Session D: Here comes the end!

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

Session C Re-Cap

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

1^st Year SCs: Last week our 1^st 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

2^nd Year SCs: The 2^nd 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

Session C has arrived!

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 1^st 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 2^nd 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