Holiday newsletter 06.indd

What’s Up at GAC?
NEWS
Holiday 2005
&
NOTES
Volume 17, No. 2
A newsletter for the campers, staff, alumni, and families of GAC
Administrative Office: 2585 East Perrin Avenue, Suite 112, Fresno, CA 93720
Telephone: 800-554-2267
E-mail: mail@goldarrowcamp.com
Gold Arrow Camp is accredited by the American
Camp Association and is a member of the
Western Association of Independent Camps
GAC Counselor makes
a big impression
Sarah Weiss, seven year camper and CIT, recounted an experience
she had with her counselor, Sunset, and put her memory into words
for a college application. We want to thank Sarah for allowing us to
reprint her essay here.
“If I had my life to live over, I’d make more mistakes next
time,” she said as the words rolled off her tongue as philosophies off
Plato’s. She seemed to never miss a beat,
never blink those crystal green eyes,
hoping to see the world in all its entirety.
Though she might have never blinked,
she definitely smiled. It was one of those
contagious smiles that can be passed
around like a kindergarten ball, never to
leave its owner but willing to be shared.
I think that’s what hooked me;
either the smile or what came out from
it. Whether it be the laugh that tried to
swallow the world whole or the words that tried to teach the world to
be good, it was a line that pulled me in.
She was introduced as Sunset, a name mirroring her beautiful
skin complexion of orange. She was worldly, had traveled probably to
the sun and back before it set. And yet that is not as how I remember
her, not by her figure, but by the stories she told and the lessons she
taught.
We met at Gold Arrow Camp, she was my counselor and I
was a camper. It was about the second week of camp, the cabin was
dark, and the only glow came from my flashlight. Sitting Indian style
on my bottom bunk bed, I waited patiently for Sunset to return from
a meeting. As the door creaked open, Sunset was startled that I was
awake.
“What are you still doing up?”
“I wanted to show you pictures my dad had sent me”
“Of course, I would love to see them,” she said motioning
over to her bright green sleeping bag. I remember it clearly, her black
Purdue sweatshirt, the smell of midnight, and the creaking of her bed.
(Continued on page 4, “Sunset”)
Tigger, Roxy, Glitter, Bon Bon, Fiji, Pebbles and the Monke
Family at this year’s WAIC conference!
It’s been a busy fall season for the GAC year-round staff! In
October, Sunshine and Fiji attended an American Camp Association
educational workshop entitled, “Strategies for Partnering with
Parents in a Nervous World.” The workshop included talks from Dr.
Wendy Mogel, author of The Blessing of a Skinned Knee, and Bob
Ditter, a senior level clinical social worker who is widely respected
in the camping industry. Sunshine and Fiji came away with a lot of
great information to share with parents about the value of a camp
experience and how to help parents and campers prepare for their
first overnight camp experience.
In November, the GAC crew went to Napa, California, to attend the
Western Association of Independent Camps’ annual conference. It
was a great opportunity to learn about and develop new ideas for
camp as well as to network with other camp professionals in the
region.
Looking ahead, there’s no slowing down as we count down to next
summer. Fiji will be traveling to New Zealand and Australia in late
January to meet, interview and hire new international staff. Bon Bon,
Sunshine, and Monkey will also be traveling throughout California,
and even to other states, making appearances at local
camp fairs and GAC Chats. To see if we are coming
to an area near you, take a look at our schedule on
page 2. We would love to see you!
In this issue...
GAC Tradition
GAC Chats
fun at gac
5-year camper
CIT info
dance poll
community corner
ask the chipmunk
...and more!
2
2
3
3
4
4
5-7
8
Staff profile: AZ
Since camp, AZ has been doing quite a bit of traveling! He got to see what all the magic is about at Disneyland
and plans on going back next year! Texas was his next stop to do some boot scootin’, then Hawaii for some
swimming, snorkeling, Hula dancing, and Hawaiian food. He stopped in Minnesota, where he attended some
college classes, went to a hockey game, a football game, and even went trick-or-treating! Heading out of
Minnesota, he made a brief stop in Fargo, North Dakota, where he shook hands with the mayor. Soon AZ will
be going to where it is a little warmer - Chile! Then, once he defrosts a little, he will have tea with the Queen
in England and a sausage in Germany before heading back home to Australia for Christmas to say g’day to his
family. Then, of course, back to the good ol’ USA for GAC 2006! See you all there!
The tradition of gac
and staff and form bonds and friendships that last a
lifetime. During the summer of 2004, a cabin group of
campers from 1975 came back to GAC for a reunion.
After all these years, they are still in close touch with one
another. I truly hope that this generation of campers and
staff will enjoy the same closeness and will keep in touch
with the friends they have met at camp, some of whom
live in other part of the U.S. and in different countries
from around the world.
In reading through some of the letters and writings
of Jeanie Vezie, who was co-owner and director of Gold
Arrow Camp with Manny from 1959-1985, and continued
directing through the summer of 1988, I came across this
historical tidbit. She wrote this on August 27, 1983, and
it tells about both how Gold Arrow was named (in 1933)
and about the arrival of girls (in the early 1960’s):
“At last the camp was ready, and Manny needed
a name for it. At the camp where he worked in Wisconsin
(which was named Red Arrow), they had an award which
was given only a few times over the years. It would go to
a boy who was outstanding enough to earn it. It was not
given for physical prowess or skill achievement, but for
character and all around “terrific guy.” Manny thought
how wonderful it would be if every boy who went through
his camp could become a Gold Arrow boy - so he named
his camp Gold Arrow.
(Continued on page 4, “Jeanie”)
Manny and Jeanie in the early 1980’s.
By Audrey “Sunshine” Monke
One of the best things about being part of Gold
Arrow Camp is knowing that we’re part of a community
and tradition that was started over seventy years ago. We
are now enjoying hosting grandchildren of campers who
attended GAC in the 1940’s and 1950’s and children of
campers from the 1960’s and 1970’s. We even have one 4th
generation camper, Tim Swann, whose great-grandfather,
Manny Vezie, started Gold Arrow Camp in 1933!
As time goes on and the world becomes more
modern, with children hooked up to phones, computers,
and iPods throughout their day, camp becomes a more
and more unique place. Where else do kids go today
where they have no T.V., no computer with games and IM,
and no headphones to tune out the world? What a great
opportunity camp provides to connect with other campers
GAC CHATS:
put a little summer in your winter!
What’s a GAC Chat? It’s a fun evening, hosted by a camp Every child who attends, will receive a specially-designed,
family and attended by Sunshine, Monkey, and/or Bon Bon, free GAC t-shirt to take home! So, mark your calendar,
where you can come catch up with your camp friends and meet and come join us at a GAC Chat coming to your town. There
new families who are interested
are already a few GAC Chats
Tuesday, January 10
in GAC. We’ll show pictures GAC Chat San Francisco
scheduled, but there will be
Wednesday, January 11
from the summer of 2005, sign GAC Chat Redwood City
more on the calendar soon.
Thursday, January 12
2005 Yearbooks, and sing a few GAC Chat Oakland
Check the camp website
Wednesday, January 25
camp songs. We need YOU to GAC Chat Palos Verdes
regularly for the updated
Thursday, January 26
come to make the GAC Chats GAC Chat Newport Coast
schedule, and call or email Bon Bon
fun! Come wearing your Camp
(bonbon@goldarrowcamp.com) at
t-shirt (if you have one), ready Many thanks to the Wride, Jameson, Greller, Seidner, the camp office if you’d like to
to share your stories and what Harris, Kelly, Kroger and Groux families, who have already host a GAC Chat at your home
volunteered their homes for GAC Chats in December and this spring!
you love about GAC.
January.
2
I
Join the fun at gac ‘06!
5-Year Camper Profile:
Chih mcdermott
t’s time to enroll in Gold Arrow Camp 2006! Many
returning and new families have already signed up for
camp for next summer. All sessions are currently open,
however, to ensure a spot in your first choice session, we
recommend enrolling soon! Many campers were placed
on waiting lists last summer and were disappointed that
they were unable to attend their first choice session or any
session at all! The summer 2006 sessions are listed below.
To enroll, please contact our office at (800) 554-2267 or
you can enroll online at www.goldarrowcamp.com. We
are also happy to answer your questions about our program
and sessions. We hope you’ll join us this summer!
Session #1
ollment June 25 - July 8
Enr
y
Session #2
9 - July 22
rl
5 July
1
r
e
Session #3
July
23 - August 5
emb i n e
c
e
d
Session #4
August 6 - August 19
D eadl
Session #5
August 6 - August 26
Boy Nuggets, Mini-Camp 1
June 25 - July 1
Girl Nuggets, Mini-Camp 2
July 2 - July 8
Mini-Camp 3
August 20 - 26
Specialty (Shaver or Horses)
August 20- 26
Ea
Chih, little brother to
GAC’s very own Panda,
just started his Freshman
year at Chadwick School.
This year he has joined
the football team and has
learned a lot. He is most
proud of his nickname,
“Buddha,” and the sock
tan that resulted from the strenuous season. Winter
marks the start of his old favorite sport, basketball.
Though he is not as tall as the rest of the boys, Chih
has a positive outlook on the season, even though
the first two practices resulted in him missing all of
his layups.
Chih has also immersed himself in the arts. He is
taking a ceramics class in addition to his normal
classes. He has made some pretty nice stuff, but
his favorite type of clay with which to work is
porcelein, because it’s so delicate and beautiful
when fired. Because he missed the Lame-O’s
(GAC’s improv comedy group) so much,
Chih has joined the ChImps (Chadwick
Improvisors) at school and is
having fun learning the rules of
improv. He misses his sister,
Panda, who is away at college, but not as much as
he misses Bon Bon making fun of her at morning
assemblies.
Find That Counselor!
The hidden counselors’ names below can be forward,
backward, up, down or diagonal- find ‘em all!
Chih can’t wait to get back to GAC next year as
his last year as a camper and hopes to
persuade his older brother to come back
as a CIT! Chih is always smiling or
laughing, whether it be at his sock tan,
his missed layups, his clay pots, or his
fellow improvisors. He wishes that everyone would
be as happy as he is.
TOMMO
REESI
FIRE
STRAWBERRIES
FLETCH
MO
GOLLUM
SPECIALK
JADE
CHIEF
Calling all gac alumni!
SPANNA
SUSHI
SPANKY
PEBBLES
LINK
As we get ready for our 75th Reunion celebration
(in 2007), we need your help! If you are a Gold
Arrow alumni, please register at our website in our
camp alumni database. Tell your camp friends to
register, too! We’ll keep you posted on our plans
for our biggest reunion celebration ever!
(Need help? Go online to our Camper Page to see the answers!)
3
sunset
Teen leadership
opportunities
(Continued from page 1.)
And then I began to pour out my heart, I felt as if I was
telling her my life story. With every sentence came a bobbing
of her two high ponytails, as if to reassure me to continue. But
when I began to describe my family, I could not go on.
“I miss my mom, Sunset,” I said, and then began to cry.
“I am here for you,” Sunset said and gave me a big hug.
She became sunshine in my crying rain.
That night, though it was probably around midnight, the
hour we talked gave the comfort that only years of friendship can
offer. It was Sunset’s comfort, her unflagging love that saved me
and turned her into my lifeline for the future. I hoped that one day
I could recast the line that Sunset once threw to me. She opened
to me a window to her life, her family, her past, and what she
had planned for the future. Her real name is Katie Klonowski,
and she grew up in a small town in Indiana as crazy as her last
name.
And while some have argued that being a hero is not a
permanent condition, but rather a moment one rises to, Sunset’s
heroics were permanent, never to be erased. With every word she
uttered carried a positive note. I could have sung her words to
the tune of Somewhere Over the Rainbow. Since that moment, I
have cried many times in her arms, and caught the contagiousness
of her smile.
At times I wished to be in her ruby red slippers, hoping
to reciprocate. But I would later realize it was not the life she
had that I admired, but the way she lived it; the way she would
effortlessly quote Aristotle and Angelou, never knowing that one
day people would quote her. It was the way she had the intense
capacity to love all those around her. The way she soaked up life
like a sponge hanging on to every feeling and every word. It was
the way her voice would clear the grey skies and the bad news in
The New York Times.
And it was the way she threw me a line and promised
to never let go.
GAC offers a Counselor in Training program for
returning GAC campers ages 15-17, completing
grades 9-11 (campers completing grade 9 are
also still eligible to attend our regular camp
program). The program is designed for returning
campers who are interested in learning more about
being a counselor. CIT’s gain a lot of hands-on
experience working with younger campers and
serve as excellent role models throughout the
camp community. It is imperative that those
participating in the program have a strong desire
to learn and be active with their cabin groups.
To request an application and more information,
please contact Bon Bon at (800) 554-2267 or
bonbon@goldarrowcamp.com.
Dance-a-Rama!
Hey campers! If you haven’t seen it already,
you’ve gotta go to our Camper page on our
website. There you’ll find a poll asking you what
our dance themes should be for next summer.
YOU get to pick ‘em! The choices are:
•Color
•Halloween
•Hawaiian
•Decades
•Fruit & Vegetable
•Super Hero
•Hollywood
•Sports
•Underwater
•International
VOTE NOW! TELL YOUR FRIENDS!
dare to be great
Jeanie
Do you know someone who would be
a great addition to the already great
Gold Arrow staff? We are looking for
potential staff members who are at
least 19 years old, have completed one
year of college or work experience,
and are great at working with kids.
(Continued from page 2.)
The camp was for boys only until I came along 25 years ago,
and since then together we have tried to turn out both Gold
Arrow boys and girls. It is a certainty that many lives have been
touched with the sincere efforts of Manny and I and the staff
over the years. The aim of Gold Arrow is to develop interest
and skill in wholesome outdoor sports which can be enjoyed
through adulthood. The program is designed to develop selfconfidence through accomplishment in a non-competitive
atmosphere. Children now come to Gold Arrow from all over
the world and it is rated by the American Camp Association as
one of the best camps in America.”
Jeanie is doing well, living in Huntington Beach, and
appreciates notes and calls she receives from camp alumni. If
you’d like to get in touch with her, contact the camp office for
her phone number and address.
If you, or someone you know, are interested in
working at beautiful Huntington Lake this summer,
go to our web site at www.goldarrowcamp.com
and click on the “Staff” tab for information. You
can also call 800-554-2267 and talk to Fiji at the
office, or e-mail her at fiji@goldarrowcamp.com.
4
Gold Arrow Camp
Community Corner
Thank you for the fun time I had at GAC! I have my own pony
so I’ve been riding it. I had so much fun this August!
-Sophia Zeier
stimpy got married!
My wife Ashlyn and I were married
on June 3rd 2004, in Salt Lake City.
It was a beautiful day and everything
went smoothly. After the ceremony
we had a luncheon where I surprised
her with the song “Keeper of the
Star” by Tracy Byrd. Ashlyn and I
both worked at Walt Disney World
for six months before
returning to Utah and
finding out that she was pregnant!
After camp ended last summer, I went to another camp, but
it wasn’t a sleepaway camp like Gold Arrow. They
taught us to do a lot of activities most people would
think only boys would do. It really empowers girls
to do what they wanted to do in life! After that,
I went on an amazing cruise expedition in
Alaska. There were about 60 passengers
on the ship, and I GOT TO DRIVE IT!
That was so much fun! Then I started school
and hung out with friends, including one that I met
at GAC! I also joined the 6th grade’s basketball
team and we have beat all the teams weve played!
(Go seahawks!) I have been having fun but I just can not wait
until next summer!
-Lily Kiralla
I’m really excited to start my family and am
currently preparing to put all of my experience
into my own family. Every single job that I
have had since 2002 has been working with kids and I owe it all
to my experience at camp. It really helped me get my current
job as an elementary school Physical Education teacher. I get to
use some of the fun games that we taught at GAC!
Long live the VON TRAPPS!
-Shawn “The Stimp Meister” Whitaker
Since camp I’ve been riding my donkey. He nips and
kicks sometimes though! I also vault on a horse- his
name is Romeo!
-Fiona Zeier
Hey everyone from GAC ‘05!
Hope your year has been
good so far. We miss
everyone from camp so
much, and can’t wait to
see everyone again next
summer.
Happy Holidays, and have
a great year!
-Sonia and Liz
Drawn by Evelyn Castro
Hello, I have been doing a lot of rock climbing. I am also working
on Boy Scouts. I am looking forward to camp next year!
-Troy Zeier
Hey everyone, it’s Special K here. I am heading to Australia
for Christmas and New Years. I hope to see Brisbane, the Gold
Coast, Sydney, and Melbourne. Reesi and I will be celebrating
the new year with Mr. GAC. I am also taking a course for my
Masters Degree in Education, and I started my own lacrosse
business where I am hosting tournaments and indoor camps. I
am also an advisor for the community service club at the high
school where I teach. I hope to see everyone next summer!
-Special K
Hey Everyone!, I hope that everyone has been
doing well since camp ended. I have been
back at school at Arizona State University,
just studying and getting involved with my
sorority. I recently became the event chair
for my sorority and last Friday was my first
event, “Barn Dance.” It was crazy trying to get
everything ready, like the food and D.J. but it
all came together in the end and everyone had a really good time!
Other than that I am looking forward to coming back to camp and
seeing all of you again! Have a great rest of the year.
-Sunflower
Since camp, I’ve been going to school, I’ve learned how
to play clarinet and had a great birthday. All my best!
-Joe Kaiser
5
Former Gold Arrow kitchen staff
member Amar “Lale” Lalic was
married on September 10, 2005.
Lale joined us from Bosnia and
worked at Gold Arrow in the
summer of 2001. He even wore his
GAC t-shirt on his honeymoon!
Gac in latin america
When I left camp, I was pretty sad about
leaving GAC. When I got home, my
family had a welcome back party. At
school, I joined the volleyball team and
we’re undefeated! At our tournament,
we won first place because of me! I
had a great time at GAC last summer- I
miss it up there. I can’t wait to go next
year!
See you then!
-Nancy Duran
Wow! After session 1 sadly ended, I went all over England
for 2 weeks! It was REALLY cool. Then I went up to my
grandparents lake house on Wallon Lake in Michigan for a week
and perfected the water skiing skills that I had learned at GAC.
I started school and have been
doing a lot of schoolwork! Also,
for english I wrote a story about
GAC. I just went to Washington
D.C. It was amazing! Besides
school, I have been playing a lot
of tennis and gearing up for the ski
season here in Utah! It has snowed already and it is really cold.
My chocolate chip cookies just came out of the oven but I know
they aren’t as good as Goldies!
-Katherine Davis
Mathew White, on the left, stands with
friends while in Costa Rica.
This summer, Gold Arrow Camp was proud to help
sponsor former camper Mathew White’s volunteer
work in Costa Rica. Mathew was a camper for six
years at GAC, and his sister currently attends. Through
the Amigos de las Américas program, Mathew helped
the town of La Piedra build and repair homes and
facilities. He and his colleagues also taught classes
on deforestation and nutrition to children in the local
school. During his stay of six weeks, Mathew improved
his Spanish and learned to cook local food. Gold Arrow Camp
applauds Mathew for helping to improve the lives of others and
making a positive impact in other parts of the world.
My favorite activity at camp was kneeboarding. Cabin 14 is
the best! Since camp ended, I’ve been going to school and
playing on the “Powerpuffs” soccer team. Can’t wait till next
summer!
-Charlotte Monke
Gold Arrow Camp is committed to supporting
campers in their endeavors beyond the Sierras.
Each year, the camp directors award several
campers with cash donations for philanthropic
work, school projects and clubs, and athletic
teams. If you would like to be considered for a sponsorship,
please send a letter to Steve “Monkey” Monke at the camp
office, or email him at monkey@goldarrowcamp.com.
Since camp I have just gotten back into the swing of things at
school, I’ve got some great roommates and finally started taking
some interesting classes for my History major. I’m working as
a “Professional Telephone Fundraiser” for the Boston College
Annual Fund, which isn’t all that fun but it pays the bills, or
a small portion at least. Other than that I bought a mountain
bike and joined the mountain biking club on campus and I
also started working at
a homeless shelter in
downtown Boston once
a week. Things are good,
Boston is cold and I’m
ready for summer. I’ve
also included a picture
from when Tui came to
visit here in Boston. See ya everybody!
-Pickles
GAC Community
Corner
Hey everyone! I had so much fun at GAC! I’m going back next
summer and my friend Ellie might come too. I’m really excited
and so is Ellie! A girl from my cabin lives next door to me and
she wants to say “hi” to everyone also. I hope everybody is
having fun and I can’t wait to come back next year!
-Lauren Siegel
Chelsea Frank and I met
up at the end of August
and went to Catalina for
the weekend on my dad’s
boat. We had a blast. I’m
looking forward to next
summer!
-Karen Benavides
Hey all, Hoggy and Liver are up in Quebec, Canada working on
a ski mountain. It’s good fun, get to snowboard during the day,
and then we work at night. Having a good time, but is SURE a
lot colder here then good ol’ GAC. We are told to watch out for
when it gets to minus 40! We are also trying to learn French as
well, because that is what everyone speaks here!
Hope you are all really good,
-Liver & Hoggy
6
ahoy, landlubbers!
Community Corner
Avast, me hearties! The dance for session four was a huge
success. Pirates, piratesses, and scallywags filled the dining
porch as D.J.’s Jump and Fire played a variety of music into the
cool August night.
The highlight of the day was an appearance by celebrity pirates
John “Ol’Chumbucket” Baur and Mark “Cap’n Slappy” Summers,
also known as The Pirate Guys. They took time out from promoting
their book Pirattitude: So You Wanna Be A Pirate? to spend some
time at Gold Arrow Camp. At morning assembly, Ol’ Chumbucket
and
Cap’n
S l a p p y
challenged
campers
to
show off their
“pirattitude,”
and told the
crowd a few
pirate jokes. Later that afternoon, the pirates played games and
told pirate stories to the youngest campers. Before they departed
the dance that evening, the Guys proclaimed two lucky
campers as “best dressed.”
Drawn by Jack Wiefels
food: the results are in!
After reviewing the surveys from this past summer, Sushi
totaled up our Top Ten Foods as voted by our campers.
So, without further ado...
1. Pizza
2. Choco Tacos
3. Salad
4. Calzones
5. Chicken Strips
6. Pasta
7. Soup
8. Waffles
9. Grilled Cheese
10. Hot dogs
Sushi is very happy to see how much every one is enjoying his
cooking! He will be working hard to make sure the food next
summer is even better!
In September, Gold Arrow
helped sponsor the Mira Costa
High School Sailing Team.
Members of the team are shown
here sporting hooded sweatshirts
funded in part by Gold Arrow’s
contribution. GAC Camper Oliver Kopitz (second from the
left) won the top two awards at his yacht club this summer“Most Improved Sailor” and “Sportsman of the Year”. These
are perpetual trophies that remain at King Harbor Yacht Club
with his name engraved on them. Congrats Oliver!
Drawn by Luisa Ilvento
Sleeping under the high night stars
With camp friends & counselors
Waking up with a nice cool breeze
With the smell of pine trees
This memory
Yet big, yet small
I will always remember it all.
- Gigi Harris
I spend a lot of time with my three nephews; a second
grader (Dominick), a kindergartener (Ryan) and a
precocious three year old (Quinn). I’m still busy storytelling.
In addition to doing Art Masters at more than thirty schools;
I’ll be telling at the Ritz Carlton in Laguna Niguel, for three
weeks in December. I’ll also be appearing at the Orange
County Performing Arts Center for the Children’s concert in
December.
I’m excited about returning to GAC next summer & I’m busy
putting together a couple of ideas for new projects!
Happy Holidays,
-Tqoe
Hey everyone! Trix, Reesi and Jade here! Currently, we
live together at Purdue
University- which is great
because we get to see other
GAC staff often. We are all
in Elementary Education
and are looking forward
to graduating soon. After
graduating, Jade and Reesi will be moving to Australia to teach.
We hope everyone has a great holiday!
-Trix, Reesi and Jade
I like all of the activities at camp. I met lots of new friends.
Since camp ended, I’ve been going to school, playing soccer,
and keeping in touch with the friends I met.
-Meredith Monke
7
Administrative Office
2585 East Perrin Avenue, Suite 112
Fresno, CA 93720
Ask the Chipmunk...
Dear Chipmunk,
Why are cell phones not allowed at GAC?
All my friends and I have them, and I’m
used to having it with me all of the time.
It will be hard to come to camp and not
have my cell phone with me or be able to
check messages.
Wondering,
-Ally
Dear Ally,
For most of us (older campers and staff), it’s a big
change coming up to camp and not having our
cell phones accessible. After a few days, most of
us realize that it is also one of the best things about
being at Camp! The chance to get away from all
of the technological stuff that is such a big part of
our lives, and really get to know the other campers
and staff, is what makes GAC so special. We all
come back to camp to enjoy being with friends,
hanging out around a campfire, bonding with
counselors, and having fun enjoying the outdoors.
How would it feel to be sitting around your campfire,
enjoying the stars and the crackling fire, and hear
a cell phone (or two) ring? Or what about being
with a cabin mate who is talking on her cell phone
instead of talking to you? It would really change
how camp feels if campers and staff were walking
around talking on their cell phones or using them to
call their parents the first time they have a problem
at camp. Most parents are used to having
the constant communication connection
that cell phones provide, but being
independent from your parents is one of
the biggest benefits of coming to camp. So, leave
your cell phone at home (next to your computer,
iPod, and Gameboy), and come to camp to enjoy
one of the only places on earth where you won’t
hear a cell phone ring every 5 minutes!
Ring Free in the Sierras,
-Chipmunk
Dear Campers,
I’m always available at the Camper’s Corner message
board in the camper section of the GAC website
(www.goldarrowcamp.com). Please visit me with your
questions and comments about camp. I appreciate
getting help with answers from experienced campers
and hearing your stories, so come join me on-line!
Remember to include your first name only. Messages
are usually posted within 24 hours.
Happy Holidays,
-Chipmunk