Camp Tannadoonah Journal

Hopefully you’re enjoying the beginning of the school year and the impending approach of fall. It might feel like summer of 2008 is barely past, but it’s not too early for folks to begin planning for next summer’s camp season. Many camps have already begun taking registrations! We will have our 2009 schedule available soon, and the registration page will be open shortly after that. If you don’t want to miss out on your first choice for camp, you may want to start researching camp options now.

Here are a few tips to help guide you during the process:

How and when should you start the camp selection process?

When choosing a camp, the whole family should participate in the process. Children and parents can research together online to see what’s out there. Preferably, you can research and visit camps the summer before planning to register. But even if that can’t or didn’t happen, there are still several excellent ways to research the options.

How can families do online research? Are there camps in the area that offer specific activities or programs that you’re looking for?

These are questions that can be answered through the Find A Camp search, located at www.CampParents.org, a web site managed by the American Camp Association (ACA), the body that accredits the largest number of camps (over 2400) in the country. There are also other web sites such as mysummercamps.com, kidscamps.com, summercamps.com, camppage.com and others, which provide searchable online access to a variety of camp programs. Other ways to learn about great camp possibilities is to seek recommendations from friends, consult faith communities or community centers, and attend local camp fairs. For more personal assistance close to home, parents can contact one of the ACA’s 24 local offices.

What are some of the camp options to consider?

Is a day camp or sleepaway camp more appropriate for your child? Will she or he be more comfortable in a single-sex or co-ed camp? Find A Camp and other sites allow you to search camps by such variables as location, activities, length of session, and cost.
How can you be assured of a camp’s commitment to health and safety? ACA-Accreditation® is the best evidence for parents that a camp is committed to providing a safe and nurturing environment for their children. A camp that is ACA-accredited has undergone a thorough review of its operations, measured by up to over 300 standards. Parents should always ask if a camp is currently accredited and if not, why not.

What about camp as a birthday gift or for when the holidays come around?

For a unique gift that doesn’t involve boxes or batteries, friends and family can consider giving a gift of camp! It will never be forgotten or soon end up in the dumpster or recycle bin! Camps provide extraordinary learning opportunities, lasting memories, and the gift of time in nature, where children can unplug and become more connected to the environment.

~ Thanks to Kevin Gordon at Camp Kupugani for this great camp advice!

What are the qualifications of the counselors? Do you perform background/criminal checks?

All of the staff are screened very carefully. After I receive their applications, I interview each of them personally. Then I call and get three references for each person. Finally, each of them is interviewed a second time by our executive director of Camp Fire. And finally, their contracts are all contingent on background checks.

18 of our 22 counselors are over 18 years old, and the other 4 are “junior counselors”, which means that they are either 16 or 17. We have a week-long staff training, during which time we go over all of the policies & procedures, safety stuff, etc.

Who is in charge at camp?

As far as the leadership - I am the camp director, and this is my 3rd year as director. I’ve been involved with Tannadoonah as a camper / counselor / board member / director since 1985. I have a doctorate in developmental psychology, with a specialty in middle childhood and early adolescence (basically ages 6-15). My assistant director, Sue Canarecci Felix, has also been involved with camp for years as a camper / counselor, and in fact was one of my counselors when I was a kid. She is a 3rd grade teacher for the Elkhart Community Schools. We also have a nurse on site for every week, and all of the staff are trained in first aid and CPR.

What is the daily schedule like? What activities do they do?

We have four activity periods per day, and the kids get to choose their activities each day. They can sign up for swimming lessons, boating (canoeing, kayaking, sailing, & rowing), photography, tennis lessons, jewelery making, a mini-triathlon, dance, and a team-building activity. During free periods they can choose from nature, sports & games, drama, crafts, and archery.

What about the younger campers?

All of the campers who are going into 3rd grade and younger are part of a group we call “Bluebirds.” Basically the Bluebirds have a counselor with them all day, and they help them get to activities and make sure that they know where to go at what time.

What does Mini Week mean?

It’s really a “sampler” week - we basically do all the same things that the kids get in a full week, but condensed into just 3 days. So on Sunday night we do check - in, swim test, and an all camp-evening activity. Monday & Tuesday we have our regular day-time schedule. Monday night we cook out and have “cabin night” - each cabin plans an activity with just their kids. And then Tuesday night we have our “closing Council Fire” and give out awards and such.

How many to a cabin? Is there a cabin leader/counselor with them? Same sex?

There are 3 (or more) counselors in every cabin, and at least two of them must be over age 18. The cabins range from 8 campers to 22 campers, depending on the size of the building. They are all definitely same-sex cabins - we have 3 boys’ cabins and 5 girls’ cabins, and they are in separate areas of camp.

It’s Survivor Week at Camp Tannadoonah! It’s our first week of the 2008 camp season, and it has been an amazing week so far. We have a total of 85 campers attending this week, and everyone is having a fantastic time.

Sunday night after we all checked in, the campers went down to the waterfront for the swim test. We were very happy that the thunderstorms all held off until we had all finished swimming and were back upstairs for dinner.

Given the crazy weather around the country this past year or so, I’ve been receiving a lot of questions about our safety procedures at camp. During staff training, we spend a lot of time discussing procedures and what to do in different situations. This is particularly relevant this year, as just last week 4 Boy Scouts were killed in a tragic accident when a tornado hit their camp.

Miss Sue (my assistant director) and I each carry walkie talkies with built-in weather radios. Whenever there is a storm watch, we alert all of the counselors in camp (by walkie-talkie), just to make sure they stay aware of what’s going on. We have several different signals for severe weather, so if a counselor doesn’t hear the message over the radio, we also blare the air horn and ring the big bell outside Main Lodge to signal an emergency.

If a tornado warning is issued, we immediately bring all of the campers to two central locations: The Dining Hall and Morris Lodge. Both of these buildings have basements, so they are the safest places in camp to bring the kids. During the time we’re waiting out the storm, we sing camp songs and play games to keep the kids calm. We monitor the weather radar and radios, and if it gets bad, we move the campers to the basements. We do periodic drills with the counselors to make sure they stay sharp and remember all of the proper procedures for various emergency situations.

Anyway… back to Survivor Week! On Monday night we had cookout and cabin night. We at hot dogs & s’mores cooked over the fire, and then each cabin planned an activity together. On Tuesday night we had a crazy game of Capture the Flag. Tonight was our Talent Show, which I’ll write about more later (and post pictures!).

We’re all having a great time, and I just know this summer is going to be the best one yet!

~Ms. Amber

The Order of the Birch is the highest honor that a camper at Camp Tannadoonah can receive. In order to receive this award, the camper must have attended camp for at least 5 years, and be going into the 8th grade or older. In addition, he or she must attend each activity at least once during the week they are at camp, attend Polar Bear every day during the week, complete a service project, lead sing for a day, keep their bunk neat and clean, be a model camper all week, and finally, write a poem or song about what Camp Tannadoonah means to them. This poem or song is read or sung at Council Fire on Friday night in front of the entire camp. Two campers completed the Order of the Birch during this past week at camp. Here are their poems. I think that the last two verses of Katie’s poem are especially poignant, as this was our last week of camp and we were all sad to close up and go home.

If I’d Never… by Katie Luecht

If I’d never heard a cicada cry
In the middle of the night
I’d never wake up and see the moon
In the dark blue sky

If I’d never walked the path
To see a half-dead tree
I’d never know what a peaceful sight
The Princess Tree could be

If I’d never woke up early
To jump in the cold lake
I’d never enjoy anything else
More than a hot pancake

If I’d never picked up a bow
And let an arrow fly
I’d never know how good it felt
To hit a bullseye

If I’d never left this camp
And stayed here every day
I’d never know how much I’d miss it
When I went away

If I’d never came at all
I wouldn’t be able to see
How incomplete my life
Without Camp Tannadoonah would be

Tannadoonah by Tyler Rondot

Tannadoonah we love you,
Your light is so true.
Handcraft, sports, nature, and archery,
Are all so much fun you see.

Miss Calleen is so mean,
And Miss Catherine is a fiend.
Mr. Jake looks like a snake,
Grandma Rose swims in the lake.

Miss Amber and Miss Lori are so kind,
The counselors are a great find.

Miss Kayla’s pretty funny,
Miss Swabbie Ashley is so sunny (burned).
Mr. Alex hits his head,
Miss Stephanie never wants to get out of bed.

Mr. Ian is my pal,
Miss Joan is quite a gal.
Mr. C. J. never wears PJs,
We so need a DJ.

Miss Molly is so sweet,
Miss Katie has pretty feet.
Mr. Cain is my friend,
Me and Mr. Josh will be buds ‘til the end.

Mr. Dave is quite handy,
Miss Kahley gives me candy.
Miss Peggy makes awesome food,
At photo, Miss Lauren is good.

Mr. Phil is so tall,
Nurse Cathy helps me when I fall.
Miss Steph and Miss Diana live in the bird yard,
Miss Abby is a star.

That’s all there is, there ain’t no more,
Until I come to Tannadoonah more.