AUG B – Winston Karam, Holly Norman, Anna Grunsky, Skylar Hofstatter

Special Thank You Award

Top-O, Dodger, Tucker and Scotia, four of our senior staff this summer. Were given sweatshirts to thank them for their strong Leadership, for being good role-models, their ability to do a variety of jobs around camp and their loyalty to Camp Otterdale for many years.

3 Top Canoeists for the Summer of 2011

1. John Maclennan (14) and Gunner AUG A Time: 46:54
2. Sarah Burke (15) and Slalom JUL B 48:36
3. Liam Clarke (14) and Bauer JUL B 51:21

All of these are fantastic times!!

Summary of the Big Hits this Summer at Camp O

The new log rolling activity was challenging for all!
Balance extraordinaire required for this activity which can be attempted alone or with a friend. Just like the lumberjacks used to do on real logs, we have a new activity that requires excellent balance to stay upright while the “log” underfoot is spinning.

The new slide was a big splash!
This yellow fellow was fun for the faint of heart, who wanted to get wet in shallow water!

Our new water-ski boat was great fun!
WOW is all we can say about this powerful but very quiet cigar boat that had seating for six, a ladder at the back and enough OOMMFFFF to get event the weightiest Otterdale camper up on waterskiis…or a wakeboard or kneeboard….or even one ski !

The day-long canoe trips along and Tay River and Rideau Canal
The trips were a great experience for the senior camper boys and girls and they have improved their paddling skills and bonded as a group.
Nothing like going through a canal lock in a canoe!

Thank you and welcome onboard to our our new Medical Staff
Nurses: CYGNUS (JUL B) and MASH (JUL B)
Doctor: GURT (AUG A)

Alumni love to visit Camp Otterdale

Camp alumni visitors came into see us on a daily basis. The Camp Otterdale family connection is one that continues into adulthood.

Captn’s old camp directors, Skip and Nish from Camp Kawabi came for a visit to the area and had lunch with us and visited some of their old campers who are now Otterdale staff members!

Camp O in the Fall

Camp is entertaining Leadership groups from Ottawa all of September, right up until Thanksgiving. Groups from 30 to 135 students are coming for team-building exercises to set the tone for the school year. Camp O staff cook and keep the site clean for them and help with any technology they need in the way of film and music. This year there are 10 schools using the Camp O site!

In Memory of our Beloved Camp Dog, Roberta

Bert was born 1 March 1996 and adopted by Captn and Aunt Sue at the age of 18 months from HART (Highland Animal Retrieval Team) in Bancroft after being rescued from an abusive home. Her breed was a delightful mix of German shepherd, golden lab and husky. We thought she was beautiful. She met some very tough criteria: Quiet, calm, energetic but obedient, fine with other animals and lovely with groups of people. Bert was the perfect camp dog in all these respects.

She came in to our lives just after we purchased Camp O in 1997 and was our beloved sweetheart until her death last October, 2010. Many of our campers remember her when she was in her prime, running around camp after Captn, riding around in the Mule with him and greeting all the family cars as they arrived and left camp. She was a loving girl, and kind to everyone: letting campers pet her, kiss her and poke her without complaint. Because she was so popular, you may remember we had the “two person rule” to save her from getting mobbed!

Bert will be fondly remembered for her vacuuming skills in the Dining Room and for her constant presence in the kitchen area. In her later years she loved laying in the office and getting some relief in the cooler air. She was sadly missed every day this summer when Aunt Tsu drove in to camp in the morning and noticed that Burt wasn’t there to meet her. The Brown family has their dear Roberta buried in a special spot at the farm and she is well remembered and loved by our staff and campers who knew her.

Camp Sessions for 2012

Camp will start Saturday June 30 (30/6 – 13/7 JUL A) (14/7-27/7 JUL B) (30/7 – 12/8 AUG A) (13/8 – 26/8 AUG B) in 2012 and end on August 26 2012
One month sessions run 30 June to 27 July 2012 JULY and 30 July to 26 August, 2012 AUGUST
One week sessions and Day camp TBA