RACCOON UPDATE!

Breaking news into the station...raccoons have been spotted frolicking in Jameson Camp forests.

Jameson Camp Animal Cam


Reports have also surfaced that Caitlin Camic left work early today due to 'sickness.'  This leaves a few questions lingering:

1. Was she bit?
2. Does she have rabies?
3. Is she helping the bandits pull off another heist?
4. Is Caitlin the inspiration for the Chief Raccoon cartoon?

source

The animals could be rabid.  Your lives are in danger.  More details at 11.

Captain Camic Saves the Day

What would you do if you saw this in a dumpster?

It looks like a hat I own

Caitlin put on her cape and helped out the little rascals by offering them a stick to escape.

Caitlin Camic is surely a name being talked about right now in the greater Indianapolis raccoon community.  From out of the dust, she became a friend they trust.  CAP-CAM! 

The Barker Boys

Yesterday evening I had the pleasure of interviewing the Barker family.  The parents are Megan and Erik and they have 2 sons; Nate and Drew.  The boys have attended Jameson's Day Camp program for the past 3 summers.

I visited their home for the interview and the family was very nice.  The boys were polite and the parents were helpful.  Even the family dogs got involved, although the Yorkie declined to speak on camera.

I will have their story up soon but in the meantime, here is a photo of the kids and their dogs.

Nate is on the left and Drew is on the right.  Bear is the black dog and he is a Lab / Great Dane mix. Kirby is the Yorkie and he is 16 years old!

Thanks again, Barker family.  I had a great time stopping by your place!

New Mate

On Friday, Caitlin and I welcomed a new office mate.  Her name is Stephany and she will be Jameson's Marketing Intern.

One of Stephany's gifts is she can type and send emails without looking at the computer screen (as you can see from the photo).  This will come in handy when people come in to the office and she has to answer questions.

Even while looking at the screen, I stake mill mistakes.  I think that should read still make but I don't know where the backspace key is.

Caitlin and I will take Stephany under our wings.  My hope is we will all become good friends and possibly even sisters.

Welcome!

National Dog Day!

To dogs and dog owners everywhere, Happy National Dog Day!  Here at Jameson Camp, canines are a big part of our lives.  These are a few of our four-legged friends that mean so much to us...

Sir Isaac
c/o Vanessa Fry (Office Manager)

EeVee
c/o Yvonne Matlock (Development Director)

Chance
c/o Brad Higgins (Site Manager)

Rasta
c/o Brent Cummins (Outdoor Education Director)

Penny
c/o Tim Nowak (Program Director)

Stella
c/o Tim Nowak

Radar - RIP
c/o Gregg & Peggie Johnson

Roscoe
c/o Gregg & Peggie Johnson

Lenin
c/o Brad & Aaron Johnson

And for the grand finale, PUPPIES!!!.....

Lenin's puppies
c/o Marley Johnson

Woof!

Throwback Thursday!

Kevin

As a baby, my parents entered me in many cute kid competitions.  These are my accomplishments:

• 2nd place - Burt's Bee's Baby Photo Contest
• 2nd place - Toys R' Us Kids
• 3rd place - New Zealand's OHBaby Magazine
• Best-in-show - Westminster Kennel Club

Like most cute babies, I bounced from one job to the next.  At 4 months old, I finally found steady employment as a Gerber baby.  That lasted until I was 14.  I had to move on and get ready for high school.

And even today as a VISTA, I'm still a big baby.  I'm basically just a baby that knows how to drive.

26 years later and I still have tunnel vision

Caitlin

Despite claims that she was a little hellion, Caitlin was a very cute kid.  She didn't speak until 4th grade when the teacher asked her to read a book.  After that, she terrorized her neighborhood and eventually got into a fight with Mickey Mouse at Disney World.  It happens to the best of us, kid.

Instead of swallowing the seeds, she would spit them at her brother

Don't let the smile fool you, she's ULTRA-competitive

A Place to Heal, A Place to Grow

Preparing for the closing ceremonies

Aside from having award-winning summer camp and year-round youth development programs, Jameson Camp also acts as a rental facility for weddings, banquets, team-building activities, and many other events.  One group in particular that has rented from Jameson year after year is Camp Healing Tree (CHT), a program offering grief support for children and teens that have recently lost a loved one.

On Friday, August 19th, Camp Healing Tree welcomed its campers, marking the 21st year the weekend event has been held at Jameson.  So why does CHT continue to rent from Jameson year after year?  Anne Ryder, who has been involved with the group for 12 years, thinks she knows why.
“There’s something here,” she said.  “I think it has to do with staying open and it’s like a field of grace at the camp.  It’s a special place.”

Beep beep.  Back up the camp bus.  Who is Anne Ryder you ask and why does that name sound familiar?  Well, if you’re from Indianapolis, you might remember her from NBC’s WTHR-TV.  And if you’re from Calcutta, you might remember her from her interview with Mother Teresa.  “It was like being in the presence of a light source,” Anne said.  “What’s interesting is a lot of times she didn’t feel this light.  She was in some internal darkness and turmoil.”

Anne speaking about her own tragedies

For most of Camp Healing Tree’s children, they also felt anguish before arriving at Jameson.  But the support of CHT and the peacefulness of Jameson Camp allowed them to release their deepest emotions.  “It’s all in the thread of connection around grief and loss,” Anne said.  “We can’t do it in our everyday lives.  We’re too busy.  You need a camp or a retreat place for that.”  As Jameson Camp’s tagline says, ‘Get outside. Grow inside.’

For as long as children need social support, programs will be there to help.  And for as long as these programs need a place to stay, Jameson Camp will be there to help.

“I love it,” Anne said, her final line echoing the thoughts of Jameson Camp to many of Indiana’s residents: “I’ll be out here as many years as they want me.”

Balloon release to remember loved ones

Jameson Camp provides rentals for many wonderful events like Camp Healing Tree.  Among them are church retreats, family reunions, corporate events, weddings, birthday parties, and much more!  If your program or group would like to create lasting memories and needs a place to rent, please check out http://www.jamesoncamp.org/facilities/.

Kevin Johnson

kevin@jamesoncamp.org

Happy National Waffle Day!

That's right!  August 24th is National Waffle Day and here's how you can celebrate:

1. Eat waffles.

On this day in 1869, Cornelius Swarthout of Troy, New York was issued the first patent for a waffle iron.  Cornelius, if you're reading this today, thanks for getting it all started...nice work!

source

A Hunting We Must Go

After a few rain outs, our scavenger hunt was rescheduled for Monday.  Caitlin and I were delighted to get outside and run around, myself in particular.  After watching the kids play at camp, I felt like a little puppy at the pound...stuck inside with no place to pee.

Our first stop was the hammock garden where we had to hit tin cans with rocks.  I was looking for rocks when Caitlin said, "There's some in that can."  After reaching in, water came rushing out and for the second time in a week, my butt got wet.  I will probably just wear my swimming trunks the next time I visit the hammock garden.

A few stops later, I hopped in this human-gerbil wheel.

It's actually pretty cozy.

Caitlin, meanwhile, was just chillin' like a villain on the rope.

Jane, looking for her Tarzan.

I heard Jane's cry through the forest trees and I swung into action.

The modern, well-dressed Tarzan

After swinging through the jungle, we landed in a tree house.

For the next activity, we had to work together to stay balanced while walking down the tightrope. Being the gentleman that I am, I protected only myself and pushed Caitlin to the ground.

There's only room for one of us!

The final event in the hunt was another balancing act.  We had to center ourselves on the platform so the ship wouldn't capsize.

Similar to the electric slide.

Along the way, Caitlin and I learned a lot about the history of Jameson Camp and its many programs.
I enjoyed the hunt so much that I began planning the next one with Caitlin. (We want to come at night for a HAUNTED tour!)

Camp Healing Tree

Camp Healing Tree is a support group for children grieving the loss of a loved one.  This weekend marked the 21st year that CHT visited Jameson Camp.

Journalist Anne Ryder delivered a moving speech about her own tragedies and then helped the kids with the butterfly release.

Anne is in there somewhere!

You know I love our four-legged friends.  These service dogs were just a few of the many valuable resources that Camp Healing Tree provided for the kids.

The day ended with a balloon release for campers to remember their loved ones.

A Scenic First Week

Week #1 is coming to an end for Caitlin and me.  We survived without any major incidents, although my pants did get wet from lying in the hammock on Wednesday.

Every day I arrive at camp, I am amazed at its beauty.  The scenery is simply amazing.  I didn't realize we were so close to the Rocky Mountains.

I'm not familiar with the Rockies, but that could be Mont Blanc.

To all the staff, I enjoyed meeting all of you and thank you for being so kind.  To all the campers, if you want to shoot hoops, keep me in mind.

Have a great weekend!

Another Dog!!

Like a campfire on a cool evening, Chance the dog warms our hearts.  And as it turns out, there is another canine on campus.

Ready to pounce!

This beautiful girl is named Rasta and she belongs to Brent, the Outdoor Education Director.  Caitlin and I don't know her breed but she has a slight fox-look to her.  She is a sweetheart and we can't wait to play with her again!

Chance, by the way, is Brad's dog.  Brad is the Site Manager and he does a wonderful job of keeping Jameson in mint condition.

No word yet on any possible love affair between Chance and Rasta.  Representatives from both sides have yet to return my calls.  However, when I asked Rasta about her feelings for Chance, she did do this...

Licking her chops.

Based on this behavior, I'd speculate they have at least kissed.  Either that or she was thinking about a treat.

Terrific dogs you two are...hopefully we'll see you again soon!

Camic in a Hammock

Since we still hadn't received our scavenger hunt, Caitlin and I had the itch to go outdoors.  We explored some of Jameson Camp's vast property and our favorite find was the hammock garden.

Camics and Hammocks.  A perfect fit.

Dusting for Prints

All Americorps VISTA members are required to undergo a background investigation.  Upon hearing this, I got very nervous because I didn't know if they would uncover my past dealings in the kitten smuggling industry.

Caitlin and I received fingerprint cards and we went to the police station to complete them.  It brought back fond memories for me, particularly when I was a baby and had my fingers and toes stamped.

We were very relieved to finish the process.  Caitlin had all 10 of her fingers stamped while I had all 11 of mine done.

My fingerprints are bigger than when I was born.

Just like a hotel, it is customary to take something from a police station.  Therefore I took this napkin as a souvenir.

 

A very good-looking paper towel.

Was I concerned that the police would notice I took their napkin?  No.  Because even if they did see one missing, it's not like they had my prints...wait...

Our First Batch

Our first batch of campers have arrived and I have to admit, they took me by surprise.

What are kids doing at camp?

Caitlin and I were immediately concerned for Chance.  He's only a dog and therefore probably wasn't invited to play in the games.  No worries, though, he showed up at the door again.  Good boy!

I promise my paws aren't wet!  Those spots were from yesterday!

  

Taking a Chance

August 15th, 2016.  6:29 Greenwich time.  Indianapolis, IN.  The Hoosier State.  The Crossroads of America.  Home of Larry Bird, Big Bird, and the blue bird.

Caitlin Camic is seated next to me, and for us 2 ladies, today is our first day serving as Americorps VISTA volunteers at Jameson Camp.  It is currently raining outside, unfortunately wiping out the scavenger hunt planned for us.  I am somewhat relieved because I did not pack my goulashes.

So what is Americorps?  And what is Jameson Camp?  And most importantly, what is love?

Americorps is the domestic peace corps.  Volunteers receive a modest stipend to serve communities around the country on a one-year contract.  It's not about the money you receive, it's about the impact you leave (#rhymetime).

Jameson Camp is a year-long youth development camp.  Their slogan is 'Get outside. Grow inside.' This is similar to the phrase my mom told me when I was young: "Go outside. Don't come inside.' Jameson is inclusive, welcoming children with minor social, emotional, or behavioral challenges. The camp relies heavily on donations, thus providing families an affordable camping option for their children.

On our morning tour around the camp, Caitlin and I began chatting with Chance.  He is one of the oldest members of Jameson Camp.  I was sad to see Chance just standing outside in the rain.  He was getting soaked so I opened the door and asked if he wanted to come in.  Chance looked at me and nodded his head.  In hindsight, it was probably the wrong decision because the floor had just been cleaned and his paws were dirty.

Love,
Sincerely,
Yours truly,

Kevin

'Please let me in!

Oh, pretty please!

I'll be a good boy!