Joe Werner, of Fairview Heights, also serves on the camps board. Camp Ondessonk is owned by the Catholic Diocese of Belleville and has been offering summer camp experience since 1959, the same year I was born. Most of the tree houses are set back in the forest. I promise to strive to meet the mission and vision of Camp Ondessonk, putting the Catholic core values of the organization at the forefront of all that I do in my role as a CIT. Hands and knees. Unit Cheers . There are also popular mini camps for children ages 8 to 10 as an introduction to nature-based camping in the forest. As new administration was brought in and summer programming went through changes, the Frontier units were phased out so only one trip to Utah was left by 1986. They were usually 10 to 14 days long. Our camper fees are extremely competitive and unlike many other summer camps, Ondessonk does not charge additional fees for horseback riding or senior camper electives. Lake St. Isaac was added in the winter of 1960-1961 giving campers a place for swimming and watercraft activities. All rights reserved. Frequently sung at campfires, in-between activities, or before a meal. Camp Ondessonk offers specialized programs, referred to as adventure camp, that allow campers to focus on one set of skills in a particular area for an entire week. Print. Hut! For the next several summers, he attended at least one session per summer. The Metro East Lodge Council and Camp staff greeted more than 20,000 spectators for the 2022 Belleville Optimist Annual Santa Parade. Whereas most units have a staff member cabin that allows staff to keep an eye on campers from an adjacent location, the Tekakwitha lodges have a small staff room attached to each so staff members are always nearby. The Belleville Optimist Annual Santa Parade is touted . New activities and programs continue to be added as camp evolves with the changing times around it in the real world.. Gently now! One of the highlights of an Ondessonk visit, our 3-sided treehouse cabin units take full advantage of their natural surroundings. [2] Although they were referred to as units, the Frontier program was actually a separate experience from camp, during which participants traveled to places such as Utah, Colorado, and the Bahamas. 56-63. New Positions for Ondessonk Summer Staff Promote Positivity and Success . A large, natural, stone peak jutting high above a lake. ", "The little 11 year-old girl that we dropped off to Camp was not the same girl we picked up. The ghost stories told around the campfire at night spooked me. Camp Ondessonk welcomed possibly the most iconic member of its family in July 1966 when it acquired Tommy the Bear. Play Camp Ondessonk and discover followers on SoundCloud | Stream tracks, albums, playlists on desktop and mobile. All CITsare expected to read, understand, and adhere to the following Code of Ethics: All applicants must submit an up-to-date professional resume. The summer leadership staff is comprised of proven, sound decision makers who have completed college or are actively working towards that goal. One of the most memorable Lodge trips was in 1968 and went to Italy and Switzerland. Hi-ho!ScientistAcid! All staff applicants must be at least 16 years old by May 28, 2023 or going into Junior year of High School. CHAs certification process has been continually monitored and refined for more than 40 years, in order to meet the needs of a changing horse industry. Staffed by medical professionals and on call pediatric physicians every day of the summer, there is never a moment without someone who is able to provide help. April 15 17: Spring Stable Round Up/Gardening Party Volunteers come down to help get Ondessonk ready for the summer and spend some time with some old friends. This trip included the group attending Christmas Mass with the Pope during which the group was privileged to sit in ambassador seats just 20 feet from the Pope. Ice cream & cake & cakeIce cream & cake & cakeIce cream & cake & cakeIce cream & cake & cake, Chorus:Ice cream & cakeDo the ice cream & cakeIce cream & cakeDo the ice cream & cakeIce cream & cakeDo the ice cream & cakeIce cream & cakeDo the ice cream & cakeNow slip slip slip slideSlip slip slip & slideSlip slip slip & slideStop hold up tag teamRide with ya boy now slip & slideRide with ya boy now slip & slideRide with ya boy now slip & slidePause step up ice cream & cake. take care of myself and recognize my personal needs so I can be the best counselor I can be. The original camp program of Ondessonk, traditional camp allows participants to experience all the long-standing activities camp is valued for. There was a great big mooseHe liked to drink a lot of juiceThere was a great big mooseAnd he drank a lot of juiceChorus:Singing oh way oh!Way oh, way oh, way oh, way ohWAAYYY oh, way oh!Way oh, way oh, way oh, way ohThe moose's name was FredHe liked to drink his juice in bedThe moose's name was FredAnd he drank his juice in bed ChorusHe liked to drink his juice with careBut he spilled it in his hairHe drank his juice with careBut he spilled it EVERYWHEREChorusNow there's a sticky mooseAll covered in juiceOn the LOOOOOSE. 10% of Camp Ondessonk employees are Black or African American. In 1960 the summer season was extended to four weeks of boys camp and three weeks of girls. Search for: Recent Posts. During girls season and boys season all available units are open to all campers regardless of whether the unit is located on the "girls" or "boys" side of the lake. Camp Ondessonks Executive Director, Camping Services Director and Programming Director have all been Wilderness First Responder certified. Many of the units adopted their three-sided look in the late 1970s through the mid-1980s based on the inspiration of a Polynesian design discovered on a trip to Walt Disney World. After working for a variety of camps, outdoor education centers, adventure programs, and youth conservation agencies, Rebecca returned to Ondessonk in 2007 as a Program Instructor. Camp Ondessonk is an equal opportunity provider of summer camp and leadership programs. This makes Tekakwitha the perfect unit for younger campers or those nervous about their first stay away from home. Archery took place near where Amantacha now sits and riflery was located in the same area it currently resides in over 50 years later. It is advised that larger groups contact Camp first to inquire about availability and make reservations several months in advance especially for those wanting meals and programs and for dates during the busier months of September, October, April, and May. Designed with 8 and 10 year old campers in mind, mini camp is meant to be an introduction to the camp experience. [17] Campers spend their days in the stables learning such things as how to care for and groom their horses, as well as receiving more in-depth instruction in riding skills and general horsemanship. Volunteer crews began construction on the new summer camp in spring of 1959 in a race to finish before the scheduled opening on June 28, 1959. Whos in charge and taking care of my kids? [19] Induction into Lodge is the greatest honor for any camper. Parishes from various parts of Southern Illinois provided funds and volunteer builders. Although the Primitive Units were eventually disbanded, Couture made a return in the mid-1980s due to overbooking. Campers spend their nights in either Chiwatenwha or Aonnetta with staff trained to take on the challenges of younger campers experiencing their first week-long sleepaway camp stay. Phone: (618) 695-2485. See what Ondessonk has to offer you! Please refer to the Camp Map to see which lakes are available for fishing. If you have not registered yet, hop on over to our online registration on camps website and keep those forms coming. Came inside when it was too hot. It is located in the Shawnee National Forest of Southern Illinois, near Ozark, Illinois. Summary of this case from Walker v. If you are selected and accept a position at Camp Ondessonk, you will commit to upholding Catholic values in your public work, and acting as a positive role model and mentor to our campers. conduct myself in a manner that is consistent with the discipline and teaching of the Catholic Church. I promise to be a positive role model for youth at camp and acknowledge I am a representative of camp and the Diocese of Belleville to camper families during my off time both outside of camp and online. They set up patrols at night to ensure that authorities could not enter into camp during the night and take him away. The highlight of their stay was an overnight canoe trip to Lake of Egypt. N.p. As with intermediate adventures, campers spend most of their time away from main camp building their skills on the trails around camp. By my parent's car, it was . The All Decades Staff Reunion is this weekend! Not sure I ever hit a target. They spent days building cabins with handsaws and evenings in a farmhouse near the camp location. A week before opening day a bathhouse was built, although it lacked a water heater, and a well was dug to provide fresh water. We hope to see you all this summer! Phone: 618.695.2489 x104. not smoke, vape, or use any tobacco or e-cigarette product on Camp Ondessonk property. ntil you and camp meet again, keep singing, moving, and grooving your way through life. She later became an Ondessonk summer camp counselor for three summers During her senior year of high school, Rebecca studied in Denmark as a Rotary International Youth Exchange Student. An old wooden cafeteria that is no longer used for eating because of its size. "The upper part of the water fall from our main area is about a mile and a quarter. He was found wandering near Mount Vernon, Illinois and was given the name Yonah, meaning bear spirit in Cherokee. I wanted to crawl across that swinging bridge. [11] The traditional camp session at Camp Ondessonk is known for offering the basic camp experience, but in a more nature enriched way than may be found at other summer camps. This Health Center is known as one of the top medical facilities in an ACA accredited summer camp. After being absent since the 1970s, the Lodge arrowhead was reestablished in 2007 and can be earned by Lodge members over time through dedication to Lodge. I've got peace like a river in my soul. She had blossomed so much in that one week. He went to camp as a kid. The programs take a limited number of campers and provide them with the opportunity to enhance their knowledge and skills of a particular area. You learned a lot about your friends while at camp. The dining hall is air conditioned, and has windows on all sides to allow for ventilation. Yonah lived in the cage formerly occupied by Tommy, as the camp bear until his death in 2001. Traditional Camp is open to campers ages 1015 and offers sessions in three variations of gender settings. All rights reserved. Some others are Little Split and Fat Man's Misery. Kids give a "Heepwah" cheer at Camp Ondessonk located in the Shawnee National Forest in Southern Illinois. Teondecoren was located at Pine Lake and consisted of Conestoga wagons of the Old West that had been donated to camp. You look at every building here at camp, old and new, and you know it was largely done by a team of volunteers coming together, Werner said. No prior experience in the area of focus is required. All cabin units have fire pits, benches, picnic tables, a potable water spigot, an outhouse, and are within a short walk to a shower house. Dan lives on site with his wife Suzy. The camp strives to remain a "last frontier" of sorts, where participants can experience life away from the plugged in world of today's society, and go back to a . One day, one dayOne day, one dayMy mama said[Name]Cook the porridge! Camp Ondessonk is a rustic, outdoor, Catholic youth camp run by the Belleville Diocese. That seemed so far away. He joined the Seasonal Program Staff shortly thereafter. There are also many areas at Camp to pitch a tent, or for those who dont wish to rough it, rent a hostel-style room in our St. Noel Center. It is looking like it will turn out to be a great summer, we have already received over 1100 camper registration forms! As part of their unique personalities, each unit is represented by a color and spirit animal. Required fields are marked *. Bad aim. It is located in the Shawnee National Forest of Southern Illinois, near Ozark, Illinois. Campers in Teondecoren lived off the land, and made the unit a popular visiting spot for other units on the Wednesday night overnight. We are proud to be accredited by the American Camp Association. With your [body part]Repeat, adding in these body parts with stirring motions:Right hand Left hand Right leg Left legHeadBottom. Allow this song to get quieter and slower as you move through the verses. The first Silver Frontier trip went to Florida and visited sites like Daytona Beach, St. Augustine, Cape Kennedy, and Disney World. Campgrounds Near Me; Summer Camp Tip- Swim . Mini camp explorers is for more adventurous 8 and 9-year-olds who feel capable of spending the entire week at camp. Log In In my childhood world, there was only one summer camp, Camp Ondessonk, located in the Shawnee National Forest in Southern Illinois. Everything parents want and need to know about sending their child to Camp Ondessonk. Camp Ondessonk strives to meet the highest health and standards. For the News-Democrat. These little beauts cook in a kiln twice, for a total of about 24 hours #worthit And it. Camp Ondessonk: Celebrating 50 Years of Camp Spirit! It was later moved to a location near the main area of camp and even to a position along Camp Road for a time. At Camp O, there were no TVs, radios, baseballs or bicycles. The 1971 trip took participants on an Iberian tour through Spain, Portugal, and Morocco. I promise to be a good CIT. We do not allow personal watercraft or fishing boats on any of our bodies of water. The symbol of Camp Ondessonk is a circle with a cross coming out of the top and seven stars surrounding it representing the eight North American Martyrs. During fall, winter and spring, there are outdoor educational programs available to schools and youth programs. Everywhere we go! Campers at St. Philip spent their nights in one of five units; Marquette, LaSalle, LaLande, Brebeuf, and Hennepin. Below please submit two character references. Each evening campers return to main camp to participate in the evening activities and stay in one of the units. This is a beginner adventure and is open to campers ages 1215. return /* @__PURE__ */ react.createElement("svg", dhtupload_svg_extends({ I learned that Camp isnt all about winning and that I should focus on having fun. Here are a few of our favorite tunes. This led to the camper's parents to worry that their son may have contracted rabies from the bear. Beginner adventures include Horse Camp, Rock Camp, and Hike, Bike, Paddle, and Climb. I understand that my duty is to protect children at all times. Print. Evan Coulson. I've got peace like a river. It is named after a Boy Scout group from Paducah, Kentucky. The early 2000s saw a return of two-week sessions in the form of Mega Camp. [15] Campers stay in a unit made up of other Lodge members and led by a Lodge Official on staff. Having no facilities of their own, the parish rented out Camp Piasa in Grafton Illinois in 1957 and Camp Vandeventer in Waterloo Illinois in 1958. Shower houses are located near each unit and multiple units share shower house facilities. Killed mosquitoes. Blow up in your face! That same year also saw the addition of four new shower houses and a roadway around almost all of Lake Echon, which replaced the dirt roads and trails. By 1989 the units of Teondecoren and Ahatsistari were no longer available to campers as a unit choice. No exceptions. ", "I loved it. Ive always had a fear of bridges. If you are not confident with your resume, do not worry we will work on it as part of the CIT program. The 1970 trip scheduled to tour the Middle East was canceled due to conflict in the region. This accreditation means that Ondessonk thoroughly reviews operational practices, seeks the wisdom of other camp professionals, and continually makes improvements to comply with more than 300 written standards. Anywhere.. Unit Cheers - Chabanel by Camp Ondessonk published on 2022-06-10T21:16:02Z. This page was last edited on 28 February 2023, at 00:07. In doing so, I will: treat with confidence and respect the personal information I learn from or about campers, CITs, and staff (subject to the policies on reporting abuse and neglect). Ondessonks float, created by Jim Shively, was well received by onlookers, and Heepwahs filled the air as the float made its way through the parade route. I've got peace like a river. But most of the campers were from the Catholic grade schools in the metro-east. Camp was our first experience away from home, for a full week. in Geography with an emphasis in Environmental Planning from Southern Illinois University Carbondale. Background: Dans history with Camp Ondessonk began in 1981, his first year as a camper. As they arrived, campers were placed in one of four of the original units: Brebeuf, Chabanel, Goupil, and LaLande. Call (618) 695-2489 x104 or email chris.bretscher@ondessonk.com. Include your work, scholastic, extracurricular activities, and volunteer experience. Hometown: Edwardsville, Illinois Music-making. The first stables were located on what is now the Brebeuf Flats and consisted of a stable building built by volunteers in one weekend, and a jumbled herd of horses donated to camp. Short and sweet, its not uncommon to see it requested three, four, or five times in a row. But there were all the cool things we could never do at home, such as swimming in a lake, canoeing, archery, riflery, horseback riding and hiking. adhere to the zero-tolerance policy for the use, possession, distribution or being under the influence of alcohol, cannabis, or illegal drugs at camp. In doing so, I will: accept personal responsibility to protect children from all forms of abuse, including: Verbal Abuse Humiliation, Degradation, Threats, Profanity, Sexual Abuse including inappropriate touch, displays, acts, Mental Abuse Hazing, Neglect, Manipulation, Teasing, Bullying. Following college, Dan gained program planning and administrative experience at several other camps as a wrangler, outdoor educator, Program Director, and Summer Camp Director. Coed sessions were added in 1989 and eventually surpassed the popularity of separate gender seasons. I loved that everyone is so kind to each other. (Everywhere we go) People always ask us (People always ask us) Who we are (who we are) Where we come from (where we come from) So we tell them (So we tell them) We're from name your camp (we're from) And if they cannot hear us (And if they cannot hear us) We . Beginning in the summer of 1957, Camp St. Philip[2] is part of the Diocese of Belleville. Joseph Teondechoren, a Huron medicine man later turned missionary. [2] The circle represents an O for Ondessonk one of the eight martyrs, Issac Jogues, and for the world. The North American martyrs are: Others whom places around camp were named for: Camp Ondessonk is a rustic outdoor camp. or. Please do not let this resume requirement intimidate you. Log In. Christine StuartRegional Manager, Partner Programs. What do I remember most about Camp Ondessonk? Maybe check out Fat Mans Misery. The key to a good nights sleep at camp was falling asleep first. WMA Wilderness Protocolsincluding wound cleaning and exploration, spine injury assessment, dislocation reduction, CPR in the remote setting, and Anaphylaxis and Asthma. Illinois state regulations apply. The John de LaLande Award is presented to a non-Lodge Member who is part of the Camp Ondessonk staff and feels that they do not meet the proper requirements for membership into the organization but have rendered meritorious service to Camp Ondessonk and the community. Illinois University Carbondale camp was falling asleep first the porridge his first year as camper..., a Huron medicine Man later turned camp ondessonk cheers, Rock camp, camp... 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