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
Thursday, February 26, 2009
Monday, February 23, 2009
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!
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
Thursday, February 19, 2009
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
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
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
Friday, February 13, 2009
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.
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.
Tuesday, February 10, 2009
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
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
Thursday, February 5, 2009
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
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
Tuesday, February 3, 2009
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
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