Poise, Confidence and Friendship

 

In the summer of 2019 Coach Grace gave me a few minutes every week at one of the Hero's Awakenings ( nee Dave Talk) to get the word out about A Hero’s’ Journey: From Little Norway to Olympia Sports Camp, explaining to campers, counsellors and coaches that they all were heroes in their own journey, and to elicit personal stories that would be part of The Soul of Olympia chapter of the book.

 

After my week 4 talk I was sitting at a picnic table enjoying the Muskoka sun and making notes when these two then 13-year-old coach’s kids came up and said they had a story for me. They had me at hello.

 

Their thoughts are as honest and beautiful a perspective on life at Olympia as they are a testimony to the three questions we hear week after week, year after year. Did you have fun; did you meet new friends; did you improve in your sport? This story answers yes to these age-old questions. Oh, the wisdom, confidence and poise, of Olympians, no matter the age.


                                                       


 

















Katarina Culhane


Katarina- It was in my 3rd or 4th year at Olympia, and I went down to the waterfront. I met a girl named McKenna, who seemed really nice. She invited me to her cabin and introduced me to her sister Gwyneth. She was my age and we really hit it off. She was in basketball session, so I decided to go into the basketball with very little experience because I wanted to be with Gwyneth.

Gwyneth- I am normally shy and reserved and it usually takes me time to warm up to people, but Kat’s personality lit up the room and she brought out the best in me. This is now our third year in basketball together and it’s a highlight of my summer.

Katarina- I am busy with speed skating and others sports in Innisfil and Gwyneth is in rep basketball in Newmarket so it’s hard to see each other throughout the year, which makes our Olympia week even better.It's so much fun to spend so much time together in that one week.

Gwyneth- When I get to camp the first thing I do is look for Kat so we can exchange our Olympia hug and start another great week. One year I was so upset because I couldn’t find 

her but turns out she was looking for me and we just missed each other for a while.

Katarina- Olympia is such a great place. The coaches are such positive role models, and they all bring different perspectives to each session. It’s a great place to develop our skills while having a lot of fun. I gained the confidence in basketball that I have in speed skating and that makes me feel good. Gwyneth has played rep basketball for seven years but the coaches tailor the camp so everyone feels growth in their skills.

Gwyneth- Hanging around with Kat has made me outgoing, and through her I saw the value in trying new things. I like who I am when I am around her. There is so much to do around Olympia, and we make sure we take it all in, but I think sitting in the cabin and just talking is the best thing.

Katarina- The counsellors are just so awesome; they bring so much energy to every session and its hard not to catch their enthusiasm. They make the week and I wonder if maybe someday I will be like them.

Gwyneth- It’s hard to explain how much fun we have doing absolutely anything, or absolutely nothing. We spend a week catching up while doing everything we love and then dread the departure after the closing ceremonies.

 

Thanks to Katarina Culhane and Gwyneth Faria for sharing their story. The best part is that this could be the same conversation shared between hundreds of Olympians throughout the years. Olympia isn’t a place where but a people who…. And we’re all part of the Soul of Olympia


The link to the blog is TuesdayswithDave.blogspot.com

This blog is about the journey of the writing of the book A Hero's Journey: From Little Norway to Olympia Sports Camp. The blog will contain excerpts from the book and my personal thoughts on what the place and the people that make up Olympia's journey is all about. The title comes from the great book Tuesdays With Morrie, by Mitch Albom. The blog's title is recognizing Dave Grace as Camp Director, but all content is my own.

 

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