Hey Hey CFA

We Love Our Summer Staff, Part 2: Taylor & Gemma

2012-02-22T12:22:00.001-08:00

It's been a week, and you guys have asked for more staff bios— so here's two ladies you will remember from last summer and the summer before! Both of these young women plan on being Ad Staff members in 2012, and we are lucky to have them back again. So, without further ado, here's Taylor and Gemma!

Taylor, age 20, studying in San Marcos, TX

University/Job: Texas State University at San Marcos, Site Director for YMCA of Austin Afterschool

State: Texas

Noteworthy skills/hobbies/talents: Singing, improv, planning & programming

Exciting things you've done this year: Moved into my first apartment!

Favorite memory of CFA 2011: All of my awesome cabins and Raggers!

Place on camp you could always be found last year: Ragger's Point

Favorite core value: Honesty

Favorite snack: Neopolitan ice cream sandwich

Must have items for working at summer camp: Chacos, sunglasses, CamelBak, sunscreen, deodorant and bobby pins!

Advice you'd give to counselors: Sleep on your 24s!

Advice you'd give to counselors: Stick it out and become and LIT, CIT and counselor!

Looking forward to: Being on Ad Staff!!!!

Quote to live by: "Grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, the courage to change the things I can, and the wisdom to know the difference."

Gemma, age 24, from England

University attending (and current job): Studying Access to Higher Education at Warwickshire College and working as a Gym Instructor

Country I'm living in: ENGLAND!!! :)

Hobbies, skills, talents: Random skill=Touching my nose with my tongue, Hobby=LOVE working out in the gym and Talent=Being amused by the simplest things...EVER

What exciting things have I done in the past year? Been offered a place on a degree to study Sport & Fitness Management starting on my return from Texas 2012 AND being asked to be a bridesmaid with my sister at my Mum's wedding in May

Favourite memory from CFA 2011? Leaving the humming bird feeder full of yummy food on the tree outside the cabins and getting super excited with the campers when we spotted one out there (and giving the humming birds we saw their own names...can't remember the names now though)

Place I could most often be found? In the crows nest out at high ropes (once I'd got over the height issue), ORRR....making loads of lanyards down at the arts and craft shed

Favourite core value: Caring, I think that all of the core values can fit into this one, a kind word, thought or action can have a huge impact on somebody or in a situation.

Favourite snack time ice-cream: Ice cream sandwich!!!

Must have items when working at summer camp: Got to be a smile, a camera, and a waer bottle!

Advice I'd give to other counselors: Remember the reason that you are there, be the best that you can be and be somebody that you yourself would be proud to know...and enjoy every second of it - even when you are tired!!! (summer camp goes far too quickly but the memories last forever!!!) :)

Advice I'd give to the summer campers: Don't be afraid to be true to yourself, make the most of the time that you are at camp because all of the friends that you make will be like family, and the experiences and memories that come with camp will last long after you're heading back home.

What I'm looking forward to about this summer: Meeting new and old friends, having a great time with all of the campers and attempting to break my previous photo taking record!

Quote to live by: Be the change that you want to see in the world. —Ghandi

A Note from Angel

2012-02-15T13:52:00.000-08:00

The following is a message sent from our 2011 Male Village Leader, Angel, to our new Summer Program Director. Bif had asked his returning staff members what he needed to know about CFA. Below is Angel's response.

Many of you know Angel and have gotten to appreciate his sage words of advice before. If you haven't, we suspect you will be surprised and moved by his eloquence.

Angel, at the BB Range. Summer 2011.

Bif,

... I've never worked at any other camps so I dont really know if it differs but this place is pretty special. It has a soul. You can see it in the kids faces, hear it their laughter, or hear it at night in the winds rustling the treetops around campfire.

It is honestly a place of healing. The world outside may have told the kids and even members of staff that they weren't good enough or left them broken and hurt. But Camp Flaming Arrow aims to be the one place where someone can always help you regain your confidence or find it anew. It has this ability, a sort of magnetism that retains the good and repels the bad.

It may seem that I'm beating around the bush as to what you should be looking forward to, but I cant think of just one thing.

For some people it may be hard to understand something which they have never, seen, touched, heard, experienced so this may not make sense to them or even seem real but once you experience it and feel the spirit of this place you are faced with the unrelenting reality that you have stumbled upon a sanctuary for the willing, the broken, the sad, the happy, the talkative and everyone in between.

So in an attempt to encapsulate this thought into answer I should say that you should look forward to the experience that you'll be a part of for so many kids and staff.

Angel

We Love Our Summer Staff, Part 1: Donncha & Sarah

2012-02-08T13:03:00.000-08:00

Howdy, howdy, CFA friends & families. Us professional staff members are enjoying the unseasonable lack of cold weather here in the Hill Country. (Bill is biking and running hundreds of miles— literally! Allison is planning her garden and tending to her chickens. Stephanie is out walking with her dogs. Becky is beginning to clean up the camp trails for the Rock-Y 5K next month. Bif is getting to know his new Texas home. And me? I'm riding, of course!) But we are also spending a lot of time planning and preparing for this upcoming summer— and that means talking with new and former staff members to create eight great weeks at YMCA Camp Flaming Arrow.

So today starts the first in a series of posts focusing on former camp staff who are making plans to come back for Summer 2012. These guys could potentially be your counselors and ad staff in 2012!

Donncha, age 19, from Ireland

University attending: Limerick I.T - studying Business with Sports Management

Noteworthy Hobbies, Skills, or Talents: Love to play hurling and soccer and discovering new music.

What exciting thing(s) have you done this past year that you want campers to know about? I have completed one of my ragger goals and I went to England over the Christmas to visit some of the amazing friends I made at camp during the summer.

Favorite memory from CFA 2011: The amazing things that happen in Carabineer club where the campers conquer their fears.

Place on camp where you could most often be found last summer: Definitely High Ropes.

Favorite Core Value: Respect because everyone loves when their thoughts are listened to and appreciated.

Favorite snack time ice cream: Has to be the Ice-cream sandwich.

Must-have items while working summer camp: A water bottle, sun cream (especially for me) and a HUGE smile on your face every day.

Advice you'd give to other counselors: Treat everyone the way you would like to be treated and reflect on each and every good moment over the summer because time flies when you are having a great time.

Advice you'd give to summer campers: Arrive at camp with a smile on your face, lots of energy and be ready to have lots of fun because you are there for an awesome time that flies by.

What you're looking forward to most about this upcoming summer: Has to be renewing old friendships and gaining new ones and seeing how each and every camper has grown into a better person because of their experiences at camp.

Quote to live by: Be the best you can be!

Sarah, age 20, living in Missouri

University attending & job: University of Missouri. I teach hip hop classes and I'm Mizzou's American Eagle Campus Rep

Noteworthy Hobbies, Skills, or Talents: Been dancing since I was 4.

What exciting thing(s) have you done this past year that you want campers to know about? I have been working with organizations such as Mizzou Relay for Life and Mizzou for Movember to raise money for cancer research and cancer awareness.

Favorite memory from CFA 2010: Since I wasn't able to make it back last year I'm using CFA 2010. My favorite memory has to be my first trip up to Mount Vesper. Seeing that site made me realize how lucky I was to get to spend the summer at CFA.

Place on camp where you could most often be found: I tended to be down by the water activities as much as possible.

Favorite core value: Caring

Favorite snack time ice cream: Drumsticks

Must-have items while working summer camp: Water bottle

Advice you'd give to other counselors: Even when we are tired and its been a long day, remember the reason we are there: to make the kids have a great time.

Advice you'd give to summer campers: Be willing to step out of your comfort zone. The people you will meet here will be long term friends.

What you're looking forward to most about this upcoming summer: Getting to see old friends and campers from 2010. I miss everything about camp right now!

Quote to live by: Life's too short to be anything but happy.

Summer Camper = Better College Student?

2012-01-25T17:27:00.000-08:00

In a recent Psychology Today blog, Steve Baskin, the Camp Director at a beautiful private camp in Marble Falls, Texas, wrote the following article suggesting that being a summer camper has advantages much later in life than early childhood. Here's a sampling from Summer Camp - Creating Advantage in College:

Camp helps students adjust to being away-from-home by giving them practice being away-from-home. Campers coming to camp (often as young as Kindergarten or 1st grade) get to experience being separated from home successfully. Certainly, most campers have some homesickness, but the supportive camp community and the fun activities help ease them through this initial challenge. Homesickness is natural. Children will miss their parents.

Further, we live in a society that sometimes suggests to children that they are only safe within eyeshot of their parents. Yet, we parents want our children to grow in confidence and independence so that they can live productive, fulfilling and joyous lives. Camp enables children to experience successful independence. Like college, they are away-from-home. Unlike college, they are in a community committed to their physical and emotional safety.

What are your thoughts? I only spent one summer (two weeks, actually) of my childhood at a traditional, overnight summer camp, so I'm not sure how good my perspective is. By most measures, I was a successful college student from my first semester onward. Can some of those coping mechanisms be attached to even just a short week or two in a traditional camp setting?

It's true— camp is all about community. Specifically, a community that is not part of the traditional family unit. A standard camp cabin, with two "parents" or head counselors, and a handful of children functioning together to keep spaces clean and eat meals and have fun together definitely resembles a family. And it takes a whole lot of cooperation, compromise, and compassion to function well. So does a successful week of camp teach those lessons in the long-haul?

I can't be certain, but I think Mr. Baskin makes some great points.

— MaryAshley


Will having a camp family like this one make for a better college student later on?

Erin's Dream Lanyards Update

2011-12-16T12:12:00.000-08:00

Hey, hey, campers,

Remember that beaded lanyard you made last summer, probably with the help of your counselor (or fearless Craft Guy Joey?)

Those have gone to good use!

The Erin's Dream Lanyard Project is going strong. While we don't have a total count of the number of lanyards produced by CFA in the summer of 2011, we can estimate that it was well over five hundred— which is incredible! Tons of them sold in the camp store to parents and families who stopped by on closing day. I spoke to one mom who had bought six to give to her friends at work. Since the message of Erin's project was fastened to every lanyard made here at CFA, the tenacity and love that their namesake possessed in her short eleven years on earth has been multiplied over and over.. Thanks in part to all of you guys, campers!

As we get close to the holidays —most of us here at CFA are celebrating Christmas, but we know there's plenty of other holidays to remember this season— start brainstorming ways you can put your energy, creativity, or talent into helping others. After our third annual Youth Empowerment Retreat, I find myself realizing again just how great a resource our camp family is. Take a look at these charities that were founded by people well under the age of 20. Consider donating to these charities this winter— or, even greater, consider starting a charity of your own. All of these organizations started very small and very locally, and were started by kids who saw a need. Is there a cause that really moves you? Your CFA family can help! Get in touch with us if you need help getting started.

The Ladybug Foundation was created by a girl of 8, named Hannah, who saw a homeless man eating out of a dumpster. She was determined that no human should have to go to such measures to find a meal, so she started a change drive that has since grown to reach all of Canada and parts of the US.

Free the Children was the dream of a 12-year-old boy back in 1995. It has since grown to a massive, global organization that works to eliminate child labor from the world.

Alex's Lemonade Stand was created by a 4-year-old cancer patient, Alexandra, in her front yard. Alex was a childhood cancer patient, much like Erin, whose lanyards we made this summer at camp. Though Alex has sadly passed away because of the disease she rallied to fight, the organization she founded has now raised over $50,000,000 (that's fifty million bucks!) for childhood cancer research. That's amazing.

Check out those organizations over your winter break and brainstorm what you could do to better your community, country, and planet!

How wonderful it is that nobody need wait a single moment

before starting to improve the world.

— Anne Frank

My Top Ten

2011-11-30T15:05:00.000-08:00

Here is the Top 10 reasons why I love CFA:

10. The Waterslide
9. Snack Time
8. The CFA Dog Pack
7. Watching the dust cloud during a GaGa game
6. The refreshing free swim
5. Mt. Vesper
4. The LIT Pit
3. The Dance
2. Opening Campfire
1.

The People

What is your top 10 reasons you love CFA?

My Plate: Food Tracker Tool

2011-11-29T15:30:00.000-08:00

So, the first round of holiday eating is over for most of us. And if you are like my family, there is lots more to come in the way of parties, gatherings and of course, Christmas! While I know I ate too much this Thanksgiving, I did feel I did much better as I only had 1 plate of food with small portions of each item and a large portion of roasted vegetables.

So, during the holiday season, a lot of us start to worry about our weight. by focusing on the "MyPlate" theory of eating, you can work to maintain or start on a healthy eating habit. Remember-cut back on those sweats and when hunger calls, eat a carrot!

Here is an interactive tool to help you determine if you are a health weight and food tools to help you achieve a healthy weight .

To help you out, here is the "MyPlate" 7 day menu. This is a 2000 calorie daily diet, so adjust as needed. Remember, if you have special dietary needs, to consult your doctor.

DAY 1

BREAKFAST

Creamy oatmeal (cooked in milk): 1⁄2 cup uncooked oatmeal 1 cup fat-free milk, 2 Tbsp raisins, 2 tsp brown sugar
Beverage: 1 cup orange juice

LUNCH

Taco salad: 2 ounces tortilla chips, 2 ounces cooked ground turkey, 2 tsp corn/canola oil (to cook turkey), 1⁄4 cup kidney beans*, 1⁄2 ounce low-fat cheddar cheese, 1⁄2 cup chopped lettuce, 1⁄2 cup avocado, 1 tsp lime juice (on avocado), 2 Tbsp salsa
Beverage: 1 cup water, coffee, or tea**

DINNER

Spinach lasagna roll-ups: 1 cup lasagna noodles(2 oz dry) 1⁄2 cup cooked spinach 1⁄2 cup ricotta cheese 1 ounce part-skim mozzarella cheese, 1⁄2 cup tomato sauce*, 1 ounce whole wheat roll, 1 tsp tub margarine
Beverage: 1 cup fat-free milk

SNACKS

2 Tbsp raisins 1 ounce unsalted almonds

DAY 2

BREAKFAST

Breakfast burrito: 1 flour tortilla (8” diameter) 1 scrambled egg a cup black beans* 2 Tbsp salsa
1⁄2 large grapefruit
Beverage: 1 cup water, coffee, or tea**

LUNCH

Roast beef sandwich: 1 small whole grain hoagie bun 2 ounces lean roast beef, 1 slice part-skim mozzarella cheese 2 slices tomato 1⁄4 cup mushrooms, 1 tsp corn/canola oil (to cook mushrooms), 1 tsp mustard
Baked potato wedges: 1 cup potato wedges 1 tsp corn/canola oil (to cook potato) 1 Tbsp ketchup
Beverage: 1 cup fat-free milk

DINNER

Baked salmon on beet greens: 4 ounce salmon filet 1 tsp olive oil 2 tsp lemon juice a cup cooked beet greens (sauteed in 2 tsp corn/canola oil)
Quinoa with almonds: 1⁄2 cup quinoa. 1⁄2 ounce slivered almonds
Beverage: 1 cup fat-free milk

SNACKS

1 cup cantaloupe balls

DAY 3

BREAKFAST

Cold cereal: 1 cup ready-to-eat oat cereal 1 medium banana 1⁄2 cup fat-free milk
1 slice whole wheat toast
1 tsp tub margarine
Beverage: 1 cup prune juice

LUNCH

Tuna salad sandwich: 2 slices rye bread, 2 ounces tuna, 1 Tbsp mayonnaise, 1 Tbsp chopped celery, 1⁄2 cup shredded lettuce
1 medium peach
Beverage: 1 cup fat-free milk

DINNER

Roasted chicken: 3 ounces cooked chicken breast, 1 large sweet potato, roasted 1⁄2 cup succotash (limas & corn), 1 tsp tub margarine, 1 ounce whole wheat roll
1 tsp tub margarine
Beverage: 1 cup water, coffee, or tea**

SNACKS

1⁄4 cup dried apricots 1 cup flavored yogurt (chocolate)

DAY 4

BREAKFAST

1 whole wheat English muffin
1 Tbsp all-fruit preserves
1 hard-cooked egg
Beverage: 1 cup water, coffee, or tea**

LUNCH

White bean-vegetable soup: 1 1⁄4 cup chunky vegetable soup with pasta, 1⁄2 cup white beans*
6 saltine crackers*
1⁄2 cup celery sticks
Beverage: 1 cup fat-free milk

DINNER

Rigatoni with meat sauce: 1 cup rigatoni pasta (2 oz dry), 2 ounces cooked ground beef (95% lean), 2 tsp corn/canola oil (to cook beef), 1⁄2 cup tomato sauce*, 3 Tbsp grated parmesan cheese
Spinach salad: 1 cup raw spinach leaves, 1⁄2 cup tangerine sections, 1⁄2 ounce chopped walnuts, 4 tsp oil and vinegar dressing
Beverage: 1 cup water, coffee, or tea**

SNACKS

1 cup nonfat fruit yogurt

DAY 5

BREAKFAST

Cold cereal: 1 cup shredded wheat, 1⁄2 cup sliced banana, 1⁄2 cup fat-free milk
1 slice whole wheat toast
2 tsp all-fruit preserves
Beverage: 1 cup fat-free chocolate milk

LUNCH

Turkey sandwich: 1 whole wheat pita bread (2 oz), 3 ounces roasted turkey, sliced 2 slices tomato, 1⁄4 cup shredded lettuce, 1 tsp mustard, 1 Tbsp mayonnaise
1⁄2 cup grapes
Beverage: 1 cup tomato juice*

DINNER

Steak and potatoes: 4 ounces broiled beef steak, 1 cup mashed potatoes made with milk and 2 tsp tub margarine
1⁄2 cup cooked green beans with 1 tsp tub margarine
1 ounce whole wheat roll with 1 tsp tub margarine
Frozen yogurt and berries: 1⁄2 cup frozen yogurt (chocolate), 1⁄4 cup sliced strawberries
Beverage: 1 cup fat-free milk

SNACKS

1 cup frozen yogurt (chocolate)

DAY 6

BREAKFAST

French toast: 2 slices whole wheat bread, 3 Tbsp fat-free milk, 1 egg (in French toast), 2 tsp tub margarine
1 Tbsp pancake syrup
1⁄2 large grapefruit
Beverage: 1 cup fat-free milk

LUNCH

3-bean vegetarian chili on baked potato: 1⁄4 cup each cooked kidney beans,* navy beans,* and black beans*, 1⁄2 cup tomato sauce*, 1⁄4 cup chopped onion, 2 Tbsp chopped jalapeno peppers, 1 tsp corn/canola oil (to cook onion and peppers), 1⁄4 cup cheese sauce
1 large baked potato
1⁄2 cup cantaloupe
Beverage: 1 cup water, coffee, or tea**

DINNER

Hawaiian pizza: 2 slices cheese pizza, thin crust 1 ounce lean ham, 1⁄4 cup pineapple, 1⁄4 cup mushrooms, 1 tsp safflower oil (to cook mushrooms)
Green salad: 1 cup mixed salad greens, 4 tsp oil and vinegar dressing
Beverage: 1 cup fat-free milk

SNACKS

3 Tbsp hummus
5 whole wheat crackers*

DAY 7

BREAKFAST

Buckwheat pancakes with berries: 2 large (7") pancakes, 1 Tbsp pancake syrup, 1⁄4 cup sliced strawberries
Beverage: 1 cup orange juice

LUNCH

New England clam chowder: 3 ounces canned clams, 1⁄2 small potato, 2 Tbsp chopped onion, 2 Tbsp chopped celery, 6 Tbsp evaporated milk, 1⁄4 cup fat-free milk, 1 slice bacon, 1 Tbsp white flour
10 whole wheat crackers*
1 medium orange
Beverage: 1 cup fat-free milk

DINNER

Tofu-vegetable stir-fry: 4 ounces firm tofu, 1⁄2 cup chopped Chinese cabbage, 1⁄4 cup sliced bamboo shoots, 2 Tbsp chopped sweet red peppers, 2 Tbsp chopped green peppers, 1 Tbsp corn/canola oil (to cook stir-fry)
1 cup cooked brown rice (2 ounces raw)
Honeydew yogurt cup: 3⁄4 cup honeydew melon, 1⁄2 cup plain fat-free yogurt
Beverage: 1 cup water, coffee, or tea**

SNACKS

1 large banana spread with 2 Tbsp peanut butter* 1 cup nonfat fruit yogurt

Notes

* Foods that are reduced sodium, low sodium, or no-salt added products. These foods can also be prepared from scratch with no salt added. All other foods are regular commercial products, which contain variable levels of sodium. Average sodium level of the 7 day menu assumes that no salt is added in cooking at the table.

**Unless indicated, all beverages are unsweetened and without added cream or whitener.

That is all I have for now. Get on the internet and see what healthy recipe you can find to substitute those unhealthy options we often cook. And remember, to go for a long walk atleast 3 times a week for 30 minutes.

Eat well and be healthy. Remember to check out www.myplate.gov for more information.

In the Spirit of Camp,
Allison
Y182?

Join us for the Youth Empowerment / Ragger Retreat Dec 9-11, 2011

My Thanksgiving Plate

2011-11-23T06:00:00.001-08:00

So Thanksgiving is upon us and for many, that means lots of good food. It also means lots of extra fat, sugar and calories. In this blog, we will explore ways to trim the calories, fat and sugar from your Thanksgiving plate while keeping yummy goodness! Think it can not be done? Well, keep reading and let's see.

Turkey is actually a lean protein when eaten in moderation, so keep the roasted, not fried, turkey.
Dressing / Stuffing is not that healthy when made with white bread, corn bread, cream based soups, butter, etc. I have included a healthier option
Green Bean Casserole is one of my favorite holiday dishes, but with all that fat and sodium in it, the value is lost to the bad stuff.
Cranberry Sauce is something I can not do without! I love the sweetness, but there are healthier recipes to be found
Pumpkin Pie is again, a favorite dish. Somethings just shouldn't be messed with, but I will give it a try.

Allison's Roast Turkey

3 Cups warm water
1 C Brown sugar
1/2 C salt
2 bay leaves
2 T Poultry seasoning (optional)
turkey, mostly thawed
Something to place turkey in for marinating: If you have a big fridge, then use a closeable tub OR if it is not, then a large zip top bag or trash bag and a cooler (you will need ice)
1 large onion, wedged
6 stalks celery, cut into 3 inch pieces
1 head garlic coves, peeled
1 small bag baby carrots or carrots, peeled and cut into 3 inch pieces.
salt and pepper

24 hours prior to roasting, mix first 5 ingredients until dissolved. Place turkey in marinating holder. Poor brine over then add water to cover. Seal and place in fridge OR in cooler and cover with ice. Make sure to keep the ice refilled as needed.

When you are ready to roast, there are 2 methods to choose from. The first is the traditional method, breast side up. Cook as you normally would, but instead of a rack, place onion wedges, garlic, celery, and carrots in the bottom of the panto serve as the rack, adding about 1/2 cup of water or chicken broth. Place a handful inside the turkey as well. Salt and Pepper the inside and outside of the Turkey. Or, if you do not need to present the turkey whole, then follow this method for a tender turkey. Again create a "rack" with the veggies. Place the turkey breast side DOWN and cook for 2/3 time. Carefully flip the turkey breast side up and cook until done. This allows the breast skin to brown and sometimes you get a presentable turkey. Cooking the turkey upside down allows the breast to stay moist. Use the veggies and dripping to make a gravy.

Mayo Clinic Recommended Stuffing

Serves 6

1 cup low-sodium chicken broth
1 cup chopped celery
1/2 cup chopped onion
10 slices whole-wheat bread, toasted and cut into cubes
1/4 cup chopped parsley
1 teaspoon dried tarragon
1/2 teaspoon paprika
1/8 teaspoon ground nutmeg
1/2 cup chopped fresh cranberries
1 cup whole water chestnuts
1 cup chopped apple

Directions

Preheat the oven to 350 F. Lightly coat a 2-quart baking dish with cooking spray.
In a large skillet, heat the chicken broth over medium heat. Add the celery and onion and saute until the vegetables are tender, about 5 minutes. Remove from heat.
In a large bowl, combine the bread cubes, parsley, tarragon, paprika, nutmeg, cranberries, water chestnuts and chopped apples. Add the onion and celery mixture. Stir to mix evenly.
Spoon stuffing into the prepared baking dish. Cover with aluminum foil and bake for 20 minutes. Uncover and bake 10 more minutes.

Green Bean Casserole from Eating Well

1 tablespoons canola oil, divided
1 medium sweet onion, (half diced, half thinly sliced), divided
8 ounces mushrooms, chopped
1 tablespoon onion powder
1 1/4 teaspoons salt, divided
1/2 teaspoon dried thyme
1/2 teaspoon freshly ground pepper
2/3 cup all-purpose flour, divided
1 cup low-fat milk
3 tablespoons dry sherry, (can omit)
1 pound frozen French-cut green beans, (about 4 cups)
1/3 cup reduced-fat sour cream
3 tablespoons buttermilk powder, (might give a sour taste, so you can omit)
1 teaspoon paprika
1/2 teaspoon garlic powder

Preheat oven to 400°F. Coat a 2 1/2-quart baking dish with cooking spray.
Heat 1 tablespoon oil in a large saucepan over medium heat. Add diced onion and cook, stirring often, until softened and slightly translucent, about 4 minutes. Stir in mushrooms, onion powder, 1 teaspoon salt, thyme and pepper. Cook, stirring often, until the mushroom juices are almost evaporated, 3 to 5 minutes. Sprinkle 1/3 cup flour over the vegetables; stir to coat. Add milk and sherry and bring to a simmer, stirring often. Stir in green beans and return to a simmer. Cook, stirring, until heated through, about 1 minute. Stir in sour cream and buttermilk powder. Transfer to the prepared baking dish.
Whisk the remaining 1/3 cup flour, paprika, garlic powder and the remaining 1/4 teaspoon salt in a shallow dish. Add sliced onion; toss to coat. Heat the remaining 2 tablespoons oil in a large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Add the onion along with any remaining flour mixture and cook, turning once or twice, until golden and crispy, 4 to 5 minutes. Spread the onion topping over the casserole.
Bake the casserole until bubbling, about 15 minutes. Let cool for 5 minutes before serving.

Cranberry Salsa from Health.com

I added this as I thought it look yummy. I have never tried it, so be brave. You can also google "healthy cranberry sauce" and find your own recipe.

1 (12-ounce) package fresh cranberries, picked over and stems removed
2 finely diced large celery stalks
1 finely diced small white onion
1 jalapeno pepper, seeded and minced*
1/4 cup chopped fresh cilantro
1/2 teaspoon kosher or sea salt
3/4 cup sugar
3 tablespoons fresh lime juice

Process the cranberries in a food processor until coarsely chopped. Transfer the cranberries to a medium bowl, and add the remaining ingredients. Stir the mixture well to combine.
Transfer the cranberry mixture to a serving bowl; cover and refrigerate until ready to serve.

* For spicier salsa, include the seeds and ribs from the jalapeño. Or use a serrano chile, which has more heat.

Hungry Girl Healthy Pumpkin Pie

For Crust

2 cups Fiber One bran cereal (original)
1/4 cup light whipped butter or light buttery spread (like Brummel & Brown)
3 tbsp. Splenda No Calorie Sweetener (granulated)
1 tsp. cinnamon

For Filling

One 15-oz. can pure pumpkin (NOT pumpkin pie filling!)
One 12-oz. can evaporated fat-free milk
1/2 cup fat-free liquid egg substitute (like Egg Beaters Original)
3/4 cup Splenda No Calorie Sweetener (granulated)
1/4 cup sugar-free pancake syrup
1 tbsp. pumpkin pie spice
1/2 tsp. cinnamon
1/8 tsp. salt
Optional Topping: Fat Free Reddi-wip or Cool Whip Free

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
In a small microwave-safe bowl, combine butter with 2 tbsp. water. Microwave until just melted, and set aside. In a blender or food processor, grind Fiber One to a breadcrumb-like consistency.
In a medium mixing bowl, combine butter mixture and crumbs with remaining ingredients for crust. Stir until mixed well.
Spray an oven-safe 9-inch pie dish lightly with nonstick spray. Evenly distribute crust mixture, using your hands or a flat utensil to firmly press and form the crust. Press it into the edges and up along the sides of the dish. Set aside.
In a large mixing bowl, combine all ingredients for the filling. Mix well. Pour mixture into pie crust. The filling may be taller than the crust.
Bake pie in the oven for 45 minutes. Allow pie to cool slightly. Refrigerate for several hours, overnight if possible. Keep refrigerated until ready to serve.
Cut into 8 slices and, if you like, top with Reddi-wip or Cool Whip before serving!

Another favorite holiday recipe for me is from a previous blog, the roasted root veggies. This has been a huge hit at my family holiday meals. Another great idea is instead of traditional sweet potatoes, roast them.

Roasted Sweet Potatoes

1 large sweet potato per 1.5 persons
1 T olive oil per potato (or just enough to coat)
salt and pepper

pre heat oven to 375 degrees (you can cook these at various temps, just might take longer. so if you have other things in the oven, these can be added, just watch). Cut potatoes, unpeeled, into 1/2 chunks. Toss with oil. Place in a dark roasting pan or on a cookie sheet. Sprinkle with salt and pepper and any other spice you like. Bake for 30 minutes, stirring several times.

So that is all I have for now. Get on the internet and see what healthy recipe you can find to substitute those unhealthy options we often cook. And remember, to go for a long walk after the big meal.

Eat well and be healthy. Remember to check out www.myplate.gov for more information.

In the Spirit of Camp,
Allison

Y182?

Join us for the Youth Empowerment / Ragger Retreat Dec 9-11, 2011

A Simple Way to Good Health, Get Outside

2011-11-16T12:45:00.001-08:00

I was reading today about the time kids spend outside compared to what they used to and I have read some of the Richard Louv's book, Last Child in the Woods, but these numbers startled me:

"Recent studies indicate that American children, on average, spend about 30 minutes of unstructured play time outdoors each week."

"A Hofstra University survey of 800 mothers, with children between the ages of 3 and 12, found that 70 percent of mothers reported playing outdoors every day when they were young, compared with only 31 percent of their children. Also, 56 percent of mothers reported that, when they were children, they remained outdoors for three hours at a time or longer, compared with only 22 percent of their children."

"In general, children ages 8 to 18 spend more time (44.5 hours per week) in front of computers, televisions and game screens than any other activity in their lives except sleeping, according to studies by the Kaiser Family Foundation."

All of those are amazing stats and also a cause for alarm. In the cliche old saying "back in the good ol' days" kids were always outside. Digging holes, playing in the sand, climbing trees, talking face to face with one another, etc... Now we (adults and children) make excuses to be stuck behind a screen. Whether it is a new show we want to watch or our favorite team is playing and we can attend live. We now live our lives through technology instead of going out and really experiencing it. As adults we not only need to tell kids to get outside but we need to as well.

Get outside, there are some amazing benefits of being active in the great outdoors (somewhat self explanatory but from this article):

"Body

Outdoor play increases fitness levels and builds active, healthy bodies, an important strategy in helping the one in three American kids who are obese get fit.
Spending time outside raises levels of Vitamin D, helping protect children from future bone problems, heart disease, diabetes and other health issues.
Being out there improves distance vision and lowers the chance of nearsightedness.

Mind

Exposure to natural settings may be widely effective in reducing ADHD symptoms.
Schools with environmental education programs score higher on standardized tests in math, reading, writing and listening.
Exposure to environment-based education significantly increases student performance on tests of their critical thinking skills.

Spirit

Children’s stress levels fall within minutes of seeing green spaces.
Play protects children’s emotional development whereas loss of free time and a hurried lifestyle can contribute to anxiety and depression.
Nature makes you nicer, enhancing social interactions, value for community and close relationships."

Needless to say summer camp and retreats is a great opportunity for child to get outside, but just get outside, whether it is a walk or just going to the park. let your kids get a little dirty it is good for them and while they are at it. You get in there as well and play in the mud.

My Plate: Physical Activity

2011-11-16T06:00:00.000-08:00

Let's explore physical activity. Remember, most of this information is taken from www.myplate.gov, so check it out to learn more.

MyPlate.gov states to make physical activity a regular part of the day. Choose activities that you enjoy and can do regularly. Fitting activity into a daily routine can be easy — such as taking a brisk 10 minute walk to and from the parking lot, bus stop, or subway station. Or, join an exercise class. Keep it interesting by trying something different on alternate days. Every little bit adds up and doing something is better than doing nothing. Make sure to do at least 10 minutes of activity at a time, shorter bursts of activity will not have the same health benefits. For example, walking the dog for 10 minutes before and after work or adding a 10 minute walk at lunchtime can add to your weekly goal. Mix it up. Swim, take a yoga class, garden or lift weights. To be ready anytime, keep some comfortable clothes and a pair of walking or running shoes in the car and at the office.

We all know we are supposed to exercise often. But do we really? As youth, we tend to run just for fun or play sports. As people get older, their exercise level tends to drop. We all are guilty of spending more time inside and on electronic products like computers, gaming systems and phones. I know I am guilty - are you? So kids, it is your responsibility to develop healthy habits now and encourage your parents.

Ask your parents to park at the far side of parking lots
Purposely crisscross the grocery store to add mileage to your day
Take the stairs when possible
Just go for a walk - after dinner is a good time for the family. Those dishes can wait.

Do you know how much and what type of exercise to get? Here are some tips:

Adults should get 2 hours of exercise per week
Kids need up to 1 hour each day!

This exercise needs to increase the heart rate, but can be done in 10 minute burst. a brisk 20 minute walk is great. Why do we need exercise? According to Health and Wellness, we know it prolongs life, decrease number of infections, makes one feel happier and, probably most importantly, builds bones so that older people do not have as many fractures.

So get out there and walk, eat well and be healthy. Remember to check out www.myplate.gov for more information.

In the Spirit of Camp,
Allison

Y182?

Join us for the Youth Empowerment / Ragger Retreat Dec 9-11, 2011

My Plate: Dairy

2011-11-09T06:00:00.000-08:00

Let's explore dairy. Remember, most of this information is taken from www.myplate.gov, so check it out to learn more.

All fluid milk products and many foods made from milk are considered part of this food group. Most Dairy Group choices should be fat-free or low-fat. Foods made from milk that retain their calcium content are part of the group. Foods made from milk that have little to no calcium, such as cream cheese, cream, and butter, are not. Calcium-fortified soymilk (soy beverage) is also part of the Dairy Group.

Some commonly eaten choices in the Dairy Group are:

Milk All fluid milk counts, but it is best if it is fat free (skim) or low fat 1%). See Jamie Oliver's argument for avoiding flavored milk. He claims that if you drink flavored milk everyday at school, you consume nearly 2 gallons of sugar each school year. WOW!
Milk based desserts such as puddings, ice milk, frozen yogurt and ice cream fall in this group. Again, look for low fat, low sugar options.
Calcium-fortified soymilk or Lactose Free milk also contain calcium and are great option for lactose intolerance or strict vegetarians/vegans.
Cheese such as hard natural cheeses including cheddar, mozzarella, Swiss, or Parmesan; soft cheeses including ricotta, cottage cheese; or processed cheeses including American.
All Yogurts

*Selection Tips: Choose fat-free or low-fat milk, yogurt, and cheese. If you choose milk or yogurt that is not fat-free, or cheese that is not low-fat, the fat in the product counts against your maximum limit for "empty calories" (calories from solid fats and added sugars).

Did you know that you can substitute Greek yogurt for sour cream in most recipes? In baking, it works best if you strain the yogurt in cheese cloth for 1-4 hrs prior to using. However, I often skip this step and reduce the liquid I add (I am not so patient!). Recently, I reworked the Camp Berry Muffin Cake recipe to omit the fat and sour cream. I replaced fat with applesauce and of course the sour cream with Greek yogurt. It was still delicious. So, here is your challenge - find your favorite muffin recipe and see if you can replace any of the items with healthier options. Love ice cream, start substituting frozen yogurt. My kids love Gogurts frozen.

Eat well and be healthy. Remember to check out www.myplate.gov for more information.

In the Spirit of Camp,
Allison

Y182?

Join us for the Youth Empowerment / Ragger Retreat Dec 9-11, 2011

Inspirational Video

2011-11-02T12:59:00.000-07:00

Here is a video that I thought was inspirational. It has some of the values that we try and teach out at camp. Plus, it just makes my day to watch this type of stuff. So if you ever need a pick me up just look this type of stuff up on Youtube and it will make you smile.

My Plate: Grains

2011-11-02T06:00:00.000-07:00

Let's explore grains. Remember, most of this information is taken from www.myplate.gov, so check it out to learn more.

Whole grains contain the entire grain kernel ― the bran, germ, and endosperm. Examples include:

whole-wheat flour

bulgur (cracked wheat)
oatmeal
whole cornmeal
brown rice

Refined grains have been milled, a process that removes the bran and germ. This is done to give grains a finer texture and improve their shelf life, but it also removes dietary fiber, iron, and many B vitamins. Some examples of refined grain products white bread.

white flour
degermed cornmeal
white bread
white rice

At camp, we have moved to almost all wheat or whole grain products. Did you know that the pasta, french toast sticks and rolls were wheat? I personally love whole grain products and brown rice. In your home, start the trasistion. For some people, it does take a while to get used to the flavor and texture, but for others, it is not a big deal. I did not find it a big deal and my kids don't seem to know the difference.

Below is a recipe link taken from a retreat camper, Kelsey. She has her own blog, Clean Teen Kelsey. The recipe is long so don't let that daunt you. I am not posting it, but the resulting bread is DELICIOUS. Whole Wheat Bread

Here are some easy ways to start

Buy brown rice (note it does take longer to cook, so think ahead)
Look into grains such as quinoa, barley, or bulgar. You can make delicious salads, mix into stir fry and more
Buy only whole grain breads (make sure to read the labels to avoid high sugar content)
And last, buy only whole wheat pasta

Gluten FREE Grains In a later blog, I will dive into Gluten Free products and recipes, but for now, here is a list of gluten free grains: Amaranth, Buckwheat, Corn, Montina (Indian rice grass), Quinoa, Rice, Sorghum, Teff, Wild Rice.

Eat well and be healthy. Remember to check out www.myplate.gov for more information.

In the Spirit of Camp,
Allison

Y182?

Join us for the Youth Empowerment / Ragger Retreat Dec 9-11, 2011

Counselor Interview: Isabel

2011-10-27T12:30:00.000-07:00

It is time for another Counselor Interview. This time it is Isabel. She is coming back for her second summer out at CFA in 2012. She is a freshman at UT-Austin right now and helping out with retreats. Check out her answer and catch up with what is going on in her life.

Isabel

So how many summer summer have you been going to CFA as a camper then counselor?

11 summers

This past summer was your first summer as a counselor, what was your favorite memory?

As a counselor, it was any Sunday night because of campfire, getting to know my new campers and all the excitement that comes with a new session.

What was your favorite memory as a camper?

It had to be the LIT embers. Through embers I was able to get closer to my peers than ever before. Also, it allowed me to grow as a person because I was able to open up and share my dreams/fear/hopes etc...

What counselor or staff member most influenced your life and why?

John Deaso (LIT coordinator summer '09, now a Y professional in Austin)! He gave me a role model to aspire to be (besides my parents) both as a camp counselor and a person. He made my entire LIT session really feel and know what camp love is.

What is your favorite song/skit?

Favorite song is the one that goes, "cause I came to CFA I know what I wanna be, cause I came to CFA, a ______ I will be". I don't know its proper title. It's my favorite because it has the best dance moves ever.

What is the Most important thing you learned at CFA?

Umm, it's really cheesy but through camp I learned how to live a positive fulfilling life.

Last one, if you could describe CFA in three words what would they be?

1. Best

2. Place

3. Ever

My Plate: Protien

2011-10-26T06:00:00.000-07:00

Let's explore proteins. Remember, most of this information is taken from www.myplate.gov, so check it out to learn more.

PROTEIN: What foods are in the Protein Foods Group? All foods made from meat, poultry, seafood, beans and peas, eggs, processed soy products, nuts, and seeds are considered part of the Protein Foods Group. Beans and peas are also part of the Vegetable Group. For more information on beans and peas, see Beans and Peas Are Unique Foods.

Select a variety of protein foods to improve nutrient intake and health benefits, including at least 8 ounces of cooked seafood per week. Young children need less, depending on their age and calories needs. The advice to consume seafood does not apply to vegetarians. Vegetarian options in the Protein Foods Group include beans and peas, processed soy products, and nuts and seeds. Meat and poultry choices should be lean or low-fat.

Some commonly eaten choices in the Protein Foods Group, with selection tips, are:

Meat such as lean beef, pork, venison, bison, lamb (this includes ground meats, just be sure it is LEAN). Be sure to look at fat content, how the meat is prepared and recommended serving portions.
Poultry such as chicken, turkey and duck. Again, preparation is key. Duck is a higher fat meat than say, chicken breast. Darker poultry meat is higher in fat as well, that is why white chicken or turkey is the most recommended.
Nuts and seeds such as peanuts, almonds, sunflower seeds, pumpkin seeds. Following recommended serving is best and nuts in their natural state are better than roasted or salted nuts.
Seafood comes in several forms: fin fish, shell fish and canned. Salmon, tuna, trout, catfish are all examples of fin fish with salmon giving you the highest benefit. Shellfish are just that, fish with a shell. So things like crab, lobster, shrimp and crayfish. And then canned fish such as tuna, salmon, and anchovies. Again, grilled, not fried, cooking methods are best.
Eggs When eaten in moderation, no more than 2 every other day or so, eggs add a great protein to your diet. Prepared poached, hard boiled, soft boiled or fried (in olive oil or a lightly sprayed pan) and then paired with black beans, whole grain English muffin or fruit, eggs a delicious variation to meat.
Beans and Peas make a great substitution to meat and are great for vegetarian diets. Just remember to pair them with fruits and veggies. Black, pinto, kidney, and garbanzo beans are often found in CFA menu. Sometimes they are out in the open and other times they are within a dish adding a nice punch of protein. Did you know beans make a great thickener for soups and chilies as they give off starch?

As with most foods, protein is an essential part of your daily diet, but must be eaten in moderation and be low in fat.

Hummus

2 cups canned garbanzo beans, drained
1/3 cup tahini (sesame paste)
1/4 cup lemon juice
1 teaspoon salt
2 cloves garlic
2 T parsley
1 tablespoon olive oil
1 pinch paprika

In a food processor, blend the beans, tahini, lemon juice, garlic and parsley. Place in a serving dish and drizzle with olive oil, sprinkle with paprika and parsley, chopped.

This is a great recipe that can be enjoyed alone, as a dip (as shown) or a spread for various sandwiches.

Black Bean and Corn Salsa

1 can black beans, drained and rinsed
1 can sweet corn kernels, drained
1 tomato, chopped
1/4 C onion
1 jalapeno, seeded and chopped
1/2 bunch cilantro, rinsed and chopped
2 T line juice
Garlic salt and pepper to taste
1 Avocado, chopped (optional)

Mix first 8 ingredients in a bowl, lightly toss. Chill until ready to serve. If adding avocado, add just before serving as it will brown. Serve with Baja Fish Tacos (found in Camp Kitchen Magic cookbook), with chips, Mexican dishes or how you prefer.

Eat well and be healthy. Remember to check out www.myplate.gov for more information.

In the Spirit of Camp,
Allison

Y182?

Join us for the Youth Empowerment / Ragger Retreat Dec 9-11, 2011

Giddy Up, CFA— Your Fall Horse Update

2011-10-24T14:34:00.000-07:00

Howdy howdy, campers, staff and families. I haven't written in a few weeks and wanted to share some of the exciting changes we are planning for the YMCA Camp Flaming Arrow's Equestrian Education program in 2012.

Three great NightRyders on Whiskers, Cash, and Rocky.

The NightRyders program was a big hit for 6 of the 8 camp weeks this year. NightRyders offered some of the more advanced teen riders one or two nights during their week to come out and try their hand at a different equine activity— some nights it was beginner jumping, sometimes trying out English or Australian riding styles and saddles, riding bareback, or trying their hand at competitive trail riding obstacles with Tiffany and myself. Some Ryders loped for the first time. This was the first year for the group and participants were chosen on a volunteer basis. Next year, due to demand, we will do our best to ensure in advance riders who are interested and eligible (must be a teen and been enrolled in Saddle Club or another year-round equine activity for at least two years) have a chance to try at least one NightRyder activity. If you have any suggestions for safe, fun, and exciting horse programming for our best riders to try, let us know in the comments section below!

Camp favorite Salty and his Saddle Club rider, Week 7.

Currently, we are in the planning stages of expanding the CFA Saddle Club from 12 to 18 members. To do this safely, we hope to have a total of four equestrian staff who can accommodate two groups of riders on two different curricula, who will rotate trail riding classes, round pen classes, and arena classes. Each week of summer camp, we have to turn away potential Saddle Club riders who were unable to sign up in time to claim their spot. We hope to serve more horse-crazy (or at least, horse-curious!) children who want to ride.

Young campers giving horseback riding their first try.

With the potential expansion of riders, we will continue to look for quality horses who meet the high standards set for a Great Camp Horse! Not all of ours are beautiful, but it takes calm, courage, intelligence, and patience to be a camp mount and we are in the process of acquiring three new horses this fall. With spring retreats coming, we'll have a chance to see how these horses do in the high-pressure situation of camp, and they may make the cut to be part of our string for summer 2012. The camp mustang colts, Indigo and Flint, are not ready for full-time camper duties yet, but are still undergoing training and fine-tuning and we would love to see them being ridden by advanced campers in 2013. I'll be attending clinics this fall to continue to develop my own skills, including natural horsemanship workshops and dressage lessons. Hopefully I can bring a lot of that back to CFA

As for your summer 2011 Equestrian Staff, who both love their own brand of competitive trail riding— Tiffany and her horse, Rocky, continue to compete in American Competitive Trail Horse Association (visit ACTHA.us for more information) rides and I continue my involvement with the North American Trail Ride Conference (NATRC.org.) We have facilitated several retreats this fall, with many more planned in the spring, and CFA Adopt-a-Horse riding lessons continue throughout the year. Both of us have acquired mustangs from the Bureau of Land Management and spend time on a daily or weekly basis training them to be great trail horses of the future.

Tiffany & Rocky on a competitive ride near Ingram, TX.


Bandit & I riding near Caprock Canyon.

Happy trails to all of you readers,
And hope your lives are full and happy!

— "MA"

My Plate: Fruits

2011-10-19T06:00:00.000-07:00

Let's explore fruits. Remember, most of this information is taken from www.myplate.gov, so check it out to learn more.

FRUITS should complete the vegetable half of the plate, thus making your meal half filled with fruits and vegetables. Any fruit or 100% fruit juice counts as part of the Fruit Group. Fruits may be fresh, canned, frozen, or dried, and may be whole, cut-up, or pureed. Some commonly eaten fruits are apples, oranges, melon, berries, grapes, pineapple and more. Be cautious of those fruits that are high in sugar such as bananas and grapes. While healthy, they do add a large amount of sugar to your diet. Melons and berries are great, low sugar choices.

Check out the Fruit Gallery on the My Plate website to learn more about fruit size/amount and portion sizes.

Fresh Fruit Smoothie

Get out your cup/glass that you will use to drink your smoothie (a healthy choice is one that is about 8 ounces big). Fill it with a combination of your favorite fruits (see list below). If using yogurt, pour that in over the fruit, then pour in apple juice to just cover the fruit. Pour all into a blender. Blend until smooth. If too think, add a bit more apple juice. Pour back into your cup / glass and enjoy!

Strawberries, frozen
Peaches, frozen
Bananas
1 drinkable yogurt, strawberry or strawberry banana (optional)
100% Apple Juice

Other fruit options are kiwi, pineapple, melon, mango, papaya or any fruit you love. You can also add a bit of honey to sweeten.

Grilled Fruit

The next time your parents are grilling, ask them to grill some fruit as well. Great fruits are stone fruits such as peaches, plums, or nectarines and pineapple. For the stone fruit, cut in half, remove the stone (seed) and brush with olive oil. For pineapple, cut into 1 inch thick rounds and brush with olive oil. Place on grill, cut side down. Grill for 5 minutes and then flip. Grill for 5 more minutes. Goes great with fish, chicken, or drizzled with honey and served as dessert.

Another idea is to take stone fruit, pears, pineapple and cut into large chunks. Skewer making kabobs. Brush with oil and grill, turning every few minutes until heated, about 6 minutes. Brush with honey before serving.

Eat well and be healthy. Remember to check out www.myplate.gov for more information.

In the Spirit of Camp,
Allison

Y182?

Join us for the Youth Empowerment / Ragger Retreat Dec 9-11, 2011

My Plate: Vegetables

2011-10-12T06:00:00.000-07:00

Let's explore vegetables. Remember, most of this information is taken from www.myplate.gov, so check it out to learn more.

VEGETABLES should take up a bit more than 1/4 of your plate. Now what type of vegetables should they be? According to the USDA any vegetable or 100% vegetable juice counts as a member of the Vegetable Group. Vegetables may be raw or cooked; fresh, frozen, canned, or dried/dehydrated; and may be whole, cut-up, or mashed.

Vegetables are organized into 5 subgroups, based on their nutrient content. Some commonly eaten vegetables in each subgroup are:

Dark Green Veggies such as broccoli, spinach, or romaine lettuce and more. Note, iceberg lettuce, while a veggie, is so light in color that it doesn't add a lot of nutritive value to your diet.
Red & orange vegetables such as tomatoes, carrots, squashed, sweet potatoes. Try tossing these in a little olive oil and roasting them. Delicious!
Beans and Peas such as split peas, lentils, black beans, soy beans (edamame) and more
Starchy Veggies such as potatoes, sweet peas, corn, lima beans and more. Try to avoid this category as much as possible as it does not add a lot to your diet. Stick with 1, 2, 3, and 5.
Other veggies such as okra, asparagus, artichokes, and more.

Salad Hints: Avoid iceberg lettuce. Fill your salad bowl with dark green leaf lettuces like spring mix. I prefer "baby spring mix" as the leaves are tender. Add a few sliced almonds, cut up apple and dried cranberries for added taste and texture. and remember, when at a restaurant, ask for your dressing on the side, then try to use 1 T or less. A good way to do this is to add it in and thoroughly toss your salad to coat it well. Adding a dash of salt and pepper helps flavor your salad as well. Too much dressing can make your salad have a higher caloric count than a hamburger! So watch out.

What vegetables do you like? Are they dark in color? If not, how can your begin to change your eating habits? What new vegetable have your tried lately?

Here is a recipe for you to share with your family. It is easy and just might introduce you and your family to a new favorite.

Roasted Vegetables

4 Carrots, peeled and cut into 2 inch lengths OR 2 cups baby carrots
4 Parsnips, peeled and cut into 2 inch lengths
1 Sweet Potato, cut to match the carrots
1 Sweet Onion, cut into wedges OR 1 cup pearl onions
3 Cloves Garlic, peeled (optional)
4 Beets, peeled and quartered (if large) (optional)
2 T olive oil
salt and pepper

Heat oven to 375 degrees. Prepare all veggies, pat dry if wet. In a dark roasting pan, toss veggies in oil, spread out evenly, add salt and pepper to taste (you can always add more). Place in oven. After 10 minutes, stir the veggies. Cook 10 more minutes. Check to see if they are lightly browned and tender. Cook until you feel they are tender to your liking.

If you do not want the beets to bleed red all over your other veggies, then wrap them in foil and place in oven next to pan. Roasting vegetables brings out the sweet, nutty taste. Delicious. Also try roasted asparagus, okra, broccoli and more.

Eat well and be healthy! Remember to check out www.myplate.gov for more information.

In the Spirit of Camp,
Allison

Y182?

Join us for the Youth Empowerment / Ragger Retreat Dec 9-11, 2011

New Rainy Day Activities!

2011-10-06T13:04:00.000-07:00

This is your chance. Choose a rainy day activity you would like to see added to camp. Take a look at the videos and cast your vote on Facebook or here on our blog!

See which cabin can make the longest one of those.

Have each cabin send a person up to compete in the minute game. Who completes the most would win.

A little longer of a game, but each cabin would choose a participant and they would get CFA points to choose a prize at the end.

Choosing activities and making decisions about camp is what we do at the Youth Empowerment Retreat. You get to make decisions on how to make camp better. It is Dec. 9th - 11th. It is also a ragger's retreat. Don't for get to sign up if you interested.

Healthy Spirit, Mind & Body

2011-10-05T06:00:00.000-07:00

Over the course of the next few weeks, I will discuss healthy spirit, mind and body covering such topics as healthy eating, exercise, Raggers, mental health and of course, sharing recipes. If you have any ideas, would like me to cover a topic or just want to chime in, please feel free to email me at allisonh@ymcasatx.org.

Did you know that First Lady Obama recently helped launch the new "My Plate" healthy eating program? The USDA has replaced the food pyramid so many of us are used to seeing with the new, easier to understand "my plate" concept. The hope is that it is easier to understand and will lead to healthier eaters.

The graphic shown, a plate divided into portion size for each type of food is simple if understood. Let's take a little time to explore the plate. You can find complete information at www.myplate.gov.

The plate is divided into 5 categories, the majority taken up by vegetables and grain. The 5 categories are:
1. Vegetables
2. Fruits
3. Protein
4. Grains
5. Dairy

Over the next 5 weeks, I will take you on a closer look at all the categories, explaining what is meant and what to eat followed up by recipes from my recipe book and the CFA recipe book, "Camp Kitchen Magic"

Here is a recipe to get us started. Add some fruit and glass of milk and your plate is covered:

Camp Spaghetti w Meat Sauce

1 lb ground LEAN turkey or beef OR 1 1/2 Cs lentils
1 cup carrots
1 medium onion
1/2 lb mushrooms
3 gloves garlic
2 cans stewed tomatoes, pureed
1 T sugar
2 T cooking wine (optional)
2 cups water or low sodium chicken broth
basil (fresh = 1/4 C; dried = 2 T) adjust to your liking
salt and pepper to taste
oregano, thyme, or other Italian seasonings you like (we only use basil at camp)
1/2 lb whole wheat spaghetti pasta (1/2 lb for up to 5 people)
Parmesan (optional)

Begin browning meat in a large stock pot. Fine chop carrots, onion, mushrooms and garlic in a food process (if you don't need to "hide" veggies, hand chopping is fine and makes a pretty sauce). Add to browning meat and cook until meat is browned and veggies are tender. Stir in remaining ingredients, bring to a boil, reduce to a simmer. Simmer for 30 minutes or until you are ready to serve. If too runny, mix a slurry of 1/2 cup cold water to 2 T flour. Whisk into sauce, simmer until thick. Serve over whole wheat pasta and top with Parmesan.

If using lentils, omit in browning step, add with liquids. Cook for 1 hour or until lentils are tender. You may need to add more liquid as they cook, but probably not.

For vegetarian sauce, replace meat with:
1/2 C lentils
Add 1 1/2 Cs chopped zucchini and/or yellow squash

Eat well and be healthy. Remember to check out www.myplate.gov for more information.

In the Spirit of Camp,
Allison

Y182?

Join us for the Youth Empowerment / Ragger Retreat Dec 9-11, 2011

CFA Buildings Part 2

2011-09-27T13:38:00.000-07:00

This is a continuation from our last blog post about the history of our buildings around camp. Hopefully you learned something new in our last blog. This blog will be no different. Here is part 2 of a 2 part series on the history of CFA's buildings:

The Flag Pole

The flag pole is kind of the center piece of a camp. We meet there every morning and nice to raise and lower the colors. It used to be located in front of Strong Hall and was moved over by the cabins a few years ago when Allison and the Summer '07 staff built this site. You can the remains of where the flag pole used to stand in front of Strong Hall near the GaGa pit.

Wheel & Wagon

Back in the 60's and before these were cabins that the boys stayed in. Later on in camp's life they were equestrian staff housing. Now they are used as the cleaning shed and the Ad Staff office.

Pioneer Health Lodge

Now used as the infirmary for the clinical specialists out at camp the Health Lodge has served many purposes out at camp. Ranging from a bath house to professional staff housing. The biggest debate going on about this building right now is that Ryne thinks there is an elk head stuffed in there but Bill thinks it is a axis deer.

Craft Shed

Before it became the craft shed in the late 90's it was the maintenance shop. Joseph, our current Property Manager, worked out of this until his shop was built at the front of the property. Now the craft shed is where Arts ad Crafts take place during the summer. It is cleaned out and not used in the offseason very often.

Equestrian Center

Not much is known about the history of the Equestrian Center. It has been located in the same place for quite some time now. About 20-30 horses call it home and it probably has the most animal and human traffic on camp.

LIT Pit

Built in the summer 2010 by LITs, the LIT pit is the focal point for late night embers after the dance for Farrow, Ottawa and the LITs.

The Dining Hall

The facility was built in August of 1964. It is two stories and the bottom floor is used mainly for its restrooms and overflow. Little known fact about the dining hall is that there used to be a food elevator (a small pully elevator) that would take food from the kitchen to the bottom floor. Within the past 7 years it finally got air conditioning. No more sweating during meals. The dining hall used to be located down near the pool. Next to it was the tennis courts and trampolines, both of which have been removed from camp.

The Pool

The pool was built the same year as the dining hall (1964). It also had diving boards, which has since been removed because the design of the pool makes any type of diving dangerous. It also added a shade structure added to give the kids who don't want to swim a cool place to hangout and play games.

The Gaga Pit

Built in spring 2010 it quickly became one of camp's favorite places due to the game gaga, especially during snack time. It became so popular that we built another one and put it next to the pool for kids who didn't want to swim.

The Council Ring

We don't know when it was built (it shows up in pictures from the early 50's). It is home to our campfires. It is always filled with songs and laughter. If you know anything about the history of this place, let us know.

The Blakley Chapel

Now home to daily Pow Wows, the Blakley Chapel has been around for a long time, but little is known about its history. We are currently looking to renovate the site to make it as beautiful as it deserves. Let us know if you would like to help or if you know any history behind it.

CFA Buildings Part 1

2011-09-14T15:27:00.000-07:00

This is part one of a two part blog series.

So I have a little history lesson today about CFA and its buildings. I just got done reading this article from ACA and it got me thinking about CFA. What were the buildings used for before and the history behind them. So take a look at the pictures and the history below them.

The Red Huts

Built in the early 1930s, there were actually 10 originally and they were white. Since 4 have been removed to make room for Strong Hall and their color has changed from white to red. They used to be boy cabins, but now are used for LIT housing and staff housing during the summer. The insides were recently renovated with new flooring and new walls.

The Concrete Slab

Mainly used for parking now, the concrete slab used to be a pavilion called the "Arrowplex" and had basketball courts and a place to go when it was rainy. It was taken down when Strong Hall was built.

The Red Stone House

No one really knows when this house was built but it was the only building on the property when the land was purchased by the YMCA in 1927. It has served camp well over the years, being the camp office, staff lounge, nurses station and currently professional staff housing.

Strong Hall

The biggest building on camp has been at camp since 1998 or 2002 (Bill can't make up his mind). It currently has all the professional staff offices, staff workout room, meeting rooms, indoor gym and indoor climbing walls. It is one of the main buildings used when it is rainy or to meet for retreats. It also houses our radio station (you see the antenna on the left side of the roof).

The Retreat Center or RC

It used to be the called the EEC (Environmental Education Center) when it was first built in the mid 1990s. Now it is used as a meeting place in the summer and during retreat season. It also was staff housing for 4 years when Bill and Allison arrived at CFA.

Girl Cabins

These actually didn't exist until the early 1970s. There were platform tents (wooden frames with concrete floor with a plastic roof and thick cloth walls) in place before then. They were built when CFA became Co-Ed in 1973 (did you know that is when it became Camp Flaming Arrow, it was called San Antonio YMCA Camp for Boys up until then).

Boy Cabins

These came to camp during the 1980s. Boys stayed in the Red Huts until these were built. So it was boys on one side of the ravine and girls on the other until the 80s.

The Igloo

The Igloo (along with two other building that will be in part 2) was a bath house during the 1960s. Back then it didn't have a roof and was an open air shower house. Counselors had to hold flash lights for campers so they could see while they showered (I promise this does not happen anymore). Now it is used as a cabin during the summer ranging from LITs to rookie campers. It is only cabin at CFA with three sinks (all in different rooms) and two restrooms. It also only holds 10 people instead of 12 like the rest of the cabins.

Advice from a Saddle Club Pro

2011-09-05T22:21:00.000-07:00

Dear CFA family,

Ryne and I have been asking for guest bloggers to write up some of their camp experiences to be published here at Hey Hey CFA. Jen is an amazing young woman and a camper of several years, who was my first volunteer to write about her Saddle Club experiences. I gave her a few pretty simple questions to answer, and she ended up writing this wonderful essay describing her summers at YMCA Camp Flaming Arrow. She also has some great advice for campers new and old. Read it and enjoy! I feel so blessed to teach riding students like Jen every summer— I wouldn't trade it for anything in the world!

— "MA"

Hey, Hey CFA.....Hay is for Horses! My name Is Jen Alexander. I am fifteen years old and I live in San Antonio, Texas. I am a competitive swimmer and I am a brown Ragger. (Raggers is a special program at CFA.) I have been in Saddle Club for five years, since I started camp at the age of ten. The reason I choose to be part of Saddle Club is because I am one of those kids who love horseback riding, but I don't have the money to own a horse and I live in the suburbs of San Antonio. I am a horse lover so Saddle Club is that one week out of 52 that I get to live my dream as a horseback rider and I get to say that one phrase I love to say: "That's my horse". If you share the same story then Saddle Club will give you that experience.

I enjoy every part of Saddle Club. Saddle Club lets you experience being a horseback rider. You get to enjoy the ability to "own" a horse for a week. The games you do will be fun and teach good posture when you are in the saddle. The games help you become better equestrians. You also get to learn good horsemanship, how to brush your horse and put the saddle on your horse. You get to learn how to walk and trot on your horse. Trotting is a faster pace than a walk. Older kids may even learn how to canter. Cantering, or loping, is a faster pace than a trot. There is a special trail ride that the Saddle Club gets to go on. We get to ride our horses up to Mt. Vesper. Mt. Vesper is this cliff mountain that has a cross on it. The older kids get to eat s'mores up there. It's a pretty view. You can see all of the camp from that point.

I think all the horses are amazing. So don't worry about getting a crazy horse because they are all sweet and compatible. My favorite horses for beginner riders are Jb and Karat. Jb is a Spanish quarter horse. I rode him for 2 years. He is a pony but prefers to be called a small horse. He is sweet and gentle. He is the handsomest pony in the barn. He is a great listener and doesn't get super crazy. I love to put his long bangs into a ponytail. He makes funny faces when I do that. :) He has a fast yet smooth walk and his trot is fast. Karat is a pretty mare and she is a Arabian/Quarter horse. She is sassy girl but is honestly sweet. When you trot her she makes funny faces that are awesome to catch on camera. Don't worry if she does that because that's just her. She has a smooth trot and walk. She can ride both English and western so if you only know one way don't worry because she knows both.

For advanced riders that ride back at home but never have ridden at CFA, Marquee and is a fun horse for you. I rode him for two years. He is a Thoroughbred. He is the biggest horse in the barn. He has a nice slow walk and a really fast trot so he is perfect to do a posting trot on. He has a calm personality and listens well too. He has a fast canter that's rough but he's only eight, so he might become smoother as he gets older. Last summer I got the privilege to ride one of the new mustangs named Indigo. He is so cute and calm. If you are an advanced rider you might get to ride him. He has a nice slow walk and a slow trot. When I rode him you liked to go anywhere he wanted to go but he listens well. He is a class clown. He likes to make funny faces and knock down things. He is a very curious little fellow. He doesn't bite or buck which was a surprise to me since he is from the wild.

Take my advice young Jedi, because it will determine your life or death here at CFA...I am just playing with you but I recommend you take it. I recommend boot cut or jeans that aren't tight because if you don't want to rip your favorite pair of super tight skinny jeans than I would pick up a pair of loose jeans at Target or Old Navy. Also, about jeans, I wouldn't wear jeans with holes in them because than you can get them caught on the fence or on hooks on the saddle. I would keep your riding clothes in a separate bag just in case if you fall into wild grass and you find out that you are allergic to it and get hives. Been there done that, don't want to have Mickey Mouse hands. I recommend you don't wear flats or TOMS because they don't do to well in mud and poop. At least you can clean tennis shoes and boots. You should have your parents come take you as early as possible so that you can get dibs on a bunk near the A/C.

Well, I am planning on coming to CFA this summer for my LIT year. I am also planning on being an WIT when I am 17 to become an assistant wrangler for CFA because someone has to fill those boots. I will be returning for the epic summer of 2012. Don't forget to live, laugh, love, and look up!

— Jen A., San Antonio TX

Here's Jen riding "Indigo," the mustang she refers to in her blog entry. She was the very first student rider to trot on Indigo, and even played a whole day of games on him!

Carry it Home

2011-08-31T13:33:00.000-07:00

"What you do in here, fill the streets out there." - The Song "Madly"

While that is a religious song that was sung at chapel time at my previous camp I worked at, those lyrics always stuck with me. If is so hard to take we do at camp and apply it to the outside world. The lessons learned like how to care for others, being responsible, etc... I find myself taking something different home with me every year to fill the streets of me life. My first year at CFA was to work hard and set high expectations not only for others, but for myself. The second year was to love blindly. Now this year I am trying to take home the ability to let others (besides my family) love me. It is something that I learned and saw at camp, letting others love me for who I am.

Now you had to learn something while you at camp. Maybe you learned a lot. Its hard to take a lot home with you and sometimes when you try to take so much you end up carrying more than you can handle and you end up dropping everything. If you can carry everything home that is great, but if could choose one thing that you take home what would it be? The confidence you gained? The feeling of knowing that you are loved? The satisfaction of helping someone else? The ability to be yourself?

Once you make it part of your life people will see the difference in you. You won't even have to tell them about it. I tell the counselors if they complete a whole summer it will change them forever and that people will be able to tell that they are different in a good way. They have done something not many people in the world are capable of. It changes them. Camp changes them.

So what is the thing or things that camp changed in you this year?

Filling Up Your Cup

2011-08-17T15:29:00.000-07:00

I was talking to some other camp professionals yesterday and we had a discussion about how do you prepare you campers and staff to go back into the life outside of camp. It was an interesting question. I talked mainly about what we do with staff since most have been at camp for at least 9 weeks.

What we do is we have personal conversations with all of them about how their summer went and if there is anything they need help with outside of camp once camp is over. Most tell me no that they don't need any help after camp but some do and we try to be as helpful and supportive as possible. Whether it be rides to the airport or just advice on what is happening in their life. We want them to know that they are part of family that will be there for them as long as they keep making the right choices.

We also throw a staff party where we take them all out to dinner and we watch the staff video. They also get a staff picture, a staff gift (a picture frame this year) and a summer staff blue bead. We hope that this gives them closure to what they have experienced and accomplished.

What we hope to prepare our staff and campers for whenever they leave is how to fill the emotional cup or bucket or whatever else you want to fill. We emphasize the core values at CFA and we hope both staff and campers learn those and realize how good it makes you feel in Spirit, Mind and Body when you follow those core values.

A lot of campers and staff go home and lose that camp fire of just feeling good inside. They lose that sense of community and real friendship. I know I did whenever I was a camper and staff member. I finally figured out what to do about it. I went out and searched for my own community to make a difference in. In high school I joined a youth group and in college I started writing for my college newspaper. So go out and find a community where you can use the skills and values you learned at camp in. It will help you keep your cup full and a smile on your face.

Here are some other things that might interest you in keeping that cup full:

Join Habitat for Humanity
Serve food at a homeless shelter
Volunteer in a organization that you are passionate about
Do more chores than you are required to around your house
Talk to people that you don't normally do at school
Start a new hobby

Do you have any ideas for how to keep your cup full?

Remember to live, laugh, Love and look up

Ryne

Miss you already, summer. (With videos galore!)

2011-08-08T08:03:00.000-07:00

What a brilliant summer we had at CFA. Most staff have moved on; a few remain to throw their hearts into retreats for the next two weeks. The Magical Back Room in Strong Hall has been tidied and organized and the millions of fun things in there all await Summer 2012, to emerge for theme nights and dances and fairs. The horses are enjoying a brief respite for the month of September. Our staff shirts are washed and folded, to be worn on days other than those which they were intended for— the red "Caring" shirt on a Tuesday!? Sacrilegious!

As we gather our thoughts and lives together from the bustle of summer, enjoy the eight session videos, produced almost entirely by our wonderful "Video Guy," Stephen Salas. Even as the voices of summer fade from the kickball fields and the triangle, we can relive some of the fun thanks to YouTube.

See you soon, friends & family!

Taking It Apart: Core Values

2011-05-18T08:00:00.000-07:00

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

2011-05-11T13:46:00.000-07:00

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

2011-05-11T08:00:00.001-07:00

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

2011-05-05T13:51:00.000-07:00

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

2011-05-04T07:00:00.000-07:00

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.

Taking It Apart: John 17:21 Emblem

2011-04-27T08:00:00.000-07:00

With the great history in mind and ministry outreach focus, lets take a look at how the YMCA emblem represents this organization’s history and purpose. Few organizations have as meaningful and rich an emblem as the YMCA. These are all of the parts:

THE DOUBLE CIRCLE: One circle symbolizes the completeness and unity of the total of life and God’s created order. The other symbolizes a wedding ring, friendship and love without end, among individuals. Within these circles or rings, the rest of the emblem is placed.

THE GREEK LETTERS CHI & RHO (XP): The first two letters of the word Christos - meaning Christ - and in themselves the emblem of early Christianity.

THE TWO TRIANGLES: One standing for the trinity within the Godhead: Father, Son and Holy Spirit. The other, the trinity within man, that of the spirit, the mind and the body.

THE BIBLE: It is opened to Jesus’ intercessory prayer for his followers in the Gospel of John, chapter 17, verse 21. This text was set forth as the foundation of the YMCA:

“That all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me
and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world
may believe that you have sent me.” John 17:21

The context of this passage was emphasizing that the followers of Christ should have such love and care for one another and for those around them that the rest of the world would believe, because of this genuine love.

Therefore the complete assembly of all these component parts gives this great organization the emblem.

In the Spirit of Camp,
Allison

The above information was found at http://www.ymcamacon.org/YMCA%20Emblem.htm

The Easter Story

2011-04-24T07:00:00.000-07:00

By Linda Sue Pochodzay Edwards

What an awfully sad day it had been for the friends of Jesus! They had stood watching sorrowfully, as Jesus hung on the cross dying. They didn't fully understand why it had to happen.

They believed that Jesus was the Son of God, and they remembered how He had healed the sick and made blind people see. They remembered how He had fed thousands of people with just a few loaves of bread and fish. They even remembered how He had caused dead people to come back to life. He was such a good, kind man; why did He have to die?

Just before the sun was beginning to sink into the west, Joseph, one of Jesus' friends, noticed that Jesus was no longer breathing. He hurriedly went to ask Pilate if he could have the body of Jesus so he could bury Him. When Pilate agreed, Joseph and Nicodemus (another friend) carefully wrapped Jesus' body in clean cloths. Then they took Him to a tomb to bury Him.

The next day, the Pharisees started thinking about Jesus. They were the people that had wanted to kill Jesus. They remembered how He had taught them, saying that He would rise again after three days. They were worried that it might be true! They also thought that Jesus' disciples would remember and might try to steal the body from the tomb just so they could say that Jesus rose again. They went to Pilate, suggesting that the tomb be closed up with a huge stone and that guards be placed all around the tomb.

Just before daylight the next day, the most amazing thing happened! There was a GREAT EARTHQUAKE! An ANGEL from the Lord came down from heaven, moved the gigantic stone away from the door of the tomb and sat on it. The guards began to shake with fear! They fell down to the ground as if they were dead!

Mary and some other women had decided to get up very early in the morning and go to visit the tomb where Jesus was placed. While walking down the road, they were discussing how they were going to get inside the tomb. They had brought along some spices and perfume that they wanted to place on Jesus' body. They knew the huge stone had been placed in the doorway and they had no idea how they were going to move it.

What a SURPRISE they found when they reached the tomb! The stone had already been moved! And . . . there was an ANGEL sitting on the stone! The women were quite afraid, but the angel spoke gently to them:

"Don't be afraid. I know that you have come to see Jesus. He is not here; for he is risen just as he said. Come inside and see the place where he lay."

The women went inside the tomb and found it empty, just as the angel had told them.

The angel spoke to the women one more time:

"Go quickly and tell the other disciples that Jesus has risen from the dead; and he is going into Galilee where you will see him."

The women did just as the angel had told them. They ran quickly from the tomb, with fear and great joy, to tell the good news to the other disciples. But . . . when the women found Peter and their other friends and tried to tell them the good news, . . . no one believed them!

When the women persisted, Peter decided that he needed to find out for himself.

He ran all the way to the tomb.

He went inside.

He saw the cloths that had been wrapped around Jesus, but the body was not there.

He wondered if it could possibly be true. Did Jesus really raise from the dead? Was Jesus really alive?

Two of Jesus' other friends were going on a journey to a village called Emmaus. As they walked and talked, they discussed all the things that had happened over the past few days. A man came along and joined the group. He walked along with them and wanted to join their discussion. Cleopas began telling the man about how Jesus was crucified on the cross. They talked about how the women found the empty tomb.

As they continued their journey, they invited the man to come in with them and have dinner. When they sat down to eat their meal, the man picked up a loaf of bread and broke it in pieces. Then he prayed for the meal and gave the bread to the men. At that very moment they realized that the man was JESUS! They had been talking to Jesus the whole time and didn't even know it!

Then . . . ANOTHER strange thing happened. As soon as they realized who it really was that sat at the table with them . . . Jesus disappeared! They talked about the wonderful time they had talking with Jesus down the road, and they just couldn't help talking about his strange disappearance. They got up from their meal and returned to Jerusalem where they told all the other disciples the good news that Jesus REALLY DID raise from the dead and had talked with them.

As they were talking, Jesus again appeared to them. They were afraid and thought they were seeing a ghost, but Jesus told them not to be afraid. He showed them His hands and feet where He had been nailed to the cross, so they would believe that it was really Him.

When they saw the nail holes in His hands and feet, they finally believed that Jesus had risen from the dead, just like He said He would. They were soooo happy and joyful to have their friend with them again. They were soooo excited that they had to tell EVERYBODY the good news that JESUS IS ALIVE!

THINK!

Why were Jesus' friends so sad?
Why were guards placed around the tomb?
What caused the huge stone to be moved?
Who was the first to look inside the tomb?
Why was Jesus' body not in the tomb?
What did the angel say to Mary and the women with her?

A VERSE TO LEARN

"He is not here, but is risen" (Luke 24:6).

Easter Trivia and Facts

2011-04-23T15:28:00.000-07:00

According to widespread belief, Easter owes its name to "Eastre", the Anglo-Saxon goddess symbolizing hare and egg. Another theory suggests that it comes from the early German word "eostarun", meaning dawn and white.
Easter is a "moveable feast" as it does not fall on a fixed date in the Gregorian or Julian calendars. The full moon determines the date of Easter.
Easter always falls between March 22 and April 25.
Easter has been named after Eastre, an Anglo-Saxon goddess. The symbols of the goddess were the hare and the egg.
Apart from English and German, the name of 'Easter' has been derived from Pesach, the Hebrew name of Passover festival.
Right from ancient times, egg has been regarded as a symbol of rebirth in most of the cultures.
Easter is known by different names across the world. Some of them are: English - Easter, French - Paques, Spanish - Pascua, Italian - Pasqua, Albanian - Pashke, German - Ostern, Greek - Pascha, Norway - Paaske, Holland - Pasen and Swedish - Pask.
Egg, bonfires & candles, lily, cross, palm, bunny and lamb are the most popular symbols of Easter.
Egyptians were initially the ones who exchanged eggs to symbolize the resurrection of Christ. It was later that the tradition was passed down to early Christians.
For Americans, Easter is the second most important candy-eating occasion of the year, after Halloween.
In the mid-20th century, it used to take as much as 27 hours to make a marshmallow peep. Today, the time has been reduced to six minutes.
Hot cross buns, made by European monks, are counted amongst the earliest Easter treats. They were given to the poor people, during the month of Lent.
Ninety million chocolate Easter bunnies and 16 billion jelly beans are produced each year before the commencement of the Easter festivities. As a holiday, Easter comes only second to Halloween in terms of the annual sale confectionery items.
76 percent of people eat the ears on chocolate bunnies first.

Easter in the United States
From the Holiday Spot

Today, with all its joyous customs, Easter is indeed a major popular festival across the United States.

A festival that has become more of secular in spirit, though it has religious background.

However, this was not the case all along the history of United States.

Easter did not enjoy the status of a popular festival among the early settlers in America. Because most of them were Puritans or members of Protestant Churches who had little use for the ceremonies of any religious festivals. Even the Puritans in Massachusetts tried their best to play down the celebration of Easter as far as possible. While various rites are said to be associated with the celebration of Easter, most of them have come as part of the ancient spring rites in the Northern hemisphere.

Not until the period of the Civil War did the message and meaning of Easter begin to be expressed as it had been in Europe. It was the initiative of the Presbyterians. The scars of death and destruction which led people back to the Easter season. They found the story of resurrection as a great source of inspiration and renewed hope.

Since then, of course, its joyous customs delight children and adults alike.

Why have rabbits and eggs become linked with Easter?
From The Independent

Eggs, of course, are ancient symbols of fertility, for very obvious reasons, while the Seder meal incorporates a hard boiled egg as a symbol of new life. The ancient Persians also painted eggs for Nowrooz, their New Year celebration falling on the spring equinox. An egg has also been seen to be associated with the rebirth or resurrection of Christ. The custom of eating them also derives from the fact that they were forbidden during Lent. There are a great many rituals associated with eggs, mainly dating from Medieval times in Europe, usually involving decorating, throwing, rolling or hiding eggs for children to find them.

The Easter bunny or rabbit comes from the hare, another ancient, pre-Christian symbol of fertility associated with spring. But it gets even more complicated than that. Anglo-Saxon mythology says Eostara changed her pet bird into a rabbit to entertain a group of children, and the rabbit laid brightly colored eggs for them.

The chocolate bunny, like the chocolate Easter egg, is a much more recent idea, stemming from 18th and 19th-century middle European confectionery traditions, many of which were adopted in Britain.

Hope you enjoyed this little bit of trivia!

In the Spirit of Camp,

Allison

Reflection

2011-04-20T08:00:00.000-07:00

With the recent and current wildfires ravaging more than 77,0000 Texas acres to date, I thought I would take a moment to write about reflection, loss, memories and call to action. While West Texas burned, I read post and listened to friends as they shared their sadness for loss of the land they loved, destruction of farms and animals. But it didn't effect me in a way that had me raring to do something to help. Then, this week, my camp "home" is threatened by fire. As the area around Possum Kingdom Lake burns wildly, YMCA Camp Grady Spruce (CGS) is threatened to burn. I got my camping start at CGS, met some of my best, lifelong friends, formed my relationship with God and discovered myself.

While CGS is never far from my heart and mind, memories have come flooding back. Like the beauty of each sunrise, cool morning skiing on the lake, peaceful nights on Raggers Point, memorial service for my dear friend in his passing, and all the friendships created on that small patch of earth we call Frontier Camp, Main Camp and Ray Bean Camp. I have not been able to sleep as I worry about the families displaced, my friend who is fighting the fire and the YMCA. I feel the need to go and do, but am torn as I have a family and responsibilities here. This really calls one to reflect on prioritizes.

Why did it take something directly linked to me to cause me to want to help?

How is possible that I was able to block out things like wild fires in West Texas just because I hadn't been there to create the memories?

How would I feel if CGS was burned to the ground? Would the memories be as strong with out the place to go to?

What can I do as 1 person to make a difference?

Honestly, I am not sure what I can do yet beside pray and send donations. Mostly I am ashamed that it took something directly linked to my heart to spur me into action. As a Ragger, I feel I should be more proactive and should have looked sooner to help, not when I was directly effected.

What do you think? What does it take to get your attention?

What if it was your camp that was burning? Your school? Your neighborhood? Your house? How would you feel? What would you feel compelled to do to help? How can you help now?

And why would it take a threat to your home, neighborhood, school to get you going? What can you do today to make a difference?

Just some food for thought. Do a rain dance every chance you get. Texas needs rain.

In the Spirit of Camp,
Allison

CFA FAQ Files: What's the deal with Clubs?

2011-04-19T08:22:00.000-07:00

Hello, blog friends!

In searching for new topics to blog about, we snagged an idea from www.campmarketingnews.com that suggested taking a look at some of the most frequently asked questions from parents, and delving deeper into those subjects to thoroughly provide an answer and explain why CFA functions the way it does.

One question we all field quite often deals with the the various Clubs at summer camp. Are Clubs different than activities? Can campers do both? If a camper isn't signed up for a particular club, like River Rats or Saddle Club, will they not get a chance to swim or canoe or ride a horse?

FAQ— What's the deal with Clubs at CFA?

Each traditional camper (not Rookie Campers, not LITs or CITs) has the opportunity to choose a Club to attend for their week of camp. Clubs happen in the morning, after breakfast, generally before the most intense heat of the day. They last approximately an hour and a half, and are lead by the same two to three counselors, who normally have an interest or passion relating to the subject matter of the Club. Campers attend the same club every single morning for a week. If a camper comes for multiple weeks, she or he may pick a different club for each week.

There are eight Clubs for Summer 2011:

Bull's Eye Club, focusing on the target sports of archery and BB guns.
Carabiner Club, featuring ropes safety, belaying, and our high ropes challenge course.
Crafter's Club, where campers spend time creating artwork and crafts. Pottery is a favorite.
Guadalupe River Rats Club, putting campers in the river via the rope swing, canoeing and kayaking, and water slide.
O.W.L.S., or Outdoor Wellness and Living Skills, for the hiker, camper, outdoor chef, and survivalist-minded camper.
Pan-Handlers, our newest club in 2011, teaching cooking skills that run from the very basics to pasta and sushi making.
Saddle Club, full of daily riding and horsemanship skills, for the aspiring cowboy, cowgirl, or equestrian.
Varsity Club, specially created for the athlete or camper who wants to learn and play a wide variety of sports.

Varsity Sports campers learn the art and skill of GaGa, a sport originating in Isarel.

How much prior experience does a camper need to succeed?

Each of these Clubs is designed to enforce our five Core Values— Caring, Honesty, Respect, Responsibility, and Faith. With that in mind, Clubs serve a wide variety of experience levels: not everyone who signs up for Saddle Club has taken professional riding lessons, for example— some have never really ridden a horse before in their life! Our staff are trained and able to handle all levels of competency and the only criteria for selecting a Club is that the camper should have an interest in learning more about the featured activities. Fun is part of the package, and everything we do at YMCA Camp Flaming Arrow follows strict safety guidelines enforced by both the American Camp Association and the YMCA.

The Pan-Handlers Club will give campers a taste of Chef Allison's skills and more exciting recipes.

My camper isn't signed up for (as an example) Bull's Eye Club— will they not get to do archery?

All traditional campers, teens and younger folks (called "Pioneers") alike, have the opportunity to try other camp activities during the rest of their day at camp. Pioneers rotate with their cabin every day and experience all of the basic camp activities during their week-long stay. Teens are now divided into smaller "Quest Groups," a group of boys and girls who meet daily to decide what activity to do as a unit and spend the week working together to create friendships and community spirit. So yes, each camper has a chance to try everything else at camp. Their Club is simply their main activity focus, and where they are likely to develop the most practical skills.

Carabiner Club challenges campers to experience the thrill of high ropes, instilling faith in themselves.

My child is an experienced horseback rider. Is it worth their time to be involved in the Saddle Club?

In the case of Saddle Club, we make it a policy to staff highly skilled wranglers who not only know horsemanship, but have specialized skills they are qualified to teach. For example, this summer, our Head Wrangler can teach basic roping skills and also competes in Competitive Trail Rides— she is expanding our obstacle course and games repertoire. The other full time Wrangler has been jumping for years, and we now have the equipment to teach introductory jumping to our advanced Saddle Club students. Since last year, we have worked to make an Advanced Class available to Saddle Club participants at least two days out of the week, if there is enough interest.

One advanced Saddle Club camper takes his skills to the next level— instructing!

In closing..

Clubs give CFA campers a chance to delve into a subject that they may love with a passion or just be curious about. In everything we do here at YMCA Camp Flaming Arrow, the five Core Values and our mission stand out above all else. Keeping those things and safety (always of utmost importance) close to the hearts and minds of the counselors and leadership staff who run the Club program creates an opportunity for practice, growth, and learning that is unique to summer camp and to CFA.

Challenge Yourself

2011-04-18T14:23:00.000-07:00

When is the last time you challenged yourself to something? If you don't remember, then think of a challenge for yourself right now. It can be wildly out there or something very simple. Hopefully it will make you a healthier person in spirit, mind and body.

I will hopefully be finishing up a challenge for myself that is actually a life goal of mine this weekend. On Saturday I will be running in my first marathon. As the race inches closer the more nervous/excited I get. I have spent serval months training for this race and have cleared several road blocks that were in my path. I have overcome them to get to the point where I am happy even if I don't finish the marathon. It isn't about the end result it about the path that got you there. I feel like this whole marathon training journey has made me into a better person and that is what is all about. I can't lie though, it is going to be awesome to see that finish line on Saturday.

Where is your finish line and how will you get there?

Renew Your Spirit

2011-04-07T07:43:00.000-07:00

Working for the YMCA has afforded me many things in my life. One of the best is the YMCA Spirit. As you might recall, I traveled to San Diego for the Christian Leadership conference this past weekend. I was given the opportinuty to learn, to grow, to share my story with other YMCA employees and to renew my spirit throguh worship, Raggers, leadership classes and just by being in the presence of the Lord. Here is a snap shot of what I learned:

You can't fake an impure heart. Make sure your heart is clean and pure and your thoughts will follow.

"Perfect" in biblical terms = complete. That is what is meant when, as a Christian, you have a perfect heart or perfect understanding of Christ.

You must spend time reflecting on yourself so you can know yourself, learn what to change and possibly see how others see you.

According to Doug Luffborough (www.dougluff.com), there are 3 chairs in life:

The Chair of The Quitter: someone who is depressed, stuck, broken down by others and just not going anywhere
The Chair of the Camper: Someone who allows the current become their lifestyle. They don't work to challenge themselves further. They found a comfy spot and are just camping out.
The Chair of the Climber: This is someone who is not content to just be at status quo or do just enough. This is the person that is always reaching for more, looking to grow greater and climb higher.

You may have to fight the battle more than once to succeed. Don't quit the first time you get knock down, off course or told you can't do it.

Be like the moon and reflect the SON.

And last, I was given the privilege to counselor a new friend as he obtained his blue Rag. Marlon (pictured), is a San Diego YMCA employee. After spending time in reflection with him, I found him to be a wonderful young man just on the cusp of his YCMA career. Having him ask me to counsel him for his Blue Rag, I was all at once set forth on a path of humbleness and greatness. Humbled that he saw in me something that caused him to reach deeper. Greatness as we now journey down this road called life, forever bound by this piece of cloth. As we get ready to enter summer, take time to reflect on your Rag journey and remember the goals set forth when you had that piece of cloth tied around your neck.

In the Spirit of Camp,
Allison

Because of Camp

2011-04-05T20:39:00.000-07:00

Here is a good video to watch that has celebrities talking about how camp made a difference in their lives:

So here is my because of camp:

Because of Camp I learn to Love others and to become a person who wants to positively impact the world.

What is your because of camp?

Remember to live, laugh, Love and look up!

Ryne

Play Again.

2011-03-30T09:52:00.000-07:00

I haven't had a chance to actually see this film (we don't get too many movies with indie cred out here in the rural Hill Country!) but it seems to pose some very good questions. Camp answers a lot of the need for urban children to experience the outdoors, but in our case, only for a week at a time. What does it take to keep the Nintendo DS and the Xbox off after camp? Is it even worth it?

It's interesting to think about yourself, or your child, in a similar situation to the children above. There are certainly a set of traits, interests, and strengths that emerge when a person is taken out of modern society and given more rudimentary tools of survival. We aren't a bare-bones minimalist camp, but simple acts like powering down the computer, pulling the earbuds out of your ears, and spending hangout time under the stars instead of the mall shift a person's focus and open their awareness to the rest of the world and people both alike and dissimilar to themselves. Camp is so valuable for that reason, and many of the awesome memories made there are so awesome precisely because the environment is so different than what we are used to as a first-world culture.

Anyone had a chance to see "Play Again?" I'm looking forward to finding it on Netflix in a few months.

(And P.S.. 70 days 'til camp! Woohoo!)

Travel and Learning

2011-03-30T07:59:00.000-07:00

Hello my fellow Raggers - I am going to take a break from Raggers and just catch you up on my March. I have been absent for a few weeks - sorry about that! This month is a travel month for me - New York State for a food service conference (left picture of me in snowshoes), then spring break family time and now, I am headed to California for the San Diego Christian Leadership Conference (CLC). I am so excited to be able to attend this conference as we are holding our first ever CLC at CFA in November! Also, I have not attended a CLC in 10 years, so it is time to recharge my spirit and remember why I dedicate my life's work to the YMCA.

This conference is geared to YMCA staff and volunteers. The main emphasis is "sharing Christian values and the YMCA Mission in all YMCA programs." The YMCA Ragger Program has a strong presence at this conference. The program was founded by the C.J., Carrie D. and R. Howard Walker family. Friday night is typically spent getting to know each other, singing praise music and learning about the weekends events. I am looking forward to recharging my spirit, realigning my Ragger goals and bringing home ideas for camp.

Early in March, I attended the North American Food Service Conference at Camp Chingachgook on Lake George, NY. First, I arrived to two feet of fresh snow! This Texas girl had never seen snow like that and was promptly issued snow shoes and sent off on a hike. It was awesome. But to get back to food - I learned a lot about nutrition, gained new ideas for meals and most excitedly, ideas for cooking club. The CFA Pan-handlers are going to learn how to make sushi - both for meals and dessert (pictured) along with a lot of other cool things. I think the neatest trick I learned was to put the peanut butter and jelly into squeeze bottles - it makes it easier and cleaner to make your sandwich. Now why didn't I think of that?

And mid month, the family and I went camping in Rockport along wiuth my parents and my neice, Kristen (CFA alum). The kids were so excited camp, see family and play on the beach. Pictured are Laine, Kristen and me as we had a groovy time shopping. We had a great time.

I can not wait to update you all on what I learn at CLC and how my Rag is rededicated. Until next time, keep dreaming of camp, recruiting your friends to attend summer camp and study hard.

In the Spirit of Camp,
Allison

Camp Quotes

2011-03-24T08:52:00.000-07:00

The organized summer camp is the most important step in education that America has given the world. ~ Charles B. Elliot, President of Harvard University 1922

What I like about camping is you can get really dirty. Either you're all by yourself, so no one else sees you, or everyone you're with is just as dirty as you are, so nobody cares. ~Anonymous former Boy Scout, quoted in Highs! Over 150 Ways to Feel Really, Really Good Without Alcohol or Other Drugs by Alex J. Packer

The fire is the main comfort of the camp, whether in summer or winter, and is about as ample at one season as at another. It is as well for cheerfulness as for warmth and dryness. ~Henry David Thoreau

Usually people come up and say they like our band, so it's a great place to make new friends. It's like going to summer camp. ~ Good Charlotte

A Mustang at Camp: Indigo's Story

2011-03-18T20:41:00.000-07:00

In the northernmost corner of Nevada, close to California, are the Calico Mountains. Named for the colorful rock formations that resembled the piebald coat of a calico cat to some pioneer eons ago, and relatively lush in grazing and water supply, these particular hills are home to a distinct subgroup of the American Mustang. The mustangs still roaming western North America are all mutts of the horse world, pieced together from old Spanish influence, Native American's unique breeding stock, and ranch horses turned lose or wandered away from settlers. Calico Mountains Mustangs are unique in that they closely resemble (and are descendants of) the ideal ranch horse of American settlers. Possessing good confirmation and hardy, because of their bountiful homeland, "Calico Complex" horses are often as colorful and varied in their patterns as the mountains that surround their home.

The Calico Mountains, north of Gerlach, NV.

In the early spring of 2008, a shaggy red-and-white colt was born in these mountains. He had a white face, one blue eye, and (one would guess, from knowing him now) a slightly quirky expression on his face. We can't know for sure if this colt's first year was lived in peace and stability along side a healthy mother and a strong family unit, or if he was plagued from the start by the drought in Western America. What we do know is that on January 29th, 2010, his life changed both dramatically and traumatically— a helicopter rounded up the colt's family and drove them to a holding pen, where agents from the Bureau of Land Management loaded them into huge stock trailers and eventually they were shipped all the way to central Colorado, to a gigantic prison complex housing over 2,000 other formerly wild mustangs and burros from all over the American West.

One of the prison facilities at Canon City, Colorado, where 2,000 wild equines are housed, in addition to inmates.

There the horses are broken into pens which often hold 30 or more horses of the same gender, age range, and capture date. This little colt didn't catch anybody's eye for eight months, at least not enough to get him a $125 ticket to a new home; the cost of an adoption fee through the BLM. He waited. And, apparently, got a little beat up in the process from his pasture-mates.

I spotted him on a trip to Canon City while searching for a new camp horse, milling around in a pen of much more boisterous 2 year old geldings. He was the object of a lot of flying hooves and bared teeth, but despite being clearly bullied, he showed a great deal of interest in me, my best friend, and my sister-in-law. We were instructed by our guide to hang at the edge of the pen in case they herd got moving quickly, and as we stood discussing the merits of various horses, a white face and blue eye kept peeking out from behind other rumps and tails. We wrote down his tag number but passed him up. I do believe we nicknamed him "Ugly," which probably wasn't the sweetest thing to do, but he was sort of a ragamuffin, covered in scratches and bites and general wear and tear.

But after a few more hours of searching among the thousands of horses, my mind kept drifting back to "Ugly." No other horse had shown so much interest us the rest of that morning. His funny face kept egging me on. And so, with a signed check and a few pieces of paperwork, Ugly belonged to camp and we were a few short weeks and a long drive back to Colorado with a trailer from picking him up. He made it to his new home at YMCA Camp Flaming Arrow in late August of 2010, just before midnight.

Within a few short days, "Ugly" had a name and was wearing a halter. Called "Indigo" for the deep, purpley-blue depths of his right eye, he proved himself to be just as calm, willing, and interested in people (and the tasty food they bring around) as he appeared on that first day back in Colorado.

Indy's first halter. Yes, it's pink!

Turns out, with a little bit of grain and a fair amount of brushing, "Ugly" really.. wasn't. He has balanced confirmation; a little on the short side, but with powerful shoulders and hindquarters and strong legs and feet that are a throwback to his great-great-great-grandparents' lives working early cattle ranches out West. Within short order, he was leading happily on adventures around camp, checking out new places and allowing new people to stroke his shoulder or offer him a bit of hay. He learned that the saddle and blanket weren't going to eat him alive, and so carried those well without much coaxing.

Indy and another young camp horse learn how to trailer and tie safely.

Be warned, though, that Indigo is probably not an average mustang. Remember, we chose him for his personality— friendly, not very scared of people, and extremely calm. Most of his brethren were wild-eyed and terrified of humans, and would probably require a great deal more patience and time before being half as gentle as little Indigo. Even as docile as he is, Indigo has never been forced, beaten, or truly threatened— there is no sense in rushing or pushing any horse, especially one that was once wild.

Right before his first ride in the roundpen.

Flash forward to seven months later, and Indy is coming along right about at the rate a normal, hand-raised domestic horse would be in their training. He has carried a rider for short periods since early October and has just begun short, easy trail rides with me on his back. Nobody else has been on him yet, but that will come in due time— possibly this summer, once he is used to the camp wrangler and trusts her, too. Letting a horse mature a bit (age four or five) is a good idea before asking it for too much difficult or fast-paced work, but at the age of three, Indy will hopefully carry a wrangler on a few trail rides with a group this summer and should be ready for more work by spring of 2012.

Turning three and still a shrimp! Tall MA (5'10") rides little Indigo last Tuesday.

Our hope is that Indigo will learn to serve children and adults at camp as he grows and matures and continues his training. The hardiness, health, intelligence, and sound build of the American Mustang make them good candidates for learning almost any equine discipline. Indigo's gentle nature and friendliness make him a great candidate for a life filled with teaching children about horsemanship and the wild, wonderful horses of the American West.

Happy trails!

A view from between Indy's ears on a pleasant spring trail ride at CFA.

For more information on mustangs, visit Wild Horses of the Calico Mountains or The Bureau of Land Management's Wild Horse & Burro Adoption. I could not have written this blog without the above two sites. The first two photos are from Wild Horses of Calico Mt. and a government website, respectively. Also, please note: This blog post is not intended in any way to serve as horse training advice. Leave that to the professionals, guys!

Passions

2011-03-09T09:30:00.000-08:00

Whether we know it, care to accept, or embrace it, we all have a passion, if not more than one. It is a part of who we are. It makes us unique from everyone else.

At moments in my life, I have been gifted with amazing experiences and opportunities. During my junior year of college, the choir I was a member of traveled to Europe for a 10-day tour with 6 concerts while overseas. Our last concert was at the Canterbury Cathedral, an hour and half southeast of London. For those who aren’t familiar with this cathedral, it is a landmark of Christian history and is a large contributor to the theme of the Canterbury Tales. (Enough of history – lets move one!)

When we entered the cathedral, we were guided through the church on a tour to view burial sites and rooms of worship and prayer. When we completed the tour, it was our turn to sing, to share with the people in the church our last concert. Due to time constraints, we only sang one song, but it was our favorite. Its melodies and harmonies of eight different parts rang through the never-ending vaulted ceilings and the cold and crisp air that hung above. People stopped where they were to listen with all they had. When the song was over, there wasn’t a dry eye in the house.

Singing is a passion of mine. It is a passion that everyone can enjoy if they choose to, whether singing or listening to the arrangement. Singing placed me in a community where I was introduced to wonderful and loving people, those of who will be my friends until the end of time. I am alive when I sing!

What has been placed within you, which makes you alive every time you think about it? What makes you smile from ear to ear? If you aren’t sure how to answer these questions, take a look around. I am sure it isn’t too far away.

With all of your heart, embrace your passion! It has been given to you as a gift to enjoy and to share with those you come into contact with. Let your passion come alive!

What the Rag Means to Me: TJ & Polly

2011-02-23T08:29:00.000-08:00

Here is the second installment f answers from your fellow CFA friends. I have asked the same questions to various Raggers - if I didn't ask you, please feel free to Facebook or email me your answers.

First up is TJ, long time CFA camper.

1. What Rag are you currently challenging? I currently have my Gold rag and doing well in my goals

2. Why are you a Ragger? I am a Ragger because it helps me consentrate on the things that need to be prioritized in my life. My goals help me remember what needs to be done and choose what is right.

3. How has it changed your life? Raggers has impacted my life in such a strong way, it allows for me to be more focused, mature, and responsible. And when you get to the core of the system you realize that it helps you focus on the five core values.

4. Are you able to keep challenging the Rag outside of camp and if yes, how do you stay focused? I am in fact able to keep my goals going, as I told some of my friends at Raggers point before I left camp, i hang it along with all my other rags to show the journey I went on to get my current rag and how though it may be difficult I seem to keep my train of thought on the matter at hand long enough to achieve my goal.

Finally, how do I stay focused... To me it is about setting your priorities, once i do that the task at hand becomes easy, if anyone does that it becomes easy, if your goals in life are really the ones that anyone puts down on that paper than the difficulties should just drift away and allow you to just do what comes naturally and get the important things in your life done.

My journey has been difficult but possibly one of the most rewarding things I have ever done. and honestly if I can do it so can anyone else, because I know a lot of y'all and all of y'all would never allow yourself to give up on something that is as important and life
changing as Raggers.

Up next is Polly, CFA professional staff member.

1. What Rag are you currently challenging? Currently challenging the Silver rag.

2. Why are you a Ragger? It is a way for me to challenge myself and have the chance to have a dialog with someone on different ways to do this.

3. How has it changed your life? The Ragger program has given me a tool and a direction for my life. I made my Ragger goals so they weren't work-related. I saw and felt in June that my personal life was lacking. I believe I am headed in the right direction, though not their yet.

4. Are you able to keep challenging the Rag outside of camp and if yes, how do you stay focused? I want to make a spot in my house where I can post my goals and my rag. I currently just have my rag hanging on my light stand.

The Smaller Animals at Camp

2011-02-21T13:45:00.000-08:00

So we have big animals out here at camp (the horses) that you get to ride and have fun with but we have a smaller herd of animals here at camp that make a big difference in our lives as well.

CFA has 5 dogs and a few cats on the property that come out and play as well help kids feel like home. Several times whenever a camper gets homesick or is just feeling down I bring my dog (Kansas) over to hang out for a while. The camper usually opens up and starts to feel better. Kansas doesn't talk to him or her. He just smiles, licks and lets the kid pet him. Just like your pet at home.

CFA is a better place because of our dog pack and cat herd. I can't think of camp without them. Here are some benefits of owning a pet:

Pets can improve your mood
Pets encourage you to get outside and exercise
Pets stave off loneliness and provide unconditional love
Pets can reduce your stress and blood pressure

Here are some of our favorite animal mascots out here at CFA

Atticus Finch sitting where he would if he was a human.

The calmest and most mature dog we have Hop.

The dog that is as big as a horse, Tuck. His personality matches also.

Betty Davis hunting something

Becky's (our retreat director) cat named See-Wah wondering what the heck is going on.

Remi being the usual wet self that she usually is. She even went swimming when it was 17 degrees outside.

Princess Sophia Sparkles is ready for Valentine's Day.

My favorite picture of Kansas as a puppy. He was and still is beyond awesome.

Hope these pictures remind you of camp and how awesome it is.

As always remember to live, laugh, Love and look up.

Ryne

It Only Takes a Dream

2011-02-16T05:46:00.001-08:00

This past weekend, Bill and I had the privilege to help an idea spark into life. long time Camper Tessa, had the dream of there being a Rag site in her neighborhood. She bravely called camp to inquire about this idea. With a little research, we were able to locate a beautiful location at her neighborhood YMCA, the Mays Family YMCA off Blanco Rd in San Antonio.

Then, on Saturday, Feb 12, 2011, we set out to clear the site, collect large rocks, construct a cross and create serenity. With help from campers Tessa, Franki and Kayle, Tessa's and Franki's Father, plus Bill and I, we spent 2 hours working on that dream. Now, there is a majestic, serene location for all to sit and reflect on their goals, feel the presence of God and be in Nature. It is a little bit of camp brought to San Antonio.

But how exactly do ideas become reality? We all know for a fact that to make ideas happen it takes a lot more than just the idea itself.Let's take a moment to talk about putting ideas into actions. There are several steps you must follow in order to be successful.

1. Set Goals

The first and most important thing to do once you have an idea is to set goals. Goal setting doesn’t mean reaching for the sky at once. A goal is what you want to achieve in the future, within a certain time frame. Set goals that you can attain, goals that when accomplished will make you proud and want to reach for more. Goals that will allow you to learn in the process, goals that will make you want to aim higher and know you can do it.

Set reasonable goals while starting out with an idea. Don’t try to run right away, learn to walk first.

2. Don’t Rush

Imagine if Tessa had this idea to build a Rag site in San Antonio and just done it in a random location? What would that have accomplished? Not much for anyone else. Or what if Bill and I would have said, "great idea, lets do it today." That would not have allowed us to think through the location, gain proper permission, collect the appropriate tools and I think most importantly, have our own idea to cut the cross timbers from trees at CFA, used climbing rope for the cross, and to collect special rocks from camp for the center cross and 4 corners of the square. By taking our time, we let our goals develop, other ideas add to the magic and where able to create a wonderful, CFA inspired Rag site.

3. Learn From Other People’s Mistakes

This might sound wrong but if your idea has already been implemented by somebody, don’t worry, learn from who did it first and try to learn from their mistakes, what they did wrong. If you analyze the mistakes and find out what others did wrong you will know what not to do.

I have built several Rag sites in my 15 years as a Ragger. I learned that you need certain tools, that rocks are REALLY heavy and if the spot doesn't feel right before you begin, it will never feel right. Tessa listened well when I shared some in site and was not worried that I was taking over.

4. Be Positive, Stay Focused

If you think “ What if it doesn’t work?” Guess what? It most probably won’t. You are past the thought process since that’s how you got the idea. It’s time to put that idea into action and for something to succeed you need to have a positive attitude. Just think if Tessa hadn't contacted camp because she was worried we would not listen or just say no? Or if she thought, "well, I am just a teenagers, they won't listen to me." We would not today have this site to talk about.

Another most important thing to keep in mind while executing your idea is to stay focused. You will have enough barriers to stir you away from reaching that final goal. Be strong, be focused and you will pass any hurdle thrown at you.

Don’t be a sunken ship. Stay focused and you and your idea will get to the shore, together.

5. Creating Hype

If you have already reached this stage, let me first congratulate you, Congratulation! You must have set goals, learned from others, let your idea grow and stayed focus during your implementation process.

Once your idea becomes a product or service, the next thing to do is market. Without marketing your idea is nothing but, well, just an idea that took shape but achieved nothing. There is a difference between marketing and creating hype. When you try and create hype it’s pretty much like over marketing. You are shouting at the top of your lungs to your target customers “ Come on, we have got what you need and nobody can offer this to you but us “, are you sure? Create hype only if you can live up to it.

When you create that much buzz around something, there will be anticipation and excitement in the market and although your idea has shaped into a worthwhile product or service if it doesn’t live up to the expectations, you have just dug yourself a hole. Start out slow and market slowly. If you can take the time to let your idea grow then you certainly have the patience to let the final outcome grow with time as well.

Now we don't need to create hype about this Rag site or try to sell anything, but if you create a product, then you will need to focus on this step.

How about you? What are you ideas? What stage is your idea in? Who do you need to contact to learn more, get the ball rolling and to implement your idea?

This site before we started.

The site! Kayle, Allison, Bill (Laine), Larry, Tessa, Franki

Get out there and pursue your dreams. It only takes a spark to get a fire burning. Thank you Tessa for your spark and thank you Kayla, Larry and Franki for your hard work.

In the Spirit of Camp,
Allison

Y182?

What the Rag Means to Me - Taylor & Alex

2011-02-09T08:00:00.000-08:00

For the next few weeks, I am going to share words from your fellow counselors, Ragger leaders, campers and beyond. I have asked the same questions to various Raggers - if I didn't ask you, please feel free to Facebook or email me your answers.

First up is Taylor, 2010 Counselor and Co-Ragger Coordinator. She is pictured with her Ragger Counselor and long time CFA staff, Garrett.

1. What Rag are you currently challenging? The Gold Rag

2. Why are you a Ragger? I’m a Ragger because since I was thirteen years old, I’ve been able to stay on the right track because of this program. It’s kept things in perspective for me and always reminded me that I have higher expectations of myself. It reminds me that I am able to be a better person, and it reminds me that there is always someone there that cares about me and wants me to succeed in my goals.

3. How has it changed your life? The Ragger program has changed my life in so many different ways. As a camper, it made me see that there was more to camp than just having fun and hanging out with your friends. There was a strong spiritual aspect that wasn’t necessarily exclusive to Raggers, but they got to see it in a different light than the rest of the camp did. As an LIT, CIT and eventually when I became Raggers Co-Coordinator my first year as a counselor, it changed me in a sense that I knew that Raggers was the backbone of CFA. Every Friday night, whether it was two teary eyes or fifteen, it changed my heart and humbled me more than I can even describe. It’s a program that keeps you on your toes and really makes you reflect on the person that you are becoming. When I look at my Gold rag, I’m reminded that I’ve set a goal for myself, and that puts me back on track even in the hardest of situations.

4. Are you able to keep challenging the Rag outside of camp and if yes, how do you stay focused? Yes, I continue to challenge my Ragger goals outside of camp. I think the hardest part of the program is being able to stay on the right track even when your counselor or your coordinator aren’t around to push you in the right direction. Staying focused on your particular goals is never easy when you’ve got all of the pressure of the real world on your shoulders. The way I try to think about it is: There’s a small, tight Raggers family that’s out there, in this big world, that genuinely cares about whether or not I reach my goals. I don’t want to let them down, and I don’t want to let myself down. When you remember that you’re not alone in challenging these goals, it helps to alleviate some of the stress from school, work, or other hardships that you may be facing outside of camp.

Next up is Alex, 2010 Counselor and Co-Ragger Coordinator:

1. What Rag are you currently challenging? I've been challenging my Red Rag for the last two years.

2. Why are you a Ragger? I became a Ragger when the program was just re-starting at CFA as a young camper, I wanted to better myself and becoming a Ragger has been a great way to do so.

3. How has it changed your life? Being a Ragger has changed my life by enabling me to set goals that seemed difficulty to do, that at the time I didn't think I would be able to do, and going out and accomplishing those goals. Being a Ragger has taught me to never give up on something that I want to do.

4. Are you able to keep challenging the Rag outside of camp and if yes, how do you stay focused?Staying focused on your Ragger goals outside of camp can be a difficult thing to do, I'll admit that I've had difficulty accomplishing my goals over the last few years, but if it's something that you truly want to improve on, you should have no problem staying focused.

The way that I stay focused on my Rag is putting it on my door knob, that way I'll see it everyday and be reminded of the goals I've set. I told every Ragger and the end of the ceremony to put it somewhere that you'll see and be reminded of your goals.

I miss camp :( Hope all is well with y'all
Alex

So remember to keep your Rag at the top of your priority list. If you want to submit your answers, please send them to Allison.

1. What Rag are you currently challenging?
2. Why are you a Ragger?
3. How has it changed your life?
4. Are you able to keep challenging the Rag outside of camp and if yes, how do you stay focused?

In the Spirit of Camp,
Allison

Y182?

A Healthy Spirit, Mind and Body

2011-02-07T15:00:00.000-08:00

Having a healthy spirit, mind and body seems like a cliche of some sort and something that isn't too serious, but for me it has provided a quality of life that is filled with happiness and Love. I am so thankful for it.

If you don't know the YMCA's mission it is to put Judeo-Christian principals into practice through programs that build healthy spirit, mind and body for all. This is something that I didn't take seriously until I started working for the YMCA 6 summers ago at YMCA Camp Grady Spruce. I was all for keeping the body healthy. I was active. I exercised. The problem with me though I wasn't active with my spirit and mind as well. It led down a path that was a lot bumpier than I wanted it to be.

I got terrible grades me first semester at college. I can still see my parents' disappointed faces. I remember really struggling with respecting myself and the person I was, which in led me not respecting others. While I struggled spiritually and mentally, I thought my body would be ok. Well, it slipped to illness and part of that is that I stopped taking care of myself because I wasn't happy. I got pneumonia lost 13 lbs and if you knew me now and back then 13 pounds is a significant amount.

After my sophomore year of college I learn about the YMCA mission and it took a while and I still do struggle with it but I have strived to find that balance between spirit, mind and body. It has a made a world of difference in my life. I am not saying my life is perfect and I am happy all the time, but I have a belief system to fall back on that helps me get out of those holes instead of staying in them.

I found my faith in something more than myself (Love and loving others). I focused on my education and taking an active role in it (I have a print journalism degree and wrote for the student newspaper). It took me sitting down and really focusing what I needed to do. Not mention I had some help from others.

Something that has always been there for me though has been my family. Without support from them and helping along that life path I would have never been able to find that set of beliefs that I have now. Even though I have struggled being a good son, my parents have been there for me and have always been there for me. Something that helps my spirit probably more than anything.

One of things that I am very thankful for this year is the creation of a new program out at camp and it is called Camp Active. It is a program that encourage family time and a healthy spirit, mind and body. We will be having family run/walk days. I will go to a park in San Antonio and Austin and you can come out with your family and enjoy an evening or a day walking around outside and spending time with people that you love helping your body and spirit. There will also be a Camp Active worksheet for campers that if completed you can get a discount out at camp or a free 2-week gym membership at one of the San Antonio branches. It will be released after out first family walk on Feb. 23rd (if you come to the family walk you might get it a little early). Be on the look for an email with more information.

My goal with the program is not to get you or your family a 6-pack of abs but a balanced life that leads to happiness. Which is something that I think we all agree is something that everyone deserves.

Now I am going to leave you with a picture that helps my body relax, my mind be put at ease and makes my spirit on fire.

Mt. Vesper at YMCA Camp Flaming Arrow

Ryne Witt
Remember to live, laugh, Love and look up.

The White Rag

2011-02-03T09:07:00.000-08:00

In challenging the White Rag, you are accepting the challenge of dedication of your life to Christian Service.

As the Rag Program culminates in this seventh Rag, all the challenges you have faced in the previous six rags are brought together. You have learned to be goal oriented; to live a Christian life; to give to others and accept them fully; to put aside your needs and think of others; and to give of yourself in the best way possible even if you have to sacrifice your wants. To live in Christian Service is to give completely to others.

Let's define those two words:
Christian: adj "all that is noble, and good, and Christ-like."
While there are MANY definitions of Christian, I felt this definition summed it up nicely. Noble, Good, Christ-like - that is what the Rag program is all about.
Service: noun "an act of helpful activity; help; aid"
This is what is meant by service, not being a waiter, providing a service as in fixing something; but rather to bring something greater to someone else through your work, your giving.

I pulled the following from the White Rag Ceremony. It reviews the Raggers Creed and this is talking of humility:

Teach me to do the best I can,
To help and cheer our fellowmen;
Teach me to lose my selfish need,
And glory in the larger deed;
Which smooths the road and lights the day,
For all who chance to come my way.

Through the seven steps of the Rag, that is what you should have learned and directed yourself to be - lose your selfish ways, cheer on your fellowman, and smooth the way for others. As I look to challenge the White Rag this summer, I think of my life, my career and my path forward. I hope that in all I do as a YMCA employee, a School Board member, a mother and a friend, I am begin selfless, encouraging and smoothing the way for others. I pray that in each deed I do, I remember to give to others and not myself. I pray that I can put aside my selfish wants and put ahead others. What a hard task to live up to daily. But with the Rag, my peers and my friends, I know I can do this.

So where are you in your walk? Just starting your Rag journey to a better you? Three rags into it? Are you living up to the challenge?
Again, I ask you, how can you better yourself today in giving to others?
Where do you see the Rag program taking you?
How will you measure up when challenge calls?
Are you prepared to sacrifice selfish wants for others needs?

As you walk your journey, remember that there are those that care and to always live, laugh, love and lift.

In the Spirit of Camp,
Allison

Y182?

Food for thought — camp style

2011-02-03T08:45:00.000-08:00

Dear camp friends and families,

*Almost* wherever you are, if you are in the 'States today, it is c-o-l-d. Camp is drastically cold; pipes are freezing to buildings we didn't think they would (good thing Joseph is a call away to fix things as best he can.) While we go about our work, planning for both summer camp and the many groups who visit CFA and grow in our outdoors experience, the weather can be a nuisance and a distraction and it is sometimes hard to envision the lush green trees of summer and the shrieks and laughter of a hundred kids in motion. With that in mind, here's three little thoughts to share and some memories of seven months ago, in the spirit of camp.

I am always doing that which I cannot do, in order that I may learn how to do it.
—Pablo Picasso

It's easy to make a buck. It's a lot tougher to make a difference.
—Tom Brokaw

The most I can do for my friend is simply be his friend.
— Henry David Thoreau

Stay warm, keep loving those around you, and see you next time!

Reminding Songs...

2011-02-01T12:51:00.000-08:00

There are some songs out there (mainstream and camp) that remind me of camp. Here are a few and why they remind me of camp:

Yeah, it is me singing it but this was the first real camp song I ever heard when I became a counselor at Camp Grady Spruce. At my camp where I went as a kid, we didn't sing songs like this.

The first time I ever saw it done this way I couldn't stop laughing. When I hear it at retreats I just want summer to happen.

We play this song at the end of the dance while the oldest cabin help us clean up. Sometimes after they got done cleaning, they put their arms over each other in a circle and sway. Some would look at each other and cry, while other would just smile because they knew they were with family.

When I was at Camp Grady Spruce we sang this at the end of every chapel. It has an amazing messages if you just let love in your life.

When I was a camper and then counselor at Camp Pike, a hiking camp, this song was played before we went the big hike, Pikes Peak. It gives me that anxious feeling still, which is a good thing in my mind.

Hope you enjoyed my music selection. They always put me into a good mood.

The Purple Rag

2011-01-27T07:30:00.000-08:00

For Raggers 18 years and older, acceptance of the Purple Rag is an acceptance of dedication toward high and noble living in whatever Christian service opportunities that come your way. And yet again, we take a step towards higher living, putting all those Rag goals into play as you work to become a stronger, more noble person. Right now, there are two Purple Raggers active in YMCA Camp Flaming Arrow summer camp. It is something we do not take lightly, now is an easy challenge to accept.

The following is an expert from the conclusion of the Purple Rag Ceremony:

Your fellow Raggers attest to your purity, truthfulness, courage, and resolve, and deem you worthy. Prove by your acts at all times that their trust is rightfully offered. I, as your friend, challenge you to be truly noble. True nobility does not regard the wearing of the Purple as merely an honor, but as an obligation to those who are weaker in respect and need help. May you be noble and may God be with you in your quest.

Wow- a true calling to be a more Noble, more trustworthy person. To be able to live each day in this way would make you darn near perfect. But come on, we all know we are not perfect and most of us are not even close. This is why the Rag program is so helpful in challenging each one of us to be more, to work towards a noble and up standing life style. I know for me, the Purple Rag has been a big step. Finding time to reach out and help others is often just one more thing to do in my already busy lifestyle. However, as a Ragger, I have the knowledge to push myself to dig deeper in order to accomplish this. Several ways I do this is by serving on the local School Board and through my membership in a local women's service organization in which we serve 25 hours each year in service to others.

Now, about that living noble part. First, this does not mean noble as in "Your Royal Highness" or coming from a higher standing. This means: Noble (nō'bəl) Having or showing qualities of high moral character, such as courage, generosity, or honor: a noble spirit. Sound familiar to any Y Camp you have attended? Those core values really come into play here - caring, honesty, respect, responsibility and faith. Being an upstanding person, one who is trustworthy, giving, loving in spirit (I.L.L.), pure. Someone we can all count on at all times, not just when trouble calls or something great happens.

So, how do you define noble?
How will you step up to the plate and be worthy of the Purple Rag?
What will you stand for in all times?

Start thinking about ways to prove your fellow Raggers can "attest to your purity, truthfulness, courage, and resolve, and deem you worthy." Before you know it, the Purple Rag will call your name, you will stand proud before your fellow Raggers and God and attest to your readiness to wear this Rag as your live a True and Noble life. Good luck and stay focused.

In the Spirit of Camp,
Allison

Y 182?

An Ode to the New Year By Polly Pierce

2011-01-25T08:25:00.000-08:00

Come the end of December and beginning days of January, and you will find people racking their brains to set a New Year’s Resolution. Typically, and the most common resolutions are in the realm health – either losing weight or trying to fit into that outfit from five years ago, while still looking good in the outfit. While this action or otherwise thought of setting a resolution is a step in the right direction, most people don’t carry out their thoughts and plans. I want to offer a couple ways to stay on track with your already created resolution or re-evaluate your resolution for a more successful experience.

The mission statement of the YMCA is this: to provide Judeo – Christian principles into practice through programs that enrich a healthy spirit, mind, and body. As a POW WOW coordinator, I strive to challenge each child in these areas on their own accord. But we aren’t in summer camp, so you might be asking yourself, “Where is she going with this?” And I say this, “Lets create our own resolution circled around the idea of building a health spirit, mind, and body.”

First, lets tackle what it means when I say “healthy spirit, mind and body.” This is who you are! It is what you are made up of. It is what holds you together. The great thing about figuring out what this phrase means to you is that it is what you want it to be. You set the rules. Only you can answer for yourself.

Next, let’s answer a list of questions to point you in a direction of setting appropriate goals for yourself.
-What areas of my life am I happy with? Unhappy with?
-What do I wish I could do? Or do better?
-Do I have a gift I could share that would benefit others in my life?
-Do I have free time? If so, what do I with my free time? If not, what could be done to have a few minutes for myself?
-What makes me happy?
-What do I like to learn about? How do I learn best?
-What am I struggling with?   Is there anyone I could ask for help?
-Is there anything in my past that is holding me back from being who I want to be? Is there anything I can do about this issue in my past?
-Is there anyone dependent on me? If so, how do I affect them now? How are these changes going to affect them?

Great job! You have now answered the questions and our brain should be shooting off fireworks of different ideas. You should be proud of yourself for knowing these things and being honest with yourself. We must now make a decision on what you would like to focus on.

If you are like me, I had no idea how I was going to keep my resolution. Solution: I have decided to make monthly resolutions.   This is a great solution as you can focus on various aspects of your life without being overwhelmed in trying to become a new person overnight (Let’s be honest, we have all thought about this at one point or another.) A shortly time frame is also easier to commit to - 30 days verses 365 days, you do the math! At the end of the month, you will evaluate your goal, and decide on what to do next.

Lastly, a couple tips for you to ponder. Remember, this is about you and what is going to work for you – don’t let the goals of other cloud your judgment and goal setting.

1.    It is important to know where we have been. It is important to have our eyes set on a goal. It is all about the process. What would you learn if you just woke up one morning able to play the guitar?

2.    Use people around you. They are there for a reason.

3.    Use a journal. Some people reflect better in writing (that’s me!)

4.    Find a friend to call and talk to.

5.    Set a goal and create a reward.

6.    Clearly define how you are going to reach your goal.

7.    Is your goal a time sensitive goal? Set milestones.

8.    Do you need affirmation? If so, what works best for you?

9.    Be honest, how are you going complete your goal?

10. Don’t be ashamed or disappointed when you run off track or you don’t reach your goal. Re-examine. Was there something that happened that didn’t allow you to finish? Was there anything outside of your control that happened to affect the outcome?

Get excited! You are preparing to embark on a grand journey that is going to change your life and possibly the people you encounter on a daily basis. Know that you are worth it! Know that you have been given a desire, a dream! It is your choice with what you do with it!

Polly Pierce

Cross-blog posting

2011-01-23T18:27:00.000-08:00

Fantastic post from the blog of South Mountain YMCA Camps— one of their Irish counselors wrote an essay entitled "A Day in the Life of a Camp Counselor."

Enjoy!

(PS; South Mountain Y.. Keep blogging! We love your stuff.)

A Day in the life of a camper.. Through the eyes of a camp counselor.

What moves you?

2011-01-20T20:45:00.000-08:00

There's a lot to be excited about this spring at CFA. With Camp Ruff'n It looking to bring a whole herd more dogs to camp, a never-before-seen trail run 5K to test Texas runners on our gorgeous rocky terrain, and dozens of groups who are coming to camp for the first, second, third, or maybe even tenth time. Sharing camp with people is what jazzes us up and drives us to keep working sometimes ridiculous hours.

When the Youth Empowerment Retreat group was here, we talked a lot about identifying your personal passion— the force that makes you want to work on something all night, not because it's overdue, but because it gets you excited. For some people, it was working with animals. For other people, it was sports or music. There was at least a third of the room, though, who really couldn't tell what their passion was.. at least, they knew what they enjoyed, but they couldn't imagine it consuming their life.

Terri Guillemets said, "Chase down your passion like it's the last bus of the night." Sounds like some super famous author or philosopher, right? Wrong. Terri is a seemingly quite average human being who has a deep love of famous and insightful quotations and the written word. Pretty much on her own, she has built and maintained www.QuoteGarden.com, one of the most-frequented websites on the net, though not because of its flashiness (in fact, the site is pretty early-2000s outdated) or extreme content. (Most of the "contributors" of the quotations are dead; they're historical figures or famous people from years gone by.) She didn't build the site to pocket money; she built it because she loved the subject enough to share it with people. That's passion.

I hope next time you're at camp, you get a chance to act on something that really drives you. It might be a sport or activity (hey, you guys all know how much I dig horseback riding— I've made that hobby into a career!) or it could be a service project or some kind of leadership you show at camp. (What about being a Raggers counselor?) What about that thing lights you up inside? Can you take that from an interest to a passion— can you do something with it?

Counselor Interview: Curt

2011-01-18T08:23:00.000-08:00

It is time for another Counselor Interview. This time it is Curt. He is coming back for his second summer out at CFA and he is still going to be a high facilitator and will hopefully be a lifeguard. Check out his answers and catch up with what is going on in his life.

What is your favorite memory about camp last summer?
My favorite memory about camp last summer was probably when we played the pirate themed game where we had to find the gold, as a team, that was hidden around camp!

Anything new or big going on in your life?
The biggest and most exciting thing going on in my life is over Christmas break I got to see a Cincinnati Bengals game in the snow! It was 28 degrees! A bit chilly!

What was your favorite activity to teach and why?
My favorite activity to teach is high ropes. You really get to see what qualities kids have and you get to see many of them overcome their fears.

What are you looking forward to the most this upcoming summer?
I am looking forward to seeing all the familiar and new faces next summer! I am excited to renew and grow the relationships I made last summer.

The Red Rag

2011-01-12T16:35:00.000-08:00

The Red Rag is for campers/staff 16 years of age and over who are accepting the challenge toward sacrifice of time, talent, and personal will. Wow-this one is really stepping things up a notch. It is asking you to sacrifice things you love and possibly things you are really good at in light of the good of others.

In the ceremony, there is this story of Albert Schweitzer:

His talent for music could have given him fame as the greatest authority on the music of Bach, and as a great organist. But he sacrificed this talent to use another more needed to God, and prepared himself to become a doctor, founding a hospital in the heart of Africa, and serving the sick of the land.

Wow-to sacrificae his great love of music and purpose himself to become a doctor in Africa is great. How can you do this? Maybe not on such a grand scale, but what can you do TODAY to sacrifice for others?

Before, you have geared yourself to personal goal setting, concern for others and a Christian way of life. Now the Rag is asking you to take time out of your everyday life and give to others. There are so many ways to do this. By mentoring, serving at church, volunteering in your school, community or local YMCA. The Red Rag is focusing you on discovering and utilizing your talents in each day, but also putting aside one great talent to pursue another for the good of others .

So I ask, what are your talents?
Are you a musician, an athlete, a chef?
What are you good at that you can put to task for others?
Is there something you are really good out but is just self serving and not serving to others? If so, how will you put this aside?

Many of you know I have really discovered my ability to prepare food. While I was good at being a camp program director, I really felt there was something else I could be doing to better serve others. n taking over food service at camp, not only have I found that I love doing it, but I am good at it. For me, cooking is not work, it is joy. So really look and explore yourself and give of time and talent to others.

Find your talent, find an area to focus your talent and serve others. Remember, others before self. Good luck and stay focused.

In the Spirit of Camp,
Allison

Y 182?

Counselor Interview: Sheeba

2011-01-10T13:25:00.000-08:00

It is time for another Counselor Interview. This time it is Sheeba. She is coming back for her third summer out at CFA and she will be helping out in the store. Check out her answer and catch up with what is going on in her life.

Sheeba

What is your favorite memory about camp last summer?
Last summer was made up of many great memories, but one that I think has been the most memorable was first week my coco, Sarah and I had an Absolutely AMAZING embers. We all told stories about ourselves and "the person we are." The girls really bonded the first night, opening up about their feelings and the things they dealt with everyday. They really got to see life from each others perspectives and I think that was what made them closer. There was no judgments, no arguments, no prejudices. It made the week awesome and I think more of a memorable week for the girls.

Anything new or big going on in your life?
Everyday is a new learning experience, but I'm in my senior year of college and taking the time to enjoy it. Soon I'll have to get a grown-up job and pay REAL bills. So, I'm trying to enjoy it while it's here. I have great roommates who inspire me and encourage me. I'm so blessed.

What does summer camp mean to you?
Camp has always been a place that allowed me to be the rawest version of me. At camp I learned just as much as the kids did. I grew, I challenged myself and faced my fears. I never thought it would change my life the way it did. Summer Camp to me means freedom to be whoever you are, and the means to getting to know who that person is.

What was your favorite activity to teach and why?
I LOVED being the crafts coordinator last summer. As a fashion major, making art has always been a passion of mine since childhood. The idea of making something out of nothing is just so exciting. I enjoyed sharing my passion for creation with the kids.

What are you looking forward to the most this upcoming summer?
I am so excited to work in the camp store for my internship for my fashion merchandising major. I'm excited to learn more about manufacturing, owning a store, merchandising and store layouts. I'm also excited to go to camp fires sing songs and make memories both the campers and I will never forget.

Training Leaders of Tomorrow

2010-12-28T13:50:00.000-08:00

While camping is usually thought of as a place to go in order for your kids to have fun and a safe environment, I believe it is that, but it is also a place where leaders are grown and mentored. This is done through meaningful programing and through random circumstances. We understand that the future needs leaders and they need to be better than we are at leading. That is the only way we will improve as a culture and a world. Everyone must also understand that they can be a leader because leaders are taught, not born.

Here at CFA we start the leadership training before they actually receive the title of Leader-In- Training. Even at age 8 they are learning the most important part of being a leader and something that takes a significant amount of time to develop -- communicating. They come in trying to be part of a community. You can't be a leader without a community and being part of that community. The best aspect about this is that the campers are acting like who they truly are. We hear it all the time, "When I am camp I am the person I want to be." The best leaders know who they are and stay true to themselves.

The next thing that happens at camp is failure. You are probably wondering why I put that on there, but it is the truth. People learn from failure (89% of moms also think it is healthy to fail). A lot of people don't want to fail or at least wave a magic wand and make it disappear, especially when it comes to children (40% of mothers would wave that magic wand). I say failure is perfectly natural and you will benefit greatly from it, especially at summer camp where there are kind, wonderful young adults there to help a child when they fail and be there when they are crying.

Are we setting your child up for failure? Nope, but we do put them in situations where they could possibly fail (climbing wall, high ropes, archery, etc...). All our cabins do low ropes, which a wonderful place where it is obvious that children learn from failure. Low ropes consists of elements that take mental and physical strength to succeed in them. Almost everyone fails at least once at low ropes and it is perfectly ok because they just get up and try again until they succeed. Society tries to shove perfection down our throats, when it is actually growth that is important because none of us are close to being perfect.

As kids get older, they are able to process better and understand what they are learning. That is why we have leadership programs called LIT (leaders-in-training) and CIT (Counselor-in-training). This is when they start doing and learning the nuts and bolts of being a leader and the type of leader they are. They start learning that leadership isn't about them and it is about the community that you serve (in our case the kids). It takes a long time to realize the world isn't about you and it is something that I am still learning and I am 26. There is more too it but it is hard to summarize a two-week or three-week intense program into a blog.

Camp fosters leaders and help them grow in wonderful human beings. Sending your kid to camp will not only help them become better people, but hopefully someday will help the world become a better place.

The Gold Rag

2010-12-22T14:29:00.000-08:00

The Gold Rag begins with care and understanding of others. When I challenged the Gold Rag back in 1998, I was so excited to have reached this rag. I felt I had centered my life on this mission - to love and understand others. I felt I could challenge this rag with no problems and goals would be easy - boy was I wrong. I find daily that I am having to stop, take a deep breath and remember to try to understand others while still trying to understand myself

In the Gold Rag study card and the ceremony, the following pray emerges:

O, God, give me clean hands, clean words, and clean thoughts. Help me to stand for the hard right against the easy wrong. Save me from habits that harm. Teach me to work as hard and play as fair in Thy sight alone as if the whole world saw. Forgive me when I am unkind , and help me forgive those who are unkind to me. Keep me ready to help others at some cost to myself and send me chances to do some good every day.

Wow-just learn those words and repeat them any time you feel yourself being sucked into the void of hatred, bullying, gossip or self doubt. Know that you can rise above and be the one that is kind. Show others how to be a positive leader, strong in faith and self.

I know I struggle with negative thoughts daily and get WAY side tracked from my Ragger goals and the person I strive to be. But doing things that bring me back to center help - like writing this Rag blog each week I am reminded of who I want to be and how to get there.

So for each of you, I pray the prayer above and encourage you to learn it, repeat it, live by it.

Merry Christmas and remember to keep Christ in Christmas. It isn't all about you, the new Wii you hope to get or the clothes you might soon model. It is about birth, rejoicing, family and reflation. So gather your family near and recenter yourself this Holiday season.

In the Spirit of Camp,
Allison

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The Campfire

2010-12-21T07:35:00.000-08:00

The Campfire is a mythical being at a lot of camps, including ours. The thing about a campfire that is so gracefully beautiful is its ability to free kids from negative self consciousness. It frees them from what other people think and in turn lets them be themselves. It provides laughter and smiles. Sometimes it can even provide tears. I hear of some camps that don't do a campfire where songs, skit and stories are performed and I wonder how they set their camps culture or atmosphere.

A camp's culture can be established on that campfire night, which is opening night for us. The campers have basically done three things since arriving at camp: check-in, swim/health checks and dinner. They really haven't been able to shake off that outside world rust yet. Some are still insecure about themselves and don't really know what to think of the people around them. The announcement of announcements is made after dinner, "Sign up for campfire with Ryne outside." I stand outside waiting for people to come sign up. Of course counselors come, they are the wily ol' vets of the opening campfire. They have their go to songs and skits. They are ready for campfire at moment in time. The kids that come and sign up usually have their head down and tell me what they want to do in a soft voice. I ask them to look up and tell me because I can't hear them, their eyes catch mine and they say, "I have been thinking about this for a year. I hope I don't screw up." Little do they know it doesn't matter if they screw up or not, they will still be awesome for just being up there.

Once we are at campfire we do introductions. The counselors always take a long time to answer the get to know you question but they laugh and smile the whole time, which trickles down to the kids. The campers' faces have smiles for the rest of the time. After that, rules and our no-bullying policy are given, but then the fun stuff starts. Songs and skits commence and it starts with this one:

That sets the tone for the rest of the songs and skits. Campers do come up and screw up but that is ok. We cheer for them and help them through it. It takes tons of guts to get in front of 100 people and sing a song or perform a skit. Here is a sample of a random talent a CIT and an Ad Staff member did in the summer of 2009:

At the end of campfire is when we really set the culture of camp. We give a speech about I.I.L. (Is It Loving) and I tell a story about when I was a counselor at a different camp. It is a story about a young camper who struggles at a hiking camp because he doesn't have balance (he is deaf). The main theme of the story is that the love of people at camp and the love that he has inside get him to the tops of mountains. Some people cry, some disregard the story and some really think about it. After that we do flag and go to embers (our devotion).

All of this is done to get the kids to laugh, think and cry. As Jimmy Valvano (a former college basketball coach) said at a speech right before he died of cancer, "If you laugh, you think, and you cry, that's a full day. That's a heck of a day. You do that seven days a week, you're going to have something special."

Ryne

Stuff I Learned at Summer Camp

2010-12-20T08:52:00.000-08:00

Whether we like it or not, when Christmas shows up, the end of the year is close at hand. Summer camp seems incredibly far away, and it really is, if you count the months— just about as far away as you could be. I don't know about you, but all of the love and togetherness of Christmas makes me miss camp and all of the CFA folks we love the most— even while I'm enjoying my family and out-of-camp friends.

Yet it seems like a wildly appropriate time to remember All The Good Stuff from summer. The lessons you learn, whether you're a counselor, camper, or even a parent on the sidelines at Closing Day, mean just as much when we sit down with friends, family, or even on your own at the holidays.

In case you've forgotten, some of those lessons include—

#1 — A good friend will always help you with your safety gear.

#2 — Take every opportunity to be a little silly in the name of fun.

#3 — Have some faith in yourself to try something new.

#4 — Love your brothers and sisters. If you don't have brothers and sisters, love the people you're with like they're family.

#5 — Music comes in many forms. It is powerful stuff, especially around a campfire.

#6 — You can make anything you want out of lanyard, beads, Popsicle sticks, and paint.

#7 — Caring about people means lending a shoulder of support whenever they need it.

#8 — Be respectful of other people, but don't be afraid to dance like nobody's watching.

#9 — Responsibility means seeking ways to take care of everyone, not just yourself.

#10— Find happiness in the simple stuff.

Happy Christmas. Happy Holidays.
Love, MaryAshley

The Brown Rag

2010-12-16T06:06:00.000-08:00

The Brown Rag begins with service to others. Can you see the pattern emerging in the Rag process? While it starts as a reflective journey, setting goals for your self, God and country; with each rag, things really move from self to God to others. The Rag process teaches you to think outside yourself and think of how you can impact the world around you.

What a perfect time of year to discuss service to others. Here we are about to embark on the joyous day of celebration for Jesus' birth, Christmas. While there is so much distraction with lights, tinsel, presents and more, it can be hard to remember the true reason for the season, the birth of Christ and then what he sacrificed for us. It is a GREAT time to step outside and help a neighbor, help a friend or help a stranger. The season should be about family and giving, not cookies and presents.

Here is a great story about putting others before self:

Reggie’s brother gave him an automobile as a Christmas present. On Christmas Eve Reggie came out of his office, and saw a street urchin admiring his shiny new car. "Is this your car, Mister?" he asked.

Reggie nodded in affirmation, "My brother gave it to me for Christmas." The boy was surprised. "You mean your brother gave it to you and it didn't cost you anything? Boy, I wish..." He hesitated. Reggie knew what he was going to wish for. He was going to wish he had a brother like the one Reggie has. But what the lad said was far beyond Reggie’s expectation. "I wish," the boy went on, "that I could be a brother like that."

For a few seconds words failed Reggie and then he impulsively added, "Would you like to take a ride in my automobile?" "Oh yes, I'd love that."

After a short ride, the boy turned towards Reggie. His eyes were glowing and he said, "Mister, would you mind driving in front of my house?" Reggie smiled a little. He thought he understood what the lad wanted. He wanted to show it off to his neighbors that he could ride home in a big automobile. But Reggie was wrong again.

"Will you stop where those two steps are?" the boy asked. He ran up the steps. In a little while Reggie heard him coming back, but he was not coming fast. He was carrying his little brother who was physically challenged. He sat him down on the bottom step, then sort of squeezed up against him and pointed to the car. "There she is, Buddy, just like I told you upstairs. His brother gave it to him for Christmas and it didn't cost him a cent. And some day I'm going to give you one just like it...then you can see for yourself all the pretty things in the Christmas windows that I've been trying to tell you about."

Reggie got out and lifted the lad to the front seat of his car. His brother whose eyes were gleaming with joy climbed in beside him and the three of them embarked on a memorable holiday ride.

That Christmas Eve, Reggie learned what Jesus meant when he said: "It is more blessed to give..."

I challenge you to find a way to serve others this season - through time, through love. You pick your passion, round up the family and get out there to serve others. There are many places such as local YMCA's, churches, Salvation Army, etc that help families and need volunteers to serve in various ways. Once you start to serve, it is easy - just get out there and put others first.

Youth Empowerment Retreat was AWESOME! Be on the look out for next years dates - we are going to make it a Youth Empowerment / Ragger Retreat weekend. It will be an amazing time to reflect, grow and create.

In the Spirit of Camp,
Allison

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