3/1/08
Did you know that
Camp Mason offers family camp weekends?
In our busy, modern lives we all seem
to have far too many distractions
that pull us away from the things
that really matter. We say family
foremost! Quality time with the family
when you can all be together seems
harder and harder to find. But, the
YMCA has a solution - a tradition
that spans seven decades. Family Camp!!!
Our program is designed
to be a fun-for-the-whole-family weekend
of things to do, indoors and out.
Do as much or as little as you like.
Relax at camp, or hit the trail! Throughout
the weekend we will be offering various
camp activities you can enjoy as a
group - or divide up for a time so
each can sample the activity they
most enjoy. Some activities are self
directed while others are supervised
by our helpful, caring staff. The
weekend also includes planned group
events. Evening programs include exciting
presenters, treasure hunts, and a
traditional campfire complete with
s’mores.
Activities
may include:
Fishing
Hiking
Swimming (seasonal)
Boating & Canoeing
Volleyball
Climbing Wall
Skiing and Snow Tubing
(seasonal)
Basketball
Soccer
Skate Park
Riflery
Archery
Nature Hikes Geocaching
Campfires
Tetherball
Playground
Square Dance
Arts and Crafts
Special off
camp trips may include:
Rafting or Tubing
on the Delaware
Hiking Van Campen's Glen (staff guided
or on your own)
Visits to historic Millbrook Village
Hiking to Catfish Fire Tower (staff
guided or on your own)
Facilities:
Don't worry. These
ain’t your Grandfathers old
camp tents! Our duplex cabins are
heated and have full bathrooms on
each side and bunk beds that hold
up to 12 people per unit. Each unit,
with private bath, will house one
family for the weekend with some smaller
families staying in single rooms in
Spruce or Hillside Lodge. Village
assignment choice is on a first come
first served basis. Beds and mattresses
are provided but you should bring
either sleeping bags or sheets and
blankets, pillows, etc. plus personal
toiletries. Families bringing a dog
must notify us in advance and will
be assigned only to accommodation
in areas with other dog owners, and
only as space there permits.
Meals:
Leave the pots and
pans at home! No one is stuck cooking
or cleaning the dishes here. Meals
are prepared by the the Camp Mason
professional food service staff and
served buffet style. Plenty to eat,
and plenty of selection. No one goes
hungry. All we ask is each family
clear their own table after the meal.
A cereal and salad bar is available
at all meals.
Mother's Day
Weekend Camp - May 9 - 11, 2008
Memorial Day
Weekend Camp - May 23 - 26, 2008
Labor Day
Weekend Camp - August 29 - September
1, 2008
Fall Foliage
Weekend Camp - October 17- 19, 2008
3/1/08
The blue spotted salamander, a member
of a group of subterranean-dwelling
amphibians known as “mole salamanders,”
are hard to spot. Finding this species
can be particularly difficult since
it’s on the endangered species list
in New Jersey. The salamander’s preferred
habitat is hardwood forest like the
oak and birch woodlands of camp and
areas that provide the ponds necessary
for them to breed. Last October an
eagle-eyed attendee of Comfort Zone
Camp spotted one of these elusive
creatures during a nature hike. This
discovery goes to show that a walk
around Camp Mason is bound to be an
exciting learning experience. You
never know what you may find!
1/22/08
Thanks to mother nature, December brought
Camp Mason just enough winter weather
to welcome in the 2007 Winter Reunion
with a white smile. Campers and staff
came from all over the Tri-State to
experience a bit of summer craziness
with a frosty flare. The Reunion started
with a good ole' cabin welcome from
the counselors and then everyone headed
off to the dining hall for some well
needed socializing. As expected, it
was pretty hard to get to sleep knowing
your friends from the summer are in
the bed next to you and there's lot's
to talk about!
Friday brought us great weather and
time to explore some unique Camp Mason
winter fun. Campers took part in snow
painting, ice football, archery, hiking
up to the barn (or sliding for some),
arts and crafts and outdoor cooking.
After some fun on camp we all loaded
up and headed to Camelback for some
much needed snow tubing. And boy did
we tube! Some made it up and down the
hill 7 times. Camelback is a great place
to relax, have a cup of hot cocoa and
enjoy the day. After we were all worn
out we hopped on the bus and headed
back to camp. Of course a camp event
wouldn't be right without a dance. So
after everyone changed and warmed up
the party started. Dancing and playing
games for a few hours is a great way
to celebrate being with friends. Saturday
came around and we all spent more time
around camp enjoying the snow and conversation.
As the time came to say our goodbyes,
the resounding comment of "See
you in 6 months!" could be heard
around camp. All in all it was a great
Winter Reunion and a perfect way to
round out an awesome year of camping.
The best thing about being around our
camp friends is that it brings back
memories of the summer and reminds us
how much we can't wait to pull in to
Camp Mason this summer.
The Board is pleased to announce that
David DeLuca will begin as the new CEO
and Executive Director of YMCA Camp
Ralph S. Mason starting on October 1.
Dave is married and has two teen aged
daughters. The past ten years he has
served as Executive Director of YMCA
Camp Beckett in Massachusetts. Prior
to that he was Camping Services Director
for the Burlington, Vermont YMCA where
he directed YMCA Camp Abnaki for five
years. He also previously served as
Program Director with the YMCA of the
Ozarks.
“Camp Mason has
such tremendous potential. I am excited
to join the Camp Mason family and
help shape its future. I am looking
forward to learning about Camp Mason’s
history and traditions and meeting
all of the dedicated alumni, volunteers
and camp families,” Dave says.
According to Search
Committee co-chairs, Barbara Cooper
and Kent Weber, “we are pleased and
satisfied and know we have the best
possible person to take the helm at
the camp.”
Mike Peterson,
who joined us as CEO and Executive
Director in November of 1984, will
be retiring the first of November.
He and wife Carol will be moving to
their house in Tobyhanna, Pennsylvania,
and hope to spend more time with their
boat on Lake Wallenpaupack, and winters
traveling in their newest motor home.
Winter Camp Reunion on December 27th
- 29th, 2007! Mark your calendars
now!! It is never to early to start
thinking about Camp Mason's Winter
Reunion camp. If summer camp is great
then wait until you hear about our
winter reunion camp. Snow sledding
on our floodlit sled hill, built on
our very own Sioux Hill, tubing at
Camelback Ski resort, campfires, winter
activities, and a chance to see or
our friends from the summer of 2007.
Camp Mason's winter reunion will be
taking place on Thursday, December
27th until Saturday, December 29th.
Registration will begin in September.
Summer is not our only chance for
camp!!!!
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