The MACC

This last week Ben, Drew and Brandt headed down to Camp Kern, just outside of Cincinnati, Ohio for a week long camping conference. We drove down and I had the luxury of having this view for about 30 hours last week.

(Drew, going down the road feeling good. He's loving the Illinois stretch of the drive)

The MACC (Mid America Camping Conference) was a great experience for us to listen to keynote speakers who have a wealth of knowledge, participate in interest sessions, meet other camp directors, and recharge for the second half of winter. It is a conference where camps from around the mid-west come together, learn new skills, network with peers in the industry, and get motivated for the upcoming camping season.

Personally, I met a lot of people and enjoyed hearing about their experiences at their summer camps. Along the way, I also met some key players at Camp Kern, who normally don't get the credit they should. One of those individuals is Billy the horse.

(We're taking a moment out of our intense one on one conversation to smile for the cameras)

After three full days of at the conference, discussions, and lectures all the participants gathered for the closing session where next year's MACC committee was announced. I'm proud to announce that Drew Richmond has been selected to the 2009 MACC planning committee. Congratulations Drew.

(Here's Drew up on stage with the other committee members. He's the one with the great beard)

Things up here are running smoothly, and the weather forecast shows positive temperatures in the future. yay!

New Video

The new Camp videos came out! Check them out on our website:

http://www.manito-wish.org/videos/videohome.html

They are filming the last part of the Leadership video today, at -20 below. We'll let you know when this one is up and running.

Leave No Trace Trainer Course

Treehaven is the Wisconsin Center for integrating natural resource education, management, research and recreation. Located in Tomahawk, WI about an hour south of Camp, Treehaven is offering a backpacking Leave No Trace Trainer Course from May 18-19, 2009.

Learn "Leave-No-Trace" wilderness ethics by way of practical application and camping adventure and become qualified to be a LNT Trainer.

The fee is $69.00 and includes meals, campsite and gear(except backpack, sleeping bag/pad and personal items). http://www.uwsp.edu/cnr/treehaven/Brochures/LNTInformationSheet.pdf

I would recommend this course to any trip leader that wants to learn more about teaching LNT.

Seasonal Staff Retreat 2009

Over twenty seasonal and full time staff gathered last weekend to discuss ideas on ways in which we can all improve Camp this coming year.

The main topics discussed were ideas for the Strategic Plan Camp is currently undergoing, the two to four week session coming up this summer, and ideas that the group developed over the weekend.

These are always helpful weekends because we get useful ideas that we can implement almost right away as we plan for next summer. Please contact us if you would like to review our notes from the weekend.

Amanda says - my piece of paper is bigger than your piece of paper.

Matt drinks coffee coffee as he discusses the finer points of Article 2.2 with this small group of tartan plaid men.

One burly crew.