Comments for Camp Wakonda

Comment on Alumni by Riccardo "Ricci" Roodt

Riccardo "Ricci" Roodt — Wed, 07 May 2008 15:11:08 +0000

Hi all. I first went to Camp Wakonda as a camp counselor in 1995. It was a 21st birthday gift from my parents. They told me to choose a country and I did. I thank God everyday for halping me make that choice.
It was a real difficult time in my life too, the previous year my aunt died of Cancer. We were really close. I loved spending time at the river just crying my heart out to God. I remember sitting in the counselor’s rec room all alone and listening to Sandi Patty’s song, “Was it a morning like this?” In that small room God spoke to my heart and gave me the peace that I needed, to know that everything will be okay.
I was amazed at how nice people were to me. It was a bit intimidating to be in the USA, but all that vanished when I would spend time with so many people. Two of my closest friends at Wakonda that first year was Maggie (Vranek)and Jason Thorne. They are married now.
The one thing that I will always say about Wakonda is that it holds and always will hold a Piece of my heart.
Then I went back to Wakonda in 2000. That was Gods doing entirely. The circumstances were perfect as only God can do it. It was as though God knew why he needed me to be there. This was 6 months after my MOM died of Cancer.
If God loves Wakonda and a piece of my heart is in Wakonda then God loves me ALOT. LOL

Thank you for this website.

Comment on Home by Hadley

Hadley — Sun, 04 May 2008 20:23:21 +0000

I’ve been going to camp for a loooooooong time. It’s really special to me. I am going to Canada in June and was glad when I found out that i was still able to go to camp. I really like how you have many different dates so you can fit everyone in at the same time. So if you’re planning 2 go 2 camp, make sure you have an empty calander!!!

Comment on Home by Elise

Elise — Fri, 02 May 2008 23:46:16 +0000

I saw an add that you needed life guards and was wondering if you were still hiring.

Comment on Alumni by Dick Patterson (Schmick)

Dick Patterson (Schmick) — Fri, 02 May 2008 22:25:59 +0000

I quite literally grew up at Camp Wakonda, starting as a camper in 1967. I went to camp a day late in 1969 so I could watch Neil Armstrong land on the moon. From 1975-1978 I spent my whole summers there, first as Waterfront Director and then as a counselor for three years. (I was fortunate to overlap Mike Easton’s tenure–see his entry above.) Barb (Thomas)and I met on the second trip to Taize in 1975. We were both on the Wakonda staff in 1978. We dated for 7 years and have now been married for 26. It was at Wakonda that my music ministry began, scrubbing away on the old songs we all still remember. Now I play guitar for the contemporary worship service at St. Luke’s Episcopal in Minneapolis, Barb’s and my church home since 1983. I’m a pediatric radiologist and Barb is a preschool teacher and sunday school director. We hope to be able to be with you all at the 50th Anniversary Celebration next summer!

Comment on 2008 Schedule (NEW!) by Morgan

Morgan — Thu, 01 May 2008 00:54:26 +0000

yeah is there a way to find out more about the camps

Comment on Contact Us by Sherri Daiger

Sherri Daiger — Tue, 29 Apr 2008 17:35:08 +0000

I was trying to find out if you offered any kind of assistance for low income families that would like the opportunity to send their children to summer camp.

Comment on 2008 Schedule (NEW!) by Morgan

Morgan — Tue, 29 Apr 2008 00:52:11 +0000

Hey how do i get a scholorship??

Comment on Alumni by Mike Easton

Mike Easton — Mon, 21 Apr 2008 11:40:40 +0000

Hi, I spent three very happy summers at Camp Wakonda in the mid-70’s as a Camp America councelor and still miss Camp and the wonderful staff and campers I met. To say that Wakonda was life changing experience is a huge understatement. Through working at Camp and the experience it gave me of America, I eventually started my own business sending Brits to the US for vacations. I have travelled to almost every US state and love the country very much. I am hoping to attend the 2009 reunion and meeting up with my old friends from camp. As a PS, my 18 year old daughter is heading for California this summer as a Camp America councelor teaching horse-riding. I only hope her experience of summer camp is as wonderful as mine was. Thanks to Dick Barnard!!

Comment on 2008 Schedule (NEW!) by campwakonda

campwakonda — Thu, 17 Apr 2008 20:28:53 +0000

Sorry for the delay! Jane if you would like info about the Alumni Camp, please e-mail me at bgeorge@cantoncpc.org and I can send you the info. Also, I will try to put the brochure online. We didn’t get it in the same format as last year, so it may not be as easy to read. If you have further questions, please let me know. Thanks!

In Christ,
Ben George

Comment on Alumni by Sarah Ingwersen

Sarah Ingwersen — Mon, 14 Apr 2008 20:31:04 +0000

I worked as a counsellor & waterfront director in 1993 when I was on a year out from studying in Australia. I have never been made to feel so welcome & part of a community as I did during that summer there. i have carried the experiences and memories with me and often ‘return’ to that special place that wakonda was, and no doubt still is. the friendships and bond between the counsellors during my time there was incredible and dick barnard invited me on the trip out west afterwards to pine ridge, which was another amazing experience. I have lived in london for the past 8yrs but do hope one day to return to the amazing, spiritual place that is very much still in my heart.