Memories in the making!
Giggles, excited squeals, and awed whispers - these are the sounds of summer… camps! Hearing these sounds it's hard not to feel a little nostalgic while walking across campus. So while this year's sprouting filmmakers, budding athletes, mini-Minecraft mavens, Hogwart's scientists, and little explorers laugh their way through the summer, we asked staff from across the U of A to share their own favourite memories of summer camps gone by. Here's what they've shared:
Erin Plume - Assistant Board Secretary, University Governance
My cabin-mates and me, laughing hysterically at this joke: Two squirrels are running around and around a tree when one stops and says to the other 'I'm getting kinda dizzy'. I don't know what it was but we laughed until we cried about that.
Erin Plume is/was ready to take on the summer. Photo courtesy of Erin Plume.
If you could attend any of the 2018 U of A summer camps, which one would you pick and why would 10 year old you have loved it?
Forensic Explorers for sure! When I was in grade 6, I came to the U of A on a field trip and we got to hear Owen Beattie talk about the Franklin Expedition. That talk was the reason I went into Anthropology.
Camp Councilor Jessica is locked in for some summer investigating. | Image: Michaela Ream.
Steve Kerr - Digital Product Leader, University Relations
Hiking up Mount Wrottesley (5,246 feet) on the Howe sound in 1968 with a group of 12 and 13 year old campers (after war canoeing to the mountain base) when one of our party miss-stepped and went tumbling down the mountain side. We all watched aghast as he rolled and bounced to the bottom of the steep slope. We waited, holding our breath, when suddenly he jumped up laughing loudly. What could have been a catastrophic event was averted and the relief flooded us all. Something I will never forget.
If you could attend any of the 2018 U of A summer camps, which one would you pick and why would 10 year old you have loved it?
The Alberta Summer Mathematics Institute would be my choice. Nothing beats "kerrculations."
Camp Councilor John may not be doing kerrculations when he looks at the sky, but you never know. | Image: Michaela Ream.
Diane McGall - Administrative Assistant, The Chester Ronning Centre for the Study of Religion and Public Life
My favourite memory from summer camp as a kid was from my summer at OELC (Ontario Educational Leadership Centre) in the SPARC (Sport, Physical Activity and Recreation) camp course. In addition to the endless outdoor activities, there was one workshop where we had to bring a short presentation that represents our individual heritage. I sang "My bonnie lies over the ocean" - a Scottish folk tale.
If you could attend any of the 2018 U of A summer camps, which one would you pick and why would 10 year old you have loved it?
10-year old me would pick the Green & Gold Sport Camp - because I was obsessed with all sports, being outside, engaging with friends in fun and creative activities, and building a strong sense of good sportsmanship.
Faculty of Science camp councilors are ready for the summer. | Image: Michaela Ream.
Erik Einsiedel - Communications Associate, Faculty of Arts
Just before my first year of junior high (I was 12), all the first-years went to a summer camp as a fun way to do school orientation. On the first day, when they did roll call, they got to what should've been my name, but called for "Edna Einsiedel." Apparently, my mom put her name on the form instead of mine. So for the rest of that camp, everybody called me "Edna" instead of Erik. Even 30 years later, my friend from that camp still calls me Edna.
… oh wait, you said "favourite" memory, not "hilariously humiliating."
If you could attend any of the 2018 U of A summer camps, which one would you pick and why would 10 year old you have loved it?
10-year old Edna would've definitely gone for one of the gaming camps, and created a game where you score points for putting the correct name on forms.
Camp Councilors Chris, Kaelie, and Kurtis lean in (or away?) from the world of Minecraft. | Image: Michaela Ream.
Ahna MacLeod - Digital Communications Associate, Faculty of Science
Newspaper clipping courtesy of Ahna MacLeod… ignore the "Christmas Camp" part… camp is camp.
As you can see, Ahna made a very artful candle at camp that caught the attention of the media! I don't totally remember what happened to it. I assume we used/burnt it? I remember what it looked like, though! It was an ombre kind of deal from dark purple to light pink. Would've been super "in" right now.
Maybe I set the trend?! Like 20 years early…?
If you could attend any of the 2018 U of A summer camps, which one would you pick and why would 10 year old you have loved it?
Digital Creator Camp because I've always been a tech nerd.
Krista Larocque - Human Resources Assistant, Augustana
Hands down - archery. I'd never tried it before, but the year I went to summer camp, that's all I wanted to do. It made me feel like a super hero.
If you could attend any of the 2018 U of A summer camps, which one would you pick and why would 10 year old you have loved it?
Omg, I would pick the Science of Hogwarts now, even as an adult. 10 year old me would have loved anything Harry Potter - adding science to it is the icing on the cake.
2018 Camp Councilor Mackenzie ready to do some science. | Image: Michaela Ream.
Kelly Hobson - Mentorship Coordinator, Peter Lougheed Leadership College
Every July 1st, while the rest of the nation celebrated Canada Day, I'd make the long drive up to Algonquin Park, Ontario, with my parents. Camp Northway Lodge, the oldest non-modernized summer camp in North America, is mostly log buildings and canvas tents nestled amongst the trees of a peninsula on Cache Lake. You can only get there by boat, paddling through a channel until the camp emerges from red and white pine along the shore.
So many of my most formative years were spent there, it's tough to pick one memory.
Kelly Hobson at Summer Camp. Photo courtesy of Kelly Hobson.
There were so many canoe trips, campfires and starry nights that shaped me into who I am today. But one of the standout memories is a prank war I got into one summer. Lots of things were stolen - clothing, toiletries. A bed and mattress was even hidden under another tent. It was hilarious!
If you could attend any of the 2018 U of A summer camps, which one would you pick and why would 10 year old you have loved it?
Definitely the Science of Hogwarts camp put on by the DiscoverE Engineering & Science Camps. At 10 I was anxiously awaiting my Hogwarts letter!
Aren't we all?
Share your favourite camp memories in the comments, or send an email to blog@ualberta.ca.