Camp Kern

When you came to www.campkern.org today you may have noticed something…different about it. That’s because Camp Kern’s entire website has finally been updated after nearly 10 years of the same site! New graphics

to help us fit in with the re-branded YMCA looks, new videos, better links to find our photos, our blog is integrated into the site like never before…and overall it’s just prettier. This has been lots of work by tons of people, and we want to thank Atomic Interactive for the great job they did designing and implementing this site.

As we begin our new online phase, please help us out! Send us an email or give us a call if there is something that doesn’t work right, or that you think we should have on the site.

Happy Wednesday!

The great

Leaning Tree from behind cabin 8 has finally fallen! No campers, animals, or cabins were harmed.

Here is a great picture of some guys doing basket weaving at Kern.  It’s great to see that classic crafts

never go out of style!  We’re pretty sure we’re still using the same table for Arts and Crafts…or at least one that looks just like it.

You can check out this picture and many more at Camp Kern’s online photo site by clicking here.

Today is the YMCA of Greater Dayton’s 2011 staff retreat. All of the directors from the Dayton Y are at Camp Kern, spending the day relaxing and getting rejuvenated for another year of great work at the Y.
Todays speaker was Harvey Alston,

a former football coach, educator, and inspirational speaker. Harvey spoke to the ability of all people to be their “best”. Harvey’s energy and enthusiasm are infectious.
Thanks, Harvey for your time and stories.
Thank-you YMCA of Greater Dayton for being such a great place to work, and for building into your staff.

Check out www.harveyalston.com to learn more about Harvey.
To learn more about all of the great programs offered by the YMCA of Greater Dayton go to www.ymcaonline.org

Never say that we don’t stretch our donation dollars here at Camp Kern!  Along with the 22″ widescreen computer monitors, new keyboards and new mice…the Kesling Media Center just got some SWEET radio equipment!

The new equipment includes:

• 
  Samson SP01 Shockmount Spider Mount for Condenser Mics
• 
  Nady MPF-6 6-Inch Clamp On Microphone Pop Filter
• 
  Audio-Technica AT2020 USB Condenser USB Microphone

Here are some pictures of the whole thing set up.  NOW we’re ready to make some serious radio shows!

Check out the previous blog post about the Media Center, and see pictures, HERE.

Today is the opening day for Ozone Zipline Adventures for our 2011 season!

Ozone has been a huge success story for the YMCA, a way for us to keep our Outdoor Education rates FROZEN from our 2008 rates, and to bring some good news to our region’s schools.

10 ziplines, thousands of feet of fun, local history education, ecological instruction and just good, plain fun make Ozone an experience not to me missed!  Over 10,000 guests all agree that there is no better way to spend an afternoon outdoors.

Registration must be made prior to attending.  Check out www.ozonezips.org for dates, tours, rates and online booking.

2011 here we come!  Zip on!

Here is an interesting article regarding making accommodations for people who share a public place, and where the limits should be placed while doing so.

http://amfix.blogs.cnn.com/2011/03/24/parents-picket-girl-with-peanut-allergy-ask-her-to-withdraw-from-school/?iref=obnetwork‘

At Camp Kern, we’re pretty proud of the fact that we don’t have Peanuts and tree nuts on site.  We think it’s a great way to accommodate campers who have allergies, but also to teach the rest of our camper population how to be compassionate and understanding of differences.

Many other camp directors are amazed that we don’t have peanut-butter, peanut snacks, peanut-butter cookies, etc.  They ask, “Don’t your kids go crazy without peanut-butter and jelly at every meal?!?!?” It’s great that we can honestly answer that no, our campers do not.  First, the camp’s food is great!  There are tons of options on the salad bar, and there are always multiple options for each meal.  It’s hard to go hungry at camp.  And second, we teach all our campers that peanuts can actually be dangerous to a small group of people with a specific allergy, and that we want everyone to have the ability to come to camp.

So, what do you think?  Do you appreciate that Camp Kern makes accommodations for allergies?  We are soon beginning to offer a Gluten-free menu for those with gluten restrictions, is that something you have wanted for a while?

Comment either on the blog, or on our Facebook page at www.facebook.com/campkern

We can’t wait to host students from Greenview HS here at Camp Kern!  It’s going to be a blast.  The cabins are shiny clean and ready for some serious fun.

Check out the News Release from Greenview HS HERE!

Senior Camp Kern Counselors Pictured (top to bottom l-r ): Dylan Hackley, Travis Bradford, Tyler Caudill, Derek McClure, Noel Ragland, Lewis Sandoval, Faraan Qureshi, Brad Bornhorst, Charlie Roberts, Anna Nock, Gretchen Shoemaker, Crissy Rector, Chelsey Brown, Faith Carver, Katelyn Grim, Brooke Seabold and Sarah Vest. Counselors not pictured are: Juniors Austin Mullins, Dylan Pickering, Patrick Hollingsworth, Jacob McAdams, Andrew Folino, Stephanie Grimes, Alyssa McMillion, Annie Bonk, Brynn Flickinger, Caitlin Walters, Lauren Wisecup, Jessica Frauenknecht, and Mykaelah Mercer. Sophomores: Tyler Hall, Dimitri Furman, Alex Pfeifer, Micah Winter and Wyatt Erwin. Alternates: Tyler Redway, Tyler Parsons and Reanna Cipriano

32 people are gathered at Kern RIGHT NOW for the first spring camp in history at Kern! Green is in the air, we’ve polished our dancing shoes, and fingers are crossed as we hope for no rain! Leprechauns, beware! Kern campers are here to stop you from stealing all the gold…

Sherwood Elementary’s 5th Grade class is coming to Camp Kern!  We can’t wait to see everyone soon!

Click here to see Sherwood’s Website!