Healthy Kids • YMCA Camps and Outdoor Education
Celebrating tradition with the Pine Crest Games
15 August 2016 - by Ruth Mills
When you ask a camper what their favourite part of camp is, answers include activities such as canoeing, swimming, or capture the flag. In addition to these, the most common answer we hear at YMCA Camp Pine Crest is “The Games!”
Since 1940, the Pine Crest community has come together every summer for The Pine Crest Games — an exciting all-camp competition that spans two days at the end of the summer. “The Games allow for all members of the Pine Crest community — both current and alumni — to compete in a spirit of friendly rivalry, and celebrate a tradition that has been going on for over 75 years,” says Andrea Carter, a long time Pine Crest staff member and past Games leader.
The spirit of the Games rests in this concept of “friendly rivalry” between the two teams, called the Voyageurs and the Lumbermen. While the competition is fierce, staff and campers change what team they are on every summer, based on a random assignment of cabins to teams. This encourages campers to feel commitment to a team, while also understanding and relating to both sides. Components of the Games also include celebrating each other and identifying strengths in your opponent.
The Games are also a celebration of leadership. At the beginning of each Games, a leader for each team is selected from the current staff team. Leaders are selected by past Games leaders, based on a specific list of criteria.
“The Games are a great way for the community to come together and work towards something,” says Carolyn Marrelli-Dill, who was chosen as leader of the Voyageur team in 2015. “They really integrate staff and campers, and symbolize what Pine Crest is about — celebrating different leadership styles and working together.”
Since 1940, the Pine Crest community has come together every summer for The Pine Crest Games — an exciting all-camp competition that spans two days at the end of the summer. “The Games allow for all members of the Pine Crest community — both current and alumni — to compete in a spirit of friendly rivalry, and celebrate a tradition that has been going on for over 75 years,” says Andrea Carter, a long time Pine Crest staff member and past Games leader.
The spirit of the Games rests in this concept of “friendly rivalry” between the two teams, called the Voyageurs and the Lumbermen. While the competition is fierce, staff and campers change what team they are on every summer, based on a random assignment of cabins to teams. This encourages campers to feel commitment to a team, while also understanding and relating to both sides. Components of the Games also include celebrating each other and identifying strengths in your opponent.
The Games are also a celebration of leadership. At the beginning of each Games, a leader for each team is selected from the current staff team. Leaders are selected by past Games leaders, based on a specific list of criteria.
“The Games are a great way for the community to come together and work towards something,” says Carolyn Marrelli-Dill, who was chosen as leader of the Voyageur team in 2015. “They really integrate staff and campers, and symbolize what Pine Crest is about — celebrating different leadership styles and working together.”
