Taking It Apart: Core Values

All YMCA programs have a strong emphasis on the values of caring, honesty, respect, and responsibility. Adopted formally by the YMCA of the USA in the early 1990s, the four core YMCA values were developed to help teach participants right from wrong.

Caring: To love others, to be sensitive to the well-being of others, to help others.

"Where there is love, there is life." Gandhi

Honesty: To tell the truth, to act in such a way that you are worthy of trust, to have integrity; making sure your choices match your values.

"Honesty is the first chapter in the book of wisdom." Thomas Jefferson

Respect: To treat others as you would have them treat you; to value the worth of every person, including yourself.

"You don't have to be handicapped to be different. Everyone's different." Kim Peek

Responsibility: To do what is right, what you ought to do; to be accountable for your behavior and obligations.

"The time is always right to do what is right." Martin Luther King, Jr.

The San Antonio YMCA adds a 5th value, Faith.

Faith: To encourage people to develop their faith and to be a place where people of many different religions can come together.

“Without faith a man can do nothing; with it all things are possible.” Sir William Osler

In the Spirit of Camp,
Allison

The above information was found on the YMCA of Marquette County website.

Erin's Dream Lanyards CFA craft project

Crafters, campers, and everyone interested in doing things for a good cause— check out Erin's Dream Lanyards to get some background information about our newest craft project for summer 2011. Why are we so excited? Check out the following excerpt from the lanyard website to get a taste for this incredible non-profit.

Who is Erin? Erin Buenger was an almost twelve-year-old fireball who lived large. She also fought neuroblastoma cancer for more than half her life.

What is her Dream? She lobbied Congress and raised money privately to increase funding for pediatric cancer research. She dreamed of a cure for her disease. The money raised by Erin's Dream Lanyards goes to support neuroblastoma research through the Children's Neuroblastoma Cancer Foundation.

What is a lanyard? A lanyard is a beaded necklace with a clip or hook on the end to hold an ID badge. School teachers, nuclear scientists and hospital personnel are types of folks who wear lanyards.

Every CFA camper will have a chance to create one of these colorful, unique lanyards this summer, and the resulting product will be sent to Erin's mom, Vickie, who has continued her cause to fundraise for furthering research into pediatric cancer. Vickie will be coming out to camp during staff training to share Erin's story one-on-one with our counselors, ad staff, and year-round camp folks, while she demonstrates the process we will be using to make these lanyards. She is familiar with the area, as Erin herself attended Christian summer camp at Mo-Ranch, also in Hunt, TX. After we have completed them, camp will package them up and send them to Erin's Dream Lanyards, where they will be distributed to retail shops and sold, with all profits going to the Children's Neuroblastoma Cancer Foundation.

Erin wanted a cure for her disease, not just for herself, but
for the thousands of children affected by cancer. We are
honored to assist her mother in carrying on with her
passion and planning by creating beautiful crafts by hand.

Taking It Apart: Ragger Emblem

The Rag has had a long and eventful life and it has changed in many ways, but it as still an instrument to aid in the building of Christian character at YMCA summer camps. The real test of the Rag is in how its members conduct themselves in the year round program of the YMCA, and in their home, school, church and community. The design of the rag blends four well-known shapes - the traditional YMCA triangle, the square, the circle, and the cross.

You see above the Emblem of the Ragger.

THE CIRCLE stands for the circle of friendship of all YMCA’s and people around the world – wherever they may be.



THE SQUARE represents the foursquare life of a true Ragger: physical, social, spiritual, and mental.




THE TRIANGLE stands for strength because it is the strongest geometric figure known to man. Because of this strength – we have named the three points: Body, Mind, and Spirit – to remind you to keep the challenge that you have accepted for yourself.


And at the center of our emblem and at the center of our hearts – lies THE CROSS. It appears so that we never forget the wonderful lesson that Jesus taught to us through His life – His example and His words.


The above information is taken directly from the Rag Ceremonies.

In the Spirit of Camp,
Allison

Another Awesome Video

Here is another awesome video that summarizes what camp is about really well:



Some thoughts:
-It is a well done video that gets to the heart of camp and what camp does for kids.
-Yes, it is a video about thanking camp directors. Camp directors do tons of work and put a lot of heart and effort into making summer camp happen. They should be thanked for everything that they do (I am one and I not asking you to thank me but I know how hard it is to put a camp together).
-If you could make a video about camp what would you do?

Taking it Apart: National Day of Prayer

The National Day of Prayer is Ours

The National Day of Prayer belongs to all Americans. It is a day that transcends differences, bringing together citizens from all backgrounds. Mrs. Shirley Dobson, NDP chairman, reminds us: “We have lost many of our freedoms in America because we have been asleep. I feel if we do not become involved and support the annual National Day of Prayer, we could end up forfeiting this freedom, too.”

The National Day of Prayer is a vital part of our heritage. Since the first call to prayer in 1775, when the Continental Congress asked the colonies to pray for wisdom in forming a nation, the call to prayer has continued through our history, including President Lincoln’s proclamation of a day of “humiliation, fasting, and prayer” in 1863. In 1952, a joint resolution by Congress, signed by President Truman, declared an annual, national day of prayer. In 1988, the law was amended and signed by President Reagan, permanently setting the day as the first Thursday of every May. Each year, the president signs a proclamation, encouraging all Americans to pray on this day. Last year, all 50 state governors plus the governors of several U.S. territories signed similar proclamations.

Historical Summary

1775 – The first Continental Congress called for a National Day of Prayer
1863 – Abraham Lincoln called for such a day.
1952 – Congress established NDP as an annual event by a joint resolution, signed into law by President Truman (82-324). Harry S. Truman declares a National Day of Prayer and signs into law an annual observance there of – United States Congress passed Joint Resolution 382 on April 17, 1952/ President Truman signs Public Law 82-324 (Public Law 82-324; 66 Stat. 64—April 17, 1952).
1988 – The law was amended and signed by President Reagan, designating the NDP as the first Thursday in May (100-307). Ronald Reagan signs into law the designation of the first Thursday in May as the annual observance for the National Day of Prayer – President Reagan signs Public Law 100-307 January 25, 1988, in the Second Session of the One Hundredth Congress (Public Law 100-307—May 5, 1988).

Fun Facts

1) There have been 136 national calls to prayer, humiliation, fasting and thanksgiving by the President of the United States (1789-2010).

2) There have been 58 Presidential Proclamations for a “National Day of Prayer” (1952-2010).

3) Gerald Ford (1976) and George H. Bush (1989-91) are the only U.S. Presidents to sign two National Day of Prayer Proclamations in the same year.

4) Every President since 1952 has signed a National Day of Prayer proclamation.

5) 33 of the 44 U.S. Presidents have signed proclamations for National Prayer. Four of the Presidents who did not sign a proclamation died while serving in office.

6) Records indicate there have been 914 state and federal calls for national prayer since 1775 and counting.

We Gather as a Community May 5, 2011

YMCA Camp Flaming Arrow and the YMCA of Greater San Antonio will gather as one Y to honor this long held tradition. No matter who you pray to, what your beliefs are, or what you are doing on this day of prayer, join CFA for a moment of silence at 1 pm, May 5, 2011. In honor of this, we ask that you wear your CFA gear (shirts, hats, bracelets, etc) to show your support.

In the Spirit of Camp,

Allison
Y182?

The above information, history and facts taken directly from National Day of Prayer.