Fall 2006 Birch

MMPPOOLLSSOONNYYMMCC CCAA THE BIRCH LOG AA Volume LIII A newsletter for the Camp Olson Family Fall 2006 President’s Message All of us involved with Camp Olson know an Olson experience is a tremendous asset in a child's life. That experience is enduring and is comprised of many factors; including, inspirational fun, accomplishment, spirituality, and connectedness to the Olson community and our young leaders, who serve as role models. I want to share with you what children are experiencing at Camp Olson. Here are a couple parent comments from this past summer. "When our son found out that a staff member had dyslexia, just like him, he beamed. Finally, an older person who could relate to him. He tried so hard to get his Crewman award, which is no small feat considering he has such a learning disability. This staff person accomplished in one small week, things which our son’s tutors have struggled with for years. She encouraged, pushed, chal- lenged, rewarded, and motivated him. She gave stories of her struggles and how she overcame them. She offered practical advice on such subjects as teasing, teachers, and self-esteem. I will be forever grateful to her." ~ parent 2006 campers "I want to let you know that my daughter’s experience at Camp Olson was more than I could have hoped for. I only wish I had sent her earlier in the summer so she could have gone back for another week or even two! She came back with a greater sense of confidence in herself and a sense of belonging to something. My greatest hopes for this week at camp were met and exceeded. I am telling everyone what a good experience it was. We literally pulled this camp out of a hat. She said she wanted horses, so we found a YMCA camp that did horses. My normally non-communicative daughter has not stopped talking about her week. She told me in the car ‘I am so going back there every year until I become a counselor.’ You will never know what a challenge the last 6 months have been and what a turnaround this is for her. That is a great program. Thanks for all you do." ~ mom 2006 camper This past summer we experienced successful growth, serving an increase of 95 camper weeks over the previous summer. We provided $40,000 in scholarship assistance to more than 140 kids. We are thankful to you, our many alumni, friends, and sup- porters who helped make this possible. Our 2006-2007 annual campaign will begin soon. Each year camp depends on our alumni and friends to help us provide scholar- ships and finance projects that improve Camp Olson; assuring that Olson’s work for youth and their leaders will endure and improve for future generations. We appreciate your support. Sincerely, 2005-2006 Board of Directors Dick Perkins – President - Hamel, MN Todd Schwartz – Vice President - Urbandale, IA Shaun Palmer – Secretary – Rochester, MN CAMP OLSON YMCA STAFF Bill Elliott – Longville, MN Russell Link – Executive Director – [email protected] Dick Estry - Rochester, MN Hollis Feeser – Rochester, MN Colton Altobell – Camp Director – [email protected] Pierce Johnson – River Forest, IL Steve Johnson – Longville, MN Jay T. Mahon – Facilities Manager – [email protected] Dave Kapler – Rochester, MN Howard Kruger – Winona, MN Amy Johnson – Office Manager – [email protected] Louise Robinson – Minneapolis, MN Paul Smithson – Stillwater, MN Eric Sorenson – Rochester, MN Please contact Camp Olson if you are interested in Web site www.campolson.org learning more about becoming a Board Member. Page 2 The Birch Log Join us on staff next summer! We are currently accepting employment applications for the 2007 summer camping season. Applications are available on the Camp Olson website. If you have any questions, concerns or if you are interested in joining our team next summer, contact Colton. Working at Camp Olson is an invaluable experience because of the lasting friendships, lessons, and memories you will certainly take home with you. Annie Schwartz, Emily Johnson, and Matt Spanier A Special Legacy at Camp Olson… One of the amazing things about Camp Olson is number of people who continue to be connected throughout their lives to this place. This past summer, we had ten second generation staff members! Emily and Walter Johnson son & daughter of Erik (84-86) & Colleen Johnson (81-86), Richie Perkins, son of Richard(70-74) & Wynne Perkins (70-74), Ben & Jane Qualey, son & daughter of Dave (72-75) & Marsha (Richardson) Qualey (71-75), Matt Spanier son of Charlie & Maureen (Brown) Spanier (78-80) Chris & Stephanie Rogers, son & daughter of Dave(74, 82-90) & Marty Rogers , Annie Schwartz, daughter of Todd Schwartz (71-82) & Nancy Schwartz, and Josh Bornstein, son of Peter & Susan (Payne) Bornstein (77-79). It is a great tribute to the significance of Camp Olson and the families of so many that those connections remain strong through generations. Take a moment to consider all of the wonderful personal connections you and your family have discovered through Camp Olson! Richie Perkins Jane and Ben Qualey Josh Bornstein Dave, Chris, Stephanie and Marty Rogers The Birch Log Page 3 Learn to sail at Camp Olson this summer! SAIL...SAIL...SAIL... Camp Olson’s Premiere Sailing Program Our sailing program here at Camp Olson has received a recent boost. Along with the help of our alumni, Board member Pierce Johnson is working hard to make Camp Olson the premiere Sailing Camp in Minnesota and indeed the Midwest. This is being accomplished through additions and improvements to our fleet and the program in general. This year, we have received the donation of seven boats and have seen the majority of our vessels, cleaned, waxed, var- nished, repaired, and stored. Pierce has also assembled a group of sailing alumni who have contributed great time and effort into sailboat restoration at Camp Olson over the past months. In addition, all of our large boat sails are currently at NorthSails where they will be restored and stowed safely Family campers Mark and Pauline Funk and their for the winter. Donations of sailboats, equipment, and time now grown children learned to sail at Camp Olson. are crucial to the vitality of our program and are always In support of Camp Olson and the sailing program, greatly appreciated. The generosity of many allows us to they donated their 26’ McGregor sailboat. improve our sailing program, by sharing the pleasure and knowledge of sailing with hundreds of kids each summer. The Olson Fleet: 26’ McGregor (2) E-Scows (7) C-Scows (2) Lightnings (2) M-16s Rhodes 19 X-Boat Catalina Capri 16 Camp Olson Board Member and Brothers Brian and Bruce Edwards who learned to (3) Catalina 14.2s Volunteer Pierce Johnson tunes up a sail as children on Ten Mile Lake were excited to Laser II donated C-Scow. share their passion for sailing with youth and donated Prindle 18 Catamaran two C-Scows to camp this summer. Nick Pearson HobieCat 16 Catamaran and Aidan Windebank, summer boathouse directors, (6) Sunfish were overjoyed to accept this gift for Camp Olson. Many Windsurfers Boats Donations this Year Include: 26’ McGregeor – Mark & Pauline Funk - Mantorville, MN Catalina 14.2 – Gary Moore – Wayzata, MN (2) C-Scows – Brian & Bruce Edwards, Zimmerman, MN C-Scow – Chris Wessels – Clear Lake, IA C-Scow – Holly Brassington – Madison, WI Alumnus Nate Davis donated this 16’ boat and motor. The boat will be used Lightning – Carol Seitz – Bettendorf, IA as a rescue boat on Little Boy Lake. 16’ Rescue Boat – Nate Davis – Rochester, MN Page 4 The Birch Log Words from a First Time Family Camper At each turn in life, each new road I venture down, I’m always astounded by the feeling that I have when it’s time to travel back home: what I leave behind, what I peek at in the rear view mirror is now familiar, satisfying and comforting. It’s never that way when you arrive. We followed our directions from Rochester to Camp Olson on that second Sunday in August for Family Camp, our first "real" vacation as a family. Three kids, now old enough to soak up the sights and sounds, and no other family obligations on the calendar to coincide with our "vacation." It was all for us. And it was raining. A rain-soaked Sarah greeted us with her clipboard and checked us off the list, directed us down the muddy road and to our cabin. Soon, Emily knocked on the door. She was soaked too, but didn’t seem to mind. We professed our lack of umbrellas and rain ponchos as first timers and she reappeared from the lost and found with five rain ponchos. So this is our first hour. And now as I think about it, there were so many more names and wonderful people to appear and add to our story. There were many places, many adventures, many meals and many campfires to go. It’s impossible to capture our week at Family Camp in a short piece here in the newsletter. But I’ll give you a sampler platter. There was an adult in our family of five, who proclaimed it her "best vacation ever." The other adult in the family hedged a bit, but wouldn’t go on the record. A couple of kids in the family also crowned it "the best." I wouldn’t change much. I’d erase the word "ever." Ever tells me, it doesn’t get any better. I say best "yet." I know there’s next year. I know there’s potential for better. How? I’m not sure.

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