Koshlong Current - Fall 2024
15-01-2025
Andy's Message
Dear YMCA Wanakita Family,
I am thrilled to share the wonderful news that Summer 2024 saw Wanakita return to pre-pandemic "normal." It’s been an absolute joy to see the camp buzzing with energy and enthusiasm. Our kids and Family Camp cabins were booked to capacity with campers of all ages having the time of their life. We also had a fully staffed team across the camp!
A heartfelt thank you goes out to our dedicated camper families and school group participants for sticking with us through these challenging years as we recovered from the disruption caused by the pandemic. I also want to extend our deepest gratitude to the staff team whose unwavering dedication and hard work made this return possible. This combined commitment has been crucial in bringing back the camp experience we all cherish.
As we look ahead, we are already excitedly planning for the 2025 season.
We cannot wait to see you all again next year!
Warm regards,
Andy Gruppe,
VP, Overnight Camp & Outdoor Education
Camper Story - Fox Family
Have you met Matt Fox? Matt is 43 years old and he’s one of the longest-attending campers at YMCA Wanakita.
And Matt LOVES camp.
When Matt was an infant, it became clear that he would need extra support throughout his life. Matt’s special needs include having a developmental delay, epilepsy and mild cerebral palsy. He is a man of few words, but he’s definitely not shy.
For Martha and George, the thought of their son going to camp had never crossed their minds, but when Matt came home from a three-day school trip to YMCA Wanakita, camp was all he could talk about.
Handyperson's Corner
Did you know that Camp Wanakita requires a fleet of over 100 canoes to meet our extensive needs?
Lucky for us, we have a large fleet of NovaCraft Prospectors made from Royalex, an ultra-rugged and relatively lightweight material that has long been the go-to choice for both whitewater paddlers and summer camps alike. Unluckily for us, Royalex is now several years out of production, leaving much of our beloved fleet irreplaceable.
With some of our boats turning 25 this year, maintenance and repairs have become a big focus here at camp.
This is where I come in. My name is Kevin Fraser, and as an avid whitewater canoeist, the chance to repair a Royalex boat comes up rather frequently—often enough that I started getting pretty good at it. So, you can imagine my delight when I was asked to undertake the repairs of Wanakita’s aging fleet.
With a five-week window in the spring, I set out to repair as many boats as possible.
Although each canoe had its own unique journey, they all needed at least one new skid plate—skid plates are resin infused Kevlar patches at the bow and stern. This involves stripping or prepping the previous skid plate, sanding and cleaning the surfaces, and fully 'tape and draping' the surrounding areas for a clean finish.
Then the real fun begins. I start by laying down epoxy, laying the new skid plate in place, and then carefully adding 6oz of epoxy. Once the felt is fully and evenly saturated, I cover it in a plastic sheet to press out any bubbles and provide its final shape. Now you simply add some heat for a stronger cure and clean it all up the next day. Hull patching was completed much the same way, using woven fiberglass cloth instead of Kevlar and green pigment to prevent UV damage.
At the end of the five week blitz, I had finished repairing 35 canoes and walked away with a wealth of experience. After a summer of use and abuse, I’m happy to see that all of the repairs are holding up just fine.
Shine On Family Camp Challenge
Every year our Family Campers help make sure that everyone has the chance to experience Wanakita.
This summer, over $25,000 was donated to our Shine On campaign by our families.
That’s 43 weeks of camp!
Thank you to everyone who donated so young people and families can have the time of their life at Wanakita.
Program Spotlight: Working with Inuit Youth
During the summer 2024 season, Wanakita welcomed 10 Inuit youth, from communities in Nunavut, to camp. With help from the Ayalik Fund, five 14-year-old Inuit youth took part in our two-week overnight camper program, while five 16 and 17-year-old Inuit boys went on a two-week canoe trip guided by Wanakita counsellors.
2025 Camper T-shirt Design Contest!
Do you love camp? Are you creative? Design a YMCA Wanakita t-shirt and have your design featured on the 2025 camper t-shirt available at the Tuck Shop! The winner will also be featured in the Spring 2025 Koshlong Current!
Must be 17 or younger to participate.
Alumni Spotlight: Lee Fisher (Gardner)
It was 1969 and Lee was just 10 years old when she first dipped her toes in the waters at Koshlong Lake at YMCA
Wanakita.
She was one of the first female campers to ever do so. That was the year the camp went co-ed, and they’ve never looked back.
“I loved the freedom, the activity, and every year the opportunity to reinvent myself.”
One summer, Lee ran a first year Student Counsellor (S.C.) program in July and a second year S.C. program in August. She says this was pivotal in changing the trajectory of her life.
“I loved the freedom of trips, of being a leader. [Wanakita is where] I became passionate about teaching and the outdoors as a career.”
In 2003, Lee says she helped run the first ever Family Camp, and she’s been volunteering from weeks five to nine ever since—that’s about 500 hours each summer. Lee leads hikes, teaches sailing and windsurfing, organizes special events – and even filled in running week nine family camp for two summers.
“For every program, my first concern is risk management, my second is customer service and my third is play and imagination,” says Lee.
“Gnomes and dinosaurs and a sense of wonder and whimsy, bring touches of joyfulness to every program I lead.”
She’s also been an integral part of creating and maintaining the trail system at camp. 20 years ago, with the help of week nine family campers, Lee and her husband John designed and built the Ridge Trail.
“Over the years we have designed and built trails for hiking, biking, dog walking, and snowshoeing. Creating signage and marking the trails so they are easy to follow on both guided hikes and independent forays into nature.”
Lee says camp has taught her a few things along the way, including the value of play, integrity, volunteering, and the joy found in nature.
“For 55 years YMCA Wanakita has been filling my heart. You do not volunteer to receive kudos, but hearing the impact I make—sometimes 10 years later—feeds my soul."
On The Horizon: The Leadership Centre
At YMCA Wanakita we believe in the boundless potential of each person. Wanakita inspires friendship, encourages belonging and ignites potential.
That’s why we are embarking on a new project to enhance YMCA Wanakita’s Student Counsellor (SC) Leadership Program and other programs throughout the year.
The Leadership Centre will be a new, sustainable building that will give our programs the space and tools they need to continue to ignite potential.
Wanakita, where leaders are made.
Check out our 2025 Field Guide!
Donations at work
