10 Things To Do When Your Child Is At Widji

So you’re arrived home after the drive home from Camp Widjiitiwin. You left your son or daughter with us for the week. By now they have done their swim test, met their cabin leaders and all the other campers in their cabin, had dinner (Sub Sunday) and are out on the field for our opening activities, an all camp pic and cabin photos. Then they’ll be off to chapel and either another activity or back to their cabins depending on their age. 

Now what? 

Here are ten things we suggest you do this week while we take care of your kids. 

  1. Go on a date (not to Costco)!
  2. Go see a movie you wouldn’t take the kids to
  3. Pray for your child, the staff and camp
  4. Make food that your kids don’t really like, but you love (Moose suggests steak with a loaded baked potato and sautéed onions and mushrooms)
  5. Sleep through the night and sleep late in the morning
  6. Read a book that doesn’t have pictures and four lines per page
  7. Enjoy your clean home for a week
  8. Don’t watch kid shows on TV
  9. Go out for lunch with a friend, guilt free
  10. Spend a night at MBC and take in their ministry and recreation. 
  11. Bonus! Enjoy some adult conversations with no interruptions. 

Cooking with Moose: Broccoli Salad

Recipes we use at camp and some from Moose’s family cookbook, “That Tastes Like Home“. Today’s recipe: Broccoli Salad, originally from our friend Annie.

Ingredients

  • 2 heads broccoli, raw, cut up small
  • 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
  • 1 small red onion, chopped
  • 1/2 cup sunflower seeds
  • 1/2 cup raisins
  • 6 slices of bacon

Directions

  • Mix, then add to the above
  • 1 cup mayonnaise (real)
  • 1/2 cup savory tomato or hamburger relish
  • 1/3 cup sugar
  • 1/4 cup vinegar
  • Just before serving add 6 cooked bacon slices, in pieces

Notes: we usually double up this recipe and bring it for parties, family get togethers or church functions.

Happy Canada Day!!!

happy-canada-day-sticker-card-in-vector-format_GkbrRfs__LHappy Canada Day!!

We’re 151 this year. In 1867 the Dominion of Canada came into being as an act of British Parliament and with royal assent from Her Majesty, Queen Victoria.

Our Canadian motto, a mari usque ad mare, as seen on the coat of arms, is the Latin rendering of a line from Psalm 72:8: “from sea to sea.” He shall have dominion also from sea to sea, and from the river unto the ends of the earth. (KJV) 

As Canadians we have a LOT to celebrate. Canadians have long been the peacekeepers on the world stage.

Here are 27 excellent Canadian inventions: insulin, basketball, the telephone, ice hockey, Superman, IMAX, the egg carton, standard time zones, walkie talkies, the rotary snow blower, peanut butter, the Canadarm, poutine, Nanaimo bar, butter tarts, Trivial Pursuit, the Robertson screw, snowmobiles, lacrosse, the wonder bra, pablum, plexiglass, the Blackberry, zippers, garbage bags, paint rollers and the foghorn!! 

Plus we are pretty famous for Tim Horton’s and maple syrup! 

#Canada #CanadaDay #MyWonderfulCanada #CanadaDay2018 #HappyCanadaDay #OhCanada

National Indigenous Peoples Day

Thursday, June 21st is National Indigenous Peoples Day in Canada. Most of you know that Widjiitiwin means fellowship in the Ojibwa language, part of the #Anishinaabe (pronounced: uh-NISH-ih-NAH-bay) first nation, the original inhabitants of the area where Widji is located. 

It is said that the Anishinaabe came to earth born of the fifth element, the breath of the great spirit itself. Known as the “the good people”, theirs is a path that extends the clarity of vision to others simply through the walking of it themselves.

The Seven Teachings of the Anishinaabe are honesty, humility, truth, wisdom, love, respect and bravery. These virtues are also valued in our Christian culture because God is wisdom and love and truth. 1 John 4:8 & 16 

2 Peter 1:5-8 For this very reason, make every effort to supplement your faith with virtue, and virtue with knowledge, and knowledge with self-control, and self-control with steadfastness, and steadfastness with godliness, and godliness with brotherly affection, and brotherly affection with love. For if these qualities are yours and are increasing, they keep you from being ineffective or unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Honesty – To achieve honesty within yourself, To recognize who and what you are , Do this and you can be honest with all others.

Humility – Humble yourself and recognize that No matter how much you think you know, You know very little of all the universe.

Truth – To learn truth, To live with truth, and To walk with truth, To speak truth.

Wisdom – To have wisdom is to know the difference between good and bad, and To know the result of your actions.

Love – Unconditional love to know that when people are weak They need your love the most, That your love is given freely, and You cannot put conditions on it, Or your love is not true.

Respect – Respect others, their beliefs, and Respect yourself. If you cannot show respect, You cannot expect respect to be given.

Bravery – To be brave is to do something right, Even if you know it’s going to hurt you. 

The Thunderbird (pictured above) is the symbol of the Anishinaabe people. Thunderbird is described as an enormous bird large enough to carry a killer whale in its talons as an eagle carries a fish who is responsible for the sound of thunder. Thunder and lightning are attributed to the Thunderbird, which produces thunder by flapping its wings and lightning by opening and closing its eyes. 

Read our blog for more on the Seven Grandfathers teachings.

Camp Widjiitiwin – the way camp was meant to be… relational, central, natural, reaching out, a loving community focused on Christ. It’s like coming home. It’s my camp!

Good Works that God Made in Advance for Us to Do

Good works. They won’t get you into heaven, but God has planned them for you to do. You have a purpose! He used the apostles and prophets for the foundation. Now he’s using you, fitting you in brick by brick, stone by stone, with Christ Jesus as the cornerstone that holds all the parts together. 

It’s In You to Serve… to do the work God has for you to do. A Christian’s work is helping people directly or indirectly for God’s glory.

Max Lucado, in his book, Cure for the Common Life: Living in Your Sweet Spot, defines a “sweet spot” as those experiences when everything just comes together & under your breath as you do this activity & it’s going well, you say, “I was made to do this.”

Ephesians 2:10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.

John 17:4 John says, “I have brought you glory on earth by finishing the work you gave me to do”.

It’s a privilege, a wonderful, amazing privilege that we are allowed & invited to be part of God’s work to help others come to faith in Him and grow as Christ followers. It’s work, but it’s meaningful (eternally meaningful) and often… FUN.

It’s like seeing this team playing a game and wishing you could play and then the coach comes over and says “I want you on my team, so you go sit on the bench, he says, “I want you to come onto the field and play in this position and I’ll help you”. It’s a great situation and a great feeling! 

Meet the 2018 Widji Spring Crew

Meet 2018 the Widji spring crew!! They are:

  • Program Director – Ryan Pearl Jones
  • Assistant Program Director – Emma Notch Wigston
  • SALT Director – Aunna Rhino Greenfield
  • Waterfront Director – Caroline Shooby Raymer 
  • Assistant Director – Leah Shadbolt

Plus (not in picture) Director – Josh Heyoo Laverty and General Director – Mike Moose Greenfield

Over the next seven weeks they will be getting camp ready for staff, cleaning and other prep jobs. They also will be learning their summer jobs and making preparations for summer programs. In fact, there’s a list of 145 things to be done this spring so we are ready for staff and campers to arrive at the end of June!!

Please pray for all of us as we get ready for summer. Prayer requests include safety, creativity, unity, and fun. Also pray for more camper & SALTers applications. Thanks!!

Cooking With Moose: Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookies

Today’s blog will start a new occasional series with some of the recipes we use at camp and some from Moose’s family cookbook. It’s called, “That Tastes Like Home“. This one was traded from Camp Mini-Yo-We and has become a favourite at Widji. 

Today’s recipe: Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookies

Ingredients

  • 1.25 cups margarine
  • 1 cups white sugar
  • 1 cups brown sugar, packed
  • 1.5 tsp vanilla
  • 2 eggs
  • 2 cups flour
  • 1 tsp baking soda
  • 1 tsp baking powder
  • 1/2 tsp salt
  • 1 cups chocolate chips
  • 2 cups rolled oats
  • 3/4 tsp cinnamon

Directions

  • Cream together margarine and sugars
  • Add eggs and vanilla and blend well
  • Combine flour, baking soda, baking powder & salt.
  • Add half flour mix to the creamed mixture and blend, then the next half and blend
  • Add oatmeal and chocolate chips and mix
  • Drop by small scoop onto cookie sheets, 24 to a sheet
  • Bake at 350 degrees F (175 degrees C) in convention oven for 8-10 minutes
  • They freeze well but hiding them is hard

Spring 2018 Compass Article: Widji News

Widjiitiwin continues to build meaningful relationships with our partners in the Ignite program, and we will again be welcoming groups for 5 of our summer weeks. This means that campers coming to our open enrollment weeks help to make it possible for these groups to bring campers from communities with violence and risk to their own special weeks. New activities for 2018 – Laser Light Battles (a team based game of tactics and tag) and Ukulele classes.

Summer at Widjiitiwin is starting to take shape and the big news is with the staff! With the exception of our need for male cabin leaders, all of our staff positions have been filled. The leadership team is made up of some new and veteran staff. We are excited to be welcoming back Slack as our Guys Chief, Rhino as SALT Director and Titan as Program Director. This mixture of new and returning staff will create a solid back bone for summer program, while enjoying the energy and ideas that new staff bring with them.

We are very excited to add a new Director of Ministry position this summer, and we are happy to tell you that Sad Sac (Rob Cripps) will fill this position as a support to our summer staff and campers.

SALT for teens (14-17) has two different streams; adventure-based for session 1 and arts based for session 2 (started last summer). We’ve got 3 special weeks of community, creativity and adventure planned for you. You will learn about yourself, the Bible, leadership and teamwork principles.

Although it is said that the only person who likes change is a baby, 2018 brings change to Widjiitiwin. Moose will be on the Leadership Team at MBC with the position of Director: MBC Retreats & Camp Widjiitiwin. MBC Retreats include Women of Grace, Men’s Breakaway, Couples Getaway and Family Fusion. Plus he will work with Anne Shelton on a new marketing strategy and process. At Widji, Moose will be the General Director. His time at Widji will be one third of his overall job. He will continue to be responsible for our Ignite partnerships, visioning, yearly tactical plan, camp pastors, donations, marketing, Widji blog, budgeting, busing and foodservice.

Heyoo will be the Camp Widjiitiwin Director. He is responsible for the daily running of camp that he started in 2017 when Moose went on sick leave. Responsibilities will include summer operations and program, staff hiring & supervision, program oversight, maintenance, SALT, Aspire, graphic design, brochures & website. Shared responsibilities will include capital projects & social media.

Ignite Partnerships
Our five Ignite partnership camps are growing strong and are more than half our summer campers. This year we anticipate up to 305 campers to attend. Pray for us as we work with kids and youth from at risk and marginalized communities.

  • Fresh Air Camp, in partnership with Toronto Police, 42 Division with PC Mark Gray in its tenth summer, expecting 60 campers. Dwayne (Joose) Francois is our camp pastor for the week.
  • Escape Camp, our partnership week with Hughson Street Baptist Church in Hamilton, in its seventh summer, expecting 70 campers. The team from Hughson Street (Diana, Derek and more) will provide ministry & Bible teaching.
  • Royal City Camp now in its sixth year expecting 60 campers from Church of the City in Guelph. Matt (Newb) Naismith with Spencer Adams are the leaders and camp pastors this week.
  • Capstone Camp in its fourth year expecting 70 campers through Capstone Community Bible Church. Rob (Sad Sac) Cripps and Andrew (Nemo) Ironside teach the Word and lead the campers with us.
  • Ephraim’s Place Camp, our partnership with Ephraim’s Place in North York, in its third year, expecting 45 campers.

Our other camp pastors this summer are, Nathan (Ice) Pifer from Faith Muskoka, Michael (Boyardee) Bowyer from Philpott Church and Myles (Sherlock) Holmes from Harvest Durham.

Not too long from now, at a camp not so far, far away… you arrive at Widji for our 2018 summer theme Star Wars!! On the far side of the universe on the third planet from the sun is an event becoming known for training Jedi and battling the Empire. And we’ll do all nine movies over the nine weeks of summer. We are excited by what God will do through the ministry of Camp Widjiitiwin this summer.

Serving Him together,

Mike (Moose) Greenfield                                   Josh (Heyoo) Laverty
General Director                                                  Director
Camp Widjiitiwin                                                Camp Widjiitiwin

www.widjiitiwin.ca
Ambassadors for Christ to children and youth

Support After Tragic Events

We are deeply saddened by the tragic incident in Toronto involving a van and pedestrians on April 23, 2018. This is a significant tragedy and can be quite upsetting for our community. We know that adult reactions to unexpected and troubling situations can shape how children and youth experience these events.

The following information came through the Ontario Camps Association. 

As a caring community, everyone is shocked and saddened when there is a tragic world event. These rare events can impact each of us differently. We may feel sadness, grief, helplessness, anxiety and anger. Whatever we feel is okay. When supporting a child, please consider the following points.

Tragic Event Tip Sheet 2018

  • Adults have fears and worries too. It’s important that our feelings do not interfere with listening to children and youth, who must feel that adults are listening, are calm and are in control.
  • Take time to deal with your own reactions before speaking to a child or youth. If you are coping well, you can better offer children and youth your support.
  • If you are struggling, ask for help. Have someone else support children and youth while you care for yourself. Help children and youth feel safe
  • Be calm, offer reassurance and explain how children and youth are in a safe place.
  • Limit media consumption, especially in elementary schools. Children struggle to distinguish between TV and reality. Limiting media exposure for older children can keep them from focusing too much on the crisis.
  • Discuss conflict resolution ideas and non-violent ways of solving problems. Acknowledge & normalize feelings
  • People vary in their emotional responses. Feelings after traumatic events may include fear, loss of control, anger, loss of stability, isolation and confusion.
  • Accept these feelings. Allow children and youth to express their feelings. Emphasize that
    people are entitled to their own feelings and opinions unless it hurts someone else.
  • Let them know that their feelings are normal, expected and shared by many others.
  • Recognize feelings behind actions and put them into words. For example, “I can see you are feeling scared about this.”
  • Encourage children and youth to talk to you or another caring adult. Emphasize that you are there to help, and that they tell an adult if they feel, or a friend feels, overwhelmed.
  • Respect diverse responses. Some teens prefer to talk to adults – like parents or teachers – while others prefer to talk to friends.
  • Some people respond to stress with humour, some of which may be inappropriate or insensitive. This type of humour should not be encouraged or condoned. However, if this does occur, help the child or youth understand why the humour was inappropriate. Be a good listener and observer
  • When children or youth ask questions, listen carefully and respond as appropriately and objectively as possible.
  • Let them guide you regarding their level of concern or desire for information.
  • When answering questions, stick to the facts. Don’t speculate about what could happen. If you don’t know the answer, don’t be afraid to say so.
  • Discuss events in terms that are appropriate to a child’s age and level of development.
  • You may need to continue discussions. Acknowledge new information as it is available. Respond to changes in behaviour
  • Children and youth may respond differently to traumatic events, with forms that may include:
    • Preoccupation with violence (e.g. pretending to blow things up)
    • Difficulty concentrating
    • Aggressive behaviour
    • Physical complaints (e.g. stomach aches and headaches)
    • Increase in or loss of appetite
    • Anxiety, sadness, withdrawal
    • Sensitivity to loud noises
    • Mood changes
    • Sleep disturbances

Identify children and youth who may be at risk. Most children and youth will be able to cope with their concerns about current events, with help from parents, teachers and other caring adults. Some children may be at risk of more extreme reactions due to personal circumstances. The most vulnerable children are those who:

  • Can directly relate to the tragic event.
  • Have friends or relatives in the affected areas.
  • Have experienced a recent death in the family.
  • Have a history of depression, anxiety disorders or other trauma.
  • Have recently come from a country where they experienced armed conflict.

Cooking with Moose: No-Bake Cheesecake

Today’s blog will start a new occasional series with some of the recipes we use at camp and some from Moose’s family cookbook. It’s called, “That Tastes Like Home“. 

Today’s recipe: No-Bake Cheesecake

Ingredients

  • 2 cups graham cracker crumbs
  • 1/3 cup brown sugar
  • ½ cup melted butted
  • ½ pound package of cream cheese
  • 1 ½ cups icing sugar
  • 1 envelope dream whip
  • 2 tins pie filling- 1 cherry & 1 raspberry (or both the same or blueberry or blackberry, etc.) 

Directions

  • Mix first three ingredients well and press all but ½ cup in 9 x 13 greased pan
  • Mix cream cheese and icing sugar well
  • Add one envelope dream whip (mixed as per directions), or use real whipped cream
  • Spread over crust
  • Add one tin of pie filling on each end of pan
  • Sprinkle remaining crumbs on top
  • Refrigerate until firm