Camp Wa Wa Segowea: Camp Wa Wa Segowea 2011 Spring Happenings!

It's hard to believe there's only 39 days and counting till the first day of camp! Before we know it, children will be seen and heard at Camp Segowea, having a great time, learning about their surroundings and making new friends. The first week begins on June 26th and Camp Director Kat Fitzpatrick is very busy planning for the best summer yet! She's making sure it's a fun, safe summer and everything is just right! Both the Boys and Girls Unit Head Directors were at camp this past Sunday and both can't wait to start. But they'll have to wait because there's still Spring! But even Spring is flying by, and is still full of camp events. Open Houses have been held (with more to come), work weekends are on the schedule (one this weekend) and we've just had the Wa Wa Wally Waddle Weekend!

The Waddle Weekend began on Saturday with the Smith Park Board meeting where we welcomed new board member, Lou Falk. It is because of Smith Park together with the Capital District YMCA that we were able to re-open the camp last year with all the improvements. The meeting was held at the same location of the Pasta Dinner that night- at Christ Episcopal Church in Poughkeepsie. This was the 2nd year of the dinner at the church and we thank them very much for the use of the hall as well as their hospitality! After the board meeting, volunteers were setting up and preparing for the dinner. We received donations from Better Bite, Olive Garden, Con-Agra Foods and members of the Wa Wa Family, and because everything was donated, we had no expenses! Before we knew it, we were ready to serve and so we did- on tables with great centerpieces made by Amy! We had 50+ people enjoy a dinner of spaghetti, meatballs, salad, garlic bread, beverages and Turtle brownies! We had a raffle of a gift basket as well to raise a little more money. The church's youth choir group, who were practicing in another part of the church joined us and even performed a few songs for us. They were fantastic! After the whole night was over, we had raised enough money to send a kid to camp!

On Sunday, the day began bright and early for Lisa and Josh Perks, the organizers of the Wa Wa Wally Waddle. It was a soggy start as the clouds opened up just in time for the setting up of the course! But the event was rain or shine, and so they pressed on. As the morning progressed however, registration for the race continued and pretty soon, the rain held up to a little drizzle now and then. A perfect day for running! All together, we had 150 people register for the race despite the weather. First there were the kids events- the 100 Yard dash and the Kids mile and then the main attraction- the race that the USA Today Online edition called "The race with the unique name"- The Wa Wa Wally Waddle! It was a 5K Race/Walk and many camp alumni ran and walked in it, including one dressed as Wally! Congratulations to all that participated and for those that supported it as well.

Because of this event, we're able to send 5 kids to camp and including the dinner total, we're able to send 6 kids to camp, just about a full cabin! Sponsors of the race were: Finnish Solutions, Nick Stoner Inn, Soul Dog Restaurant, Tubby's Bathroom Resurfacing, Mid-Hudson Oral Surgeons and Morris Associates Engineering Consultants, PLLC. Thanks to them! See some pictures of the race day below.

Sunday was also the day for a Camp Open House and even in the rain, parents and children attended and were welcomed by Kat, Norm & Dianne. (Kat actually ran in the Waddle and then went right to Camp!) If you'd like to attend an upcoming Open House, please RSVP to Kat. There's still 3 coming up- on May 29th, June 5th and June 19th. (kfitzpatrick@cdymca.org)

There's also a couple work weekends too, with one this weekend and another on June 18th-19th. There's always the calendar at the bottom of the page to check the dates! See you there!

Kids 100 Yard dash is off!