YMCA OF THE PINES
SUMMER CAMPS | RETREATS |
FAMILY PROGRAMS | CHILDCARE | WILDERNESS TRIPS
As 5th session comes to a close, which means the end of camp for this summer for a lot of staff, I always like the reflect on the summer. Most of the staff have been here now for about nine weeks (give or take a few weeks). These are a lot of weeks with lots of growth and memories for all. And not just for staff, but also for campers no matter how many weeks they have joined us for the summer. I think the reason why I like to reflect so much at the end of camp is because [...]
Hello everyone!! Are you an amateur farmer with a garden bursting with an overabundance of cucumbers… or just someone who would love to make fresh pickles at home? Well I’ve got an amazing “Quick Pickle” recipe for you! […]
So, in 2010 the YMCA officially became known as just The Y. In 1844, industrialized London was a place of great turmoil and despair. For the young men who migrated to the city from rural areas to find jobs, London offered a bleak landscape of tenement housing and dangerous influences. Twenty-two-year-old George Williams, a farmer-turned-department store worker, was troubled by what he saw. He joined 11 friends to organize the first Young Men’s Christian Association (YMCA), a refuge of Bible study and prayer for young men seeking escape from the hazards of life on the streets. Although an association of [...]
Hello all!! Being a Chef you get interested in all sorts of things. Obviously the food we eat comes from nature that is all around us… 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year. From the days when hunting and gathering were the ways to feed yourself and you family… to small scale cultivating and farming to feed your community… to today’s larger commercial farming that ships food around the country and around the world… food is what drives us. It’s one of the most basic necessities of all life on the planet. Wether you are [...]
I came across this awesome letter the other day from a father to his daughter. Helps put in perspective why camp is pretty amazing. http://www.huffingtonpost.com/scott-shamberg/open-letter-to-my-daughte_b_3600125.html
Here are two more recipes we have done so far this summer in our cooking activity! Try them on your own and enjoy! Taco Cupcakes Ingredients: ground beef/taco meat taco seasoning black beans mexican cheese and/or queso lettuce salsa red onions wonton wrappers (generally found in the produce section) **This recipe is able to have any additions you seem fit! Any of your favorite taco ingredients will suffice as great add-ins for your own personalized "taco cupcake"! 1. Prepare the taco meat with the taco seasoning in a pan. Meanwhile, preheat the oven to 375. 2. Spray a muffin tin [...]
After waiting through a long, anticipation-filled year, Color War is right around the corner. There are only three days until the third annual fight between the reining champions, The Red Team, and the mighty underdogs, The Black Team. Earlier today, Matolly captains rode in on horseback to deliver their opening speeches, and invite campers to join their teams, not just for this summer, but for every summer after. Kelsey Henry, Black Team Captain, will keep her title for another year with nothing but victory on her mind On the Red Team, Aly Brenner, will pass on the torch to the [...]
Hello all... Here's a very simple Caesar Salad dressing recipe that is sure to please. The great thing about a Caesar Salad is that it is very "portable" if you are going on a picnic, to the beach or on a lazy canoe ride down a calm and cool river. All of the components to the salad (dressing, lettuce, cheese, croutons and optional toppings) can be stored separately in containers in a cooler until you are ready to eat… then toss them together and enjoy! Be careful to keep the dressing cold (with ice or icepacks in a cooler) because [...]
I started to go to camp when I was 5 years old at the rec center in town. I really do not remember those summers but I do remember being homesick for some of the other years I went to camp. As I have gotten older, I have been able to understand why kids (and even sometimes adults) become homesick. I was recently reading an article centered around homesickness and it listed out some great tips for parents to help their children and there children's counselors combat homesickness. Before Camp Begins: •Avoid committing to a "Pick Up Deal." We find [...]
This Saturday just past was our Special Events Day at Camp Matolly and, despite the heat, everyone turned out with plenty of spirit, energy and excitement for Disney Day. The teams were 101 Dalmatians, The Lion King, Finding Nemo, Toy Story and Peter Pan. The whole camp was split into the five teams, each with their own team colour. The day was packed full of singing, chanting, laughing and friendly competition as each team competed in activities such as relays, trivia and banner making. The Lion King team were victorious at the end of the day but everyone had lots [...]