Caption Contest Winner

And the winner of the caption contest is:

"This is pretty good, considering I've had it in my backpack for 3 hours."

And runner up:  "My pre-breakfast snack - better than yoga!"

Happy Camping!

Adventures in Holiday Cheer

Does anyone have these as a Holiday tradition?

As kids my brother and I would always fight over whose turn it was to eat the candy.  Now that I have my own place, my mom still makes sure we have one of these to count down the days until the 25th.  Well...this year I forgot about mine until last night, and I had to eat 17 pieces of chocolate to catch up.

The things we do for tradition.

Anyone else have any unique holiday family traditions?  Let me know in the comments!

Happy Camping!

You Know You're a Camper When...

10. You can name at least three brands of hiking/water shoes.
9. The number of bug bites on your body is a source of competition and/or pride.
8. You can recognize the smell of bugspray combined with sunscreen.
7. "Arts and Crafts" automatically brings up the thought of friendship bracelets.
6. You know that GORP is not a disease or texting acronym.
5. You have ever bragged about going to the bathroom in the woods.
4. Taking a dip in a lake or river counts as a shower.
3. You have ever told (or have been told by) someone that "it's not ash, it's seasoning."
2. Living with no technology or electricity for a week or more doesn't faze you.

And the number one way you know you're a camper is when:

1.  This is your idea of a little slice of heaven.

(Additional campers optional - it's up to you.)

Happy Camping!

It's 12-12-12!

Today is a very special day!  Did you do anything to make today unique?  (Back in 1999, I did jumpings jacks for the last minute of the twentieth century.  How is that for unique?)  Today, Jane got everyone in the office scratch cards and I won two dollars.   And at lunch I got an email from someone at 12:12 pm. 

If you haven't done anything to make today memorable, you still have time!

Happy Camping!

Hoping for snow

I miss this.

This photo was taken last year during the Krop for Kids event, which was in November.  Hopefully the snow will come before Santa does this year!

Decking the Halls

Camp Newaygo is all decked out for Christmas, and it looks spectacular.  We had a few helpful volunteers put up three twenty-foot trees, four six-foot trees, all of our tiny pine cone decorations, and a minature snowy village.  The vintage sleigh is also back in its spot by the twinkly birch tree in the Great Room.

The fireplace in the Great Room looks so festive

In honor of Christmas Camp Newaygo has signed up to be a drop-off site for Toys-for-Tots.  If you have any gifts you were planning to donate, send them our way and we would be happy to take them.

We also hope you can join us next Saturday, December 8 from 4pm to 8pm for our Santa and S'mores event.  See reindeer, Santa, and the elves!

Happy Camping!

Caption Contest

Hello All!

I found a great picture in our archives that I would love to get your reaction on - and I also want to see who's out there in the blog world reading this.  So...caption contest!  The winner gets a giant virtual high five (next time I might offer a real prize like a free pass to an upcoming event)!

I feel I should give some backstory on this picture, but it would implement me so you're getting zilch.

Give it your best shot in the comments.

Happy Camping!

Deer Day

Hello All!

In some parts of Michigan,  today is considered a holiday - it's Opening Day of rifle hunting season. 

I know, I know, in Michigan when is it NOT some sort of hunting season.

In my family, the guys all get up early and have a big breakfast, usually made by my gramma or mom.  When I was in school, I usually was the only person in the house still sleeping, and never knew any of this was going on.  All I knew was that I got to wear an orange hat if I had to wait for the bus in the morning or go for a walk after school.

Now that I'm out of school and in the working world, the day has taken on a new outlook - Hunter's Widows Day aka shopping!  Fremont has a great Ladies Night event downtown, and this weekend I'm planning a big day out with the girls in my family to get a headstart on Christmas presents.  Let the guys have their solitude; the girls know how to really have fun.

Because you know this is what really happens anyway.

Happy Camping!

Sneak Peek: Buckeye!

Jalisa just returned from a planning weekend in Ohio for the Buckeye Leadership Workshop, and she brought some juicy tidbits for the upcoming BLW.  I've been looking through the session offerings and there's just too many to choose!

For those of you who don't know, BLW is a learning, sharing "workshop" that focuses on experimental learning through recreation.  Anyone 15 and over who is interested in developing or improving their recreational leadership skills can attend.  The atmosphere is welcoming and positive - it's like camp for camp staff.  We have jam sessions, square dancing and mixers, crafts, games, and we learn lots of new stuff to take back with us.  Last year was an absolute blast, and I can't wait to go back in April.

Probably one of my favorite things is the themed evening programs, because you get to dress up.  Last year we dressed up for a space theme, eighties prom, and the roaring 20's.  This year is going to be just as awesome, and I'm already planning out my outfits:  Go-Go Gadget, Go Back in Time, and Go Team.  I'm already a step ahead with my Marty FcFly costume from Halloween.

Check out their website at www.buckeyeleadsership.com for more info, and to check out their featured presenter for the workshop.  April needs to come soon!

We all Voted!

We all voted today!  Did you?

A Spooktacular Weekend

Mother nature must be a fan of Halloween at Camp Newaygo, because the weather was great for our three day fall fest.  We saw some adorable costumes like Taylor Swift, bumblebees and ladybugs, a ninja, a cow, a zombie hunter and Pikachu.

And this awesome penguin.

It was great to see so many parents out with their kids having a good time.  We love being able to provide a place for families to create memories together.

Next up is our annual fall Bake Sale - check out the homepage of our website for more information on what's for sale and how to order.  In December we have Santa and Smores on the 8th, Ladies Night Out (a fondue party this year!) on the 6th and Horse Drawn Light Tours on the 13th and 14th.  Check 'em out!

Get Outside!

It's always an interesting feeling for me when we get to hang out with kids that have limited experiences with nature.  I must admit that it strikes me as odd that a kid can grow up not knowing the taste of food cooked over a fire or what being waterlogged from swimming all day feels like - or never even seeing a snake up close.  Growing up in this area, I was lucky enough to spend my summers camping with my family and the rest of the year running around my suburban neighborhood climbing trees or looking for treasure in the dirt alley bisecting our block. I guess I never considered myself to be fortunate to have those things, and I never stopped to think other children weren't doing the same, even back then.

Thinking about it now, however,  I feel incredibly humble.  I get to be the one that shows these kids the wonder that is the s'more, how useful Sassafrass and Birch bark is, what little creatures live underneath the leaves on the forest floor.  I'm even learning new things right along with them, like the difference between conifers and evergreens and what mimicry means. 

Working at a camp I sometimes get complacent, thinking that the things going on here every day are normal and commonplace.  It's nice to have a reminder that what we do is important for kids.  And not just kids - even I forget to stop every once and awhile and just look up, to take in that distinctive shade of sky blue on a clear sunny day or just how brilliant the night sky can be when the conditions are right.  We need to remember that what we have right outside our window can be profound, if we just learn to embrace it and share it with others.  So my wish for all of you is to get outside and discover for yourself just how amazing our world really is!

Women's Weekend Fun

Women's Weekend is not your typical Camp retreat, which is why it is my favorite weekend of the year.  The women are all so nice and the activities ROCK.  It was so relaxing and fun.

Friday night we had a contra dance caller Preston Gritter show us some moves - did you know the promonade and do-se-do are different? 'cuz I didn't - and a camp fire.  Saturday we got to learn pastel drawing, watercolors, caricatures, NIA dancing, and of course the massages and mani/pedis.  We had a bit of a chilly pontoon cruise, but it was clear and smooth on the water.  On Sunday we made art with wine bottles and corks, jewelry, and stacked glass, kayaked, and played Frisbee golf.

And did I mention the delicious food?  Apple bacon sandwiches, fettecini alfredo, cheesy wild rice soup, and HUGE desserts like chocolate brownies with peanut butter mousse and caramel, butterscotch cheesecake in wine glasses, and homemade apple turnovers.  We ate like royalty.  I was pleasantly stuffed after every meal.

If you missed it this year, you HAVE to come next year.  We want to continue this amazing event so that our CN sisters have a place to relax and catch up every year!  Put October 4-6, 2013 on your calendars today!

Art Prize and Hay Art

There are so many creative and fun things going on around Camp Newaygo right now.  Art Prize in Grand Rapids is wrapping up this week, and we all got a chance to go see it.  Jalisa was a part of the epic lantern launch on Friday.  There were so many, it probably felt like being in the middle of a Disney Movie ("At last I see the light..."  I love Tangled!)  The event was chosen as a Top Ten contender - and don't worry, all the lanterns are biodegradable, and nothing caught fire.  Grand Rapidsites were encouraged to find and return any burned out lanterns for raffle prizes.  Yesterday I saw seven of the top ten.  Which of the top ten was your favorite?  Mine is a tie between The Chase (the moose and wolves) and Rebirth of Spring (the oil painting of the forest).  They were all very good though.  I loved the penquins and the giant lure outside of the Gerald R. Ford Museum.

Fremont also has some great art around town: Hay Art!  I've seen Angry Birds, a lumberjack, a giant tractor, a skunk, and more.  TrueNorth has a great one shaped like a shopping cart, complete with hay bale groceries inside.  The sheer scale and planning required is amazing.  I think next year camp should do one in the middle of the Veterans Park, shaped like a red chair.  Or a smore.  What do you think?

Only a few more G3's to go, then it's time to get ready for Halloweekend at Camp Newaygo.  So much fun!  I'm already working on my costume....  Oh yeah, and don't forget about Volunteer Day October 20th from 9am to 3pm.  Lunch is provided - and you know how good our catering is!

Camp Newaygo Zoo

Some of you may not know this, but Camp doesn't usually house animals year round.  Lacy is here full time (that champ), but the chickens, tarantula, rabbits and turtles go home when the counselors do in the fall.  Sad, I know.

But this year that's changed - we have SONIC!  The hedgehog.  I was going to give you three guesses but it would have been too easy.  Sonic (who, coincidentally, is a girl) belongs to Jalisa and keeps us company in the office.  She sleeps during the day, but she gets quite noisy on her wheel at night (how do I know this, you ask?  Weddings tend to last well into the wee hours).  Her stomach is the size of a marble so she doesn't eat much, but so far we've learned that she hates cherry tomatoes and loves pepperoni.

Jalisa has also recently acquired a cat named Nala.  She posted a video on Facebook of Nala going crazy over a lazer pointer.  My cat - her name is French Fry, Kitty, Hey or Quit It, depending on my mood - is nowhere near as playful but twice as cuddly.  Seriously, she must have been a monkey in a past life for all that she climbs on me.  I am not a tree!

So there you have it folks.  All girl animals for an all girls camp. Lacy is no longer the lonely critter guarding the place.  You'll have to come visit us this fall and winter to see our newest additions.  (Which may be growing soon - I'll keep you posted!)

Happy Camping!

The Great Sinus War

This week has been a little tough on all of us due to what I am now dubbing "The Great Sinus War."  Jalisa and I fought valiently, but alas, we were struck down by our foe.  My battle went something like this:

And then like this.

And then I gave it to Jalisa - hers was a sneak attack.  We are recovering with the help of our knights in shining armor, Kleenex and Nasonex.  What brave soldiers.

In other news, G3 is going strong and our corporate/private events are in full swing.  The colors are already starting to change on the trees around camp.  Very exciting!

Progressive Paddle

In case you did not make it to our fourth annual Progressive Paddle,  let me catch you up on the fun things you missed!

We had a total of 25 people attend the paddle this year, and the weather was absolutely gorgeous.  We launched promptly at 2 o'clock, heading towards the tunnel leading to Kimball Lake.  Bob and Nina Fox met us with their pontoon boat, handing out cheese skewers.  The kayakers took a quick tour around Kimball while they snacked, admiring the nice homefronts and beach properties.

After the appetizer we all went to the home of Jack and Bobbie Watkins near the boat launch on Pickerel.  Their home is done up all in wood with spiral staircases leading up and downstairs.  We ate penne pasta with tomato sauce and sauteed italian sausage with veggies.  It was very tasty.

Our last stop was to Gary and Marilyn Barrett's, the Kastle Inn.  We got to look through all of the suites - Sunfish, Sunflower, Apple, and Birdhouse - and sit in their comfy adirondacks while we ate pumpkin cakes and rocky road bars.

Overall it was a lovely afternoon on the waters of Pickerel and Kimball Lakes.  Next year we are changing up the routine, so we will keep you posted.

Happy Camping!

Where did the summer go?

Hello once again Newaygo Sisters!  Summer is officially over, and I finally have time to sit down and write a blog entry.  I bet you have all been wondering what has been going on here at Camp Newaygo this summer.  Well, here are a few highlights:

Marshmallow paint wars = more fun than paintball
Lots of trees came down around camp after a couple big storms, but suprisingly none of them hit anything.  Phew!
The girls rocked out while learning some sweet break dancing moves
Lora the Elephant came to visit!
Jalisa got a pet hedgehog named....you guessed it, Sonic
Camp got two new overnight sites - Teeter and Totter - off the drive to Cliff House
The LITs unveiled a new rest area for the Wakonda Girls called Wapasaki
Camp got a new maintenance cart, graciously donated by Sue Barthold - "the Twister"
Camp Craft is up and running in the new barn!

Wow!  And that's not even half of it.  I'd say 2012 was a great success.  We can't wait to do it again next year!

Up next is G3 - Go Outside, Get Environmental, Go Green!  We just had Grant Elementary schools, and this year we have been able to expand it to schools outside our county.  Progressive Paddle is also this weekend, and we have more weddings coming up as well.  I'll keep you posted.

Happy Camping!

Bonus: BAZOOKA ZOOKA BUBBLEGUM

Staff are here!

The summer staff have arrived!  It finally feels like summer with all the counselors on the dining porch singing songs and being crazy.  EYC came and went as well as Grant's Extreme Sports and Bug outings.  We have been very busy bees!

Day Camp is already in their second week, and our Day Camp staff are the coolest.  Deb is a returning staff member, Brad is an easy-going pro, and Nate is up for anything.  He even let a little girl paint his nails at Mom and Me!  Adorable.  You can check out all the great photos on our Facebook page.

Nikki, Amanda and four LITs headed out early this morning for Piro (Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore) for a week of hiking and bonding.  Here's a photo of them on the road; don't you just love how instantaneous technology is?

Happy Camping!

Ropes Course Training!

What a wonderful Memorial Weekend!  Everyone was off doing their own thing, whether it was going up North for rest and relaxation or heading South for the Indy 500 (which ROCKED by the way).  We came back refreshed and ready to go!

Tomorrow is our annual training for the Harriet Dooge Adventure Course.  I love the training - I love the different knots.  I have a super figure eight hanging on my coat rack right now.  Jalisa is already challenging everyone to a contest to see who can tie one behind their back the fastest.

I'll leave you with a picture of the view I had at the race track.  Those cars go so fast!

Happy Camping!

Schools, schedules and Camp Store goodies

What a great week it has been, and it's not even Friday yet!  The Ridge Runner team celebrated their victory with a lunch at Northern Trails on Tuesday, (and on a side note, I won first place at Trivia Night at a local restaurant), yesterday the MRWA held a water workshop for 3rd graders in Twin Lake and had gorgeous weather, and today Jalisa and I will be heading to Big Rapids for our last school teambuilding session.

Jalisa has been working her butt off completing the schedules for all the pre-resident camp groups that are coming to camp this year.  She's also been working on the staff shirt for the summer, and ordering some sweet merchandise for the camp store.  Spoilers - the popular sunglasses from last year may make a reappearance, and there may be a shirt featuring a long-standing camp end-of-mealtime tradition.  I don't want to give away too much - Jalisa is ordering today!

ALERT:  We are still looking for Day Camp Staff!  If you know of ANYONE who is hunting for summer work (and likes the outdoors and kids) send them our way!

I'll leave you with a picture I've been a little obsessed with the past couple days.  It's good for a giggle.

Happy Camping!

Prom 2012

Summer is coming!  It's already the middle of May, and we are getting excited for everything to start.
But in the meantime we've had some awesome stuff keeping us busy here - for example, Camp Newaygo had its first ever prom!  Here is a picture of the lodge:

Jalisa was in New York last weekend - check out some great photos on our Facebook page. We have more fantastic programs planned for the coming weeks, and then our staff will arrive for training!  See everyone soon!

Bowling is hard for tall people.

Team Ridge Runners rocked Bowlapalooza last Friday!  We won the team fundraising challenge with over $1000 raised - thank you Joe and Jane, our top contributors!  I made some sweet shirts for the team with a secret quote at the hem, and team numbers for everyone.  Jane joked that her "1" was for the number of pins she knocks over.  We all got strikes at one point or another, so I count the day a success!

This weekend is our Fashion Fling, and I am so excited.  The Elizabeth Halsey Boutique is so trendy, and Dawn donated some brilliant artwork for the silent auction.  Check these out:

Great, huh?  Come out to Camp on Sunday at 1pm, it's going to be fantastic!

Recruiting!

Hello All!

Sorry for the giant hiatus!  Jalisa and my crazy schedules meant we were rarely in the office - instead we were out and about in the area doing teambuilding.  Grant and Grand Rapids were so much fun!  We definitely put some mileage on those funderbirds.

Cool fact - Central Woodlands and Northern Trails schools in GR are like twins.  It was crazy walking into NT the other day and getting deja vu!  The kids at both schools were awesome and hopefully we got some girls interested in camp this summer.

Today the office is bowling for BBBS and I made everyone some cool T-shirts that I am quite proud of.  Go Ridge Runners!  This weekend we have a group at camp, and next week/weekend is going to be CRAZY with three different groups.  It seems that one weekend a month is always jam packed with a bunch of things going on, but we can handle it.  We are beasts!

Happy camping!

VOLUNTEER DAY!

Sometimes at Camp it feels like we are in our own little bubble - some people pass the gate on Centerline and don't even realize we are up here! That's why it is always amazing to me when volunteers give their time, energy and hard work for our events and volunteer days. We already had an alumni arrive today and she is helping us get ready for this weekend. It makes us so happy! We have a lot of outdoor activities planned for tomorrow, so keep your fingers crossed that it doesn't rain!

The Easter Bunny was here!

Hello all!

Our Spring Break Camp was a huge hit this year - thank you to everyone who attended! We even had a special guest show up on Friday night: The Easter Bunny! He gave everyone a special treat and posed for pictures. It was great!

Jalisa and I went to Central Woodlands Middle School in Grand Rapids at the beginning of this week for two days of teambuilding activities. We had a lot of fun with the FUNderbirds and the nitro rings. We talked to the girls about Camp Newaygo and how awesome it is. Hopefully we see some Central Woodlands girls here this summer!

This weekend is Speak UP! for the PACE students, volunteer day, Horseplay, and our Open House. It's going to be busy!

Buckeye Love!

Jalisa and I are back from the Buckeye Leadership Workshop and it was absolutely amazing! Amanda Rich and Nikki McIntyre went as well, and it was a great bonding experience for them as part of our leadership staff.

It's hard to narrow down the things I loved best about BLW, because there were so many. The people were friendly, the song circles were beautiful, the dancing was fun and the games were new and exciting. So much was packed into every day that it felt like we were there for a month - and I would have loved to have stayed that long!

We have lots of new ideas to share with you all that will make camp an even cooler place to be this summer. Look out for mixers, spies and smugglers, sodder ball, four on a couch, shuffle your buns, and more!

Tell Us Your Story...

We received a wonderful message from our website the other day that I wanted to share with you all in the Internet world. The following is from Erin Galligan-Baldwin, an alumni of Camp Newaygo:

I was a camper in the mid 80's - one of those girls who stayed all summer, through many sessions. I just loved it. My brother just told me he is sending his stepdaughter there this summer and I couldn't be happier. Camp Newaygo has been in my thoughts quite a bit lately - I have a 6 month old daughter and I sing her to sleep with camp songs every night. "Out of my window, looking in the night..." Thank you for so many wonderful memories.

This is why camp is so amazing! Thank you so much Erin for your story!

Colorstrology

Jane brought in a very cool book today called "Colorstrology" by Michele Bernhardt that is spot on! It tells you what color represents you according to your birthday.

Jalisa's birthday color is Autumn Leaf - she is very intense, successful and questioning. She's quick and alert, constantly learning and questioning, and is a very hard worker. She also has an eye for detail and would make a great executive.

Jane's birthday color is firecracker - she is interesting and intelligent. She has a tremendous amount of charm and wit, people gravitate toward her, she is very theatrical, and she has what it takes to commercialize her talents.

My birthday color is apricot nectar - striking, pleasant and appealing. I am easy to get along with, naturally generous, I love to communicate and I gravitate towards beauty and luxury items.

It also has a color for each month in general. Here's a quick rundown of each month's color and what it means:

January: Caramel - practical, determined, builder
February: Sheer Lilac - uplifting, progressive, detached
March: Fair Aqua - intuitive, subtle, empathetic
April: Cayenne - fiery, energetic, couragous
May: Bud Green - healing, rejuvenating, prosperous
June: Aspen Gold - radiant, energizing, uplifting
July: Coral Blush - soothing, receptive, nurturing
August: Sun Orange - regal, inspiring, powerful
September: Baja Blue - divine, discerning, artistic
October: Cerulean - peaceful, poised, balanced
November: Claret Red - intense, passionate, transforming
December: Pagoda Blue - wisdom, truth, vision

Happy camping everybody!

Shorts and flip flops

The red chairs are out! It's officially spring!

We have all been enjoying the fair weather here, from hosting this week's NIA class on the patio to opening all the doors and windows in the office. Walking to and from work this week through the sphagnum bog I saw: 2 deer, 3 snakes, 5 American Bullfrogs, 10 robins, many unidentifiable birds, and several squirrels. Those peeper frogs are very loud, but I couldn't find any. They could give Waldo a run for his money.

Looking through all our pictures from the St. Paddy's Day Stomp over the weekend, this is my absolute favorite:

Jalisa and I are getting very excited for Buckeye next week. We will get to learn lots of tips and tricks from Jim Cain, a very popular speaker in the world of camping. And when we get back it will be time for Spring Break Camp, Dad and Me, and the high school Speak UP! group. I can't wait!

Busy Weekend!

What a weekend! We had middle school students at camp for phase two of Speak UP! and they had beautiful weather to climb the giants' ladder. They also got to meet two true philanthropists, Ben Grostic and Keagan "Seoul" Loye. They spoke about their experiences in giving back to the community and beyond. Here's a video of Keagan reciting one of his spoken word poems:



On Saturday we had our mom and son St. Paddy's Day Stomp, and on Sunday was our bridal open house and tasting. It was delicious! Today we have all the windows open and we are basking in the nice weather. This morning I walked to work through the wetland trail - what a way to start the day! Jalisa was able to take a kayak to Sylvan and found a turtle shell on Turtle Island.

Happy Camping!

Words to Live By

This is one of my favorite videos on Youtube. It makes me feel so special! I hope it makes you feel special, too. Because you are! LYNSF!




Happy Camping!

Beautiful Spring Weather!

Winter? What winter?

The sun is shining, the water of Lake Pickerel is sparkling, and the tulips at the gate are popping up! Who cares what the calendar says- it's officially spring!

Speaking of spring, who's excited for Spring Break Camp! Jalisa has planned some fantastic activities for campers who want to get away for the weekend (April 6-7) during their time off. Come on, you know you miss us!

I'll end with some great news about the white vans: They got a makeover! They now sport fabulous TrueNorth decals on the sides and back. They look great - pictures will come soon!

Saturday was chaos! In the Caribbean, that is...

Our annual murder mystery dinner was a lot of fun this year! It was so nice to have a bit of summer in our lodge this weekend. Jane had the great idea of putting sails inside the lodge, and I added some PFD's and a windsurf board. It was warm and smelled like cocunuts from the candles Sue brought! Sue also made a palm tree out of pineapples!

The resort's bartender, Jack Daniels, died from a poisoned drink and the rest of the guests had to solve the murder. Turns out it was the lifeguard, Lifesavin' Sam! Two of our intrepid resort guests solved the case and earned some Smokin' Gun Awards for their super sleuth abilities.

Next weekend is Speak UP! and our St. Paddy's Day Stomp. It's going to be great!

Happy Monday, and a riddle!

Just thought I'd say a quick hello and happy Monday!

This morning was the highlight of my day, and here's why: I was listening to the radio this morning and they were having a riddle contest. I happened to have my phone on me and wrote a very quick riddle to send to them, and guess what? They read it a few minutes later, and I stumped them! Ah the power of technology.

Here's the riddle: I am in the middle of a river, the center of gravity, I hold a capital position in Vienna, and I am invisible. What am I?

Comment if you know the answer!

And here's a video I found you might like:

PDF FRENZY

Phew! What a day.

Most of the office has been playing a bit of catch up this week, what with being in Atlanta all last week. So it's been a lot of emails, file sharing, phone calls and meetings. We've been crazy busy, which is great!

Today I learned how to scan pages to my computer on Rico Suave, our printer. Lots and lots of pages. I'm talking at least fifty. I'm working on roles for our annual murder mystery dinner, and oh boy is it a lot like a soap opera! I love it. There's still time to sign up for the March 10 dinner, so give us a call!

New favorite game: Bananagrams. This is how I describe it: It's like personal, free-form scrabble on speed where you can rearrange your board to use up all your letters. The best part is yelling "BANANAGRAMS!" as loud as you can when you win.

Atlanta, Art, and New Kids on the Block

We're BACK! Did you miss us?

Atlanta was warm, busy, and very educational. The Hyatt Regency Hotel, which held the conference, was HUGE. Here are a few photos:

We met fun and interesting people, including some of Jalisa's Florida camp buddies. We learned ways to make staff training more effective, sat in on some inspiring keynote speeches, and played lots of crazy games. It was a great experience!

Today the lodge was filled with art students from around the county, led by our Cultural Specialist Brenda Huckins-Bonter. Their screenprints were pretty amazing. Hopefully the weather will cooperate tomorrow so we can get more students out here!

Jalisa, Sue and I are officially members of the New Kids on the Block! Seriously! Okay, so it's not the boy band. We're part of a group that are being trained in all things TrueNorth so that we can go out into the community prepared to talk up the wonderful things our organization does! I'm really excited to finally see what all the other departments do.

Happy camping!

ACA is Next Week!

Hello All!

What a fantastic week it's been! The comedy show was wonderful - Andy, Nate and Ryan were hilarious. In fact, Andy Beningo has been voted into the Top 12 for CMT's Next Big Comic contest. You can click on this link to vote for him. Go do it now! Go! I promise I will be here when you get back.

There, see how easy that was? So, next week Jalisa, Jane and I are heading to Atlanta for the American Camp Association Conference. We are all very excited to network and learn about ways to make camp even more awesome. The funny thing is we are all taking separate flights there and back. Jalisa and Jane will be heading to Florida for the weekend to see family and I will be coming back to Michigan for the Day of Dance on Saturday. It's going to be great!

Reason # 5 Camp Rocks:
What did do you today at work? Well, Jalisa and I had an impromptu photo shoot for the murder myster dinner coming up. We looked fabulous.

Sea Monsters, hearts, and comedy shows

Question:

Who thinks the Icelandic Sea Monster is legit?


Alright, so that's not really the point of this entry. (Although I am interested in hearing your thoughts). I just wanted remind everyone of our two great events coming up!



The Daddy Daughter Dance is going to be HUGE this year based on all the calls we've been getting. I've gotten down the decorations and will be putting up tons of hearts all over the place this afternoon.



On Valentine's Day is "Wanna Hear Somethin' Funny", a comedy show with local comics. I'm so excited for this one! I love to laugh.

OH, and Why Working at Camp Newaygo Rocks reason #4: The awesome vans! I feel like king of the road when I drive those things. And ah, the memories of driving Big Blue and Big Red each summer...

Reasons number 2 and 3

More Reasons Why Working at Camp Rocks:

2. The FOOD! Events are always lots of fun, but what makes them even better is the delicious food served. Volunteers usually get to eat afterwards - whether it's desserts, snacks or a big meal, it's all AMAZING.

3. The cool programs and events! Kathy Streng has been teaching a NIA class once a week in Lang Lodge that's an intense workout. Daddys and daughters will be out on Sunday to dance and get nails painted. A comedian is coming to make us laugh on Valentine's Day. And people from the community come in often to do their own fun events like weddings and concerts. It's always different and always exciting!

Winter Blahs, and the perks of working at camp

Where did the snow go?

I hope that snowshoeing at Camp Newaygo in Da Moonlight isn't cancelled! That would be a bummer!



Well, on a lighter note...

I'd like to start a list titled "Why Working at Camp Newaygo Rocks." I'll post one or two things a week, and see how many I can get!


So, here we go:


1. The relaxing places to take a break. At camp you can spend your lunch hour (or ten minute coffee break) laying in a hammock, visiting the waterfront, or just sitting in front of a roaring fire. Where else can you get that? I love this place!

SCRAPBOOKING!

Hello All!
Krop for Kids was a resounding success this weekend, with over 40 scrapbookers working on some awe-inspiring projects. Proceeds from the event will support both Big Brothers Big Sisters of Newaygo County and Camp Newaygo. Check out some photos:

And the snowfall left camp looking beautiful with the snow covering the trees and cabins:
See you at Camp Newaygo in Da Moonlight!

Winter Fun!

Hart Elementary paid us a visit over the weekend and were the first to make tracks in the fresh snow. Check out some photos:

This Saturday is Krop for Kids - I'm so excited to get crafty!

Camp Newaygo in the Windy City

Jalisa and I had a whirlwind trip to Chicago over the weekend with TrueNorth's volunteer coordinator Lora Stevens. It was Jalisa's first visit to the windy city, and she had a blast! We did all the touristy things - the Art Institute of Chicago, the Field Museum, Shedd Aquarium, and Sears Tower. We were even brave enough to walk out onto the glass enclosure to pose with a Camp Newaygo sign!

Next month we are headed off to Atlanta for the American Camp Association annual conference, so we'll be bring a sign with us for some great photo opportunities!

Happy New Year!

I must say, this holiday season was a roller coaster of events! On December 20 we went caroling at Binder Park Zoo in Battle Creek. It was a lot of fun - as you can see, we made great representatives for Camp Newaygo!
I became a PRO at driving the trolley at our Winter Reunion, and the campers had an amazing time baking cookies, video chatting with counselors around the world (Connecticut, England and Rome!), and rocking out some marvelous sweaters.

We are so excited for 2012! We'll keep you posted on our great events coming up this winter, like Cabin Fever and Krop for Kids. Stay tuned!