Camp Memories

In our March newsletter, Match and I asked you to share your camp memories with us. This year marks to 80th Anniversary of Glen Mhor and we want to hear, read and share all your favourite camp moments from the past 80 years. You can do this by sending us an email, by going on to Twitter and sending us a tweet, by leaving us a message on Facebook, by sending us photo memories or by writing down your favourite memory or story right here, in the comments section of our blog.

To get us started off, I’d like to share some of my own camp memories. My second last summer as a camper (just before I became a LIT) was in 1999. I started the summer at Girls Camp and ended the summer as one of the first-ever Pre-LITs. While at Girls Camp, my counsellors, Zazoo and Pyra, made everyone in my cabin a notebook so that we could write notes to each other and exchange addresses, emails and phone numbers. 11 years later, I still have my notebook. Here’s what it looks like:

It was an amazing week and although I no longer understand all the inside jokes written by my cabin-mates, I still remember most and find myself smiling when I read through them. Especially the parts about swing dancing. Karen and Holly taught us how to swing dance and I think that’s all we did that week. We had to be asked to stop swing dancing in the evenings because all the bouncing around in Whispering Pines kept other cabins up–even if we didn’t talk and only danced!

Later in the summer, when I returned for Pre-LIT, I brought this notebook along and asked my Pre-LIT pals to write notes in it, too. I also asked my Pre-LIT directors to write something. Here’s part of what Leaf wrote:

Interesting how what your counsellors say can absolutely come true… Thanks for the confidence, Leaf! And really, thanks to all of my past counsellors, cabin-mates, directors and campers; they’ve all helped guide me from Becky, the eight-year-old at camp for the first time, to Palais, the Cairn Co-Director. And I certainly cherish all the memories I’ve gathered along the way!

So, what are your camp memories? What have your counsellors said to you along the way that helped you out or made you more confident? When were those moments where you laughed so hard you cried or when everyone sang so sweetly it sent shivers up your spine? Let us know! Add your comment below.

Cairn is a social media camp

You can find out more about Cairn’s summer camping programmes by clicking through to our social media locations.   We try to make it as easy as possible to stay involved in Cairn throughout the year.

Facebook

CAIRN Page (become a Fan!)

CAIRN Alumni Page

Twitter

CAIRN

CAIRN Alumni

Director Rebecca “Palais” Jess

YouTube

CAIRN on Youtube

Rock Talk: March 2010

Here’s a link to the March 2010 edition of our Rock Talk Newsletter: http://mim.io/b1792

For those of you who couldn’t open it as an email, make sure to click and check it out!

And if you’re not on our newsletter email list, send an email off to palais@ilovecamp.org and she’ll be sure to add you!

Say Hello to the Staff of 2010!

After two great hiring days, lots of thought, prayer and discussion, and a number of phone calls, our Cairn staff is finally hired!

We thought you might like to know who will be at camp this summer and what they’ll be doing. We hope this will get you even more excited about making the journey to camp! So, without further ado, your Cairn Staff of 2010:

Resource Staff

Dolce - Assistant Director

Refleckta - Programme Director

Gerber - Administrator

Konk - Head Counsellor

Levy - Iona Director/Waterfront Director

Mauri - Integration Coordinator

Baya - LIT Director

Iscus - LIT Director

Fhyllja - Kitchen Manager

Matek - Assistant Cook

Razzle - Iona Cook/Adventure Programmer

Abrigo - Adventure Programmer

Suji - Adventure Programmer

Ferno - Adventure Programmer/Maintenance

Caso - Outdoor Living Skills

Tukon - Tripper

Meranya - Arts & Crafts Director

Tauru - Music & Drama Director

Burkz - Dance Director

Sagga - Waterfront Director

Tayne - Waterfront Director

Tagu - CYOB

Blox - Site Manager

Keel – Maintenance/Counsellor

Shoxz - Maintenance Assistant

Counselling Staff

Adrhena	Arae	Ave.
Cara	Dayada	Fresco
Jaro	Juno	Kattan
Kyllum	Lellie	Mallow
Martha	Meret	Mesquite
Moxie	Mumba	Polo
Qwye	Sequae	Shire
Sigmar	Snoops	Soya
Sparta	Sprill	Staira
Talie	TeeVeeOh	Terrius
Tuurf	VeeKay	Xodes

Cairn: A Slice Worth Having

Camp isn’t just for kids; we require the exuberance of both children and adults to make this ministry amazing

A Message from our Synod Camp Board:

The fact that you have come to this website probably means that you believe in the benefit of the Christian Camping experience.  And you are probably inquiring on behalf of an important child in your life.  Just like you believe in taking good care of this child in your life, we the Synod Camp Board believe in the need to take good care of the Cairn Camping Programs.

We on the Synod Camp Board want to ensure that Cairn continues to be around for a long time, so that the important child in your life has programs to enjoy now, and so that the next generations are also able to enjoy camp.

We need your help to make this happen!

Maybe you have administrative, committee membership or fundraising experience.  If so, we could use your expertise and input towards future planning and fundraising endeavours.  Or are you a ‘born-fixer’?  There are a number of work weekends scheduled throughout the year where paint, hammers and elbow grease are the common bond!!
These are great ways to meet other members of the extended Cairn family and get an idea of what it takes to keep Cairn strong from the inside out.

Get in touch with us: we would love to get to know you, and have you help shape the future of this wonderful place called Cairn.

By the way, do you know what Sliced Bread and Camping in our Synod have in common?  They are both 80 years young this year.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY SLICED BREAD AND CAIRN CAMPING!

To get in touch with our Synod Camp Board, send an email to Ruth MacLeod at ruth.macleod@sympatico.ca or Johnmark Roberts at johroberts@trebnet.com

Counsellor Hiring Day

Last Saturday we held our Counsellor Hiring Day at Leaside Presbyterian Church in Toronto. We had a pretty stellar crew of Counsellor hopefuls come out. Our day started with Monster Mutant Tag, then moved into an exercise related to social media, discussions on faith and our camp mission, and a group initiative that involved moving a jug without the use of hands or arms, amongst other things.

It was a really fun day and we’re going to have a tough time deciding who to hire this coming summer. Needless to say, every camper who attends Glen Mhor or Iona this summer is going to have awesome counsellors!

10 Year Paddles

One of the things that we think is very important at Cairn is re-establishing ties with our alumni, whether you’re from Glen Mhor, Iona, Dorothy Lake or Presbyterian Music Camp.

One of our favourite projects over the last number of years has been 10 Year Paddles. Every person who has been involved at CAIRN for 10 or more summers is eligible for a 10 Year Paddle (a small plaque, shaped like a paddle, with your name & camp name that hangs in the dining hall). 10 summers (or years) can include your time involved at camp as camper, staff member or even Camp Committee member.

If you would like a 10 year paddle please email Match ( match@ilovecamp.org ) and we will have one made up for you.  If you will be at camp for our Work Weekend weekend from May 14-16, 2010 OR our Alumni Weekend from September 10 – 12, 2010, we would love to present it to you in front of your camp crew. If you won’t be there, but will be at camp in the summer, let us know and we can show you where your paddle is hung.

Girls’ Camp: Age Correction

Oops! Our Bad.

It has just come to our attention that the ages listed for GM 1, Girls’ Camp, were incorrect. Previously, our online schedule stated that Girls’ Camp was for ages 7-12; this camp is actually for ages 7-14. So, if you have some girls that you would like to send to camp, whether they be sisters, friends, cousins or even all on their own, we welcome any girls or young women aged 7 to 14.

If you have a young woman who is older than 14 and would like to go to camp that week, have no fear! We are also offering our Young Women’s Leadership Camp during the same week. This session is for young woman who are 15 & 16 years old. Come and learn about leadership, how to make and maintain strong and healthy friendships, how to better understand yourself and feel more self assured in this fast-paced world. You will leave this programme feeling empowered as a strong, confident and poised young woman.

We hope that this correction has not inconvenienced you in any way. If you have any questions regarding this adjustment, please do not hesitate to contact our administrator at admin@ilovecamp.org.

Rock Talk: February 2010

Here’s a link to the February 2010 edition of our Rock Talk Newsletter: http://mim.io/cd242

For those of you who couldn’t open it as an email, make sure to click and check it out!

And if you’re not on our email list, send an email off to palais@ilovecamp.org and she’ll be sure to add you to the list!

Counselling Applications Due

Want to be a counsellor at Cairn this summer?

Applications for counsellors are due TOMORROW, Friday, February 5, 2010.

Remember that all counselling applicants are also required to come to our Hiring Day on Saturday, February 13, 2010 from 10am – 4pm at Leaside Presbyterian Church in Toronto.

You can download your application here.

Can’t wait to read your applications!

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