We Love Our Summer Staff, Part 4: Sava, Eve, & CiCi

We're back! Sorry for the week hiatus; I was out at two trainings that hopefully will be building an even better CFA for next year. In the interim, I had a BUNCH of our outstanding potential staff members send me their bios, so expect a few extra blog posts this week. Cool? Cool!

A fun fact about the three ladies featured today is that all of them are on deck to be new staff members for 2012! They have had some experiences out at camp and totally understand the amazing "family" feeling that is YMCA Camp Flaming Arrow. These girls bring a lot to the table and are excited to be on board for this summer!

First up is Sava, a fun San Antonio native who has been at CFA for years and years.

Sava, age 17, from San Antonio, TX

Age: 17 (18 by summer!)

College / University attending: Still in high school! Antonian College Prep.

State or country where you're living: Texas

Noteworthy Hobbies, Skills, or Talents: Knitting, baking, cartwheels, and making funny faces! 

What exciting thing(s) have you done this past year that you want campers to know about? I have joined the bowling team at my school! I’m pretty bad though… 

Favorite memory from CFA 2011: Hearing campers say that they couldn’t wait to come back next year and that they didn’t want to leave. 

Place on camp where you could most often be found last summer: Arapaho...

Favorite core value: CARING ♥

Favorite snack time ice cream: Anything chocolate! (minus the banana ones)

Must-have items while working summer camp: WATER and patience 

Advice you'd give to summer campers: You don’t need a date to the dance!

What you're looking forward to most about this upcoming summer: Getting to spend all my time at CFA! 

Quote to live by:  "There are no great acts. Only small acts done with great love." –Mother Teresa

Next up is Eve, an outstanding young woman coming to us from beautiful Northern Ireland.

Eve, age 19, from Northern Ireland

College / University attending (and/or current job): Currently waitressing three jobs before heading to uni in September to study English Literature. Busy, but happy. 

State or country where you're living: Northern Ireland – lots of green and lots of rain!

Noteworthy Hobbies, Skills, or Talents: Horse riding!

What are you looking forward to most about this upcoming summer? Meeting lots of amazing people and making memories I will have forever!

What do you normally do with your summers? I usually work to earn some money and then travel a bit. Last year I went to Majorca with my best friends, and the summer before that I visited Dicky and MA at CFA. Previous summers have been spent surrounded by horses!!

Quotes to live by: “Do what you love, work as hard as you can, and make people happy.” “Just be happy and don’t be stupid” – Adele.

Next up is CiCi, who was a CIT last year at camp and is excited to be back for what will be her first year as a counselor.

Cilaya, or "Cici" as we know her; age 18, from Texas!

College/University attending: I am a full time student, and I am currently a High-School student but next year I will be furthering my studies at Texas Tech University by majoring in Music

Noteworthy Hobbies, Skills, or Talents: I can beat box and hum at the same time, I spend most of my time in extra curricular activities, I run cross country, I am a cheerleader, I am in Band, I am in Winter Guard, and I play Quidditch. Oh and I LOVE to dance.

What exciting thing(s) have you done this past year that you want campers to know about?: I went to Disney World for the 1st time :D

Favorite memory from CFA 2011: I loved it when I got to sit at the lunch table with Anthony and Sheeba, and they ate the table-ware like barbarians.

Place on camp where you could most often be found last summer: Honestly I was running around so much, you really had to look.

Favorite core value: Caring

Favorite snack time ice cream: Ice-cream Sandwich!!!!!

Must-have items while working summer camp: Sun-screen, band-aids, comfortable shoes, bathing supplies, a smile, bug spray, a flashlight, an appetite for smores, and a caring heart.

Advice you'd give to other counselors: Put a smile on your face, because smiles are contagious, and happiness is ALWAYS a great thing to spread around. A child's laughter is the thing that will keep you going and it makes everything a bit easier so strive for a laugh from your campers at all times!!!

Advice you'd give to summer campers: Guys have a blast!!!! When you're at camp, you are bound to have fun!

What you're looking forward to most about this upcoming summer: Meeting new people and seeing how I change campers' lives for the best.

Quote to live by: "The only person that can limit me is myself."

We Love Our Summer Staff, Part 3: Joey and Rebekah

Howdy, howdy, again, CFA! Here is yet another installment of staff interviews, from two of our most charismatic, involved, and creative summer staff members of 2011. Enjoy!

Rebekah (on the right) - age 19 - living in San Antonio, TX

University attending and current job: Full Sail University and barista at Barnes & Noble Cafe 

Noteworthy Hobbies, Skills, or Talents: I'm not quite fluent, but very articulate in French.

What exciting thing have you done this past year that you want campers to know about?: I got accepted into the school of my dreams!

Favorite memory from CFA 2011: During Operation Purple week, Eskimo and Farrow had sort of a friendly rivalry going, but one night we had a joint embers. It got really deep, there wasn't a dry eye in the house, and it made everybody come together and realize that maybe we're not all that different.

Place on camp where you could most often be found last summer: High ropes course all day everyday, baby!

Favorite core value: Respect - respect yourself and others, and people will respect you back.

Favorite snack time ice cream: FUDGE BARS

Must-have items while working summer camp: Water bottle and a good attitude :)

Advice you'd give to other counselors: SAVE THE DRAMA FO' YO MAMA. The main focus at camp should be the children, not whatever's going on between the counselors. You can't have that on your mind (or other stressors outside of camp for that matter) and be able to give it your all to your campers, and they're what's most important.

Advice you'd give to summer campers: Don't be afraid. Don't be afraid to be yourself, don't be afraid of heights, don't be afraid of trying new foods or meeting new friends or doing things you haven't done before. You will change in the best way possible if you just let go of all your fears, and you're in the perfect place to do that.

What you're looking forward to most about this upcoming summer: Being an even better counselor than last year and changing even more lives for the better :)

Quote to live by: "No, it's not fair, but what makes earth feel like Hell is our expectation that it should feel like Heaven. Earth is earth."

Joey (in the middle!) - age 23 - studying in Muncie, Indiana

University/Job: Ball State University, Marketing intern at ACE

Noteworthy skills/hobbies/talents: I really enjoy taking photos of awkward moments making it into art. Photography has been a hobby of mine for 3 years and it is what makes me happy. Now, most people say that singing is a talent of mine but I just love to do it because it makes others happy. Other skills I'm known for are my abilities to sew, draw, edit, write and do computer programming.

Exciting things you've done this year: This year, I spent New Year's Eve for the first time in NYC. Amazing! Also, I am a registered reading partner where I volunteer at elementary schools and tutor kids in reading. I recently just participated in Photo Week DC where I take pictures on my iPhone of art around the city.

Favorite memory of CFA 2011: My favorite memory of camp was during operation purple week. Watching the transformation of my campers in Ottawa go from silent to crazy, wild and amazing was the best feeling ever. What I can remember most is watching Luke become a better person. They would go running early in the morning to mount vesper singing Mulan "We are Men". Loved these guys.

Place on camp you could always be found last year: You can always find me in the craft shed, singing loudly and scaring the horses. Haha.

Favorite core value: Faith. I challenged myself to face several fears of minds including horseback riding and high ropes. All I had to lean on was faith in myself.

Favorite snack: Orange and Cream Bar. Yum. I used to beg everyone for their bar.

Must-have items for working at summer camp: Water, Water and Water. Comfy shoes, swimwear, sun screen, boots for Thursday and did I say water?

Advice you'd give to counselors: Challenge yourself, be relatable, and be crazy fun. You are there to find yourself, make the best experience ever for the campers and be what you always wanted to be. Think like a kid, act like a kid, be the kid. This is a tool to motivate yourself and the campers. Have a blast!

Advice you'd give to the campers:  Be a kid and go crazy, but be respectful. Challenge yourself through Raggers and make a difference. Be a part of the LIT and CIT program.

Looking forward to: Being on Ad Staff and seeing the old and new campers.

Quote to live by: "Being different isn't a mistake or judgement. Its having a gift to express to others" — me.

A Note from Angel

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

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?

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?

A Simple Way to Good Health, Get Outside

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.

Giddy Up, CFA— Your Fall Horse Update

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"

New Rainy Day Activities!

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.

CFA Buildings Part 2

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.

Advice from a Saddle Club Pro

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!

Another Awesome Video

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



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

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

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:

1. Bull's Eye Club, focusing on the target sports of archery and BB guns.
   
2. Carabiner Club, featuring ropes safety, belaying, and our high ropes challenge course.
3. Crafter's Club, where campers spend time creating artwork and crafts. Pottery is a favorite.
4. Guadalupe River Rats Club, putting campers in the river via the rope swing, canoeing and kayaking, and water slide.
5. O.W.L.S., or Outdoor Wellness and Living Skills, for the hiker, camper, outdoor chef, and survivalist-minded camper.
6. Pan-Handlers, our newest club in 2011, teaching cooking skills that run from the very basics to pasta and sushi making.
7. Saddle Club, full of daily riding and horsemanship skills, for the aspiring cowboy, cowgirl, or equestrian.
8. 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.

Play Again.

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!)

The Smaller Animals at Camp

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

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

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?