We have been very busy at Camp Kintail over the last month reading applications, conducting interviews, and hiring an amazing team of young people to be the staff of 2012.  Many favourite staff members will be returning to bring even more fun and energy to the summer.  If you would like to meet the staff just click here: Meet the Program Staff of 2012!

Here are just a few familiar faces:

Every Monday we post a picture from the Kintail archives.  This week’s photo was submitted by staff member Olivia “Lua” Henrich, whose mom is in this photo.  Does anyone else remember coming to camp this week?

Hello Kintail World!

When you were all working hard at camp closing back in November, Pacific, Wooly Mammoth, Quasar and Vapour were all on our way down to Slippery Rock, Pennsylvania for a PCCCA (Presbyterian Camp and Conference Centre Association) retreat weekend focusing on the world of professional camping. We were there along with about 20 other individuals  from all over North America, who came together to discuss and learn about Presbyterian Camping, and what it takes to work full time or do something like direct a camp. Despite all we learned, none of us feel quite ready to take on Trillium’s job yet! It was a great weekend where we laughed, learned, and grew together.

One of the really neat things about the weekend was seeing another Presbyterian Camp, and meeting other camp staff. We stayed at Crestfield Camp and Conference Centre, a beautiful camp staffed by lovely people. The site was so big that we got to go on a wagon ride for our tour of the grounds! We were the only Canadians in the group, and it was great to get to know camp staff from all over the USA, share stories, and learn the similarities and differences between our camps and our programs! Camp staff, regardless of where they are from, have a lot in common!

We wanted all of you counselors and future camp staff to know one of the main things we brought away from the weekend – that doing life-long work in children’s camping is totally do-able! Keep on gaining experience any way you can, and someday you too can be a camp director or other year-round camp staff! Many thanks to Trillium for sending us on our wonderful and educational road-trip!

Peace and Blessings,  Vapour and Quasar

Every Monday we post a picture from the Camp Kintail archives.  Please send us any great photos you may have!

Every Monday we post a photo from the Kintail archives.  This week’s photo was sent by Heather “Sprig” Salmon and features three future staff members who attended Family Camp in 1995.  Can you guess who they are?

Get excited about Synergy!  This a joint youth event put on the Synod of Southwestern Ontario and the Synod of Central, Northeastern Ontario & Bermuda.  It is a Canada Youth year and this event will get everyone excited about the summer!

Every Monday morning we post a picture from the Kintail archives.  If you have any great photos to share, please send them to grow@campkintail.ca .

Happy New Year!
I hope you had a wonderful Christmas season and a great start to 2012!

I would like to extend another huge THANK YOU to everyone who helped out, donated, and attended An Especially Special Night this past October. It filled my heart with joy to see so many supporters of Camp Kintail come together to create such a great event.

For those of you who were unable to make it, I thought I’d share a little bit about the event. We began talking about An Especially Special Night (AESN) last spring, and by the summer, the idea had finally taken off. A planning team was formed that discussed different ideas through email as well as during a planning meeting in early fall (Thank you for your help Planning Committee!).

We began to set up for the big day, the night prior. The items that had been donated for the silent auction were set up in the alcove and began to be admired by those passing through. Some of the items auctioned off included tickets to Mary Poppins, a homemade afghan, stained glass, garden decor, yummy food, local paintings, a Camp Kintail birthday party, gift baskets and Christmas decorations too. It was a great success and a lot of fun!

The morning of AESN, the cooks and bakers arrived in the kitchen early to begin preparations for the big day. As you walked through the lodge, you could smell many different things being prepared! Thank you so much for all your help in the kitchen, the food was delicious!

As the morning passed by, the lodge was transformed into a beautiful sparkling dining hall. Thank you to those who helped set up. Tables were set with white linens, wine glasses, and of course camp plates (you’d be surprised how great it looked)! The centre pieces were created, and fit right in with the fall theme that encompassed the event. The lodge looked fantastic!

Once the guests had arrived we began with our first ever disc golf tournament! Although it was a little wet outside, the rain held off and the disc-golfers had a great time. Congratulations to Dan Arppe for getting the lowest score of the tournament! We also had the rock wall open, board games to play, and tours available for those who were interested. It was a fun afternoon where friendships were rekindled and some new ones made.

The evening began with a wonderful meal and great entertainment! Thank you to those who helped in the kitchen and those who served the guests. You did a great job! Thank you also to everyone who shared their musical talents with us, you filled our hearts with the spirit of Kintail!

An Especially Special Night was a great success and we look forward to welcoming you all again on October 20th, 2012! Mark your calendars now; we hope you are able to make it!

Have a great year; hope to see you this summer,
Meagan (Pacific) McGinnis

Camp Kintail alumni Oliver “Ocelot” Gaskin recently had an article published in the Brant Advocate about his experience of love at Camp Kintail.  Check out “What Love Really Is.” Great job Ocelot!

Hey all! I hope you’re all enjoying the little bit of winter we’ve been fortunate (or unfortunate, depending on how you feel about winter) to have!

This past summer, Hazel and I were fortunate enough to have 8 outstanding young women join us for a month at camp as Leaders in Training. Part of the MALIT Program is to create a final creative project of any sort. The girls chose to capture their month as LITs in a video filled with photos from their month together, as well as with songs they recorded themselves that were of significance during the month.

Here is their final project:

We had an amazing time together, and I know that each one of them will make fantastic Camp Kintail staff members one day.

Looking forward to seeing you all at camp this upcoming summer!

Much love, Gianna “Guava” Reinders=