Meet the Staff Series: Arts & Crafts Staff

Last week we introduced you to the Program Crew. This week meet the Arts & Crafts Staff! These creative volunteers lead crafts and activities for our campers in the Arts & Crafts cabin.

• Emily Dungan is a student at the University of Iowa. This will be Emily’s first summer at Camp Heart Connection.
• Kenidy Eckerman will join the Camp Heart Connection team for the first year. Kenidy is a student at Iowa State University.
• Bri Glenn will spend her first summer at Camp Heart Connection. Bri is a student at Covenant School of Radiography.
• Matt Jordan is a student at the University of Iowa. Matt will spend his first summer at Camp Heart Connection.
•  Lauren Wilkerson is a student at Ballard High School. Lauren will join the staff at Camp Heart Connection for the first time this summer.

Arts & Crafts Staff feel free to add more information about yourselves below or share a note with campers and their families! Next week’s Meet the Staff Series will introduce the Director’s Team.

Meet the Staff Series: Program Crew

As we gear up for Camp Heart Connection Sibling Camp, meet the staff who make it all possible. This is the first post in the Meet the Staff Series for Sibling Camp. Meet the Program Crew!

• Bre Barak will be joining the Camp Heart Connection staff for the first time. Bre is a student at Loyola University.
• MJ Hoffman is a student at the University of Iowa. This is MJ’s second summer at Camp Heart Connection.
• Fletcher Paulsen will be joining the Camp Heart Connection staff for the first summer. Fletcher is a student at Carthage University.
• Conar Reed is a student at the University of Northern Iowa. Conar will be joining the Camp Heart Connection staff for the first summer.
• Shelby Schreck will be a first year staff member at Sibling Camp this summer. Shelby is a student at the University of Northern Iowa.
• Sammi Tounsley will return to Camp Heart Connection for the fourth summer. Sammi is a student at the University of Iowa.

Program Crew feel free to add more information about yourselves below or share a note with campers and their families! Next week meet the Arts & Crafts Team.

Camp Heart Connection Una Fieta Fantastica

Friday’s Message from Camp Heart Connection Director, Channon Timm, “We are all part of our own families, but we are also connected to each other and make up the Camp Heart Connection family!”

Campers and Counselors having fun in 2005!

Today’s theme was Una Fiesta Fantastica. This was originally the theme in 2005. Children’s Cancer Connection’s Volunteer and Information Manager Elly Shaw joined the Camp Heart Connection staff in 2005 after spending many years as a sibling camper.

 

Campers enjoyed their final full day of activities. 

This evening was one of the most special for campers all week (and a little rain didn't get in our way.) Circle Awards were given to each camper recognizing something special about them that will be remembered even after leaving camp. (FYI Circles are how campers are organized into cabins the youngest campers are circle 3 through the oldest campers in circle 1). A graduation ceremony was also held for graduating seniors in Chase Lodge.

Later in the evening everyone attended Wish Night. Wish Night is an opportunity for campers to share their wish with other campers if they like. Some of the wishes were silly, while others more serious. Wish Night is truly an unforgettable experience for both campers and staff.

This is the final blog post for the week. Please remember that Camper Checkout begins at 9:30 a.m. tomorrow.

You're a Star at Camp Heart Connection

Thursday’s Message from Camp Heart Connection Director, Channon Timm, “There is strength inside all of us.”

Can you spot some familiar faces? Our Executive Director Mark Slocum is in the second row!

Today’s theme was You’re a Star. This was originally the theme in 1997. Another interesting fact about 1997, this was Camp Director Channon Timm’s first summer on staff!

   Yesterday was all about the girls (with the Princess Party), but today was for the boys. Our boy campers ages 5-12 attended Mortimer's Boys Only Party in the afternoon. Here they made ooblek, aka really icky gooey slimy stuff and enjoyed snacks.

The regular camp activities were open during the day again with a special addition, TIE DYE!

After dinner campers that were interested attended Glam Slam the Camp Dance Pre-Party. Here campers got pumped up for a favorite camp activity, the all camp dance. The theme for the dance was "You're a Star!" and was complete with a red carpet for campers to walk down!

Showdown at Camp Heart Connection

Wednesday’s Message from Camp Heart Connection Director, Channon Timm, “They say laughter is the best medicine and camp is the place to laugh and be silly!”

Do you recognize this staff member? (on the right) Carolyn Bygness of our Health Team in 1994!

Today’s theme was Showdown at Camp Heart Connection. This was originally the theme in 1994. 

One of the most memorable camp activities (at least for the girls) happened today. Aunt Fifi’s Princess Tea Part was held in Chase Lodge for girls ages 5 through 12.

Before the tea party, campers got dressed in the finest camp attire of donated prom and formal dresses. The little girls had fun helping each other dress. Even their counselors got in on the fun! Snacks were served and campers participated in a princess themed craft project.

During open activities today a basketball tournament was held. Many cabins participated! 

After dinner everyone gathered at the camp stage for the annual Camp’s Got Talent Show. Just before the show began 2 campers and 2 counselors cut their hair to donate to Locks of Love.

 Each cabin created a short production to share with other campers. We saw everything from skits to songs and dance. There were a lot of laughs!

Every Day is a Holiday at Camp Heart Connection

Tuesday’s Message from Camp Heart Connection Director, Channon Timm, “We all have a story to share at camp. Taking the time to understand where we all come from is important!”

Campers enjoying a magic show at Oncology Camp 1996.

Today’s theme was Every Day is a Holiday. This was originally the theme in 1996. The camp t-shirt for 1996 was a favorite and used as inspiration when creating the logo and t-shirts for our 25^th anniversary of camp.

 
Campers enjoyed a full day outside (with plenty of breaks for our youngest campers) that included open swim, arts and crafts activities, field games, archery and the zip line. 

A favorite camp game “Ga Ga Ball” or Israeli Dodgeball, was very popular today. The “Ga Ga Pits” were full all day! 

After dinner the 5-8 year old campers enjoyed a movie in Chase Lodge while campers 9 years and older had a drive up movie experience. Our older campers enjoyed an outdoor movie that was projected on an inflated screen outside the arts and crafts area.

After a full day of activities and a relaxing movie, campers and staff were ready to call it a day!

Camp Heart Connection Goes Hawaiian

Monday's Message from Camp Heart Connection Director, Channon Timm, "The beginning of the week marks a journey for all of us! Try new things, make new friends, go out of your comfort zone. Camp is a safe place where we all can show our bravery."

Here's a picture from Camp Heart Connection Oncology Camp 1993!

Today's theme was Camp Heart Connection goes Hawaiian. This was originally the theme in 1993, which was also the first year to feature a theme for camp.

After breakfast and cabin clean-up camp activities opened. Campers enjoyed arts and crafts, archery, swimming, horseback riding, and the zip line.

After a tasty lunch of macaroni and cheese, campers had some downtime to rest in their cabins before camp activities opened up again for the afternoon.

Campers enjoyed grilled hamburgers and hotdogs for dinner followed by outdoor games for the 5-12 year olds on the open field by Pioneer.

Later in the evening Teen campers enjoyed a Hypnotist show and the Teen Dance!

Camp Heart Connection also had some visitors Monday night. Guest Night is held each session of camp allowing donors and sponsors of Camp Heart Connection to visit for a few hours. Guests enjoyed a camp dinner and toured the facilities.

Camp Heart Connection Blast From the Past

This year is the 25^th anniversary of Camp Heart Connection and we’re celebrating in a big way! Each day this week is highlighting a past camp theme. Favorite games and activities from that year of camp will be brought back for current campers to enjoy. Each blog post this week will include a trip down memory lane, so follow us all week because you never know who may show up in past camp photos…

Today’s theme is Blast from the Past. This was originally the camp theme in 2003. This was also the first year Camp Heart Connection returned to the Y-Camp in Boone, after spending 10 years at Sunnyside in Des Moines.

Today campers arrived and we couldn’t be more excited about it! Camper registration began at 2:00 p.m. and kept everyone busy until dinner time. After checking in, campers and their parents enjoyed the all camp carnival staffed with volunteers from Phi Theta Kappa chapters across Iowa. 

When the carnival games were through campers said goodbye to their parents and headed to the dining hall for their first camp dinner, lasagna. Before sitting down to eat, campers sang camp grace and other favorite camp songs.

After dinner everyone gathered at the stage for the all camp photo. It took a little work but all 300+ campers and staff were able to squeeze in! Once the picture taking was finished a new camp game, was introduced.

Words with Friends is a popular game available in app form for smart phones and devices. Well we put a Camp Heart Connection twist on the game taking the digital out of it essentially creating a giant outdoor Scrabble game! After a lot of laughs and a great first day, campers headed to their cabins to rest up for tomorrow.

The Staff Has Arrived

Today the staff arrived at Camp Heart Connection for the final training sessions. It was a reunion for past counselors and a great introduction for first year staff! During the afternoon training session staff enjoyed hearing about the themes for the week and all of the exciting events celebrating the 25^th anniversary.

After the afternoon session of training, staff enjoyed a BBQ dinner from Hickory Park. During the dinner the 2012 Oncology Spirit of Camp Award was presented to Chad Whiting for his many years of dedication to Camp Heart Connection. Awards were also given to staff members celebrating 5, 10, and 15 years at Camp Heart Connection. 

Additional training continued after dinner before the staff returned to their cabins to prepare for campers. The entire camp team is excited and ready for campers to arrive tomorrow!

Reminder: Camper registration begins at 2:00 p.m.  and concludes at 4:00 p.m. tomorrow!

The Parent Camper Booklet and a map to Camp Heart Connection are available on our website.

Meet the Staff Series: Program Crew

Last week we introduced you to the Arts & Crafts Staff. This week meet the Program Crew!

• Katie Bulin is a first year counselor. Katie is a student at the University of Iowa.
• Hannah Infelt will return to Camp Heart Connection for the second summer.
•  Jessie Johnson is a student at the University of Iowa. This will be Jessie’s first summer at Camp Heart Connection.
•  Amy Loughran will spend her second summer at camp. Amy is a student at the University of Iowa.
• Laurel Tilley is a student at Grandview University. Laurel will spend her 12^th summer at Camp Heart Connection!
• Alyssa Turcsak will spend her 14^th summer at Camp Heart Connection! Alyssa is a student at Scott Community College.

Program Crew feel free to add more information about yourselves below or share a note with campers and their families! This is the final segment in the Meet the Staff Series for Oncology Camp 2012.