NOR’WESTER
A newsletter from and for the Camp Nor'wester community Spring
2006
Read the Fall 2004 Newsletter
Keep spreading the news
Enrollment up, space still available.
Life's lessons
Camp is not just for the camper.
The gifts we give and receive
Connections, friendships, and more.
A word from the Directors
Preparing for the 2006 season.
Craft stuff wanted!
Spring cleaning
Yurt provides recharge time
Creating a staff retreat
From the Board of Directors:
Survey will guide future
Nereocystis luetkeana
Bull kelp by any other name
An eye on alumni
A unique baby gift
Meeting the challenge
On the way
Keep spreading the news
Enrollment up, space still available
2006 will be our seventh summer on Johns Island. From 120 campers in 2000 we can boast an enrollment of 297 in 2005! The steady increase in enrollment since 2000 is due to the personal referrals that alums have made to friends and associates.
In a recent poll of families new to Nor'wester asking how they heard about our program, every one of the 40% who responded listed 'Word of Mouth' as their first knowledge of the Camp!
Middle-school openings
Registrations last year brought camp to an economic 'break even' point. Our efforts are now focused on reaching our program goal of 340 campers as soon as possible. Full enrollment will give us additional revenue for program enrichment and long-term obligations. While several units are full, some with waiting lists, we are actively seeking boys and girls in the 5-7th grade range for both sessions. These units are currently at 50% of capacity.
You can help
We frequently hear from alumni "I'd like to be more involved but I live so far away." Don't let distance deter you! You can most definitely help. Become an active ambassador for Nor'wester, reaching out to anyone who has contact with families of middle school aged children and encouraging them to consider Nor'wester. Your personal endorsement of Nor'wester as a quality outdoor program for children is truly a gift to us and will ensure our long-term success. Informational materials - brochures, flyers and DVDs - can be sent to you or directly to potential camper families by simply contacting the Camp office.
Life's lessons
Camp is not just for the camper
I've been going to camp for a long time and it's hard to explain why, but when I think about the many summers I spent at camp and the impact each summer had on my life, two particular years stand out the most, the first and the last.
I was nine my first summer at Nor'wester. I had never heard about camp before and had no idea what I was getting myself into, but my parents were getting a divorce and so my sister and I were sent to camp. Little did my parents know that they had signed me up for a lifetime at Nor'wester (my sister on the other hand, never went back after that first year - funny how that works).
The community, traditions, eclectic staff, unit of girls, and especially my counselors filled a hole in my life that I didn't even realize existed. I had a place in the group, I filled a role, I was a contributing member of the unit and community - I was important. My counselors made me feel special and wanted. I was able to step out of my other life of divorce and confusion and have a new home full of laughing, singing, dancing, and general merriment. That first year at camp was a life-changing event, and I've never looked back.
I was twenty-five last summer at Nor'wester. I had spent twelve previous summers at camp and knew that I really needed to be there. The year leading up to that summer had proven to be the most emotionally challenging and personally deflating I had ever experienced. By the spring preceding camp all I needed was to go home, and camp was home. Somehow during that summer I found myself again. Returning to the community, traditions, staff, and old friends helped me rebuild myself. I had a place in the group, a role at camp, and I contributed to the life of each child - I was important. The campers and staff made me feel special and wanted. I was able to step back into myself and laugh, sing, dance, and smile. That last year at camp was a lifesaving event and I will do anything to return the favor.
During staff training we always talk about how 'camp is for the camper,' and of course this is true, but the culture of Nor'wester and the impact it makes extends past the campers; staff also grow and change during their summer. Camp is not just for the camper, camp is for everyone.
Robin Tatsuda was a camper from 1989-1995, and a staff member from 2000-2005. Since writing this article Robin has decided to return as Head Counselor for 2006. Robin can be reached in Seattle at rtatsuda@hotmail.com.
The gifts we give and receive
Connections, friendships, and more
Camp connections come in many packages. I was one of those "Oddballs" who had never been a camper and even came from another part of the country - North Carolina. I came in as co-woodshop director in '78 and stayed for 3 summers.
One of my first tipi mates was a long legged girl named Marianne Rogers. We became fast friends and she taught me the ways of camp. She had grown up at camp...or tried to...with many years of experience. I was a young teacher thrilled that people would pay me to live and work at Nor'wester. Our friendship was one of the many gifts I received from camp. Sadly, her life ended way too soon and I longed to grieve the loss of my friend from 3000 miles away.
I never quite closed that door until I attended the 70th Reunion in May of 05. There I saw her skinny legged little 12 yr old sister Katheryn now all grown up with a family of her own. I just sobbed when I saw her because Marianne was her guardian and it brought it all home for me. What a release.
During dinner I sat with woodshop pal Dave Templeton and our new friend Deb Griffin Douglas who had been a long time camper before our time. We hit it off right away talking about our kids and lives. We just clicked.
After dinner Katheryn had her mom Salli on the phone for me to talk to before we left. Deb was standing there talking with Katheryn while I was doing so. I got off the phone and grabbed her saying, 'What's your Marianne connection!?' and she said they had been best friends all through their camp years. I said, "I was her best friend during her staff years!' We shared stories and laughed. We stood there and she just let me cry then hugged me. For me it was a celebration of the unity of camp and the friends we make.
I asked her if she was going to stay for the dance and she said no, that she thought she was just meant to come to meet me. And she disappeared around the corner. I was amazed by this encounter. With the help of Marianne's mom I was able to track her down and we have stayed in touch. It is with the gift of this new friendship that my family wishes to make a donation to the Get the Point campaign in honor of the new friendship and in memory of the dear friend who brought us together.
Bev Neely Bruce aka Bev Wood lives and practices her art in Weddington, NC and can be contacted via her website: www.studiobev.com
A
word from the Directors
Preparing for the 2006 season
The big news this spring is our enrollment. With 275 campers registered as we go to print with this newsletter, we are 26 campers ahead of the same time last year. Several of our units have been full with waiting lists since February! With your help we hope to fill the remaining camper openings (see article page 1) and have a full camp this summer!
New gear
Lightning sailboats will be receiving a significant overhaul, with new masts and a standardization of all their fittings and riggings. Not only will this improve their performance, it will make them more effective teaching tools.
Great news for our sailors! The quest to replace our retired C-Larks has led us to purchase a Laser Radial and a Pico for the Waterfront Program. Both are small sloops that are responsive to light winds. Our plan is to test them over the summer to see which we prefer - then purchase 5 more of the 'winning' model for summer 2007.
Not only will these smaller boats let us take advantage of light winds, but since they react more quickly to sail trim and course changes, they will allow our more advanced sailors to hone their skills. Another great addition to our summer program.
Experienced staff
Staff hiring is well underway, with approximately 48% returning staff. Six of the new staff are returning campers with over 25 years of camp experience! This will be the 13th summer on staff for Mollie Montgomery, our Program Director. Pete Flynn our Waterfront Director is returning for his 10th summer on staff. Robin Tatsuda will be returning for her 7th summer: she is taking on the role of Head Counselor once again. Tex Hilstrom and Jeanine Curtis are coming back to cook for us. Lyle Summers reamins a camp fixture and Mary Wondra will receive her staff jacket this after 5 years on staff. There are many others - too numerous to mention - returning for their 2nd to 6th summer. We appreciate having them all back!
After a very successful experience hiring international staff we are increasing our efforts to bring qualified staff to Nor'wester from overseas. They were an extremely positive addition to the program last year, bringing different perspectives and experience to our community. Menno Meijer from the Netherlands is returning. New to camp this year will be one of Menno's fellow countrymen along with staff from the United Kingdom and Canada.
New spaces
Plans are being finalized for the new Craft Center. Past campers and staff as well as other experts in the crafts field were consulted when the plans were being developed and the results show a great deal of thought. With a little luck at the planning department we may see construction begin this summer.
We are always interested in showing off our beautiful location. If your summer plans include a trip to the San Juan Islands please contact the Camp office for visitor information.
Best regards,
Paul and Christa
Craft stuff wanted!
Spring cleaning
Calling all crafters! It is time for our yearly offer to take unwanted, unused, or neglected craftshop supplies off your hands. Let this year's campers benefit from your spring cleaning.
Yarn of any quality, knitting needles, beads, sparkles, ribbons, pillow stuffing - you name it, we'll put it to good use. The more supplies we have the more wonderful creations become reality. So, look in the back of that closet or in that bottom drawer for crafty items you no longer have a need for and send them our way. (Mail creative care packages to PO Box 4395, Roche Harbor, WA 98250.
Many of you have been extremely generous in the past and we are grateful.
Yurt provides recharge time
Creating a staff retreat
Imagine yourself on a desert isle: What simple comforts would help you relax, kick back and rejuvenate? Our hard-working staff get time each session to have a respite from camp activities. These breaks are well deserved and important opportunities to "reboot".
Often there isn't enough time to actually arrange to get off Johns Island and "away from it all". For this reason we have a staff yurt a little bit away from the hubbub of camp. This spring our wish list focuses on trying to fix up the yurt and make it more comfortable for staff on their time off. We are looking for items that are in good shape!
Please contact Christa at the Camp office (1-360-468-2225) if you can supply any of these items:
From the Board of Directors:
Survey will guide future
The Board is looking toward the future! We are currently in the midst of Strategic Planning work, asking questions such as 'What do we want Nor'wester to look like in the year 2011 and how will we get there?' Lots of exciting ideas have been flying around the table.
To broaden the process, we are asking for input from the entire Nor'wester community and have set up an on-line survey. We encourage you to participate by going to www.norwester.org/survey. Your feedback is essential in our efforts and is a great opportunity to take part in the planning of Camp's future!
We hope to continue our work on these issues through the summer, and have recommendations for the Board in the fall. Stay tuned as we will keep you posted on where we are heading!
Nereocystis luetkeana
Bull kelp by any other name
Many a camper may recall exploring the beaches and coves of the San Juans and finding plenty of natural wonders: making driftwood forts and bull kelp horns. But what do we know of these wonders?
Bull kelp is best known for the long, smooth, brown bull whips that wash up on beaches in fall and winter. Each long stalk-called a stipe-has a bulbous gas float on one end, with long, flat, leaf-like blades. At the other end of the stipe is an anchor called a "holdfast"-a root-like disc that holds onto rocks at depths up to 60 feet.
Kelp is found all along the Pacific Coast. People who spend time on the water are familiar with the dense floating beds that kelp forms, and know it can mark shallows or reefs. The kelp blades calm the water, providing resting spots for kayakers or sea otters and seabirds which take advantage of the treasures below.
Beneath the surface, lots of sea creatures call the kelp forests their home. Small crustaceans feed directly on the blades, while other types of plankton prosper in the waters calmed by thick kelp stands. Abundant food and shelter from predators provide valuable habitat for juvenile salmon, rockfish and surf smelt. On the kelp forest floor, holdfasts and other algae form a diverse understory with urchin, shrimp, fish and other creatures.
The fastest growing seaweed in the world, bull kelp can grow from a tiny spore to a 120 foot mature plant in a single season. Spore-forming patches develop on the blades of mature kelp, then sluff off, leaving holes in aging blades. Spores fall near the base or drift to new territories to grow the following season. Kelp typically break from their holdfast during fall storms, die and wash up onto beaches, ending their life after just one season. The creative camper or even camp director may find it there and turn it into something wonderful: Christa Campbell made a basket from kelp as a potlatch gift to Lyle Summers last year!
So next time you're wandering a San Juan beach and you come upon a tangled mess of kelp, think of the journey that amazing algae has made.
An eye on alumni
A unique baby gift
As the community of Camp Nor'wester grows, our campers grow up to start families of their own. We recently had an interesting idea come from the parent of a former camper: an opportunity to secure a 'reservation' for a new grandchild to join the Nor'wester family!
Chris Kunath, a Nor'wester alum from the summers of 1985-87, is now the proud father of his first child, William Christopher Caropreso Kunath, born November 20, 2005. The new and eager grandmother would like to ensure that Chris, and his wife Jeanna, continue the tradition of sending their children to Camp Nor'wester.
Ruth Kunath says of her son Chris, "I will NEVER forget picking him up off the ferry at the end of camp. He was beaming at 12 years old! I knew then we had made the right decision." The Kunath family had come from a tradition of camping, but Chris was the first to attend Nor'wester. The friendships he made as a camper continue in his life as an adult. Ruth wanted to continue the family tradition of summer camp and is excited by the values and experiences offered by Nor'wester.
A "reservation" has been made for Ruth's newborn grandson in exchange for a non-profit donation. The camp provided Ruth with a 'gift certificate' to present to her son and daughter-in-law. To 'confirm' their reservation, the family just needs to contact the camp office in the year in which their newborn turns eight years old.
As Camp Nor'wester moves into the fourth generation of families, we continue to look for ways to honor tradition while we welcome new members of the Nor'wester family. If you are interested in making a 'reservation' via a non-profit donation, please contact the camp office.
Meeting the challenge
On the way
A big THANK YOU is in order to all who have participated in the "Get the Point" capital campaign. The Horder Challenge that ran from November through January was a huge success! We met the $100,000 well before the January 15th deadline. We are on the right road but still have a way to go on the campaign to Get the Point! If you want more information about the campaign, check out www.norwester.org and look under the support Nor'wester section of the website.