One of the most noticeable changes at St. Andrew's this year was the new sleeping quarters for the boys. Wanting to provide more group integrity, we erected four medium sized tents. Each group of boys had their own tent with their counselor sleeping in the tent with them. The boys learned about airing the tent during the day and tying down the tents in anticipation of storms. Many lessons were learned and the boys kept their tents far neater than any of their previous rooms had been before. This move also gave us more indoor classroom and activity space. The former boys dorm is now the activities center where the central office and first aid center are also now located. The boys seemed to like the "campy" experience and administration and Nurse Mary were glad for larger, more appropriate spaces for their work.

The camp program was under the leadership of our new program director Katia Arida. In the religious education classes, campers studied American Saints, discussed the meaning of the word love, and talked about feast days and their relevance in our life, as well as liturgical life and personal spiritual development. The most significant aspect of camp was the relationships that formed and deepened among those in attendance. Both campers and staff alike had the opportunity to live in community for seven weeks. Over those seven weeks people talked together, laughed together, cried together, got in trouble together, prayed together, and ultimately, grew together. This is an unforgettable experience in the lives of young and old alike.

This year's staff was diverse in origin and talents. A new and spectacular addition to our staff is Katia Arida of Boston. She comes with much diverse experience including a teaching and historical facility educational background. Katia was able to maintain an interesting program and helped staff maximize their skills in working with the campers.

Returning female counselor, Vanessa Downing, brought her energy and experience to our entire program, but her influence was most strongly felt in the girls' dorm. As a graduate student at SUN"Y Albany, she was able to offer both personal mentoring and modeling of accomplishment in a Christian framework. Her love of the campers and her sense of humor made everyone feel special.

Kelly Medeiros, of Massachusetts sparked up our art program. She is majoring in art education and together with this talent she too provided a strong example of modern women with a Christian foundation.

Katherine Rodger of Ottawa joined us later in the season and her creative talents were a welcome addition to our program.

Natasha Malinchoc Federinko of Michigan, an alumna of St. Andrew's brought her deep spiritual enthusiasm during her stay with us.

Peter Zahirsky of Ohio, head male counselor, brought his camping experience to ease the transition to the tent quarters for the boys.

Elias Gebrehiwot of Rochester, brought a little of his Ethiopian background to our camp and his steady positive attitude helped campers as well as his fellow staff get thought some of the stressful days that inevitably face us.

Phil Bodnar of Indiana (and originally from Canada) brought a diverse background of skills to camp and was well liked for his easygoing and congenial demeanor.

Andrew Pender, of Rochester, worked hard with the campers to raise enthusiasm about sports and also lent his dramatic and musical skills to liven up our skit nights.

Tim Chupeck served as our WSI and of course helped out in all areas needed. His experience and committment to St. Andrew's is always a blessing. (Congratualtion to him and his new wife Denise who were married in August!)

Nick Federinko was only with us for a short time but his guitar and popular Christian repertoire helped our campers find a new musical expression of their spiritual feelings.

In the kitchen, we were blessed with the help of Theresa McMahon, also a St. Andrew's alumna, who helped our cook and often baked special desserts despite the record temperatures this summer!

Our volunteers included John Mace who ran the kitchen and offered his usual specialties that inspired our counselor Andrew to immortalize John's cooking in the first week's skits.

John Kozak volunteered as our wonderful facilities manager His talents not only included being able to fix and take care of any facility problem, but also setting up our computer and new fax machine as well as keeping all the church rubrics and music on target.

Natasha Soussanin, another alumna, volunteered much of the summer in our kitchen. When not with us , she and her husband run a successful catering business in the Maryland, Washington DC area. Her remarkable energy and vast culinary experience was a welcome addition to our kitchen. She was also able to share her own CIT (in her time known as SA) experiences with our CITs. She set a high bar for the kitchen standards!

All of these people gave up their entire summer because they believe in the mission of St. Andrew's Camp

Finally, thank you to all of the clergy who not only served, but were willing to spend time teaching and being with the campers. Visiting clergy included:

Fr. Ken James Starves
Fr. Paul Shafran
Fr. David Smith
Fr. Robert Arida
Fr. Vasily Lickwar
Fr. Stephen Belonick
Fr. Aaron Archer
Fr. Alexander Garklavs
Fr. Michael Zahirsky
Fr. Philip McCaffrey.

Our clergy provide the anchor of the spiritual tone of the camp and we are grateful that so many of our alumni clergy are interested in remaining a vital part of the camp.

First Year Reflections

One day in early March, 2005, I found myself talking to Daria York, the Executive Director for St. Andrew's Camp. She needed a program director and she had gotten my name from former camp director Katia Toman Lickwar. I could hardly believe I was even entertaining such a thought. At the time, I had a full time job and although I disliked it, it gave me health care and enough money to pay the rent and bills. It was completely unchallenging, disengaging, and boring, but it was steady and safe.

Yet, from the moment St. Andrew's Camp came up in conversation, I knew I wanted to become a part of it. Somehow I knew I was supposed to do this work for our Church. I myself went the New England Diocese Youth Rally for 10 years and I believe that it played a major role in my development as an Orthodox Christian. Now as an adult, I realize how important it is to understand that the church loves everyone unconditionally. I want Orthodox youth to see this and to understand that they are not alone no matter what happens in their lives.. This has become my passion.

And yet, I was scared to pursue my passion. Scared to quit my old job, scared of what could happen at camp, scared of what would happen when camp was over. (Where would I work? How would my rent get paid?) I spoke to Daria over and over again, asking questions, trying to figure out what to do. The more I spoke to her, the more I knew I had to try this. Finally, on Palm Sunday, we made it official. I agreed to become the Camp Director for St. Andrew's.

I'm so glad I did it.

Camp ended a few days ago, and I have already heard from two campers. This means a lot to me because as a new director, it takes time to gain the trust of campers. A new person comes in, does things differently, enforces new rules, tells people no, and sometimes even sends campers home early. This does not necessarily make you popular.

I learned a lot this summer. I was a supervisor for the first time. I had "the final say." This was a wonderful challenge even though sometimes I lost sleep over it. I worked with some wonderful people who helped make camp great. What would I have done without the counselors? They had great insights on the campers, great attitudes, and never lacked a sense of humor. These counselors helped make my job better. They sacrificed something so that our kids could form long lasting relationships with each other while coming to a greater understanding of the love of Christ.

There are so many things about this summer that I will never forget. I experienced the unconditional love of so many children. These campers have infectious smiles and attitudes. Their great attitudes made my own attitude better. Their enthusiasm raised my enthusiasm. And the sense of humor some of these kids had could make me laugh for hours. The poignant comments of two young men telling me that they wished their fathers were priests so that they could go to church more often made me realize how many gifts I have that I take for granted as a child. And there is the ever present memory of seven year old campers belting out O Gladsome Light. They brought something a stellar adult choir could never give our little chapel. The more I write, the more I think of. . .

Becoming the director of St. Andrew's Camp fulfilled something very important within me. It fulfilled my desire to use my time and talents to serve the church by serving children. Somehow, everything I have done up till now - teaching in the inner city, working in a museum, teaching adult ESL students, co-founding the parish youth group, spending my college summers as a National Park Service Ranger, and attending the Youth Rally for ten years have helped to bring me to this point. All of these experiences make me a better camp director.

I am grateful for the opportunity and pray that I can continue to be inspired to do this work.

Are you or someone you know interested in a special summer experience??

We are already looking for staff for 2006- if you or a college student, teacher or other interested adult over 18 years of age is interested in being a counselor, please contact us at saintandrewscamp@aol.com or call 315 675-9771. Applications can be downloaded from our website at www.standrewscamp.com. Counselors to work directly with children as well as specialty staff, RN's, WSIs, cooks, choir directors, as well as general volunteers for kitchen help, maintenance and repair work, grounds keeping and gardeners, photographers, as well as those with musical, (especially guitar) and artistic talents, craft skills, This is a great opportunity to have a great impact on children, on their growing up with Faith, and also an opportunity to strengthen one's own spiritual life in a "real" life setting. Come join us for a week or a summer. It will change you.

An anonymous donor challenged our board to raise funds to cover the cost (about 28,000) of our renovations and tents this year. They promised us matching funds up to $20,000. Thanks to the following generous contributors, we were able to meet that challenge: