Spring Issue 2011

The snow has started to melt, but winter hasn’t left us yet. Daytime temps are almost high enough for the maples to be tapped. It won’t be long before the ice on Lake Pepin begins to honeycomb; then a strong wind should break things up before March’s end.

Find us on Facebook

Camp Pepin has moved into the era of social networking! Look up our “YMCA Camp Pepin” page on Facebook. Feel free to post to our wall – it’s fun to see what all of our camp friends are doing and what memories they have of their days on Lake Pepin.

Spring Retreats

We would like to thank the following groups for allowing us to host them out at camp this Spring:

Carleton College

Winona State University

University of Wisconsin – Stout

University of Minnesota – Twin Cities

Twin Cities Men of Hope

St. Paul Lutheran Church of Red Wing

English Lutheran Church

Friends School of Minnesota

Reell Precision Manufacturing Company

Akin Road Elementary School 5th Grade (Farmington, MN)

Farmington Elementary School 5th Grade (Farmington, MN)

Meadowview Elementary School 5th Grade (Farmington, MN)

North Trail Elementary School 5th Grade (Farmington, MN)

Riverview Elementary School 5th Grade (Farmington, MN)

Clara Barton Open School (Minneapolis, MN)

If you would like to schedule a retreat at our camp on the shores of beautiful Lake Pepin, please contact Joetta Oien at the Red Wing YMCA office at 651-388-4724 or at joien@redwingymca.org. Our cabins are comfortable and heated, a multitude of outdoor activities are available, and a family-style meal service can be provided. We look forward to seeing you at Camp Pepin!

Welcome 2011 Staff

We’ve got a great group of folks who will be joining us this season to lead our Outdoor Education school program, our Memorial Day Family Camp program, and our Summer Resident Camp program. Our 2011 roster can be found as you scroll down on the Meet the Staff page of Camp Pepin’s website: http://www.camppepin.org/meetthestaff.htm.

Maple Syrup and Family Fun Day: Saturday, March 26, 10:00am-1:00pm

Join us at YMCA Camp Pepin for our Maple Syrup & Family Fun Day, where we will doing maple syruping demonstrations with trees that we tap right here at camp. Archery, the Climbing Tower, and Arts & Crafts will also be open. And, of course, we will be serving pancakes and sausage with real maple syrup. The event is free, and everyone’s invited to see what camp is all about! Please RSVP with Joetta at 651-388-4724.

Learn About Camp at our Last Camp Pizza Extravaganza and Parent Information Night (Camp P.E.P.I.N.) on April 18

Come join us at 6:00pm on April 18th at the Red Wing Family YMCA if you are interested in learning about Camp Pepin. You will get to meet the camp directors, see a slideshow about camp, and enjoy some pizza. Please RSVP with our Camp Office Manager, Joetta Oien, at 651-388-4724 so that we know how many pizzas to order.

Memorial Weekend Family Camp: May 28-29

For all of the adults that have wanted to come to camp with your campers - now you can! Start the tradition of coming to Camp Pepin's annual Family Camp over Memorial Day weekend. Our flexible schedule will allow you and your family to play at the lake, make a craft to bring home, try your skill at the target range, go for a paddle, challenge yourself on our high ropes course, or simply spend time relaxing together. We will also provide family-style meals in our Dining Hall and have an evening campfire blazing on the beach for families to enjoy before heading for bed. The quaint towns and villages nearby also provide wonderful day-trips for antiquing, shopping, or dining at a local eatery. Our cozy cabins are shared by family groups, so if you know of others that would like to attend camp and stay in your cabin, have them sign-up with you. Tent camping is also available at one of our campsites. Call the Red Wing Family YMCA at 651-388-4724 to register.

Making Camp More Affordable For Everyone: Scholarships

The YMCA offers financial assistance to campers and their families who are eligible for Scholarships. Scholarships may be applied towards camp tuition and are based on available resources. To learn about eligibility or to request a Scholarship application, contact the Red Wing Family YMCA.

Kimmy’s Korner

Hi folks! It’s Kimmy the Kayaker.

My game for the last issue was this:

Test your knowledge of Camp Pepin trivia! Choose the correct answer for each of the following questions:

1. Camp Pepin opened for the first time in the year:

1492
1776
1812
1935
2001

2. Camp Pepin is located on the shores of the beautiful…

Lake Pepin
Lake Erie
North Atlantic Ocean
Nile River
Bering Sea

3. In 2010, Camp Pepin hosted staff from all of the following countries EXCEPT:

the United States
the United Kingdom
Australia
New Zealand
Mordor

4. Which of the following is the name of a cabin at Camp Pepin?

The White House
The Kremlin
Chief Red Wing
Buckingham Palace
Schonbrunn

5. Which of the songs below is NOT one that we sing at our meals in the Dining Hall?

Boom Chicka Boom
Rock the Boat
Brown Squirrel
Cold Spaghetti
Toccata and Fugue in D Minor

Unfortunately, nobody answered all of the questions correctly. The answers are: 1 (d), 2 (a), 3 (e), 4 (c), 5 (e).

Here is my new game:

Two of the 2011 staff members (listed as you scroll down the Meet the Staff page of Camp Pepin’s website (http://www.camppepin.org/meetthestaff.htm) have first names that are palindromes. Who are they?

Submit your answers to: camp@redwingymca.org. A winner will be drawn from the entries with the correct answers, and he or she will receive a YMCA Camp Pepin water bottle. The winner's name will also be posted in Kimmy’s Korner in the next issue of The Lakesider. Anyone is eligible to play, including campers, staff, and alumni. Good luck!

Wish List

A sandblaster (with a portable sandblasting unit) who would be willing to volunteer his/her services to clean the underside of the Dining Hall's cement deck
1 or 2 truck loads of dirt
Computers (core duo processors or faster, desktop or laptop PC’s with USB ports)
Flat-panel computer monitors
Lumber (2x4, 2x6, 4x4, and 6x6 boards, 8-12 feet in length)
Mini-van (road-worthy, 7 or 8-person capacity)
36’ Montreal canoe with trailer

YMCA Camp Pepin Staff

Scott Kolby, Camp Director

William Norman, Assistant Camp Director

Joetta Oien, Camp Office Manager

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