This summer we are making a few changes for the Pathfinder program. To start with we are bringing back the overnight camp out program. We will be having a couple of new sites to use for cabin campouts. 1 will be down near Tent Village; 1 will be up Brandywine Gulch; 1 will be near the lake; and 1 farther up the mountain from Brandywine. Cabins will have the opoortuntiy to head out and spend the night campign out under the stars, telling stories, and roasting marshmallows. Hopefully we will get some rain in the spring so we do not have the same level of fire bans as last summer.

Also, we are changing the mornings at camp. The whole camp will be doing “Skill Tracks” in the morning. Each camper will get to choose from a collection of activities that will be 1-hour in length and will meet every day. The activities might be Arts and Crafts, Sports, Dance, Archery, Slacklining, Kayaking, Nature, Creative Dramatics, and frisbee. You get the point, there will be lots to do. Then after lunch and Siesta, the Pathfinder Unit will be doing things together, or as a cabin. And then coming back together for “Free Choice” time in the afternoon before dinner.

I am in the process of interviewing returning and new staff right now and it is making me very excited for camp to begin! So, get ready for camp, and see you soon!

While the summer of 2012 is still several months away, we are working on getting the dates set for next summer. We will be getting those dates and sessions posted on the website and out to you in early October. We will be adding a Counselor in Training program in 2012 so those of you who were Teen Leaders this summer can come back and spend another summer with us and get training to apply to be a staff in 2013. We are also expanding the Teen Adventure program to offer a wider variety of trips.

And as we move away from the summer of 2011 and closer to the summer of 2012, I have a question for you to ponder in the spirit of keeping the energy of summer going year round. How has camp helped you become who you are, and how can you bring camp into your daily life? Have fun exploring those answers and if you feel like sharing, send us an email at santamaria@ymcabv.org.

It is a little quieter at camp now. Mini campers left 2 weeks ago, and then we had a great weekend family group right after camp with about 120 people at camp over the weekend, and last weekend we had a men’s group at camp. A couple of staff are staying around camp and helping out with weekends and closing down camp from the summer. They all say how odd it is walking around camp and not having campers at camp. It is different. The deer have begun coming a little closer to main camp, and the birds seem really loud.

We did have a great tour yesterday with several members of the YMCA of Boulder Valley Board of Directors. These were some of the facilities board members that wanted a tour of camp. It was great being able to walk them around and talk about the future of camp and where the Y and the Dowers want camp to go. That is it for now, we will be getting registrations ready for next summer by the end of September, so keep an eye on the website, and our Facebook page. See you soon, there is after all only 291 more days until camp 2012!

So session six started on Sunday and we are now fully under way! A great opening ceremony on Sunday night, and today was the first full day of activities for the whole camp, and it was a great day! We made it through a little rain this evening which dropped the temperature by about 15 degrees in 30 minutes. It was a nice change. Tomorrow is a big out-trip day for us with the rockclimbers, Teen Leaders, Teen Adventures, and Backpacking all headed out to explore various aspects of the Colorado Mountains.

It is hard to believe that 2 months ago all the staff were just arriving and we were starting staff training. Time sure flies fast in the summer. We also had our visit from the American Camp Association (ACA) on Monday. The ACA is an accrediting organization that visits camps every three years to make sure we are doing a good job. The visit is conducted by two camp professionals and they look over everything we do from our HR practices, to food service, to facilities, to program. We passed with flying colors!

On a fun note for me, I got to teach a little with the Trekker Wilderness Survival Skill track this morning. We built a 1 match fire, I showed them how a flint and steel works, we practiced making cordage from the inner bark of dead trees, and we steamed stinging nettles which tastes like spinach when it is done. We also started a burning out a small log to make a bowl. It was good for me to get out of the office after the ACA inspection and teach some of the skills I love to practice. Until next time, the weather is great and we wish you were here!

Shawn.

Well, we are half way into session 4 here at YMCA Camp Santa Maria and things are going well. We had a Staff auction on MOnday night where the staff offered various “prizes” to be won by cabins using play money. Hair braiding, astronomy sessions, being first in the hopper line, and tye dye shirts were just some of the items offered. Then last night we had a Dutch Auction which if you do not know what that is-ask your camper. And tonight is Color Wars!

The weather has been decent with afternoon rain, and last night we had a decent rain storm and a great natural light show and a rainbow. The good news is that the fire ban for our county has been reduced so we can use cook stoves and such on property, but still no open flame camp fires. Our Trekker Kayakers, and Backpackers are out on trips, and the rock climbers spent the day up on our cliffs learning some new skills. The Pathfinders hiked up to the ranch today for lunch, and our mid week Trekker skill tracks switched today. All in all it has been a great week so far and we are only half way through! Weather is great wish you were here!

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