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        <title>YMCA Overnight Camping | Blog</title>
        <description><![CDATA[Camp is cool!]]></description>
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            <title>YMCA Overnight Camping | Blog</title>
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            <description>Feed provided by YMCA Overnight Camping. Click to visit.</description>
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        <item>
            <title>Somebody's Stuff - Shawn Coner</title>
            <link>http://www.camp.ymca.org/yblog/blog/2013/2/27/somebody's-stuff---shawn-coner2.html</link>
            <guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.camp.ymca.org/yblog/blog/2013/2/27/somebody's-stuff---shawn-coner2.html</guid>
            <description><![CDATA[Overalls – I started wearing them as a joke for the Horse Shows on Fridays, but it sort of has become a thing- my favorite pair is the pair in the picture I have on loan from one of the other wranglers, they are her grandfathers and he wore them in the 50’s.Bandanna – I have about 50 of them in every color, I started wearing them as a kid a camp and they are so handy for anything, a quick fix for broken horse tack, to wipe your hands, to blow your nose, and my personal favorite to cover up helmet hair in the summer. Friendship Bracelet – I personally wear mine on my ankles and have about 12 at any given point. People and campers make them for me and they are such an awesome memory of camp, friends, and family all over the world. When they finally break I throw them in the fire and make a wish.Horse Shoe Belt Buckle – My favorite belt buckle is this horse shoe, our camp farrier made it for me form an actual horse shoe. It is awesome and reminds me of what a special relationship people and horses will always have. Camp Sweat Shirt – Always with me anywhere I go, Camp Willson is the first camp I ever went to at the age of 10, also the first place I ever rode a horse, and her name was Jewel!! It is the place I will always call home; I love this one the most because when I was finally old enough to be staff I helped to design this sweatshirt. It was my first camp shirt that said staff on the back.My Half Chaps – I have had this pair since college, they prevent getting sores when I ride, are always handy, and fit over any pants and boots. I keep them in my truck during the year, and hanging in the barn during the summer so I am always ready to go wrangle some ponies. My Camp Keys – An old camp mentor told me once the bigger your keys are the more likely people are going to return them to you when they borrow them from you. Last year the camp tractor “ate” my keys and the maintenance guys were teasing me about it, so between the two I have been adding to my keys ever since. The lanyards are all gifts from people or places I have been. Shawn Coner -Shawn was born in Colorado and raised in Ohio. He started going to Y camps at the age of 10 and had such a great time he never wanted to leave, and really hasn't. After high school, he went to the University of Kentucky and earned a degree in Family Sciences. All the while working with horses and getting to camp as often as possible!! Since college he has worked full time at camp with a few hiatuses to work as the Teen Director for Carnival Cruise Lines, also teaching English to kindergartners in Thailand. He has fallen in love with San Diego and has been here for nearly 3 years. He loves the mountains and horses of Marston and Raintree, all the while still getting to spend his free time on the beach. San Diego has it all, and Shawn never wants to spend a winter in Ohio again!! His favorite quote is "There is only one success - to be able to spend your life in your own way". And his way is playing outside all day up in the mountains of Julian, Ca.]]></description>
            <author>bsayers@ymca.org (Brent Ayers)</author>
            <pubDate>Wed, 27 Feb 2013 00:00:00 -0700</pubDate>
        </item>
        <item>
            <title>Somebody's Stuff - Shawn Coner</title>
            <link>http://www.camp.ymca.org/yblog/blog/2013/2/26/somebody's-stuff---shawn-coner.html</link>
            <guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.camp.ymca.org/yblog/blog/2013/2/26/somebody's-stuff---shawn-coner.html</guid>
            <description><![CDATA[Overalls – I started wearing them as a joke for the Horse Shows on Fridays, but it sort of has become a thing- my favorite pair is the pair in the picture I have on loan from one of the other wranglers, they are her grandfathers and he wore them in the 50’s.Bandanna – I have about 50 of them in every color, I started wearing them as a kid a camp and they are so handy for anything, a quick fix for broken horse tack, to wipe your hands, to blow your nose, and my personal favorite to cover up helmet hair in the summer. Friendship Bracelet – I personally wear mine on my ankles and have about 12 at any given point. People and campers make them for me and they are such an awesome memory of camp, friends, and family all over the world. When they finally break I throw them in the fire and make a wish.Horse Shoe Belt Buckle – My favorite belt buckle is this horse shoe, our camp farrier made it for me form an actual horse shoe. It is awesome and reminds me of what a special relationship people and horses will always have. Camp Sweat Shirt – Always with me anywhere I go, Camp Willson is the first camp I ever went to at the age of 10, also the first place I ever rode a horse, and her name was Jewel!! It is the place I will always call home; I love this one the most because when I was finally old enough to be staff I helped to design this sweatshirt. It was my first camp shirt that said staff on the back.My Half Chaps – I have had this pair since college, they prevent getting sores when I ride, are always handy, and fit over any pants and boots. I keep them in my truck during the year, and hanging in the barn during the summer so I am always ready to go wrangle some ponies. My Camp Keys – An old camp mentor told me once the bigger your keys are the more likely people are going to return them to you when they borrow them from you. Last year the camp tractor “ate” my keys and the maintenance guys were teasing me about it, so between the two I have been adding to my keys ever since. The lanyards are all gifts from people or places I have been. ]]></description>
            <author>bsayers@ymca.org (Brent Ayers)</author>
            <pubDate>Tue, 26 Feb 2013 00:00:00 -0700</pubDate>
        </item>
        <item>
            <title>Somebody's Stuff - Sebastian Varela </title>
            <link>http://www.camp.ymca.org/yblog/blog/2013/2/6/somebodys-stuff---sebastian-varela-.html</link>
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            <description><![CDATA[In this installation of "Somebody's Stuff" we take a look at Sebastian Varela's stuff. This longtime YMCA Camp Surf staff member tells you what you're looking at and what it means to him!MATE: Argentinian tea (pronounced - ma-tey). Warm beverage that you usually share with friends, lots of minerals! Very healthy for you. <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mate_(beverage)" title="Mate on Wikipedia" target="_blank">(learn more...)</a>HAT, SUNGLASSES, AND BEADS: These represent my summer! Hat - Mariners is my favorite village. Sunglasses - cannot go outside without them. Beads - proud of all my beads that I earn at camp!LITTLE BOOM BOX: I need my music... anywhere I go. OLD CAMP PHOTO: with my best buddy Matias... back in 2002!!! Yes, I'm pretty old... :)) LIFEGUARD SHIRT: One of my first ones Guardavidas/Lifeguard t-shirt from home, I take it everywhere I go, very proud of it! MY FAVORITE BOOK: It's actually an animal tale! I read it a long time ago and since then it travels with me.KEY: The key to my parent`s house back home where I grew up... it has lots of sentimental value. TIKI TAKA GAME!!! This is one of the games that we used to play when I was a kid, and now I have it in my office!!! I challenge you to try it! (found a <a href="http://youtu.be/si28yRPlIrQ" title="Kids Playing Tiki Taka" target="_blank">youtube video</a> of some kids playing this game...it's not in Argentina but it'll give you the idea)ARGENTINA NATIONAL SOCCER TEAM JERSEY: best looking one :), and it represents Argentinians everywhere in the world.<a href="mailto:erodriguez" style="outline: none !important; color: rgb(92, 46, 145); text-decoration: initial !important;">Sebastian Varela </a>Outdoor Education Unit LeaderSebas comes to us all the way from Argentina. He first came to Camp Surf in 2001 after earninghis degree as a PE teacher inBahia Blanca, Buenos Aires.Sebas traveled to California for the San Diego Lifeguard Academy andcame to camp with a friend. He volunteered for a week on our waterfront to see what it was all about. To make a long story short, Sebas fell in love with camp! Since then he has managed to spend a lot of time at camp in addition to working in Argentina, Spain, and Costa Rica over the past 11 years. We are excited to finally have him as a full-time coordinator! Sebas loves outdoor activities, playing tennis, swimming, surfing, camping, and he is still passionate about traveling. One of his favorite quotes is “The world is rounded to go around it!” (or something like that!).]]></description>
            <author>bsayers@ymca.org (Brent Ayers)</author>
            <pubDate>Wed, 06 Feb 2013 00:00:00 -0700</pubDate>
        </item>
        <item>
            <title>What happens after summer?</title>
            <link>http://www.camp.ymca.org/yblog/blog/2012/9/29/what-happens-after-summer.html</link>
            <guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.camp.ymca.org/yblog/blog/2012/9/29/what-happens-after-summer.html</guid>
            <description><![CDATA[“So what do you do the rest of the
year?” – It’s a common question summer camp staff are asked by parents. And while many of our counselors will return
to college in the fall, camp keeps running all year round and we keep a smaller
crew of staff to work year-round. 

During the school year Camp Marston
and Raintree Ranch both are rented out by groups on the weekend. These groups
include YMCA Adventure Guides, Girl Scouts, Boy Scouts, Church Groups, Adult
groups, Volunteers, Martial Arts Schools, Military Family Groups, High School
and Middle School Leadership Conferences, YMCA Staff conferences, and Family
Camps. 

A weekend getaway to Julian can be
a great bonding time for groups and families, and they enjoy many of the same
activities offered during the summer: Climbing Tower, Archery, Marksmanship,
Canoeing, Night Hike and a Campfire. 

We also keep busy during the week
with 6th graders who come with their school and teachers for a 1
week Outdoor Education experience. These
schools have a science curriculum that covers plants, animals, habitats,
geology, teambuilding, outdoor living skills, and of course some outdoor
recreational activities like Climbing Tower, Archery and Canoeing. 

Individual families can register
for our Family Camp Weekends that happen on Halloween, Thanksgiving, Mothers’
Day and Memorial Day. 

From September to June about 95
schools visit both Camp Marston and Raintree Ranch for an Outdoor Education
Trip. The Weekends bring about 71
different groups. That’s almost 13,000
people visiting camp during the school year.


Many people are surprised and
excited to hear that it gets pretty cold during the winter times, especially at
night, so those heaters in the cabins come in handy. We get a good snow storm about 4-5 times per
year. Our 6th grades and
weekend guests are usually pretty excited to make some snowmen, and the staff
find their snow shovels and get to work.]]></description>
            <author>lpauli@ymca.org (Laura Pauli)</author>
            <pubDate>Sat, 29 Sep 2012 00:00:00 -0700</pubDate>
        </item>
        <item>
            <title>Hard work pays off</title>
            <link>http://www.camp.ymca.org/yblog/blog/2012/9/19/hard-work-pays-off.html</link>
            <guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.camp.ymca.org/yblog/blog/2012/9/19/hard-work-pays-off.html</guid>
            <description><![CDATA[In 2002 portions of our forest that were Pine Trees were devastated by the Pine Bark Beetle. The Beetles destroyed over 90% of our Pines. Then in 2003 the forest was hit by the Cedar Fire. Camp was fortunate in that we did not have any buildings affected by the fire but our forest was in some serious trouble. With all of the dead and dry Pine Trees it was the perfect amount of fuel to keep the fire going rapidly through the forest. What remained resembled the surface of the moon! It was a couple of years before anything grew back at all.Fast forward 5 years and we were fortunate enough to qualify for a grant from the California Department of Forestry. The grant provided us with approximately 6000 Pine Trees which were planted by volunteers on the Southern end of the property. We were told at this time that only about 20% of the trees would survive the dry summer and fall to come; so began the great Pine watering program. Maintenance moved a large water tank to the planting zone and built hose bibs and ran 100's of meters of hose from the wells, OE staff broke and labeled the plant zone into different quadrants for watering and the kitchen gathered hundreds of milk jugs to be used as watering containers. 6th graders during Spring OE 
watered the trees, weekend guests watered the trees, summer campers 
watered the trees and slowly they began to take hold and grow.    Today it 
feels like we saved more than the 20% because of the watering.
 Many of the trees are growing strong and are on track to maturity. The Pines have survived and some are thriving. The watering program and the wet(ish) winters that we were fortunate enough to get over the last few years have helped a lot.In 30 years the southern slopes of YMCA Camp Marston will once again be covered in beautiful Pine forest thanks to the hard work, generosity and determination of people that want camp to remain for future generations.]]></description>
            <author>shansen@ymca.org (Simon Hansen)</author>
            <pubDate>Wed, 19 Sep 2012 00:00:00 -0700</pubDate>
        </item>
        <item>
            <title>The Spirit Flag</title>
            <link>http://www.camp.ymca.org/yblog/blog/2012/8/29/the-spirit-flag.html</link>
            <guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.camp.ymca.org/yblog/blog/2012/8/29/the-spirit-flag.html</guid>
            <description><![CDATA[A recent addition to Camp this summer was that of our Spirit
Flag. This new addition became highly sort after by the cabin groups throughout
the week. Cabins would be awarded the Flag if others noticed their cabin groups doing extra cheers, being extra helpful, cooperative and just generally filled with SPIRIT! Every night at midnight one of the
Coordinators would place the Spirit Flag outside the winning cabin. Each morning cabin groups would wake up to check and see if they were the
recipients of the days Spirit Flag. Once discovered, the Flag would be triumphantly whisked away to be shown off at Breakfast. Some groups carried the Flag around with them all day and would graciously hand it in before lights out for the next days Spirit Flag winners.]]></description>
            <author>shansen@ymca.org (Simon Hansen)</author>
            <pubDate>Wed, 29 Aug 2012 00:00:00 -0700</pubDate>
        </item>
        <item>
            <title>Every bit counts...</title>
            <link>http://www.camp.ymca.org/yblog/blog/2012/8/8/every-bit-counts.html</link>
            <guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.camp.ymca.org/yblog/blog/2012/8/8/every-bit-counts.html</guid>
            <description><![CDATA[At the end of every session, campers who are checking out have the option of having their leftover camp store money refunded to them or they can choose to donate it back to camp. Once donated, the money is tallied and then designated to be spent improving camp programs. In previous years we've been able to purchased a new basketball goal, new surfboard leashes, new shade tents, and so much more. A majority of our awesome campers are happy to donate the leftover money...and it adds up quickly! By the end of session 7 the total donations already exceed $2,000 for 2012. That money will go along way to making programs at YMCA Camp Surf that much better than they already are. A special thanks to our generous campers (and parents) for giving back!]]></description>
            <author>bsayers@ymca.org (Brent Ayers)</author>
            <pubDate>Wed, 08 Aug 2012 00:00:00 -0700</pubDate>
        </item>
        <item>
            <title>Friday Night Staff Surf</title>
            <link>http://www.camp.ymca.org/yblog/blog/2012/7/23/friday-night-staff-surf.html</link>
            <guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.camp.ymca.org/yblog/blog/2012/7/23/friday-night-staff-surf.html</guid>
            <description><![CDATA[It's a pretty well known tradition around YMCA Camp Surf that on friday night, after the campers have left for the week, the staff go SURFING! The staff work hard all week pushing kids on waves, singing songs, and being great role models...we think they should get a chance to play as well. Some Friday nights it can get pretty crowded "out back" but everyone is smiling, having a good time, and getting ready to start another fun filled week of camp on Sunday. Just another perk of working at YMCA Camp Surf.]]></description>
            <author>bsayers@ymca.org (Brent Ayers)</author>
            <pubDate>Mon, 23 Jul 2012 00:00:00 -0700</pubDate>
        </item>
        <item>
            <title>Bead Ceremonies - Recognizing Character</title>
            <link>http://www.camp.ymca.org/yblog/blog/2012/6/18/bead-ceremonies---recognizing-character.html</link>
            <guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.camp.ymca.org/yblog/blog/2012/6/18/bead-ceremonies---recognizing-character.html</guid>
            <description><![CDATA[After each dinner at Raintree the
staff prepare an informal but powerful “bead ceremony.” Counselors get on stage and present beads to
campers for things they noticed thought that day that showed good
character. We have beads for caring,
honesty, respect, responsibility, friendship, sense of humor, and bravery. We also have beads for participation in
events such as Night Hike, Archery, Canoeing, and even a bead for getting a
turkey to gobble. 

Campers can keep their beads on a
bead necklace given to them each week if they choose. Many campers come back each year with their
bead necklace from the previous year. The
necklace can, which a great souvenir from the week and contains the memories of
their time at camp. 

Campers even camp up with their own
cheer for when other campers receive a bead, they yell: “B. E.
A. D., you got a bead Wooo. “ Finally, at the Friday awards ceremony we
give a bead for the “Cabin of the Week”.
This bead if given to one cabin each week that has shown great teamwork,
showed camp spirit, and kept a clean cabin.
]]></description>
            <author>lpauli@ymca.org (Laura Pauli)</author>
            <pubDate>Mon, 18 Jun 2012 00:00:00 -0700</pubDate>
        </item>
        <item>
            <title>Camp is Cool, Camp is Sweet</title>
            <link>http://www.camp.ymca.org/yblog/blog/2012/5/31/blog-title2.html</link>
            <guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.camp.ymca.org/yblog/blog/2012/5/31/blog-title2.html</guid>
            <description><![CDATA[Does the phrase "Camp is Cool, Camp is Sweet, Camp is
Cool, yeah, it can't be beat" mean anything to you?
It's not exactly Shakespeare but it is a kind of a big deal round these parts.
All year round Camp is both Cool and Sweet, but no time more so than during the
Summer.
Every Sunday during the summer, after everyone is settled into their cabins,
the whole camp gets together in our "Legacy Forest". During this time
we talk about Camp and how it has been Cool and Sweet for over 91 years. We talk about great traditions like Campfire, Raggers, Color Chaos and Dippy Bird.We also recognize our 5 year campers and staff and then we sing some good old
fashioned camp songs - with some open mouth smiles and a whole lot of laughs!!This "Forest time" helps everyone remember how lucky we are to have
such an amazing place like Camp to come to. It gets every camper and staff
member into the right frame of mind for the week - a COOL and SWEET one!!Camp Marston - Cool and Sweet since 1921!!!]]></description>
            <author>shansen@ymca.org (Simon Hansen)</author>
            <pubDate>Thu, 31 May 2012 00:00:00 -0700</pubDate>
        </item>
        <item>
            <title>Feeding the Horses in the Early Morning</title>
            <link>http://www.camp.ymca.org/yblog/blog/2012/5/25/feeding-the-horses-in-the-early-morning.html</link>
            <guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.camp.ymca.org/yblog/blog/2012/5/25/feeding-the-horses-in-the-early-morning.html</guid>
            <description><![CDATA[At Raintree Ranch Summer camp, campers once a week have the
responsibility to rise early and feed the horses. For most it’s groggy walk
down the barn at 5:30am and they are usually in their pajamas and cowboy
boots. Campers help distribute hay and
fill hay nets. This only takes about
20-30 minutes and then we go back to bed for a little more shut eye before
breakfast.

Part of what we hope to teach all campers are what the full
responsibilities are in owning or caring for a horse. Feeding, grooming, washing, and exercising
are all important to keep a horse healthy, and sometimes that happens early in
the morning. 

We even have some campers going for the highest bolo level
who get up 4 times a week to assist with the 5:30 feeding. The sun has just risen at this time and it is
a really beautiful and quiet time of day. ]]></description>
            <author>lpauli@ymca.org (Laura Pauli)</author>
            <pubDate>Fri, 25 May 2012 00:00:00 -0700</pubDate>
        </item>
        <item>
            <title>A Camp Surf Moment</title>
            <link>http://www.camp.ymca.org/yblog/blog/2012/5/9/a-camp-surf-moment.html</link>
            <guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.camp.ymca.org/yblog/blog/2012/5/9/a-camp-surf-moment.html</guid>
            <description><![CDATA[This shot doesn't display our typical "fun in the sun" scene but it's soooo cool we just had to share it with you. Occasionally, we do get visits from sea lions on our jetty and we also get some pretty spectacular sunset and waves as well. Well this time Chas, Camp Surf's Outreach Coordinator during the school year and former Watermen Coordinator in the summer, happened to catch all three together and captured a classic Camp Surf moment. It's hard not to walk away from this special camp without a similarly spectacular image either on film, or in your heart and mind. We'd love to hear your favorite camp memories?]]></description>
            <author>bsayers@ymca.org (Brent Ayers)</author>
            <pubDate>Wed, 09 May 2012 00:00:00 -0700</pubDate>
        </item>
        <item>
            <title>Mountaineers Village</title>
            <link>http://www.camp.ymca.org/yblog/blog/2012/5/2/mountaineers-village.html</link>
            <guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.camp.ymca.org/yblog/blog/2012/5/2/mountaineers-village.html</guid>
            <description><![CDATA[There is some construction going on in the South of camp - the Maintenance boys are building a long awaited new village for our summer camp Mountaineers program (ages 14-16). It's going to be so sweet - a big gazebo, 4 luxurious camper cabin tents and a staff tent. Mountaineers will be able to hone their classic Paco Tacos - Tortilla, P-nut butter, chocolate and marshmallows in the Gazebo's new multi- purpose BBQ kitchen!! The tents are custom canvas and are filled with awesomely comfortable wooden bunk beds built by our volunteer Y's Men!!For the past 25+ years the Mountaineers have stayed in the old A-Frames in the South Village - or as some old timers know it - the Lower 40's. While the old village had "character" and plenty of "charm" it has been ready for an upgrade for the past few years.The addition of the new village is going to make one of our sweetest programs all the more sweet! Not an artists but Simon's rendition of the awesome new Mountaineers Village.(This sketch is not necessarily a true representation of how awesome the new village is really going to be.)BONUS - Check out a time lapse video of the roof being raised...]]></description>
            <author>shansen@ymca.org (Simon Hansen)</author>
            <pubDate>Wed, 02 May 2012 00:00:00 -0700</pubDate>
        </item>
        <item>
            <title>Raintree Ranch Bolo Program</title>
            <link>http://www.camp.ymca.org/yblog/blog/2012/4/24/raintree-ranch-bolo-program.html</link>
            <guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.camp.ymca.org/yblog/blog/2012/4/24/raintree-ranch-bolo-program.html</guid>
            <description><![CDATA[A tradition started
many years ago at Raintree Ranch is our Bolo System. But what is a Bolo? A Bolo is a western type necktie fastened by a
rope or cord and usually with a decorative stone or jewel. The stone or jewel
can slide easily up and down making it much easier tighten than tying a normal
neck tie. The style became popular in the 1940’s in the Wild West but the
origins go back to 1866 in New Mexico. It is also sometimes referred to as a Bola,
and in 1971 Arizona legislature named the Bolo tie the official state neck wear. It has come to symbolize the
Western United States and many politicians from Arizona, New Mexico, Montana
and Texas have worn a Bolo tie on Capitol Hill.


Each week a camper
attends Raintree Ranch they can earn one of our specially made Raintree Ranch Bolos
for their horsemanship skills and knowledge.
There are 8 Bolos total, each getting progressively harder and requiring
more work to be done down at the barn.
Campers will fulfill some requirements during riding lessons or time in
ground classes and a final written test is given on Friday morning to complete
the process. 

While the Bolo program
is optional, almost all the campers work hard to obtain a level each week. Even the camp staff take some of their time
off to earn Bolos. Bolos are a great
way to set a goal, work toward that goal and get a feeling of accomplishment
during the summer. Campers are given a
study packet at the beginning of the week they can use during down time or
refer back to in ground classes to help retain the knowledge needed for the
test. Material is reviewed every day
during ground classes, and staff also provide support to anyone who needs it
during the testing process. 

New campers at
Raintree Ranch come with varying levels of horse experience, and their lessons
are split into ability level, but everyone still starts by earning the first
Filly Bolo as tradition. While most
campers can only spend 1 week with us to earn 1 Bolo per summer, we have some
campers who spend multiple weeks at camp each summer and earn a Bolo each week.
The highest levels can sometimes take more than 1 week to complete. 

 Here
is what some of our campers and staff say about what their Bolos mean to them:

 “I
still have my Trail Master that I earned 15 years ago! It reminds me of all the
summers I spent working towards it”

 “My Bolos
are on my doorknob, and they remind me that I can accomplish anything as long
as I put forth the effort”

 “My Bolos
remind me that if I try and reach my goal I can do it and they all hang proudly
on my wall”

 “My
Bolos remind me of the great memories I’ve had in the past and make me excited
for the future. It also helps me remember that I can achieve any goal with the
effort that I put in”

 “My
Bolos remind me of the best summer I’ve ever had, all the friends I made, all
the blood sweat and tears I put into getting all of them” 

 “Hard
work, pride and great memories”

 “The
best summer I’ve had in my life. They remind me of working hard toward goals,
sharing the love of Bolos with everyone else who has earned them and studying
with other campers.”



Here is what each level requires

Level
1: Filly

Demonstrate
     proper approach, lead, mount and dismountIdentify
     5 parts of horseIdentify
     5 grooming tools &amp; their useGive
     3 horse safety rulesIdentify
     3 parts of the bridle and 4 parts of the saddleDescribe
     2 gaits of a horseRide
     a walk in proper equitationStand
     in the stirrups at the walkDescribe
     your favorite moment at horses



Level
2: Colt

Identify
     10 parts of a horseIdentify
     5 breeds and discuss their proper useProperly
     groom a horseGive
     6 horse safety rulesDemonstrate
     proper safety around the horsesDescribe
     4 gaits of a horseTie
     a safety knotAssist
     in cleaning manure out of one pasture



Level
3: Stallion

Identify
     15 parts of a horseIdentify
     6 parts of the bridleIdentify
     10 parts of the saddleGroom
     and tack-up a horseIdentify
     5 colors of a horseDiscuss
     the history of one breed of horseClean
     out two watering troughs in barn areaBegin
     a trotLearn
     how to properly tack up a horse



Level
4: Ranch Hand

Identify
     25 parts of a horseClean
     and oil a bridle and discuss why this is importantIdentify
     all face markingsDiscuss
     feeds and proper feeding of a horseProperly
     wrap a horse’s leg and explain reasons for wrappingBegin
     a posting trotIdentify
     all parts of the hoofDiscuss
     why and how a horse is lunged



Level
5: Junior Wrangler

Identify
     40 parts of a horseName
     5 common horse diseases including prevention and curesClean
     and oil a saddleIdentify
     all leg markingsDiscuss
     proper health maintenance of a horseHelp
     with morning chores twice (tack-up)Clean
     all pastures onceAssist
     teaching one ground class



Level
6: Wrangler

Identify
     35 parts of a horseRide
     an extended trot and a collected lopeDiscuss
     and perform first-aid on a horseDiscuss
     how and why to deworm a horseDiscuss
     why it is important to groom and was a horse and 5 reasons why a horse
     should be clippedList
     all of the trail ride rulesTeach
     beginning riders trail etiquetteIdentify
     every Raintree horse by nameDemonstrate
     safe tack up of a horse



Level
7: Raintree Rancher

Disassemble
     and reassemble a bridle and saddleRepair
     damaged bridle and saddle Discuss
     proper reactions to trail hazardsDescribe
     how you check for lameness on a horse and how you can tell if the lameness
     is in the front or back endPass
     a pattern test in the riding arenaHelp
     tack horses 4 timesHelp
     in one feeding each dayAssist
     with the horse showWrite
     an essay on what horsemanship means to you and include your thoughts on
     the 4 YMCA core values



Level
8: Trail Master

Help
     instruct one trail rideFeed
     twice dailyHelp
     tack or untack dailyHelp
     do first aid dailyAssist
     with ground classesHelp
     with daily ranch maintenance choresName
     20 possible careers that have to do with horsesWrite
     an essay about your camping experience at RaintreeBE
     A CAMP ROLE MODEL

]]></description>
            <author>lpauli@ymca.org (Laura Pauli)</author>
            <pubDate>Tue, 24 Apr 2012 00:00:00 -0700</pubDate>
        </item>
        <item>
            <title>The Marston Climbing Experience</title>
            <link>http://www.camp.ymca.org/yblog/blog/2012/4/12/the-marston-climbing-experience.html</link>
            <guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.camp.ymca.org/yblog/blog/2012/4/12/the-marston-climbing-experience.html</guid>
            <description><![CDATA[An important part of our camp mission is "to help all people realize their fullest potential". One of our favorite ways to help people do that is through our Climbing Tower.Cabin groups come together to climb the wall almost every day of the week. People of all ages step up to challenge themselves, to try their hardest, and to push past their fears and limitations.The Tower is a challenge by choice activity - that means that everyone is encouraged to set themselves a goal that they are comfortable with, and then everyone else encourages them as they try their best to reach that goal. Some climbers will set themselves a goal to climb all the way to the top, others will challenge themselves to go halfway, some will challenge themselves to put the harness on, get tied in and touch the wall; whatever they choose, as long as they try their hardest - it's all good! No matter when you are at camp you will be able to hear positive hoots, hollas and encouragement coming from the direction of the tower. Everyone at the Tower is part of a community, supporting and encouraging whoever is climbing. The "belayer" (the belayer is always one of our trained staff members!) and the crowd are constantly giving the climber advice, encouragement and some straight up good vibes as they make their way closer to their goal. When a climber feels like they have tried their hardest or reached their goal they are always asked - "are you sure??" by the be-layer. Most of the time climbers will rest a while and then try just a little harder to go just a little further - that is when the really good stuff happens!  Because of the awesome challenge of the Tower, climbing has been an important part of what we do at Camp Marston since the early 90's. Back then the climbing face was some plywood bolted to a couple of old Pine Trees. It was affectionately named the West Face, and though a little rough and wobbly in the wind, was a popular place for campers to challenge themselves to reach their goals. The existing Climbing Tower was built by volunteers and staff in the Spring of 1996 and has remained the centerpiece of camp since. There are a lot of amazing stories about campers climbing the tower, overcoming fears and inspiring others by setting a goal and giving it everything they have to reach that goal - do you have a story about your experience at the Marston Climbing Tower??]]></description>
            <author>shansen@ymca.org (Simon Hansen)</author>
            <pubDate>Thu, 12 Apr 2012 00:00:00 -0700</pubDate>
        </item>
        <item>
            <title>Surf Tiki Award</title>
            <link>http://www.camp.ymca.org/yblog/blog/2012/4/8/surf-tiki-award.html</link>
            <guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.camp.ymca.org/yblog/blog/2012/4/8/surf-tiki-award.html</guid>
            <description><![CDATA[The Tiki award at YMCA Camp Surf is not just a honor
table award, but a statement about teamwork and respect.





At every breakfast and dinner we honor a hard working
cabin group with the Tiki award. They proudly stand up, sing their cabin cheer,
and place the hand-carved, one of a kind, award at their table. There the tiki
remains until awarded to another cabin at the next meal. 

So what's hard work on the dining deck? 



First.... cabinmates must work together as a team to eat
family style. Someone is elected to be the "Hopper" (the one who gets
the food for everyone else). There's
always plenty to eat, so throughout the meal your encouraged to make healthy
choices and take your time. Try not to waste, as while we respect ourselves and
our friends, we also want to look after the environment too. When the music
begins and it's time to clean up, the "Super Spatula" leads the cabin
in a clean-up routine that is inclusive and a whole lot of fun. Counselors are always watching to see which
group can complete the meal while being respectful of one another,
following directions, etc!



Would it be easier to eat every meal buffet
style? Absolutely...but we take the extra time and make the extra effort to
make sure everyone shares, eats and gets to learn more about each other. We're at camp! It's time to slow down and
enjoy some quality time with our friends.



So campers lets eat, be healthy, clean up, compost and be
awarded the Surf Tiki award together this summer! 

]]></description>
            <author>ncorrall@ymca.org (Nat Corrall)</author>
            <pubDate>Sun, 08 Apr 2012 00:00:00 -0700</pubDate>
        </item>
        <item>
            <title>Mini Surfboard Craft</title>
            <link>http://www.camp.ymca.org/yblog/blog/2012/4/5/blog-title.html</link>
            <guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.camp.ymca.org/yblog/blog/2012/4/5/blog-title.html</guid>
            <description><![CDATA[Arts and Crafts is a staple at camp but maybe not for the reasons you're thinking of. It's a great opportunity to slow down and have campers work on their interpersonal skills. Campers actually have great conversations while working on a project together. A former camper asked us what use to make our mini surfboard necklaces so we figured we'd give you step-by-step instructions. Items Needed:Joining Biscuits - We purchase these from our home improvement store (size #10). They are already in the rough shape of a surfboard!SandpaperA drill &amp; drill bitPaintToothpick Necklace stringStep 1:We pre-drill the biscuit joints with small holes so that we can put the lanyard string through. (Kids make sure an adult helps you with the drilling part!)Step 2: Use some sandpaper (a small square works just fine) and shape your board! It's hard to see in this photo but this camper placed his square on the table and is rubbing his board across it to shape it.Step 3:Paint your board! Notice that we use special little paint trays to separate the colors...ice trays work well too!Step 4:Admire your work so far...and smile!Step 5:Let your creation dry. Notice the toothpick!...it's great for holding your board without getting wet paint on your fingers and also for allowing your board to dry.Step 6:Place your string through the hole and enjoy your necklace, keychain, zipper-pull, whatever you want it to be. Note...this person didn't sand very much, which is why you still see the imprint text. Extra Picture:Included this to show you the "carrots"...the other pre-shaped wood cutout that could easily be used to resemble and arrowhead. These can be purchased at craft stores. SO....that's pretty much it! Have fun making your own boards and we'll see you at camp this summer!]]></description>
            <author>bsayers@ymca.org (Brent Ayers)</author>
            <pubDate>Thu, 05 Apr 2012 00:00:00 -0700</pubDate>
        </item>
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