Posted on

Virtual Vespers Keeping the Coniston Community Connected

Keeping people connected during this time is important work Camp can easily do. To that end, we have reached out through social media to our Community and beyond, providing activities in which families and youth may participate, weekly inspirational and spiritual presentations (aka vespers). Through this type of programming Coniston’s engagement has seen an extreme rate of growth and we even have people join us with no previous connection to YMCA Camp Coniston. Read a few testimonials below:

“Evening Vespers was always a time of quiet contemplation and inspiration.  Bob Sanders would frequently offer a message dealing with camp life and how to make the best of it.  His presentation usually had to do with developing relationships.  45 years later Coniston’s virtual Vespers are very nostalgic and often very personal.  But the themes haven’t changed that much, and I still find them refreshing as they remind me of the importance of relationships that the Coniston experience always provided.”

— Dave Barden, Sanders’ Era Alumni

“Aaaahhh, Virtual Vespers!  It’s a time to decompress after a day at work.  It’s a chance to reconnect with camp friends, for whom camp represents a happy place, filled with lingering memories, and sometimes a growing-up place where we discovered who we really are.  It’s a virtual visit, a step back in time to days when we walked along the pine-needle-covered roadway under a green canopy by sparkling lake waters to late-afternoon vespers.  The vesper speakers inspire us with their earnest words of reflection and leave us smiling.  Thank you, Camp Coniston, for continuing the summer magic.” 

— Karen Fitch Parker, Camper and Staff Member, 1967-1977

Just like every evening at Camp, a little after 5:00pm (EST) the Camp bell rings and cabins make their way in silence to Boys & Girls Vespers. To so many Conistonians, this reflective time as we come together and sit by the lake is an extremely important time. At 5:15pm (EST), Vespers begins by a counselor who shares a personal message or life lesson that helped shape them into the person they are today. 

To stay informed and join us each week we recommend you add Virtual Vespers to your calendar by clicking this link.

Posted on

Coniston Community Fundraisers

The Coniston Community has stepped up in a BIG way and hundreds of campers and alumni got involved in very unique ways to ensure the future of Coniston.

CONISTON BRACELETS
1st-year staff members, John Shelley and Ellie Wilson jumped into action when they heard Camp needed help by creating a fundraiser. These entrepreneurs sold homemade friendship bracelets and more importantly found a way of keeping the spirit of Camp alive during these times.

CONISTON TRIVIA NIGHT!
On June 25, 2020 over 150 CIT groups across the country from the late 90’s through the 2010’s gathered for a special trivia night fundraiser to help support Camp during the COVID-19 pandemic. Thanks to the generosity of so many, thousands of dollars were raised.

More than just a financial boost, the night was an opportunity for old friends to reconnect, laugh, and reminisce about summers on the lake. Congratulations to the 2001/2002 CIT team who took home the big win to have the donations to Camp made in their honor!

CONISTON HATS
After spending five summers at Coniston, Kiley MacLeod knew that she wanted to help the place that has given her so much. She created a fundraiser to sell custom embroidered hats.

Posted on

George Floyd and BLM

To Our Coniston Community: 

Black lives matter. We apologize for not speaking up sooner to say this and make sure you all know that we are paying attention and that we as an organization unequivocally believe in the cause of racial justice, stand with the Black community, and condemn racism.

We didn’t release a statement earlier both because we were afraid to say the wrong thing and because we weren’t sure if we had anything valuable to add to this conversation. We also did not want to make an empty statement that isn’t backed up by concrete actions Camp is taking to become a more inclusive and actively anti-racist organization. 

However, we realized last week that the wrong thing to say is nothing at all. We want you, our Coniston community, to know we are paying attention, we are listening, we are having conversations, and we are actively working on those concrete steps. We understand the importance of taking action and we hope you understand that it will take time to figure out how to translate the values each of us on staff and on our board holds individually into actions that an entire organization takes — including steps to make sure that we are truly living our anti-racist values and teaching them to campers during camp sessions when we are once again open. 

Camp has always worked hard to teach and live the values of respect, honesty, inclusivity, responsibility, and caring. But we acknowledge that we need to and must go further and we’re deeply committed to doing that. We also acknowledge that, despite our good intentions, Camp has not always felt welcoming to every community member. 

As a predominantly white organization, we have a special responsibility to our community to teach and model anti-racist behavior. History teaches us that movements for change are most successful when privileged communities use their voices to advocate on behalf of marginalized communities. And our hearts tell us that it is the right thing to do. 

John Tilley, John McNair, Nicole Berthiaume 
June 10, 2020

Posted on

Career Counseling for 2020 Staff

Coniston staff make connections and are naturally skilled at adapting to a situation and solving problems effectively. In the summers, it is what they are asked to do on a daily basis, executing at a high level. With Camp unable to occur to ensure the safety of our campers and staff, it left our staff with the prospects of finding a new job or internship for the summer. With summer approaching many staff may be feeling overwhelmed with navigating the job and internship search in the current COVID-19 climate. However, we are privileged to experience the support from the Coniston community.

Patricia Hunt Sinacole, founder of the human resources consulting firm First Beacon Group and mother of one of our Counselor In Training directors, volunteered to sit down with the Coniston staff via Zoom to help them navigate finding summer employment and continue to professionally develop. Pattie covered many topics from immediate plans such as improving resumes and LinkedIn profiles to reaching out to employers and providing valuable skill sets to gain experience. Pattie sat down with every attendee and helped tailor a plan to their specific needs for summer internships or employment.  Each plan depended on the attendees interests and motivations for summer employment, such as gaining industry specific experience or financial compensation. At the root of the conversation was the opportunity to pivot the skills utilized at camp to lead staff to a summer that helps them gain valuable experiences.

Among the many ideas and pieces of advice offered was the idea of pivoting the skills our staff excel at during the summer and utilizing the connections they make. Whether it is embracing entrepreneurship and helping a restaurant or retail company adapt to new guidelines through remote internship or utilizing the childcare and lifeguarding skills learned at camp and offering childcare, staff were encouraged to look at their own skills and recognize creative ways towards a summer that fulfills their professional needs.

Coniston staff was also encouraged to utilize and recognize their networks including family, friends, their schools resources and of course the Coniston Community. Conistonians were also sitting in on the call as prospective recruiters and looking to gain information on the current needs of staff, while offering their advice for career exploration and experience. Coniston staff member Michael Hawley, found an internship in wealth management through the Career Counseling meeting with Pattie showing the power of Coniston connections at work. If you have any opportunities or are willing to offer guidance for staff or recent alumni please post in the YMCA Camp Coniston Career Development Group on LinkedIn or contact nicole@coniston.org.

Posted on

Alumni News: Conistonians Support Communities, Respond to COVID

Miles for Masks:

Conistonian Cassie Short, a teacher at Wellesley Public Schools as well as the track coach, has used her passion for running as a way to help frontline workers. On May 8th, Cassie conducted a Miles for Masks fundraiser. Beginning at midnight, Cassie began running with goal of running 32 miles in 24 hours. All the donations she received are to help raise funds for Boston Medical Center Corporation. As Cassie wrote “With no true “races” on the calendar to train for I want to use my running platform to raise money for Boston’s frontline workers. If they can work endless 12-hour shifts, I can certainly test my limits for 24 hours.” If you are interested in hearing more about Cassie’s initiative or follow her progress on Facebook and Instagram.

 Tremigo and the Sierra Relief Kitchen:

Part of the COVID-19 response is adapting, overcoming and coming together as a community. Conistonian Rachel Graf-McCabe, daughter of longtime camp nurse Patty Graf is doing just that. This past December, Rachel Graf-McCabe opened Tremigo Mexican Kitchen in the Tahoe area. When the pandemic hit and stay at home orders were put in place many in the outdoor recreation and tourism hub of Tahoe were left without jobs and found themselves without funds for food. Although restaurants were closed Rachel and her fellow restaurant owners knew there was a way they could help serve their employees and community members. Alongside other restaurants in the area the Sierra Relief Kitchen was started. With volunteers and donations of groceries, equipment and technical support the Sierra Relief Kitchen was up and running quickly, providing meals to residents in need. Every Saturday the Sierra Relief Kitchen is offering food and relief to their local community.  At first, they thought they may be serving around 40 people but since it has begun, they have served up to 750 meals in a day for take-out and delivery. In all that the pandemic has brought it is increasingly important to see and experience the wonders of community coming together.  Thank you Rachel!

Posted on

Alumni News: Birth Announcements

Welcoming new members into the Coniston Community is always exciting and it brings joy when our alumni and community welcome a child to their families. We would like to extend a congratulations to alumni and community member who have experience the joy and happiness of welcoming new members to their families.

Congratulations to Ben Mark and his family who welcomed Madeline Anne Mark on January 4th.

On Saint Patrick’s Day, Former Boy’s Camp Director, Sam Coleman and his family welcomed Lawrence Harper Coleman to the world.

Morgan Milardo Schermerhorn had a baby on October 29th. Welcome, Theodore Joseph Schermerhorn.

On December 20th, Meridith (Astles) Lee and family welcomed Lucca Margaret Lee into the world.

We are incredibly happy for all of our camp alumni and families who are starting or growing their families and can not wait to welcome them to the Coniston Community!

Posted on

COVID-19 Brings the Most Talented Communications Team of Volunteers to Life!

In response to COVID-19, a Communications Committee was formed to support the communication needs for Camp. Without this committees support and hard work the Coniston Community would not be as well informed.

The committee is chaired by Board Member, Lynne Delise, and a group of highly talented communication and fundraising alumni. Members of the committee include:

Anna Kelsey, Grassroots Prospects Manager at Democratic National Committee

Liz Morris, MBA Candidate | The Tuck School of Business at Dartmouth and Formerly the Assistant Director of Planned Giving for Dana-Farber Cancer Institute

Joe Whelan, Assistant Director of Development, Regional & Global Programs at University of Delaware, MBA Candidate

Posted on

Announcing the Jocelyn B. Tetel Campership

We are excited to announce the Jocelyn B. Tetel Campership, which provides the Coniston Experience to a deserving child so they may make new friends and participate in the Coniston program that gave Jocelyn so much joy.

Jocelyn grew up in North Carolina, attended Coniston from 1971 through 1979, and is the Vice President of Advancement for the Skirball Cultural Center in Los Angeles. Her independence, leadership, and social skills were shaped through the nine summers on the lake. Her memories of Camp often include mental snapshots of waterskiing and sailing, shooting a bow and arrow and sleeping out under the stars—and even teaching synchronized swimming as a staff member. But most importantly she met one of her dearest friends to this day—and though they have never lived in the same city—their friendship sustains the distance.

If this past year has taught us anything, it is a deep understanding that learning to connect with others is the very lesson that kids need most at Camp.

She is so pleased that the essence of the Camp remains the same and it is still offering these same experiences to young people today. The best way she can show her appreciation for Coniston is to give a campership in perpetuity—meaning the campership follows the camper through their entire Camp journey to ensure long-term development then transfers to a new camper.

From 2015 to 2019, we doubled full camperships to 165. We believe having a Coniston filled with campers from all walks of life is stronger for every child.

Many things are taken into consideration when awarding a full Coniston Campership to a child. Initially, children and their families submit an application, the previous tax year forms, and are assessed through professionals such as school counselors and nurses. Next, the family’s income is screened using the federal free and reduced lunch income eligibility guidelines. Then the family’s income is multiplied by three—making it more equitable. Then our registrar and CEO discuss each application to determine camperships.

Additionally, we offer campership opportunities for families who may have a difficult story to share that may not be reflected in their finances. Such as families in cancer treatments, families who have suffered a loss such as a house fire, or even children who are being raised by grandparents.

MAKE A CHILD’S FUTURE YOUR LEGACY 

How does this work? Because of generous donors like Jocelyn, the Coniston Endowment Fund is growing and providing the life-changing experience of Camp to many deserving children—regardless of financial means. The endowment also helps Coniston moderate inevitable cost pressures—rising prices, inflation, and unexpected expenses. This gift was given as a three-year pledge from gifts of stock. 

Gifts can be given to children through Coniston in many ways:

Check or Online
Reoccurring Credit Card Gift
Multi-Year Pledge
Estate Gift
Stock or Mutual Funds
Matching Gifts
Corporate/Foundation
Philanthropic Gift
Life Insurance Policies

If additional information is needed to help your gift-giving process go smoother, please contact lindsey@coniston.org.

Posted on

Coniston Says Goodbye to Sanders’ Era Nurse, Patricia Ford (Reny)

It is with heavy hearts we announce the passing on Patricia Ford (Reny) on Wednesday, December 11, 2019 after a lengthy battle with metastatic lung cancer. Pat was Camp Nurse from 1972 – 1978 and was joined each summer by her son Michael Reny and husband D. Reny. Additionally, D. Reny worked on photography and riflery staff.

Michael Reny shared the following memories… Camp Coniston holds a profound place in my heart and my mother’s passing brings back all the joy that I experienced there. I was 7 yrs old and had no idea where we were going one summer day when Pat & Don brought me to the camp. She was one of the summer nurses along with my dad who had a variety of roles. I had the privilege of being an out of cabin camper and got to see behind the scenes of camp life and experience being a camper. I would stay in one of the infirmary back rooms for a session then the next session join the regular boys camp in an appropriate cabin…all 8 weeks each summer for 5-6 yrs. I’d help in the infirmary during sick calls-handing out cough drops for soar throats after campfire battles. I participated and excelled in all the programs and got to make many friends and see them return each summer. I wish I had kept in closer touch. I tried to return every couple years for reunion and always wanted to take a week at the end of summer…but life was busy. I so wanted my kids to go to camp…but that didn’t happen either. I took Pat back once in the 90’s. I know she thoroughly enjoyed her time at camp as did I.

Blondie who worked with Patricia for 5 years as camp nurses shared the following with us… Pat was very knowledgeable and pleasant to work with. She and husband stopped in Hershey to see me a few months before she died and although she knew her time was short her sense of humor came through. Great person. 

During the year Pat was part of a small coalition of sister Nurse Practitioners who successfully lobbied the New Hampshire Legislature to provide rights of independent practice and additionally the rights of prescriptive practice to help New Hampshire patients attain the quality and affordable healthcare that has become the standard for healthcare in New Hampshire. Pat was the first Nurse Practitioner in New Hampshire to serve as an independent practitioner. She owned and operated her own practice named Healthy Generations in Franklin, N.H. and built the practice to nearly 4000 patients over 20 years. Pat earned the Nurse Practitioner of the Year Award in 1991 due to her accomplishments in providing leadership in the New Hampshire Nurse Practitioner Association. Pat was also presented the Lifetime Achievement Award by the New Hampshire Nurse Practitioner Association. Pat concluded her illustrious Nurse Practitioner career while practicing at Whole Life Healthcare in Newington, N.H., while simultaneously modernizing and managing the first aid station and sick call hours on Star Island for the Star Island Corp she said it was just like Camp!

Pat will be greatly missed by the entire Coniston Community.

 

Posted on

Noah Kahan—Singer/Songwriter—Coniston: 2005-2012

At eight years old and having never been away from home for long, Noah was terrified to come to Camp. However, after his first summer, Camp became a huge part of his life—seeing old friends and the beautiful lake—“summer became synonymous with Coniston.”

After receiving a recording contract his senior year in high school, Noah pursued a career as a musician; he is enjoying a life which is a whirlwind of performing live on programs like Late Night with Stephen Colbert and Late Night with Seth Meyers, recording songs, and creating music around the world. 

“I would say that I use the social skills I learned at Coniston all the time. Meeting new people and cooperating in a group setting is difficult, and it’s something that Coniston taught me to do year after year. I believe those social skills have propelled me through the rest of my young adult life!

Coniston instilled confidence in my ability as a musician and person. I’ll never forget how excited I would be before every talent show… 

…I believe much of my identity was formed in the cabins in Boys Camp and on the docks of Boys Waterfront. I made lasting friendships on the wood panels of the Adirondack chairs, and slept under the stars on my overnights. What I remember most about Camp Coniston was the mythos of the place. Coniston was a place that survived in my mind on its reputation as a grounds for unexplainable magic that cast a spell on its campers, bringing them back every year. Coniston will always be a part of my life.”