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