Unicamp is going offer both Red Cross Emergency First Aid and Safe Food Handling courses during staff training (the week of June 28 – July 1st). While these programs are part of the staff training, there will also be limited space available for campers and community members who would like to participate.
The Red Cross course will cost $60.00, which includes a manual and a certificate (these courses usually cost $120 – $150 in the City) and the Food Handler’s Course will cost $25.00, which includes a manual and a certificate.
Michael Moon, a long-time camper and Unicamp supporter, has put together this ode to Unicamp’s natural environment featuring his music and photography. A beautiful paean, we are so thankful for all of the beauty that Michael brings to the community.
The new Seasonal Campers representative on the Unicamp board of directors is Kendrew Pape. Kendrew has been a seasonal camper on site #2 for several years with his family and is a member of the Neighbourhood Unitarian Universalist Congregation in Toronto. If you have questions or concerns about seasonal camping, please contact Kendrew by email. During the summer months you can often find him on his site or hiking the trails around camp. Kendrew and his family usually spend most of August at Unicamp.
Seasonal sites available
Unicamp has three seasonal sites available next summer. To rent a seasonal site, you need to be a member of a UU congregation or a private member of the CUC or the Church of the Larger Fellowship and you need to have attended Unicamp for at least one year. Seasonal campers are allowed on site from when the water is turned on at the end of April until it’s turned off, sometime around Thanksgiving. They can also be on the property during children’s camps when Unicamp is closed to non-seasonal campers. Cost for a site in 2010 was $935 plus $220 for each adult seasonal camper. Hydro cost was $110. 2011 rates have not yet been set. For more information contact Administrative Manager, Wanda Gordon at admin@unicampofontario.ca
Unicamp has two brand new wood stoves to keep campers warm on those chilly spring and autumn nights. Installed in September and enjoyed by the Wild Ginger planning team and a number of other groups prior to closing up camp, the stove in the dining hall is perfect for taking the edge off those early frosted mornings. The upgraded program center stove arrived just as we were closing camp and will be installed this spring.
Both of the new stoves are Drolet – Escape 1800 wood stoves, manufactured by Stove Builder International Inc, out of Quebec City, Quebec. They produce excellent heat – max of 68000 BTU/hr. EPA test (63% default efficiency), max of 75000 BTU/hr with seasoned cord wood.
It was Unicamp’s great fortune that Aden Seaman attended the Young Adult Retreat this past year. While the young adults were pondering what to do with all of the apples collected, having already made as much apple sauce as we could eat, Aden was reminded that his family had a cider press that hadn’t been used in years. Two quick phone calls and a short road trip later and Unicamp now has a functioning cider press courtesy of the Seaman family of Owen Sound. We tested it out on the weekend before Thanksgiving to make sure all the parts were in working order. The Daly, Fleguel, Johnman, Pape and Jamison families collected hundreds of apples from the camp trees and then spent much of the beautiful Thanksgiving weekend pressing apples for juice. Next step is to learn how to turn juice to cider. Anyone with cherished family recipes is encouraged to submit them to Christopher Wulff (cwulff@patienceandfortitude.com).
What an amazing summer! With all the leaves gone from the trees now and winter in the air, it’s good to recall the beautiful, warm times we spent in the valley at Unicamp.
Even with some bumps and hiccups, the summer was a great success. We had record numbers of campers and exciting new activities (archery, tuck shop, horseback riding, Cow Pye Theatre). Our hardworking staff cleared out a lot of the wood debris from the old pine forest and new life is sprouting up there. August was relatively quiet but there were a number of new families who discovered Unicamp for the first time and are excited to return again!
Summer 2011 is already in our minds and hearts, with planning underway. We’ve been gathering feedback and reflecting on ways to continue growing and nurturing campers, staff and everyone involved with Unicamp. Thank you again to all of you for your unique contributions to this healing place we share. However large or small, every effort is appreciated.
Labour Day this season saw a rather spectacular showing of nature on the beach at Unicamp. On Monday afternoon kids and adults alike watched for hours as more than a dozen turtles emerged from a couple of spots on the clothing required beach. They were quite hilarious, climbing over one another in their efforts, frequently sliding back down the chute. But one by one they found their way, and for the most part made it to the water. One needed some help after getting disoriented and winding up on the toe of Administrative Manager Wanda Gordon’s shoe. If you listened really closely you could hear an impassioned MaMa (or maybe it was Wan-Da)! Consensus seemed to be that these babies were of the snapping turtle variety, not the painted turtles which are very common at Unicamp, though any naturalists out there would be encouraged to take a look at the pics and the video and confirm our best guess. Video from Terry and photos from Christopher Wulff and Jeff Baker are on the website. Just one of the many wonderful nature moments we enjoyed at camp this year.
Board member Kendrew Pape put together this fantastic video of a summer at Unicamp, from the caves and nature activities to the night fires and drumming circles. We make memories every summer for kids and families alike.
