January 29, 2010

ORKILA ALUM ON KING5 NEWS

On Thursday morning Rose appeared on King5 News live with Joyce Taylor to talk about the music video she made with Usher. You can watch the clip below.

Voting for the music video competition goes through Monday. You can vote here or learn more info about Rose and her experience here.

We're proud of you Rose, and good luck!

UPDATE: Rose and her team won the competition with 55% of the overall vote. CONGRATULATIONS ROSE!

January 27, 2010

NEW HERITAGE HOUSE NEARING COMPLETION

The structure itself is nearly done, and the landscaping around the building is being augmented by additional Orcas Island native plants.

The Hertiage House is on track to be fully completed by the Summer of 2010! In fact, even sooner than that. Note: For those that don't know the Heritage House is located 1/2 way
between the main oval parking lot and the Camp Office. Exciting!


To see video and past images surf on over to this site:

January 22, 2010

ORKILA ALUM WORKS WITH USHER

Rose Gunson - Orkila Alum - recently competed in an Usher music video contest down in Hollywood. You can see her posing in a pic with the musical artist to the right. In addition to being featured in a People Magazine Video she also will be making a live in-studio guest appearance on King 5 News next Thursday!

She had this to say in a recent email to her supporters:

"I have been working in this program since last year and my team worked very hard planning, creating and producing our video. This has been the experience of a lifetime for me and after all of the waiting, the time is now here to cast your vote. Voting is UNLIMITED and you can vote until Friday 1st as many time as you want. I have really appreciated all of your support so far and will especially appreciate it during this important phase. Please pass this on to as many people as possible, every vote counts." - Rose Gunson

We support you Rose!
Rose's team's final music video can be seen at Got-Noise.com
and then - you too - can support Rose by voting for Team B (or the "Killer B's" as Usher nicknamed them).

January 21, 2010

"TASTE OF SUMMER EVENT" - Saturday Jan 30th

Missing Camp? Want to have some fun in the city?

Have we got the event for you!

All campers entering grades 5 through 9 (in the Fall of 2010) are invited to share in an evening of campy activities at the Dale Turner Family YMCA. This will all take place from 6:15 pm to 8:30 pm on Saturday January 30th.

Activities to include: carnival games, hula hooping, climbing wall, s'more making, face painting, etc.

This event is for both non-registered and registered campers. Feel free to bring a friend and share with them your camp experience!

Due to space considerations we are asking that parents check their kids in, go eat dinner or go shopping, and then pick their child up at the end of the event. Of course, if you would like to stay and hang out in our Family Center you are welcome to do so!

A waiver must be completed for each child in attendance. Download, print out, sign, and bring this Release of Liability WAIVER with you to the event. This waiver must be signed by a parent or legal guardian in order for campers to participate.

Also, here are DIRECTIONS.

If you plan on attending, please have your parents RSVP you by Wednesday January 27th. We're looking forward to seeing you!
To RSVP or for more information, call or email our Seattle Camping Services Office at 206-382-5009 or
colmanorkilainfo@seattleymca.org

January 19, 2010

SHINY LODGE FLOORS

DanJ, Dave, and Pullyou were all recently up at Camp Orkila for a little retreat getaway. And you know what was the first thing we noticed? The super duper shiny floors in the Larry Norman Lodge, that's what! Check out that reflection. In the pic you can also see Dave admiring and pondering their reflective nature as well.

January 15, 2010

SALMON BABIES!

There are coho salmon babies at YMCA Camp Orkila! Or more specifically, we have "alevins." DanJ just taught me about the progression of a salmon through its life cycle, and how after they hatch from their eggs they become alevins. You can see his fascination below (with the new otter skeleton Marine Center addition visible behind him).

Also, at the bottom of this post you can watch a video of the little salmon alevins in action. Wiggling those tiny tails and getting acclimated to life in the water!

"Look at the salmon babies!" DanJ exclaims.


Video provided by Kaitlyn Richards, Orkila's Outdoor Environmental Site Director. Thanks Kaitlyn!

January 14, 2010

PARTNERS WITH YOUTH CAMPAIGN KICK OFF

Our annual campaign kicked off this past Tuesday night in Seattle, and it was packed with energy. This year our goal is to raise $350,000... to get kids to camp!

An Orkila Call Team led by Alyssa gets pumped and ready to make calls!

Bob Gilbertson, YMCA of Greater Seattle CEO, addresses the packed house.

Julie dials a phone number, ready to talk about the greatness of Orkila!

Dimitri brought down Orcas Island Campaign Volunteers with him to the Seattle event.

January 11, 2010

CABIN COUNSELORS VISIT US

Left to Right: Alicia , DanJ, Mark, Dave, and Gianna.
We were recently visited by three awesome cabin counselors from the Summer of 2009. It's always great to have visitors swing by our cubicle in Downtown Seattle (where we spend our non-summer months). Thanks for stopping by Alicia, Mark, and Gianna!

January 8, 2010

MARINE LECTURE SERIES @ ORKILA

Don't Call Them Sea Gulls: Marine Lecture Series
Contributed by Dr. Joe Gaydos

What, there is no such thing as a sea gull? On the evening of Tuesday, January 12 at 7 p.m. biologist and writer Thor Hanson will engage you in the interesting facts about these opportunistic birds. You might not remember all the fascinating details or identification features for the dozen or so gull species we have, but you should walk away more fond of these birds and probably will no longer make the faux pas of calling them sea gulls.

Gulls belong to the Laridae family. They will eat just about anything, from fish or small rodents to ferry French fries and potato chips and a salt excreting gland enables them to drink either fresh or salt water. They nest in large, densely packed, and noisy colonies where they lay two to three speckled eggs.

Larger gull species take up to four years to attain full adult plumage, while two years is more typical for small gulls. They can live to be 15 years old and some have been known to live to be over 25 years old.

The 2009/10 Marine Science Lecture Series was created to inspire the general public and to highlight the amazing fish and wildlife of our region. Lectures are free. Please park in the upper parking lot at Camp Orkila. Shuttle service from the parking lot to the talk is available before and after the lecture.

The 2009/10 Marine Science Lecture Series is presented by program partners The SeaDoc Society and YMCA Camp Orkila. It is made possible through generous sponsorship by Tom Averna (Deer Harbor Charters), and The Gould Family Foundation and co-sponsorship by Barbara Brown, Eclipse Charter, the Kingfish Inn, Shearwater Sea Kayak Tours, West Sound Marina and Jim and Kathy Youngren.


Article from Bull Wings: Orcas Issues, Views, and News


January 6, 2010

A LITTLE LATE, BUT WORTH THE WAIT

2009 may indeed be over, but this "Season's Greeting" message was too good not to share. Even if it is a little late. Funny, the Maintenance Staff seem much taller in real life...

January 5, 2010

DanJ SHARES ORKILA WITH HIS FAMILY


For the holidays Summer Program Director DanJ (and his dad RonJ) shared the spirit of Orkila with his family, via marvelous Camp t-shirts. In this photo you can see everyone rockin' their newfound presents. Nice work gentlemen!


January 1, 2010

GOODBYE 2009, HELLO 2010

HAPPY NEW YEAR!
As we transition to a brand new year... check out this collage of Orkila pics... as well as a cool old Orkila map. Neat-O!
The image was given to us from our friends at the Orcas Historical Society. Thanks!