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.

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

Some things I would like to see at camp this summer...

One of the great parts about my job is the fact that I get to dream alot.  I get to spend a good part of the year thinking about what would be a great thing to add at Kanata for the upcoming summer.  Here are some things that I have been dreaming about recently:

• a beach volleyball court beside the pool - how great would it be to have a full size beach volleyball court for our volleyball classes and for things to do as a cabin or during swim time
• a pontoon boat for the lake - wouldn't it be great for your cabin to be able to take the pontoon boat out for a spin on unit night during the summer for a "Kanata Dinner Cruise"
• a disc golf course - I have been playing disc golf like crazy for the past month and we have talked about adding a course at camp for the last couple of years.  I think it would be a great addition to our program and facility

These are just a few of the things I would love to see us have at Kanata, but what are things you would like to see?  If you get a chance send me some things you would love to see at Kanata.

See you this summer.

Your Camp Director

Dave Bell

Change is a good thing!

Often Kanata old-timers (alumni) arrive to drop off their children or grandchildren and they almost always say something like this: “It still looks the same!” If you’ve been out to camp lately, though, you’ve seen that things are changing here at Camp Kanata and we believe that change is a good thing!
Camp has looked very much the same since 1954 but over the last couple of years we have started to make some changes to our facilities and things definitely do not look the same anymore. We added a new cabin in 2005, the swimming pool was completed in 2007 and new for 2008, a parking area, event field and an Alpine Tower II.
After the pool was built last summer we lost a great deal of field space. Because of this need, we have cleared an area in front of the Hilton for a new event field which will give us more space for sports, evening
programs and much more. A parking lot might not seem like a big deal, but the last thing we want the campers to look at during their week at camp is a bunch of cars. We have cleared out a large area in the woods behind the dining hall that has space to park over 80 cars. This will keep cars out of plain view and make it feel more like camp. Finally, we are also adding an Alpine Tower II (www.alpinetowers.com). As the new cabins get
completed in the future we will lose our present high ropes course and climbing elements and this
necessitated our new climbing element. The Alpine Tower II will be a dynamic addition to our ropes course offerings and a challenge for new and old campers alike!
And the change doesn’t stop there! In the future we will be adding eight more new
duplex cabins with bathrooms (no more bathhouse!), soccer and event fields at the front of camp, an administrative office and a new maintenance shop. But all these changes don’t happen because of camper fees during the summer. They take place because of generous donors in our community who invest time and money into our wonderful camp. If you are interested in all the fun and exciting new things happening here at Kanata we would love the chance to talk with you about the changes and how you can be involved. See you this summer!