Top 10 Items to Add to Your Packing List

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Every year campers get out the Kalalla packing list (available under the “Forms” section of the website), and while it is thorough, I always find myself annotating it with a few extra items. So here are the top ten things I add to my camp packing list.

  1. Extra socks. You will always need more socks than you think, and since they take up so little space, there’s no harm in adding a few extra pairs. My go-to number is two pairs per day.
  2. An extra flashlight (or two). Every year at least one camper loses her flashlight down the outhouse, if it hasn’t happened to you, then it’s happened to someone you know. Better to come prepared with a backup if ever this should happen to you.
  3. Extra batteries. Because you’ll always need them, even if you think you won’t.
  4. Old-school disposable camera. With today’s technology, disposable cameras have been pushed to the side a bit. However, they’re the perfect thing to bring to camp since electronics aren’t allowed! They even sell waterproof ones that are awesome to bring down to Waterfront!
  5. Embroidery floss/colourful string. It’s not camp unless friendship bracelets are being made, and for those, you need embroidery floss! There’s never enough at Crafts for everyone, so why not bring your own supply.
  6. Safety pins. To go along with your embroidery floss, you’ll need safety pins to hold your bracelets in place while you’re weaving them.
  7. Ear plugs. Just in case you’ve got a snoring cabin-mate.
  8. Plastic bags. At the end of camp, you’ll no doubt be stuck with a bunch of wet, dirty bathing suits and shoes. My pro-tip is to bring plastic bags to pack up all these wet, dirty items so the rest of your stuff can stay dry and clean, and you won’t be stuck with a suitcase full of dirt when you return home.
  9. Extra elastics and bobby pins, because you know you’ll lose half of them immediately.
  10. Minty gum. The bus ride to camp is fun, but it’s also bumpy. Make sure to pack some minty gum in your bag in case you start to feel car sick.

And there we have it! Ten extra things to add to your packing list to ensure that your time at camp is as awesome as possible!

Java’s Pre-Camp Prep

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Alright, ladies, the final countdown is on! T-minus 5 days until camp! With that in mind, I thought I would share my top five pre-camp prep tips!

  1. Gather all your camp supplies into one area.

This first step may seem obvious, but I always make sure to gather all my supplies together and take a quick inventory. This helps to figure out what you have, and what you need to buy. Make sure to keep your camp list handy, so you can check things off as you go!

  1. Shopping Time!

Now that you know what you have, it’s time to pick up what you’re missing. You can take along your camp list, or make a new one of your own, but I always make sure to bring one with me, so I don’t get carried away and buy things I don’t need. Or worse, forget something I do. My go-to stores for these last minute items are Walmart and Canadian Tire. Walmart has a useful mix of clothing, toiletries, and outdoor gear, all for a reasonable price. If I’m missing anything particularly tricky to find, Canadian Tire is my next stop for all things camp. I find these stores have the largest variety of items at the best price so you can stock up without breaking the bank.

  1. Label. Everything.

Before you begin packing, make sure you label everything you plan to bring. You’re going to be spending a week with 4 or 5 other girls who have packed all the same supplies you have if you want to come home with the same items you brought then make sure to label what’s yours! That goes for toiletries, water bottles, sunscreen, hats, everything.

  1. Start packing!

Step three is a case of doing as I say, not as I do. Packing is always my least favourite part of any trip, and I always leave it to the last minute. However, this is the number one reason I forget to pack important items. If you leave your packing to the last minute, you’re in too much of a rush to check your list thoroughly. So, do yourself a favour and start packing early. That way you have plenty of time to get organised and check off every item on your list!

  1. Make your list and check it twice!

Last but not least, take a page out of Santa’s book. Good ol’ Saint Nick knows what’s up. You’ve made your packing list, now make sure to check it over one last time. It might seem like overkill at this point, but the last thing you want is to show up at camp and realise you forgot your bug spray on the kitchen table. Don’t get caught in the “but I thought you packed it? No, I thought you packed it” cycle, check everything off as it goes into your bags so you can be certain nothing is left behind.

And now you’re all set! If you follow these pre-camp prep tips, then you are 100% ready for all the fun camp will bring… cauuuuuuse we’re from Kalalla, and we’re on the ball!

It’s a Girl’s World

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I stumbled upon Kalalla almost unwittingly. I had no idea, when I decided to accompany my friend that summer, that it would be the best decision I ever made. I had never been to a sleep-away camp before, and I agreed somewhat hesitantly. As someone who struggles with anxiety, I have trouble with new places and new people. I spent that first bus trip swimming in a sea of trepidation and excitement. I was so far out of my element, but the joy and enthusiasm of every girl on that bus was so palpable it was impossible not to get swept away. I looked around in awe of all the smiling faces, ushered along by the chorus of voices singing songs I’d never heard. It’s a moment I will never forget.

My next five years as a camper created memories I will treasure for the rest of my life, and the following years I spent as staff helped guide me as I entered the strange new world of adulthood. My time at Kalalla made me the woman I am today, and for that, I will be forever grateful. As an all-girls camp, Kalalla has the unique opportunity to bolster independence, strength, and kindness in a safe environment bound by the ties of sisterhood. You may enter camp alone, but you leave as a family.

Camp Kalalla is a sanctuary tucked away in the woods, without technology and removed from the pressures of everyday life. It grants asylum from societal pressures and provides a safe environment for young girls to play and learn and grow. Pretence removed and embarrassment forgotten, the campers feel free to express their individuality and let their true selves flourish. It is a gift every girl should experience.

This safe space is the perfect environment in which to foster independence, strength, and confidence. Through all the games, activities, overnights, and communal meals, the girls at camp learn how to balance cooperation and independence. They grow confident in their abilities and themselves while being supported by their cabin mates and fellow campers. Empathy, kindness, and respect grow alongside strength, independence, and self-confidence.

The bonds created between cabin mates are unlike anything else I have ever experienced. True sisterhood is forged year after year, an ever-growing family of women who love and support each other. The tether stretches far and wide connecting fellow Kalalla girls during the long months between summers. While some of us may distance ourselves over the years, that tether remains long after the final campfire is extinguished.

Now, more than ever, it is increasingly important for our girls to become strong, smart, kind, and independent women. We have to raise our girls in environments where they feel safe and supported and free. We need to teach our girls the lessons they can carry with them into the real world to create positive change. Camp Kalalla’s unique sisterhood is what our girls need. In the immortal words of Ms. Amy Poehler, “Find a group of people who challenge and inspire you, spend a lot of time with them, and it will change your life.”

 

– Chelsea Wright ☕️

 

Wakefield Roads

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This blog post is a set of lyrics written by our one and only Treble and her unit from 2015. Sang to the tune of Country Roads by John Denver. It was written as a toast to Kalalla, which was presented at our Fancy Feast Thursday dinner.
                                

Bus rolls up to camp Kalalla

Smiling faces greet my eyes anew

Everyone’s singing, and I’m wondering

Why is that Grove popular,

and what’s a-rig-a-bamboo

Take me home

Wakefield roads

To the place

Where I belong

Camp Kalalla

Mountain momma

Take me home

Wakefield roads

Boundless memories start to form here

Lifelong friendships, splashing in the water

Eat with spatulas, do crafts in the lodge

And if it don’t turn out,

just Finish with hodge podge

Take me home

Wakefield roads

To the place

Where I belong

Camp Kalalla

Mountain momma

Take me home

Wakefield roads

Still hear the voice,

in the morning hour when she wakes me (waaaaaaaaaake up)

My wrist string reminds me of my home far away

And driving down dirt roads I get a feeling

that I should have been home yesterday, yesterday

Take me home

Wakefield roads

To the place

Where I belong

Camp Kalalla

Mountain momma

Take me home Wakefield roads

Camping at Kalalla

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I am a camper at Kalalla and I have been going there for 4 years. My favourite things about camp are crafts, DT (discovery time), swimming, and archery. I like crafts because you can make whatever you want or you can do the craft that is planned for the day. I like DT because you always do something new and sometimes you play strategy games, make crafts, or learn about Jesus, God and other spiritual beings. I love swimming because there are two rafts to jump off, you can play games in the water with your friends, and sometimes you even see loons or ducks. Also when you’re swimming cottagers sometimes go by and you catch their waves. Last but definitely not least, archery! I like archery because you don’t usually get to do archery at home so you can look forwards to doing it at camp.
    Also, there is HHH which stands for Happy Horizontal Hour. HHH is after our delicious lunch that I’ll tell you about after. HHH is a time to rest and have some ‘you’ time. During HHH some activities you can do are writing, reading, drawing, sleep, and you can make cards or pictures for your Secret Friend which I’ll also tell you about later.
   Now, I’m going to tell you about our delicious food made by our wonderful cook Lambchop and the other kitchen staff. Some of my favourite food to have in the dining hall are mini pizzas, hamburgers, oatcakes, date squares, spaghetti, and the salad bar. Also, you get to have special food on your overnights like hot dogs, grilled cheese, doughboys, smores, and cooked cinnamon apples.
   Next, I’m going to tell you about what a Secret Friend is. Each person draws a name out of a basket and that becomes their Secret Friend. You can draw pictures or write kind notes but you don’t tell anyone who you have.  Close to the end of camp, you meet everyone on the deck and you share who you have. You can make them surprises during crafts or at HHH.
  Overnights are also really awesome because you get to sleep somewhere else like marsh hut, in canoes, tent row, the dining hall, or on the deck. You also get to have a campfire and like I said before you get to have yummy treats. If you’re outside you get to look at the stars and it’s really pretty. And in the morning you also get to cook your breakfast over the fire. And don’t worry if you don’t know how to cook over a fire, your counsellor will show you how!
   Last but certainly not least, let me tell you about Poplar Grove. Poplar Grove is a big field that we play games in at different times during the week. It’s really fun and it’s not too far from the campsite. I especially like the game Smugglers and Spies.
The best thing of all is that you get to do everything with your friends! 
There’s much more fun to be had!
I really hope you can come! It’s really fun and awesome!
Kalalla camper,
Brooke❤😁

Camp Kalalla Work Party

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The Work Party has been postponed due to the flooding.

Date changed to June 10-11
new RSVP link: [No longer in use]

Save the date!  Kalalla is hosting it’s annual Open House and Work Party on May 27-28.  Bring yourself, your camper, your family, your friends, anyone!  All are welcome.  The more hands, the merrier!  Come up for a chance to win great Kalalla prizes!

Details:

When:  May 27-28, rain or shine!  (So dress accordingly)

Times:  9am-3:30pm – stay for half a day, stay for the whole day, come for one day or two!

Where:  CGIT Camp Kalalla (directions to follow upon registration)

Food:  Lunch is provided both days, but bring any snacks or drinks you may want for the morning or afternoon.

RSVP:  Please click here to RSVP so we make sure we have enough food!

 

Open House:

Tour the site, see where your camper eats, sleeps, and plays!  Meet some staff and talk to other campers.  This is a perfect opportunity to ask any questions you or your campers may have.  Tours available anytime during the weekend, so RSVP below and come on up!  And while you’re here, feel free to stay and help beautify the site as part of our Work Party.

 

Work Party:

CGIT Camp Kalalla is located in beautiful wilderness of the Gatineau Hills.  That means that after a long winter, there is some site clearing to do.  Turns out trees shed their leaves…  Come on up and help open Kalalla for the season with raking, trail clearing, and maintenance.  This can count as volunteer hours far high school students.

 

New this year: Power Tools!  There may be some big projects to work on, so you might have a chance to show off your expertise in construction or destruction!  Or just raking – that’s good too.  Make sure you sign the Thank You Poster!

 

I hope to see as many of you as possible!

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Kalalla Girls Don’t Hibernate

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So every year around this time, it starts to feel like winter has been going on forEVER! We all complain about the snow and cold, and wish for summer days when we can be out in nature again.

But Kalalla girls are tough. We don’t hibernate, even while we dream of hot days at summer camp. We head outside to play and have fun in the snow and on the ice. And what fun we have!

A couple of weeks ago, I went to Winterlude with a former Kalalla girl (and two future Kalalla girls!). The other day, I ran into another Kalalla girl snowshoeing in the woods. Another Kalalla girl helped make an ice rink in her backyard. And yet another former Kalalla girl did the Canada Ski Marathon. And the list goes on! Holy moly! Even in the winter, Kalalla girls are intrepid, refusing to let the winter get the best of them.

So what have you been doing this winter? How do you get your winter on?

Share your pictures through Facebook, Twitter, or Instragram!

#campkalalla #mightygirl #winterlude #Canada150 #liveoutdoors #myottawa #lovelifeoutside #getoutside #playoutside #freerangekids #winterwonderland

 

Kalalla To Me – Through the Eyes of a Camper

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Camp Kalalla… It doesn’t matter if you’ve been coming for years, or if you’re new, we are all one big family. Camp has become such a big part of my life, I have made so many unforgettable memories. From swimming, to geocaching, sleeping in canoes, to late night talks around the sizzling fire, camp will always have a special place in my heart. Ever since I was seven, I’ve made it my duty to come to Kalalla each year. For the fun I have with old friends, and for the new friends I will make along the way. Although we only may be there a week, I hope I’m not the only one, that out of habit, carries on camp experiences in my daily life back in the city. I am often caught calling out my family for putting their elbows on the table, or for being too loud when I sing “Alive, Alert, Awake” when I wake up on a school morning… Camp has made me the energetic, outgoing and open minded person I am today. I am forever thankful to everyone at Kalalla who reaches out to another, and inspires them to do great things.

I love Kalalla for the nature that surrounds us, the trees that shade us from the heat of the sun (this goes out to all those campers who tend to “forget” their hats in the cabins). Vesper hill, a view of the lake, as us campers mumble the words to the songs we don’t really know. A big thanks to Squirt on behalf of all the campers, for knowing every lyric to every song in our song books! I love the sunset, when we are canoeing in the middle of the lake, taking in all of the thing you miss out on back in the city. The food!!! Oh my gosh I love Kalalla food. If you know someone who goes to Kalalla, you will probably hear them talk endlessly about the oatcakes. They. Are. Delicious. I love the tricky games we play at dinner. Crazy utensils, feed your partner, speaking in third person. Friday night’s dance, where you can be yourself, and be proud of it. Thursday’s “Fancy feast”, when everyone gets emotional about camp coming to an end as we say toasts and drink our apple juice, although most campers become restless, and end up drinking it before the toasts…

I am thankful for Kalalla. The experienced campers, who see the new ones and invite them to join in and introduce one another. I am thankful for the counsellors, who have an extreme amount of patience in trying to calm down the campers who stay up late at night (almost every cabin). Waterfront, my favourite place in the world… Although there may be dock spiders, you can always count on Summer to shoo them away. I am thankful for everyone who has given something up to be at camp each year, it simply wouldn’t be the same without your caring and creative personalities.

To Kalalla, I love my Kalalla family more than explainable words, and am looking forward to seeing you all next year(if not sooner)! You’re all so special and unique, and I’m forever proud to call you my camp family. Sending my love to all of you wonderful people with hearts of undividable kindness. I can’t wait to see what camp Kalalla 2017 will bring.

– Appleicious Alicia, 2016

Unit 5

Camp Kalalla Meets Ten Thousand Villages

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Hey Friends! Hi Family!

It’s that time of year again! Camp Kalalla has teamed up with Ten Thousand Villages in Ottawa to host a great event once again! Come on out, help raise some money and get your Christmas shopping done, all in one trip!

A percentage of each purchase made on December 8th, from 5 to 9 pm, will go towards the camp we all know and love! (Or if we don’t know, should!)

Happy Shopping!

 

10000-vill-2016

 

Link to Ten Thousand Villages Website:

https://www.tenthousandvillages.ca/store/5107

Link to Facebook pages:

https://www.facebook.com/CampKalalla/

https://www.facebook.com/VillagesOttawa/?fref=ts

Link to Facebook Events:

https://www.facebook.com/events/637284289808191/ (Kalalla Hosted)

https://www.facebook.com/events/1307281845969724/ (Ten Thousand Villages Hosted)

Link to Twitter Pages:

https://twitter.com/VillagesOttawa

 

 

Friendship Bracelets

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At camp, it’s common to make friendship bracelets out of embroidery thread, and have your arms full of them by the end of the session.

After camp, some of us make them religiously to help us remember camp, or to prepare them so all of our friends can have some next year.

And then, all of a sudden, we stop. We stop thinking about making bracelets, we stop all the chevrons, all the arrowheads, all the Chinese staircases, and even more. We forget about the bracelets.

But it’s not really the bracelets that are so important. Even if our campers beg us for some, year after year. It’s the memories and the friendships that those bracelets stand for and remind us of day after day.

They remind us of the sweat and pain in our legs during the climb up Butternut. They remind us of the many stairs we have to climb between waterfront and tent row. They remind us of our campers keeping staff up until 3 o’clock in the morning, and the trouble they were in until you saw the tears in their eyes during Shalom.

The bonds we make at camp are unbreakable. And the memories, unforgettable.

The time has not yet come for me, but I know when I stop making bracelets this year, my friends and memories will be more than just an entry in my journal, but a stamp on my heart.

“And in September, I will remember, my happy camping days with you.”

Love, Heinz