YMCA Camp Wa Wa Segowea

It's time to register your child at YMCA Camp Wa Wa Segowea!

2012-02-20T17:43:00.000-08:00

According to the calendar, Spring is just around the corner, but are we really still expecting some kind of winter? We've been pretty lucky this year after a lot of snow last year, but whether snow happens or not, the countdown is continuing until the first day of camp! And that date is June 24th!

What is your child doing this summer? Spending a session or two at Wa Wa Segowea is the ideal opportunity for a child to do so many things. It's a unique community where kids participate in activities. They are accepted for who they are, and they gain self-confidence as well as a sense of pride and accomplishment through completing tasks and challenges. At camp, kids learn by doing, living and experiencing things for themselves. While practicing both these new and old skills, it's natural that there will be improvement, which then builds self-esteem.

Registration for camp is happening right now and kids are signing up faster this year then the last two! That first day and first session begins June 24th and here's the whole summer rundown-

June 24th- Starts Session 1 Register online at www.segowea.org

July 1st- Session 2

July 8th- Session 3

July 15th- Session 4

July 22nd- Session 5

July 29th- Session 6

August 5th- Session 7

August 12th- Session 8

August 19th- Session 9

Many campers from last year and before, are returning, carrying on a tradition here where kids recognize that there is no place quite like Segowea. Whether it's playing kickball, in swim class, or just sitting and talking to friends at many locations around camp, the magic happens. It happens before you know it, and pretty soon, these campers are telling their friends back home, YOU HAVE TO COME TO THIS CAMP!

Where else can you-

Eat lunch on a canoe?

Learn to- whatever is being done here?

See a camp director fly!

See a cousin of Wally?

Get really tied up in what you're doing!

See an actual hand written letter to home!

Be part of a large group hug!

Catch your first frog of the season! Take a moment to just put your feet up.

Be a member of the Tare-Bears!

Or just become who you want to be.

There's a couple ways to register and before you know it, your child will enjoy the best camp experience! (It's also the best value in the Northeast!) Register online at Segowea.org or you can call 518-656-9462. Do it today!

What Camp Wa Wa Segowea means to me.

2012-01-29T16:28:00.000-08:00

It was a couple months ago when I asked people what their favorite (or not so favorite) camp traditions were. I received some emails and had some conversations with people and they let me know! They not only let me know which traditions they were fond of, they also relayed what memories they remembered, what others remembered and how Segowea has affected their lives in one way or another. It's not hard to believe the impact camp has had on many, many people as we'll soon be celebrating our 100th year anniversary in 2013. We couldn't be around for that long and not had an impact somewhere! If you wish to share your memories, your favorite camp traditions or the impact camp has had on you, please let us know. We'd love to hear from you! For the statements below, I left off names in case people wanted to remain anonymous.

Here are the traditions, the memories and the personal feelings that were captured:

To me, everything about this camp was a special tradition to me. Everything I did there when I was a camper is something I will never forget and always cherish. From the wake up calls, capers, activities, etc, everything was great. The thing I cherish the most I would say was the morning flag raising because I always knew that every time that flag went up, it was going to be a great new day and that I have something great to look forward to.
Another thing that was special to me was the Banquet and Banquet Dinner. That always marked the end, but to me it never felt that way, to me it was always a "I can't wait till I come back here for more". It always had me looking ahead to what was in store for the next time.
However, I haven't been to camp as a camper since 2004 so I don't really know what is still around. Although, I can tell you that the thing I disliked the most was the overnight. To me, it was just a miserable experience because it was so much work just to go somewhere to get eaten alive by mosquitos and get an incredible amount of poison ivy. I was never a happy camper going on the overnight, it just never sunk in for me. I'll admit that I have had fun, but overall it was just miserable.

I think my favorite tradition has to be closing every day with a friendship circle. I never met anyone at camp who was to cool to hold the hand of the person next to them and say goodnight.

Camp has left an indelible mark on my life. Some of my happiest memories were spent there. It's an incredible special place where uniquely it's not about race, creed or religion, or how much your parents make or what they do. Camp is the ultimate equalizer. Everyone has to clean the Beacon, have swimming lessons, go to chapel together. Everyone has to do the same thing. It ultimately levels the playing field for everybody. It provides the opportunity for kids to love each other for who and what we are rather than other things that don't matter.

I love the way the camp smells. You can smell the earth here especially when it rains. But you can smell and taste the rain even when it's not raining.

I attended the very first teen camp in the mid-sixties (and let’s leave the year at mid-sixties) and the camp was divided into four teams to compete in the Wa Wa Olympics. The teams consisted of a mix of boys and girls. My team was called The Grebes…I have no idea what Grebe means nor do I care, but Grebes we were very proudly. Can’t remember how The Grebes did overall, but one very memorable moment was winning the volleyball tournament and if I am not mistaken there was a bit of controversy over our win.

Another memory is that Dean Temple pitched his tent in the middle of cabin row in an effort to keep the boys and girls separated. A lot of good that did because the path behind the cabins got an awful lot of traffic…especially after lights out. And the nature lodge was a favorite spot for a lot of summer romances..

While we were gift wrapping for camp, a woman who attended camp said to us... "Oh my goodness I went to that camp in the 60's! Do they still say grace before every meal?" Then she went on to say "Father for this noonday meal we would speak of grace we feel, health and strength we ask of thee, help us lord to faithful be". It was pretty cool! Glad we still say it. Needless to say Minna and I chimed in as soon as she started. She was impressed!

For me it's crossing arms and singing "Day is Done" and walking back to cabin row quiet after Banquet.

I was one of the first kids to come from Albany and I've loved it ever since. It's the whole setup of the cabins. You're alone, but you're with a bunch of family. It's a great feeling to know you can come here and just relax.

I was a killer box-ball player! I've been called the queen of box-ball by more than one person. I wear it with a sense of pride.

It's an opportunity for children to find themselves and become independent yet relying on their fellow community members. It gives them a chance to slow down and a chance to grow up in the most rural environment you can be in. It's a very unique experience that a lot of children don't have the opportunity to have and I think it's essential. They're expected to learn responsibilities and focus on the simplest of tasks from start to finish. Camp Segowea was my childhood home, my social community as a young adult and a nostalgic retreat as a mother.

This is very hard to narrow down, but two key traditions we carry on have to do with camp songs. "Circle Game" has been Hazel's bedtime song since she was a few months old. And she loves to sing "If I had a Hammer." We do the "gospel" version inspired by Kristen and Katie that involves a lot of clapping and stomping.

I loved all the camp traditions. Traditions I especially loved were camp songs around the fire on opening night, singing grace before every meal, and dancing to Van Morrison on the parade field, and who could keep from crying during Stairway to Heaven?!

A Special Place at Camp was the Council Fire at nighttime.
Work Week-ends, before and after Camp was open- they started on Thursday night and ended on Sunday. We usually had about 25 guys and we all slept and ate in the lodge. Water for the Camp: connecting 20 foot pipe together at the spring (beyond the end of the eastern end of the lake) connecting them to the reservoir and taking them apart in the Fall. We could always come up with some new swear words.
As a camper- Going to the Lake when we first got up to get cleaned up, at least every other morning there we were, no girls at camp back then, so our swim suit was a wrap around towel to use to get dry after getting cleaned up.
Hikes----There are so many great places to hike to and from the same day.
Church: The Catholics were always taken to town for church services. The best part was stopping at the General Store on the way home. We always stocked up on goodies for ourselves and some of our buddies back at camp.
Adding a lot of years to my camping years can bring a lot of thoughts as to what we did to keep the camp running. There were a lot of rough years, but we got through them come hell or high water.

My favorite tradition is the nurse lighting the camp fires for good luck and weather!

Many years have gone by and the memories of my childhood that have impacted me the most are of my summers at Camp Wa Wa Segowea:
While I dreaded it at the time, Chapel is remembered with warmth and a smile. Shel Silverstein poems and LB playing "Where do the Children Play" I am a Cat Stevens fan to this day.
Sitting on the steps of the Lodge with the kitchen staff, Rocky and the Clash come back vividly.
I complained every step of the way then, but love to be outdoors hiking and canoeing now.
The Beacon, enough said.
Living in Arapaho and hanging out the window to say goodnight and get one last hug from passerbys.
I still proudly tell my children I was a Wa Wa Segowea Olympic champ on the log roll, Nestor/Psycho and I battled it out---not sure who really one but it was me in my memory
Canteen bandanas
Crosby, Stills, & Nash, Simon & Garfunkel, Joni Mitchell, James Taylor, Ricki Lee Jones, and the Greatful Dead
Beth
Campfire
The Sing Off
Stairway to Heaven
Paradise by the Dashboard Light
Boxball
Pudding from a Can
SARAMI inspired by SHERIKA
My list could go on and on.... I think the most important memory is the love, warmth, and acceptance I felt every time I walked down that hill. It was a place where it was ok to just be you in all your vulnerability and quirkiness. I couldn't have asked to come of age in a better place.

I had to make my list of a million traditions about camp that I liked, then sifted through them to find the one I wanted to share. Here it is: I love having campers talk at chapel. I think it's a great experience for them to be able to share their thoughts and feelings about such a special place in the accepting space of chapel.

This camp is the best, the best place ever!

I like the feeling when you're walking down the camp road for the first time of the season and you know everyone is here. You just can't wait to get down there and jump right in to whatever needs to get done.

It's a community- I wish I had another word, but it is a community.

It's a safe community, a place to come for me and break out of my shell. I never liked being in the woods when I was younger and it forced me to face my fear. No matter how many years you've been away, you're just home.

I loved how whichever counselor was in charge of wake up they got to blast their choice of music after the wakeup call.

I really like the tradition of taking Fudge on a walk. The bathroom wash your hands dance, because I remember that my cabin Seneca rocked this past summer. The special place in camp was chapel.

Camp is living in a community day-to-day. When you do this, you begin to know someone just like a brother or sister, a mother or father or someone you live with. Then you see these same members of the community and those shared experiences pick right up exactly where they left off, no matter how many years were in between. It seems so simple but it's really one of the wonderful gifts and Segowea is the central point of it.

Segowea is perfect in every way!

Camp Wa Wa Segowea Winter Happenings.

2012-01-15T17:06:00.000-08:00

It's 5 months and a few days and counting down! That's right, the first day of the summer season of 2012 is quickly approaching, and it can't get here soon enough! The temperature is a chilly one today at Camp Segowea, with a high of 12 degrees and a bit of wind coming off Harmon Pond. It's hard to believe in just 5 short months, campers will be swimming, shooting for a bullseye in archery and enjoying a chance to go sailing. Speaking of campers, Camp Director Kat Fitzpatrick says there's already more than 25 campers signed up for the summer! Are you registered yet? Don't wait till the last minute!
Simply go to the CDYMCA website and register today.
http://www.cdymca.org/locations/CampWaWaSegowea/Home.aspx.

There are five months, but time goes quickly, and by registering now, you can be assured of your spot in the sessions you want. First session begins on June 24th and camp runs weekly sessions until the last day, August 24th. Kat mentioned she's also busy coordinating the staff for the summer, already hiring a couple of international counselors! If you know someone that lives and loves to have a positive impact on children, be a leader in every way, and wants to have fun all summer long, have them contact Camp Director Kat Fitzpatrick at kfitzpatrick@cdymca.org or (518) 656-9462 ext. 6632. Maybe someone you know is looking for an internship for the summer after the school year? An article in USA Today suggests you go to camp!- http://www.usatodayeducate.com/staging/index.php/blog/opinion-skip-the-internship-go-to-camp

Until the summer gets here, the events surrounding camp are piling up. In the months of January and February, we'll continue to have open registrations for camp. The group of volunteers that oversee the camp, called Smith Park, are holding their monthly board meetings, and we're busy planning the spring events of the Open Houses and Work Weekends. A couple of spring fundraisers for camp, the Segowea 64 and the Wa Wa Wally Waddle, are in the planning stages as well as we speak. Details will be coming soon on those happenings.

It's January and there's still time to get the 2012 Camp Calendar! It's very simple to get and reasonably priced too. They're just $10 and available now at www.friendsofsegowea.org. Some of the pictures might even have been taken by campers that took the popular photography class! Even more pictures taken by the class are below. Enjoy!

Please also visit us on our Facebook page. There's at least one picture posted every day as well as some other fun items. http://www.facebook.com/YMCACampWaWaSegowea.

Thanks and see you at camp!

Happy New Year from YMCA Camp Wa Wa Segowea!

2011-12-31T11:34:00.000-08:00

The year of 2011 is ticking down quickly on this last day. We're grateful for all the wonderful campers that attended camp in the summer of 2011 and we're really anxious to see what 2012 has in store for us!
One (and only one) resolution we are making here, is that we resolve to continue to provide a safe, fun, awesome camping experience for all who attend!

There's no snow up at camp believe it or not, but the winter is only beginning and we're sure to see some before we know it. Harmon Pond is frozen however in some areas, from 1/2 inch to 3 inches deep. The beavers, taking advantage of the warmer weather, continue to chew away some small trees and some not so little ones. Here's a few pictures from the last couple of days of 2011 at camp.

Some beaver work.

Their teeth must be really sharp!

Quite the collection of shavings!

Norm admiring their work.

Not the beavers this time. On this one, it's Mother Nature.

Norm, practicing his Jedi mind tricks.

Testing the thickness of the ice.

"It's about 3 inches out here."

Help spread the word of Camp Wa Wa Segowea!

2011-12-11T13:11:00.000-08:00

The end of the year is approaching quickly and while we're grateful for everything that happened in 2011, we're really looking forward to the summer of 2012! In just six months (and a few days), it will be summer once again, with campers having the ability to swim every day, choose their skill classes, (learning something new or brushing up on a favorite) and of course, enjoying the outdoors with new friends! Camp Director Kat Fitzpatrick is busy at work making sure more and more kids know all about our favorite camp. She's out talking to people around the Capital District as well as around the Berkshires, making sure they are aware of all the benefits of attending Camp Wa Wa Segowea. Help her out and spread the word to friends and family!

Since we re-opened in 2010, we've increased the number of campers enjoying camp by 76% and want to increase that even more for the summer of 2011! If one person or family reading this blog told 5 new people about camp, it would reach over 3,000 people! According to The Word of Mouth Marketing Association, WOMMA (yes there is such an organization!), Word of Mouth Marketing is "The only marketing based on genuinely passionate people. Word of mouth marketing is the most honest form of marketing, building upon people’s natural desire to share their experiences with family, friends, and colleagues". So we're asking that you and/or your child share yours/their experience with others. WOMMA also says- Only honest marketers with confidence in their products dare engage in word of mouth marketing -- because it will backfire if the promise of your marketing message isn't backed up by reality. Once you give people a voice, they will tell the true story of your company, good or bad. We say with confidence, that summer camps (like Camp Wa Wa Segowea) have many benefits, some you experience right away and some occur years later. For example, Psychology Today Magazine sees summer camp beneficial to kids as they get ready for college. http://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/smores-and-more/201112/creating-advantage-in-college

We've been hearing from some of you which camp traditions you remember and thanks for those few that replied! We are looking for many more as there's a lot of them out there! We encourage you to take a few minutes and send them in. Please send us an email- either bruns.mike@gmail.com or campwawasegowea@gmail.com.

We've heard from a few of you (in person!) at our gift wrapping sessions at Barnes & Noble in Poughkeepsie. We chatted with a counselor from the 70's, a camper from the 60's and other staff members from other decades (80's, 90's, 00's and 2011 too). Camp Alum Kristen Nicholson has been the leader in this fundraising event for a few years now and it gets better every year! This year we accomplished our goal and raised enough money to send a child to camp and had a lot of fun doing it. Take a look at the pictures below and video too of the "Wa Wa Tones". Thanks to all that volunteered and came out to contribute their time, money and wrapping abilities! Thanks to Barnes & Noble for letting us do this!

A couple of new things with the blog- you can subscribe via email now, so you'll always know when a new post is here. Simply look at the top of the blog where you can submit your email address. When there is a new post, it shows right up in your email inbox. Another new item, some Segowea pictures are now viewable on Flickr! You'll find the link also at the top of the blog. Stay tuned for more additions!

There's still time to get the popular 2012 Camp Calendar! It's very simple to get and reasonably priced too. They're just $10 and available now at www.friendsofsegowea.org. Time is winding down, so get your order in today!

Here's the Wa Wa Tones and some pictures from the Gift wrappings-

All money raised went towards camperships.

We gift wrapped a shopping basket, proving we could wrap anything!

The Buttons putting together and decorating the candy canes we gave away.

Minna and Katie in their "canoe"

"I said Row faster!"

Mike showing his wrapping abilities.

Shannon lending a hand.

Have a Happy Thanksgiving from Camp Wa Wa Segowea!

2011-11-22T08:33:00.000-08:00

As this time of year reminds us, we have quite a lot to be thankful for here at Camp Wa Wa Segowea. We are thankful for the mountain laurel that blooms at the beginning of every summer. We are thankful for the abundant wildlife that call Segowea home (even the beavers!). We are thankful for the change of seasons, so we see the buds in spring after a long winter, the crisp colors of fall on our trees and shrubs, the freshly fallen new snow in winter and the whole season of summertime when the place just comes alive. We are thankful for the caretakers of our land who are concerned with our every day issues and see to it they are taken care of. We are thankful for our visitors who come to observe and partake in the most beautiful place on the planet. And of course, we're thankful for the children, both present and past, that attended our wonderful camp and carried on the wonderful traditions that have taken place here. Thank you!

It is the holiday season and we have a few ways to assist you in your holiday shopping and gift wrapping!

The 2011 Camp Wa Wa Segowea calendars are in and ready to be shipped to you! It's an inexpensive way to see Camp all year round and money raised will go towards the benefit of Camp. (Just $10!) Go to the Friends of Segowea website and get yours today. www.friendsofsegowea.org.

Books are always a popular item for gift ideas, and once again, Camp Alum, Kristen has organized a fundraiser for camp in the place where she works, Barnes & Noble, at 2518 South Road in Poughkeepsie, NY. In previous years, this same camp fundraiser was done on one day, but this year we're excited to have two whole days to raise money for camp! Saturday, December 3rd and Saturday, December 10th, from 9 am to 11 pm, the gift wrapping table will be ready for you. Simply purchase your books and have them gift wrapped right there too! All donations for gift wrapping will go directly to the benefit of camp. Also, if you are able to help wrap, either day and for any amount of time that works for you, please contact Kristen at hendricks055@yahoo.com. Hope to see you there!

As we mentioned in the previous post, we have another fundraiser for camp that you don't have to go anywhere to do. It's "Sell Your Stuff for Segowea" where you pledge to sell one item that is cluttering up your home and donate the money to Camp Wa Wa Segowea.

Once you've decided what you'd like to sell, simply follow the schedule-
1) By December 1st, e-mail Camp Alum Sarah Mercogliano (smercogliano@gmail.com) your plan to participate. (I plan to sell _________ for Segowea.)
2) By January 15th, complete your sale and e-mail Sarah to let her know how much you raised.
3) Mail your check (made out to YMCA Camp Segowea) to YMCA Camp Segowea; 1872 Pilot Knob Rd.; Kattskill Bay, NY 12844.
What you get out of it is a few things, 1- that item is no longer taking up space in your home, 2- that nice warm feeling when you help out a place you care for, and 3- a nice tax write off!

Happy Thanksgiving from Camp Wa Wa Segowea!

Camp Fundraising, Camp Registration, Camp Leadership and some Camp fun too!

2011-11-15T16:19:00.000-08:00

It's heading into winter up at Camp Wa Wa Segowea which is usually the quiet time of year. Buildings are already closed and boarded up and supplies are stored away. This year is no different, with the exception of the Nor'Easter that came in October! We made it through however with no major damage and a few inches of snow. Although Camp is quiet, Camp Happenings are just getting started!

The Official Camp calendar says it's still Autumn, so first happening is our Fall Fundraiser! And this year, we're trying something brand new. It's called "Sell Your Stuff For Segowea", and it's very easy to do! Anyone can participate. All you need is something that is cluttering up your living space! Just pledge to sell one item that is cluttering up your home and donate the money to Camp Wa Wa Segowea. Maybe you have some old books? Used Electronics? Vintage clothes? Sports Equipment? Use your creativity and sell, sell sell!

So how would you do this? We have a few ideas-

1) Hosting a garage/Yard/Stoop sale

2) Taking your item(s) to specialty resale stores

3) If you're tech savvy- sell it on EBay or Craigslist!

Once you've decided what you'd like to sell, simply follow the schedule-

1) By December 1st, e-mail Camp Alum Sarah Mercogliano (smercogliano@gmail.com) your plan to participate. (I plan to sell _________ for Segowea.)

2) By January 15th, complete your sale and e-mail Sarah to let her know how much you raised.

3) Mail your check (made out to YMCA Camp Segowea) to YMCA Camp Segowea; 1872 Pilot Knob Rd.; Kattskill Bay, NY 12844.

Any questions? E-mail Sarah. She already raised $100 by selling her old stuff at a stoop sale!

Second on the Camp Happenings List is the Calendar itself! Just in time for the holidays, the 2012 Camp Wa Wa Segowea Calendar is ready for your purchase. It features 12 all new pictures taken this year of camp and makes for a great stocking stuffer! Each calendar is just $10 with $3 shipping. As always, all proceeds go directly to Camp Wa Wa Segowea! Get your calendar by going to the Friends of Segowea website- http://www.friendsofsegowea.org/ and look for the Buy Now button! If you have questions regarding the calendars, send an email to calendars@friendsofsegowea.org.

Third on the Camp Happenings List is registering now for camp. The dates are set. All you have to do is determine which week or weeks are good for you. Need an incentive to register now? Well, if you register before December 15th (one month from today), you get a special limited edition YMCA Camp Wa Wa Segowea T-Shirt! How's that for an incentive! Register today- http://www.cdymca.org/locations/CampWaWaSegowea/Home.aspx. There's kids signed up already and they're getting the cool T-shirt. How about you?

Number 4 on the list is the YMCA Camp Wa Wa Segowea Leadership Rally. It was held this past Saturday in Albany at the CDY office. It was a chance to see some camp friends, hear about the past summer, and find out what's ahead. It was highlighted with the recognition of a few volunteers being honored with Leadership Awards.

First honoree was Alum Ed Harvey, who Kat Fitzpatrick described as "When the red truck is here, everything is okay" (Ed drives a red truck). "Everything I ask of him, he was right there ready to do". Ed continues to volunteer at camp and volunteered this past summer, first as an EMT, then heading up a very popular photography class for the kids. Congrats to Ed!

The second honoree was someone who George said "was involved with camp for a long time, started as a camp cook and has volunteered ever since". I can verify this fact personally as he was referring to me! I was (and am today) very honored to be recognized by a place that means a lot to me. Camp became part of my life back in 1981 and will remain part of it forever. I'm following many volunteers before me and more to come after me, by looking after the place I love and to share it with as many people as possible. George referenced my assistance with the "social media", including this very blog as well as Facebook. What he doesn't know is, it's just as fun to write and "take care of" as I hope people take away from it. Thank you for the honor!

The final honoree was Alum Charlie Knauss, who unfortunately, couldn't make it to the rally. George described him as "A classy guy and a guy full of integrity". Charlie attended the Leadership Rally last year, and heard what the camp needed and took it to heart. He really heard the three things anyone can do to help camp. The first was help get kids to camp by word of mouth, second was get scholarships for kids to go to camp and third was give money to the capital campaign. Charlie heard these ways to help camp and then proceeded to tell the camp story to others, including one person that opened the right door to get $50,000 towards camp! He then took on another challenge, to raise money in his area for camp scholarships worth $5,000. He accomplished that too! He was a camper at Segowea back in 1941, and is still involved where the camp needs it, in 2011. Pretty good for 70 years of involvement! Congrats to Charlie!

Each person received a nice plaque and a custom made Segowea coat!

Here's some Leadership Rally photos.

Some attendees first-

Lily tells us what Friends of Segowea has been doing.

John gives us the latest on Smith Park Corporation.

Kat presents the first Volunteer Leadership Award to Ed Harvey.

George presenting the next award to Mike Bruns.

The two of them together.

Award Winner Charlie Knauss (taken at last years rally)

Kat shows and models the limited edition T-Shirt given for registration prior to December 15th!

Wren is so happy with his shirt and can't wait till camp starts!

Lastly, with some camp fun, we participated in National Wear Your Camp T-Shirt Day, today November 15th! We encourage all to model those wonderful camp t-shirts and show some Wa Wa pride! Here's some more T-Shirt pictures taken through the years of Segowea.

Camp Wa Wa Segowea Fall Happenings!

2011-10-31T21:07:00.000-07:00

While it may seem that camp ended a short period of time ago, believe it or not, in just 8 months, we'll be back in the camp season! We'll have survived the long winter (which here in the northeast, has already started!) Plans will have been made to make sure 2012 is a exciting, safe and rewarding summer at camp. Some new ideas, mixed in with the continuation of true Wa Wa traditions adding up to once again, be that traditional camp to send your child to.

With that in mind, we are happy to say that registration for the summer season of 2012 is officially open! Simply go to the CDYMCA website and register-
http://www.cdymca.org/locations/CampWaWaSegowea/Home.aspx
Register today!

It's been a productive autumn so far at camp and we have one more exciting happening taking place in November. There were a couple of work weekends taking place in September and October, that resulted in closing up the camp for the winter as well as working on the Property Director's cabin. Volunteers moved lumber, put shutters up, and stored some items so the yearlong residents wouldn't get into them. Some volunteers also helped put in some insulation for Norm & Dianne's home and a group of Camp Chingachgook volunteers came up and lent a hand on the cabin as well. Thanks to all that pitched in!

Here's some pictures taken the last few weeks during fall and early winter!

Liz helping out with the insulation.

Norm being Norm.

The view from the 2nd Floor.

The siding getting done on the Property Director's home.

Looking good in the back too.

Some plants still doing good.

Autumn at Segowea.

Taken October 8th...

...then 2 weeks later...

...and then 8 days later!

Some more before...

...and after...

In November, on Saturday the 12th, we'll be holding the 2nd Annual Leadership Rally, taking place at the Capital District YMCA Administrative offices in Albany, NY. What is the rally all about? Just like last year's event, we'll be celebrating our successful summer at camp and seeing what our next steps will be. We will also be presenting our Annual Leadership Award and enjoying a light lunch together.

Come join us! Contact us if you plan on attending- Please RSVP to cluhrs@cdymca.org or 518-656-9462 ext. 6601. It will take place from Noon to 1:30 pm on Saturday November 12, 2011 at 465 New Karner Road in Albany, NY. Contact your family and Friends of Segowea. All are invited!

If you can't attend the Leadership Rally, but would like to support Camp Segowea in another manner, please let us know. It might be assisting financially, or maybe in the marketing or fundraising field? Just let us know. Thanks!

It's Harmon Pond at Camp Wa Wa Segowea!

2011-10-14T17:39:00.000-07:00

Harmon Pond is a Great Pond! According to the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection, Harmon Pond, which is located on the 500+ acres we call Camp Wa Wa Segowea, is classified as a great pond. Of course, we could have told them that as it's a major part of what we enjoy about camp! But according to the DEP, a great pond is defined as "any pond or lake that contained more than 10 acres in its natural state". And we qualify as the current pond is about 23 acres in size. It wasn't always this size though. Back in 1829, it was 33 acres! That's according to "A History of the County of Berkshire, Massachusetts" by David Dudleyfield, Chester Dewey and Berkshire Association. So it looks like we lost about 10 acres in 182 years!

These days, Harmon Pond remains a spring fed pond full of wildlife. According to that same "History" book, it even has an impact on nearby Umpachene Falls. The Umpachene River (which is really a stream and a tributary of the Housatonic River nearby) receives some runoff from Harmon Pond as well as various wetlands in the area. What is a little confusing is there's another Harmon Pond in Massachusetts, up near Williamstown. That one however is a reservoir for that area.

Harmon Pond is the main source for a good portion of our favorite camp activities- boating and swimming as well as a few others. Here's a few pictures through the years that feature our beautiful waterway!

From the morning time...

to Campers Capers- emptying the boats.

to swim class...

to swimming with Family Camp...

to just enjoying the water...

as well as the beach!

Even some synchronized swimming!

Can't forget the rope swing...

And we're always guarding- on the rafts...

and in boats...

Then there's fishing...

The pond is full of them- pickerel, bass, sunfish, carp, etc.

There's an enjoyable rowboat ride..

maybe a sailing adventure?

or a canoe ride...

It's a big enough pond!

There's even a few kayaks...

and always guarding...

Of course you will learn how to swamp a canoe!

But for serenading, you're on your own.

The pond comes in handy, for rowing tent platforms to the site across the lake, for example.

or even waterskiing (but it's an old picture!)

A former water toy...

It's really good for frog catching!

It's fun in the winter too as the ice gets really thick.

Just right for ice fishing!

Come Spring, it slowly melts away.

and turns into this!

Can't beat the foliage in the fall.

Some are year round residents..

And some just know where to go to cool off...

There's a flora too- this one called Potamogeton praelongus wulf, otherwise known as pondweed!

and another- Linnea or "Twin Flowers".

And there's plenty of these!

Some of Harmon Pond ends up here- Umpachene Falls

It's gorgeous when the water is still

at dusk...

and especially when you're just watching it from a favorite location.

It truly is a Great Pond!

A couple of upcoming happenings to remind you or make you aware of- The October Work weekend is quickly approaching. It's happening next weekend, October 22nd & 23rd and we could use your help! There's still plenty to do at camp to wrap up things for the year. If you can make it for the day, the weekend or even just a few hours, let us know. Contact Norm at camp at 413-229-9110.

Also, we're finalizing the camp calendar for 2012 and could still use some pictures from this summer. If you have some that you would like to submit, please do so! We need them by next week as well- October 21st. Please email them to Boo Van Alstyne at calendars@friendsofsegowea.org. Thanks!

Progress made at September's Work Weekend at Camp Wa Wa Segowea!

2011-09-22T14:05:00.000-07:00

After the summer comes to a close, a good sign for autumn is the first Camp Work Weekend! And that's exactly what took place last weekend. We didn't have as many people take part as we thought we would, but we still got a good amount of work done. Things were put away in storage for the winter, a few areas were cleaned up and the big chore for the weekend was getting all the docks in for the season. Mission accomplished! We also continued the insulation work on Page Lodge and hope to have that completed soon. If you missed this weekend, there's still October's Work Weekend to attend. It's October 22nd & 23rd. Set aside the date now!

Something else that was happening this past Saturday was the Smith Park Annual Meeting. Smith Park is the owner of the camp property in the Berkshires and has members as well as a Board that connected with the Capital District YMCA back in 2008 to reestablish historic Camp Wa Wa Segowea as one of the premier camp programs in America. Smith Park reelected some board members and elected new board member, Wyeth Drummond. Welcome Wyeth!

Other recent happenings of camp included a survey that went out to kids and parents from this past summer, finding out what everyone thought of camp. We're very happy to say that nothing but glowing responses are coming back!

"We love the small size, personal attention and the beautiful setting in the Berkshires. The staff are top notch and work very hard to deliver a traditional summer camp experience"

"We LOVE Camp Wa Wa Segowea!"

We are also seeing continual interest in the Blog Post from earlier in the year (March 2) "Where Are They Now". We still welcome all responses! If you know someone that should share what they're doing now, please encourage them to send something in (of course if you didn't send anything in, please do too!) It doesn't matter if you were a camper last year, a staff member from the 90's or a Friend of Segowea from the 50's, all replies are welcome. Here's the post-

http://segowea.blogspot.com/2011/03/camp-wa-wa-segowea-alumni-where-are.html

Lastly, we'd like to celebrate the Anniversary of Camping! Summer camping is 150 years old! Back in January of this year, the American Camping Association began a year long celebration of the first camping experience. Back in 1861, a school teacher, Frederick W. Gunn, took students from his homeschool program on a two-week trip. The class hiked to their destination in Maine and then set up camp. The students spent their time boating, fishing and trapping for the two weeks. The trip was so successful that the tradition continued for twelve years as the "Gunnery Camp". Here at Camp Wa Wa Segowea, we'll be celebrating our own anniversary in 2013, our Centennial! Any ideas on how we should celebrate 100 years? Let us know.

While you're thinking of ideas on how to celebrate 100 years of Segowea, here's some pictures from this past few weekends.

Time to Harvest the Camp Garden...

Put the books away...

Won't see these guys for that much longer!

Still plenty of fish in Harmon Pond though.

Chairman of Smith Park, John Dunn welcomes some Smith Park members.

And the work weekend wouldn't be the same without Norm on a piece of heavy machinery!

Just what is Liz helping with?

It's an elaborate plan to bring in the docks! (and a less back breaking one at that!)

Norm in the middle of it.

A plan in effect!

Lily, Betsey and Chris taking a break and catching up.

Tom getting into it, literally.

Covering the ditch to cut down on the leaves.

Lifejackets put away for the winter.

Tom checking to see how much of the pond is in his boots...

and he shows us!

And pretty soon, we all take that familiar road on our way home.

Till next time, Thanks for being Friends of Segowea!

One last look at Camp Wa Wa Segowea's summer of 2011.

2011-09-06T17:15:00.000-07:00

The summer season ends, and the autumn one begins! There's still that summer feel to the place, but without the daily noises of camp. We don't hear basketballs bouncing in the lodge, the splashing of free swim and the occasional shout out of YEAH BOATING! Fudge and Goldie, the camp dogs, wonder where everyone went and the wildlife begins to resurface on a more regular basis. The warm air remains though, and we hope it lasts, at least for the first work weekend! (More about that later) We made it through relatively unscathed from Hurricane Irene. Norm and Dianne report there's bits of debris all over camp with tree branches and leaves scattered around. But nothing major occurred, so with the eye of the storm looking like it passed right over the area, we were extremely lucky!

We took some video over the summer and thought we'd share some with this post.

Here's the most popular booth at the Camp Carnivals- The Slip-N-Slide!

Here's one of a few beavers that came right up by the dock this summer.

Here's an Olympic Event!

Some Girls Singing.

The Camp Staff of 2011!

Another Olympic event!

Thanks to Kat, Ed, Annie and Elisabeth for sharing the videos!

The first work weekend of the fall is taking place on the 17th and 18th of September, just 11 days away. If you plan on attending for the day, for the weekend, or even just a few hours, please let Norm & Dianne know at 413-229-9110. A Lasagna dinner is being planned for Saturday night and reservations are being taken for sleeping arrangements! All are invited to attend as there's plenty of work to do. Maybe bring a friend or perhaps friends that are interested in seeing the place for themselves. Lunch is a "bring your own meal", and breakfast will be served on Sunday for the the stayovers.

Hope to see you there!

Camp Wa Wa Segowea 2011 Summer season comes to an end.

2011-08-23T10:12:00.000-07:00

The summer season of 2011 is over and what a fantastic summer it was! Returning campers from last year and years past joined new campers for that magical Segowea experience. Session 8 was the biggest of the summer and with the additional help of some alumni volunteers, camp was packed! All cabins were used and the dining hall was full of hungry children, ready to eat!

Kids started the week dealing with a couple days of rain, but as the Olympics began, the sun came out and dried everything and the games began! Younger campers and older campers joined together on three Olympic teams, cheering each other on in events ranging from the 100 yard dash to the frisbee toss. There was the three-legged race, the javelin throw and of course the hula hoop competition! It was a contest for the ages and led by alumni volunteers, Katie and Matt, and with the whole camp included, much fun was had! It was a great event to wrap-up the summer of 2011.

A big thanks goes out to the Great Summer staff of Camp Wa Wa Segowea, the dynamic CIT's, the terrific leadership of the team of Kat, Frank, Candace, and Norm & Dianne, the first class kitchen staff of Chris, Adele and Will and all the wonderful volunteers. It truly was a summer to remember. Can't wait till next year!

Session 8 was a busy one, and here's the week in pictures!

Wiffle Ball on the Parade Field.

Practicing the Hula Hoop!

Friends gathering on the side porch and inside lodge.

A quick game of tetherball.

It's Gardening Class.

Photography class.

Rocking the YMCA, Exclamation Point!

Arts & Crafts Class.

Swim class.

and Dance class.

Some time on the water, fishing...

...and enjoying Open Boating!

A peak inside a typical cabin.

The lodge never changes...

A true game of Rock, Paper, Scissors!

Keeping the inside lodge clean.

A look inside the kitchen.

Chris & Minna talking with our food supplier, John from Quandt's.

Adele and Dianne on the front porch.

Friends come in all sizes.

Siblings Jordan and Carly enjoying Boating.

It's Casino Night!

The Olympics Begin!

The camp broken into three teams.

There's the Archery competition.

The Javelin throw.

Organized by our leaders Katie & Matt.

Three-legged Race

The Wheelbarrow Race!

The tough hula hoop competition!

Terrence's team.

Part of the crazy race- the dizzy bat race.

Organizing the Camp Photo, not an easy task!

Some are just born to pose!

And now, it's Camp for Session 8.

So now it's onto the fall season for camp where a couple work weekends will be held as well as the Smith Park Annual Meeting. The first work weekend is on September 17th & 18th and the 2nd is on October 22nd & 23rd. The Smith Park Annual Meeting will be held at noon on September 17th. All are welcomed to attend these events and there'll be more info closer to the dates. Thanks to Ed for the continual supply of pictures!

Session 7 at Camp Wa Wa Segowea is done!

2011-08-17T07:19:00.000-07:00

We've closed the books on Session 7 with just one remaining week to go here at Camp Wa Wa Segowea. Pretty soon kids will be home and getting ready to go back to school and dreaming of next summer at camp. Until then, campers are enjoying the morning mist on the lake and the occasional glimpse of mother nature's furry creatures (skunk and a bear this week!). They're making use of their free time journaling on the side porch, a quick game of HORSE on the basketball court as well as taking in all the stars and the full moon from the view of the soccer field. It's been a great summer!

Here's Session 7's pictures-

Opening Day Session 7!

A game of catch on the parade field.

Welcome all!

Anybody know where this is? (Leave your answer in the comments!)

Cabin Activity- Baking!

Bracelets are the rage at camp!

Annie & Kristen enjoying the front porch.

Olympic Team Names-

The staff for Session # 7!

It's just a couple days till the Camp Segowea Alumni Reunion! It's sure to be a great day on Saturday August 20th to reminisce with former staff members, campers and family and Friends of Segowea! It starts at 11 am and will be a fun filled day. The Friends of Segowea will be holding a meeting in the afternoon and the Smith Park Board will be meeting in the morning too. We'll also have a BBQ dinner that night as well as a campfire. Please consider joining us for the day! Please let Alum Sarah Perks if you plan on attending- sarahbeckp@gmail.com.

Camp Wa Wa Segowea Session # 6 is complete!

2011-08-09T19:31:00.000-07:00

Can it be the 2011 summer is already 3/4 done? It is! Just 2 weeks are remaining and those 2 weeks are jam packed full of activities. This past session, Session 6, was busy as usual with events like Casino Night, the very popular Carnival, the Overnight and the Whistle Chase. The highlight of the week though was a visit and performance by Native American storyteller, Matoaka Little Eagle, from the tribes of Tewa, Apache and Chickahominy. She told stories of her father Swift Eagle, educated us on Native American life, played some native instruments (and shared them with the campers) and even led the camp in several traditional Native American Dances. She's from New Paltz, New York, and travels quite a bit to play at festivals and we were very lucky to have her perform! Thank you again Matoaka Little Eagle!

We're into Session 7, which is occurring right now with events like Exploration Night, The Olympics and Halloween in August! More kids are signed up for these last two weeks, so we're definitely finishing up the summer strong! We've already heard inquiries into next summer, so it's never too early to reserve your spot for next year. Just let Kat know!

Here's some pictures from Session 6, including some of the regular daily happenings at camp.

Session 6 Camp Wa Wa Segowea 2011!

Opening Day signing in...

...and moving in...

Matching up the number of beds to campers!

Lining up by cabin on the parade field.

Introducing yourself to your campmates.

Campers Capers happen every day.
(Inside Lodge)

and Outside Lodge.

The flag is raised every day.

and there's almost always that morning mist on the lake.

Signs of nature around camp.

Front steps of the lodge are always a great gathering place.

and some other random shots around camp.

Rubber pigs are popular this summer for some reason.

as is making bracelets.

and rubber chickens too!

Photography class spells it out for us.

Fudge always enjoys a good scratch.

Adele and D-Hips putting together a plan.

Navajo Cabin and their clothesline!

Camp Director Kat Fitzpatrick.

Everyone enjoys Open Boating!

Dance class.

Swim class.

The Zach's on Guard duty!

Sports class.

and photography class!

Matoaka Little Eagle performs.

Leading the camp in a traditional Native American dance.

and look for new signs now (like this one) on local roads around camp.

Don't forget the Camp Wa Wa Segowea annual Alumni Reunion coming up on August 20th! Check out the Facebook Event for it and let us know you'll be coming. Contact Sarah Perks at sarahbeckp@gmail.com. if you're interested in staying over, let Sarah know!

Thanks to Ed, Annie and Elizabeth for sharing photos as always!

What a week at Camp Wa Wa Segowea! Session 5 is finished!

2011-08-02T16:20:00.000-07:00

The 5th week of the summer of 2011 is complete and what a week it was! All the way from Opening Day to Carnival Night, campers were enjoying the outdoors in the rain and shine. Backwards Day was celebrated (complete with Pizza for breakfast!), Casino Night was experienced and this week the Olympics took place with tough competition in all events. Of course regular skill classes were held (including a new one- photography) and cabin activities took place as well. The kids are truly enjoying themselves, making new friends and finding out new skills they didn't know they had!

Here's this weeks wrap up in pictures-

YMCA Camp Wa Wa Segowea 2011 Session 5

Opening Day moving in.

The Camp Store is open for business!

Kat and Candace going through all the forms.

Returning campers mixing in with the new campers.

Introductions are made.

Swim tests are performed.

Waiting for their turn for the swim tests...

and of course free time for Boxball!

and Open Boating (and fishing)

There's the skill classes, like sailing and boating.

Sports..

and swim class.

and a new one this session- Photography!

Some of the pictures portrayed here in the blog were taken by campers (like the swim class one just above) and these next three.

In the chapel area-

and in the gardens...

and even some trick photography!

Yeah Photography! and well done campers!

There's cabin activities.

Frog searching/catching.

and witnessing nature.

Time to eat!

Enjoying the salad bar.

Backwards Day took place this week, or is it Sdrawkcab Yad?

and the Olympics took place!

Go Hardcore Burrito Eating Bunny Adventure Team!

Where else would you wear a cone on your head but Wa Wa?

or take a nice boat ride just after a rain storm.

and speaking of the rain storm...

We had a good one!

So we took activities inside.

and built a nice fire.

For the evening activities, we had skits..

Casino Night!

and Carnival!

Preparing the Camp Slip - N - Slide!

Ready to go!

What's a carnival without a balloon game?

The Singing Swaummi?

There were Tattoos

And it all ended with dancing!

Thanks to Ed, Elizabeth and Photography class students for sharing their photos!

Some other happenings this past week include a new sign posted at the other end of Foley Hill Road, here in Southfield, giving specific directions on it on how to find the right end of Foley Hill Road, which leads to camp! Sometimes Google and GPS devices are instructing people trying to find the camp to go to the wrong side of Foley Hill Road. That end of the road is no longer drivable (and very hard with an All Terrain Vehicle too!), so now a new sign is posted instructing you how to reach the right end of Foley Hill Road.

Also, a Camp Wa Wa Segowea photo was named Photo of the Week on a website- Summer Camp Culture (www.summercampculture.com). Thanks to all that voted for it!

and what's quickly coming up is the Annual Camp Wa Wa Segowea Reunion! It's happening on August 20th this year from 11:00 am to 7:00 pm. There will be a day full of activities including free swim, open boating, a cookout dinner and a campfire! Save the date and see the Facebook Event page on it!

There's still very little time to sign up for Session 7 and Session 8 is very close to full too, but if you're interested, make sure to contact camp director Kat Fitzpatrick at 413-229-9110 or kfitzpatrick@cdymca.org. Thanks!

Camp Wa Wa Segowea Session # 4- Complete!

2011-07-26T20:02:00.000-07:00

We're already at the halfway point of the summer of 2011 and camp keeps getting better! More and more kids are staying over from session to session and getting another week of that Segowea magic! 4th session was full of activity with the stayovers joining the new campers beginning on Sunday. Activities included a hike to Umpachene Falls, Casino Night and a visit from some Camp Alumni from a long time ago! While the weather was hot, everyone took advantage and was able to swim every day! If you're still thinking about sending your child to camp, there's still just a few spots open for Session 6 & 7. Just contact Camp director Kat Fitzpatrick at 413-229-9110. Also, we've heard from parents that use GPS or Google to find our wonderful camp, are getting a bit lost. If you do use GPS or Google and it has a turn at Canaan Valley Road, that turn is actually taking you to another part of Foley Hill Road and is not the right part! We're at the other end of Foley Hill Road. Just make sure to look for the green camp sign at the end of the Foley Hill. That's the right end! To be safe, there are directions on the Camp Website- www.segowea.org.

Here's the wrapup of Session #4 in pictures-

Enjoying Open Boating.

Basketballs are always bouncing at Wa Wa!

Soccer Field and Archery Field all in one!

Opening Day Craziness!

Some free time.

Time for playing cards.

and time to study nature (but not too close!)

Swim class!

Derek had his best outdoor education class yet!

Campers learned how and then built a shelter in the woods.

It's now a shelter!

We played a little charades.

and played guess that shadow!

Terrance can't decide what to do!

There's always hanging on the front steps.

This week, we had a visit from some important Camp Alumni!

(From left to right)

Ellen Hart Mulvey - She was at camp in 1929 and her dad helped locate the land on which the camp resides and he also helped build the Main Lodge!

Bar and Ruth McComb- A past Chairman of the Board of the Poughkeepsie Y, Bar is a descendant of the Smith Brothers, named recently "President Emeritus" of Smith Park and what he's most proud of- A Cabin Leader at Camp! Ruth is his lovely wife and is always a Friend of Segowea!

They joined us for lunch.

Spoke to some campers.

and posed for some pictures!

Bar, Ruth, and Ellen at the site of the future Dining Hall and Welcome Center.

Norm goes over the model design.

What's there currently (as we're trying to raise money to pay for it!)

We had the trip to Umpachene Falls this week.

And finally, our international staff were invited to a dinner in Glenmont, NY at the home of Charlotte and Charlie Buchanan on the weekend for a YMCA Camp International Celebration!

Congrats to them!

Session 3 is complete at Camp Wa Wa Segowea!

2011-07-19T20:50:00.001-07:00

Session # 4 is happening right now at Camp Wa Wa Segowea, and kids are having a great time. But before we move too fast, there was Session # 3 to look back on and wrap up in pictures. Highlights this past week included The Olympics and the summer's first Wa Wa Carnival! There's always swimming and the other skill classes happening and plenty of free time for kids to be kids. You can also check out our Facebook page to see more pictures from this summer as well as from our archives. There's still time to register for camp for Sessions 5, 6 & 7. Give Kat Fitzpatrick a call at camp- 413-229-9110.

Here's some pictures from Session Number 3.

Mealtime for Terrance's cabin.

Ashley & her cabin of girls.

Prepping for the carnival.

Wa Wa Carnival getting underway.

which includes facepainting!

Adele & Will - Participants in a game involving cheeseballs!

Something called the Kayak Simulator.

and what's a carnival without sponge wrestling!

Derek & Annie, dressing for the event.

Carnival is all about the fun!

Candace with a very appropriate hat!

Deciding which carnival event to go to next!

Relaxing on the porch.

And time for cloud viewing.

Some cabin time.

And a look in the kitchen. First, Chris hard at work.

Will on dish duty.

Adele on Pots & Pans.

Campers on their way to the dining hall...

and in the dining hall for a meal.

Volunteering for Waiter Duty?

Time for a ball game.

and Snack time too!

Stretching for Dance class taking place.

Getting the right moves down!

Camp Director Kat and friends on the front porch.

Free swim!

and Open Boating.

Swimming at the big dock.

Ready to make the jump...

and they do it!

Practicing some diving.

and Smitty keeping a close eye out.

Thanks again to all that supplied pictures from the session- Ed, Elisabeth, Annie & Kat!

Session Two at Camp Wa Wa Segowea is complete!

2011-07-12T19:59:00.000-07:00

The Camp season is flying by as we've completed the 2nd session already. The summer is already 1/4 done! It was a little smaller session this week and the weather was pretty nice. This weeks highlights included Let's Make a Deal, a hike to Umpachanee Falls, the Fourth of July celebration, and an overnight out of the cabins! Kids loved them all and already are asking their parents when they can return. The magic continues at Wa Wa! Here's some pictures of Session 2.

Campers moving in!

Getting the Camp Tour.

"DHips" and Annie going through the rules of camp!

Kat and Frank welcoming all!

And then it's on to Boxball...

Opening games...

...and the campfire.

From Let's Make a Deal!

Banana Man?

Kat and Frank making the daily schedule (and getting warm too!)

There's time for reading...

...some arts & crafts...

...Pillow Polo!

Some frisbee...

a little hacky sack...

some soccer...

sailing...

and singing!

The staff take a break after hours.

Who is that quick guy?

Fourth of July!

and some cabin time...

Posing for pictures...

It's Taco Night!

Newly donated chairs from Berkshire School brighten up the dining hall.

More nature at camp...

Beavers making a nightly visit.

A hike to Umpachene Falls!

and a little rope swing at camp too!

Special thanks to Ed, Kat, Annie and Elisabeth for the pictures!

Session 1 at Camp Wa Wa Segowea is complete!

2011-07-05T19:58:00.000-07:00

It was a successful week here at Camp Wa Wa Segowea. Children from all over were enjoying themselves once again at Camp as the 1st official session came to an end last Friday. It was a session where campers were having fun, learning new skills, admiring nature, building their self-esteem and enjoying all the magic that Segowea has to offer! Instead of me telling you how camp was this session, here's some pictures to see for yourself!

Opening Day Games

Opening Campfire

Camp Director Kat, coffee in one hand and her water bottle in the other!

Program Director, Frank on the front porch.

Boys Unit Director D-Hips & Girls Unit Director Annie.

I guess we can still be friends.

Smitty's cabin.

Elisabeth and Maggie's cabin.

Catching up on some reading.

Swim class.

Ami's cabin.

Camp friends are the best friends!

A new addition to the lodge!

Breakfast menu and quote of the day!

Flag lowering.

Archery class.

Enjoying the Wa Wa Library.

Setting up the volleyball net?

Yes!

Wildlife at Camp Wa Wa Segowea

Some free time ping pong action.

Canoe 101

Jumping for joy at Wa Wa!

Hanging on the front steps.

ZT versus Smitty in Tetherball.

Dogs can be great pillows.

Brotherly and Sisterly love?

Enjoying the ride.

Life on the waterfront.

Polo action!

and outdoor fun.

Going for a row...

Swimming at the big dock.

Row this way!

It's the OGOFC. (Official Group Of Frog Catchers)

Camp Wa Wa Segowea 2011 Summer season is underway!

2011-06-28T19:43:00.000-07:00

Children are enjoying Camp Wa Wa Segowea once again as the summer season has begun!

The Summer Program staff underwent serious training for the week prior, with many hours spent on First Aid, CPR, Life Guarding and program training. It was a cold, rainy week as well, so the camp fireplaces were being used quite a bit! The staff and some volunteers all were pitching in and working together all week long, right up to the last minute, making sure the camp was ready for the kids arrival. And sure enough, the weather eased up from the rain and welcomed the kids arrival with a beautiful sun shiny day!

The kids did arrive and with the sound of the footlockers hitting the cabin floors to the first basketball bouncing in the lodge, Camp had begun! The new staff, that had closely bonded during the staff week, were really excited to see the first kids arrive and show them around camp. Campers chose the skill classes they were interested in and all their medical forms were handed in to Camp Director Kat. Some kids even picked up a new water bottle or camp sweat shirt at the Camp Wa Wa Store. After the parents left and the tours were completed, it was time for the swim tests for all campers and then a bit of free time! Some ping pong matches were underway and some basketball drills were being executed. The frisbees also made their way out of the box and were getting thrown around.

Camp was officially open!

For more 2011 Summer Camp pictures, be sure to look at the Facebook Page and Friend us while you're there! But in the meantime, here's some pictures from Staff Week and the first days of camp. Thanks to Ed, Annie and Kat for the pictures too!

Lifeguard training.

Team building at its best!

Playing the "Ha-Ha" game.

Kids arrive!

Smitty showing the principles of Ping Pong.

The games and reading area of the lodge.

Card playing on the side porch.

Camp Director Kat collecting all the forms.

Playing an introduction game.

Another greeting game!

It's Open Boating!

A beautiful day for a sail.

Row boats, canoes and kayaks too!

In the Arts & Crafts area.

The fishing expedition has begun!

A little afternoon soccer...

Swimming in the C-Dock

Program Director Frank writing the welcome sign.

and Lauren enhancing it!

Thanks to all for assisting in getting camp underway for the Summer season of 2011!

It's coming together at Camp Wa Wa Segowea!

2011-06-21T07:46:00.000-07:00

With 5 days left before the first session starts, it is truly all coming together now. The camp staff has arrived and is getting the place ready for kids. The Camp Director, Kat Fitzpatrick, is busy as the beavers on our pond, constantly in motion, moving from one task to another with a close eye on everything, making sure all is just right when the first session begins! But Kat is not alone. Frank Carivan, the Program Director (and camp alumni) is getting the camp prepared for all the activities to take place during the summer. With guitar in hand, he can't wait till the first Campfire of the season to play and sing all the great camp songs. Annie and Derek, the girls and boys unit directors, are coming to Camp Segowea for their first summer, and are bringing their great summer camp experiences with them to pass on to the new and returning campers of Wa Wa. They're already right in the mix of things pitching in with all those fun "beginning of camp" tasks. The summer staff is there as well, spending this week getting to know their co-workers, undergoing training and tidying the place up. They even manage to have a little fun too! One thing in common that they all have is they're anxiously waiting for the arrival of kids on Sunday! But until then, they'll be busy, just like this past weekend.

It was the last work weekend before the kids do arrive and we had a wonderful showing and participation of Camp alumni, current summer staff and Friends of Segowea alike. And we got quite a bit accomplished! The swim docks were put together and are in position. A new screen system was installed in the dining hall. Camper cabin roofs were worked on. The Nature Lodge/Arts & Crafts building was stained as well as having the windows repaired in it. The Camp kitchen was also worked on, making sure everything was clean and in proper order. And a fence was installed around the foundation structure at the top of the hill that will eventually be the new McComb Lodge/Dining Hall/Welcome Center (which we're still raising money for). The Saturday workday was a huge success and continued on to the Open House on Sunday. More families came on the Open House then were expected, and all were delighted in what they saw even though we were still cleaning up the place! From one parent, "This is just like the camp I went to when I was a kid and I'm really happy this type of camp is still around!"

A special thanks to all the alumni, staff and Friends of Segowea that participated on this past weekend. From helping to clean, to assisting with meals and bringing clothes for the underprivileged, books for the reading program, and seeds to plant, it is a total group effort to keeping that Segowea magic alive for future generations of Wa Wa's to come. We couldn't do it without you! From one of the current staff- "From my camp experience, I've never seen alumni come out and participate in the work and really dig in and get the job done, especially all the dirty work!"

Here's some pictures from the past weekend. Thanks to all that took them!

Norm taking a ride.

Improved drainage ditch.

Chris and Frank on screen duty.

John measuring carefully.

Jeff and Darlene making sure they're put together correctly.

Richard doing the Two-Step?

Cabin sitting!

On top of Mohican, all covered with nails, we find Derek & Sarah...

...and Lisa on her knees (removing the roofing nails).

Laura on staining duty.

Liz pausing to chat with Louise & Wren.

Guard dock in the water.

with Max doing the guard duty.

Tom on Dock Duty (again).

Future camper Wren supervising from the porch.

Moving the docks in.

and moving the mud pile.

It's a team effort!

And naturally Norm is on top of things...

Taking a break for lunch...

With some lakeside dining.

Amy helping out with breakfast on Sunday morning.

After the work is done, a little refreshment!

A couple of swimmers on the return trip from across the lake.

It's happening in the Kitchen at Camp Wa Wa Segowea!

2011-06-08T17:54:00.000-07:00

At this time last year, there were many construction projects happening at the same time all over camp. It seemed like there were things to do everywhere and little time to get it all done before camp started. There were private contractors here and there with Norm running from one project to another and at the top of the list were two extremely important ones. The first was the camp bathrooms and shower house known as Mount Beacon. It really needed an extreme makeover and it got just that! There was the revamping of the shower area as well as the brand new deck and staircase. A lot of money was spent on it (raised through the Capital Campaign) and it was well worth it. Now it's been called one of the nicest places on the camp grounds. There's even a nice view of the lake!

Mount Beacon!

The other location getting a makeover was the camp kitchen. Until the new Welcome Center/Dining Hall/New Kitchen is built at the top of the hill, (Still raising money for that!) the original kitchen would have to be used. So the decision was made to revitalize it! The entire floor was redone to include a better drainage system, some of the old equipment was fixed up, some new equipment was purchased, all to get ready for the summer. There was a new exhaust system for the stove that had to be installed on top of everything. One other remaining factor was getting the new walk-in cooler and freezer to camp and installed and turned on! All of this while all the other construction projects were happening. Needless to say, miracles truly occurred at camp to get it all done! It was into the first week of camp before everything was completed and usable. So how did meals get prepared in the meantime? There was staff there at that time as well as volunteers to get all the work done and they needed to get fed. Along with the help of Adele and Jui Ling, it was all in the capable hands of one Chris Griffith, head chef! Using several refrigerators (located throughout camp) and the kitchen at Hart Lodge, Chris and Adele and Jui Ling were able to prepare more than enough great food until the newly revamped kitchen was operational. It was yet another time in the history of Wa Wa where things get done regardless of all the obstacles.

Hart Lodge Kitchen

The Camp Kitchen in May 2010

Under construction in June 2010.

Getting better!

Moving equipment in.

Starting to take shape.

The Walk-in Cooler arrived and was installed.

And the kitchen is completed!

One of the vital places at camp is the kitchen so we are very pleased that Chris has agreed to return as head chef once again! The news gets even better as Adele is also returning! Three meals get made there every day, plus snack time, so rest assured, excellent food will be made at camp once again.

I had the chance to have a quick conversation with Chris and he's very excited to return. Here's that conversation-

What makes you come to camp?

(Chris) I Enjoy the outdoor/camping environment, providing kids with healthy food I find rewarding, works well with my school schedule.

What do you do during the school year?

(Chris) I'm a Chef / food service manager at a boarding school grades 9-12.

Why are you a chef?

(Chris) I’ve always enjoyed cooking; I’ve combined my passion with my career

Least favorite part of being a chef?

(Chris) All the schelping & long hours

Most favorite part of being a chef?

(Chris) Creativity, each day is different.

So how did it go last summer?

(Chris) Great/Fantastic; especially considering what stage the kitchen was in on June 15^th 2010

Any issues come up?

(Chris) The one that I most remember; no walk-in cooler or gas stove for the first week of camp.

Who's returning from last year in the kitchen?

(Chris) So far its Adele & me.

What did you do when not cooking last year?

(Chris) Fish, Fish, & more Fishing!

Best memory of last summer?

(Chris) Being apart of the WA WA Team. Opening a camp kitchen from scratch.

What are some things on the menu for this summer?

(Chris) Chilled strawberry soup, pizza, homemade cookies & rolls, BBQ, Garden Veggies.

Any new items?

(Chris) Yes, it’s a surprise.

Will there be vegetarian options at the meals?

(Chris) Always at every meal

Favorite thing to make at camp?

(Chris) A smile on a kids face.

Rumor is that you'll be having a Cooking class. What will you be doing in it? What will you be making?

(Chris) I’m not sure, will have to see what the campers want to cook.

What are you looking forward to at camp?

(Chris) Another great summer with good “Eats” and happy campers!

Chris and Adele

Welcome back!

There's still time to register for Camp Wa Wa Segowea!

2011-06-04T20:05:00.000-07:00

We're getting closer and closer! It's 3 weeks and counting and the waiting is the hardest part! That's according to a recent Open House visitor who said- "I want camp to start now!" So yes, kids are excited for the the summer at Segowea to begin. And it's not to late to register for camp! Please go to the Camp website and register online- www.segowea.org. It's very easy! You can always contact Camp Director Kat Fitzpatrick at kfitzpatrick@cdymca.org.

Swimming, boating and archery are just some of the skill classes to be offered (take a look at the previous blog post). But what will a typical day be like at Camp? That's a good question! Let's take a look at the schedule-

7:30 First call (Everyone up!)

8:00 Breakfast Showers

Med Call / Capers / Cabin Cleanup

8:30 Senior Staff Meeting

9:00 Cabin Activity

10:00 Cabin Activity Ends- Get ready for Skill Class 1

10:15 Skill Class 1

11:15 Skill Class 1 ends

11:25 Guarding call (for the waterfront)

11:30 Free Swim / Boating / Quad Time

12:15 Waiter's Call / Free Swim ends

12:20 Assembly

12:30 Lunch Showers

1:00 Med Call / Rest Hour

2:00 Rest Hour ends / Get ready for Skill Class 2

2:15 Skill Class 2

3:15 Skill Class 2 ends / Snack Time

3:30 Skill Class 3

4:30 Skill Class 3 ends

4:45 Vespers

5:15 Waiter's Call

5:20 Flag Lowering

5:30 Dinner Showers

6:15 Med Call / Quad Time / Open Boating

7:15 Evening Program

9:00 Friendship Circle / Med Call

9:30 Lights Out

And that's a full day! For a lot more information, there's the Parent Handbook online on the Camp website- http://www.cdymca.org/locations/CampWaWaSegowea/Download.aspx. There you'll find what your child should and should not bring to camp as well as all the camp policies and guidelines.

There's still time to see the camp before summer begins as the remaining Camp Open Houses will be held on June 5th and June 19th. There's also one remaining Work Weekend scheduled for the 18th & 19th of June and rumor has it, a lot of people will be attending! (Which is good as there's a lot of work to do before kids get there the following week!) Hope to see you there!

Here's a few pictures from the springtime happenings at camp.

On a recent work weekend, The Screen Assembly begins. (Screens in the dining hall)

The docks are in the water. They just have to be put together!

Ike and his never ending search for old/loose nails.

Tom & Ed on screen assembly.

Janeen Pregnant and Painting!

Ben also on screen assembly.

And this is where they'll go!

Umpachene Falls - pretty close to camp.

The lake after a quick shower passing through.

Some activity on the lake- It's Mr. Beaver!

And a Geese Family making camp their Spring home.

And out on the lake.

At the end of a long day, taking a ride to the outpost and improved rope swing!

The Outpost.

and finally, Goldie keeping an eye on everything going on.

Summer is almost here at Camp Wa Wa Segowea!

2011-05-27T07:15:00.000-07:00

It's now less than a month to go before the 2011 Camp Wa Wa Segowea summer season starts! On this date, one month from today, it will be the first full day of camp! Parents will have dropped off their kids on Sunday, June 26th, met the Wa Wa Staff and then said their goodbyes. Kids will just begin to experience the magic Segowea offers- the ability to expand their capabilities, be adventurous, make new friends and of course have fun! On this day, the swim test takes place, watched over closely by the Waterfront Director and camp counselors (college-age young adults) who honestly care about kids. Kids get the full tour of camp and enjoy nature at its finest. They also decide what activities they would most like to take as their skill classes. Everyone takes swimming and then decide what else they would like to participate in. Perhaps it will be something they already know a bit about or maybe something they've never tried before but always wanted to?

Will it be canoeing?

Field Sports and Basketball?

Arts & Crafts?

or a camper favorite- Archery!

Maybe sailing?

Learning more about nature?

or a new class of "Building with Norm"?

or a Cooking class?

Whatever they decide to take part in, they'll be sure to have a great time while learning valuable skills. That's just one part of the child's stay at Camp Wa Wa Segowea! Campers will have lots of opportunities to be adventurous during games and other activity times, to play, sing and just be. There'll be free swim, open boating, and there's almost always a game of box ball happening! There's just enough balance between the scheduled activities and the free time to let the camper increase their self-confidence and self-esteem while appreciating nature in our beautiful outdoor setting.

Enrollment is easy and available online. (www.segowea.org) The week long sessions start June 26th and run till August 26th. If the child is staying for a couple weeks (or even more), they can always stay over the weekend. You can talk directly to the camp director Kat Fitzpatrick at 518-656-9462 or kfitzpatrick@cdymca.org. There's still a couple Open Houses left on the schedule for those who wish to see the camp in person for the first time or those who wish to see it again before the summer! There's this Sunday, May 29th, as well as June 5th and June 19th. RSVP to Kat and come out and enjoy!

Like these guys did a couple weeks ago-

Also, some recent news online of Camp Segowea- a mention in the New Marlborough Village News http://www.newmarlborough.org/2011%20NM5VN/NM5VN_MAYLR.pdf (Page 18) and one runner's view of the recent Wa Wa Wally Waddle- http://www.inthegym.net/gymnotes/

Thanks to both for the mentions!