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Camp Helps Kids!

February 10, 2012, 8:50 am
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As mentioned in our last blog post, many of our senior camp staff recently attended a couple of training opportunities.
We were fortunate to hear Dr. Michael Ungar share about building resilience in youth, and specifically about the importance giving youth opportunities to contribute to their communities. 
It seems that Dr. Ungar was just as impacted by his time with us, and his most recent blog entry shows this.

We'd encourage you to take a look at his blog, we are proud to offer such a meaningful program to children and youth.  Have you registered your children for camp yet?!









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Wanakita in the winter

February 17, 2012, 8:33 am
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It has been a fun-filled winter at YMCA Wanakita, where we have had no shortage of snow or guests prepared to play in it!  School groups have been delighted to experience winter and to learn a number of technical skills such as fire building, cross-country skiing, and snowshoeing.  



This afternoon we will be saying goodbye to three school groups, and then welcoming several families for our Winter Family Weekend.  We are looking forward to it!
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Family Day Weekend

February 24, 2012, 11:19 am
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What a great weekend!  Last weekend we welcomed a number of families to YMCA Wanakita to celebrate the long weekend.  We had beautiful sunny weather, and plenty of snow to play in.  Thanks to all of you who joined us, we had a blast!
Broomball under beautiful blue skies!

Snowshoeing on our 1,000 acre property

Learning to build a fire without matches

Sisters working together on the Dangle Duo!

Our toboggan hill was busy this weekend!


Two of our staff took the Twin Dinner to a whole other level!

After such a wonderful weekend, we can't wait until March Break Family Camp, on March 12th-16th.  Want to join us?  Register now!
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Strong Kids Kick Off!

March 5, 2012, 12:50 pm
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Last week the YMCA of Hamilton/Burlington/Brantford kicked off our 2012 Strong Kids Campaign and we are excited about what the upcoming year has in store!

What is Strong Kids?
The YMCA is committed to building healthy communities, and so it is important for us to include all community members in our programs.  This is made possible through Strong Kids, which is our financial assistance program.

How much do we spend in Strong Kids?
Last year, YMCA Wanakita sponsored over $95,000 in camp experiences, making YMCA Wanakita possible for kids, youth, families, and school groups.  For 2012 we aim to exceed this by sponsoring over $110, 000.

How can I give to Strong Kids?
If you would like to help us make the YMCA Wanakita experience available through Strong Kids, please donate online!  Simply go to the Strong Kids website and select "Haliburton" as your community.  

Thank you to all who have already been a part of the incredible growth that we have seen in Strong Kids contributions.  We are proud to be a part of such an engaged and invested community!
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March Break!

March 13, 2012, 9:14 am
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What an exciting week at YMCA Wanakita!  Our site is busy with many families on site.  Not only are we hosting our second annual March Break Family Camp, we have also welcomed a large group of families through Hamilton's Aboriginal Health Centre. 

The snow is not quite gone yet, so many of us have been spending as much time on the toboggan hill as possible.  We've been playing a number of wide games and exploring Wanakita's natural environment.  The warm weather has caused the sap in our sugar maple trees to start running, so we've also been learning about tapping trees and making maple syrup. 

The Aboriginal Health Centre has also brought much to this week's program.  We have been learning and experiencing a number of cultural activities such as the early morning sun ceremonies, the sweat lodge, and plenty of drumming and dancing.

It has certainly been a rich week thus far, and we are looking forward to the next few days! 
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Spring has Sprung!

May 11, 2012, 10:27 am
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It has been a busy Spring here at YMCA Wanakita, and we apologize for our lack of posts.  We are back in action, and promise that we will keep you up to date as the Spring progresses and as the Summer approaches.

We kicked off our Spring Season with an incredibly successful Spring Work Weekend.  We welcomed almost 80 volunteers, who spent the weekend re-shingling roofs, raking leaves, cleaning brush, moving boats, setting up program areas, and so many other jobs in between.  An enormous thank you to all of our volunteers- we truly couldn't have done it without you!




Our Spring season is now in full swing, and we have already welcomed a number of school groups.  Some have even been brave enough to do Morning Dip!

We're looking forward to this weekend, as we will be hosting a very full Mother/Daughter weekend.  It promises to be a beautiful weekend, full of some great opportunities to play outside!

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Mother Daughter Weekend

May 17, 2012, 10:09 am
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We had a wonderful time last weekend celebrating Mother's Day with our Mother Daughter weekend!  We had beautiful weather and shared a lot of laughs. 





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Sights and sounds of Spring

May 24, 2012, 12:29 pm
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It is a busy week here at YMCA Wanakita, where we have welcomed four different school groups, in addition to some smaller clubs and special groups.  We are enjoying the sounds of a busy site- lots of laughter, singing, and shrieking at morning dip!
We are also enjoying the warm weather and all of the plants and creatures that have emerged with the sunshine.




We hope that you are enjoying the sunshine just as much from wherever you are!
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Learning to Lead

May 31, 2012, 11:03 am
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YMCA Wanakita has hosted a few exciting leadership groups recently.  Last weekend we had about 100 youth join us through the YMCA Leader Corps program.  This program is run in YMCAs across the province, providing opportunities for youth to develop their leadership skills through a number of avenues.

We are currently hosting staff from the YMCA of Hamilton/Burlington/Brantford Day Camp team, who have come together at Wanakita to train and plan.  They are a great gang, the Day Camp program is in great hands!

In addition to these specialized groups we have had a number of school groups join us this week.  Thanks to all who have brought their energy and enthusiasm to YMCA Wanakita in the past few days, we've loved having you!
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Camp is good for Kids!

June 8, 2012, 8:25 am
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It's Summertime!

June 23, 2012, 12:58 pm
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June 21st has come and gone, which means that it is officially summer!  YMCA Wanakita is a busy place, as the bulk of our summer staff arrived yesterday afternoon for a full week of training and preparing our site for the summer.

Tomorrow morning we are hosting our annual Strawberry Social Open House.  This is an opportunity for families to get to know Wanakita. Join us for an opportunity to see the camp, experience our program areas, and enjoy our renowned spread of strawberry delights at our buffet lunch.

We will be welcoming visitors from 12-5pm.  It is free to visit the site and see our program areas, and the fees for the buffet lunch are below.
Adult: $8
Children: $5
Immediate family rate: $22

Hope to see you tomorrow!

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SUMMER IS HERE!!!

July 3, 2012, 10:35 am
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Summer camp has finally begun! YMCA Wanakita is now swarming with kids and counsellors ready to have a fun-filled summer in Central Ontario with fresh air and clean lake water. After ten days of pre-camp staff training we were all ready to have the masses come and join us. Some highlights to training week were: Strawberry Social, morning swims, the Giant Staff Relay Race and the Strong Kids Auction. This year staff raised $8700 for the Strong Kids Campaign, which will help send kids and school groups to camp throughout the year. WAY TO GO STAFF!

Senior Staff display the Strong Kids Auction Donation

 After that intense week we were ready to welcome the 300 campers to Session A. Sunday was the first official day of camp and it was filled with excitement and energy! After a packed afternoon in the rain, a campfire outside was the perfect way to finish the official opening day of camp.


Opening Greeting



Opening Campfire


Monday was a busy day for kids and counsellors as they headed to their chosen morning activities. The afternoon was left open for fun cabin group activities and swimming. The day and weather was fantastic!

Out on the Water

We would like to wish the best of luck to our Senior Traditional Boys that are heading into Bon Echo and Magnetawan today for their five-day trip. See you upon your return!

If these two days are any indication of what the summer will bring, then by golly we will have the time of our lives!
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It's been busy... and HOT!

July 6, 2012, 1:24 pm
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Session A is well underway and boy has it been busy here at YMCA Wanakita. The past few days have been sunny and hot but the lake has welcomed all campers for well-deserved swims. Luckily there has also been a slight breeze, which is perfect for our sailors and windsurfers! As the week comes to a close I think it is important to check in with all sections of residential camp. Here is what each section has been up to this week:

Day Camp: This was the first week of day camp and it was a busy one. Everything revolved around the zoo, as campers went out in search of ‘animals’ (rocks) that had escaped from the zoo. A beach day was also a hit with sand castle building and swimming. On the water the campers went in the voyager canoe and even kayaked. There was also an overnight with a campfire and s’mores. It was a busy week but a great one!

Counselors Andrea and Hannah dress up with day campers!
Juniors/Intermediates: This session there have been both one-week and two-week campers. Both groups have had a lot of fun participating in regular programming canoeing, kayaking, swimming, crafts, sports, etc. Some other highlights from the week have included a giant scavenger hunt as well as a digital scavenger hunt. Last night the two-weekers celebrated Halloween in July while the one-weekers went to a beach themed dance.
One-weekers dance the evening away!
Seniors: The seniors have had an exciting week as well. The senior traditional boys are out on trip at Magnettawan and Bon Echo, and the traditional girls are preparing for their trips as well. The traditional girls have also been participating in some team building activities and creating their trip shirts. The senior specialty section has been busy participating in high ropes, astronomy, drum circles and hiking. They also participated in a fashion show and are preparing for a two-day out trip.

Section Director Neil Armstrong leads a senior group in a drum circle.

SCs: Our first year SCs have been spending their mornings in the lake and practicing their canoeing skills. They are working towards their ORCKA canoeing levels and passing their Lifesaving Society Bronze Medallion or Bronze Cross swimming levels. They have been bonding during campfires and working on leadership skills and interacting with different group dynamics. The second years just returned from a two-day overnight and have also been working on their teambuilding and leadership skills. The other night the SCs had their first SC Challenge, which involved teams creating a cheer and being ranked on the best cheers.
SCs practice their canoe docking skills.

Today, the camp went to Corey’s Place to enjoy music, dance and theatre performances presented by campers in those PCAs (Personal Choice Activities). Kangaroo Court, our light-hearted camp judicial system was also called into session for the first time this year.

Music PCA performs at Corey's Place

Kangaroo Court Honourable M. Weber & Honourable J. Fisher

Well that about sums up our week here at YMCA Wanakita. Be sure to check out our YMCA Wanakita – Scenes of Summer Blog for more photographs. For those going home, we hope that you enjoyed your stay and we hope to see you next summer! And for those who are arriving or staying for another week (or three)… get ready because we have another week of jam-packed fun up our sleeves!

~The Wanakita 2012 Summer Staff Team
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Everything is Fine and Dandy: Period A-2

July 10, 2012, 5:45 pm
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Here is an update as to what has been happening here at YMCA Wanakita. Well, after an extremely hot first week the temperature has cooled down, people are running around playing games, camping and participating in all the activities that camp has to offer.


A-2 Welcoming

Thought of the Day Presentation

On Saturday we said good-bye to our A-1 campers, however, it wasn’t too long before we welcomed a whole new group of campers for session A-2. Everyone was really excited to start their week here and after the opening ceremonies they quickly adapted to the day-to-day routine. Along with their PCAs and cabin activities, many of the Junior and Intermediate cabins are heading out on Koshlong lake overnights tonight. We wish them a night of fun and excitement in the great outdoors.


Kayaking
The Senior Traditional girls are out on trip in Bon Echo and Magnetawan and the boys who were out last week have safely returned home. They have been sharing their trip stories and participating in other programs at camp.

The Senior Specialty Section spent the weekend out on their three-day overnight on the lake. They returned ready and rested for their next PCAs and a week packed full of activities.

The First Year Student Counsellors continue each morning with swimming and canoeing lessons. They are also preparing for their six-day trip that will begin later this week. We wish them the best of luck and hope they have a great time.

Some of Second Year SCs are now completing the placement portion of their program where they shadow counsellors in cabins. They are so enthusiastic and it is great to see them practicing their leadership skills. The other SC group spent today canoeing down the Gull River. The trip took a little longer due to low water levels, but all immensely enjoyed themselves. All SCs are currently playing a friendly competitive game of dodge ball and their cheers reach us here in the office.

That about sums it up for now. We will write soon!

~The Wanakita Summer Staff Team

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Session B has arrived!!!

July 18, 2012, 12:45 pm
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Welcome to Session B everyone! We said good-bye to our Session A and A-2 campers on Saturday. We hope the campers left with new friends, as well as stories to share with their families. The staff cannot wait to see them again next year!

Staff Welcome Campers at the Core
Well, now we are once again in full swing here at YMCA Wanakita. Session B is the only session of the summer that there are solely two-week or four-week campers on site, making it very unique. The arrival of Session B is also marks the half-way point for our SCs who are still busy working in placements and organizing/running the family camp carnival.

Yesterday we welcomed our first year SCs back from Temagami and more will arrive today. They were quick to unpack and hop into a shower before greeting all their friends. They have been sharing and comparing trips and stories with the other groups. We are sure that they all experienced trips that they won’t forget!

Group Shot of a Senior Traditional Cabin- Ready for their Out-Trip
Just as the SCs return, our Senior Traditional Girls are leaving to canoe Megnetawan and Bon Echo for their five-day trips. We hope they have a fantastic time and cannot wait to hear their stories upon their return. The Senior Traditional Boys are participating in PCAs and will head out on trip next week.
Last night the entire Senior Section played a camp-wide game of Plutonium Defenders. This game is similar to Capture the Flag, however the flags can move throughout the territory and one flag is ‘fake’. The team that captures the other team’s ‘real’ flag first is declared the winner. Monday evening program saw the section playing ‘The Donger Games’. This double-elimination game of dodge ball paired girl and boy cabins together with a fight till the end! Both games were a hit as the odds were in anyone’s favour.

The Donger Games
 Junior and Intermediate cabins are preparing for overnights that will begin tonight and carry on throughout the week. The campers spend their morning participating in their choice activities and afternoons with their cabins. Hiking, swimming, boating (kayaking, canoeing, sailing), ropes and wilderness environmental pursuits are common afternoon programs. One of the newest programs we have included this year is astronomy. Campers learn about the stars and constellations and on a clear night, can test their knowledge outside. Both campers and counsellors are learning a lot!!!

Sailing PCA
That’s all for now! Seems like the summer is going by quickly. Before we know it we will be half-way through the summer and into August! Hopefully it won’t go too fast.

~ The Wanakita Staff Team
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Wanakita has joined Facebook

July 25, 2012, 8:53 am
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We are excited to announce that we have created a Facebook page, providing another opportunity for us to share the happenings here on Koshlong Lake.

Why not take a minute to "Like" our page so that you can receive updates and share the magic of Wanakita throughout the year!
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The Breakdown of an Overnight

July 26, 2012, 4:04 pm
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We are well into our second week of Period B here at YMCA Wanakita and things are looking as busy as ever. Trips and overnights have been busy leaving and returning and for this reason we have decided to talk about our overnight programs.

Bark 1 Campsite

Our Junior and Intermediate cabins participate in a one-night overnight on one of Koshlong Lake’s campsite. Prior to the overnight each cabin attends a camping session with our out-tripping staff. The campers learn how to set up a tent and while the rest of the gear is tested by the counsellors. The cabin also discusses Wanakita’s camping practices and our leave no trace camping policy.

Rainy Rock Campsite

On the day of the overnight the cabin eats lunch in the dinning hall before gathering their gear. At about 2:30pm they meet at canoeing with their packs and load up their canoes. Just like the special out-tripping session, the cabin has had a canoeing session where they improve their strokes and other canoeing skills before leaving on their overnight.

A Canoe Prep. Lesson

Koshlong Lake has many campsites available for overnights that are all different and unique in their own ways. Each site is just as beautiful as the next and provided a lovely view of its surroundings.

Once arriving at a campsite, the gear is unpacked and tents are set up. There is always time for swimming and games before dinner. Dinner is always delicious no matter what option the cabin chooses; pita pizzas, stir-fry or hot dogs with a dessert of ‘smores or scrambled brownies. Campfires are a guarantee (unless we are under a fire ban) and oftentimes overnights result in an earlier bedtime which campers love!
Pita Pizzas!

In the morning all gear is packed up and a breakfast of fried granola or bagels is eaten. A site clean up and garbage sweep is done to ensure that we leave no trace. The group paddles back to camp and is ready to go for morning activities.

The View from One of the Campsites

It is a quick trip, but the overnight gives a taste of what the Senior Traditional Section is all about. The overnight is a great way for campers to learn responsibility and independence. They are involved with the cooking, cleaning and navigation to and from the site. It is a bonding experience for all and a fantastic program here at camp.

That is the breakdown of a typical overnight for Juniors and Intermediates. Sometimes our overnights are extended to two-nights for older sections (Senior Specialty and 2nd Year SCs) and the days’ activities are roughly the same. Our staff love our overnight program and we hope that upon their return, the campers do too!!!

~ The Wanakita Staff Team
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Session C has arrived!

August 1, 2012, 5:06 pm
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It’s official; we are halfway through the summer and boy did it seem like a whirlwind. After saying goodbye to the Session B campers and July’s SCs on Saturday, we welcomed the Session C campers. Although the rain yesterday did not lift the fire ban, it was much needed and a welcomed reprieve from the dryness that has plagued the area.

Day Camp: Day Camp has entered Week 5 and is running at capacity. The campers love the swimming, crafting and playing sports. Tonight they will be spending the night camping in tents on the grass beside their home base, “Day Camp Central”. We know they will have a fantastic evening!

Day Camp gets busy with Arts and Crafts
Junior/Intermediates: The J/Is have been busy returning and preparing for overnights on the lake. Those that were supposed to head out last night stayed on camp property due to the weather. Everyone seemed to have a great time despite not being on the lake. Cabin groups have been making their way around to high ropes, kayaking, archery, etc. as well as planning digital scavenger hunts and excursions to our famous Umbrella Island.
Opening Campfire Hosts - Robots

Seniors: The Senior Traditional Girls have all left for their trips in Bon Echo or Magnetawan, while the boys are participating in camp activities and preparing for their trip departure on Saturday. The Senior Specialty section has been busy with PCAs and beginning to prepare for their overnights this weekend.

On Monday, the J/Is and Seniors participated in a camp-wide section program. “Under Siege” is a mixture between Risk (the board game) and the classic camp game Capture the Flag, where each “army” (there are four) tries to capture the other’s general. Once a general is captured, the teams join forces and try to capture another general. The game was a hit amongst all!

The Generals for "Under Siege"
SCs: The August SCs have arrived and have begun their programs with huge enthusiasm. The 1st Years have begun their canoeing levels as well as their Bronze Medallion and Bronze Cross swimming levels. They spend their mornings on the water and their afternoons working on leadership skills. The 2nd Years are preparing for their overnights this weekend and placements that begin next week. They have also been working on their leadership skills and getting to know one another. Last night the entire section was divided into teams for the SC challenge. The challenge this week was creating a team name and cheer, which was judged by our senior staff. The energy was amazing! 

Baby Bird on Site
That is about it for this week at YMCA Wanakita. If you haven’t already noticed we have a YMCA Wanakita Facebook Page, which will also keep you updated with what is happening around camp. Click the link below:

http://www.facebook.com/pages/YMCA-Wanakita/390045247724386

~The Wanakita Staff Team
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Session C Re-Cap

August 13, 2012, 1:33 pm
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Well another session has come and gone and so much has happened since we last wrote. Our biggest news this summer is that the fire ban is officially over! The on and off again rain, and cooler temperatures over the last few days was enough to lift the fire ban on Friday. We were so excited to have a real closing campfire for Session C since the last real campfire was at the beginning of Session A. Despite the rain, our schedules and programs have continued. This is a recap of what happened during Session C.
C-2 Closing Campfire
JIs & Seniors: Both the Junior/Intermediates and the Seniors continue with their regular activities: overnights, climbing the wall, shooting arrows, crafting, canoeing, kayaking, biking, scavenger hunts, etc. They had an amazing dance on Thursday and a cloudy, but energy filled beach/sports afternoon on Friday.
Climbing the rock wall

1stYear SCs: Last week our 1st Year SCs were learning and practicing their tandem canoeing skills, as well as working towards obtaining Lifesaving Society qualifications. They are practicing the skills they learned and are applying it to their trips, which are currently occurring in Temagami and Chiniguchi. We hope they are having a great time and will see them soon!

Preparing for Canoeing
2ndYear SCs: The 2nd Year SCs have been busy learning new leadership and teamwork skills. They have had the opportunity to kayak at the Gull River with our kayaking specialists and participate on a two-night trip on Koshlong Lake. Last week and this week, they are participating in cabin placements, and from what we have heard, the campers love their SCs.

Kayaking at the Gull
A week ago, the Rotary Club of Haliburton had a camp canoe race. Many camps from the surrounding area participated, including YMCA Wanakita. We placed a respectable third overall according to our times. Our male staff members took home a bronze medal, as did our SC girls. It was a fun and exciting event for all who participated.

Canoes at the Rotary Club Canoe Race

Our weeks have always been busy, but the last session will be the busiest of them all. We are welcoming The Games into Session D; where the camp is divided evenly into two teams: the Blue Herons & the Red Foxes. This friendly rivalry will involve multiple competitions and challenges throughout the two weeks. We wish both teams the best of luck and LET THE GAMES BEGIN!

~ The Wanakita Staff Team
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Session D: Here comes the end!

August 23, 2012, 7:59 am
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Well we are only a few days away from the end of the summer, but things are still running like it is still the beginning of the summer! Where has the time gone? It seems like just yesterday that all the staff arrived for Staff Training Week. The only indication that we are near the end of August is the cooler nights and earlier sunsets. Oh, and of course there are less bugs around which is one thing we all embrace! But even though Session D is the last session of the summer, we still have the TIME OF OUR LIVES here at YMCA Wanakita. Here is what’s been happening during Session D:

Opening Campfire
Day Camp: Day Camp ended last week, and it ended with a huge success! As always, they enjoyed their days participating in canoeing and kayaking activities, swimming, crafting, playing games and sleeping over at camp for their overnight. Every time we saw the day camp campers they had huge smiles on their faces and were super excited about the next activity.

Juniors/Intermediates: All the overnights for Juniors and Intermediates have returned and campers are participating in their PCAs. Cabins have been busy at the regular camp activities, such as archery, canoeing, kayaking, swimming, etc. But they have also been completing scavenger hunts, hiking to the beaver dam, canoeing in the voyageur canoes, and making s’mores over campfires. Last night the section participated in a Capture the Flag-like game, where running and finding the other team’s ‘item’ were key to winning the game. The catch? There is a fake ‘item’ as well as the real ‘item’ that are moving throughout the team’s territory. We call this came ‘Plutonium Defenders.’ We heard many feet running along the road and victory cries throughout camp.

Corey's Place Dance Performance
Seniors: Our Senior Traditional Girls arrived back at camp from their 5 day canoe trip on Sunday, just as our Senior Traditional Boys headed out theirs. We will welcome them back later this afternoon. Over the weekend the Senior Specialty campers went on the lake for a three-day overnight. Unlike earlier this summer, they were able to have campfires, which just make camp…well…camp! Last night the entire Senior section had a Coffee House/Talent Show. There were some very talented campers and staff who performed! Thanks for putting on a great show!

First Year SCs: After arriving back from their trips last week, the First Years have been busy completing their testing in kayaking, swimming, canoeing, sailing and windsurfing. They have had the opportunity to kayak at the Gull River and participate in more team building and leadership exercises. Testing will continue today with the final swimming and canoeing exams happening tomorrow morning. We wish them the best of luck as they finish their session!

2nd Year SCs tackle the WALL
Second Year SCs: The Second Years have completed all their placements and are finishing up the leadership program this week. They have learned about the Sunship program offered here at YMCA Wanakita during the Fall Outdoor Centre, and other nature and leadership activities. Earlier this week they were able to ask questions to a variety of people who have different positions here at camp. The panel lasted almost the entire morning and was a wealth of information for these campers who might want to become staff members in the near future!
Red Fox Staff 

Also, big news for Session D: “The Games” have been in full operation these past two-weeks. The camp has been divided into two teams that participate in various activities that promote team-building and friendly rivalry. There have been rock balancing competitions, riddles, digging for sacred items, mascot building competitions and more. These challenges come in a variety of shapes and sizes, with a new one everyday. The Blue Herons were our mid-session winners, but anything can happen in the final days of The Games.

Rock Balancing
Natural Sculpture Building
That concludes a brief summary of what has been happening at camp this session. Tonight the whole camp will have a big dance party, followed by an all camp beach day tomorrow afternoon and closing campfire in the evening. It is truly the best way to finish the week, two-weeks, month or, for our staff… the SUMMER!


~The Wanakita Staff Team
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