17 August 2010. Bob, Colette and Teagan attended the wedding of Chikopi Alum, Les MacDougall.
Les & Jenn MacDougall
While there we caught up with several other MacDougall Chikopi alum too.
Bob, Steff Dolan, (nee MacDougall), Teagan Duenkel, Stephen MacDougall, Les MacDougall, Ian MacDougall (not photographed)
After a one year hiatus, the Football program was back at Chikopi in full force in 2009 and the Chikopi coaches and staff could not have been more proud of the effort that was put into the football program by the Chikopi campers and counselors this past summer.
As you know, the football program at Chikopi teaches the basic fundamentals of the game of North American football (the rules of both the American and Canadian games are explained) and while we practice fundamentals such as passing, catching, as well as punting and kicking, the game played at camp is a little different from the regular game of football and for that reason it is known as “CFL” or the “Chikopi Football League”. While CFL follows certain basic rules of the game of football, it also has a little twist – Once the ball is snapped and the play starts there is no line of scrimmage and a team and its players can pass forward and then backwards and then forward again until touched by two hands of any opponent from the other team. Due to the great athletics abilities of the campers it makes for an exciting game. The game over the past seven (7) years has taken a life of its own and I was happy to hear the chants for “CFL, CFL”, during the dinner periods.
This year also marked the first year that the special football awards were handed out at Chikopi. The award is meant to symbolize both the sport of football and Chikopi all in one and what better way to do that than by having a special Camp Chikopi Football Jersey. Each green jersey had “Camp Chikopi” written on the front of it as well as the number “20” on the front and back, which represents the founding year of the camp, 1920 (see the attached picture).
After a solid performance by all campers in the annual “Punt pass and Kick competition”, I could tell that the 2009 year was one to remember. We had a great group of Junior, Midley and Senior Campers who showed that they had great technical skills and had the heart to learn and play the game. Some campers had never played the game until this year but proved to be very skilled at the game and many campers who had been at camp for many years prior showed such great improvement and that it made it very tough to choose a winner for each age group. In the end the winners in each age group were decided based on the following factors: Overall Effort, sportsmanship, teamwork, skills and most of all heart. In the end it was very close and many campers were vying for the coveted football Jersey. The staff were very pleased to award the inaugural Camp Chikopi football Jerseys to the following campers:
Junior: Mario Mendoza
Midley: Alex McMillan
Senior (Tie): Geoff Cloud and David Dubrovsky
I can see that next year’s campers will be even better as they have learned so much and all I can say is that former Chikopi football coach and legend Wally Weber (former University of Michigan Football assistance coach) would have been very proud of this year’s team. We look forward to another great year of Football at Chikopi, as well as all other Chikopi sports, in the summer of 2010.
Keep training football players and we’ll see you on Weber Field next summer.
Fall is upon us and winter is fast approaching as more then two months have already flown past since most of us left Chikopi. I have never felt more motivated than and as energized as I did when camp had ended this year. We had such a great group of campers and councillors that it made my job that much easier and that much more enjoyable. Unfortunately the weather did not agree with what we had planned for the summer, but there was no stopping the energy and the team-work and the good sportsmanship that was shown throughout the 7 weeks this past summer. To think that we could see our breath in July in the middle of the day because it was so cold and yet we never had a moment where we were not full of that Chikopi spirit. It was great to see such a refreshing group of people coming together and making experiences and memories that will last a lifetime.
When the 7-week camp had ended I was lucky enough to stay at camp for the greater part of the Two-Week camp. Originally my plan was to stay and help the new campers move in and then take off to Florida, but as all of you know it is hard to leave Chikopi. I pushed my departure back and back and back until I had run-out of time and I had to leave to attend to other commitments.
The day I left camp I made it to Barrie for a good nights sleep in my old bed, then the next morning, still with my car full of my stuff from camp headed on another adventure driving down to Florida; where I am currently working with Athletes’ Performance. On my drive down to Florida I made a surprise visit to Greg Gerum at the University of Western Kentucky, I was only able to stay for lunch but it is always nice to see a familiar face so far from home. If there is one thing that every one of us can take from Chikopi is the value of friendship and the connections we can make with people from every area of this world that come from a plethora of religious and cultural backgrounds. It is those connections and relationships that make us who we are and can lead us to worlds otherwise unknown. One of those people that have made me who I am is Coach Dick Bower, whom I have recently spoken to. He says hi to everyone and we all have him and his family in our prayers as his wife and great friend Barbra fights against cancer.
Friends I have made at Chikopi and Ak-O-Mak have brought me to live in Australia, Baltimore, and Sudbury and supplied a home away from home in city’s and countries all over the world. Now I am on another exploration down in Florida where I am interning with a company called Athletes’ Performance.
Athletes’ Performance is an Elite Athlete training facility with a few locations across the United States. I have already learned more then I ever could have imagined in such a short amount of time, everyday I work alongside some of the world’s best athletic trainers and performance coaches from a varying array of sports backgrounds. We work with the very best athletes in the world from the NHL to MLB to the NFL and the NBA. As well we work with those athletes preparing for University or those trying to make it into the major leagues. It’s a very exciting experience that I hope I can share even a fraction of with all of you up at Chikopi.
Another new area I have just become part of is the “post-sport” world. We always talk about fitness-for-life at camp, and early bird being a large part of that. Having retired from competitive swimming earlier this year I tried working-out on my own for a while but I need the social aspect of sport, so about a month ago I joined the local Masters swimming group and am having a great time! For right now I am down in Florida until Christmas from there I am off again to pursue whatever interesting opportunities’ I can find. Stay focused, stay positive, have fun, try new things and do everything in the spirit of a true CHIKOPI MAN!
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.
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
Bob’s last night at camp, Tuesday October 20th 2009, was a cold one, minus 5 degrees C (20 F), which caused the water valves to freeze resulting in a longer time to thaw the water lines so he could drain the pipes for the winter. It was not until 1:00pm in the afternoon that he locked the gate, the responsibility of the last person to depart Chikopi, and set off on his 12 days on the road driving to Fort Lauderdale. First stop was to say goodbye to Carl and Joyce in Ahmic Harbour (after receiving some of Joyce’s homemade muffins). Bob’s route included visits to Chikopi campers and alumni as well as some family and friends. He set out for the home of Catherine, Herb and Maid Marion Denny. Catherine is Ak-o-Mak’s resident doctor and a member of the Ak-o-Mak Board of Directors. Herb is the pilot of the airplane we see parked on the Ak-o-Mak beach and Marion is their daughter. Bob was pulling the Chikopi trailer laden with six lawnmowers needing repair by the Tollgate school kids in Brantford, Ontario, the same kids who come to Chikopi in early June to help prepare camp for the season.
The next day was the funeral of the mother of Ak-o-Mak’s executive director Dianne Young, a Chikopi mom going back almost 40 years. Her sons, Dave, Paul and Graham, all attended Chikopi for many years beginning in the 1970’s. We extend our condolences and best wishes to the Young Family, for a mom who represented all the qualities and values we try to instill into each Chikopi person – hard work, discipline, loving, caring, responsibility, loyalty and leadership. Mrs. Young was all of those things and more. She was one of the first female jewelers in a man’s jewelry world, gaining the respect and dignity of everyone in a business where your handshake is your signature. We will all miss her.
Also staying at Catherine and Herb’s home were Ak-o-Mak alums Denise Dickie Isreals, Natalie Nagy and Anne Repath. A reception following the funeral was held at the home of one of Dianne’s long-time friends. As it turned out, no other men attended so it became Bob’s first and only “hen party”. It was one of those times if you ever wanted to be a “fly-on-the-wall” to listen to what all the girls were saying, this was it.
The next stop was London, Ontario, and the home of Bob Barney (B2) and his wife, Ashleigh. B2 had been at Chikopi a few weeks earlier to teach sailing to the University of Western Ontario Kinisiology students. Bob was picking up the annual posters from UWO’s Olympic Studies Program for display at the International Swimming Hall of Fame before B2 departed the next day for Greece and a two-week international studies program. Bob had a chance to help the Barney’s with some outdoor home renovations, just like at Chikopi where B2 has helped with many projects over the years.
The next day it was on to Peter Michienzi’s and a great visit with Pete, Mario and Piero. Bob had a chance to see Peter’s mini wrestling Hall of Fame – his Commonwealth Games medals and Olympic photos most of which were humbly displayed in the basement. They went to an all you can eat Chinese restaurant that made it feel like you were having a meal in Remy’s and Regis’s hometown of Beijing.
Then it was on to the home of Glenn Belfry, wife Shannon and baby Grace. For many years, Glenn was Chikopi’s resident swimming coach, even coaching Robbie when he was a Chikopi camper years ago. Glenn had done a lot of work on his house and the inside second floor was like a tree house with stairs that overlooked a cathedral ceiling above and down to the room below. It was great to see Glenn and his family again. He returns every September to Ak-o-Mak to conduct the UWO’s canoeing camp. The next day, it was off to Mississauga to see Michigan Dave Mac Neil, wife Candace and baby daughter Emily. They all went for a walk in the park, had a delicious dinner and Bob got to read Emily a bedtime story. Check out Dave’s article in this newsletter.
The next morning was an early rise for all as Bob was off to Welland to meet Scott Miller, Ak-o-Mak’s former maintenance worker at whose home Chikopi used to stay in the backyard when attending the War Canoe and Paddling Championships some years ago. Scott had arranged a meeting with the City’s Recreation Director to suggest, with the help of the local YMCA, a citywide water walking or water running event, which could be held in the Welland Canal, the famous link between Great Lakes Erie and Ontario. Can you imagine hundreds of people in the canal as a publicity event to help the Welland community, which has been struggling, with the economy. Our mission is to help where we can. Good job, Scott.
Following the meeting, Bob crossed the border into the U.S., passing through Grand Island, New York, home of Joe Menter as well as Spooky and his dad Phil Ciraolo, Chikopi’s swimming coach from last year. Since leaving camp only a short time earlier, Joe has been substitute teaching while waiting for a full-time position to open. Spooky was doing some physical training in the basement and Phil does all the Chikopi clothing orders. They all live on the island around which the Niagara River flows before it goes over the Falls.
Next stop on the journey was in Bloomsberg, Pennsylvania, home of Stu and Meg Marvin and Meg’s dad, Ted Keller, who hand-makes all the Chikopi awards and specialized magnets. Stu is Head Swim Coach at Bloomsburg College and arranged for Bob and Meg to meet the college president’s wife to see her grandmother’s antique award for being the first woman to swim across San Francisco Bay in 1912. It is a unique and beautifully engraved leather pigskin, which hangs in a prominent place in the President’s home and was first presented back in 1912.
Back on the road again to Bob’s hometown of West Orange, New Jersey, home of Thomas Edison, inventor of the electric light bulb, the first motion picture, the phonograph and lots more. It had been ten years since Bob had been in West Orange to see has Olympic Swimming Champion sister receive the Citizen of the Century Award in 2000. His old house looks just the same as does his cousin who lives on Long Beach Island who Bob had not seen for over 30 years. A stopover with United States Lifesaving Association Chapter President, Bob Dillon, preceded the next visit to Bob’s brother Dick, wife Laura and nephews who were at football and baseball practice with their kids. After two days, it was back behind the “wheel” of the suburban and trailer for the two-day ride from Virginia to Fort Lauderdale, arriving just in time to see Teagan and Colette just before Teagan’s bedtime and hear all about her swimming, soccer and dance practices along with school work.
Now it is time to get things geared up for the summer 2010, beginning right now with this newsletter.
Camp Chikopi Alumnus, Ken Webb, stopped by the camp on February 27th and provides us with the following photographs. For those interested, the temperature was approximately 24 below at the time of the visit.
Standing On Wally Webber Front Field looking over a frozen Ahmic Lake to Rocky Reef:
Chikopi Barn:
Chikopi Play House:
Deer at the side of the Play House:
