We feel truly blessed to have the opportunity to grow and learn with Bill Stevens, our passionate and purposeful Camp Director. Since 1998, Bill has provided the leadership to our staff and community helping us to develop what we believe to be THE finest residential camp program in Ontario and the country. Bill’s passion and tireless efforts to mold and train a staff in the Spirit of Camp Big Canoe maintains a tradition of excellence at Camp, but his willingness to innovate and educate over the last 15 years has us once again looking forward to the summer to come – what does he have in store for us this year?
As you are probably aware, the job of successfully running a camp is not a typical 9-5 job. For the months of July and August it is a 24 hour a day, 7 days a week endeavour. But what happens in those 10 months in between?
Catching up on some much needed sleep is likely priority #1, and cleaning our trusty alpaca might be #2, but the moment the last staff member leaves camp at the end of August, Bill begins his Saturday countdown to the next summer and gets busy filling out the staffing roster and encouraging camper registration – not to mention hosting a number of groups on-site throughout September and through to Thanksgiving. But it is Bill’s talents for reading, listening, and learning that sets him a part.
Recently Bill put those skills to use at his annual sojourn to Atlantic City, New Jersey to take part in the Tri-State Camp Conference. This year’s theme of the conference was fittingly enough, Community. Over 3000 camp directors, camp owners, associate directors, and assistant directors attend from every sort of camp conceivable, not to mention over 300 vendors and suppliers specializing in providing services to camps. According to Bill it is this network that challenges him to be creative and proactive in providing Camp and its campers with, in his words, “an enhanced program and a better me.”
Attending workshops and listening to speakers on topics ranging from how improve the work ethic of a staff, to identifying why camps, and specifically your camp, exist, to hearing from the who’s who in the camp industry brings Bill back to this event year in and year out. It is these events that confirm for Bill the importance of what he does, and what we strive for as a Camp.
And it leaves him with only one conclusion – “Send your kids to Camp!”
So just what does Bill have in store for us this summer? Only one way to find out – 12 more Saturdays to go!
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