could you increase your gift? If not, we understand.


• If you have not already made a donation, please consider doing so.


• If you received a scholarship and you now find that you are better able to afford camp, please consider returning part of your scholarship.


• Consider volunteering in this fall's scholarship campaign to raise money.


• Tell everyone you can about Kanata and its scholarship campaign to raise awareness, recuit campaign volunteers, and increase giving to the scholarship campaign.

Thank you for helping Kanata help kids!

Contact Eva Hobson at 919-556-2661 or eva.hobson@campkanata.org for more information.

Eva Hobson
Director of Administration

The Positive Impact of Camp Kanata

I received a phone call the other day from a parent of camper. She shared a great story of the positive impact that Kanata has had on her daughters life. I asked her to write this story down so I could share with others. Below you will find her words.

Dear Dave,

I wanted to share a recent conversation I had with my 17-year-old daughter Alex this past weekend.  Alex has been a camper with you since the 5th grade and last year participated in your CILT program.  I have always known how much she loved and cherished her time at Kanata but never fully understood the impact it has had on her life until a few days ago.

We were actually away on a college visit and while at dinner the conversation turned reflective.  I was trying to figure out where her head was at as far as living away from home all the while attempting to et some reassurance that I had done a good job as her Mom in preparing her for what lies ahead.  That's when it happened.  She looked at me straight in the eye and said "Mom, do you know what was the best thing you ever did for me?  I mean the greatest gift you ever gave me?"  I thought about it for a moment, scanning my memory banks for scooters and cameras, earrings and purses and then very honestly said, "no".  She went on to say, "sending me to Camp Kanata."  I was dumbfounded.  I looked at her quietly and said "Kanata?"  She said, "yes Mom, Camp Kanata was where I found my voice and each year that I return it teaches me about the kind of person I want to be."  I sat there for a moment picturing the child I had sent off to Kanata all those years ago and then slowly drifting back to the here and now;  looking at the young woman before me just a year away from leaving for college.  I had no way of knowing when I filled out the application and dropped her off the first time that the investment I made back then would pay such huge dividends today.

I just want to say thanks Camp Kanata.  You share this great accomplishment in raising a great kid with us and I now fully understand what a vital and integral part the glorious days of summer camp have played.  I don't know any of the staff personally but collectively I see what you accomplish each season through the eyes of my daughter.  I will never be able to express my gratitude enough and pray that you will be allowed to continue this work of molding and nurturing young lives for many years to come.  

With sincere thanks,

Teresa Franzen

I am lucky to be able to do the work I do and see the positive impact of camp everyday. Thank you for allowing Kanata to be part of your life and we look forward to delivering this positive legacy for many years to come.

Your Camp Director,

Dave

Why are you interested in coming back to camp this summer?

It's late April at Camp Kanata and that means we're getting incredibly close to opening day. Excitement is building every day and the bright green leaves and white dogwood flowers are doing their part to spruce up Camp after a long winter. These are the days when I start to imagine over 200 campers and 70 staff running all over the place. As Dave mentioned in an earlier post, that's when Camp feels right.

This weekend we've had two groups out here at camp: a Kiwanis Builders Club retreat and St. Luke Catholic church's high school youth group. It's nice to hear cheers and voices echoing through the trees and to see lights on in the camp buildings. In just a few weeks we'll have all the staff out here getting ready and Camp will be back to business as usual.

I also had the opportunity to talk with a Kanata couple who took some engagement pictures out here at camp. Though they were both counselors here a while ago, they still feel a strong connection to this place and I can definitely relate to that. Throughout all the interviews I've done over the past few months, it's great to hear our returning staff answer the question "Why are you interested in coming back this summer?" Hearing about the connections they've made over the summers and the counselors who inspired them reminds me that I'm hiring the next generation of role models for Kanata.

Summer is coming quick and I am looking forward to introducing our staff--new and old--to everyone who drives through our gate.

Take care and we'll see you soon!

Ryan

Finding things that connect us

I stopped at the Starbucks on Creedmor Rd. the other day in Raleigh to get my usual coffee beverage, venti Pike Place. It cost $2.05 and whenever I stop at Starbucks that is what I get, with a little room left for cream. As I was standing in line this morning I talked with the person in front of me about what they purchased (something way more technical than my order) which spurred a conversation with the person behind about their purchase, which quickly spread to a headline on the local newspaper which I was holding.

After I left Starbucks I was taking part in a panel discussion on connecting and building relationships in the community. As I was thinking about connecting I thought about my conversations at Starbucks. Everyone at Starbucks had something in common with me:  we all drink coffee. It is easy to start up a conversation about favorite drinks, do you always get the same drink, is it a daily ritual, cold or hot beverages...you get the idea. As I think about how we connect with people it usually begins with asking questions to find out what it is that binds us together.

When a camper is dropped off on Sunday at our overnight camp or on a Monday morning at our day camp our staff jump in with questions that help connect them to the camper and then connect that camper to other campers. "What grade are you in?" "Fourth grade! Wow, I was in fourth grade once! " "Have you met Brian over here? He is in fourth grade too", "What are your favorite things to do after school?" "I love riding a skateboard too!"

This past weekend I was in Washington, NC (2 hours east of Raleigh) and I was doing a 3 day bicycling tour. At the first aid station at Goose Creek State Park I started talking to the volunteer who was handing out water and snacks. After 4 questions I was able to find out that he was a former camper at Kanata in the late 80's. Who would have thought that I would drive 2 hours across the state and then ride 15 miles to an aid station at a state park to find a Kanata camper? It all happened because I was looking for an opportunity to connect. Take the opportunity today to talk with the people around you that normally wouldn't. Ask questions, engage others and show you care. It's the Kanata way.

See you this summer.

Your Camp Director,

Dave

So I went for a couple of bike rides this weekend

I have a couple of hobbies; my wife would tell you that I have too many, but I like keeping busy. One of my hobbies is riding my bike. I started riding a bike as a child and I still remember the bike I learned on and how my dad would run behind me holding on the seat until I sped off under my own balance and power. That was about 34 years ago and the skill I learned back then I still use today.

This past weekend I went on a couple of rides. On Saturday I rode a 30 mile loop around Falls Lake in northern Wake County by myself. It was a great ride, with great weather, and I burned a lot of energy. On Sunday I went for another ride, but this time with some friends. We rode 50 miles through Chatham County and Wake County. We spent the day pushing each other, racing each other, stopping at off the beaten path gas stations to purchase moon pies (great energy food) and talking about an upcoming biking trip we are taking.

As I look back on my rides this weekend a few things jump out at me. First, my ride on Sunday was more enjoyable because I was with friends. I can definitely jump on my bike any time I want, but the journey is more fun when taken with others. Second, the skill I learned as a child, riding my bike, I still use to this very day and will probably use for the next 20 or 30 years.

These lessons from my rides draw some comparisons to camp. Kanata is a great place, but it is much better with friends. If you came to camp now it would seem empty, but this summer when there are 400 other campers and 100 staff members out here, who are friends, it is the greatest place in the world. Also, the skills you learn at camp will be things you use for the rest of your life. Whether it is how to paddle a canoe, learning to swim, how to make your bed or how to identify poison ivy (very important) these skills will have a lifetime of impact.

So I think what I am trying to say is, life is better enjoyed with friends and the things you learn as a child will be part of you for the rest of your life. We look forward to providing a place to make friends and learn new skills and we hope you take advantage of this opportunity.

See you this summer!

Your Camp Director,

Dave

Being part of a community

I love being part of my community!  When my wife and I were looking for houses a couple of years ago we looked in established neighborhoods.  We wanted to feel part of something bigger than ourselves.  We wanted to wave at our neighbors when we got home in the afternoon, we wanted to sit on our back deck and talk to people as they walked their pets at night, we wanted sidewalks with kids playing on them and we wanted to know that we belonged somewhere.  

Every day at camp we teach our staff and campers how to live in a healthy community.  We teach them to be responsible for the world around them and to be respectful of others.  We teach them to deal honestly with everyone they come in contact with and to have a caring attitude toward others.  We believe if we can live the right way at camp there is no reason we cannot live that way when we leave camp.

People look for community in a number of places.  It might be your church, the place you work, your neighborhood pool in the summer or a restaurant you frequent.  For whatever reason people usually like being connected to something outside of themselves.  Camp Kanata is no different.  We are part of a community also, the town of Wake Forest.  We are active in the Chamber of Commerce, we have a float in the Christmas Parade, we support community events and we invite business leaders from Wake Forest to camp every summer to take part in an evening at Kanata.  We like being connected to something bigger than us.  This year the town of Wake Forest is celebrating its 100th anniversary and we are proud that we have been a part of this community for 55 of those 100 years.  

Congratulations Wake Forest on your first 100 years.  Kanata is honored to be part of your community.

See you this summer!

Your Camp Director,

Dave

Little things make a big difference

This past weekend I was installing new rails on my backyard deck and during the course of the construction I got several splinters. I got most of them out except for one very tiny splinter that I am barely able to see which found its way into my left index finger. You would think that something so small would not have the impact on my life that this splinter has, but its arrival has changed how I do most things. Let me begin by saying that I am left handed and so the splinter is disrupting how I write, how I brush my teeth, how I hold my coffee cup, how I drive...you get the idea.

As I was anguishing over my splinter and the impact this small thing has on my life I started thinking of the impact of camp on the life of a camper and staff member. We tend to think of camp as a small thing. You might only come for one week a summer, but during that time you are taught the character traits of honesty, respect, caring and responsibility. These might be small things, but as you learn them and implement them in your life they make a huge difference in everything you do...sort of like my splinter.

Now I am not saying that camp is annoying like a splinter, can lead to infection like a splinter or that you will need to seek medical attention to remove it from your system like a splinter. I am saying that a small thing like camp can change the way you do things. Camp teaches us to be respectful of all people no matter what their background is and you end up living that same principle when you go home. Because camp teaches us to be honest and play by the rules you continue to be honest and play by the rules in your everyday life. Because camp teaches us to be caring we show concern for others and want to make a positive impact on their lives. Because camp teaches us to be responsible we became better stewards of the world around us.

So next time you think that camp is not that big of a deal, think of my splinter and the impact a small thing has on our everyday lives. Camp is a small thing that makes a big difference.

See you this summer!

Your Camp Director,


Dave

A message from Jen Baldinelli, Program Director at Camp Kanata

Much like Dave, I recently stumbled across an article that struck me. This article was an excerpt from the March American Camp Association (ACA) E-News. The article was entitled "What the World Could Learn from Summer Camp." I think that the whole article can be best summed up with the last phrase, "Anyone who has worked at a camp will agree that you won't understand camp without trying it. Without trying it I wouldn't have learned as much as I have." I hope that all of you will have had the opportunity to try camp this summer, and as a result, learn from the great experience. I look forward to seeing you all this summer!

What the World Could Learn From
Summer Camp
By Matthew Carroll

In the summer of 2008, I decided to work as a counselor at a traditional American summer camp in upstate New York. This trip to New York started out as a journey of procrastination and meditation, but quickly turned into a journey of discovery. I'd finished University only one week before and had no idea what my future would hold; I thought that a couple of months working in a camp would assist me in my pursuit of avoiding the real world. It was exactly this mission that made me realize something — camp was not the real world.

It first hit me on the first day of camp when everyone was dressed the same — white T-shirt, shorts, sneakers, or flip flops. Kids were dressed the same as counselors; counselors were dressed the same as kitchen staff; and office staff were dressed the same as the head counselors. You couldn't distinguish the kids whose parents had saved up for months to send their kids to camp from those who had spent the spare change of a week's pay.

Everyone here was truly equal. While the campers and American counselors recited the Pledge of Allegiance on the opening day, the international staff looked on in silence. Different faiths and different cultures were respected and tolerated. Coming from Northern Ireland this was not only a novelty but something that impressed me. People of all faiths were observing Jewish culture with respect, while back home in Northern Ireland Christians struggle to tolerate the cultures of other Christians.

Camp was about the basics. Mobile phones were banned; Internet access was limited — even electric fans were banned (as kids didn't have their own personal fans in the interest of fairness, counselors couldn't either). A strong emphasis was put on keeping camp tidy. If you saw litter on the ground, you picked it up and put it in the bin. Kids were banned from watching television except for special "movie nights." The surprising thing was that the kids didn't seem to miss it. Bringing down the veil of technology led to more open conversation between friends, better networking, and unlikely friendships.

During rest periods, I was amazed to see the main campus was absolutely heaving with games of stickball, basketball, tennis, or catch. Older kids played with younger kids; brothers played together; twenty-one-year-olds challenged eight-year-olds to games of chess . . . and lost. Kids were able to play outside in a safe environment the way they used to. Today, with so many concerns about crime, it's very hard for parents to let their kids go outside to play after breakfast and for them to return after dinner. But, at camp kids are safe.

Everybody knows and trusts each other. At camp there are no locks on the doors. Kids and counselors leave iPods®, PSPs, books, and toys in their empty bunks all day and know those things will still be there, exactly where they were left.

It is this sense of community that made me fall in love with camp. At camp, you eat breakfast, lunch, and dinner together in your division, otherwise known as your family for two months. Camp meal times are a place for conversation, joking around, dares, games, and occasionally songs. Campers and staff feel completely relaxed, and there is no shame in doing embarrassing things for other people's entertainment.

So what can the world learn from camp? In short, to let kids be kids. We should be sending children to camp, allowing kids to get the exercise and the fresh air that is so vital to growing up. Camp allows children to spend time with their friends and develop the social skills that are so vital, instead of sitting inside in front of a television set. Adults can also learn that work doesn't have to be work, it can also be fun. Camp taught me that even though modern technology has opened up so many opportunities for us it can also trap us.

Anyone who has worked at a camp will agree that you won't understand camp without trying it. Without trying it I wouldn't have learned as much as I have.


Matthew Carroll is twenty-three-years-old and is originally from Coleraine, Northern Ireland. He is a graduate of Queen's University Belfast with a degree in French and German. He has previously worked and studied in France, Germany, and the USA. He most recently worked as a division leader at Camp Scatico in Elizaville, New York.

Camp is not just fun...your child needs it!

I was thinking about the positive impact that Kanata has on thousands of children every summer, and I wanted to share some of those stories with you when I came across this great article from the American Camp Association (www.acacamps.org) . Camp is not just a fun place for your child to spend some time every once in a while, it gives your child necessary tools for their development. Enjoy this article on "5 Reasons Your Child Needs Camp":

Five Reasons Your Child Needs Camp

There's no doubt that summer camp is fun. Kids get to sing silly songs, play funny games, swim in lakes, and tell spooky stories around a campfire. This is the image of camp that has been captured and memorialized in films, books, and television programs for the past fifty years. But there's much more to camp than just a good time. In addition to fun, parents should be aware of these five reasons their child needs camp.

1. Camp forever changes your child… for the better – American Camp Association® (ACA) research has confirmed that camps build skills necessary to prepare campers to assume roles as successful adults. Campers said that camp helped them make new friends (96%), get to know kids who are different from them (93%), feel good about themselves (92%), and try things they were afraid to do at first (74%).

2. Camp teaches your child to "move it, move it" – Camp provides children the opportunity to try new things and participate in human powered activities. According to surveys by both the Kaiser Family Foundation and the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, an American child is six times more likely to play a videogame on any given day than to ride a bike. An estimated 22 million of the world's children under the age of five are already considered obese. According to research conducted by ACA, 63 percent of children who learn new activities at camp tend to continue engaging in these activities after they return home. This leads to continued physical exercise that lasts a lifetime.

3. Camp keeps all that hard work from going to waste - Camps understand the critical role they play in helping young people learn and grow. Many offer programs that help reduce summer learning loss, bolster academic enrichment and socialization, provide opportunities for leadership development, and ensure that campers achieve their full potential.

4. Camp allows kids to take a deep breath and feel the nature – Camp is a great way for your child to unplug from the iPod® and plug into the world around them. According to a study by two Cornell University environmental psychologists, being close to nature can help boost a child's attention span. Additionally, a study conducted by the University of Essex in England concluded that nature can help people recover from pre-existing stresses or problems, has an immunizing effect that can protect from future stresses, and helps people to concentrate and think more clearly. In some instances, camp may be the only time a child is in contact with the natural world.

5. Camp is fun – It's true; kids do sing silly songs and play funny games at camp. Children are allowed to play in a safe and nurturing environment, and are allowed to just be kids. Play is a powerful form of learning that contributes mightily to the child's healthy physical, emotional, social, and intellectual development. According to an American Academy of Pediatrics report, creative free play protects a child's emotional development and reduces a child's risk of stress, anxiety, and depression.

We look forward to seeing you this summer at Kanata!

Your Camp Director,

Dave

Camper Scholarships at Camp Kanata

Something very important we offer at Camp Kanata is scholarship money for children whose family would otherwise be unable to afford for them to come to camp. If you or your children have ever been to camp, you know what a huge impact summer camp has on your life forever.

Here are quotes from some of our scholarship campers last year:

Edgar – 11 years old
I learned that it does not matter where you come from, you are at home at Camp Kanata. Camp Kanata is a great place to meet new friends. You can learn a lot about life.

Jessica – 8 years old
There are a lot of bugs at camp. So if you mess with them they will mess with you. I liked the counselors--they are awesome! And sand castle building is really cool. Some people say it's hard but it’s really easy to me! I have made a lot of cool friends. My mom is gonna be so proud of me and you guys too because you kept me safe! I had so much fun. Camp Kanata is the best. I LOVE YOU!

Ryan – 9 years old
I liked the lake and the fun counselors. It’s the best place in the world and everybody is so nice and I think that I will come back again and again because it’s so fun. Thank you Camp Kanata!

Every year we raise money through our We Build People campaign to send kids like these to camp. Please contact us if you can help: give money and/or volunteer to raise money. Thanks for your consideration!

Eva Hobson
Director of Administration
eva.hobson@campkanata.org

Getting more people connected to Kanata

I am sitting in my office this afternoon staring at the whiteboard on my wall which is covered with names. Names of people who were former campers, counselors, parents of campers, board members, friends in the community and vendors who provide services to Kanata. I realize a couple of things. First, we are connected to a great family of volunteers and that makes the work we do at Kanata so rewarding. Secondly, we can accomplish so much more when we enlist the help of others. I couldn't tell you whether or not your name is on my whiteboard, but I can tell you that it should be. We want to have engaged participants at Kanata who do more than just come to camp in the summer. We want you to look at Kanata as a place to give back to your community whether it is through a work day, giving to our scholarship campaign or serving on one of our volunteer committees.

We can't truly measure the positive impact that camp has had on the lives of our campers and staff over the years, but we can say that the character traits of honesty, respect, responsibility and caring that have been taught for years have produced better citizens of our world. We can say that the positive role models that our campers have seen over the years have helped produce thousands of leaders who understand the benefits of giving back and making a difference in another persons life.

Consider giving back this year at Camp Kanata. Give of your time, your resources and your energy. Give because it makes a difference in a child's life and because you will see a return on that investment for years to come.

See you this summer!

Your Camp Director,

Dave

As the weather gets warmer...

...we get more and more excited for the summer!

Over the past few months I've been out on the road recruiting new people and talking to old staff who will return for another great summer in just a few months. We've received a lot of applications this year which is making the interview and selection process all the more difficult, especially for the female side of camp! In the end some really great applicants won't make it on to our staff this year. Hard to handle but in the end it will be what's best for camp.

But if you look at the male side of things, it's another story entirely. It's a common problem with all camps that I talk with: Where are the guys? For every male applicant we receive 10 female applicants. It's hard for me to understand since I've been at camp for so long and the thought of leaving never stayed in my head for long. I've been fortunate enough to make a living out of camp but we lose great male staff every year to sports, internships and the "real world" (which I don't think really exists at this point). That means when I receive a male application it's time for a jig. Thankfully we receive enough male applicants that we can still hold them to a high standard. Not everyone makes it onto the Kanata staff team!

We're always looking for new perspectives here at camp. If you think you have some insight into how we can recruit and retain our male staff more effectively please let me know. Drop me a line at ryan.eves@campkanata.org.

That's all from me for this month. See you real soon!

Ryan Eves
Assistant Camp Director

Could it have rained any more???

I was checking the local weather and they (the experts) claim that we have had over 3 inches of rain since Friday, but if you asked our campers and staff who survived the "Wettest Mini-Camp of All-Time" they would swear it was at least a foot of rain. Never fear, because our highly trained staff are more than capable of programming an incredible mini-camp experience despite some rain. Our campers were able to take part in normal camp activities (archery, canoeing, etc.) and then when the rain decided to not stop, Jen Baldinelli (Program Director par excellence), had design your own St. Patrick's Day shirts ready to go. After the t-shirts the campers split for Jen and the girls to have a Karaoke party and Ryan Eves (Assistant Summer Camp Director) and the boys to have the messiest Capture the Flag game of all time.

In the words of Ryan Eves, "you couldn't tell by the smiles on the campers faces that this mini-camp was different than any other." I think that if our Kanata staff can provide a great experience like that on a rainy, chilly weekend in March imagine the fun your child will have when they come to camp in the summer.

Register soon for the 2009 summer!

Your Camp Director,

Dave

Summer is on the way!

So it turns out that winter is not going to go on forever. I wasn't too sure there for a little while. Spring at Camp Kanata means that it is project time! We are already rolling. I thought I'd just give you a bit of info about the projects we have going on right now.

Putt-Putt

We have a valuable volunteer helping us build a new Putt-Putt Pro-Shack. We are getting ready to refinish all of the holes with new turf and fresh paint - it's going to be great! We're even going to have scorecards - bring your A-game.

Activity Field

We're getting ready to lay down another 26,000 square feet of sod around the edges of the new field. What a resource. An exciting bit of new about the field - The Hasentree turf crew has volunteered their labor, equipment and knowhow to the upkeep of our field.

Archery

We've placed a permanent shack at the archery field and install split rail fence around the perimeter. Final phase to come - shaded shooting area with decking and benches.

Ad-Staff Office

We've converted a worn out room in the lodge into a nice bit of office space for the ad-staff. The space includes new floors, several office desks, a pc with a printer. Yeah ad staff - you have your own space!

Bathhouse

Another great volunteer walked in the door and offered to help us with this one. We are redoing the sink are in both sides of the bathhouse. There will be a stainless steel trough-style sink, new mirrors, stained wood on the walls and new toilets. This one is going to be great.

That just gives you a feel for what we have going on right now. There is tons more to come.

Is Putt-Putt still cool? It will be at Kanata!!!

Here at Kanata we are continuously evaluating how we do things, how things look and how we deliver our programs. Because of this I hope that you are always seeing things change at Kanata. One of the things that our staff have been working on is the Putt-Putt area of camp. For as long as I have been here (since 2003) it has just been a nice little area of camp, but not that great. That will not be the case any longer! Our "Crew" (cool term for our maintenance staff) and a great volunteer (Bob Casamassi) have been building a new Putt-Putt program hut and then they will begin work on refurbishing the putting areas.

This might seem like a small thing to spend our time on, but if we are going to have a putt-putt course we want to make it the best we can. So, when you are here this summer make sure to stop by the Putt-Putt course, check out a putter and a ball and spend some time having fun on our new course. Also, be sure to thank the "Crew" for all their hard work making Kanata look awesome!

See you this summer.

Your Camp Director,

Dave

A message from Jen Baldinelli, Program Director at Camp Kanata

One thing that I am so excited for this summer is the start of Kanata’s brand new TRACK OUT CAMP program. Track Out Camp will both kick off and wrap up our traditional Kanata Summer with a session in May and two sessions in August.

Kanata has always made a point to try to serve as many children as we can each summer. When we looked at the area around our Camp, we realized that there were a group of children that never got the opportunity to experience a week at either Kanata Day or Overnight camp due to their school schedule. We decided to reach out to this group and create a program that would work just for them. Each of our Track Out Sessions occurs during a time when children are tracked-out from school. This is a benefit to not only any track 2 children in the area, but a special treat for any kids that may be home-schooled or on a modified schedule at their school.

Track Out camp will run very similarly to how we have run Kanata Overnight Camp. Check-in will be on Sunday afternoon and Check-Out will be on Friday afternoons, as opposed to the standard Saturday check-out. We changed our check-out day due to the fact that we wanted to ease transition between a week at Kanata and a new track-in at school or another track-out program. Each day at Kanata Track Out will be filled with the same activities that Kanata regulars love: riflery, canoeing, swimming, arts and crafts, archery, and sports. Each evening will provide a time for all of the camp to come together in a camp wide program that is specific for the theme of that session.

My biggest passion is helping others and summer camp programming. I cannot wait to help a whole new community of people this summer with our newest program.

See you this summer!

I live in the south for a reason...

Let me be clear that I choose to live in the south for a reason.  I grew up on the coast of southern Virginia (Hampton Roads area) and I was basically there because that is where my parents decided to settle as a family.  As I became an adult and realized I could live pretty much anywhere I want it was a no-brainer.  I will live in the south for basically one reason...I don't like cold weather!  My love for the southern part of our country has been difficult with this winter because it has been very cold.  As I am writing this I am looking out my window on over 3 inches of snow laying in my front yard and temperatures hovering in the low 20's.  

This snow and rain over the last few days has put a big dent in my plans.  I love being outside and I have Sunday road bike group rides every week that have been affected by the snow, cold weather and rain.  This cold weather and rain has also had an affect on my ability to get outside and go for a run.  I am basically suffering from a major case of "cabin fever" and want the weather to warm up so I can get outside.  

I guess I will compromise, bundle up and do what I normally do on snow days.  My wife (Jennifer) and I will load our 3 dogs (yes, 3 dogs) Callie, Jasper and Parker in our vehicle and drive them out to Kanata and let them play in the snow.  I will be cold and miserable, but I will have a happy wife and 3 very, very happy dogs!

Hope it warms up soon.

See you this summer.

Your Camp Director,

Dave

Camp Builds Kids' Confidence and Independence

I frequently hear parents say something like . . . "My child says they are ready to go to camp but I'm not ready for them to go to camp." As a parent myself, I would encourage parents to send their child to camp, especially if they say they are ready. The camp experience is perfect for building kids' confidence and independence. Kids learn so many valuable skills at camp . . . how to make friends, how to do different activities such as archery, riflery and so much more.

It's difficult to trust others to take care of your children but rest assured at Kanata many, many safety procedures are in place to prevent any mishaps. You'll be amazed at how your child will grow emotionally and mentally in just six days and the effects will last so much longer than that. Summer camp is one of the best investments you can make each year in your child's life. Give them the opportunity to build some of the best memories they will ever have. I hope to see you here at Kanata this summer!

Have a FUN day!

Eva Hobson
Director of Adminstration
eva.hobson@campkanata.org

What a great life I have...

I have to admit that I might have the best job in the entire world (Zach Friesen our Operations Director might argue that point). A big part of the greatness of my job are the people I get to work with everyday. I spent a major part of today walking around camp with Zach (Operations Director) and Jen (Program Director) talking about changes we are making to several areas of camp. It was great to dream about repurposing our blacktop area beside the pool into a sand volleyball court and full basketball court. It was great to discuss the potential for a mountain biking program (summer 2010) and the "bike playground" we are going to build beside the office.  We also talked through potential changes at the gym including a new surface for the court, a permanent sound system to use for dances and other programs and bleachers instead of our old benches.

It is great to work at a place where if an idea enters your mind you get to bounce these ideas off of creative, intelligent, get it done people to see if you can make it a reality.  I think one of the great things we do every year is plan the new "wow" for the coming summer.  The last few years have brought our event field, pool and alpine tower.  I am excited about what we will be able to accomplish before the first day of summer 2009!  

Look forward to seeing you guys this summer.

Your Camp Director,

Dave

A few weeks ago...

...I had the opportunity to catch up with Claire, a former staff member, at Davidson University. Claire didn't work at camp last summer but she had a great experience working at a Hole in the Wall Gang camp up in Connecticut. I love hearing about different camps and I'm always interested to hear what our staff--both former and current--are up to with their lives.

As Claire talked about her summer she kept referring to "Camp" and how she was going back to "Camp" this coming summer. She caught herself a few times and made sure that I knew she was talking about Connecticut and the Hole in the Wall Gang. While I was very happy that Claire found a great place where she can make a big difference in the lives of some deserving kids, I was a little sad that "Camp" for her wasn't Camp Kanata anymore.

Whenever I'm out in Raleigh or Wake Forest and I run into families or staff members we have a great time talking about Camp and we never have to say what camp we're talking about. For us, there is only one camp--that's just the way it is--and that's how we want everyone to feel when they come to Kanata. We want you to feel like you're talking about Home. After all, you never have to explain what Home is to someone. Sure you might have to tell them where Home is or how long you've lived there, but you never have to explain what Home means.

If you are reading this blog odds are Camp Kanata is Home to you. If it's been a while since you visited please consider stopping by soon! We're always happy to see people and you'll give us an excuse to get outside and walk around a bit as well (not like we need an excuse!). See you soon.

Ryan Eves
Assistant Director

Mini Camps = Happy Parents

I was at the YMCA this morning working out and I ran into a mother of two campers that attended this past weekends Mini-Camp. Her children had been to our day camp, but this was the first Kanata overnighter they had attended. She was so excited to tell me that her boys had an incredible time and didn't want to leave when she came to pick them up on Sunday afternoon.

Kanata is an incredible place where kids get to experience things they wouldn't normally do, where they get to live in a cabin with children they don't usually spend time with and they get to spend time with our counselors who are great role models for them. I think every child should have the experience of being away from their parents for an overnight experience at camp. It is amazing to watch as the children interact with each other, explore, try new things and learn valuable character traits like honesty, respect, responsibility and a caring attitude.

As I finished my conversation with the mother this morning she also mentioned how great it was to have "kid free weekend" with her husband. So not only will your children have fun at camp, but the parents get to have fun while the children are there also. Look forward to seeing you at an upcoming Mini-Camp or Summer session.

Your Camp Director,

Dave

Camp Kanata - It's the People!

Camp Kanata - What a place. What a job!

Hey everyone, I'm Zach Friesen the Operations Director at Camp Kanata. My role on the team is to manage the maintenance crew, the facilities and the kitchen. It is a great job and I could go on and on about what we're doing in the Operations Department. We have a lot of fun and I love coming to work everyday.

I'd like to let you in on a little secret about Camp Kanata -- it's not about our beautiful facility, it's not about our rockin' programs, it's not about our 55 year history -- it's about our people. If you've spent any amount of time here, you know that's it's all about the people; always has been. Our year around staff is comprised of fun-loving, mission-oriented people. It really is something to see. It is not uncommon for one of our part-time maintenance crew members to come to me with a great programming idea for our campers. This is a place where everyone is truly working together towards a common goal - to build the Spirit, mind and body of each of one of our campers.

As a father of two, I tend to look at camp through my "dad eyes". My perspective as a father combined with my 10+ years experience running YMCA youth programs gives me a pretty critical eye. At last years’ staff banquet I was able to tell each of the staff that I would be proud if my children grew up to be like them - that says it all. Camp Kanata is about the people.

Zach Friesen

**If you are part of a group that would like to come volunteer your time at Camp, please let me know. We have projects of all difficulty levels, for all different sizes of groups.

On the road again...

It's this time of year when our staff at Kanata start going in several directions and we seem to catch up with a random text message or email. This pass weekend Jen Baldinelli was at Kanata taking a Wilderness First Aid course, Ryan Eves was in Chapel Hill at a Camp Show and I was in Wilmington on Saturday and Raleigh on Sunday at Camp Shows. Although I didn't like getting up at 5:30 a.m. to drive to Wilmington on Saturday morning it was great to see some of our campers down there and be able to tell the story of Kanata to new families.

We spend a great deal of time going to camp events and we see a lot of people who come to Kanata or have heard of us, but the best way for new people to have the Kanata experience is by a present camper or family inviting them to attend. Thank you to all of you who have hosted a camp night in your home and thank you to all of you who have invited a friend to attend camp with you. We are looking forward to another great summer of returning friends and for all of the new campers who will be with us this summer, we look forward to meeting you!

Your Camp Director,

Dave Bell

A Message From Jen Baldinelli, Camp Kanata Program Director

Hello there! My name is Jen and since this is my first blog for Camp Kanata, I want to take the time to introduce myself. I am a graduate of UNC-W and I loved living by the beach. I have a slight addiction to soft pretzels and I can tell you all the places in Raleigh to enjoy one. I am the newest member of the Camp Kanata Family. My job of Program Director is quite simply the best! I am the one that gets to plan all of the fun activities like evening programs and special events. I am just filled with wild and crazy ideas; I cannot wait for summer to get here so I can share them with all the Camp Kanata campers and staff.

I first got involved with the YMCA in the summer of 2003, where I took a job as a programmer at Finley Day Camp. Working at Finley Day Camp definitely opened my eyes to how amazing the YMCA is and how much I enjoyed summer camp programs. The following summer was a big change for me; I took a different route and worked at a resident camp program run through the Autism Society of North Carolina. It was a huge step for me to spend a summer away from everything that was familiar to me, to be away from my family and friends. However, it soon became obvious to both me and those closest to me that I had found my true place in life with camping programs. I went back to my YMCA roots the following summer, where I again worked as a programmer for a YMCA Day Camp called Camp Crossroads. I even followed the Camp Crossroads Director all the way to Durham the following summer to spend time working at the Lakewood YMCA with Camp Bull Run. Shortly after that summer ended, I was fortunate enough to land my first "real" job working as a Youth Director at the Kerr YMCA. At the Kerr YMCA, I spent time working with both after school programs and the on-site day camp, Camp Kerr. I can honestly say that I loved the time I spent at both after school and Camp Kerr.

While I was at Kerr, I kept running into this fellow by the name of Dave Bell. Perhaps some of you have heard of him, he is kind of a big deal. I soon found all about Camp Kanata and it quickly became apparent that Kanata was where I needed to be. I was so excited to join the Kanata family this summer. I truly feel that this job is the perfect place for me!

I can't wait for summer and I can't wait to meet all of you!

Jen Baldinelli
Program Director
jennifer.baldinelli@campkanata.org

Camp Nights

This past Saturday I had the priviledge of being in the home of two of our campers.  The family opened their home up for a "Kanata Camp Night".  These events are an opportunity for us to share the story of Kanata in the community.  

At a camp night the host family invites friends over for a casual gathering, usually with snacks, and our staff team will show up to show the Kanata video, give an overview of the camp experience and answer any questions that the guest may have.  We know that the best way for new campers to come to Kanata is through word of mouth advertising by our present campers, and this gives them an opportunity to also share their Kanata experience.  

We do several of these events every year and we would love to have you consider hosting one in your home in the future.  Look forward to seeing you this summer!

Your camp director,

Dave

A message from Eva, Director of Administration

Three plus years ago I accepted the awesome opportunity to work at the best summer camp in the world--Kanata. It is so much FUN to work here! I am responsible for overseeing registration, human resources and general office administration. Camp Kanata is part of the YMCA of the Triangle; I have worked with the YMCA since 1989. Camp work is a lifestyle, not just a job.

Two people even more excited (if that's possible) that I started working at Kanata are my daughters Natalie (age 14) and Caroline (age 8 3/4). Caroline LOVES camp! For the past three summers she has been in the day camp almost every day all summer. On the last day of camp, she asks how long it will be before she can come back to Kanata. Caroline also really enjoys Kanata Mini Camps--she trys to come to every one. Mini Camp is a two night overnight (weekend) camp that Kanata provides a few times between December and May. This summer Caroline will have her first week of over night camp--she is thrilled.

My daughter Natalie started overnight camp when she was 6 years old. At the end of the session when I picked her up, Natalie said (with emphasis) "Why did you come get me?" She has not gone a summer with going to overnight camp since. One of Natalie's goals is to become a CILT (camper in leadership training) at Kanata in 2010. Natalie loves the people at Kanata--they are hilarious. She thinks the counselors are AMAZING because they make you feel at home. Camp is a great place to make friends according to Natalie. She love the activities, particularly archery. It's good to go summer after summer because relationships build and continue. She really enjoys the cheering at meals.

In the three years I have been at Kanata, some great things have been added: a beautiful swimming pool, an incredible Alpine Tower, and a very large sports field. Many more exciting changes are planned for the future. Kanata is an amazing camp and a wonderful place to be . . . for campers and for staff.

Next time you're at camp, be sure to stop in the office and say hello. And, if there's anything we can help you with, don't hesitate to contact us.

Have a FUN day!

Eva Hobson
Director of Administration
eva.hobson@campkanata.org