Mel, Krafty, Arielle, Evan and Sarah

This December the 2011 CILT Counselors–Sarah, Arielle, Mel, Krafty & Evan–are inviting the 2011 CILTs (all 120+ of you!) to the 4th annual Winter CILT Reunion!

December 10-11 we’re welcoming any available Campers In Leadership Training from this past summer  back for a weekend of fun, fellowship, and most likely a Dance Party!  Re-connect with those great friends you made this past summer, meet some of the CILTs from other sessions and see what camp looks like covered in snow!*  Those who are interested may also have the chance to interview for a 2012 Day Camp Counselor position.

Registrations should have gone out to all 2011 CILTs, however if you misplaced yours or it got lost in transit, you can download one here.

Questions about the CILT reunion?  Feel free to contact Joel Sieplinga, Day Camp Director.

Questions about what exactly the Campers In Leadership Training program is?  Click here for more details.

*Snow is not guaranteed.  The fun is!

This past weekend we welcomed about 25 different families to camp for a terrific time of fun, fellowship and memories!

Family camp is a great time to reconnect with friends and make new ones too!

Guests had the opportunity to try activities including Archery, Riflery, Climbing, Horseback Riding, Boating, Black Hole and Zipline.  We also opened up the swimming pools, ziplines and waterslides–Family Camp exclusive events!

Taking aim at the Riflery Range

Zip Away!

You can find more Family Camp pictures in our online gallery.

If you and your family would like to join us for our next Family Camp over the Memorial Day weekend in 2012, you can find more information at our website, or give us a call at 765-564-2898.

Day Camp Open House

Sunday, April 17 2-5 pm

On Sunday, April 17 from 2-5 pm the Camp Tecumseh YMCA Day Camp staff is inviting any interested families to stop by for an Open House.  Attendees will get the chance to tour around camp, meet the Day Camp Counselors, ask the Director questions and try some of the Day Camp activities.  We’ll have mini-golf, face painting, tractor rides, black hole slide, rock climbing and more available for guests to try.  There will also be drawings to win Camp Tecumseh apparel!  No registration or RSVP is required for the open house.

Registration for Day Camp is currently open and some weeks are filling up quickly.  You can Register Online, or visit our website for more information.

For questions, please feel free to contact Joel Sieplinga, Day Camp Director (765-564-2898 x309).

March 1 marked the start of registration for
Day Camp 2011 at Camp Tecumseh YMCA!

Since 1974 Camp Tecumseh has welcomed youngsters from around Central Indiana to a week of Day Camp.  Boys and Girls ages 5-12 come each summer to make new friends, learn new skills and have a great time.  Activities like GaGa, Human Foosball, the Black Hole, nature hikes, Gold Rush, World Service Carnival, horseback rides, swimming and more will keep campers active and excited for each day.

Our Day Camp Counselors are “Professional Role Models” who are trained to make sure that campers create friends and memories that will last a lifetime.

Our Parents Say it Best:

“Great camp!  Very friendly staff and great activities.  The kids are already looking forward to next year.”

“Made friends.  Loved everything about camp-entire week was a great experience!”

You can register online here or visit our website for more information.

If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to call (765-564-2898) or email Joel Sieplinga, Day Camp Director.

The Whole Group!

This past weekend Camp Tecumseh welcomed back over 60 CILTs (Campers in Leadership Training) for a time of fun and reconnecting.

CILTs from all three of the 2010 sessions attended and participated in team-building activities as well as free time to connect with old friends and meet new friends.

Hanging out, having fun!

CILT counselors Sarah Wright, Shelby Barrett and Kaitlyn Kennedy were on hand and Ben “Beef” Needham made an appearance via Skype.  The reunion was a great opportunity for longtime campers to see Camp Tecumseh during the winter.  Many said that they had been looking forward to the reunion for weeks!

For more information about Camp Tecumseh’s CILT program, visit our website.

As told by a former Camper and Counselor

I love that we eat all our meals with at least 10 other people around one table. People miss out when they don’t get that human interaction- never mind that we’re eating corndogs, trays of pizzas, and sloppy joes that might not be your favorite choice at home. Eating family style is good for you.

Devotions are the perfect way to end the day. Coming together in a circle with just candlelight, revisiting the whole day, talking about important things, the occasional crying, praying while interspersing hugs or high-5s, and falling asleep knowing we’ll all be together tomorrow.

My friend was telling me that the highlight of her day was talking to a 3rd grader for 10 minutes. At camp we are surrounded by children from age 5-15 all day long. They make me laugh, teach me about my faith, write notes in the sand, never brush their hair, ask tough questions, drive me nuts, give the best hugs, tell crazy stories, make up games like jelly-ball, dress like lax bros, smile constantly, sing LOUD and love unconditionally.

At camp all your friends are no more than a village away. Instead of communication via text or facebook we communicate village to village. We talk before chapel, get so excited to see each other when we pass on the hill, teach clinics together and sit on porches long after the campers have fallen asleep . At camp you always greet friends with a hug. Leaving each other for 25 hours on the weekend feels like an eternity.

Being 3rd is a way of life. It is normal, expected, celebrated, and anticipated to have conversations about faith and to center your days around the way God wants you to live. We are kind to people because it’s just what you do. We love people well. Kids don’t have to worry about fitting in- everyone belongs and is part of the family.

HAVE FUN is a non-negotiable goal. We try to make every week the best week of the whole year. I understand that it’s necessary for us to go to work or school the rest of the year- I support both of those things. But I don’t think that having fun should stop. Talk in a weird accent, make your friends sing karaoke in the car, wear overalls on a normal day, draw with sidewalk chalk, take a jumping picture or give a friend a present just because you love them. We do fun things more often at camp.

Hurry, there are only HOURS left for early registration for 2011.

Camp Tecumseh is inviting any and all CILTs (Campers in Leadership Training) from the summer of 2010 to a winter reunion!

Saturday, December 12 – Sunday, December 13 the CILTs are invited to come back to camp for some time of fun, games, catching up and more!  Many of your favorite Camp T counselors will be there to make sure it’s a great time!

Interviews for Day Camp will also be conducted on a limited basis.

To sign up, print off a registration form from here and mail it in with your $25 by December 1.

For questions or more information, feel free to contact Joel Sieplinga.

On Sunday, April 18, we invited the community to our annual Day Camp Open House.  We could not have asked for better weather and approximately 160 people came out to enjoy the beautiful day!

15 Day Camp Counselors also came out to meet the families and help with Mini Golf, the Black Hole, Mt. Wood, Facepainting and Tractor Rides.  Guests got the opportunity to tour around camp, have their questions answered, and also enjoy some free pizza (courtesy of Toppers Pizza of West Lafayette).  We also had quite a few new campers register for this summer’s Day Camp!

We want to thank everyone who joined us for a great day.  If you didn’t have the opportunity to come to the Open House but have questions or would like to see camp for yourself, feel free to contact me (Joel, the Day Camp Director) at 765-564-2898 x309.  I am always happy to give tours and answer questions.

If you have not yet had the opportunity to register for Day Camp, there’s still time.  You can Register Online or Print A Registration Form to mail in.

More pictures of the Day Camp Open House are available here.

Noah helping some youngsters play Mini Golf

Kelly & Catie excited to greet families

We are inviting Day Camp families–both new and returning–to come to camp on Sunday, April 18 from 2:00-6:00 pm! Families will have the opportunity to take a trailer ride around camp, climb Mt. Wood, scream down the Black Hole and try other Day Camp activities!

We’ll have several of our counselors on hand to meet campers and parents and to help answer any questions you might have.  Joel (that’s me, the Day Camp Director) and Christa (the Day Camp Registrar) will be on hand to help with questions and registration.

A drawing will also be held for free Camp Tecumseh T-Shirts!

If you have any questions, please feel free to contact me at 765-564-2898 x309 or JoelS@camptecumseh.org

Every year on March 1, something exciting happens–we begin registering for Day Camp!  This year is no exception, registration is now open for Camp Tecumseh Day Camp 2010.

This year will once again feature some “old favorites” of Day Camp, including the black hole, archery, bb guns, climbing, arts & crafts, World Service Carnival and Gold Rush.  We’ve also added in new activities for all ages, revised and added World Service Activities and created a Thursday Dress-Up Day to go along with the weekly theme.

We are also excited to be welcoming back a number of counselors from last year and we have a terrific staff overall!  Meetings have already begun with staff to plan out new unit activities, look at creative craft ideas and discuss how to make Day Camp even better!  During weeks 4 and 5, we’ve also added in an Equestrian Day Camp for campers ages 11-12.

This year you can register for Day Camp by either printing off a registration form and mailing/faxing it back in, or registering online.  Both options are available on our website at www.camptecumseh.org/daycamp.

Stay tuned to the news feed for information about this Spring’s Day Camp Open House!

For any questions, please contact JoelS@camptecumseh.org.