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PAL Leadership Team: Learning To Lead

7/17/2019

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Megan Weidner, Senior Counselor

Last week, 6 of our senior staff members chaperoned our 3rd annual leadership retreat. The leadership retreat is designed for our PAL Leadership Team (PLT). PLT is made up of high-school aged students who wish to continue to be involved with the PAL organization, however not yet old enough to be a camp counselor. 
This year, there were 15 PLT members that participated in the retreat weekend. 

During this 4-day retreat, they were tasked activities to help develop leadership:
​
  • Create, organize and run a new camp game that can be played with 15-20 kids
  • ​Counselor scenario game: the senior staff give PLT members scenarios of hardship as a counselor, and together they discuss possible resolutions
  • An overnight camping trip in which they had to pitch their own tents and prepare their own food. 

Although the weekend was focused on growing leadership skills, the retreat also included many outdoor adventures and unique opportunities for this group:
  • Sleeping Bear National Lakeshore Sand Dunes
  • 2 mile tubing/float trip
  • Zip-lining 

You can’t always take 15 high-school aged individuals of separate social groups and expect them to work as one cohesive group, but they did! It was rewarding to watch them use their imaginations and create brand new camp games and run them with only minor hiccups. Additionally, these kids love camp and it showed in their efforts to participate and willingness to reach outside their comfort zone to grow this weekend.


"Working with PLT kids is like looking into a crystal ball and getting a glimpse into PAL's future. After working with these kids this past weekend and seeing them problem solve, work together and encourage each other, the future looks very bright. "
- Blain Gauthier, Senior Counselor
We look forward to seeing the flourish in this program and eventually at camp as our next generation of counselors.  Learn more about what they do over here.

If your high-schooler is interested in participating in PLT, please reach out to PLT Advisor, Jason Hundey at jhundey@armadaschools.org​. ​​
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Waterfront Safety | Wendy Hahn, Waterfront Director

6/19/2019

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Hello, Camp Followers!

As we near camp, we've had some questions regarding waterfront activity and safety. We wanted to take an opportunity to run through it with you.

Swim Evaluation:

When kids arrive at camp, we review all of the waterfront information with each grade, including the activities available during free time as well as all safety information.  We then do a swim test, in groups of 5 campers, that include the following:

  • Belly-Swimming - No Underwater Swimming
    • An evaluation if they can do a front crawl swim, a doggie paddle swim, and a breaststroke - for the distance of estimated 30 yards - without stopping or touching the bottom for assistance.
  • Treading water for 90 seconds on their swim back to the shore
 
Lifeguards are in the water with each group as well as on the dock to assist if anyone needs to stop.
 
Outcomes: 

If a camper passes the test, they are a “blue” swimmer. 
If a camper either chooses to not take the swim test or does not make it through the swim test, they are a “red” swimmer. 
We are very upbeat, encouraging, and positive about the swim test, including anyone who does not make it through.
 
“Red” swimmers have use of the shallow area of the waterfront (with floats that kids love to use together for games and water toys), the water slide, and boats (with a blue swimmer).
“Blue” swimmers have use of above as well as a deeper swim area and the Blob (large inflatable that launches campers when another camper jumps onto it from an elevated platform).
 
As mentioned above, we make all campers feel positive about the waterfront regardless of swim ability and be sure to have activities available for everyone.

For any questions, please reach out!

Wendy Hahn
Waterfront Director
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Cody Lodge Update | Neva Kirksey, Senior Counselor/Board Member

5/24/2019

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The Armada PAL Camp staff is excited that camp is just around the corner! So excited in fact, that a few staff members and their families headed up to camp a little early to get their hands dirty working on the Cody Lodge.

Last weekend, 5 of our volunteers (including Cody's family!) hung drywall, sanded window panes, and faced their fears of ladders! They also took some time to take a walk around the grounds to experience the beauty that nature has to offer. We are so proud of the work that all of our volunteers have done, building this lodge from the ground up,  and we cannot thank our volunteers enough for the countless hours of work they have put into this project. Cody will always hold a special place in our hearts, and this lodge is the essence of Cody.

We are so excited to share this Lodge with our 8th grade campers. Cody would be so proud! 

If you are interested in supporting The Cody Lodge through monetary donation or time - please reach out to myself or Vince DiGiorgio, 
digiorg8@gmail.com - as we lead the organization's philanthropic efforts. 

​Neva Kirksey
neva@armadapalcamp.org


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Post-Registration Survey | Shirley Frederick, Assistant Camp Director

4/26/2019

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Dear PAL Families,

I hope all of you had a wonderful Easter weekend. Thank you for attending registration last week, including those that used mail-in registration. We are already hard at work organizing all of the registration forms and will soon be placing campers in cabins. Once all of the camper's information is complete, this email group will close and all current PAL Camp families will be added to our 2019 email group. 

I am so pleased to say that all 8th grade campers who attended registration last week made the cut. However, we are definitely full, and will not be accepting any new registrations for that grade. Some of the other grades do have some available spots but not many.

Armada PAL is a small town organization made up of volunteers, and we are always looking for ways to improve.  Included in this email is a short survey that we are asking our PAL families to fill out. The link is below and all responses are confidential. 

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSceENZ4H8q2WHMJarU7ySc-V-adIZgk0rTXhBe6p-DDaSx1VA/viewform?usp=sf_link

Have a great week. 

Shirley Frederick
Assistant Camp Director
​shirley@armadapalcamp.org
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Early Mail-In Update | Shirley Frederick, Assistant Camp Director

4/10/2019

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Dear PAL Camp Families,

I hope all of you have been enjoying this beautiful spring weather. It is a sweet reminder that PAL Camp is just around the corner. We are excited that Early Mail-in Registration is up and running. Avoid those long lines and register by mail for current grades 5th - 7th. Remember, when filling out the registration form, write down your camper's current grade, NOT the grade they will be in next school year. Also, make sure you have included the Registration Form, Health History Form, Online Waiver, and $50 nonrefundable deposit.  Be sure those forms are properly filled out and signed. All forms must be postmarked by April 13th.

Have a great week.

Shirley Frederick
Assistant Camp Director
​shirley@armadapalcamp.org
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Mail-In DetailsĀ | Shirley Frederick, Assistant Camp Director

4/4/2019

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Dear PAL Families,

I am excited to let you know that PAL Camp 2019 registration forms are now available on  our website. We have upgraded our site to include a couple more items that will make the registration process easier and to allow you to stay closer to our mission all year long. You can locate the registration forms for download and print on our site in the Parent Portal at armadapalcamp.org.

Remember, early mail-in registration is for current grades 5th thru 7th only. Because of limited spots, those campers registering for the 8th Grade High Adventure Program, must register in person.

For mail-in registration, the following forms must be included:
  • Registration Form
  • ​​Camp Health History Form
  • ​Online Waiver

Neglecting to include all the necessary forms will delay the registration of your camper. Make sure that all the pages are filled out and signed by a parent or guardian.

The window for early mail-in Registration is April 8th - 13th. All forms must be postmarked by April 13th. Registration forms received after the deadline will be held until in person registration has closed and will be added in pending available space.

When filling out the forms, your camper may choose one bunkmate. Make sure that whoever your camper has chosen as a bunkmate, has chosen them as well. All perfect matches will be guaranteed cabinmates.

When mailing in your camper’s registration form, please include a $50 non-refundable deposit. The balance is due on or before orientation, which is May 21st. As mentioned in the previous email, we do have a credit card option this year.  Please make all checks out to “Armada PAL.” and send all forms and deposit to Armada PAL, P.O. Box 564, Armada, MI  48005.

You will find all necessary information and answers to many questions on our website. If you have any questions on navigating the site, please do not hesitate to reach out to myself or Anna Shea Becker at annasheab@armadapalcamp.org.
​

Sincerely,
Shirley
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Registration Details | Shirley Frederick, Assistant Camp Director

3/20/2019

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Dear PAL Families,

Spring has arrived!!! That means we are getting ready for PAL Camp 2019. This year we will be celebrating our 35th year providing Armada youth with one of their best weeks of the summer. PAL Camp dates are Sunday, August 4th until Saturday, August 10th. Registration will be held on Wednesday, April 17th, 6:30 p.m. at Armada Middle School for all current grades 5th thru 8th.

To avoid those long lines,  Early Mail-in Registration is once again available for current grades 5-7. Because of limited spots, those campers registering for the 8th Grade High Adventure Program, must register in person. All necessary forms will be available on our website beginning April 5th.

The window for Early Mail-in Registration is April 8th - 13th. All forms must be postmarked by April 13th. Registration forms received after the deadline will be held until in person registration has closed and will be added in pending available space.

The cost for camp is $325. There is a $50 nonrefundable deposit required at registration. The balance is due on or before orientation, which is May 21st. This year we also have a credit card option. Unfortunately, it comes with a cost. There is a surcharge of 3.5% + $0.15 that will be passed along to you. To keep the cost down, stick with cash or a check. If you choose the credit card option, I recommend paying in full. Otherwise, you will pay the surcharge twice. The surcharge for paying in full equals $11.53. 
 

I will send you a follow up email with additional information the first week of April. Know that after registration, this email group will be closed. So, if you no longer have a PAL Camper, you will no longer receive my emails after registration. If you have not been receiving our parent emails and would like to, please comment below oe reach out to me directly at shirley@armadapalcamp.org.

For more information, please continue our website and follow us on Facebook for the latest updates.
I hope everyone has a great spring break.

Shirley Frederick

Assistant Camp Director
​shirley@armadapalcamp.org

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The Cody Lodge: Progress Update

3/19/2019

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In collaboration with Center Lake Bible Camp and Retreat Center, Armada PAL Camp is helping support the build of a lodge to support our program and we are dedicating to past PAL volunteer, 8th Grade counselor, and family member, Cody Pagan.

Standing on the previously tented 8th Grade campgrounds, The Cody Lodge is a three-season housing unit and is approximately 112'x18'. It has four camper cabins, a staff cabin, 24 permanent wooden frame bunk beds with a total capacity of 52 people. It also has a covered porch running the length of the lodge that provides campers a protected place to gather. 

Armada PAL is so thankful and excited for this new building in collaboration with Center Lake Bible Camp. We know our campers will love it, and there will be countless memories and friendships formed in it this summer.

Picture
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