O CTOBER 2013 Camp Kesem NEWSLETTER Counselor Fun HAUNTED TIMES WITH Thumper Favorite: Halloween Costume? Blue Power Ranger Halloween Movie? Ghostbusters Halloween Candy? King size Butterfingers Have you ever seen a ghost? No, but I ve heard stories. Trick or treat? Choose wisely. Definitely treat over trick because there is nothing more I love than a bucket/pillowcase full of candy. Hellooooooo CK IL Family & Friends, Welcome to our Camp Kesem Illinois Newsletter! We hope you will be able to use this as a resource to stay up-to-date about all the exciting events that are happening to prepare for Camp 2014. Save the Date! Fall Reunion Sunday, November 10 th 1:30-3:30 pm Children s Discovery Museum 101 E. Beaufort St. Normal, IL 61761 Be on the lookout for your invitation in the mail soon! Make the Magic Event Saturday, November 23 rd Join us for an evening of entertainment, food and drink, great company, and to learn all about our Kesem Magic! We host this event in efforts to not only raise money for our program, but also to raise awareness. What are you most scared of? I m most scared of chainsaws outside of haunted houses when they come running from the woods gets me every time. What was the best part of Halloween in August day at camp this summer? Waking up and seeing all the different costumes, and by the end of the day seeing how much is still intact.
Meet the Co-Directors An Introduction from Calico Cat Hi! I m Callan (Calico Cat) McDermott, and I am so excited to be working with Remy this year as Co-Directors for Camp Kesem Illinois! We have big plans for this year, and we re ready to make next summer s camp the best yet! I am a junior at the University of Illinois studying Community Health, and I am also on the Fighting Illini Swimming and Diving Team. I found out about Camp Kesem my freshman year from my big sister Tigger. Since my first year at camp, we have also gotten my younger sister Bolonie involved too. I have made many lifelong friends through Camp Kesem and love being a part of this amazing organization. The magic that we find at Camp Kesem and the smiling campers are what I look forward to all year. My favorite part of camp is the BLOB!!! I also love the song circles and last year when we did Messy Olympics. I am looking forward to our first fundraiser in Chicago called Make the Magic and also meeting new counselors and campers this year! Can t wait to see you at our fall reunion! -Calico Cat Say Hello to Remy Hey guys! Remy here! I m so excited to be Co-Director of Camp Kesem Illinois this year with Calico Cat! Looking back on my CK journey, it s been such a fun ride since freshmen year. Right away I met some great friends who were counselors and they told me that you guys, the campers, are the best kids in the entire world, and boy were they right! After my first week of camp, I was determined to do everything I could to make Camp Kesem bigger and better than ever. I had so much fun last year and I can t wait to do it again next summer! Right now we are planning camp for you guys so get excited about all the new ideas we want to bring you! P.S. I finally don t have vampire teeth anymore! -Remy 2
Words from a new CK Parent by Amy Gayle As a first year Camp Kesem parent, I dropped my kids off reluctantly and worried for a whole week while they were gone and I had no contact with them. When I went to pick them up, I was in awe of the unconditional love I saw in front of my eyes as my kids hugged all of the counselors and did not want to let go. Camp Kesem has changed the lives of my children. They had to witness their Mommy get sick and to go through surgery and radiation. They had to be patient as Mommy was too tired to play or needed a nap just to get through the day. No one has ever been able to relate to my kids until Camp Kesem came into our lives. Since Camp Kesem, my children are much kinder to each other and to others around them. They are more helpful to me at home and they don t argue as much as they used to. They often ask me How much longer until we can go back to Camp Kesem? Gone is the Mommy that was worried about her kids for that week. I am now a Mommy that advocates and spreads as much awareness as she can about Camp Kesem. I have made it my personal vow that everyone needs to know about how amazing this camp is and how it has changed our lives and the lives of so many others. Counselors are no longer strangers, but a new family in our lives. Thank you, Camp Kesem, for giving our family a chance to breathe fresh air and to know that we are not alone. Camp Kesem Trivia SUBMITTED BY Ron Weasley What country did Halloween start from? To find out the answers to our trivia questions, make sure to check out our website at www.campkesem.org/illinois 3
) G- T--./ &- 5C3 _ _J CA @\< "--' 'sj r \ F C5 r3 r -.O -) { fl c a C J lj* -l - I -clo 3 ;-4 \-r T-Shirt Winner! Cookie was the winner of our t-shirt contest at the end of camp. Her design will be featured on the back of our camp t-shirts next year. Congrats Cookie! s- H+ 3 e) Afr g o {r 'd _{ c -'o 1.4 g-) Introducing the New Executive Board! Co-Directors: Steven Grosso - Remy Callan McDermott - Calico Cat Operations Coordinator: Billy Donohue - Buzz Outreach Coordinators: Kelsey Galicia - Terk Sarah Bonds - Piglet Volunteer Coordinators: Brittney Finke - Darla Sloane McDermott - Bolonie Development Coordinators: Kamil Matejewski - Aladdin Rob Morse - Peter Pan Special Events Coordinator: Samantha Pucci - Bolt Teen Leadership Coordinator: Dylan Smith - Kronk Public Relations/Marketing Coordinator: Veronica Lesny - Glitter Media News! View pictures from camp on our Facebook Page! Also, if you have any pictures to share with us, email them over to Glitter at illinois@campkesem.org. Be sure to check us out on the web! Website: www.campkesem.org/illinois Twitter: www.twitter.com/campekesemillinois Facebook: www.facebook.com/campkesemillinois 4
An Ode To Camp Kesem Sometimes there are no words, To express the feelings in one s heart, To find words no dictionary has, Because there is no end and there is no start. It has been said that beginning and End are both the same For you people who make up Kesem It s the only game. Love and compassion are mere words for sure They are the stuff of life, And Camp Kesem s are pure. There is no perfection, no great deal, Camp Kesem s people are surely a different sort, To be a part of them, and what they do, Gives the rest of us safety in a port. by Smart Alleck For all of you who work this part, The world s a better place in part, Because you ve slowed us down And given us a time to rest in heart. My thanks to you for all This summer s fun you ve brought. You ve reawaked at least in me, Actor s heart, in your actions and not your thought. May your journey ahead keep you safe in mind and heart, May you always understand and appreciate your life, and remember This is not an end, it s just a start. Camp Kesem Illinois P.O. Box 2874 Champaign, IL 61820 illinois@campkesem.org 1.847.231.2379