News For The Strong of Heart Fall 2010

And Twelve Makes A Dozen

In This Issue

Groundbreaking 4

Staff Reflection 6

Laney’s Sunday Circle 8

We had a fantastic 12th summer on Lake Dunmore. Hard to believe it’s been a dozen years since that first summer on Lake Dunmore. The weather was amazing - hot, dry and virtually bug-free. The heat in July made us all happy to be spending the summer on the lake. One day we had eight opportunities for people to go swimming – and many took advantage of all eight! Canoe trips in particular enjoyed the beautiful weather. However, some of our whitewater trips found the low water in rivers made for slow going or additional portaging. Luckily we have developed excellent portagers.

The theme for this summer was PRACTICE KINDNESS, one to which we all could relate. Longhouses and staff presented a variety of self-authored readings on how practicing kindness looks at camp. Inside this edition of From the Heart you can find Elena McGahey’s essay on the topic which she shared at a Sunday Circle this summer. There’s also an article that shows the many ways other campers and staff practiced kindness this summer.

Three members of the Keewaydin family practiced kindness through their incredible generosity in making

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Practicing Kindness

The following statements appeared on two posters which hung by the entrance to the dining hall all summer on which campers and staff wrote ways they saw kindness being practiced around camp.

Here’s how we Practiced Kindness:

Shae helped me hop…Olivia lent me her river bag… Melodie shared her chocolate with me…Izzy gave me nail polish…Kate gave us candy when we missed store…Someone found my necklace, realized it was mine, and put it in my mailbox for me…Sam helped Ava with her roll...Daniela went to

the bathroom with me because I was scared…Alexa let us use her blanket.

Izzy helped me kayak… Talia came and hopped with me when I didn’t know what to do…Charlie and Claire helped me with my hip snap…Amelia

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Songadeewin of Keewaydin500 Rustic LaneSalisbury VT 05769

Tel 802 352 9860 Fax 802 352 4772

Ellen M. FlightCamp Director

Board of directors

Fred ReimersPresident Stuart FraserVice President Matthew V. Pierce Treasurer John W. Frazier IV Secretary Bob DeLaMaterJoe FeelyMolly O’Neil FrankPeter HedlundJohn D. (Jed) Herrmann Terry HolcombeMarian S. Imperatore Thomas Jarecki Suzanne Knowles Dan KunklePeter R. Matt Jeff SchneiderSam Scovil IIIJohn SheehanDavid Solis-Cohen Julie B. StaufferRobert F. Wilson

Peter C. HareExecutive Director

www.keewaydin.orgellen@keewaydin.org

Tam StewartDesign & Production

Summercontinued from page 1

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gifts that made it possible for us to proceed with the building of our new dining hall. The Fraser Dining Hall will be ready for us to use starting in the summer of 2011. At the end of the season we had a groundbreaking ceremony and every camper and staff present had a chance to use a golden shovel to help get things started.

Another milestone was achieved this year by honoring our first three staff with 10 years of service to Songa. Erica Harlow, Dee Kasper and Sarah Harrison Lynn became the first honorees and proud owners of special 10-year jackets. Their pictures with their jackets appear later in this newsletter. In addition, four staff received five year vests. They were Alex Germek, Meaghan Turner, Steve Wack and Kate Ward. There were 12 staff that were acknowledged for three years of service - Kate Adams, Haley Ahearn, Susannah Baker, Kempley Bryant, Jen Conley, Lona Gabree, Katie Horner, Campbell Jones, Alexandra

Maltz, Steph Tubb, Lindsey Willis, and Martha Wood.

Once again, we had a summer of fun-filled adventures on the water and trails of the northeast and Canada. We sent two crews to Verendrye with 16 trippers completing their senior trips. We had a great Wilderness trip to the Misstassibi River and sent a record number of trips out with the rest of our campers. It was a great

summer of tripping!

In-camp the good weather meant we offered the full array of activities throughout the summer. The tennis courts saw a lot of action as did the waterfront. Saturday Spectaculars were always a big hit and our new sound system made it really hop in Beenadeewin,

especially at several Longhouse dance parties for the evening activity. Campers and staff left in August with great stories, memories and songs with which to remember their fantastic summer at Songa.

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Kindnesscontinued from page 1

has looked out for Talia since Talia is new at camp…Annika helped me when I dropped my plates on the ground…Amelia let me borrow her markers to make my poster…Fay brushed Olivia’s hair…Willoughby girls gave us candy when we missed the piñata on Halloween…Lolo helped Steve with all camp clean up…Elise helped me find a toad …Shania gave me a piggyback ride.

Maia lent me her blanket on a really cold night…Sam gave lots of people maple candy from the fair…Katrina let me read her new comic books…Sarah H-L gave me her shoes to use as wet loaders on Verendrye which saved my life…Jenn let me cry to her when I was sad…Nick on the kitchen staff said “There’s a trooper” when he saw me hopping…Margot hugged me…Cassandra helped with collecting napkins…Lucy gave Mel string and taught her how to do v-stripes…Izzy helped Maggie find her eraser…Izzy gave Sam her spot to the fair because Sam hadn’t gone in 3 years…Wyeth taught Izzy and Zoe how to make a necklace and earrings!

When I was hopping and dropped a plateful of silverware and food remains, I was overwhelmed by how many girls were willing to help. Before I even cleaned the mess everyone had already hopped my table for me…Kate helped Lana tie Natalia’s OTK toga… Suze took care of Polo while Sarah was driving two Canadian trips…Sally gave me the last sesame bagel…Claire switched boats with someone because their boat was too small…Paige helped the kitchen staff pick something up when their hands were too full.

Emma is helping me get my S by supporting me…Emma taught Casey how to knit …Nalini was a good sport during cabin night…Ryan shared her Fig Newton…Ninette folded up other trips’ tents…Amelia lets others borrow her books…Emily helped cheer me up when I was cranky…Morgan let me borrow her sweatshirt when mine was in the wash…Jules got Ella’s sunglasses for her…Devin was an awesome friend to Peri…Amber is always there for a person who needs a friend.

Fatoumata showed kindness to Mackenzie during swimming by cheering her up…Karichelle was a super friend…Maddie hopped for someone on a trip…Steve helped Laila cut her pizza…Charlie helped Lauren be stern in canoeing…Lawrie gave Steph P. a ride because of her ankle…Lauren comforted me when I was sad…Gigi is a good friend…Gloria helped Laila take down her chairs when she was having trouble with them.

Claudia gave Ava string…Chuck helped with my laundry…Maya split a sandwich with me…Amber helped a girl when she was crying because she was homesick…Anna helped Treasure go to the nurse…Treasure helped Anna with the trip skit…Laney helped me single portage for the first time…Charlie helped me roast my hotdog...Lelia and Sally taught me how to knit…Mathilda and Alex helped Maddie learn how to do a back dive.

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Groundbreaking for the Fraser Dining Hall at Songadeewin – August 2010

Campers and staff gathered on the north end of the Great Lawn during the final week of camp to officially break ground for the new dining hall which will be completed in time for the summer of 2011. Wearing a colorful array of camp shirts and donning plastic “hard hats” for the occasion, each camper and staff present had the opportunity to “dig” a bit of earth with our set of golden trowels, marking the official ground breaking for the Fraser Dining Hall.

After brief remarks by Keewaydin Executive Director, Peter Hare, and camp director, Ellen Flight, who each took the a turn at the golden shovel, campers and staff came forward for official photographs by cabins, tents

and other groups to pave the way for our beautiful new dining hall. In addition, rocking chairs have lined up in the spot where the front porch of the building will be next summer. Various groups then sat for portraits which we hope to replicate next year when the building is complete and

Songadeewin campers and staff thank the lead donors, Stu Fraser (for whom the building will be named), David Corkins and Howard Lutnick.

Campers and staff from Rhododendron showing us how to break ground for the new Songadeewin dining hall – Ella Davidson, Sophie Primeaux, Lana Cohen, Willa Gutfreund and Mackenzie Kashchy.

rocking chairs provide comfortable seating and great views from the porch.

As this is being written the building of the dining hall is well underway, on schedule and on budget. You can access photographs of the ongoing construction by going to

the front page of the Songadeewin section on our website (www.keewaydin.org) and finding the link to an online slide show which we regularly update. The timber frames are up, the masons are completing the fieldstone fireplace with stones unearthed when the foundation was dug, and the kitchen has been framed and roofed.

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Staff who were charter campers in 1999, the first year of Songadeewin on Lake Dunmore with camp director Ellen Flight standing are: Charlotte Gutfreund, Alex Germek, Carolina Pardo, Ella Vorenberg, Emily Kinghorn, Claire Gentil, Jenn Hare, Ali Hare, Katie Horner and Campbell Jones, with director Ellen Flight standing.

The oldest and youngest campers present for the groundbreaking: Eve Buseck, Fatima Aliamer, Elise Dakin and Natalia Gomez.

Former Songa campers, now on staff, pictured at the groundbreaking.

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Staff Reflection

Each summer during staff training week we ask a dozen or so staff to prepare and present an after-meal talk for the benefit of the rest of the staff. They are asked to share a piece of advice they wish they had known their first summer on staff or perhaps an inspirational story. This is the talk Ella Davidson gave this June. Ella was a camper from 2001 To 2005 She then went on a Wilderness Trip and then on the Tanzania trip in 2007. She has been on the staff for two summers and in 2010 was the assistant staff on one of the Verendrye trips. Here’s what she had to say to the staff:

I’ve returned to Songa all these years because I find it’s a haven for self discovery and self acceptance. Most importantly, it provides an environment and community that makes risk taking comfortable, and embraces each person for who they are. I used to wonder how Songa attracted the most interesting, down-to-earth people, but I have come to realize that it is not a selective process, but it is this secure environment which allows people to open up to their full potential. Where every person has the capability to become and be recognized as wonderful, and Songa’s experience allows for this unfolding process.

As a camper, I loved Songa because it was the first place I felt comfortable being myself. I could share my vulnerabilities, curiosities, and embarrassment. After opening myself to the Songa community, I saw that being myself was not only accepted, but embraced. I was able to carry on this confidence of being myself at school, with my family, and in other social environments. Songa staff played a major role in

reminding me that being yourself is always valued. I can remember as a camper how much I looked up to my staff. They all seemed so confident and comfortable in their own skin.

This came across in little ways. I remember one staff sang to us after taps, her confident voice ringing through the longhouse, providing a comforting distraction for wandering minds. One returned the next summer with a shaved head, and was nonetheless gorgeous and confident. One read aloud her own poetry, and the unanimous response was always amazement and appreciation. Each person’s distinguishing features became the parts I looked up to.

For many of the girls that pass through Songa, I think my experience holds true. It is the reason girls return each summer. Friendships cultivated

during camp are through true and honest sharing of ourselves, due to the intimacy of living and tripping together. Such closeness and support reminds us that we are all individuals, and can be appreciated for those very distinctions.

Songa provided me with the environment and opportunity to access my full self. My experiences provided me with assurance and courage to continue to share my self with more people. As staff, we take part in creating this environment for girls to thrive in, and our part is to simply continue to be ourselves for others, and to set examples as being unique, confident and capable.

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Ella Davidson paddling on Verendrye last summer.

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Share your knowledge, experience and passion for tripping with the next generation of Keewaydin trippers as a member of the Leadership Team at Songadeewin. Be the leader of leaders, teaching and working with staff to get their trips out and back safely as they and the campers build and grow their tripping skills. Mentor both new to and experienced staff, and work with other members of the Leadership Team to create a dynamic summer for girls and young women.

Qualifications include: experience leading trips, knowledge of our current trip areas, experience implementing risk management procedures, organization and record management skills, a clean driving record and experience or willingness to learn to drive trailers and preferably, whitewater canoeing experience. Must be available for nine-week season: mid-June to late August.

Work with staff and girls in one of our Longhouses to help provided outstanding experiences for the campers. Longhouse Leaders work with a small group of 7 to 11 staff to coordinate programming and camp life for the 25 to 40 girls in a Longhouse of similarly aged campers. The job involves coaching and mentoring the staff and campers as they navigate daily camp life. The position is part of the Leadership Team which consists of four Longhouse Leaders, the heads of Program and Tripping and the Director and Assistant Director of Songadeewin.

Experience as a classroom teacher, or related field, are good matches for the position along with an understanding of developmental issues specific to girls and young adults. Qualifications include: experience working and teaching camper-age girls, a willingness and aptitude for supervision of staff, excellent writing and editing skills to coach staff in writing camper comment card, demonstrated ability to work well with others in a leadership role, strong organizational skills, great communication skills and a love of camp life.

Ideally, would be available for nine-week season: mid-June to late August, or possibly five weeks inclusive of the June staff training week.

~ Head of Tripping ~

~ Longhouse Leader ~

For more complete job descriptions call or email: Ellen Flight, Director, 802-352-9860 or ellen@keewaydin.org

Job opportunities

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Practicing Kindnesscontinued from page 8Laney’s Sunday Circle

Story August 15, 2010

Last month, I went on the Petite Nation trip. It’s a Verendrye prep trip so we all knew it was bound to be challenging. Accordingly, we packed lots of food and a full ½ bag of gorp per person for snacks. On the first night of the trip, I put my personal bag of gorp in my mini river bag, along with my camera and raincoat. I left that outside for the night, not really considering the possible consequences of my decision. When we woke up and started packing up camp, however, I couldn’t find that mini river bag. I searched for it for a while, and soon enough my trip mates joined in too. After 10 minutes, we came to the conclusion that someone must have unconsciously put it in a wangan for safekeeping. We were about to leave when I elected to search for it one last time, seeing as though that little bag was full of my most valuable trip belongings. Everyone pitched in

once again, and this time Kate Ward found it. I thanked her, grabbed it, and raced to the boats so as to prevent any further delay. It wasn’t until snack time that I realized my river bag had a small tear in it. Upon closer inspection, I discovered that a chipmunk-ish animal had eaten all my gorp but had left my raincoat and camera untouched. For the rest of the trip, at snack time, everyone shared their gorp with me. Because I’m a big eater, I was originally concerned that I would be continually hungry but, thankfully, that never happened. I was impressed by the kindness of my peers in sharing such a valuable resource with me.

On Verendrye, the same thing happened although it was on the 12th night, not the first. It also didn’t happen to me. But once again, everyone helped that unlucky girl out. I was more than happy to reciprocate the kindness that had been shown to me. On every trip I’ve been on, it is the act of practicing kindness that allows everything to go smoothly.

Laney McGahey at the start of a portage trail on Verendrye.

Mackenzie carried the speakers for Jenn…Table 17 gave us their extra pudding…Maddie hopper-helped for others at breakfast when she had finished her own table…Paige helped me with inspection sweeping…Emma helped me and Claudia double portage for the first time…Charlie helped Karichelle with her wet exit…Carolyn helped me pick up cereal that I had spilled…Lelia put down my tent flaps when it started to rain when I was away…Zoey and Gloria gave me candy when I got back from a hike and I missed store…Laura helped me with OTK…Kempley lent me triple-A batteries the night before my trip…Sam gave her spot to Lauren because Lauren really wanted to go swimming…Steve and Lolo saved my sunglasses…At the cookout Elise cleaned up somebody else’s place! Way to “Help the Other Fellow”…Sam hopped for Wyeth when Wyeth had trip prep…Fiona took Cassidy’s hopping day on her birthday.

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Annual gifts from alumni, parents and friends give boys and girls the opportunity to attend Keewaydin by providing financial aid support.

The Annual Fund also supports staff and facilities, ensuring that all Keewaydin programs continue to be on the forefront of providing canoe exploration and camp experiences for kids that have a lasting effect.

Please consider making a gift of opportunity by contributing to the Annual Fund. To make a tax-deductible donation, go to our website, www.keewaydin.org, or contact us by email at give@keewaydin.org or phone at (802) 352-4247.

Thank you!

Give a Gift of OpportunityContribute to the Keewaydin Annual Fund

Erica Harlow Sarah Harrison Lynn Dee Kaspers (right) receiving her green jacket from camp director, Ellen Flight at the final banquet.

Green Jackets Awarded for 10 Years of Service

As reported here in the spring newsletter, we awarded three green jackets to staff at camp for their tenth year. Here are the promised photographs of them in their green jackets.

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Alumni News Notes

Carmen Epstein took a year off from teaching and went on an extended trip which included New Zealand. She had a visit with Megs and Logan Doull, both former Songa and Keewaydin staff and met their adorable baby Gabriel. She is now back teaching at the Village Community School in New York City. She is the fourth member of her family to be teaching Spanish along with both her siblings and her mother.

Lindsay “Tony” Anthony is also working at the Village Community School.

Jackie Hantz Cattanach sent us a picture of her sailboat – catch the name, it’s called Songadeewind. She writes that she and her husband also have a boat named Keewaydin because her husband liked the story of the northwest wind.

Tying the knot in 2010 were Katie Burton and Ensign Thomas Carroll who were married in Maryland in June. Lots of Burton cousins and Songadeewin connected relatives were in attendance as well as some of Katie’s Songa friends: Emily, Grace, Lowell, Margie, and Michaela Burton, Laura Graham and her mother Laurie, Maggie and Anna Bastidas, Lelia Yerxa, Jenn Hare, and of course, Katie’s grandmother Lolly Burton. Pictured here is Katie’s family: Tylor, Emily, Katie, Tom and her parents, Jane and M. Tylor. Katie and Tom are living in Corpus Christi, Texas where Tom is in pilot training with the Navy and Katie is working for an ambulance company. They have three dogs.

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Liam Murphy kicked off the new year in style by getting married to Anne Starvish in Middlebury, Vermont. Liam and Annie have just bought a house in Weybridge, Vermont where Annie can easily commute to her work as a large animal vet-erinarian and Liam can travel to job sites for his landscape de-sign business. There was a nice crowd of former Songa staff on hand to help celebrate the nup-tials including Ellen Flight, Jes-sica Smith, Courtney Mulcahy Rent, Lindsey “Tony” Antho-ny, Lindsey “Zee” Strunk and Carmen Epstein pictured here with the happy bride and groom.

Several Songa staff from this past summer joined other alums in New York City recently for an alumni gathering. Pictured here are: Kate Ward, Lindsey Willis, Lelia Yerxa, Jenn Hare, Carmen Epstein, Katie Horner and Tony Anthony.

On a recent trip to North Carolina camp director, Ellen Flight, had dinner in Asheville with local residents and 2010 staff, Stephanie Patch and Laura Ketchuck, pictured here at the Tupelo Honey Cafe in downtown Asheville.

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April 4 Board of Directors’ Meeting - New YorkApril 24 Run of the Charles Canoe Race - BostonApril 25 - June 3 Keewaydin Environmental Education Center Spring Season - 36th YearJune 3-5 John Watson Work Weekend - Keewaydin Dunmore and Songadeewin Campuses (all welcome)June 26 - August 20 Keewaydin Dunmore - 102nd Season Songadeewin of Keewaydin - 13th SeasonJune 28 - August 12 Keewaydin Temagami - 118th SeasonJuly 30 - 31 Board of Directors’ Meeting - Lake DunmoreAugust 25 - 28 Alumni and Family Weekend - Keewaydin DunmoreSeptember 6 - October 9 Keewaydin Environmental Education Center Fall SeasonOctober 24 Board of Directors’ Meeting - New YorkOctober 24 Alumni Reunion in New York - All programs

Keewaydin 2011 Calendar