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Sunday, November 23, 2014

It's Thanksgiving time at YMCA Camp Wa Wa Segowea!




It's November, and almost Thanksgiving and we've already seen our first snowfall at camp!  There's plenty of deer around as well as some wild turkeys, but it's mainly pretty quiet at Segowea these days. All the leaves have fallen and all will be waiting to be raked up next spring.  The lake isn't frozen yet, but we're sure it will be soon!

It's hard to believe that in a little over a month the new year will start!  Until the, we've just a few items to let you know about.

First we have the sad news of the passing of a camp fixture indeed, Lavergne "Vern" Gardner.  Vern was a long time member of the camp committee and was involved on the work weekends, going back to the 1960's.  The Gardner name itself is evident at camp on a couple of plaques.  Vern's dad,  Frank, has his name on the outside and the inside of the Nature Lodge (being used currently as the Arts & Crafts building).    So needless to say the Gardner name at camp is a treasured one!




Vern was honored back in March of 1986 as one of the "Segowea Fixtures".  Past president of the Smith Park Board, John Fisher said "Vern was a key figure of the camp board that hired me back in the fall of 1976. Vern was a real camp guy".


His camp committee days lasted until the mid-1990's and he handled the camp's insurance needs during that time.  We send our heartfelt sympathies out to the Gardner family at this time.   Here's a couple pictures with Vern, the first from a work weekend in 1961. (Vern is 3rd from the left)




This one below, is from 1975, on another work weekend.



and this one is from 1970, with Vern and Bob Gaddis digging out a ditch. (Vern, with the hat on)





It is the holiday season and that means it's time for gift wrapping once again!  Friends of Segowea will be out at Barnes & Noble in Poughkeepsie on December 20th for those last minute shoppers. This is our 5th year wrapping presents and proceeds of donations will go towards the continual support of Camp Wa Wa Segowea!  We'll have a table set up right in the store and be happy to do your gift wrapping for you.  So come on out and say hi and get some gifts wrapped!
It's Saturday December 20th at the Barnes and Noble on Route 9 in Poughkeepsie, NY. We'll be there all day!



Next on our list of what's new is the new Smith Park logo!  Smith Park of course, is the landowner where Camp is located. "The mission of Smith Park is to ensure the continued existence of Camp Wa Wa Segowea."  The logo was put together by a team of volunteers and we think it says it all!  Thanks to all that helped for creating it!  Here's what it looks like-



Staying with Smith Park news, you can now purchase Smith Park items in an online store!  There's shirts, sweatshirts, postcards, travel mugs, bandana's and other items for sale,  just in time for the holidays!  The collaboration is with Zazzle.com and you can access the store via this link http://www.zazzle.com/segowea    or go to Zazzle.com and search for Segowea.

Lastly, did you know dates are set for next year and registration has begun?  We're so excited because we know camp will be here before we know it!   Reserve your spot now with the dates you're looking for.  We know people are already planning for next summer, so you can make the decision now on when you'll attend!    Simply click HERE to go to registration. Pay all registration fees in full by December 31, 2014, and receive additional discounts on your camp enrollment, in addition to the Early Bird rates!

We hope everyone has a wonderful Thanksgiving, and we'll see you at camp!