We haven't updated in quite some time and for our newest update, we have another guest blogger! If you're still interested in submitting articles for our blog, please email BlogMaster Peter McGregor at pmcgregor@ymcahonolulu.org and we'll be sure to do our best to include it. Just an update on some things happening at YMCA Camp Erdman! Today is Furlough Friday and we've got a small and mighty group of kids having a great time learning while having fun here at camp! At this very moment they're doing some arts and crafts with their counselors Trish (from Canada) and Memo (from Mexico)! Later this afternoon they'll hit the pool with Ana (Brazil) and Phillip (England)! It's going to be a great day! Speaking of later this afternoon, today is day one of Operation: Military Kids Family Camp! Families will be checking in from 3:30-6:00pm tonight and having an amazing fun-filled weekend. We're expecting close to 100 individuals from our military community to be joining us! Most of these individuals are new to YMCA Camp Erdman so we're very excited to be able to reach more and more people. Thanks to our partnership with OMK, we've been able to host many family camps for our military community and we're excited to continue this wonderful relationship. For more information on Operation: Military Kids and their programs, click here.
Onward, now, to our guest blogger, Natalie from Canada for a little perspective on what it's like to be a volunteer at YMCA Camp Erdman:
Volunteering at the YMCA Camp Erdman just goes to show that you are never too old, or too young for that matter, to have fun. I arrived on the island of Oahu October 4th (first time to Hawaii). It was late at night and I was a bit jet legged but happy to have finally arrived. The drive to camp was overwhelming as I enjoyed the warm air, much nicer than the weather that I had just come from, sleet. Waking up, I couldn’t believe how beautiful my new home was; mountains to one side and ocean to the other. The day was to get even better as some of the staff were going skydiving, so why not, what better way to spend my first day? Another first for me. Over the course of my first few weeks I enjoyed working with the rather zainy staff in the Camp’s kitchen and exploring the island in my off time. I soon got my bearings and learned the way of the land only to find out that every day you find something new. Hiking, swimming, skydiving, snorkelling, surfing, shark diving, parks, beaches, and so much more. After a while I also started helping out with the Camp’s school programs and weekend camps. It’s amazing how you feel when you know that you have positively impacted another person’s life. I have only been here for a month in a half now but still have so much more to see and do. I have met many interesting people with truly wonderful hearts and I look forward to the next month in a half. Life is an adventure that you get to lead.
Aloha, Natalie
