the coniston chronicle COMMEMORATIVE EDITION our centennial — in review The Centennial Edition of the Coniston Chronicle 1911 — 2011 a review of the centennial weekend and summer centennialedition camp the coniston chronicle THE NEWSLETTER FOR YMCA CAMP CONISTON CAMPERS, STAFF, ALUMNI AND FRIENDS • FORFALL YOUTH DEVELOPMEN��� � T FOR HEALTHY LIVING FOR SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY saturday morning ... the house way up in the trees THE CHILDHOOD CANCER LIFELINE OF NEw HAMPSHIRE DEDICATES HANDICAP- ACCESSIBLE TREEHOUSE AT THE CENTENNIAL CELEBRATION Jillian Palisi cuts the ceremonial ribbon at the Tree House Dedication with assistance from Childhood Cancer Lifeline of NH Director Sylvia Pelletier. The new tree house is Coniston have collaborated on Camp dedicated in memory of Jillian’s brother Nick here wasn’t a dry eye present and three other Camp Winning Spirit, which is free of charge winning Spirit Campers. Tat the dedication of the new to participants, since 1996. Treehouse during the Centennial At first you might not notice Camp’s Celebration. The Treehouse is a gift newest addition, tucked way up among from the Childhood Cancer Lifeline the branches. But as you walk across the of NH to YMCA Camp Coniston, lawn by the tennis courts you will catch in memory of four children who sight of an elevated boardwalk leading were lost to cancer. Their families into the trees. Once on the boardwalk requested that donations go to you see it ... a structure “that looks like the Lifeline, and these became a kid built it with things he found in the the beginning of the funds for the barn!” That’s how Sylvia describes the Treehouse. new Treehouse at Camp Coniston. Sylvia Pelletier, Director of the “We wanted a place for joy and laughter, Childhood Cancer Lifeline, said a funky quirky ‘not-perfectly-square’ “How do we honor and respect the place up in the trees ... but also a place memory of a child who has been that would be safe, sturdy, well-built, part of the fabric of Camp? That and completely accessible to everyone.” was the question ~ 2 Sylvia stressed that a major goal was to 1911 011 that started build a safe and secure structure “with- and he was just fantastic to CAMP CONISTON us thinking out the ‘access barriers’ of a traditional about this work with!” C 1911 treehouse. Contractor Bill Bartlett from E N project.” The Many of the materials were N Hopkinton, NH really got the idea ... he O I Lifeline and donated by local businesses T understood the vision, met our budget, T E A CONT’D ON PG 2 N R N YMCA B I E FOR YOUTH DEVELOPMENT • FOR HEALTHY LIVING • FOR SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY A EL L C A PUBLICATION OF YMCA CAMP CONISTON • PO BOX 185, GRANTHAM, NEW HAMPSHIRE 03753 www.coniston.org the coniston chronicle CAMP CONISTON the house way 1911 up in the trees CONT’D FROM PG 1 YMCA — “Pat’s Peak Ski Area gave the huge antique wagon wheel, Goff Lumber donated structural wood, Durgin and Crowell Lumber gave us the wide slabs THE CONISTON for the ramp railings. Antique stores in CHRONICLE Hillsboro provided the old windows. A Publication of There was so much support from the YMCA Camp Coniston New London and Henniker communi- Staff ties to offset the cost ... it really made John Tilley this project possible.” Executive Director It was a tight squeeze finishing Jennifer Deasy construction in time to dedicate the Assistant Director Lorraine Newcomb Treehouse at the Centennial. Building Registrar didn’t start until April 2011, and the Nicole Berthiaume Treehouse was finished only one week Afterschool/ before the Centennial weekend! It Adventure Coordinator only seemed fitting, that the public Aaron Turner Maintenance Director unveiling would occur at such a huge Dave Savio celebration of the camp. John McNair The Treehouse overlooks the bog at James Newcomb Maintenance Camp, and Coniston Director John Tilley looks forward to the day that Board of Directors the entire Bog Walk can be made John Calcutt, Chairman handicapped accessible, so it can be Fairfield, CT shared by every camper and visitor. Rolf Gesen, Vice Chair Hopkinton, NH As you walk up the ramp, and enter Richard Altman the Treehouse, and look out over the Grantham, NH Bog, you understand why this project Chris Eldredge was so important to so many people ... Newport, NH a place of joy and Katie Gardner Wolfeboro, NH laughter way up Gen Izutsu in the trees. New London, NH Catherine Johnson Hanover, NH Jon Marvin treehouse Bow, NH This tree house has a story, and I ask Clark Smidt you to read it, share it, and cherish it, dedication Andover, MA as much as we do. june 17, 2010 Stefan Timbrell New London, NH In 1996 the Childhood Cancer Lifeline It is a time of HOPE. Nancy Walters collaborated with YMCA Camp Coniston Grantham, NH on a special camp for families who have It is a time of great joy and celebration. It is a time of laughter. Michael J. Work a child with cancer known as Camp New London, NH winning Spirit. Sometimes it is a time of tears. John Zimmerman For these families, Camp winning Spirit This tree house is our gift. A gift to all Hopkinton, NH is more than fun, adventure, learning, campers. A gift made in joy and celebration. Brian Grip, lifetime member growth, and making friends…It is a gift. This tree house is dedicated to the loving Bow, NH It is a much needed respite. A time away smiles and joyous laughter of Matty Dubuc, Bert Myer, lifetime member from the hospital and painful treatment. Ryan Oickle, Nicholas Palisi and Erik wright Hampstead, NH who will always be our winning Spirits. Tom Simon, lifetime member It is a time of support, for everyone. Patients. Parents. Siblings. Childhood Cancer Lifeline Grantham, NH Excerpt from Dedication Speech 2 ~ 2 1911 011 CAMP CONISTON C C 1911 E E N N N O ymca camp coniston — I our ourcentennial centennial in in review review T T E A N R N YMCA B I E A EL L C ere at Camp, we still haven’t Director’s 2c H ‘come down’ from the warmth and excitement of the Centennial thank you, Berta! Weekend ... and from what we’ve A Look Back ... heard, you all feel the same way! We couldn’t let Our Centennial in Review our Centennial Over time, the young people who Review edition have worked here have not only go by without a changed the lives of campers, they by John Tilley, Camp Director HUGE shout-out have changed the lives of their to our Alumni fellow staff, and the lives of many mentor to young teens, manage and Centennial families whose children go home the work efforts of peers, and Coordinator, “different” than when they arrived. interact in a professional manner Berta Sinclair. with thousands of adults over the Berta put in hours In listening to friends and alumni course of a summer? Being a camp beyond measure, sharing their feelings and their counselor at Coniston is not only organizing and experiences from the Centennial, a privilege, it trains these young arranging the you’ve helped to remind me of an people for future careers and incredible number of details that went important lesson ... Camp really success. into making our Celebration a smooth- can be one of the most important running, seamless experience. It is on the shoulders of these hard times in any person’s education. She helped us manage the largest Camp working young people that Camp This rite of reunion known in the US. There’s no is built. It is an honor to have way we could thank you enough for all passage is worked with them. They serve one of the your help ... but know that, for the next as a constant reminder of the hundred years, every kid who comes to most special important work to come and the Camp will take away something from things about future lives to be impacted. what you’ve given to us. Camp. Where Berta, as you continue working with else can an It is to the thousands of summer staff from our past that this youth at YMCA Camp Chimney eighteen-year Corners, we wish you nothing but -old serve as a special edition of the Chronicle is dedicated. the very best! S P I R I T CAMP CONISTON 1911 MIND Have you considered YMCA BODY helping us to endow Camp Coniston’s future? Financial support for Coniston left major equipment like busses, boats and Camp in a great place this year. Our goal docks. The list is too long to print. is to make certain that continues in the But we need your help. The amount set years to come. aside is seed money, it must grow into The passion for Coniston during the something that will help our own Centennial Celebration propelled the children, and their children too. Board of Directors into asking “What Will you consider supporting The can be done to carry this energy into the Centennial Endowment through a next 100 years?” As a result, the Board tax-deductible donation, or by adding set aside money to start The Centennial Coniston to your will? Endowment. The generosity of Coniston’s supporters what will this Endowment do? has enabled us to grow into one of the Send kids to camp. Build new facilities nation’s premier camps. It’s our hope that like a nature center, infirmary, and fields. we can capture the Centennial spirit in the Renovate important structures like the Endowment, and ensure a bright future for boat house, lodge and cabins.