Camp Pastors 2017

Every summer at Widjiitiwin we have an excellent group of summer camp pastors who each give a week of their time to be at camp to teach the Bible to campers and staff. We highly value the time these men invest into teaching God’s Word, the staff and campers.

Our camp pastors for #Widji17 are:

  • Escape Camp – Hughson Staff
  • TNT 1 & Blast 1 – Chipstack
  • TNT 2 & Blast 2 – Ice
  • Fresh Air Camp –Joose
  • Royal City Camp – Newb
  • TNT 3 & Blast 3 – Boyardee
  • Venture Camp – Nemo & Sad Sac
  • Sizzle – Sherlock
  • Ephraim’s Place – Optimus Prime

This summer we welcome all our camp pastors and their families! Please pray for these men as they pray, prepare and give their time to impact the Kingdom of God at Widjiitiwin.

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!

HOW did I get HERE?

Hello! I’m Maddy, but at camp I’m known as GiggZ. I got my name because I was and maybe still am known for my excessive amounts of laughter. This year I am the Program Director and that’s amazing but super strange. As I kid I was a camper at Widjiitiwin and looked up to staff and leadership as if they were heroes, but now that I’m here I’m not sure what all the fuss was about.

When I looked back at all the things that got me here to this position the list gets a little lankly. My family first heard about camp about 9 summers ago over the Christian radio station 100.3 and from there my mom signed my brother and I up! I still remember my first day at camp, I wasn’t homesick but I remember thinking ‘where on earth did my parents leave me’. Later I would realize camp would become my home.

My first cabin leaders were Siren and Synchro and they truly made my first week at camp memorable! That first week I also met one of my closest camp friends, Meredith. After that summer Meredith and I were in the same cabin again but by total ‘coincidence’ (all because of God) and ever summer after we went to camp together right up to our first year as staff.

As a camper I did a couple years of Blast, then a summer of Sizzle and then I did the SALT program in 2012. There I learned that ‘hey I’m a bit of a leader’ but I also learned about my weaknesses and strengths. The summer after SALT I applied for a position at camp and was hired for service staff. The summer after that I was a cabin leader and last summer I was a SALT cabin leader. Each summer I’ve learned so much, from my mistakes, and from my successes. Over the years, I have learned so much from different staff members, leadership, and even campers! I truly believe that I wouldn’t be who I am or where I am if it wasn’t for this camp.

During my last year of high school, I was also given the privilege of working for a local church and being there after school program director, there I was given the responsibility of planning, as well as running 3 after-school programs with the support of the church. Looking back, I can see exactly how God was preparing me for these different jobs and I know that God is still along side me pushing me on. I must be confident in my abilities because I know that he has been preparing me and supporting me all long my journey thus far.

And lastly my parents! Shout out to the most amazing and support people ever! They have supported me in my decision to come to camp and they are the ones I turn to and rely on when things go sideways. They inspire me to work hard and to be a better leader everyday. They both have amazing leadership abilities and I know I couldn’t and probably wouldn’t want to be here if it wasn’t for them.

So there you have it, somehow the little shy camper in Robin cabin is now the Program Director.

GiggZ

Why We Do Camp Names @ Widji

Why do we have camp names at Widjiitiwin? Because they’re magical!

It adds to the magic of camp and creates a space not only for the campers but also for the staff to have the opportunity to be the people they can’t be outside of camp. There’s nothing like hearing a camper yell “Moose!” when they see you away from camp! It’s something special between you, the staff and your campers and brings back memories for all of you!

One of the things you’ll notice right away is that camp staff go by camp names rather than their given name. We want our campers to know that they have entered a new community, where new things can be tried, new friends made, new skills gained, and new outlooks developed. They can become the person they want to be. Camp names are a fun way for us to build that magic, that sense of possibility.

Your camp name will become your super hero uniform, allowing you to achieve incredible levels of GR8ness! I find it gives a person the freedom to explore to find who their true selves actually are by stepping out of their name. Camp names for us are about freedom to be yourself not hiding or masking yourself. Many folks go through several camp names before they find a fit, which in turn helps them discover the person behind the real name.

The Ceremony: Staff with camp names sit in a circle on benches while those yet to be named sit inside the circle on the floor. As each staff receives their camp name they write their name in the book of staff names (choosing how to spell it). Then they come and join the named staff on the benches. 

Rules for Approving Camp Names @ Widji

  1. The namee must like their name. They get one veto.
  2. The Camp Director gets final say and unlimited vetoes.
  3. If a staff comes with a camp name from another camp, and wants to keep it, they can. If they desire a new camp name, that is okay too. 
  4. The camp name mustn’t be a proper name (Bill or Jennie).
  5. The name must be original to the camp – no repeats.
  6. The name must pass the test where a camp name is tried out to see if there was a way that kids could make it dirty.
  7. The name could make reference to your skills but not your physical appearance.
  8. Camp names should bolster people’s self-esteem and make them feel part of the community.
  9. The name must not scare parents away – no Killer, no Psycho, no LovesToHug.
  10. Camp names are an honour and are earned by your commitment to the community.

Canada – 150 Years in the Making

Happy Canada Day!!

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 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! 

#Canada150 #CanadaDay #MyWonderfulCanada #CanadaDay2017 #HappyCanadaDay #OhCanada

A Path Where No One Knew

The last 5 years have been a journey for me. One that has caused me to doubt my abilities, to find solace in God or people. So far, the medical community can only tell me what it isn’t and barely help to reduce the symptoms to manageable. Debilitating dizziness has kept me from work, from church, away from friends and family all because I can’t function.

Psalm 77:19. I was recently given this verse as I work through some health issues which are creating a number of difficulties in my life. John Friesen said, “there is a reason, though I don’t know it and there is a path, though I don’t see it”. Psalm 77:19 Your road led through the sea, your pathway through the mighty waters – a pathway no one knew was there! (NLT)

When you’re going through a hard time (at work, with family, with your health or mental health), you want to know there is some reason, a purpose. You want to know there is a way out, a patch to follow, a tunnel and the bright line isn’t a train that’s going to hit you. What of you don’t know the reason or understand the why? For a guy like me who needs to always feel in control, this idea is very scary. Scarier than repelling a 100 foot cliff or climbing a 70 foot pole. I wonder if I have to take each step in faith without knowing the path. 

Rodney Atkins has a song chorus that says, “If you’re goin’ through hell keep on going, Don’t slow down if you’re scared don’t show it, You might get out before the devil even knows you’re there”. Winston Churchill and my aunt Isobel used to say something like that too. I think there is some common sense there, but these verses are better. 

Psalm 119:105 Your word is a lamp to guide my feet and a light for my path. (NLT) 

Psalm 23:4 Even when I walk through the darkest valley, I will not be afraid, for you are close beside me. Your rod and your staff protect and comfort me.

Jeremiah 29:11-13 For I know the plans I have for you,” says the Lord. “They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope. In those days when you pray, I will listen. If you look for me wholeheartedly, you will find me. (NLT)

Matthew 7:13-14 You can enter God’s Kingdom only through the narrow gate. The highway to hell is broad, and its gate is wide for the many who choose that way. But the gateway to life is very narrow and the road is difficult, and only a few ever find it. (NLT)

In the journey over the last few years, I have struggled to understand the why of my situation. I don’t like not being strong. I certainly don’t like feeling sick, dizzy, tired, unfocused, crappy or unmotivated. I feel overwhelmed at times. Some days I don’t feel my prayers go beyond the ceiling. 

The journey continues… looking for a pathway no one knew was there.

Where I Belong

Guest Blog by Courtleigh Reimer, SALT Director 2017

Who has a degree in Bio-Resource Management, a year of administrative experience, student loan and car payments to make, and still chooses to work at camp? This girl.

camp was that place your parents shipped you off to when you were younger so they got a break. It was the place that you got to goof off for a week or so, eat all the junk from the tuck shop because your parents weren’t there, and consequently stay up so late you drove your counselor to the brink of insanity. Who would voluntarily spend entire summers being the overtired and overworked staff member supervising these munchkins? This girl.

What delusional person would decide that the never-ending chaos that is summer camp is the only thing that could get you through the year? Definitely this girl.

Why, you ask, would you possibly believe that this girl is psychologically sound? Because camp is the greatest.

I grew up in a camp-loving community. My church camp was the place to be all year round. I absolutely lived for fall and winter retreats there with both church and school, and when it came to that week in the summer for goofing off… I hated it. Every part of it. I hated sleeping in the same room with other people, having to wait in line to shower, and people regulating and scheduling my fun. I also hated not being able to sit around and watch TV like the lazy lump that I could sometimes be. Who knows what the difference was between retreat time and actual camp time? Maybe it was the new people, or the slight difference in free time. Maybe a week was just too long? I did this week of regulation camp once when I was 11, and then again when I was 14. Camp was not for me. Who could live in such conditions for that long?

When I was 15, I went back to camp as a favour to my aunt. She wanted me to volunteer for a week to help her out with a program, so I reluctantly agreed (mostly because I had a crush on one of the summer staff members, but that’s not important). I have no idea what changed, but I was hooked. Maybe it was the snack cart that campers didn’t have access to? Or the fact that there were only 2 other girls in my room? Maybe it was just that being a staff member helped me feel more important. Either way, something had changed.

It wasn’t until recently that I realized what the difference was. This time I was a part of something, and that’s what has kept me inside one camp community or another for this long. The sense of belonging that I feel when I’m part of a team of summer staff is addicting. The idea that this group of like-minded people are there for the same reasons you are is astonishing to me. These people are goofy, uninhibited, and want to make sure that the kids that they meet this summer are falling in love with camp just like they did. I don’t know why the younger me couldn’t see the magic of camp, but feeling the way I did in the past helped me relate to those kinds of campers in the future. I’ve made it my mission to try my very best to make sure that each child that visits camp is welcomed and finds the same sense of belonging that I finally found after so many years.

Camp is that place where you can be yourself. It’s the place where there’s no pressure to be dressed up, made up, or even cleaned up for that matter. There’s a certain transformative magic in a camp setting that sends your self-esteem and confidence straight through the roof. As soon as you realize that everyone is embracing their quirks, you can too. Where else can you dance around to Disney songs in a tutu and still have people look up to you for your growing leadership skills?

This ideal applies to both staff and camper alike. One of the greatest rewards in my experience is watching a kid grow in one way or another throughout their time with you. Whether it’s trying something they’ve never done, finally mastering something they’ve been working on, or simply making new friends – seeing kids be transformed by this positive atmosphere puts a smile on my face every time.

I’ve recently realized that I want to be surrounded by fun for the rest of my life. Camp is where my heart lives, and I never want to leave it behind. This is where I belong. I’m constantly learning from the people I meet, be that campers or other staff. I will forever be in love with working long days so that a camper can learn something about themselves through the power of fun. I will always be the person to give a fellow staff member the encouraging boost they need to believe that they can step outside their comfort zone or help that kid who just wants to go home. I will never stop telling people about the wonders of camp in the hopes that one person will be changed by this place in the same way I have been.

I truly believe that the craziness is worth it and I hope that someday you’ll feel the same. Even if you have never been a camper, it’s never too late to experience camp life. I encourage you to find a place to be silly and vulnerable, and to surround yourself with endless amounts of creativity and excitement. Even if it’s only to see what all the hype is about, humour me. Send your kids, send yourself – find a way to be a part of one camp or another because we can’t change lives all by ourselves.

In case you don’t have any summer plans yet and you’re feeling compelled to see if I’m right – here’s your opportunity. Click on the link to give us a hand! http://widjiitiwin.ca/work-at-widji

When I Predicted the Future

Every summer for over 35 years I have been privileged to work with teens and young adults. In fact, it is my life’s mission. I get to see SALTers and staff when they are young and help lead them to be the next generation of Christian leaders. Very often I see great potential in them. One of those people is Giggz. 

Giggz has been on a journey from camper to SALTer to service staff, cabin leader, SALT cabin leader & now leadership staff (Program Director). She grew up at Widji. 

Giggz has energy, drive and direction. She is well organized and motivated to do all that can be done for campers and staff. In her SALT session, she took leadership in a variety of situations, was one of the first to help to others, offer to belay and more. As a cabin leader and SALT leader she continued to demonstrate her leadership abilities. I am excited to see her do well this summer and am glad to have her on our summer leadership team. 

Is This is the Moment?

“Perhaps this is the moment for which you have been created…” Esther 4:14

Aloha! My name is Kyra, and I am excited to begin my first season at Camp Widjiitiwin as the Camp Admin for the summer and “intern” for the following eight months, whatever that means to Moose! I, like many other people, have often wondered where God is leading me and how He is shaping my future. I find myself constantly thinking about what my next steps will be, something that, as a college graduate, people often question. My Type A personality means that I always want to be in control of the circumstances I find myself in, and I tend to get fairly anxious when things do not go as I hoped.

If you had met me two years ago, you might be very surprised at the girl you saw. I was in a serious relationship which I thought was heading towards marriage, I was applying to school for Social Service Work programs with an end goal of working directly with people who have mental health disorders. I found my value and significance in what other people thought of me and what I could accomplish on my own. As Widji is definitely not a “social work position,” my life has clearly gone a very different direction since then.

I ended up getting my diploma in Recreation and Leisure Services, something that most people scoff at and wonder what kinds of jobs that could ever get me. I am no longer dating that guy for many reasons, and I am enjoying being single for the next little while. I heard about Widjiitiwin through working at MBC for the last couple of summers, and when I asked Moose if he’d be interested in having an Intern throughout the winter, he said something along the lines of, “That would be amazing!” (Notice: This is not a direct quote.) I was ecstatic, as this opportunity came along at a time when I was preparing to move to a place I absolutely did not want to go. I was begging God for another option, and He provided Widji at just the right time.

Now that I have been here for a little over two weeks, I am really looking forward to what God has in plan for this camp, the staff, and the campers over the next 4 months, as well as myself for the next year(s) of my life. I have no idea what any of the next 365 days will look like, and while that scares me, I know that God has placed me here for a reason and I can’t wait to find out what that is. In the Bible, Esther finds herself in the king’s favour, even though the rest of the Jews are being persecuted. Her cousin points out that “maybe she was born for a time such as this,” and that she has an opportunity to save her people and show off the power of God. (Esther 4 has more context for this.) I stumbled across this verse by chance just the other day, and while at first it didn’t mean a lot to me, it is now a verse that I am clinging to. I may have no idea where God is taking me or what His purpose is, but I know that He has created me for a reason, and that I can only trust in Him to find out what that is.

Tips for Preparing for Camp

It is important to prepare your child for their camp experience. What should you do/know before coming to camp?

In the month or so leading up to your child’s time at Widjiitiwin.

  • Offer reassurance, upbeat words of encouragement. Never discuss how much your child will be missed back home. Instead, keep the focus on them and the positive camp experience.
  • Go over the daily schedule with your child so there are no surprises. Search “traditions” on our camp blog to discover some of our favourite camp activities and traditions. 
  • Let us know if there are special circumstances or considerations regarding your child’s well-being or behaviour.
  • Have your child spend a weekend at a friend’s house. Talk about it with your child afterwards. How did your child feel the second night?
  • Ask your child to think about what he or she wants to do and learn at camp. Help them set goals.
  • Check out our Facebook and Instagram feeds for pictures of what camp is like. 
  • Plan something for yourself while your child is at Widjiitiwin. Maybe a weekend away, a day trip or date night. 

The week before camp:

  • Consider writing a letter in advance that you slip into your child’s luggage, or mail one that will be waiting at camp. You can even specify the day you want it delivered.
  • Talk about the fun activities they will do at camp and the people they will meet.
  • Homesickness is fairly common. Missing home, parents, pets and friends is pretty normal. At camp we will work to keep your child busy and distracted. Bed time can be the most difficult time. Talk with them about how they will be staying with eight other campers and two cabin leaders. 
  • Teach your child how to handle clothes and toiletries. Dirty clothes in a laundry bag and wet ones hung up to dry. Clotheslines are outside each cabin.
  • Check your child’s hair for head lice or ensure your child gets treatment before starting camp.

The day before camp

  • Work out the time to drive to camp and your best route.
  • Start packing for camp using the following packing list – download it here. And the packing list for SALT. Make sure you include some personal items (like a stuffed animal or blanket) that may provide comfort to your child. Involve your child in the packing process to give him a feeling of ownership over the experience. 
  • Label everything from your t-shirts to your tennis racket to your toothbrush. And leave really expensive gear at home. Most children lose something at camp, so check the lost-and-found on pick up day. Follow this link for great labels – www.widjiitiwin.mabelslabels.com.
  • Make sure all medication is in the original container with clearly labeled dosage instructions.

The morning of camp

  • Have breakfast as a family and prepare for the drive to camp.
  • Make sure you leave lots of time to get to camp. Plan to arrive at camp between 2:00 and 4:00 pm. Leave time for bathroom stops and lunch depending on the distance to camp.
  • Talk about the fun your child is expected to have, the friends they will make and the new activities they can learn. 

NOTE: If you have any questions please call us at 1-705-789-0123 or email registrar@mycamp.ca. 

MBC Compass Spring 2017: Widji News

Transformed youth! This is the desired result of our mission to be ambassadors for Christ to children and youth. What does that look like? Christian youth (summer staff, campers & SALTers) who have their own faith, godly character, actively participating in these disciplines: reading God’s Word, worshiping, prayer, a small group study and discussion, serving in ministry, reaching out to their friends, and developing a Biblical worldview. To accomplish this, we use community experiences; staff who demonstrate the gospel message, teaching of God’s Word, positive relationships with staff and creative programming.

SALT for teens (14-17). This year we are offering two different streams. We’ve got 3 special weeks of creativity and adventure planned for you. You will learn about leadership and teamwork principles.

  • Session 1: Adventure-based: This session will focus on an outdoor adventure setting and application, instruction in ORCKA flat-water and Bronze Medallion, practical in-cabin leadership experiences, spend a day rock climbing, 4 day, 3 night out trip, special day trips, service projects and more…
  • Session 2: Arts-Based: Still the same backbone that SALT has built on year after year, this session will focus on experiencing God’s creative character in the outdoors, while cultivating creative opportunities to perform and produce art in different mediums. Trips are made off-site to arts events in Muskoka plus run Widji Radio and other special activities.

Partnership Outlook

Our five partnership camps are growing strong and are more than half our summer campers. This year we anticipate up to 340 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 ninth summer, expecting 90-100 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 sixth summer, expecting 75 campers. The team from Hughson Street (Diana, Derek and more) will provide ministry.
  • Royal City Camp now in its fifth year expecting 55 campers from Church of the City in Guelph. Matt (Newb) Naismith is the leader and camp pastor this week.
  • Venture Camp in its third 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 second year, expecting 40 campers. Alex (Optimus Prime) Street is our camp pastor for this week.

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

We still have summer staff positions to fill including male cabin leaders (must be 17 or finished grade 11); 2 male SALT cabin leader (age 18+). Leadership positions needed (age 19+): male Co-Program Director and Head Cook. If you know some great Christian youth/young adults please send them to www.widjiitiwin.ca/work-at-widji for more information.

Our themes for 2017 are Destination: Greece, Nintendo and The Round Table! There are some interesting leadership lessons from King Arthur as he led from beside his knights.

Serving Him together,

Mike (Moose) Greenfield
Director
Camp Widjiitiwin

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