Search This Blog

Saturday, December 29, 2012

Happy New Year from Camp Wa Wa Segowea!


And what a year it was!  We began 2012 with great hopes for the coming year, and most of them were met.  We looked to increase the number of kids who were able to experience our beloved camp, expand the programming a bit as well as continue the traditions of years past.  We were able to accomplish quite a bit, but were unsuccessful in increasing our enrollment.   We jumped a bit in enrollment from the summer of 2010 to 2011 and came close to matching 2011's numbers for this past summer. The good news is that the return rate of campers increased moderately (and consistently over the past 2 years) and that means the campers are having a good time and coming back!

For the year 2013, we will begin differently than we did last year.  As we are no longer affiliated with the Capital District YMCA, we are continuing the process we have set in place back in September.  We're very close to making a decision which direction we will move towards.   We very much appreciate your patience and hopefully, within the next couple of blog posts, we'll be able to break the news.   We've heard from a few of you, wondering what's happening next summer at camp.  We are able to tell you that we will have Camp for the summer of 2013, our 100th Anniversary!   

Because it is the end of the year, we tend to take a look back and put it all in perspective.  We see the good things that happened and the not so good things.  We saw that campers came to camp and simply had a wonderful time.  They played games and they swam in Harmon Pond.  They fished and they ran.  They made new friends and shared their lives for a short period of time.  They sang and they got bug bites.  They learned new things about themselves and they enhanced their knowledge of the outdoors.   And oh yeah, they had fun.  

Some kids were able to do all of this because of donations made by people like you who know the Summer Camp experience is vital for children.  We want to say thanks to all the members of the Wa Wa Family for making these donations.  If you'd like to contribute before the end of the year, consider making a donation to camp.  Send your donations to Smith Park of New York  PO Box 4994  Poughkeepsie, NY 12602.

We're on the lookout for pictures from camp!  We'll be doing a blog post of "Then and Now" featuring pictures contributed by you.  Please refer to the email for the details.  Here's a couple of examples-

                                                    Max from 2010, 2011 and 2012


Mike from 1982 and 2012



Keeping with the theme of taking a look back, here's just a few pictures from this past summer. They are part of our series we call "Camp is…".








Thursday, December 6, 2012

Happy Holidays from Camp Wa Wa Segowea!



We're carrying on a few traditions this time of year with our camp foremost in our hearts and minds.   First up is our great new 2013 Camp Calendars!  They're a great stocking stuffer of course and inexpensive as well.  They contain all new pictures from this past summer and fall (one of which is below).    This year, we've also added a 2nd calendar, commemorating our 100th Anniversary next year with a "Camp Classic" theme.  This one contains older pictures, including the one below too.  The cost is $12 for each one and $3 for shipping and you can get yours at the Friends of Segowea website, HERE.  Proceeds will go towards scholarships for kids to go to camp.  So pick up one, both of them or one for every member of the family!  Thanks to the Van Alstynes for again,  coordinating the whole project and getting them done!  

Our second tradition is a fundraising event held at Barnes & Noble in Poughkeepsie.  Each year, for the past 3 years, Kristen Hendrickson has coordinated and run the "Gift Wrapping for Wa Wa" at Barnes & Noble.  Kristin doesn't even work there anymore, but she is able to carry on the tradition, wrap some presents, and raise money to send kids to camp!    It's happening on two Saturdays, one past, on December 1st and one to come in a couple days- December 8th.  If you have books on your list to purchase, why not get them at Barnes and Noble and get them gift wrapped!  We want to thank all that stopped by to say hi on December 1st including a few alumni from camp from the 1950's, the 1960's and just this past summer of 2012!   The alumni shared some stories, saw some pictures and made nice donations to camp and we thank them for that.

If you can't stop by to get your gifts wrapped, you can always send in a tax deductible donation to benefit camp.  Send them to Smith Park of New York P.O. Box 4994, Poughkeepsie, NY 12602.

So what is happening with camp?  The latest news is that we've (Smith Park of New York) received the requests for proposals (RFPs) from interested parties looking to operate the camp.  We remain encouraged by the process and are busy going through the RFPs.  Once one is selected, we'll be sure to let you know.  It is our privilege and duty to ensure that Camp Wa Wa Segowea continues to be a place where children can be who they are meant to be.

Here's some pictures from the first Saturday of gift wrapping and a couple sample calendar shots.





2013 Camp Calendar (April)


2013 Camp Classic Calendar (September)



We wish you all a Happy Holiday season!