2009 Banquet Awards

Sports Awards –

Dave MacNeil talked about our newest award, the Chikopi Football Jerseys, which were awarded to the campers who showed the most skill, effort, sportsmanship and teamwork during the football sessions he taught: Mario Mendoza, Alex McMillen, Geoff Cloud and David Dubrovsky. Rob introduced Chikopi Swimming Team, telling us about their improvements in the water followed by Aaron presenting the Chikopi Early Bird Patch given to those boys who participated in Early Bird swim, run or paddle every morning before breakfast while at camp. Bob presented the Star Certificates, a written account showing a camper’s ability in any given sport. Zack and Wes presented the Team Competition Patch to the winning team captained by Mauricio and Jimmy. Cabin Eight won the summer Cabin Inspection Award – congratulations to Aaron and all of his boys in the cabin. Then Matt Ackman was certified as Fisherman of the Year – the largest fish caught in Ahmic Lake.

The Chikopi Man Award

Presented to any camp member who completed these five, strenuous events during the course of the Seven Weeks:

Chikopi Mile Swim, Three Mile Ahmic Harbour Swim Race, Knoepfli Mile Swim Race,

Chikopi Triathlon Race – swim, run, paddle, 12K Running Race

Congratulations go to:

James Bramley, Niall Currah, Phil Dimarzo, Nick Dmytreno, Jimmy Doheny, David Dubrovsky, Wes Greig,

Alex McMillen, Mauricio Rovira, Alejandro Salazar, Arturo Torres

Ever since the 1920’s, the Chikopi Belt Buckle has been presented to the top three campers in each of the three age groups as a rating culmination of the many sports we do at camp. This year’s recipients:

Other Award Recipients Were:

• Hollard Award Canoe Tripping Expertise Matthew Dmytrenko
• Sisu Award Outstanding Persistence Under Pressure Alex Buehlow
• Sportsmanship Award Outstanding Display of Sound Character Arturo Torres
• Buck Dawson Cup Most Running Mileage at Camp Niall Currah (333km)
• Charlie Award Greatest Personal Development Alejandro Salazar
• Camper of the Year Overall Greatness in Citizenship, Athletics Alex McMillen
• Respect for Others, Heart, etc. – nominated by counselors, elected by campers

Chikopi’s Five Year Gold Ring (required number of days at Chikopi = 245) presented to Zach Haughn who has been at Chikopi for a total of 266 days. Over the years, Zach has developed into one of Chikopi’s most memorable personalities and a good friend to all at camp.

Old Value #1: Camp Is A Paradise And Should Be Kept That Way – By Joe Menter

For those of us that have had the pleasure of reading Buck’s “autobiography” of Chikopi and Ak-O-Mak, or those of us fortunate enough to own a copy, you will have read the introduction by former camper and counselor Mike Mullins, who attended Chikopi in the 1970’s. Mike talked about the five “Old Values” that guide camp. Over the next few newsletters I’d like to share those “Old Values” with everyone as I think they really express what camp is all about.

Chikopi is a paradise, but probably not in the way that most people think, with palm trees, warm turquoise water, and white sandy beaches. It is a paradise of its own kind. It is the kind of place where you can get out of it what you put into it, and then some. It is the kind of place, where the blood, sweat, and tears of summer teach us the lessons that develop us into mature men. One thing that Chikopi does have in common with the paradise of which most people think is, that it is hard to leave. Come Wednesday morning after banquet, it is bittersweet to get on that bus to the airport or in the car for the ride home. Yes, it will be nice to get home to your own bed, family and friends, but we will miss the traditions, the goals accomplished, the lessons learned, the friends made and the plain old fun that Chikopi has given us over the summer. Our paradise is one that even when you leave you can still take advantage of the benefits and lessons learned over the summer. Hopefully while you are at home over the winter you are working hard in school and athletics, you are putting to use the lessons you learned at Chikopi.

Alive & Well At Chikopi – By Neil Dolman

Over the countless years that I have been involved with Camp Chikopi I have seen many campers pass though the camp, some attend for one year, some of you come back for many years.

Even though times do change the one constant that I see year after year at Chikopi is Teamwork and Friendship.

We thrust total strangers together in a camp setting yet, friendship’s are made quickly, often within the first couple of days upon arrival at camp, and grow stronger as the summer progresses.

These friendships often last a lifetime, as you will always share the common bond of Camp Chikopi, even though you may live at opposite ends of the country or globe and not see each other very often you will always remain friends.

I continue to run into old friends that I went to camp with as long as 25 years ago and enjoy sharing old camp stories with them, seeing if they have been in contact with other old friends and catching up on what they are doing. Talking to former Chikopi alumni is one of the highlights of every visit when I am back at camp.

These friendships are formed year after year at Chikopi and are a very important part of your camp experience.

Today’s technology makes it easier to stay in touch with camp friends, e-mail, facebook, blogging or twitter, so make the effort, stay in touch, some of the best friendships you will ever have will be the ones you made at Chikopi.

One of the spin-offs of the friendships that are made at camp is Teamwork, all of you that come to camp realize that a big part of the camp experience revolves around Teamwork, team comp, team practices, cabin inspection, etc. I have always enjoyed watching how the teamwork improves as the summer moves on. On the first day of camp there are 80 individuals, all with their own personal goals on what they want out of their summer at camp, no one is thinking about teamwork. During the first few days of team competition the teams do not perform very well due to lack of teamwork, but as the friendships grow the teams turn into well oiled machines, they start competing as one rather than individuals which leads to some very exciting competitions.

This holds true in the cabin inspection as well, in the first week we see scores of 6.5 but it is not long before the team aspect kicks in and the scores are 9.5 to 10 on a daily basis. Teamwork is also noticeable when the camp is involved in individual competitions during the summer, the first being the Knoepfli mile swim, most of the campers jump in swim and get out with very little thought about the other campers, but as the summer progresses and we get to the Ahmic Harbor swim and the Triathlon campers are there at the finish line, cheering on their cabin mates asking them how they did and encouraging campers that may never have swam three miles or competed in a triathlon to give it a try and telling them that “they can do it just give it a try”.

Friendship & Teamwork are the two characteristics that stood out when I spent my first week at camp as a Fourteen year old, I was fortunate to be able to spend another summer at Camp Chikopi this past summer and they are still the two characteristics that stand out today.

By Neil Dolman