I See a Generation Rising

leadershipI have taken this title from a line in the popular song by Brook Fraser called, “Hosanna”. It has been my privilege over these last many years to work with amazing young Christian teens and adults who are living their lives for Christ. Every summer they come to camp as dish washers, service staff, cabin leaders, SALT staff, leadership staff and volunteers. They live out in front of the campers and each other what it is to be a Christ follower. Everyone expects me to tell them about living for Jesus and that has some impact, but the real example comes from leaders who are a few years ahead of them in life. We see an amazing impact of these younger every summer on the lives of campers and SALTers. They make a faith decision or get quite serious about their faith, no longer living their parents faith. It is a great sight to see indeed.

I was recently reminded that most great movements began with students. They’re not waiting for others to lead. They’re taking a step out and follow God by being ALL IN!!! They’re listening to Biblical preaching, worshiping passionately, praying relentlessly, caring practically, and reaching out to the world around them intentionally. Indeed they have taught me about worship as well.

Hosanna

I see the king of glory
Coming down the clouds with fire
The whole earth shakes, the whole earth shakes
I see his love and mercy
Washing over all our sin
The people sing, the people sing

Chorus
Hosanna, hosanna
Hosanna in the highest

Verse 2
I see a generation
Rising up to take the place
With selfless faith, with selfless faith
I see a new revival
Staring as we pray and seek
We’re on our knees, we’re on our knees

Bridge
Heal my heart and make it clean
Open up my eyes to the things unseen
Show me how to love like you have loved me
Break my heart for what is yours
Everything I am for your kingdom’s cause
As I walk from earth into eternity

This is what God IS calling ALL of us to do!

Mealtime Songs

Salt-groupIt’s part of our schedule at Camp Widjiitiwin to sing a song and pray before every meal. We have lots of songs to choose from and sing them loud and proud as part of a camp-life tradition. Here are some of the songs we sing:

  • Walking with the Lord
  • Fresh Prince
  • Pizza Hut
  • Superman grace
  • Praise Ye the Lord
  • Fill up my cup
  • I wish I were an Oscar Mayer Weiner
  • Infantry song
  • Johnny Apple Seed
  • Soft Kitty Warm Kitty
  • Jesus Loves the Little Children
  • This is the day
  • We will rock you
  • Baby Shark
  • Father Abraham
  • Deep and Wide
  • Swimming swimming, in my swimming pool
  • Brown Cow
  • Jaws Song
  • Jesus was a cool dude
  • Spiderman grace
  • Rub-a-dub
  • Sponge bob
  • ABC grace
  • Flinestones grace
  • Batman Grace
  • John Jacob Jingleheimer Schmidt

I love seeing the entire camp standing on their benches, singing at the top of their lungs. It’s really neat to hear the difference from the beginning of the week when campers are uncomfortable or unsure of the song lyrics to the end of the week when they stand up and belt the lyrics out (even if they still don’t fully know them). Meal time songs are such a small portion of a campers week at Widji but to see the joy and smiles on their face as they sing them is one of the MANY reasons why I love camp!

Submitted by Synchro

Props, Costumes and Stuff for 2013

If you have any of these items and are willing to donate them or loan them to Camp Widjiitiwin, we would greatly appreciate it and these items will help enhance our summer program themes. Items can be dropped off at MBC/Camp Widjiitiwin. We may be able to pick up some items. Contact Mike Greenfield at 1-800-551-0168 or email mike@mycamp.ca if you have items to donate or loan.

Lego:

  • Lego or Duplo sets, even miscellaneous pieces
  • Egg cartons (6’s, 12’s or 18’s) to paint into Lego bricks

Australia:

  • Boomerangs, Australian hats,
  • didgeridoos, rain stick,
  • Stuffed Koalas, kangaroos, etc.

Western:

  • Cowboy hats and cowboy boots
  • Leather vests, belts & buckles,
  • bull whips, spurs,
  • Sheriff badges, bandanas
  • Two old saddles
  • Old wagon wheels, old milk cans
  • Toy pistols or old west style rifles

1990’s:

  • Tomagotchi, Nanos or Gigapets
  • Inline skates, beanie babies
  • Videos of Saved by the Bell, Recess, Arthur, Magic School Bus, Carmen Sandiego, Bill Nye or Full House
  • Pogs, 90’s Disney movies
  • Game boys, mood rings

General:

  • Tall dressers for cabins
  • A small box trailer
  • Fans & mirrors for cabins
  • Life jackets in good condition
  • Canoes & paddles
  • Dress up clothes and costumes
  • Generators,12Kw and 7000 watts
  • pool noodles
  • picnic tables (new or good condition)
  • plants/shrubs for landscaping

Political Attack Ad Screw Up

Sometimes I get angry at stuff I see on TV. I’ve even been known to shout at contestants on programs, even though I know they can’t hear me. This DSC_0214week the Federal Conservative government of Canada put out an attack ad against Justin Trudeau as the new leader of the Liberal party of Canada. This one offended me. While I have never been a Liberal and don’t plan to become a Liberal or vote for one, someone in the PMO screwed this one up; suggesting that the experience of being a camp counsellor is something at which to be scoffed. It’s NOT! You can see the media here if you haven’t already seen it on your TV. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sGWuN3ZVuxU

I don’t know what camp Justin attended, but it’s pretty clear that the Conservatives have no idea the level of responsibility that a camp counsellor (or cabin leader) takes on. For the week that a camper is at camp, the camp counsellor becomes the parent, mentor, leader, guide, motivator, confidant, friend, supervisor, advisor, teacher, supporter, organizer, chief, trail blazer, spiritual role model and big brother/sister. AND, it’s a 24 hour a day job with huge responsibility for the campers in their care. At many camps the camp counsellors are also the activity leaders. These brave people take on leading 6-8 campers in the cabin and teaching 10-15 each activity period. For so many it’s a way to give back for all the role models they had growing up at camp.

I tweeted the following out to our Prime Minster, Stephen Harper and my local MP, Tony Clement: “@pmharper @TonyclementCPC why would you malign Justin being a camp counsellor? That’s an honourable job to have done!” No response yet.

Fifty

Fifty, the BIG 5-O. I made it! It’s been a great birthday. As far as the big milestones, I guess this is one of those, but I don’t really feel like I’ve crossed some great divide. Thursday was dinner with my beautiful wife for wings at Kelsey’s. Friday was dinner at East Side Mario’s followed by coffee at Tim’s with friends that don’t get together often enough. Many laughs were had by all.

Saturday was lunch in Barrie at William’s Coffee Pub with my family followed by an hour at the Goodwill store. Then it was on to Medieval Times in Toronto for a feast and a show. We got our picture taken with the princess, met up with some camp staff, planned how we could use their ideas for a themed week at camp, I was knighted so that’ll be Sir Mike or Sir Moose if you prefer. You just can’t go wrong with dinner that you’re supposed to eat with your hands, horses, a tournament, knights, sword fights and jousting. Our champion didn’t win, but the evil interloper was defeated and the princess saved.

I have a treasure box in front of me filled with letters from friends (staff, family, co-workers & old friends). Carolyn collected these and put them together with some pictures in a treasure box. It is truly a treasure to me. As I have read the letters from people I have had to stop many times as my tears and the lump in my throat have made it impossible to continue. Some of you are just discovering that I have emotions. I appreciated the funny ones as they gave me some reprieve. One of my favourite sayings is that you can count the seeds in an apple, but not the number of apples in a seed. I have told this to decades of staff explaining that they will never know the full impact of their actions/ministry on others. I have been given a glimpse into the seeds that are now spreading seeds of their own. I have read all the notes and feel very blessed. Thank you all.

Today I’m relaxing after church, reading through my treasure box and reflecting. Time for a nap! I hear its part of the 50+ club daily routine. It’s been a great birthday.

Welcome to our new Widji website

Welcome to the new website.

I’m glad you have joined us. For a while now our old website has been malfunctioning, getting tired and the program was no longer supported so we re-branded and relaunched here at www.widjiitiwin.ca.

I’m excited to unveil to you this new site which is much improved with all new and updated content. Thanks to Chad and his team at Rhubarb Media for all their work!!

Mike (Moose) Greenfield

www.mycamp.ca
www.facebook.com/CampWidjiitiwin
@WidjiMoose

Being ambassadors for Christ to children and youth

2013 Widji Themes

Lego
Brick, brick, brick, window, brick, brick, brick, brick, wheels, brick, brick, brick, door, brick, brick, brick, brick… What is it you may ask? To find out you’ll have to come to our Lego week and discover the adventure at Camp Widjiitiwin.
Destination: Australia
WIDJI: the land down under, home of kangaroos, koalas, big snakes and crocs of course. Plus you’ll discover boomerangs, didgeridoos and chicken on the “barbie”. We’ll head deep into the outback to search for the elusive ten foot high Kangaroo beast that lives in the forest.
Survivor Widji
Outplay, Outcamp, Outlast… This week at Widji will test your metal against other tribes in challenge after challenge. Win some, lose some, get the reward, but who will win the “immunity trophy” and avoid tribal council? Which tribe will be the ultimate survivor? Who will survive tribal council where someone WILL be voted into the river?
Western Town
Go ahead, make my week… cowboys and cowgirls will enjoy this week where the sheriff is the law, the wranglers will lead great activities and we’ll enjoy some awesome chow in the Longhouse. Plus there’s great treats at the General Store. Grab your cowboy hat and boots and mosey on over to Widji for a fun western week. Try yer hand at lassoing, target shootin’, bronco riding, and stop by the sheriff’s office to see who’s in jail. Y’all come to camp now.
1990’s
Take chances, make mistakes, get messy! In the 90’s Magic School Bus and Miss Frizzle ruled the airwaves. Bill Nye the science guy intrigued us, Arthur ruled the playground, no one knew where in the world was Carmen Sandiego and we collected beanie babies, Tomagotchi & Pogs. Come to Widji and be ready when the “bus does its stuff” and you’re “Saved by the Bell!”

Excited for a Headache

As I lay in bed feeling the rhythmic drumming of my pulse inside my head, I realize that I have woken up this morning with a headache and I’m kind of excited about it. While that likely sounds crazy to you, let me tell you why. Almost a year ago I woke up with double vision for no apparent reason. That began about an eight month journey with a low grade headache almost every day that medications wouldn’t take away. Then in late November I got a plastic film that bent the sight in my right eye six degrees towards the left. The headaches were almost instantly gone as my eyes and brain no longer struggled to make me see what was really there with no extra parts on the right side.A few weeks ago I got new glasses. That in and of itself is nothing remarkable, it’s even commonplace. But, these particular glasses bend my vision straight. It turns out that in my struggle with double vision that my right eye has a sixth nerve palsy and is out by six degrees. So my new glasses have a three degree bend in each lens, bending towards the middle. Above and below the glasses is way out, so I avoid looking over or under my glasses. The new glasses have eliminated 90% of the headaches that started in March when the double vision came on.

It’s like the light bending experiments in physics class or like looking through a glass bottle of water and seeing an out of place image on the other side. I have also discovered that this is more common than I expected.
Several extra strength Advil, two cups of coffee and an Excedrin later I’m still feeling the pounding. I’m starting to be a little less excited now. More coffee…

Reminiscing

I drove by my old house in Mississauga recently. And my old grade and middle schools in the same trip. It got me reminiscing about people and events and brought all kinds of emotions and memories to my mind. The house is similar, but with new paint and different trees. The old apple trees are gone and so was the TV antenna. My first thought was don’t they know that the kids will need it to climb down off the roof when they sneak out a window after bedtime and over the roof? It worked on several occasions and was always Tom’s idea.

I pictured each house around our old one and who lived there in my memory. There was even an older man working the in garage where I remember Mr. Sevren working. Across the road was where Max and Susie lived. Down the road was Christies where my younger brother was dared into eating dog food. Greg and I were born on the same day, same year and used to have birthday parties together. Around the corner was where Bobby Maxwell and I smoked a pack of his dad’s Colt cigars in his tree house and made ourselves sick. Begg’s lived on the other side of us from Sevren’s and she did a lot of knitting if my memory serves me well.
Molters were between Lakes and Christies and I remember spending hours listening to music in the basement. Todd was a year older and we played a lot of baseball in the school field behind our houses. The older boys taught me to catch a baseball by throwing the ball at my head. The Nicholls were on the corner and on the way to Bobby’s house. They recently moved in to the senior’s complex where Elaine runs the salon. Fortunately for me she recalls that I was pretty much an angel. Guess she didn’t know about the cigars.
I sat in the truck in front of the old house so long that I expected Mrs. Lake to come out and run me off. Mrs. Lake was that lady in the neighbourhood who scared all the kids, and maybe a few of the adults. Eventually it was time to head for my next meeting. There were so many more memories that came to me then and as I finished my drive to Hamilton. Until the next visit…

Cooking with Moose: Bend for Your Elves

I’m not sure this happens at your house, but it sure does at ours. That is sometimes you just don’t want to cook supper and it is preferred to tell your family to fend for themselves. We had this one day, but in a noisy house it was done as charades so that “fend for yourselves” came out as “bend for your elves”.  Now it has become a “house classic” and even made it in to our family cookbook. Enjoy this many optioned meal from the kitchen of the Greenfields.

Ingredients
  • Use whatever you can find in the fridge, freezer, cupboards, pantry, on the counter, or other places food is stored in your house.

Directions

  • Combine several ingredients together to make a new dish or an old favourite.
  • Use as many ingredients as possible
  • You can choose to eat it cold or hot
  • Cooking options include microwaving, baking, frying, BBQing, steaming, toasting, searing, boiling, sautéing, etc.
  • Condiments are always popular so try a new one or just hot sauce

Notes:

  • Each portion is an individual serving
  • Some favourites include 12 kinds of cereal in one bowl
  • Grilled cheese with various additional ingredients
  • Nachos loaded with lots of cheese (this is especially excellent on Sunday nights and is one of my favourites)