Family Camp
In 2011, Camp Nominingue will host our 27th Family Camp. This year, we have an exciting program planned. Tori and Des are back to lead a daily yoga program. This year, they will also be adding a special children's yoga program.
Here are some of the highlights that we have planned:
Saturday, August 20: First camp fire
Sunday, August 21: Council Ring
Monday, August 22: Steak & Corn Roast; Casino Night
Tuesday, August 23:
Special entertainment evening - more news will be released soon
Wednesday, August 24: Wine & Cheese; Chapel "Reflections"
Thursday, August 25: M'Shwee; Celtic music with Sean Dagher
Friday, August 26: First-ever Camp Nominingue Film Festival
- the schedule will be announced at the beginning of August
Saturday, August 27:
Annual Alumni meeting; Pillars of Nominingue Award ceremony
As we do every year, we will be planning archery and riflery competitions, arts and craft projects, bike excursions, day canoe trips to the Falls and Acapulco, games of "Spot" and "Gotcha", the polar bear swim and lots more. This year, campers will have the opportunity to try out our new climbing wall. If you want to try a particular program, do not hesitate to ask! Enrolment for Family Camp is strong, so don't wait until the last minute to reserve your tent and your dates.
First Day Memories
The Trunk Ben Brandauer Coralville, Iowa 14 years
I am looking forward to arriving for my fifth year at Camp Nominingue in a few days with my nice small trunk. To fully understand my joy, you would have to go back five years to my first day at Camp Nominingue. When I arrived at camp, I knew that it would be a very long but interesting three weeks. It all started when two counsellors tried to carry my behemoth trunk to my tent all the way in Lower Camp. My crazy parents had bought the largest available military trunk for a three week summer camp. The counsellors finally unloaded my trunk in my tent, but it would not fit under my small, one-person cot.
We just left the trunk sitting there and I walked my family back to the car. We said our goodbyes and then I went back to the horseshoe to prepare for dinner. Once the gong sounded for dinner, everyone sprinted for the dining hall. At dinner, we were told how camp was going to work for the next three weeks. Then I got the food for my tent and we ate. After dinner, we went back to the horseshoe, brushed our teeth and got ready for bed.
To my amazement, I had a sky bed! My tent counsellors had come up with the solution of putting six wooden blocks under each leg of my cot. I got in my sleeping bag, our counsellor read us a chapter from the Jungle Book and we drifted off to sleep.
The blocks were a really great solution until one in the morning when three blocks fell out and I ended up on the floor! This was the start of four wonderful years at Camp Nominingue with its unique wilderness experiences and lasting friendships.
Unfortunately, for three of these years, I had to use that large, evil trunk which my parents think is a legacy, but I consider more of a curse. My tremendous days at camp became even better last year when I was able to persuade my parents to let me borrow my younger brother's much smaller trunk, the same small trunk I'll be arriving with later this week.
I'm sure that I will be associated with Camp Nominingue for all of my life, and I'd recommend it to the parents of any boy.
Ma première journée au camp... Vincent Rioux Assistant directeur, excursions de canot
Ma première journée au camp en fut une d'aventure et de découverte. Premièrement, je m'en allais pour la première fois dans un environnement où tout le monde parlait anglais et pour moi, unilingue francophone, c'était un peu épeurant! Puis une découverte parce que je n'avais jamais passé trois semaines loin de mes amis, parents et de tout ma routine habituelle.
Toutefois, mes craintes se sont vite dissipées dès que je suis descendu de l'autobus voyageur qui m'a conduit au camp Nominingue. Tout le monde semblait joyeux et je me suis tout de suite senti le bienvenue surtout parce que le directeur du camp était venue m'accueillir chaleureusement en français. En tant que jeune campeur un peu déboussolé et craintif de sa première expérience dans un camp anglophone, le directeur et les moniteurs ont aidé immensément à mon adaptation à la vie du camp Nominingue.
First Day Memories
My Return to Camp Mathew Easey JC Director 2011
After a lengthy four year absence I made the choice to come back to camp this year. When I left four years ago, I promised Peter Van Wagner that I would be back when my son was of camper age. Now he is and here I am. My drive to camp was bizarre because I realized I was experiencing all of the excitement and anxieties of new and returning campers alike. I found myself looking forward to re-connecting with old friends and wondering about all the people I wouldn't know. Questions like "Who will I be working with?" and "Will we get along well together?" filled my head. I was anxious about not remembering camp routines or where things might be. I arrived and felt a strange mix of being home and yet an outsider looking in. This, I thought to myself, is what our campers feel when they step off the bus.
And similar to the experience of campers, I met my staff and those that I would be working with, friends and new faces. Regardless of my past relationships with people, I was welcomed as if I, and indeed they, had never left. Smiles and handshakes from the new faces welcoming me to the team and hugs from the old friends, happy at my return. Then it all came back, the routines, the smells and the sounds, the laughs and the good times; I was home. I figured it would take a week or two to leave the city behind and "get into" camp life, but it really only took a minute. It's great to be home.
First Day Memories: J.R. Warren 1939-1949
Camper and counsellor Pillar of Nominingue 2009
Summer 1939. I didn't want to go. The whole idea seemed stupid. In fact, it was terrible. My mom and dad had definitely decided to send me to Camp Nominingue for the month of July. They had been trying to do it for the past two summers, but I had managed to talk them out of it. Probably tantrum them out of it would be a better phrase.
This time they were adamant. And they had a strong argument to back them up. Going to camp would build me up after my long bout of pneumonia followed by bronchitis the previous winter...
Boating was the program the first night for the whole camp...I was standing on the beach feeling kind of lost, wondering if I could just push off in one of the rowboats, or whether I had to ask someone first. And this is where I got my first taste of what Camp Nominingue was really about. A nice counsellor seemed to sense my dilemma and came up to me.
"Hello, what's your name?"
"John Warren."
"And my name is Bob Harvey, John. I am a counsellor in tent number...Would you like to go out in a boat with me?"
"Yes."
"Do you know how to paddle a canoe?"
"No, I've never been in a canoe, Sir. But I know how to row a rowboat."
"Well, let's go out in a canoe and I'll show you how to paddle, OK? And, by the way, you don't have to call counsellors Sir. You can use our first names, so you can call me Bob."
"OK."
He took a canoe off the rack, flipped it onto his shoulders, carried it over to the dock and rolled it off into the water all seemingly without the slightest effort...
By the time the boating program was over, Bob Harvey had taught me the rudiments of the J-stroke (which allows you to go in a straight line without having to change sides) and I was able, more or less, to get where I was headed, albeit following a pretty wobbly, erratic course. I never went out in a canoe with him again but, by the end of the summer, I was a pretty good canoer for a fourteen-year old. Six decades have passed, but I have never forgotten the debt I owe Bob Harvey for his patience that night and for making me feel I was really part of Camp Nominingue.
Visitors' Day *** La journée de visite
This summer, there are two visitors' days on the schedule: Saturday, July 16 and Saturday, August 6. Family and friends of campers are welcome to join us on this day between 11:30 am and 4:15 pm. A program is planned for everyone. You can choose whether you want to participate or not. Lunch is at 1 pm. You may choose to eat in the dining hall or to bring up a picnic lunch. Please avoid bringing the family dog! All food or candy brought to camp must be eaten by the end of the day.
Cet été, nous avons deux journées de visite sur l'horaire: samedi le 16 juillet et samedi le 6 août. Toute la famille est invité à nous joindre pour la journée de 11h30 à 16h15. Il y a un programme spécial planifié. Vous pouvez choisir si vous voulez participer ou non. Le dîner est servi à 13h00. Vous avez le choix de manger à la salle à manger ou d'apporter un pique-nique. SVP évitez d'apporter votre chien ! Toute nourriture ou bonbon que vous apportez au camp devra être mangé le jour même.
The First Alumni Golf Tournament September 9, 2011 Ile-Perrot, QC
The 1st Annual Camp Nominingue Alumni Golf Tournament will be held at 12:30 pm on Friday, September 9th at the Club de Golf Atlantide on Ile Perrot. The purpose of the event is to raise money for Camp Amy Molson, an organization with a mission to send underprivileged children to camp. Camp Nominingue believes in the importance of camp and we would like to extend the opportunity to as many children as possible. 50% of Amy Molson's campers are referred by community and social service agencies such as CSSS and Youth Protection - 90% are from families whose income is below the poverty line.
The day will begin with registration at 11:30 am. Registration will be followed delicious brunch and a putting competition. The Shotgun Tee Off is scheduled for 12:30 pm. During the afternoon, as the golfers enjoy the beautiful waterfront course, a number of competitions will be held, such as the Longest Drive, Closest to the Pin and Beat the Pro. Supper will be followed by an auction to help raise additional funds.
Cost to play in the Tournament is $700 per foursome or $175 per person. This cost includes a deluxe brunch, a great day of golf, a sumptuous supper and the chance to participate in several contests.
Non-golfers, Camp Nominingue Alumni and friends unable to join us for the whole day, but who wish to participate in the event, are welcome to join us for supper at a cost of $50. If you or your company would like to support this great cause, you may sponsor a hole for $250.
Registration forms are available on our website. | 
