Tune It Up at the 2010 Maintenance Conference

This week Camp hosts our second national conference of the month: The 2010 North American Camp Maintenance Conference. Over 80 professionals hailing from Iowa to Maryland to right here in the Adirondacks are gathering this Tuesday through Thursday to share ideas and learn from one another. These are the essential men and women camps rely on for new projects, facility repairs, and the countless day-to-day functions of running a camp. Below: High 5 inspector Todd fills participants in on ropes initatives standards.

Participants of the Conference attend presentations that range from tutorials on engine repair to discussions about new facility ideas and volunteer recruitment. Camp Consultant Gary Forster and engineer Rick Stryker are the keynote speakers, sharing their many years of experience and wisdom in the field. This conference is an opportunity for networking and a chance to see what's going on in camp maintenance across the country... and not to mention it's a great time!

Above, left to right: Chingachgook Maintenance Director Chris Thompson shows off parts (and materials) of the brand new barn over the climbing tower KYBO during a tour. Presenter and Ace Hardware expert Tom Ogle demonstrates the ins and outs of engine repair on an old mower.

You know you're from Camp Chingachgook when...

Your know you’re from Camp Chingachgook when…

1. You know EVERY word to “I love Camp Chingachgook”, “This Camp is your Camp”, and “I’m a Chingachgook Kid”

2. When you see a golf cart, you automatically think about Camp, not golf.

3. Phil Holden has a special place in your heart.

4. You know what KYBO stands for…and you still use it.

5. You’re positive Camp keeps unicorns in the unicorn pen in the JGU.

6. Your favorite song ever is Aaron Cantor’s, “shake yo’ finger.”

7. You’ve gone off the rope swing so many times, that you’ve perfected the art of answering questions in mid-air.

8. It makes you mad when non-camp people won’t honor your calling of “dibs.”

9. You have the urge to call “CHECKAR” after you finish clearing the table at home.

10. When you pack for Camp every year, you throw in tons of “weird stuff”, because you are CERTAIN it’s going to come in handy.

11. Anytime something is empty you say, “okay, whoever kills it, fills it”

12. “Fred the fairy is so great, is so great, is so great. Fred the fairy is so great, because he’s a fairy”

Thanks to Sarah Caffry for providing me with the inspiration and content! You rock Sarah :)

If you have any others...add them in the comments section, just make sure its appropriate!