Manitoba Camping Association

10 MANITOBA CAMPING ASSOCIATION May 4, 2017 I like to walk around Winnipeg sometimes with one of my many Camp Arnes T-shirts on, just to see the people I meet and the stories they have about their experiences at camp. I really enjoy meeting complete strangers, and seeing the way their eyes light up when they ask, "Are you from Camp Arnes?!?" From young children to senior citizens, it seems like I hardly go a day without someone sharing how Camp Arnes has impacted their lives. The more stories I hear, and the more summers I spend at camp, the more I realize how important summer camp can be. I remember my first time at summer camp back in Colorado at the age of 12. I can still vividly remember some of the lessons learned and the relationships built. As a kid from a broken home, my weeks at camp were an oasis of fun in a desert of insecurity and premature growing up. Everything from meals to games to evening activities and cabin hang-out times were made for me. What I mean is, summer camp was the perfect place for a kid to be a kid. The same thing is true today of summer at Camp Arnes, and that is the reason I love my job as a camp leader. In a world where children and youth are being forced to grow up earlier and earlier, camp is one of the few places left where a kid doesn't have to worry about growing up too quickly. The way I see it, summer camp is one of the final frontiers for play, and my job as a leader at camp is to make sure kids don't forget how. If it sounds like a dream job, that's because it is! I see this in action every week in the summer. Campers from age seven to 17 come piling out of the cars and buses on Monday mornings, looking shy, nervous and trying to act cool. They're coming from a world that expects them to act responsibly, sit quietly, pay attention and fit in. They expect camp to be more of the same. Some time between the first supper at camp and breakfast the following morning, they find out the truth: they don't need to to be anything or anyone but themselves! No matter how mature, no matter what expectations are placed on them at home and at school, and no matter what tough stuff they have gone through, each kid still knows how to be a kid. We just provide the right environment where they can thrive! Camp replaces cellphones and social media with fresh air, real friendships and real fun. We swap TV and video games with zip-lining, horseback riding, paintball and laser tag. And most importantly, camp welcomes insecure kids and sends them home with confidence, healthy self-esteem and an understanding of just how valuable they are. Just how does camp do it? For summer 2017, we're making use of our amazing setting along the western shore of Lake Winnipeg. Camp Arnes has always had waterfront activities like canoeing and kayaking. This year though, we're making even more waves by expanding our beach! Because it's so beautiful down by the lake, we are making room for a giant campfire pit and a beach volleyball court, so campers can enjoy the scenery even more. In the water, a new inflatable jungle-gym with built in "blob" launcher and a bevy of new kayaks, paddleboards and Corcls (Google it!) will provide the entertainment. Of course, there are plenty of other things to do on land and in the air. Our high ropes challenge course, zip-line, climbing wall and giant swing provide airborne adventure; archery, disc golf and pedal carts provide more earthbound thrills. Specialty camps like paintball, ranch camp and canoe trips engage even the most adventurous. I still remember all the fun I had at that first summer camp in Colorado when I was 12. But more than anything, what sticks with me most are the relationships. I remember the attention my cabin leader gave me when I wasn't getting it at home. I remember the new friends I made and the old ones I built stronger relationships with. And I remember going home feeling excited, confident and valuable, where before I was insecure. This is the real value of summer camp, and why Camp Arnes has such a big impact on the lives of campers. It's a place to grow, a place a kid can be a kid, where friendships and bloom and fun reigns supreme! Make plans to discover camp for yourself, and I guarantee you'll leave with your own memories that will last a lifetime. ❚ TRUE CONNECTION By Shane Gibson for the Free Press I f you hear a tweet at Camp Arnes, you can be sure it's coming from an actual bird. Like many summer camps, the interfaith Christian camp north of Winnipeg has a rule that parents of teenagers might not believe is enforceable: they don't allow any electronic devices. That means campers spend up to four weeks of their summers with no video games, no smartphones and without the ability to constantly check and update their social media feeds. It's a good thing, says 16-year-old camper, Kyrstin Cosser. "I feel like being at camp is a lot better than having your phone," says Cosser, who will spend her sixth straight year at Camp Arnes this summer and is excited to be taking part in the camp's four-week Leadership Program that will get her ready to become a counsellor next summer. "I mean sure, I'm going to miss it — what kid wouldn't?" Cosser says. "But I think being at camp definitely replaces that feeling of missing it and I think I'd rather be outside enjoying my time with friends than being on my phone anyway." Campers are asked to hand over their phones and other electronics on the first day of camp, and they don't get them back until they leave. There's so much to do during the days, campers would likely not have time to spend surfing the web or playing video games. It's all those outdoor activities that have Josh Sturby most excited for his upcoming trip to Camp Arnes this summer. With a list of things to do at Camp Arnes that includes rock climbing, outdoor laser tag, archery, paintball, swimming, a zip line, and a giant 30-foot swing, the 12-year- old isn't quite sure which will be his favourite. "We get to do so many fun things and I get to meet new people," says Sturby, who settled on swimming in the lake and archery as his top two things to do. "There's always something new to do every year… We're so busy that I end up pretty tired by the end of the day." ❚ What to Expect at Camp Arnes for Summer 2017 By Max Ehrman for the Free Press I remember the new friends I made and the old ones I built stronger relationships with. And I remember going home feeling excited, confident and valuable, where before I was insecure. At Camp Arnes, the interfaith Christian camp north of Winnipeg, campers spend up to four weeks of their summer with no smartphones, getting the most out of their experience at the 300-acre camp. Camp Arnes photos

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