60 Years in the Making

Greetings all!

Another summer is roaring towards us! Every summer brings with it new excitement and it’s own uniqueness, but this year marks a very special place in our history.  This summer, we are celebrating our 60th anniversary!!  60 years is an accomplishment, but for CJ it feels like an even bigger accomplishment because it involves so many.  In the camping world, we say “we’re in the relationship business,” and it’s true.  Our history is only important because of all the connections and relationships we’ve made with the people that have crossed our path.  Not only would we not be in existence without you, but we wouldn’t have had such a rich and fulfilling past and an even brighter future to look forward to, without you.  For that, we thank you!

This August 16 through 19, we’ll be wrapping up our summer with a 60th anniversary weekend celebration, and we hope you can join us!  Friday evening, August 16, will kick off the weekend with a group dinner and performance from Bret & Frisk.  Saturday will host many of your favorite camp activities like canoeing on Rest Lake, horseback riding, water skiing, archery, etc.  We’ll also have a special celebration Saturday night.  Sunday, we’ll host our Up-North community pancake breakfast and leave you to your leisure to enjoy CJ.  To register, please check out our 60th anniversary page on our website or call the camp office at 715-543-8808.

We’re also in the process of creating a Camp Jorn History book, with help of author “Buckshot” Anderson.  Buckhot, is gathering stories from alumni to add to the book and get a feel of what the last 60 years at camp have been like.  If you’d like to share your CJ story to be considered for the book, please go to our online questionnaire.  The book will also feature photos from over the last 60 years.  If you’d like to see our historical photos you can view them at SmugMug or on our Camp Jorn YMCA Facebook page.

Although things have changed in many ways over the last 60 years at Camp Jorn, many things remain the same.  Children still sing the same songs, take the same bus ride up to camp, swim & play in Rest Lake, have camp outs at Fox Island, and come to camp for new adventures and leave as better people than when they arrived.  That is what CJ is at it’s heart, and something that will stand the test of time.

CJ Love

Then and Now

Trips – then and now

Flagpole

1953 CJ Staff

Camp Jorn sharing its pride and spirit with the world

 

This past Tuesday, March 20th, Camp Jorn YMCA joined several other YMCA camps to show our support for our favorite Y camp by wearing shirts, hats, pants, or whatever we could find to school/work.  Many of our campers, alumni, staff, friends, and supporters have pride in showing off their Camp Jorn spirit to the rest of the world because of what CJ means to them and what camp does for their own spirit.

pride: pleasure or satisfaction taken in something done by or belonging to oneself or believed to reflect credit upon oneself

spirit: enthusiasm, energy, zeal, ardor, fire;  nature, drift, tenor, gist, essence, sense

Whether you are a camper looking forward to your first year at Camp Jorn, or an alumni that has accumulated mass amounts of CJ apparel…we are grateful to have you as a part of our CJ family.

Thanks to everyone for showing your pride in Camp Jorn, and your spirit for telling the world about this wonderful place and people!!

Steve is a loyal CJ alum, and we are so happy that he is one of our champion supporters

Charley, winner of the CJ Spirit contest!

One of our staff members, Shelby, with one of our more creative entries.

“Up North” Year Round CJ Staff showing off their CJ Spirit!

One of our awesome alumna, Dana, and her two cute pups who didn’t want to be left out of showing their CJ spirit.

Summer staff member Demetes, showing off his CJ spirit at his school.

CJ summer staff, Drew, representing CJ at his school

Two of our campers giving off summer vibes with their CJ pride

One of our campers, who has started quite the CJ apparel collection…

One of our campers, showing his CJ spirit!

One of our newest campers, already showing her CJ spirit

One of our summer staff, Mateo, representing CJ at his school

CJ staff alum, Chris, bringing the Camp Jorn name worldwide, in Lima, Peru!

One of our campers sharing his CJ spirit, and passing it on to his brother

Two of our camper’s for 2012 showing off their CJ spirit!