Keeping you in touch with Camps Leelanau and Kohahna

N rthern Light
Fall 2009
Keeping you
in touch with
Camps Leelanau
and Kohahna
fun
friendship
spirit
success
The
M e n of Le e lanau:
By Glenn C. Johnson - Director,
Camp Leelanau & Executive Director
“Works, more than words…”
F
rom seasoned alumni to the six
year olds in Argosy, Leelanau men
embody qualities and live lives that
make a difference in the world. The tradition of helping to develop fine young men
continued this summer and this is how it
happened.
Success starts at the top and we had an
outstanding trio in HQ this summer. They
complemented one another, guided us spiritually and kept us on track and focused.
Campers and staff felt a great deal of gratitude for their devotion and commitment
day in and day out.
pine
Boughs
“I don’t feel I could raise the kind of daughter [my
camper] is without what we both learn about her from her
camp experience. We get to see her capabilities highlighted. It provides a window into what she’s made of. Camp
sets her free. She learned she’s tougher than she thought.
She learned how loveable she is, and how loveable everyone else is. She got off the plane wanting to bring that
love and light to her high school experience.”
--Camper Parent
By Sue Pierce - Director, Camp Kohahna &
Kathleen Moyer - Assistant Director, Camp Kohahna
C
amp Kohahna and its high ideals have been inspiring
young women for over eighty-five years. Summers at
Kohahna are filled with inspiration, laughter and friendships. Kohahna helps us discover new things about ourselves and
experience the spiritual growth and uplift that come through devotion to God; we care deeply for one another and for the place
that brings us together. Our rich heritage of friendship, love and
gratitude has been fostered here for decades.
One of our most memorable opportunities for expressing gratitude each year comes in the form of the Pine Bough Ceremony
which has been a tradition since the days of Maude Beals Turner
(founder of Camp Kohahna). It is held during the final
Council Fire of the summer. As the
songs, games and cheers come to a
close and the sun begins to set, we
sit thoughtfully, watching the embers glow and thinking about what
we are grateful for. One by one,
each of us steps forward to share
our gratitude for what we have experienced during the summer and to
drop a pine bough into the fire. A sizzle and flash of light follow
as the bough burns.
As the ceremony progresses, we all lean forward, not wanting
to miss any of the thoughts being shared. Sometimes we laugh
together around the circle, and at other times we are moved to
tears. This past summer, campers and counselors shared appreciation for the way camp has helped them dig deeper in thought
and more consistently cherish the good in themselves and others. Many shared gratitude for Christian Science and for demonstrations they had experienced and witnessed. Others expressed
heartfelt gratitude for their parents and for campership assistance.
One camper expressed sincere joy for seeing love in action, and
another for learning that spiritual growth and humility go hand
in hand.
The love we feel for camp is an inner fire that can never be extinguished. Our gratitude and obedience to divine guidance make
Kohahna women shine from the inside out!
The 2009 Leelanau Staff was as good as it
gets:
• 247 years of Leelanau experience
• Devotion to Christian Science with a goal
of imparting it to others
• Patience with and dedication to
the campers
• Educational prowess: Wisconsin, Princeton, Northwestern, Colby, UNC, Ball
State, Wofford, Ohio State, Principia,
Michigan Tech, Hillsdale
• NOLS Instructor, Professional
Kayak Instructor
• National Geographic Photographer
• Professional Actors
• Professional and College Athletes
• Accomplished Musicians
• And more…
These men served as role models who
selflessly chose to spend their summer at
Leelanau enriching young men’s lives.
An important part of our Leelanau schedule
is the morning quiet time when we study
the Christian Science Bible Lesson. We emphasize putting what we learn about God’s
laws into practice as we go about our day.
Campers and staff feel a unique brotherhood characterizing Camp Leelanau.
Activities have a positive competitive spirit
with genuine sportsmanship. We thrive on
helping each other achieve.
Campers come to camp to learn and grow
in all areas. During the summer every
camper was challenged to be a better person, to do things he’d never done before,
to consciously make a positive difference in the cabin and in all activities . . .
to live Christian Science. “Works, more
than words, should characterize Christian
Scientists.” (Mary Baker Eddy, Miscellaneous Writings 126: 21-22). Watching the
progress of campers is one of the great joys
of the summer.
One could see this wonderful growth and
enthusiasm for life during:
• Refreshing and invigorating morning
exercises and dips
• Inspired quiet time
• Thorough, but fun, cabin clean-up
and inspection
• Incredible canoeing, kayaking and
hiking trips
• The annual action-packed Flag Trip
• Amazing talent show skits with music,
drama and humor, and other creative
arts displays
• Gorilla basketball and “never ending
knock-out”
• Challenging activities such as the ropes
course, climbing wall and the new
bouldering wall
• Exciting waterfront activities including
waterskiing, sailing, windsurfing and the
new water trampoline
• Demanding speed and agility training
• And more…
Quality young men are already looking
forward to returning as counselors in 2010.
Campers are mentally packing their bags
for another exciting, challenging and growing experience. Much good awaits their
expectations. Campers and alums continue
to be grateful that in the northern woods, on
the shores of Lake Michigan, the tradition
of character-building camps lives on! The
Leelanau campfire song says it all, “Let us
pledge each other that we’ll keep camping
friendships strong and deep, ‘til we meet
again.”
F
rom the deck at Eagle’s Nest, the sounds of camp activities waft
through the air: the laughter of games on the great lawn, voices
united in song on the deck of the Great House, cheers from the
Council Fire hilltops. Through each activity campers and staff experience the vitality of their relationship with God, and see this as the basis
of all true activity.
Family Camp
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From our vantage point at “the Nest” we can see the girls’ tennis courts,
where campers learn and practice their tennis skills. One morning I
watched as a camper held a racket for the first time, learned the mechanics of swinging it and made contact with a tennis ball. As the week
progressed, I watched her stroke become more even and her ability to
hit the ball more accurate. She also began to anticipate where the ball
was going to bounce so she could position herself to properly return the
ball. Soon new strokes were added, along with the rules of play and an
awareness of the court perimeters.
Views from
“The Nest”
By Stormy Becker Falso, C.S. Practitioner, Second Session 2009
As I watched this camper’s growth in grace, form, accuracy and
strength, I thought about how her example illustrated our natural progression Spiritward. We start with simple truths. As with a tennis racket,
we learn to hold on to them and use them. Our spiritual understanding
increases as we actively use what we know in an ever-widening range
of experiences. For instance, once a tennis player learns a forehand
stroke, the ball can be returned from a variety of positions. Similarly,
as we hone and practice our metaphysical skills, we become adept at
handling a variety of challenges. We learn to listen and let God direct
us to the idea, inspiration or action needed.
In a tennis practice rally the idea is for the players on both sides of
the court to have the opportunity to hit the ball. It’s like a conversation--expressing a right and good idea so that another right idea can
be expressed. Conversations like this raise thought and understanding
to greater height and application of the qualities of God. Both players
must use talents of intelligence, nimbleness, responsiveness, activity,
sharpness, flexibility, anticipation, acuity and so on.
Knowing the perimeters of the court can make the difference between
a win and a loss. One of the most difficult shots in tennis involves hitting a ball from out of bounds back into play. The player running for
this shot risks moving so far out of position that his opponent can then
make an unreachable shot in another direction to win the point. This
idea reminded me of a healing I had just before camp.
There was a person I had a difficult time getting along with, because
I often felt remarks made to me were judgmental, hurtful and critical.
Every time we were together I felt edgy and defensive. I approached
the situation with prayer, and an inspiration came to me to think about
our conversations in terms of a tennis match. Instead of trying to win
the match, however, my motivation became to keep the conversation
going. My communication had to be directed toward that individual as
an idea of God, not toward a person with difficult personality traits. I
also wanted to hit the ball within their reach, so to speak. When a comment was made that missed the mark, I needed to see it as out of bounds
and not react. Instead I had to let it go and then restart the conversation
with something that was within the bounds of good. It took discipline.
It also took discernment and forgiveness. Gradually, however, there
were fewer “out of bounds shots” for both of us and we even began to
enjoy spending time together.
Camp presents the opportunity to practice Christian Science and see its
benefits. With divine Love governing the action, everyone wins.
T
his year’s Family Camp was a harmonious and hilarious blend of veteran Family Campers and first-time
participants. The staff included over a dozen summer
camp staff members who stayed on to teach activities and
lead games, songs and trips. Highlights of the week included
picture-perfect sailing on Lake Michigan, early morning birdwatching and waterskiing activities, a trip to the Dune Climb
(with a stop at Cherry Republic afterward) and an evening
canoe paddle around School Lake.
A new Family Camp parent writes, “Words can’t describe
what this vacation means to us. It was the first vacation where
we felt a sense of unconditional love and freedom. Having a
child who is different from other kids has made taking family
trips very difficult. When we have tried to take them, they
have been hard on all of us. This trip was a huge success. Our
daughter loved the people, the food and the fun activities. She
said she wanted to ‘live there!’ She felt like she fit in. We saw
it in her behavior. Here was a little girl who, by the end of
the week, was walking all over the campus by herself, with
confidence and with a comfort level which enabled her to talk
to people outside her family. This might not sound like a big
deal, but her teachers at school would be astounded!”
A returning participant says, “We’ve heard Family Camp
described as ‘a little slice of heaven’ and couldn’t agree more!
Our first year, we went with the intent of having our young
girls get to know Kohahna so they would be better prepared
when they were ready to go to camp on their own. What we
immediately discovered is that Family Camp is a wonderfully
fun and relaxing vacation for the entire family. With the wide
diversity of activities to choose from, there are opportunities
for family time, one-on-one time with our kids (and each other), individual time--all in an amazing setting with someone
else preparing delicious meals. Everyone is happy! We cherish
our time each year in this ‘little slice of heaven.’ As we drive
away each year, our family is already looking forward to our
next summer at Family Camp!”
“We have met so many wonderful Christian Science families at camp. Our
kids always make fast friends with whoever they play with throughout the
week! This makes for a wonderfully supportive, peaceful atmosphere.”
--Family Camp Parent
Our Favorite Things
By Steve Creighton - Assistant Director, Camp Leelanau & Kathleen Moyer - Assistant Director, Camp Kohahna
E
very summer at Kohahna and Leelanau, returning campers know they
can trust that their favorite things
about camp will remain the same: the drive
down Port Oneida still brings the same butterflies and excitement, the cabins continue
to stand rustically on the bluffs and hillside,
the counseling staff stands firm on the same
moral ground while maintaining a joyful
and gracious presence, and the beauty of
Pyramid Point is still breathtaking.
Favorite Songs:
Stand Up and Cheer
Council Fire Song
Swing Low
Take Me Out to
the Ballgame
Honey, You Can’t
Love One
In 2009, the camps also added a wide variety
of new activities and elements which kept
things fresh and fun for everyone. Highlights
included waterskiing and wakeboarding behind the new Malibu ski boat, jumping on
the new water trampoline and flying down
the waterslide during cabin day and beach
time. This was the first year camp offered
Climbing as a regular activity. The new
Bouldering Wall built by the Leelanau CT’s
was a great addition! New evening activities
included the all-camp talent show, concerts
by Leelanau staff members, and the return
of the “Superlatives” game in Kohahna. We
also offered a challenging new activity for
camper athletes called “Speed and Agility
Favorite Meals:
Final Banquet
French Toast &
Pancakes
Tacos!
Gyros
Spaghetti
Anything with honey
butter
2009 Leelanau
Winning Team:
North
By Philip Hufstader
doing resistance running with big bungees,
jumping over three-foot high obstacles and
major hill work outs. The campers learned
coordination, foot speed, and running
technique by doing ladder exercises and
hurdle drills. The amount of dedication
and commitment was incredible--some
campers did three sessions a day!
Words can’t really describe the camaraderie,
strength and unity shown not just among the
Special days and events this year were a
great blend of old and new. We brought
back favorites such as marching in the Glen
Arbor Parade on the 4th of July, Sunday
donuts, Country Fair Day and the Leelanau
Flag Trip and Kohahna Challenge. New
events included a surprise ice skating party
first session for Kohahna and a co-ed Tall
Ship sailing adventure on the Schooner
“Inland Seas.”
More than anything, though, our favorite
things at camp aren’t new or old but are instead the timeless moments with our camp
brothers and sisters--playing hard, cheering
each other on, laughing around the Council
Fire or bonding during cabin time and out
on the trail.
Our favorite things include the healings
we’ve had at camp which we’ll never forget,
the lessons we’ve learned and the qualities
we grew to appreciate in ourselves and in
our cabin mates. Not a day goes by when we
don’t stop and express our gratitude for all
the blessings that abound from Camps Leelanau and Kohahna--our favorite things!
Favorite Songs:
The Peppiest Girls
Tarzan
Louise
White Coral Bells
Friends
Today
Favorite Meals:
Three-week and Final
Banquet
Pizza & Milkshakes
Tacos!
Cherry Chicken Salad
Stir Fry
2009 Kohahna
Winning Team:
PINES
Speed and Agility Training for Athletes
This summer included the first ever Speed
and Agility Clinic held during the seventh
week of camp. Over 25 campers from
both Leelanau and Kohahna came out to
prepare for their fall or winter sports back
at home. Everyone showed a tremendous
amount of intensity, desire, hard work and
energy in what was one of the toughest
weeks of training I’ve seen! We worked
on how to be explosive and dynamic,
Training” (see article below).
boys or the girls but throughout the entire
group. Somebody once said that the picture
of a champion was of someone bent over,
hands on their knees, dripping with sweat,
panting out of breath. That seventh week
we saw a new picture of a champion: kids
standing tall, exhausted but rejuvenated,
big smiles on their faces, and “high fives”
all around.
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Leelanau Outdoor Center
utumn in northern Michigan is a season marked
by growth, change and beauty— goldenrod and
wild asters bloom in the meadows along Port Oneida
Road, apples ripen in the farmhouse orchard, and the
leaves change color across Council Fire Hill. It’s also the
season when we annually welcome women from Christian Science churches across the country to join us for a long weekend of camp activities and spiritual refreshment. “The format
is very flexible,” says Harvest Weekend Director, Kathleen
Moyer. “We offer a variety of activities but everything is optional. The women can sign up for several things each day or
leave open time for study, prayer, hiking, napping, knitting or
simply enjoying the beauty of Pyramid Point from the Great
House deck.”
A
The concept for a women’s weekend originally came from
camp mothers who saw how their children grew and flourished at camp and asked whether we would ever offer “camp
for moms.” The idea blossomed, and the camps offered our
first Harvest Weekend for Women in 1996. Kathleen explains,
“Women give unselfishly to their churches, families and communities all year long. This is a time for us to give back to them
by providing a supportive environment that fits their needs.”
Harvest activities include something for everyone—from crafts
and fiber arts to the high ropes course and canoeing adventures.
The camp bikes are always available for those who wish to
explore the back roads of the Port Oneida rural farm district.
There are also shopping trips to favorite local towns like Glen
Arbor and Leland.
Meals at Harvest are always a highlight. The camp cooks pull
out all the stops, offering a five-star array of seasonal dishes
including Michigan whitefish and homemade soups, breads and
desserts. “Fabulous food,” writes one participant. “No preparation, no dishes--what more could a mom ask?”
Participants also comment on the uplifting and invigorating atmosphere at camp. One woman writes, “To have a weekend
free from regular roles and responsibilities and in which we
could discover more of our uniqueness as individuals was a real
gift. A good friend thought she saw a new “me” at camp. I know
she was simply seeing a side of me that has always taken a back
seat to family responsibilities. I enjoyed bringing that side of
me into the light again….”
Everyone who attends Harvest goes home with new friendships
and memories of their time here to inspire them throughout the
year. We look forward to welcoming moms, grandmothers, sisters, daughters to our camp home for many years to come.
“a
wider sphere of
thought & action”
*
Whether you’ve come to camp as a visitor
for a day or attended various camp programs for decades, you know there is a spirit
at camp that inspires growth and enriches
lives. It’s a spirit of giving and putting others first; a spirit of doing your best in everything; a spirit of achievement, teamwork and
lots of fun. It’s also a spirit which only gets
better when it’s shared, so in 1994 the Camp
Leelanau and Kohahna Foundation began
the Leelanau Outdoor Center or “LOC.”
This non-denominational facet of our camps
combines quality outdoor education with
character education, reaching over 2,000
Michigan school students each year through
programs hosted at Pyramid Point.
Leelanau Outdoor Center Director, Laura
Ann Johnson describes the role of the LOC
staff and the value of the program this way,
“The LOC staff gives unconditional support
and encouragement to every student who
comes to camp. We only have a few days
with the students so our staff gives 100% of
themselves to each program. In return, we
get the very best back from the campers in
terms of growth, progress and fun.”
One teacher who came with a 7th grade
class writes, “I loved seeing the kids push
themselves outside of their ‘comfort zones.’
The staff does an outstanding job of knowing and understanding how to challenge the
students so they can achieve as individuals
and as a group.”
A parent writes, “My highlight was watching the kids meet the challenges that were
put before them. Some had never experienced anything like this before.”
In many ways, LOC represents a return to
Camp Leelanau’s original roots as an outdoor summer school program in the 1920’s.
Now, in an era where kids spend more and
more time plugged into television and video
games, creating memorable moments outdoors is more important than ever. “Kids
feel safe here,” says Laura Ann. “It’s natural for them to play and learn outside, and
they quickly discover how much they enjoy
it. [Campers] probably won’t look back and
remember the spelling tests they took but
they’ll remember coming to camp.”
* from Science and Health with Key to the
Scriptures by Mary Baker Eddy p. 265:13
For more information about LOC programs and giving opportunities please e-mail: [email protected]
Alumni News
By Marcia Hufstader, Alumni Coordinator
Current Needs
Leelanau Reunion
Columbus Day Weekend
October 8-10, 2010
Saturday Dinner: Gathering of Friends
“Gathering for that spirited and laugh-filled Saturday
night camp dinner helped me realize once again, that
time means nothing, but friendship everything,” remarked Peter Phinny, a former Assistant Director for
the Camps, regarding the Third Annual Saturday Dinner
for Alumni and Camper Parents, held at the Glen Arbor
Town Hall the last night of camp. Alums of all generations got together to share stories and laughs over dinner. It was definitely a lively group! The alumni loved
meeting current camper parents and hearing about their
children’s recent camp experiences. Mark your calendars for 2010 if you plan to be in the area the last weekend of camp; this is an event not to be missed!
New Lodge for Leelanau
Many of you are aware that the need for Leelanau to have its own lodge
as a gathering place for rainy days, RCA and other activities has become
an increasingly high priority. Thanks to earlier donations, camp leadership
was able to update the architect’s plans and complete a site survey last
summer. On October 5, 2009 excavation began, and the first phase of construction is nearing completion. The camps still need to raise over $300,000
for the remainder of the project. Anyone interested in helping please contact
Executive Director, Glenn Johnson at (231) 334-3808.
Kohahna Alumnae News:
Serving Breakfast to the Campers
Continuing our annual tradition, Kohahna alums met at
camp the last Saturday morning at 7:45 a.m. to serve
breakfast in bed to this year’s campers and counselors.
It’s such a delight to walk into the cabins as campers
are waking up and to see their happy faces—not just for
breakfast but for a great summer at camp. All Kohahna
alums are invited to join us for this yearly event.
Additional needs for 2010:
• New backpacks and stoves for
Kohahna Trips $1,200
• Replace (2) washers and dryers $2,200
• Remanufactured engine for Yellow
Ski Boat $4,800
• Kohahna bathhouse updates $5,900
• Paint exterior of staff bunkhouses and
laundry building $6,000
• Replace (6) canoes and
(10) paddles $8,200
• Replenish Counselor Travel
Funds $9,000
• Replenish Campership
Funds $48,000
• Endowment
Leelanau Alumni News:
On the Shores of Lake Michigan
Leelanau alums were prepared to lead morning exercises before dips the final Saturday of camp, but rain
prevailed. Instead, the men met in the pole barn for
homemade pecan rolls and coffee cake. We’ll try again
in 2010, gathering at the pole barn at 7:00 a.m. before
heading down to the beach to lead the campers in exercises, followed by a dip in Lake Michigan.
Leelanau Reunion News:
Save the Date
Come one, come all Leelanau Alums! Join in celebrating
90 camping seasons by making this the largest gathering
of alumni to date. The reunion is scheduled for October
8-10, 2010 and is open to all who have attended Camp
Leelanau for Boys. Please be sure that Camp has your
current email address, phone number and mailing address so we can stay in touch about the details. Then call
and email all your former camp cabinmates and friends
and encourage them to come, too. We plan to have registration information to you at the end of January. If you’d
like to help with the reunion please be in touch!
Keeping in Touch
For more articles, camp news and photos visit:
• www.leelanau-kohahna.org
• www.campslk.smugmug.com
• www.facebook.com
(Camps Leelanau & Kohahna, hosted by
David Heckel and Marcia Schaberg Hufstader)
To make a donation to camp with a credit card visit:
www.leelanau-kohahna.org/give-to-camp
Camp Leelanau & Kohahna Fnd., Inc.
1653 S. Port Oneida Road
Maple City, MI 49664
Address Service Requested
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A Collective Demonstration
What an outpouring of love and supply we have witnessed this year
at Leelanau and Kohahna! Our needs have been met in innumerable
ways—from the harmonious provision of excellent leadership and
support staff, to improved off-season care for our horses, to a new
waterski boat, a used vehicle to replace our ski van and a new roof on
our Pole Barn.
Undoubtedly the most beautiful demonstration, however, was the
just-right supply of Campership funds in a year when the needs were
greater than ever before. Donations came right up until the opening
day of camp. This was truly a collective demonstration on behalf of
the entire Leelanau and Kohahna family. We are grateful to report that
no child was turned away from camp for financial reasons.
One mother whose children attended camp almost ten years ago sent a
letter of gratitude with a generous check to the Campership Fund. She
wrote, “I will always be grateful for the Campership funds that made
it possible for [my children] to attend camp and I would like to give
back to that Fund so that other[s] may have the same opportunities my
family did.”
The Board of Trustees joins me in extending a warm message of
thanks to everyone who has given to Leelanau and Kohahna this
year—whether through financial gift, metaphysical support, recruiting
campers, hosting camp shows or by sending children, grandchildren,
step-children or children from their local communities to camp. It is
an honor to join with you all in witnessing Love’s provision. We look
forward to continued blessings in 2010.
With gratitude,
Amber Rand Watt
Development Director
2010 Camp Dates
Three Week Session:
June 20–July 10
Four Week Session:
July 11–August 8
Seven Week Session:
June 20–August 8
CT Program:
June 18–August 8
Family Camp:
August 9–15
Harvest Weekend for Women:
October 1–4
Leelanau Reunion:
October 8–10
For applications or to learn more about our programs please visit www.leelanau-kohahna.org or call (231) 334-3808