Come join us on SaturdayMarch 6 from 10am to 3pm at the Southridge Mall Camp Fair in Greendale, Wisconsin! Our staff will be there to meet and greet and talk about what Minikani has to offer this summer. Whether you’re signed up for this summer or just thinking about it, bring a friend and meet the Camp staff!!
Come join us at the Southridge Mall Camp Fair!
March 4th, 2010It’s tree tapping time!
March 4th, 2010The sun is out and the sap is flowing this week at Camp Minikani! Matt, Erik, and I have been out tapping Sugar Maple trees, and soon we’ll be spending our time in the Sugar Shack boiling down the sap to make Maple Syrup. Though we’re getting pretty good at identifying leafless Sugar Maples, our Family Nature Club adventurers discovered this week that it takes lots of practice…especially in the dark! I think we’ll stick to tree tapping while the sun is out from now on. Be sure to join us for our annual MapleFest at the end of the month, where you can taste the fruits of our labor and learn how Maple Sugar has been made through the ages. Our pancake breakfast will be featuring some locally sourced food this year, so come on out to support the Strong Kids Campaign and local farmers and businesses!
Only 2 weeks left to WIN 2 weeks of camp
February 28th, 2010You only have until March 15 to enter for a chance to win 2 weeks of camp!
As detailed in our recent summer camp guide mailing, simply refer a new friend for one or more weeks of overnight camps by giving them the included referral card that tells them why you love YMCA Camp Minikani so much! For a copy of the flyer please click here.
It’s just that easy!!! We have space in all sessions of camp still but registrations are coming in thick and fast!
Come Join Us at Metroparent Fair 2010
February 20th, 2010Come join us on Saturday February 27 from 10am to 3pm at the 20th annual Milwaukee Metro Parent Camp & Education Fair! Our staff will be there to meet and greet and talk about what Minikani has to offer this summer. The fair will be held this year at Divine Savior Holy Angels High School at 4257 N. 100th St., Milwaukee (Just north of 100th & Capitol). Whether you’re signed up for this summer or just thinking about it, bring a friend and meet the Camp Minikani staff!!
Find Out Who is Coming Back this Summer
February 20th, 2010We’re excited to announce the launch of a new area of our website that lists all of our returning staff for Summer 2010. We’re busy hiring all of our counselors for the upcoming summer and over time we’ll be adding more information about our returning and new counselors for 2010. To check out whose coming back simply click on the following link htttp://www.minikani.org/Summer-Staff.php
Community members enjoy outdoor adventures during Winter Recreation Day
February 17th, 2010
The sunshine and snow, and maybe even the excitement of the Winter Olympics, inspired community members to come out to Minikani this past weekend for an afternoon of adventures during Winter Recreation Day. Families came to try their hand at cross country skiing, snowshoeing, and ice fishing, and of course stopped to play some broomball and take at least one trip down our sledding hill. While some strapped on skis or snowshoes for the very first time, a few families took their experience out to our trails and conquered the hills together. Though Minikani doesn’t have any ice skates, some families brought their own and brushed up on their skills, jumping right into the hockey and broomball games that were going on.
Thanks to all the community members that decided to spend their afternoon with us here at Minikani! A big thanks also needs to go out to the teens in our Leadership Training program who brought their energy to the event and helped organize games and activities for families.
If you missed this event but would like to find other opportunities to spend time outdoors with your family, join us at Family Nature Club! The next meeting will be Tuesday, March 2, from 6:30-7:30 here at Camp Minikani. If the snow sticks around that long, we can try out the skis and snowshoes again before learning how to tap trees for maple syrup. All families are welcome! Call Allyson for more information (262-251-9080).
Welcome Dax!
February 17th, 2010Valentine’s Day was made even more special at Minikani Equestrian Center with the arrival of our new handsome “boy” Dax!
Dax is a 4-yr-old Oldenburg gelding and the son of the famous Wisconsin Hanoverian stallion “Donavan” who resided at Minikani for several months before his move to Maryland.
Dax arrived Sunday after a 2-day road trip from the east coast, to a welcoming committee led by senior volunteers and students Tasha Rich and Andrea Von Bargen. It was great to see that he settled in straight away by rolling in his stall and munching on his hay!
Dax was very generously donated by long-time supporter of the equestrian program, Wendy Costello. Wendy watched the YMCA’s 150th anniversary video, which featured one of our long-time students, Thomas Bate. She was so moved by Thomas’ story that she offered to donate Dax to the program in part so that Thomas could continue in his riding education and possibly get the opportunity to compete.
As Dax is still a “baby,” Equestrian Director Alex Philpin will continue with his training under saddle and use Dax to teach Minikani’s advanced riders more advanced techniques and enhance their riding ability.
More updates on Dax’s progress will be available on the equestrian center Facebook page – to become a friend search “Alexandra Philpin.”
Come join us at a Camp Fair
February 9th, 2010Over the next few months Camp Minikani will be attending a host of camp fairs. If you live in the Elmhurst area of Illinois you can join us at the 8th anual summer recreation open house at Jefferson School in Elmhurst, IL. Matt “Sully” Sullivan will be there on February 18 from 6:00-8:00 pm to talk about Summer Camp 2010. So bring a friend and learn more about what Camp Minikani has to offer!!
Spring Celebration of Nations- Adoptive Family Weekend
February 8th, 2010Friday June 4- Sunday June 6, 2010
Come spend the weekend with your family and other adoptive families for a fun, informative weekend at YMCA Camp Minikani, located 20 minutes north of Milwaukee on the shores of Amy Belle Lake.
Activities and Programs throughout the weekend include: Archery, boating, a camp fire, the climbing wall, cultural activity booths, cultural wellness activities sponsored by local YMCA’s, Family Olympics, free massages, guest speakers, informative discussions, jumping off the Minikani Tram-pop-oline, swimming, and so much more!
So whether you’ve adopted from: China, Korea, Peru, Chile, Paraguay, India, Vietnam, Russia, Romania, the Ukraine, the Philippines, the United States, Guatemala, Cambodia, Columbia, Ethiopia, Colombia, Kazakhstan, Mongolia, or ANYWHERE IN THE WORLD you’re invited!
*Some activities are age appropriate and weather permitting*
If you have any questions please email Carmen Knight at adoptivefamilyweekend@gmail.com
For more information go to http://sites.google.com/site/adoptivefamilyweekend/ or find us on Facebook.
Balloon Animals
February 7th, 2010
Although Summer Camp is still several months away, the staff are busy cranking up their creative juices to prepare for all the new exciting things that will happen at camp this summer. Sometimes it doesn’t go as well as planned as today’s balloon-animal making practice demonstrated. We all got a little light-headed as we worked out how to blow up the balloons (it’s a lot harder than you might think), but we’re getting pretty good at making dogs and are graduating to monkeys.
Waukesha, WI