Reflections . . .
I wish you could all experience the changing seasons at camp. The fall colours are beautiful and as the leaves fall, the landscape changes, allowing us to see things differently. The top of Baldy becomes visible from the camp road, the lay of the land shows through the forest.
While busy putting the site to bed for the winter, it is at a much less frantic pace than the summer months. Time to reflect on the summer. . . and what a summer it was!
- girl’s camp numbers up by 11%
- almost 200 family campers in Aug. So many opportunities to connect with each other and God’s world.
Thank you to all who make this possible . . . the greatest staff, the many individuals and groups that give financial support, and our volunteers!

“Franny”, Fran Sugawara, Camp Director

Thoughts From a Camper

The dreaded question on the last day of school coming from friends or teachers, “What are you doing this summer?” Unless you’re going somewhere like the Bahamas or England, the answers usually go something like this: “Sleep, eat, sleep, chill, eat…..eat.” Most people also say “camp”, like me. So they ask what camp I go to, I say “Ryde Lake Camp”, the usual response is then “So you ride horses?” “No… well sometime the odd pony.” They don’t get the joke. When I explain that it’s an all‐girls overnight camp my girlfriends gasp in horror and my guy friends ask if they can come. I mention the no cellphones, IPods or laptops and everyone is, pretty much, out. “So what’s the point of going?” they say. This is the hard part, because I don’t really know how to say it.

This is now my 8th year as a camper and ever since my first week here in 2003, as my eyes began to water during another girls “experienced camper” speech, I’ve always dreamed of speaking up here, and I couldn’t be more honored to be doing it now. I can’t explain how much Ryde Lake means and has done for me. Ryde is a place where I can step back from the busy city life and breathe; no makeup, oily hair and NO ONE to impress. No one is willing to judge you or hate you because we’re all here for the same thing, to experience Ryde. I could go on and on of all the fun times I’ve had, like jumping out of the canoe in the middle of the lake, being alive‐awake‐alert‐enthusiastic (kind of), the “Ryde” accent and eating too many tater tots (jokes, there’s no such thing as “too many” tater tots). Plus the list of friendships made goes on forever. But I would like to take this opportunity to thank Ryde.

Thank you for giving me the confidence to be who I want to be, and understand that that’s all I can change. I can’t make people like me or make myself like other people and we all have to live with that. Thank you for giving me the strength and insight to get through tough times where I needed to breathe and had to push past the darkness to feel the light. Ryde, you taught me not to just see the sky or earth around me, but to feel the moment and realize how lucky I am to be able to witness things like that. Ryde has made me a better and happier young woman and even though I’m not religious, this place still dug out an inner spirit which makes me who I am. Thank you for making me, me and having your essence be forever a part of who I am, guiding me onward through life. I know that Ryde is a safe place for me and everyone else here and, I know, that is something goes wrong, you tell Franny.

Ryde you’re not just a camp, you’re a home and although my years as a camper are over, my years at Ryde are not. So when people ask why I still go to this camp I don’t give them a speech of heart‐felt emotions like this, I simply say “It’s a Ryde thing, you wouldn’t understand.”
I love you Ryde, never change.
Amy Tanaka July 2011 Experienced camper speech

Ryde’s 2011 Five-Year Campers

We were pleased to honour the following campers who celebrated their fifth year at Ryde this past summer:

Marnie Anderson, Meredith Anderson, Kristen Arscott, Tamara Burgess, Katrina Carter, Megan Doleweerd, Taylor Farrugia, Makayla Gay, Megan Gooley, Grace Grzela, Lynnea Neuland, Amy Reston, Alexis Riley, Leah Sather, and Victoria Seheult.

At presentations over the summer, a framed Ryde photo was given to each of our 5-year campers. Their names have been added to the 5-year camper plaque at camp.

Ryde Lake Tidbits

• Some special arrivals to past staff and their families, Congratulations and Best
  Wishes to all!
  Linda (Teddy Bear) and Trevor Longhurst, and big brother Jeremy, on the birth of Grace Jean, born Sept 15, 2011 (granddaughter of Spook)
  Tasha (Grover) and Tony O’Sullivan, and big brothers Naish and Kian, on the birth of Mira Rose, born July 6, 2011
  Melissa (Nemo) and Travis Robbins, on the birth of Madeline Elizabeth, born June18, 2011
  (granddaughter of Babe)
• Camper numbers were up at the girls’ sessions! Sessions 3 and 4 were full with waiting lists.
• The Open House/Hike-a-thon on Oct 1 was enjoyed by many. We were honoured to have four of our alumnae attend: Ruth Bolt (chair of the board in the ‘60s), Louise Brown (the first camp registrar in ‘52), Dorothy Dilworth and Doris Smith. Thanks to all who supported this event!
• The 60th Anniversary of Ryde Lake Camp is happening in 2012! Further details to come.
• 2012 dates for the girls’ sessions and family camping will be posted on the website in late Nov. Registration information will be mailed out in December
• Beth Aikenhead’s family donated a lovely 2-seater bench in her honour. It has been placed overlooking the lake for all to enjoy!
• A new hiking trail up beyond the FC should be ready for next summer

Your Donation $’s in Action - some 2011 projects made possible by donations

• New well - this project cost in excess of $24,000. by the time it was completed due to the depth of 600 ft, pump and electrical required, and all we had to do to be in compliance with Drinking Water Reg 170 which is required for children’s camps. The well was up and running for the start of camp and was able to meet the volume demands required and provide safe drinking water, all with much less demand on our time.
  Money well spent! Thank you!!!
• Over 20 campers were helped by the Campership fund, providing a camp experience that they could not otherwise afford (approx. cost $5,000.)
• Extensive canoe repairs done by our volunteers (material costs $1000.)
• Tree work by the experts - 3 unhealthy pines were cut down due to the risk of them falling down and and causing significant damage, plus thinning out of the top growth of a number of other trees to prevent future problems (approx. cost $3000.)
• Installation of a kitchen exhaust hood and fire suppression system as required by the Fire Dept (cost $14,000)
• Masonry work on the dining hall fireplace as required by Fire Dept (approx. cost $1000.)
• Online staff training program for 54 staff to enhance our own training ($800.)

Thoughts From A Leader - “from the leader speech given by “Sushi” at the banquet of session 3 this past summer”

Despite only having 3 years of Ryde leader experience under my belt (2 as a lifeguard and 1 as assistant Director this year), I still feel I can share a few thoughts on what the whole experience has meant to me. University has kept my summers busy these last few years, but Ryde has always had a strong presence in my heart…especially when my mom Sunny would bring me home a t-shirt or pen, or write me a letter from camp.

With this summer free, I was quick to send in my application to be back. I didn’t know what I would be or how I would fit back in, I just knew that I wanted to be here. There is just something about these rocks and trees and the water and cabin doors that slam in the middle of the night, that is familiar and like home.

There is not a job in the world quite like being a leader here. Even if you’re tired and hot, it only takes some singing at dinner or some skipping to the waterfront to cheer you up. Since last January I’ve known that this was going to be one great month!

It’s been hard to convey this awesomeness to friends and co-workers who have never been here. They probably understand how fun it can be, but don’t realize the personal rewards I’ve reaped from it over the years as well. They see me for who I am now, but they never saw the camper and young counsellor those years ago and how this camp has changed her and moulded her into the person she is today.

I recently read a quote from Nelson Mandela and it made me think of camp:

“There is nothing like returning to a place that remains unchanged to find the ways in which you yourself have altered.”

Camp hasn’t just been an absolute blast over the years, it’s also taught me valuable lessons, given me enormous confidence, and shown me how to be a strong woman in society. This year, I’ve come to appreciate something else about camp, its ability to give me peace and quiet. The peace and quiet needed to de-stress from life (and emails and cell phone texts) and appreciate all the little things again.

What a blessing it has been to be here. I’ll be dreading my return home next week, but will take a
months-worth of memories home to keep throughout the year . . . for whenever I’m just tired and hot and in need of cheering up!

Thank you Ryde Lake Camp for all you have given me. I can only hope to give back just as much!
Diane Kishi, aka “Sushi”
July 23, 2011

Camper comments:

• Ryde is like a family to me and I wouldn’t want anything to change in my special family

• Ryde Rules!

• Being my first time at Ryde, I didn’t know what to expect. It’s everything I hoped for and more! I loved it!

• I always want to come back.

CIT 2011

Congratulations to the following enthusiastic and talented girls on completion of Ryde’s CIT program:

Meredith Anderson - “Sparky”
Morgan Baskin - “Boots”
Alana Bertolo - “Mini”
Catherine Brassard - “Rafiki”
Sarah Burgess - “Quill”
Katrina Carter - “Dot”
Lauren Demoe - “Tutu”
Paige Demoe - “Simba”
Laura Del Maschio - “Randy”
Mary Ellen Fraser - “Xena”
Shannon Hare - “Flicka”
Chloe Longuet - “Cola”
Kendra Mallais - “KB”
Nicole Meadows - “Gidget”
Amy Reston - “Guppy”
Emily Rickert - “Barbie”

The CIT program is a two-week session that provides
the opportunity to develop leadership skills and personal growth. Canoe trip, sleeping
in tents on the George site, theory sessions, outdoor cooking, assisting with campers, and late nights in
the f.c., these girls did it all and did it well!
Way to go, CIT’s!

Board of Directors
2011/2012

Marg Arscott
Dan Cashmore
Risa Cashmore
Mary Gooley
Mary Kishi
Dick Sugawara
Louise Moore
Jackie Mounsteven
Golda Wilson

Camp Director: Fran Sugawara
rydelakecamp@rogers.com

Ryde is a non-profit,
charitable organization. An official income tax receipt is issued for all donations.

Charitable Registration Number 11913-0367 RR0001

Awakening to adventure
New found Spirit
In God’s creation
With God’s community
Night falls over the water
Bodies are tired
Hearts are warmed
Souls are renewed

Mardi Tindal
~an appreciative former camper